ACFT therapy using adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, tegafur and tamoxifen against progressive breast cancer

Multiconcomitant therapy using adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, tegafur and tamoxifen was employed as chemo-endocrine therapy against progressive breast cancer, and the effects, toxicity and prognosis associated with this regimen were studied. This therapy was performed in 24 cases of both inoperable progressive breast cancer and postoperatively recurrent breast cancer. Efficacy was noted in 14 cases, including 4 cases of complete remission, giving an efficacy rate of 58%. Ten patients among the total of 24 are presently alive. The median survival time for all cases was 19.5 months, versus 34.0 months for effective cases and 12.5 months for ineffective cases. The main side effects noted were hematological toxicity, gastrointestinal symptoms and alopecia, but none of these symptoms were serious. Symptoms of heart failure occurred in one patient due to cardiotoxicity of adriamycin, but were not fatal. It can be concluded that ACFT therapy for the treatment of progressive breast cancer results in a good efficacy rate and longer survival time.