Treatment of advanced breast cancer with a combination of highly agglutinative staphylococcin and vinorelbine-based chemotherapy

Q.-T. Yu, Z.-B. Meng

Department of Chemotherapy, and Department of Interventional Therapy; Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China. qitao_yu1@163.com

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• Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in over 75% of countries worldwide accounting for one in four of all cancers in women. Highly agglutinative staphylococcin (HAS), a mixture of Staphylococcus aureus culture filtrates, has been used clinically as an immunomodifier in the treatment of a number of tumors for many years. The aim of present study is to evaluate the therapeutic effects and safety of treating advanced breast cancer patients with a combined therapy of HAS and vinorelbine-based chemotherapy compared to patients who receive standard chemotherapy alone.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 62 patients with advanced breast cancer were divided into 2 study groups. One group received intravenous injections of HAS and vinorelbine-based chemotherapy (n=31) compared to a control group assigned to receive vinorelbine-based standard chemotherapy (n=31).

RESULTS: Patients with advanced breast cancer who received HAS combined therapy showed a significantly higher overall response rate (Complete Response + Partial Response) of 67.7% compared with patients who received systemic chemotherapy alone (51.6%; p < 0.05). Overall, the occurrence of adverse effects was not significantly different between study groups. HAS was able to remedy the immunosuppressing effects of standard chemotherapy in these patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of advanced breast cancer with of HAS – in combination with vinorelbine-based chemotherapy – was generally more effective and just as safe compared to treatment with vinorelbine-based standard chemotherapy alone.

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