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Possible use of combination chemotherapy with mitomycin C and methotrexate for metastatic breast cancer pretreated with anthracycline and taxanes

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Abstract

Background

Most patients with breast cancer need anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens in the adjuvant setting, and an increasing number of them receive taxanes either in this setting or as first-line therapy for metastatic breast cancer (MBC). However, no standard chemotherapy has been fully established for MBC patients pretreated with anthracycline and taxanes.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 48 patients with MBC who had been treated with chemotherapy combining mitomycin C and methotrexate (MMC/MTX), following treatment with anthracycline and taxanes. MMC was given at a dose of 8 mg/m2 on day 1, and MTX of 60 mg/m2 on day 1 and day 15. The cycle was repeated every 4 weeks.

Results

There were 11 partial responses (24%). The median time to progression was 4.8 months. The response rate of liver metastasis was 31%. Thrombocytopenia (grade 3) was observed in five patients (10%). Other toxicity was mild and manageable.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that MMC/MTX could be an effective subsequent treatment for patients whose MBC has been pretreated with anthracycline and taxanes.

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Abbreviations

MMC:

Mitomycin C

MTX:

Methotrexate

MMC/MTX:

The combination chemotherapy with MMC and MTX

MBC:

Metastatic breast cancer

RBC:

Recurrent breast cancer

CMF:

Cyclophosphamide/methotrexate/fluorouracil

3M:

MMC/MTX/Mitoxantrone

MV:

Mitomycin C plus vinblastine

WBC:

White blood cell counts

ANC:

Absolute neutrocyte counts

G1, G2, G3, G4:

Grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4

CR:

Complete response

PR:

Partial response

SD:

Stable disease

PD:

Progressive disease

RR:

Response rate

RECIST:

Response evaluation criteria in solid tumors

NCI-CTC:

The National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria

PS:

Performance status

HER2:

Human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2

ER:

Estrogen receptor

PgR:

Progesterone receptor

HUS:

Hemolytic uremic syndrome

CI:

Confidence interval

TTP:

Time to progression

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Institute Hospital, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, 3-10-6 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 135-8550, Japan

    Masahiko Tanabe, Yoshinori Ito, Nahomi Tokudome, Tsutomu Sugihara, Hiroyoshi Miura, Shunji Takahashi & Kiyohiko Hatake

  2. Department of Breast Oncology, Cancer Institute Hospital, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, 3-10-6 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 135-8550, Japan

    Masahiko Tanabe & Takuji Iwase

  3. Department of Surgical Metabolic Care and Endocrine Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan

    Masahiko Tanabe & Yasuyuki Seto

  4. Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan

    Yasuyuki Seto

Authors
  1. Masahiko Tanabe
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  2. Yoshinori Ito
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  3. Nahomi Tokudome
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  4. Tsutomu Sugihara
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  5. Hiroyoshi Miura
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  6. Shunji Takahashi
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  7. Yasuyuki Seto
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  8. Takuji Iwase
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  9. Kiyohiko Hatake
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yoshinori Ito.

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Tanabe, M., Ito, Y., Tokudome, N. et al. Possible use of combination chemotherapy with mitomycin C and methotrexate for metastatic breast cancer pretreated with anthracycline and taxanes. Breast Cancer 16, 301–306 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-009-0093-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-009-0093-0

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