A randomized trial of five and three drug chemotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy in women with operable node positive breast cancer

Performance of General Hospitals in Delivering Adjuvant Chemotherapy to Breast Cancer Patients

Indications for and modes of delivery of adjuvant chemotherapy in early breast cancer were assessed in a group of 353 patients followed within a cohort of 1110 newly diagnosed cases in 54 Italian general hospitals. Among node-positive patients 79 % pre- and 44 % postmenopausal women had the treatment. Only a few node-negative women (10 % pre- and 5 % post-menopausal) were treated. The multidrug combination CMF was by far the most commonly employed (89 %) in its two types: cCMF (the classic combination where cyclophosphamide is given orally on days 1–14 and the two other drugs i.v. on days 1 and 8 every 28 days for either 6 or 12 cycles) to 33 % women and nCMF (the more recent combination where all three drugs are given i.v. on day 1 every 21 days for 12 cycles) to 63 %. The mode of delivery of treatment was consistent with the Italian National Breast Cancer Task Force (F.O.N. Ca. M.) recommendations for the cCMF combination, but the lack of clear guidelines on the use of nCMF led to wide variations in the total number of cycles administered. At present, however, it is hard to establish whether this will have any impact on patients’ outcome. Overall the study suggests that adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer has entered general practice and can be satisfactorily delivered at the community level. However, better guidelines need to specify more precisely the treatment indications (i.e. subgroups with greater expected benefits), regimen type (is nCMF still experimental or already standard?) and treatment duration, in view of the present uncertainty about what should be the standard for general practice. The paper finally discusses the feasibility of the treatment comparing general hospitals’ performance with that achieved in controlled clinical trials of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Impact of age, comorbidity and symptoms on physical function in long-term breast cancer survivors (CALGB 70803)

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of aging, comorbidities and symptoms on physical function in patients surviving 20 years since adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. PATIENTS #ENTITYSTARTX00026; METHODS: Patients were originally treated on CALGB 7581 (from 1975-1980), a randomized trial of three adjuvant therapies and reassessed (153 of 193 eligible survivors) 20 years from the onset of therapy for physical function and symptoms by the EORTC QLQ-C30 and comorbidities by the OARS questionnaire. RESULTS: The average age at reassessment was 64.5 years. 66% of patients had at least two comorbidities and 22% had four or more, but relatively little interference with activities. Older patients had greater multimorbidity. Physical function was generally high and comparable to matched population norms. Older patients had greater difficulty with strenuous activities. For every increase in number of comorbidities, physical function score decreased by 5.1 (p<.001). Symptoms were also frequent (80%) and correlated strongly with decreases in function (0-100u scale) (p <.001), to an even greater degree than comorbidities. CONCLUSION: Very long-term cancer survivors have changes in physical function and symptoms largely consistent with their aging suggesting that the impact of cancer and its treatment is attenuated over time and largely replaced by the impact of age-related comorbidities and functional decline.

Cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy consists of approaches that modify the host immune system, and/or the utilization of components of the immune system, as cancer treatment. During the past 25 years, 17 immunologic products have received regulatory approval based on anticancer activity as single agents and/or in combination with chemotherapy. These include the nonspecific immune stimulants BCG and levamisole; the cytokines interferon-α and interleukin-2; the monoclonal antibodies rituximab, ofatumumab, alemtuzumab, trastuzumab, bevacizumab, cetuximab, and panitumumab; the radiolabeled antibodies Y-90 ibritumomab tiuxetan and I-131 tositumomab; the immunotoxins denileukin diftitox and gemtuzumab ozogamicin; nonmyeloablative allogeneic transplants with donor lymphocyte infusions; and the anti-prostate cancer cell-based therapy sipuleucel-T. All but two of these products are still regularly used to treat various B- and T-cell malignancies, and numerous solid tumors, including breast, lung, colorectal, prostate, melanoma, kidney, glioblastoma, bladder, and head and neck. Positive randomized trials have recently been reported for idiotype vaccines in lymphoma and a peptide vaccine in melanoma. The anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody ipilumumab, which blocks regulatory T-cells, is expected to receive regulatory approval in the near future, based on a randomized trial in melanoma. As the fourth modality of cancer treatment, biotherapy/immunotherapy is an increasingly important component of the anticancer armamentarium.

Phase III study to evaluate the use of high-dose chemotherapy as consolidation of treatment for high-risk postoperative breast cancer: Japan Clinical Oncology Group study, JCOG 9208

A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) as consolidation of the treatment of high-risk postoperative breast cancer. Patients under 56 years of age with stage I to IIIB breast cancer involving 10 or more axillary lymph nodes were eligible. The primary endpoint was relapse-free survival (RFS). Between May 1993 and March 1999, 97 patients were enrolled, and two patients became ineligible. The median age of the 97 patients was 46 years (range 27-55 years), and 72 (74%) were premenopausal. The median number of involved axillary nodes was 16 (range 10-49). All patients had undergone a radical mastectomy. Major characteristics were well balanced between the treatment arms. Forty-eight patients in the standard-dose (STD) arm received six courses of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and 5-fluorouracil followed by tamoxifen. Forty-nine patients were assigned to undergo HDC with cyclophosphamide and thiotepa after six courses of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and 5-fluorouracil followed by tamoxifen; however, 15 of these patients (31%) did not undergo HDC. HDC was well tolerated without any treatment-related mortality. At a median follow-up of 63 months, the 5-year RFS of 47 eligible patients in the STD arm and 48 eligible patients in the HDC arm was 37% and 52% on an intent-to-treat basis, respectively (P = 0.17). Five-year overall survival of all randomized patients was 62% for the STD arm and 63% for the HDC arm (P = 0.78). Although the prespecified values of the two arms were not so accurate as to allow detection of the observed difference, no advantage of HDC was observed in terms of RFS or overall survival.

