Tandem high-dose chemotherapy supported by hematopoietic progenitor cells yields prolonged survival in stage IV breast cancer

J. D. Bitran*, B. Samuels, L. Klein, S. Hanauer, L. Johnson, J. Martinec, E. Harris, J. Kempler, W. White

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Scopus citations

Abstract

The aim of this phase II study was to determine the feasibility of using two (tandem) courses of high-dose alkylating agents with bone marrow or peripheral blood progenitor cell support in women with stage IV breast cancer. Women with stage IV breast cancer who had achieved a CR or PR during conventional chemotherapy were enrolled in a phase II trial of high-dose cyclophosphamide 7500 mg/m2 and thiotepa 675 mg/m2 (C+T) followed within 180 days by high-dose melphalan (M) 140 mg/m2. Bone marrow and/or GM-CSF mobilized peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitor cells were used to support high-dose C+T and high-dose M. Twenty-seven women were enrolled in this trial. The median age was 45 years (range 32-56). The median PS was 0 and all patients had achieved either a CR (4/27, 15%) or PR (23/27, 85%) to coventional chemotherapy. All 27 women underwent high dose C+T. The predominant toxicities were mucositis (81%), and diarrhea (81%); two patients (7%) died from infectious complications. Following C+T, the median time to hematologic recovery for neutrophils (ANC > 500 cells/μl) was 12 days and for platelets (> 20 000 cell/μl), 23 days. Following C+T, 18 of 22 patients received high dose M; the predominant toxicities were nausea, vomiting (70%), and mucositis (91%). The median time to hematologic recovery for the ANC was 13 days and for platelets, 18 days. The overall response after high dose C+T and high dose M was 67% (CR, 15/27 patients (56%) and PR(*) (complete resolution of all measurable disease but persistent lytic disease or positive bone scan) 3/27 patients (11%). With median follow-up of 24 months, the actuarial freedom from relapse or treatment failure is 56% at 24 months. At 30 months 56% of patients are alive. For patients who achieve a CR or PR(*) the actuarial freedom from relapse or treatment failure at 24 months is 88%. In women with stage IV breast cancer who attain a CR or PR to conventional chemotherapy, tandem high-dose chemotherapy with ABMT can lead to prolonged relapse-free survival.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)157-162
Number of pages6
JournalBone Marrow Transplantation
Volume17
Issue number2
StatePublished - Feb 1996

Keywords

  • Breast cancer
  • High-dose chemotherapy
  • Progenitor cell support

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hematology
  • Transplantation

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