Fifteen women with advanced breast cancer underwent chemotherapeutical treatment with continuous arterial infusion of 5-Fluorouracile. The age of the patients ranged from 36 to 68 years; the patient of 36 had been previously ovariectomized. For cancer of internal or central quadrants of the breast, internal mammary artery was incannulated, while for those of the external ones, the tip of the catheter was led into subclavian artery through an arterotomy of brachial artery. In the cases in which the tumor was extended to the whole breast two vessels were incannulated, namely internal mammary and brachial artery. The drug was administered in a dose of 1 g a day, for a period of time ranging from 2 to 8 days, in 1000 ml of dextrose solution. The results of the treatment are the following: regression of more than 50% in 4 cases; regression of less than 50% in 5 cases; in 5 cases poor or no result was obtained. One woman died after one day of treatment from coma cerebralis. In 7 cases complications were observed, mainly spasm and thrombosis of the arteries and flittenular dermatitis; in 2 cases a decrease of WBC down to 3000/cmm was observed. In our experience, this method of chemotherapy seems to be indicated in a limited number of cases in which the tumor, though locally advanced, is still contained within the limits of the anatomic region. It is also indicated in case of local recurrences of tumors previously operated and expecially in carcinomatous mastitis.
Main complications and results of treatment with intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy through the subclavian and thoracic arteries for locally advanced breast cancer