[A pilot study of irinotecan hydrochloride for metastatic breast cancer--efficacy as a salvage therapy].

From April 1996 through 1998, we treated twelve metastatic breast cancer patients with CPT-11 100 mg/m2 given on day 1, 8, and 15. All patients had received prior chemotherapy including anthracycline, and also another schedule such as MMC-VDS or HDMTX-5-FU. CPT-11 was well tolerated. One CR, two PR, and two long NC were achieved. Grade 3 leukocytopenia occurred in 2 patients. Grade 1 diarrhea occurred in 3 patients. According to the Kaplan-Meier method, the 50% survival was 354 days. In spite of intense prior chemotherapy, the treatment results with CPT-11 were satisfactory for anthracycline resistant metastatic breast cancer.