The CancerWeb Report, What's New In Cancer: April, 1996
Breast Cancer

• Chemotherapy, AVCF versus CMF - The French Oncofrance Group reported the results of a comparison of the effect of two chemotherapy regimens, AVCF (a combination of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, and vincristine) and standard CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil) therapy in 249 women with node-positive breast cancer. After follow-up for 13- 17 years, the overall and disease free survival rates were 56% and 53% for AVCF, versus 41% and 36% for CMF. Differences were significant irrespective of tumor staging or whether local radiotherapy was given. No severe side-effects were encountered. (Misset, J Clin Oncol 14:1136, 1996)

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• How important is supportive care? - The Bone Marrow Transplant Program at Emory University in Atlanta, evaluated the contribution of a comprehensive supportive care approach to the outcome of treatment in 125 poor-risk breast cancer patients. Treatment consisted of continuous 4-day cyclophosphamide infusions, thiotepa, and carboplatin, and support with bone- marrow or peripheral-blood stem cells, recombinant human growth factor, prophylactic antibiotics, management of fevers, use of particulate air (HEPA)-filtered inpatient rooms, and transfusion support. There was only one treatment-related death for a mortality rate of less than 1%, a great improvement over earlier results with less effective support. (Holland, J Clin Oncol 14:1156, 1996)