[A case of metastatic breast cancer responding to weekly paclitaxel and high-dose toremifene administrated alternately]

A 64-year-old woman underwent muscle-preserving mastectomy for breast cancer in April 1999. She developed multiple lung metastases 3 months later. The metastases partially responded to 10 cycles of CAF (cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, 5-fluorouracil). However, her lung metastases worsened again 7 months later and CAF was not effective (progressive disease). We therefore began administration of low-dose paclitaxel (80 mg/m2/week) and high-dose toremifene (120 mg/day) alternately in April 2001. This alternative therapy brought a marked decrease in the lung metastases. After 4 cycles of this treatment, lung metastatic findings had disappeared from her chest X-ray. This alternative therapy is potentially effective against metastatic breast cancer.