Allan N. Krutchik

Mitomycin-C and megestrol acetate in treatment of breast cancer refractory to hormonal and combination chemotherapy.

Fifty patients with breast cancer refractory to endocrine manipulation and/or combination chemotherapy were treated with mitomycin‐C 20 mg/m2 I.V. every 4–6 weeks and megestrol acetate 160 mg daily. Of 48 evaluable patients, 4% achieved complete remission (CR), 23% had partial remission (PR). Median duration of response for CR and PR was 7 months. Non‐responders had a median survival of 2 months. The difference in survival of responders (both CR and PR) and non‐responders was statistically significant at p<0.01 level. Attenuated doses of mitomycin‐C were administered at increasing intervals due to cumulative myelosuppressive toxicity.

Pigmentation of the tongue and mucous membranes associated with cancer chemotherapy.

Hyperpigmentation of the tongue and buccal mucosa was observed after administration of conbination chemotherapy containing doxorubicin. The pigmentation lessened after discontinuation of doxorubicin, suggesting this drug as the possible causative agent.

Immune‐complex glomerulonephritis secondary to nonspecific immunotherapy

Hematuria and renal failure developed in two patients with metastatic breast carcinoma while they were receiving nonspecific immunotherapy and chemotherapy. The electron microscopic picture was suggestive of immune‐complex glomerulonephritis.