More chemo after 6x CMF?
Meet the Experts
Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. is a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer, with a a special interest in cancer survivorship, patient-physician communication, and quality of care for women with breast cancer.
Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.
Question from Tonio: Hello from Spain. My wife, 37 years old, was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (T1N0M0), 2 cm., ER+, PR+, c-erbB-2- (HER-2/neu negative). She has been treated with 6 x CMF, finishing last week, but we believe that it is not the optimum treatment. Would it be possible to add any anthracycline or taxane regimen now?
- Answer —Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H.: Actually, the treatment you've outlined is excellent. Although very large studies suggest a possible benefit to regimens that contain an anthracycline, there are no features of your wife's tumor that make me think this class of drug would be necessary. I am assuming that she will also go on a hormonal-acting agent, such as tamoxifen.
Tumors that have the c-erbB-2- (in other words, are negative for HER-2/neu) can get a good response to CMF chemotherapy as well as to Adriamycin chemotherapy, but tumors that are HER-2 positive may respond better to an Adriamycin-based or a taxane-based chemotherapy.
On Wednesday, February 18, 2004, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Chemotherapy Updates. Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. and Marisa Weiss, M.D. answered your questions about advances in chemotherapy treatment: different types of drugs and regimens, how to reduce or eliminate unpleasant side effects, and more.
The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of Breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.
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