Primary chemotherapy in operable breast carcinoma comparing CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil) with an anthracycline-containing regimen: short-term responses translated into long-term outcomes

BACKGROUND

The role of anthracyclines has been extensively studied in adjuvant chemotherapy, but much less in the primary chemotherapy of early breast carcinoma. This study, comparing CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil) with the rotational anthracycline-containing regimen CMFEV (CMF plus epirubicin and vincristine) administered as primary chemotherapy, demonstrated a significant increase in clinical complete response in premenopausal women. We report the long-term results.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Two hundred and eleven patients with stage I or II palpable breast carcinoma and a tumour diameter of >2.5 cm were randomised to receive CMF or CMFEV for four cycles before surgery. After surgery, the patients in both arms received adjuvant CMF for three cycles.

RESULTS

In the study population as a whole, there was a non-significant 20% reduction in mortality and relapse rates in the CMFEV arm. However, the effect of the experimental regimen was only found in premenopausal patients, especially in terms of relapse-free survival (P=0.07) and locoregional relapse-free survival (P=0.0009), thus mirroring the effect on response rates. After 10 years, the proportions of premenopausal patients free from locoregional relapse as a first event in the CMF and CMFEV groups were 68% and 97%, respectively. No relevant differences were found in postmenopausal patients.

CONCLUSION

The overall results of this study showed that the greater activity of the experimental anthracycline-containing combination over CMF as primary chemotherapy in premenopausal patients translated into long-term effects in the same subgroup.

The effect of radiotherapy on the use of immediate breast reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Immediate breast reconstruction techniques include tissue-expansion, latissimus dorsi flap with or without an implant, pedicled TRAM flap and free tissue-transfer. Adjuvant radiotherapy decreases loco-regional recurrence and increases overall survival. Radiotherapy in the presence of a tissue-expander or an implant can lead to an increased number of complications and poor cosmetic outcome.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To study the relationship between radiotherapy and the choice of the immediate breast reconstruction technique in view of the increased number of breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant radiotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

An audit of 121 patients who had immediate breast reconstruction over a period of 2 years was reviewed retrospectively. In March 1998, the radiotherapy protocol was revised. Forty-two patients operated on between January 1997 and March 1998 were compared to 79 patients operated on between April 1998 and June 1999.

RESULTS

The percentage of patients receiving adjuvant radiotherapy increased in the second period as well as the proportion of autologous breast reconstruction. A small percentage of patients required unexpected radiotherapy after insertion of tissue expanders, due to narrow excision margins or unexpected pathology. Only two patients had tissue-expansion although radiotherapy was likely.

CONCLUSION

The choice of the immediate breast reconstruction technique was satisfactory in most patients. The use of implants is best avoided in patients who may require adjuvant radiotherapy. Autologous immediate breast reconstruction, either free or pedicled flaps, is a safer choice for those patients.

Natural history of more than 20 years of node-positive primary breast carcinoma treated with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy: a study by the Cancer and Leukemia Group B

PURPOSE

Breast cancer heterogeneity dictates lengthy follow-up to assess outcomes. Efficacy differences for three regimens that are based on adjuvant cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF) are presented in this article, but cancer recurrence sites, time of relapse, subsequent primary cancers, and causes of death in the natural history of node-positive breast cancer are emphasized.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Beginning in 1975, 905 patients with node-positive cancer were randomly assigned to receive CMF or two regimens of CMF plus other agents. Median follow-up is 22.6 years. The natural-history analysis was performed on a subset of 814 patients.

RESULTS

Eighty percent of the 599 women known to have died, died of metastatic breast cancer. Only 8.5% of the deceased women died of a cause other than breast cancer, a second or third cancer, or adjuvant chemotherapy toxicity. One hundred five women (12.8%) developed other primary cancers, with 49 (46.6%) occurring in the contralateral breast. Therapeutic efficacy differences of the CMF regimens reported earlier have been maintained more than 20 years later. For certain subsets, the five-drug regimen had advantages over CMF. Bone was the most common recurrence site. The longest interval to relapse has been 23.5 years, and 18% of those who relapsed did so more than 10 years later.

CONCLUSION

Despite adjuvant chemotherapy, a large majority (80%) of women with node-positive breast cancer die of the disease, and many recurrences develop more than 10 years later. CMF plus vincristine and prednisone provides a benefit compared with CMF, but the magnitude varies with the number of involved nodes. Outcome trends in earlier analyses of this study were maintained even years later.

Adjuvant chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil, vincristine, and prednisone compared with single-agent L-phenylalanine mustard for patients with operable breast carcinoma and positive axillary lymph nodes: 20-year results of a Southwest Oncology Group study

BACKGROUND

Adjuvant combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil plus vincristine and prednisone (CMFVP) was compared with single-agent L-phenylalanine mustard (L-PAM) for the treatment of patients with axillary lymph node positive primary breast carcinoma over 20-years of follow-up.

METHODS

Four hundred forty-one women with axillary lymph node positive breast carcinoma were randomized to receive either combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide (60 mg/m(2) orally every day for 1 year), fluorouracil (300 mg/m(2) intravenously [IV] weekly for 1 year), methotrexate (15 mg/m(2) IV weekly for 1 year), vincristine (0.625 mg/m(2) IV for 10 weeks), prednisone (30 mg/m(2) orally on Days 1-14, 20 mg/m(2) on Days 15-28, and 10 mg/m(2) on Days 29-42), or single-agent chemotherapy with L-PAM (5 mg/m(2) orally every day for 5 days every 6 weeks for 2 years) after undergoing surgery. Patients were stratified according to menopausal status and number of positive lymph nodes (1-3 positive lymph nodes or > 3 positive lymph nodes). Seventy-seven patients were ineligible.

