Continuous 5-fluorouracil infusion in refractory carcinoma of the breast

Abstract

Twenty-five patients with refractory, metastatic carcinoma of the breast were treated with continuous ambulatory 5-fluorouracil (5 FU) infusion (200 to 300 mg/m²/day) through a chronic indwelling central venous catheter. All patients had had extensive previous treatment, including hormonal therapy in 20/25 patients (80%), radiation therapy in 18/25 patients (72%), and an average of 4.6 previous chemotherapy drugs per patient (range 1–10). Twenty-three of 25 patients (92%) had had previous bolus 5 FU. Seventeen of 25 patients (68%) had two or more metastatic sites of involvement and 17/25 patients (68%) had visceral involvement. Results: complete remission −1/25 (4%), partial remission −7/25 (28%), stable disease −6/25 (24%), and progressive disease −11/25 (44%), for an overall response rate of 8/25 (32%). Median duration of response was 6 months. Toxicities included hand-foot syndrome, mucositis, diarrhea, and nausea and vomiting, and required treatment interruption and/or dose attenuation in 9/25 patients (36%). No myelosuppression or serious catheter-related problems were seen. We conclude that continuous 5 FU infusion is a potentially effective salvage treatment that may provide meaningful palliation in some patients with carcinoma of the breast, in spite of extensive previous treatment.