INTRA-ATERIAL CHEMOTHERAPY OF THE BREAST CANCER

Abstract

Introduction. Breast cancer is now the most common malignant tumor among women with annually increasing incidence. One of the new, advanced and minimally invasive breast cancer treatment directions is intra-arterial neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The main purpose of the project is to analyze the results of intraarterial chemotherapy in 30 patients with breast cancer during the period 2004-2006. Materials and methods. Intraarterial chemotherapy was carried out by selective internal thoracic artery catheterisation (a. Thoracica interna), supplying blood for the area of tumor lesions of the breast. Chemotherapy used the common scheme - Taxotere 75 mg/m2 + Doxorubicin 60 mg/m2, doses of chemotherapy are calculated on the basis of the nomogram in dosages for intravenous infusion, the speed of infusion was 8001000 ml/h. The sequential intraarterial injection of chemotherapeutic agents took 3-4 hours. Preoperative chemotherapy consisted of 4 courses. The interval between courses was 3 weeks. Results. As a result of treatment after 2-year chemotherapy a partial regression process is registered in 19 (63.3%) patients, 11 (36.7%) patients got stabilized. After 4 treatments a complete regression is registered in 15 (50%) patients, partial regression - in 12 (40%) patients, stabilization of the process - in 3 (10%) patients. As a result of the above kind of treatment, 27 (90%) patients have managed to undergo radical mastectomy. Conclusion. Application of intraarterial chemotherapy in patients during advanced IIIa, IIIb stages of cancer allows to achieve partial regression even after 2-year therapy. However, despite the effectiveness of the method the intra-arterial chemotherapy is only a step before radiotherapy or surgical treatment, so the method should be used as an initial, important link in the combined treatment of breast cancer.

Keywords

• рак молочной железы
• химиотерапия
• адъювантная химиотерапия
• ангиография