RESULTS

The maximum follow-up is 24 years, with a median follow-up of 21.5 years. Disease free survival and overall survival were superior with CMFVP (two-sided log-rank test; P = 0.0008 and P = 0.007, respectively). For all patients, the estimated 20-year survival rate of patients who received CMFVP was 40% compared with 27% for patients who received L-PAM. There was a substantial survival benefit for CMFVP compared with L-PAM in the subsets of premenopausal patients and patients with four or more positive lymph nodes. The estimated 20-year survival rate for premenopausal women who received CMFVP was 49% compared with 33% for premenopausal women who received L-PAM. Among women with > or = 4 positive lymph nodes, the estimated survival rate for patients who received CMFVP was 31% compared with 15% for patients who received L-PAM. Both regimens were tolerated well. Toxicity was more severe and frequent among patients who received CMFVP.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors conclude that, after 20 years of follow-up, adjuvant chemotherapy with CMFVP remains superior to L-PAM for the treatment of patients with lymph node positive breast carcinoma.

Randomized trial comparing cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) with rotational CMF, epirubicin and vincristine as primary chemotherapy in operable breast carcinoma

BACKGROUND

According to the overview of Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group, anthracycline containing regimens are superior to cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) as adjuvant chemotherapy for breast carcinoma, but no comparative information is available in terms of primary chemotherapy. In the current randomized controlled trial, the authors compared CMF with a chemotherapy regimen including CMF, epirubicin, and vincristine (CMFEV).

METHODS

Two hundred eleven patients with Stages I and II palpable breast carcinoma and tumor diameter > 2.5 cm or < or = 2.5 cm with cytologically proven axillary lymph node involvement were randomized to receive CMF (arm A) or CMFEV regimen (arm B) for four cycles before surgery. After surgery, patients in both arms received adjuvant CMF for three cycles; the postmenopausal patients also received tamoxifen for two years.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in the complete response (CR) and in the CR plus partial response (PR) rates between the two arms. In the subset analysis, among premenopausal patients, significantly higher rates of CR (26% vs 4%, P = 0.004) and of CR + PR rates (80% vs 54%, P = 0.007) were observed in the CMFEV, as compared to the CMF arm. Multivariate analysis confirmed the presence of a significant interaction between menopausal status and type of treatment on the probability of achieving CR (P = 0.02) or CR + PR (P = 0.01). There were no major differences in the side effects of the two treatments, with the exception of more frequent alopecia in the experimental arm.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the current study are in line with those of previous published randomized clinical trials comparing regimens without and with anthracycline as adjuvant treatment, indicating an agreement between the short term response to primary chemotherapy and the long term results observed in the adjuvant setting.

Long-term follow-up of a phase II trial studying a weekly doxorubicin-based multiple drug adjuvant therapy for stage II node-positive carcinoma of the breast

BACKGROUND

Combination chemotherapy improves outcomes in women with breast cancer (BC) that involves axillary nodes. This single-arm study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an intensive doxorubicin-based multidrug regimen as adjuvant therapy in women with stage II, node positive breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 7/80 and 8/85, 654 women, aged 25-73, who had a mastectomy for stage IIB BC were accrued. Patients with prior RT, chemotherapy, or surgical or radiation castration within 1 year of diagnosis were excluded. Treatment consisted of: 6 weekly courses of IV cyclophosphamide (C) 400 mg/m2, doxorubicin (A) 10 mg/m2, vincristine (V) I mg/m2, fluorouracil (F) 400 mg/m2, and a tapering course of prednisone followed by 12 courses of C 400 mg/m2, A 20mg/m2, V 1 mg/m2, F 400 mg/m2 given every 2 weeks. Patients with estrogen receptor positive tumors received Tamoxifen 10 mg bid between weeks 8 and 30. Treatment did not exceed 8 months. Median follow-up is 13.1 years.

RESULTS

Six hundred thirty six patients are eligible. Fewer positive (+) nodes, premenopausal status, and positive progesterone receptor status are significantly (p < 0.05) associated with longer survival. At 10 years, 61% were relapse-free in the 1-3 +node group compared to 37 and 21% in the 4-9 and > or = 10 +node groups, respectively (p = 0.0001). Relapse-free survival at 10 years is 50% for premenopausal and 45% for postmenopausal patients. Severe or life-threatening hematological toxicity was seen in 6/630 (< 1%) patients. Four patients had severe (grade 3) neurotoxicity which resolved. No cardiac toxicity was observed.

CONCLUSION

This adjuvant regimen compares favorably to other published adjuvant treatments with similar length of follow-up.

Does treatment at the time of locoregional failure of breast cancer alter prognosis?

Locoregional recurrence (LRR) after therapy for early breast cancer is common. Patients with LRR can suffer local consequences such as bleeding, ulceration, pain and arm oedema or symptoms of metastases. Unlike existing treatment guidelines for primary tumours, both local (surgical and radiation) and systemic treatment recommendations are less well defined after LRR. The purpose of this review was to assess whether or not treatment at the time of locoregional failure ultimately alters a patient's prognosis. Unfortunately, the data from both retrospective and prospective studies are inconclusive and therefore the treatment of patients with LRR will continue to be recommended using guidelines similar to those for primary breast cancer. Future studies of factors predicting LRR and metastatic spread may allow better prognostication of patients with LRR which may in turn effect both local and systemic treatment decisions.

Locoregionally recurrent breast cancer: incidence, risk factors and survival

Locoregional recurrence (LRR) after therapy for early breast cancer is common. Patients with LRR can suffer both local consequences and symptoms of metastatic disease, as LRR is an independent predictor of subsequent distant metastases. Much of the available data on LRR is derived from small, single institution, retrospective studies, so marked differences in the incidence rates for LRR, it's risk factors and subsequent systemic recurrence are reported. The purpose of this review was to try and collate this data in a format that would be useful for both clinicians and their patients.

