7121 Background: In the 1980s and 1990s, adjuvant chemotherapy with high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) was utilized for the treatment of high-risk breast cancer. Previous studies showed that ASCT significantly reduced the risk of relapse in these patients, but failed to provide evidence of improved overall survival when compared with standard therapy in randomized trials. Due to the mortality, morbidity, and cost associated with ASCT and lack of a clear overall survival benefit, the use of HDC with ASCT for high-risk breast cancer was halted. In this retrospective, observation study, we analyzed the toxicity and efficacy of ASCT in high-risk breast cancer at a large community hospital. Methods: The study population consisted of 57 women diagnosed with high-risk primary breast cancer who underwent treatment with HDC followed by ASCT from 1991-1999. Women receiving treatment for metastatic breast cancer were excluded. The medical records of the study population were retrospectively reviewed, with particular attention to long-term toxicities and efficacy. Results: Fifty seven patients were evaluated: 54 with ductal and/or lobular breast cancer and 3 with inflammatory breast cancer. Median age was 44 years (29- 61). Twenty six patients (46%) were alive at time of review. Twelve patients (21%) experienced a recurrence of their breast cancer. Four patients (7%) developed secondary malignancies. Two patients (4%) experienced cardiac toxicities. Estrogen/progesterone receptor-positive breast cancers accounted for 42% of recurrences, 100% of secondary malignancies, and 50% of cardiac toxicities. HER-2/neu status analysis revealed amplification in 17% of breast cancer recurrences, but in no cases of secondary malignancy or cardiac toxicity. Conclusions: High-dose chemotherapy and ASCT can be effective in reducing long-term recurrences in women with high-risk, Stage II/III breast cancer. This treatment, however, carries an associated risk of secondary malignancies and cardiac toxicities. Estrogen/progesterone receptor-positive breast cancer appears to have a greater association with disease recurrence and secondary malignancies.
High-dose chemotherapy in high-risk breast cancer
