Clinical effects of combination therapy with mitoxantrone, vincristine, and prednisolone in breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE

We assessed the clinical efficacy and safety of mitoxantrone hydrochloride which has been used as an anticancer drug in our hospital to treat breast cancer patients since 1993.

METHODS

A group of 23 patients with breast cancer were given one course of the following regimen every 3 weeks: mitoxantrone hydrochloride (8 mg/m(2) i.v. day 1), vincristine sulfate (1.2 mg/m(2) i.v. day 1), and prednisolone (30 mg orally days 1-7).

RESULTS

The response rate was 52.2% including a complete response in four patients, and a partial response in eight patients. Adverse drug reactions included leukocytopenia (78.3%, 18/23 patients), alopecia (30.8%, 7/23), and peripheral neuropathy and generalized fatigue (26.1%, 6/23). In patients responding to the drug regimen, 50% survival was 29 months, and in those not responding it was 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Combination treatment with mitoxantrone hydrochloride, vincristine sulfate and prednisolone is an effective treatment for breast cancer.