'Neo-FAC' (5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide) for poor-prognosis stage IV breast cancer: a Southwest Oncology Group Phase II Study

The authors report a phase II pilot investigation in the Southwest Oncology Group examining a combination of 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FAC) incorporating modulated 5-FU in patients with poor-prognosis stage IV breast cancer. Patients with poor-prognosis stage IV breast cancer were treated with this "neo-FAC" as front-line therapy. The regimen consisted of 5-fluorouracil by continuous ambulatory infusion pump at 200 mg/m2/day for 42 days, repeated at 56-day intervals; doxorubicin at 20 mg/m2/week intravenously to a maximum cumulative total dose (including adjuvant therapy, if any) of 500 mg/m2; cyclophosphamide 60 mg/m2/day taken orally; methotrexate 15 mg/m2/week intravenously beginning 1 week after termination of doxorubicin; and oral prednisone decreasing from 60 mg/day on a tapering schedule for a total of 7 weeks of treatment. Treatment was continued until progression, unacceptable toxicity, or patient refusal. Twenty-four patients were accrued to this study. Of these, two were ineligible, and the remaining 22 were evaluable for response. Ten patients experienced grade 3 toxicity, and six had grade 4. There were no treatment-associated deaths. Best responses were a complete response in one patient (5%) and partial responses in 6, for an overall response rate of 32% (7/22 evaluable patients). Overall survival in five pilot studies in the Southwest Oncology Group in this poor-prognosis population are relatively superimposable. The present regimen, with its relatively poor outcome and the expense and inconvenience of administering chemotherapy by ambulatory infusion pump, will not be pursued further.

Initial paclitaxel improves outcome compared with CMFP combination chemotherapy as front-line therapy in untreated metastatic breast cancer

PURPOSE

To determine the place of single-agent paclitaxel compared with nonanthracycline combination chemotherapy as front-line therapy in metastatic breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with previously untreated metastatic breast cancer were randomized to receive either paclitaxel 200 mg/m(2) intravenously (IV) over 3 hours for eight cycles (24 weeks) or standard cyclophosphamide 100 mg/m(2)/d orally on days 1 to 14, methotrexate 40 mg/m(2) IV on days 1 and 8, fluorouracil 600 mg/m(2) IV on days 1 and 8, and prednisone 40 mg/m(2)/d orally on days 1 to 14 (CMFP) for six cycles (24 weeks) with epirubicin recommended as second-line therapy.

RESULTS

A total of 209 eligible patients were randomized with a median survival duration of 17.3 months for paclitaxel and 13.9 months for CMFP. Multivariate analysis showed that patients who received paclitaxel survived significantly longer than those who received CMFP (P =.025). Paclitaxel produced significantly less severe leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, mucositis, documented infections (all P <.001), nausea or vomiting (P =.003), and fever without documented infection (P =.007), and less hospitalization for febrile neutropenia than did CMFP (P =.001). Alopecia, peripheral neuropathy, and myalgia or arthralgia were more severe with paclitaxel (all P <.0001). Overall, quality of life was similar for both treatments (P > = .07).

CONCLUSION

Initial paclitaxel was associated with significantly less myelosuppression and fewer infections, with longer survival and similar quality of life and control of metastatic breast cancer compared with CMFP.

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation as treatment for high-risk breast cancer

High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation has emerged as a common treatment for patients with breast cancer who have a poor prognosis. The success of this approach appears to depend on the tumor burden and the sensitivity of the disease to chemotherapy because treatment techniques have been refined and treatment-related mortality has declined. Phase II studies in patients with stage II and III disease are encouraging and suggest that treatment with high-dose chemotherapy before the development of metastatic disease may provide an advantage in terms of relapse-free and overall survival. However, tumor cells may contaminate stem cell collections and contribute to relapse after transplantation. Therefore it may be important to separate and select purified CD34+ cells which are not contaminated. It has been suggested that selection bias contributes to the favorable preliminary results observed in phase II studies of high-risk patients. Such issues, together with patient and physician bias regarding the benefits of this strategy, emphasize the need to complete the prospective randomized trials now underway.

Meta-Analysis of the Second Collaborative Study of Adjuvant Chemoendocrine Therapy for Breast Cancer (ACETBC) in Patients with Stage II, Estrogen-Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer

The second 5-year study of postoperative adjuvant therapy in patients with breast cancer between 1985 and 1988 was performed by the Study Group for Adjuvant Chemoendocrine Therapy for Breast Canecr (ACETBC). This report describes the results of a meta-analysis of the outcome. A total of 3012 patients with stage II, estrogen-receptor-positive primary breast cancer who underwent radical surgery (total mastectomy with at least axillary dissection) were eligible for the analyses. On the day of surgery, all patients received 13 mg/m(2) of mitomycin C (MMC) intravenously. Patients were then given one of two adjuvant chemoendocrine therapies for 2 years:regimen A, consisting of tamoxifen citrate (TAM) 30 mg/day, or regimen B, consisting of TAM 30 mg/day plus tegafur (Futraful, FT)600 mg/day. The results from all eligible patients were included in a meta-analysis according to the method of Peto et al. The odds reduction rate was 12 +/-13% (log-rank test, P= 0.35)for the 5-year survival rate and 16 +/- 10% (log-rank test, P=0.093)for the 5-year non-recurrence rate. In terms of the 5-year non-recurrence rate. regimen B(with FT)yielded slightly, but not significantly, better results than regimen A. In addition, stratified analyses were carried out with respect to the 5-year non-recurrence rate. Regimen B(with FT)yielded significantly better results than regimen A in patients with four or more positive axillary nodes (log-rank test, P= 0.039) and yielded slightly, but not significantly, better results than regimen A in premenopausal patients (log-rank test, P= 0.079).

Patterns of tumor relapse following mastectomy and adjuvant systemic therapy in patients with axillary lymph node-positive breast cancer. Impact of clinical, histopathologic, and flow cytometric factors

BACKGROUND

This analysis was conducted to evaluate the impact of selected clinical, histopathologic, and flow cytometric factors on sites of initial tumor relapse after postmastectomy adjuvant systemic therapy.

