On the relevance of "second-line" cytotoxic chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer resistant to standard combinations.

85 clinical studies concerning second-line chemotherapy of metastatic breast cancer have been analyzed. With minor exceptions, the mean remission rates ranged between 0-10% (complete remission) and 20-40% (partial remission) for the most commonly used second-line chemotherapy modalities. The mean duration of response was 6 months, the average survival time 10 months. No significant differences in effectiveness and side effects were found when comparing the different second-line treatment programmes.