The role of cisplatin in chemotherapy of advanced breast cancer.

Cisplatin containing regimens as first-line, second-line or as a third-line chemotherapy were administered in 26 and 36 patients, respectively. The overall response rate in patients on first-line chemotherapy was 53.9%, in patients on second or third-line chemotherapy 30.6%. The differences both in overall and disease-free survival between patients on first-line and on second/third-line chemotherapy were statistically significant in favor of women treated with first-line chemotherapy (p = 0.05). Hematologic and nonhematologic toxicities were mild to moderate and were more pronounced in patients on second and third-line chemotherapy. The overall response rate, DFS and OS were significantly better and longer in the group of patients treated with "bolus" CDDP in comparison to the group of patients treated with CVI CDDP. Our results confirm the activity of cisplatin-containing regimens (mainly CAP schedules) in patients with advanced breast cancer not only as a first-line therapy but also in heavily pretreated patients by chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy and endocrine manipulation.