METHODS

Five hundred sixty-four patients with axillary node-positive breast cancer were entered in two prospectively randomized trials and received cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil and prednisone with or without tamoxifen as sole adjuvant therapy. These patients were studied to assess the risk of locoregional recurrence and to identify factors that might predict tumor relapse site.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up of 9.3 years, the 8-year cumulative incidences of initial locoregional or distant relapse were 20% and 35%, respectively. Pathologic tumor stage, estrogen receptor content, and number of involved axillary nodes were independent predictive factors for an increased risk of locoregional recurrence. With the exception of tumor stage, these factors also were associated with an increased risk of distant relapse so that tumor stage (T3a) remained the sole factor predictive of increased relative risk for initial locoregional (versus distant) recurrence in patients with tumor progression. Clinical and flow cytometric factors were not predictive of initial locoregional or distant relapse.

CONCLUSIONS

Exploratory data analysis of two prospective trials of postmastectomy adjuvant systemic therapy has demonstrated a significant risk for initial isolated locoregional recurrence in certain patients with node-positive breast cancer. The benefit of improved locoregional tumor control in appropriately selected patients with axillary node-positive breast cancer who receive adjuvant systemic therapy requires additional investigation.

Management of locally recurrent breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Locoregional recurrences occur commonly in women with breast cancer and often have grave prognostic implications. Major controversies exist concerning the prophylaxis, implications, and treatment of such relapses and are the focus of this review.

METHODS

The relevant medical literature was reviewed and analyzed.

RESULTS

Locoregional recurrences may be prevented by postoperative radiation therapy; however, this has little impact on survival. Postoperative systemic therapy prevents locoregional relapse, but less efficiently than radiation therapy. When these modalities are combined, radiation therapy often is delayed until after several cycles of chemotherapy. Optimal sequencing remains controversial. Most patients with locoregional relapses have an exceedingly poor outlook. Radiation therapy provides excellent local control; however, the addition of combination chemotherapy should be considered for patients with defined poor prognostic features. The clinical impact of recurrence in the breast after breast-conserving primary treatment now is emerging. Such local relapses do not have the dreaded prognostic implications of locoregional relapse after mastectomy, but are a marker for an increased risk of dissemination. Standard therapy in this setting remains mastectomy. Additional breast-conserving surgery may be considered in the context of clinical trials for patients with certain favorable features. Conversely, some local relapses after breast-conserving surgery have a poorer prognosis, and the addition of adjuvant systemic therapy should be considered in addition to mastectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

The heterogenous nature of locoregional relapses has made it difficult to conduct prospective randomized clinical trials. However, many retrospective data exist, making it possible to recommend rational treatment approaches for these patients.

An intensive sequenced adjuvant chemotherapy regimen for breast cancer

Twenty-two women (17 pre- and 5 postmenopausal) with nodepositive, stage II breast carcinoma were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of 16 weeks of intensive CMFVP (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, vincristine, and prednisone) administered in the original dose and schedule of the "Cooper regimen," followed by four monthly, 3-day cycles of escalating doxorubicin. Toxicity was related primarily to myelosuppression associated with the doxorubicin component of the treatment regimen. All patients recovered without sequelae. No patient developed significant cardiac toxicity. With a median follow-up of 43 months (range: 20-89 months), two postmenopausal patients and one premenopausal patient have relapsed at 35, 37, and 42 months, respectively. By Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, there is an 80.5% chance of disease-free survival to 42 months. The feasibility of administering adjuvant CMFVP followed by intensive doxorubicin has been established. The pilot results warrant comparative trial with the best of current regimens.

Proportional hazards and recursive partitioning and amalgamation analyses of the Southwest Oncology Group node-positive adjuvant CMFVP breast cancer data base: a pilot study

Several putative prognostic factors have been identified in node-positive breast cancer patients, but their importance needs to be clarified in a uniformly treated population. The objectives of this investigation were: 1) to describe the characteristics of a uniformly treated node-positive data base; 2) to use proportional hazards (Cox) and recursive partitioning and amalgamation (RPA) multivariate models to assess the importance of potential prognostic factors for disease-free and for overall survival; and 3) to define prognostic groups with different disease-free survival and survival outcomes with RPA. A data base of 768 node-positive patients enrolled on 1-year adjuvant CMFVP arms of four SWOG trials was formed. Variables were number of positive nodes, age, age at menopause, menopausal status, ER status, ER and PgR levels (for RPA only), tumor size, race, breast cancer in mother, and obesity index. Independent predictors of both disease-free and overall survival in the Cox models were: number of positive nodes (4-6 worse than 1-3, and better than greater than 6); the age/menopause category (age greater than or equal to 35/premenopausal better than age less than 35/premenopausal and better than postmenopausal); and ER status (patients on ER-negative study worse than others). The RPA for disease-free survival defined four subgroups based on nodes, menopausal status, tumor size, and age at menopause (5-year recurrence-free rates = 73%, 52%, 38%, and 15%). The RPA for survival found four prognostic groups, defined only by the number of positive nodes and ER and PgR levels (5-year survivals = 91%, 72%, 56%, and 37%). Both RPAs suggested interesting refinements of the results of the Cox models. In the RPA for disease-free survival, best node cutoffs differed by menopausal status, tumor size was important only in postmenopausal patients with few positive nodes, and age at menopause emerged as an independent predictor of recurrence potential. And, the RPA for survival showed that node cutoffs differed according to ER level. Thus, these analyses underscore the value of simple, clinically available prognostic factors and suggest the possible need to reconsider the definition of good and poor risk patient groups in future adjuvant trial design.

