The role of chemotherapy in refractory metastatic breast cancer is still debated. We employed a schedule of cisplatin, mitomycin and vindesine in twenty-one anthracycline- or anthraquinone-pretreated breast cancer patients. The most relevant characteristics of our group were a good performance status (mean Karnofsky index 84) and a high percentage of bone disease (71%). Out of 20 evaluable patients, 4 (20%) achieved a partial response with a median duration of 3.7 months. Median survival was 12.5 months. Severe gastrointestinal toxicity was reported in 66% of patients and G3 alopecia was seen in 24%. Other side effects, including hematological, were negligible. On the basis of the low response rate and poor tolerability we do not reccommend this combination as salvage treatment in metastatic breast cancer. The use of cisplatin-based regimens in untreated patients waits further investigation.

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