High-dose Chemotherapy with Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSCT) Support for Recurrent Breast Cancer

Between May 1995 and June 1999 Seven patients with recurrent breast cancer received high dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) . The HDCT regimen consisted of epirubicin (120-260 mg/m? ), cyclophosphamide (0-4000 mg/body) . Medroxy-progesterone (1200 mg/day) was given more than 2 weeks prior to induction chemotherapy. HDCT with PBSCT support was performed on all patients on schedule. No toxic death by chemotherapy occurred. The clinical response was CR in 3, PR in 3 and NC in one patient. The rate of good clinical re-sponse was 86 %. The mean survival duration after recurrence was 24 months (range10-34) . The mean survival period after HDCT was 12 months (range 8-25) . The durations of efficacy were shorter than had been ex-pected. While this treatment resulted in higher rates of clinical response, the prognosis for patients with metastatic tumor was not improved.departmental bulletin pape