High dose chemotherapy and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for high risk primary breast cancer: A single center experience in Thailand

Twenty patients with high risk primary breast cancer underwent a high dose chemotherapy program at Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Eligible patients included 21 women who had a histological diagnosis of breast cancer with more than 10 axillary lymph nodes involved. The patients first underwent modified radical mastectomy, followed by conventional doxorubicin containing adjuvant chemotherapy, before entering the treatment program. Peripheral blood stem cells were mobilized with cyclophosphamide and G-CSF and were harvested by leukapheresis. High dose chemotherapy consisted of cyclophosphamide 5,625 mg/m(2), cisplatinum 165 mg/m(2) and carmustine (BCNU) 600 mg/m(2) were subsequently given, followed by infusion of the harvested peripheral blood stem cells, The median duration of cytopenia after transplantation was 8 days (range 7-12), The median expense for the transplantation, in addition to the cost of mastectomy and conventional chemotherapy, was 224,396 Baht (similar to US $5,350). Three out of the first four patients developed interstitial pneumonitis within three months after transplantation. There was one fatal case which was the only regimen related mortality. BCNU was then reduced to 450 mg/m(2) and lung complications were markedly reduced afterwards. The median follow up time was 37 months with a median disease free survival of 38 months and overall survival of four years at 84%.