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Hypercalcemia in patients with breast cancer: a survival study

  • Original Papers
  • Clinical Oncology
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Abstract

In a retrospective study survival after hypercalcemia in breast cancer patients has been investigated. A group of 72 patients were treated with bisphosphonate APD [3-(amino-1,1-hydroxypropylidene)bisphosphonate] and third-generation amino-containing bisphosphonates between January 1980 and October 1992. A median survival of 4.5 months was found. In a multivariate analysis, four independent prognostic factors for survival have been found: the interval between first relapse and hypercalcemia, sites of metastases at the moment of hypercalcemia, primary treatment, and the level of serum alkaline phosphatase. Patients with a “flare” reaction on tamoxifen treatment and patients with a normal serum alkaline phosphatase level and bone metastases only had a prolonged survival. Hypercalcemia associated with visceral metastases carried a very poor prognosis. The level of serum calcium in this series of patients was no prognostic indicator for survival.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Oncology, University Hospital Leiden, Bldg. 1, K-1P, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands

    S. de Wit & F. J. Cleton

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  1. S. de Wit
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  2. F. J. Cleton
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de Wit, S., Cleton, F.J. Hypercalcemia in patients with breast cancer: a survival study. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 120, 610–614 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01212816

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01212816

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