Aggressive doxorubicin-containing regimen (prednisone, methotrexate, 5-FU, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide; PM-FAC) in disseminated estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer

Twenty-seven women with disseminated estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer received an aggressive chemotherapy program of prednisone, methotrexate, 5-FU, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide. Responses were achieved in 21 of 26 (81%) evaluable patients, eight (31%) of whom had complete responses. The median survival was 17 months. Despite the favorable overall response and a significant number of complete responses, all patients eventually relapsed. Although most patients relapsed systemically, two relapsed initially in the CNS.