Cisplatin in combination with continuous infusion vinblastine for refractory breast cancer.
We assessed antitumor activity and toxic effects of cisplatin and 5-day continuous infusion vinblastine in 25 evaluable patients with metastatic breast carcinoma refractory to one or more chemotherapeutic regimens. We administered cisplatin at 70 mg/m2 i.v. followed by vinblastine 1.5 mg/m2 daily for five consecutive days. In our heavily pretreated, poor performance patient population, we observed one complete response and four partial responses, with a median time to progression of 35 weeks. Toxic effects were significant and prevented dosage escalation. The addition of cisplatin does not appear to improve the therapeutic value of vinblastine alone.
Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) with an intracaval stent is a rare presentation. In most Western patients with BCS, it is predominantly the hepatic veins that are involved, not the inferior vena cava (IVC). In the case presented, the patient had antiphospholipid syndrome with BCS that involved the IVC and required an intracaval stent. Presented with the case study are scanning techniques for BCS and the IVC to help sonographers evaluate the normal and abnormal anatomy and hemodynamics of this system.