The results of radiation therapy for isolated local regional recurrence after mastectomy

Between 1967 and 1988 128 patients with isolated local-regional recurrence of breast cancer after mastectomy were treated with definitive radiation therapy. Recurrence was confined to a single site in 108 patients and multiple sites in 20. The chest wall was the most common location (86) and the supraclavicular region was the second most common (20). Surgical treatment for recurrence prior to irradiation consisted of excision of all gross disease in 78 patients and incisional biopsy in 49 patients. Irradiation was directed to the entire chest wall in 19% of patients with isolated chest wall recurrences and to the chest wall and regional nodes in 81%. In patients with isolated nodal failures, treatment was directed to the nodal site and chest wall in 87% and to the regional site alone in 13%. Patients with multiple sites received treatment to the chest wall and regional nodes in all cases. Electively treated sites usually received 4500-5000 cGy. Following excision of chest wall disease, the median dose was 6000 cGy. Gross disease on the chest wall received a median dose of 6100 cGy. Gross disease in nodal sites received a median dose of 5600 cGy; 66 patients received systemic therapy at recurrence. The 5-year actuarial local-regional control was 43%. In a multivariate analysis only the estrogen receptor status of the recurrence remained significant (p = .002). The 5-year actuarial survival was 49% with a relapse-free survival of 24%. In a multivariate analysis for survival, the disease-free interval (p = .007), local regional control (p = .006), and excisional biopsy for recurrence (p = .03) remained significant. In a multivariate analysis for relapse-free survival, the disease-free interval (p = .03), excisional biopsy (p = .0001), and the extent of axillary nodal involvement (p = .007) remained significant. In the subgroup of patients with a disease-free interval greater than or equal to 24 months, excisional biopsy, and local regional control, the 5-year survival was 61% with a relapse-free survival of 59%. This subgroup represents 18% of the entire group and has a relatively good prognosis after recurrence.

Recent advances in the treatment of breast cancer

Multidisciplinary efforts have defined a number of prognostic factors and newer strategies to improve the outcome of patients with breast cancer. Conservative surgery has led to improved functional and cosmetic results. The development of a number of effective adjuvant regimens has led to improved survival. In patients with stage I disease, several biological characteristics of tumor have been identified that are associated with increased risk of relapse. A multimodality approach to patients with locally advanced disease and inflammatory cancer has resulted in improved survival. A number of hormonal and cytotoxic drug contaminations can palliate metastatic disease, with a small fraction of patients remaining in extended remission. Dose-intensive programs may lead to further improvements in survival of selected patients with this disease.

Association of disease-free survival and percent of ideal dose in adjuvant breast chemotherapy

The relationship between percent of ideal dose and disease-free survival was examined in 256 Stage II and III patients who participated in a 2-year breast adjuvant chemotherapy trial consisting of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) given postoperatively. When analyzed analogously to previous work, the results confirmed a dose-response relationship: that is, there appeared to be an improved disease-free survival for patients receiving higher doses of adjuvant chemotherapy. The major criticism of such an analysis is its bias. This bias was addressed by considering only patients who were still receiving therapy at 6, 12, and 24 months; then, the dose-response relationship was no longer seen. Although causality cannot be inferred, the apparent differences in disease-free survival among the dose groups can be attributed to recurrences in the first 2 years among patients receiving lower doses of chemotherapy.

Symptoms and rehabilitation needs of patients with early stage breast cancer during primary therapy

The treatment for women diagnosed with early breast cancer is complex, dynamic, and controversial. More choices are available for local control and indications for systemic adjuvant therapy have changed dramatically. Knowledge of predictable physical and psychological responses through the various phases of primary treatment is the first critical element for the rehabilitation of these oncology patients. The health care provider can then anticipate problems, prepare the patient with accurate information, and institute interventions early to minimize symptoms. Information and psychological needs dominate the diagnostic phase, during which communication and emotional support are of paramount importance for decision making. Psychological distress persists through the treatment phase regardless of the choice of mastectomy or breast conservation surgery with radiation. The physical symptoms of these choices are similar, primarily related to the axillary lymph node dissection. Fatigue, breast soreness, sensation, and skin changes are common symptoms with breast irradiation that resolve over time. Nausea, vomiting, fatigue, hair loss, menopausal symptoms, and weight gain are predictable chemotherapy-related side effects and are reported as mild to moderately distressful by the majority of patients. Consistency of information, support, collaboration, coordination of care, and communication among patients and health care providers are essential to meet the challenge of successful treatment and rehabilitation.

Adjuvant chemotherapy and scar irradiation in breast cancer

Twenty-three consecutive premenopausal patients with breast cancer who had four or more positive axillary nodes were treated with six cycles of CMFP followed by irradiation limited to the mastectomy scar (CT-SRT). The relapse-free survival (RFS) rate was compared with a group of 15 patients who were treated with chemotherapy alone (CT). Following an average follow-up of 30 months, the relapse rates for the CT-SRT and CT groups were 30.4% vs. 73.2%, respectively (P less than 0.05).

Results of treatment of stage I-III breast cancer in black Americans. The Cook County Hospital experience, 1973-1987

Whether the prognosis for black women with breast cancer differs from that of nonblack women remains controversial. The treatment results of 526 black women who received definitive therapy for Stage I-III breast cancer at Cook County Hospital, 1973 through 1987 are presented. The 5-year and 10-year projected survival rates for 272 node-negative patients (83.9% and 76.6%, respectively) and for 72 node-positive nonadjuvant treated patients (58.1% and 35.2%, respectively) are similar to those reported in the literature for nonblack patients. Adjuvant therapy improved the projected relapse-free (P = 0.0744) and overall survival curves (P = 0.0448) for 182 node-positive patients compared with nonadjuvant patients. The greatest benefit was seen for patients greater than 50 years of age with one to three positive nodes. The incidence of estrogen and progesterone receptors was found to be similar to those reported for nonblack patients. Once breast cancer has been diagnosed and appropriately treated, there appear to be few differences in the natural history of breast cancer between black and nonblack patients.

