Multiple cycles of dose-intensive chemotherapy with repeated stem cell support as induction treatment in metastatic breast cancer: a feasibility study

Fever and breast cancer: A critical review of the literature and possible underlying mechanisms

Fever is a common feature in various pathological conditions that manifests a series of molecular events in the internal milieu. Much less attention has been paid to the clinical importance and the management of fever in breast cancer patients. However, several studies have reported an association between postoperative fever and poor treatment outcomes in breast cancer patients. The fever is a side effect of chemotherapy and a manifestation of cancer recurrence. The postmenopausal breast cancer patients experience another body temperature disturbance that is known as a hot flashes. Here, we reviewed the literature regarding postoperative fever and the possible underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms. Then the efficacy of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was discussed as a therapeutic option to control postoperative fever. Finally, we reviewed the chemotherapy-induced neutropenic fever and cancer vaccination-induced fever.

Ifosfamide in Advanced/Disseminated Breast Cancer

Ifosfamide is an alkylating agent active in various tumor types including breast cancer. The availability of mesna (sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate) has increased its safety, avoiding the main dose-limiting side effect, urotoxicity. Interesting activity as a single agent, with response rates ranging from 7 to 30%, is reported in pretreated patients; more attractive data derived from phase II studies on ifosfamide combined with drugs known to be active in advanced breast cancer show response rates always over 35%. This review has taken in consideration papers published after 1995 and available on PubMed medline: the data indicate a potential usefulness of ifosfamide in the clinical management of advanced breast cancer, even if the exact therapeutic role of the drug in this setting should be derived from randomized studies not yet available.