Radiology, Vol 197, 199-203, Copyright © 1995 by Radiological Society of North America
Previously treated, locally recurrent breast cancer: treatment with superselective intraarterial chemotherapy
J Gorich, I Hasan, R Majdali, H Sittek, V Kunze, A Doma, M Reiser and HJ Brambs
Department of Radiology I, Universitatsklinik Ulm, Germany.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of intraarterial infusion
chemotherapy (IAC) with mitoxantrone hydrochloride in patients with
previously treated, locally recurrent breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Thirty-nine women (aged 31-82 years) with recurrent breast cancer underwent
superselective IAC (25 mg/m2 mitoxantrone hydrochloride every 24 hours)
through the subclavian artery branches after heparin administration. The
extent of tumor perfusion was monitored with computed tomography during the
intraarterial administration of contrast medium. IAC was repeated one to
nine times. Patients had previously undergone radiation therapy (n = 39),
surgery (n = 20), or systemic chemotherapy (n = 23). RESULTS: The overall
response rate was 77% (n = 30). Eight patients had complete remission.
Progression occurred in three patients. Remission was observed in cases of
lymph node involvement (n = 9). Seven patients are still undergoing
treatment. Side effects were usually moderate. Nine patients died of
systemic tumor spread. In 14 patients, distant metastases developed during
the first 18 months of treatment. CONCLUSION: IAC is an effective,
well-tolerated therapy in patients with locally recurrent breast cancer.