Adjuvant chemohormonal therapy with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, and prednisone (CMFP) or CMFP plus tamoxifen compared with CMF for premenopausal breast cancer patients. An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group trial

The current trial was designed to assess whether the addition of prednisone or prednisone + tamoxifen would enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of 1 year of adjuvant CMF therapy. Premenopausal women with ipsilateral axillary node-positive breast carcinoma and known estrogen receptor (ER) status were randomized to receive 1 year of postoperative treatment with 12 28-day cycles of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil (CMF), CMF plus prednisone (CMFP), or CMFP plus tamoxifen (CMFPT). There were 553 analyzed cases with 188 receiving CMF, 183 CMFP, and 182 CMFPT. The overall time to relapse (TTR) and survival comparisons between the regimens are not statistically different at a median follow-up time of 7.7 years. The major subgroups currently with a suggestive TTR difference are greater than 3N+ (CMFPT greater than CMF, P = 0.07) and estrogen receptor-negative (ER-) greater than 3N+ (CMFPT greater than CMF, P = 0.03). Patients receiving CMFPT appeared to have a superior survival to CMF in the ER- greater than 3N+ cohort (P = 0.02). The following patient characteristics were associated with a significantly longer TTR: decreasing nodal involvement or tumor size, positive ER status, age greater than or equal to 40 years, and decreasing obesity. The favorable effects of decreasing nodal involvement, positive ER status, age 40 years or greater, and decreasing obesity carried over to survival. Development of amenorrhea was also significantly associated with improved survival (P = 0.001). Toxicity was increased by the addition of prednisone to CMF and by the addition of tamoxifen to CMFP. Overall relapse patterns were similar among the three regimens. The results of the current trial do not currently suggest an overall therapeutic benefit for adding prednisone or only 1 year of tamoxifen to CMF adjuvant treatment.

Cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF)-induced ocular toxicity

Ocular toxicity is a common, but poorly understood, sequela from CMF chemotherapy. We investigated this toxicity in patients receiving CMF therapy. Detailed interviews in 210 patients revealed that new, unpleasant ocular symptoms developed in 42% of patients receiving CMF, in 39% of subjects receiving other regimens containing 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and only in 18% of subjects receiving a variety of chemotherapy regimens not containing 5-FU. CMF-associated ocular symptoms usually consisted of mild to marked tearing, ocular pruritus, and/or burning. These toxicities usually began 11-17 days after starting a cycle of CMF and lasted for 10-15 days. 5-FU was detected in the tears of 12 tested patients within several minutes after intravenous 5-FU (peak concentrations as high as 60 micrograms/ml). 5-FU tear concentrations did not correlate with the presence or absence of ocular toxicity. There is no established antidote for this toxicity although some patients have reported subjective benefit from cryotherapy, applied around the period of 5-FU injections, or cromolyn sodium eye drops.

Local-regional recurrence in breast cancer after mastectomy and adriamycin-based adjuvant chemotherapy: evaluation of the role of postoperative radiotherapy

In an attempt to determine whether patients treated for breast cancer with radical or modified radical mastectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy benefit from postoperative radiotherapy, 400 women with Stages II-III breast cancer who received adjuvant chemotherapy based on the combination of Adriamycin and Cytoxan were analyzed retrospectively. Prognostic features which predicted a high risk of isolated local-regional relapse were identified. Thirty-eight percent of these patients were also treated with postoperative radiation in addition to adjuvant chemotherapy and were compared to those patients treated only with adjuvant chemotherapy. With a median follow-up of 60 months, 15% of the patients reviewed developed local-regional disease as the first site of relapse without concommitant systemic relapse. When examined univariately, stage of disease, tumor size, nodal status, and estrogen receptor status were strong prognostic variables. Age, cell type, location of tumor within the breast, menstrual status, radiation dose, and type of treatment were not significantly related to isolated local-regional relapse. However, patients who received postoperative radiation were significantly more advanced in their disease condition. When the factors were examined multivariately, the type of treatment along with stage of disease were found to be statistically significant prognostic indicators. About half of the patients were tested for estrogen receptor status. Multivariate analysis performed on this subset of patients showed that estrogen receptor status, type of treatment, and axillary nodal status were significant predictors of the risk of isolated local-regional relapse. This study suggests that patients treated with mastectomy and Adriamycin and Cytoxan-based adjuvant chemotherapy may benefit from postoperative radiation in reducing the risk of isolated local-regional recurrence.

Adjuvant therapy of breast cancer with or without additional treatment with alternate drugs

Three hundred ten patients with Stage II or Stage III breast cancer were entered on an adjuvant protocol consisting of a combination of 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (FACVP). In the second phase of the study, patients with estrogen receptor-negative tumors received sequential courses of methotrexate and vinblastine. Other patients, who were estrogen receptor-positive or unknown, were randomized to receive either tamoxifen alone or tamoxifen plus methotrexate and vinblastine. All therapy was completed within 1 year. The estimated disease-free rate at 5 years was 68% among patients with Stage II disease and 52% for patients who had Stage III disease. Among patients with estrogen receptor-positive tumors, disease-free survival was significantly prolonged in patients who received methotrexate and vinblastine in addition to tamoxifen (P = 0.04). However, this difference was less pronounced when all randomized patients (including those whose estrogen receptor status was unknown) were included in the comparison. Although most patients experienced moderate to severe granulocytopenia, infectious complications were infrequent. One patient died of septicemia. Congestive heart failure developed in two patients, one of whom had a history of myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure.

