Adriamycin, 1,3-bis (2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU-NSC 409462), and cyclophosphamide in refractory adenocarcinoma of the breast and other tumors.

Eighty-two patients with metastatic tumor received a therapeutic regimen consisting of BCNU, 100 mg/m2, and cyclophosphamide, 400 mg/m2, both intravenously on day 1, followed by adriamycin, 40 mg/m2, on day 2. Treatment was repeated every 4 weeks. Of 14 evaluable patients with adenocarcinoma of the breast, all resistant to previous chemotherapy and 12 resistant to a five-drug combination chemotherapy program, 12 had objective responses of which seven were good partial responses. Osseous, visceral, and cutaneous metastases responded equally well. Overall, 53% of 68 evaluable patients had objective responses, and 32% had complete or good partial responses. The most encouraging results were in patients with carcinoma of the head and neck, ovarian carcinoma, and multiple myeloma refractory to standard therapy. Significant responses were observed in previously untreated patients with epidermoid carcinoma of the lung, carcinoma of the prostate, and carcinoma of undermined primary. Remissions lasted a median of 5 months. Myelosuppression was moderate in degree and was maximal 2 weeks after treatment. Cumulative thrombocytopenia was apparent but not dose limiting with repeated courses.