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Breast Cancer Therapy
Findings from Gazi University, Department of Medical Oncology advance knowledge in breast cancer therapy
November 5th, 2009
Current study results from the report, 'UFT plus oral folinic acid with alternating oral and intravenous vinorelbine in patients with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with anthracyclines and taxanes,' have been published. According to a study from Ankara, Turkey, "We retrospectively evaluated the activity and toxicity of uracil/tegafur (UFT) plus oral folinic acid in combination with vinorelbine (alternating intravenous (IV) on day 1 and oral on day 8) in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Treatment consisted of IV vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 on day 1 and 60 mg/m2 orally on day 8, and oral UFT 300 mg/m2 plus leucovorin 60 mg/m2 on days 1-14 with 21 days interval." "All patients were refractory to anthracyclines and taxanes. Partial response (PR) was observed in 3 (9.7%) and stable disease (SD) was observed in 13 (41.9%) patients. Total clinical benefit (PR + SD) of the combination was 51.6%. The median response duration was 3 (range 1-11.8) months. Median overall survival was 9.8 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 7.5-12.1), and median time to progression was 3.4 months (95% CI: 2.3-4.5). The most common toxicities were hematologic, including 4 (12.9%) cases of grade 3 neutropenia and 4 (12.9%) cases of grade 4 neutropenia. Grade 3 diarrhea was reported in 2 (3.2%) patients. 3 (9.7%) patients had hand-foot syndrome. Febrile neutropenia was observed in 1 patient," wrote U. Coskun and colleagues, Gazi University, Department of Medical Oncology. The researchers concluded: "Although the combination is safe and convenient in clinical practice, it has only moderate activity in metastatic breast cancer patients." Coskun and colleagues published the results of their research in Onkologie (UFT plus oral folinic acid with alternating oral and intravenous vinorelbine in patients with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with anthracyclines and taxanes. Onkologie, 2009;32(10):562-6). For additional information, contact U. Coskun, Gazi University Medical School, Dept. of Medical Oncology, Ankara, Turkey. The publisher of the journal Onkologie can be contacted at: S. Karger AG, Allschwilerstrasse 10, CH-4009 Basel, Switzerland. Keywords: Turkey, Ankara, Breast Cancer Therapy, Breast Cancer, Breast Carcinoma, Leucovorin, Oncology, Therapy, Treatment, Vinorelbine, Women's Health. This article was prepared by NewsRx editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, NewsRx.com.
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