Metastatic breast cancer: overall survival related to successive chemotherapies. What do we gain after the third line?

Cancer Invest. 2009 Jan;27(1):81-5. doi: 10.1080/07357900802290580.

Abstract

This retrospective study analyzed, in metastatic breast cancer (MBC), overall survival (OS) related to each subsequent line of chemotherapy (CT). We evaluated 578 patients with a MBC. Among these patients, 558 patients were stratified according to the number of different CT lines received. Median OS decreased from 22.5 to 12.3 months. Nevertheless, survival was rather stable for subsequent lines after the third line of CT around 8 months. In our study, it appeared useful to give several CT lines when possible. Subsequent lines of CT could have a beneficial effect on the survival for some patients with MBC.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Salvage Therapy
  • Survival Rate
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome