Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
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Three hundred thirty-six patients with stage II or stage III breast cancer were treated on an adjuvant protocol containing fluorouracil, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (FACVP). Depending on the estrogen-receptor (ER) status, the patients were subdivided to receive maintenance chemotherapy with or without tamoxifen. The administered dose intensity of fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FAC) (mg/m2/wk) relative to the projected dose intensity (based on planned dose) was computed for each patient. ⋯ This retrospective analysis, in a heterogeneously treated group of patients, did not show the differences in outcome associated with dose intensity as demonstrated in the earlier studies comparing projected dose intensity of various cyclophosphamide, methotrexate-, and fluorouracil (CMF)-containing adjuvant trials. Improved DFS was noted in the stage III patients receiving higher dose intensity. Our failure to demonstrate the differences in stage II patients may be due to the narrow range of dose intensity in this study or to a difference in the dose-response curves depending on the stage of disease.