Twenty-two women with metastatic breast cancer, previously submitted to one or more lines of chemotherapy, were treated with mitoxantrone as single agent delivered at full dosage (14 mg/m(2)) every other week (accelerated chemotherapy). This dose was possible with concomitant subcutaneous administration of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) on days 5 to 12 of each 14 day cycle. Although grade III-IV leukopenia, anemia and thrombocytopenia were observed in 50%, 13%, and 27% of cases, respectively, a complete recovery of neutrophils, due to G-CSF administration, permitted on time cycle delivery in the majority of cases. Partial response was observed in 6/22 patients (27%). In conclusion, accelerated chemotherapy with mithoxantrone plus G-CSF is both feasible and effective for patients with previously treated breast cancer.

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