ABSTRACT
Three hundred and eight patients with metastatic breast cancer and no previous CT for metastatic disease were randomized to either AC (50/75 mg/m2 every 21 days) or CMF-prednisone (Bonadonna regimen [6]) for either 3 cycles or until disease progression up to 18 months. Response, OS, and QOL were compared in the 4 arms, and in the grouped intermittent vs. continuous arms. There was no significant difference in response rate (RR) between AC-and CMF-treated patients. The combined RR in the intermittent and continuous groups were 32% and 49%, respectively (p 0.02). There was a non-significant trend to superior survival in the continuous group (relative risk 1.3, 95% confidence intervals 0.99-1.6). QOL was better in the continuous group of terms of physical well-being, mood, appetite, and overall as judged by both the patient and physician, and better in the intermittent group for nausea and vomiting after the first 3 months (that is, once off CT).
