Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and fluorouracil (CAF) plus the treatment of premenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer

Abstract

A phase II study was undertaken to assess the effect of CAF plus depo-buserelin, as first-line treatment, in premenopausal women with breast cancer. Of 66 patients entered 60 are eligible and evaluable; their median age was 45, estrogen receptor (ER) was positive in 9, negative in 11 and unknown in 40. The median disease free interval (DFI) was 11 months. Metastatic sites were visceral in 14, bone in 34 and soft tissue in 37. Twenty-nine patients had metastatic disease of one site, while 31 had 2-4 sites. An objective response of 82% was documented (29 complete responders and 20 partial responders). Median time to treatment failure was 11.5 months and median survival 37 months. Most commonly encountered side effects attributable to CAF were alopecia, nausea and vomiting, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia. Side effects attributable to buserelin were hot flashes. After one cycle baseline mean serum estradiol fell from premenopausal levels to postmenopausal levels. This study showed that CAF plus buserelin is well tolerated, with a very high response rate in selected premenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer.

Effects of 5-fluorouracil, thymoquinone and mammary stem cells’ exosomes on in vitro cultured breast cancer cells

“…However, it is mostly recommended for treating highly aggressive types of breast cancer. Still, 5-FU can be used in the treatment of any stage of breast cancer especially within combination therapies such as CMF (Cyclophosphamide, Methotrexate, and 5-FU), CAF (Cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin, and 5-FU) or CEF (Cytoxan, Ellence, and 5-FU) ( Falkson et al ., 1992 ). Immense research has been done to increase the efficacy of the previously mentioned combination strategies for breast cancer treatment.…”