Intensive short-term chemotherapy in patients with advanced breast cancer

Aiming at a high complete remission rate with an intensive induction regimen, 27 patients with advanced breast cancer were given three cycles of VAC chemotherapy consisting of vindesine 3 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1 and 12, adriamycin 40 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1 and 12, and cyclophosphamide 200 mg/m2 p.o. on days 3-6 and 14-17 together with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) 1,500 mg p.o. daily during the induction phase and 1,000 mg p.o. thereafter until relapse. These VAC double cycles were repeated twice with 3-weekly intervals for a total induction period of 15 weeks. In responders, including no change, the chemotherapy was discontinued thereafter, and the patients were observed until relapse with a maintenance therapy of MPA 1,000 mg p.o. daily. A complete remission (CR) was achieved in 8 (29.6%) and a partial remission (PR) in 13 (48.2%) of the 27 patients (CR + PR 77.8%). A no change (NC) status was found in 6 patients (22.2%). There were no nonresponders. The median duration of the CR was 20 (5-42) months with two patients still in CR at 33 and 36 months, of the PR 8.3 (4-13.5) months, and of the NC 6.7 (2-13) months. The treatment was tolerated without life-threatening toxicity or interval prolongation by all patients. No dose-limiting cardiac toxicity was observed in these patients regularly controlled by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The high response rate of this intensive induction regimen warrants further investigation. Complete remission was achieved only in patients without previous chemotherapy, with marked tumor regression after the first chemotherapy cycle and when there was no extensive bone involvement.

Long-term survival following relapse after 5-FU but not CMF adjuvant breast cancer therapy

Beginning in 1974, patients with greater than or equal to 4 nodes positive following mastectomy were randomized to receive either 5-FU i.v. weekly or CMF i.v. every 2 weeks, both given for 12 months. Median follow-up now exceeds 112 months with nine year results below: (table; see text) Early results based on relapse-free survival favored CMF, but more patients currently are alive on the 5-FU arm. As the survival curves cross at 40 months, the 20% survival advantage for 5-FU did not achieve statistical significance. For 34% of patients failing adjuvant 5-FU, use of combination chemotherapy after relapse (commonly with CMFVP or CMF) resulted in long term survival. In contrast, long-term survival for patients failing adjuvant CMF was unusual. Relapse was detected while under weekly observation in a greater proportion of patients on 5-FU (36%) compared to CMF (6%) adjuvant treatment (p less than 0.05), potentially influencing tumor burden at recurrence. Hormonal therapy or radiation therapy as initial therapy after relapse was ineffective, with no long term survivors resulting on either arm. Weight increase on adjuvant chemotherapy was commonly seen, with weight increase greater than 10 kg associated with a poor prognosis. We conclude that initial improvement in relapse-free survival may not predict long term survival in adjuvant breast cancer trials since both the specific adjuvant therapy given pre-relapse as well as the type of salvage therapy given post-relapse may influence ultimate patient outcome.

Two years of high-dose cyclophosphamide and 5-fluorouracil followed by surgery after 3 months for acute inflammatory breast carcinomas. A phase II study of 25 cases with a median follow-up of 35 months

Twenty-five consecutive cases of inflammatory breast carcinoma were treated with high-dose cyclophosphamide and 5-fluorouracil in 5-day courses every 3 weeks for 2 years, with total mastectomy performed after the third course. The toxicity was high but acceptable in 24 of the patients, provided the doses were decreased. Tumor was found at surgery in all 24 patients, and the lymph nodes were involved in 19 of 24 cases. The median follow-up was 35 months (range, 16-76 months). Thirteen relapses were observed, three of which were exclusively locoregional. The median disease-free survival was 46 months. The expected median survival is greater than 6 years. Six patients were treated with radiotherapy for regional recurrences. The good results obtained with this severe form of the disease confirm: that chemotherapy is highly effective in primary tumors and that initial radiotherapy is not necessary in the management of this disease.

Adjuvant therapy in primary breast cancer

This article considers the role of adjuvant therapy in primary breast cancer, utilizing data from randomized prospective clinical trials as illustrative examples. The ongoing efforts targeted toward addressing some of the unresolved issues are underscored.

Patterns of metastasis and natural courses of breast carcinoma

Breast carcinoma is known to metastatize to all organs. In order to understand the patterns of spread and natural courses, this review summarizes detailed studies of patients with various stages of the disease. After treatment of early breast carcinoma (stage I, II, and some III), the recurrent lesion can be classified as local, regional, distant, or combinations thereof. The sites of dissemination of patients presenting with stage IV disease and of those who had autopsy after diagnosis of breast cancer are presented for comparison. Clinicopathological factors that influence the relative incidence, specific site, subsequent event, and prognosis of recurrent and metastatic breast cancers are discussed.

A retrospective study of earliest indicators of recurrence in patients on Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group adjuvant chemotherapy trials for breast cancer. A preliminary report

A retrospective review of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group adjuvant chemotherapy studies EST 5177 and EST 6177 was performed in order to ascertain the first indicator of relapse in women with breast cancer and pathologically positive axillary lymph nodes. Of 856 evaluable patients, 208 have relapsed. In 175 patients who relapsed, the first indicator could be clearly identified: symptoms, 36%; patient self-examination, 18.3%; physical examination by the physician, 19.4%; abnormal blood chemistries, 12%; bone scans, 8%; chest x-rays, 5.1%; and mammograms, 1.1%. Although 74% of recurrences are therefore detected clinically, in a sizable proportion (26%), the ancillary tests were the earliest indicators of relapse. The manner of detection was not influenced by nodal, estrogen receptor (ER), or menopausal status. These results suggest that the follow-up schedule currently employed by ECOG appears reasonable.

Management of primary breast cancer. What the past decade has taught us

Early detection of breast cancer provides the best chance of cure. For women with stage O or clinical stage I disease, two surgical options are available, with equivalent long-term survival. An increasing number of these women are choosing lumpectomy with radiation therapy to the remaining breast tissue rather than modified radical mastectomy. Clinical stage II patients are treated with modified radical mastectomy. For premenopausal women with positive axillary lymph nodes, six months of adjuvant chemotherapy increases survival. Whether postmenopausal women with positive nodes benefit from chemotherapy is unclear. At present they are best treated in the context of a therapeutic trial. A subset of premenopausal women with stage I breast cancer have tumors that are estrogen receptor-negative and are at high risk of recurrence. These women may benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy and should be entered into a therapeutic trial.