Chemotherapy regimens for breast cancer have been given since the 1960s. Combinations of chemotherapy medications are often used together because they increase the chances of cancer cell death. Cells go through various stages and different chemotherapies kill these cells at different stages. The more cells killed, the greater the chance for a cure. For example, adriamycin kills cancer cells by using molecules to interfere with DNA strands, making the cell unable to replicate. Cytoxan crosses links in DNA chains incorrectly, causing the cancer cell to die. Using these medications together increases the chances of more cancer cell deaths.
AC/TAC Regimen
According to the American Cancer Society, the AC regimen is one of the most commonly used chemotherapy regimens today. The AC regimen consists of the medications adriamycin and cyclophosphamide. For certain types of cancer, Taxol may be added to create the TAC regimen.
CMF/CAF Regimen
The CMF regimen consists of the medications cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and fluorouracil. This combination is one of the oldest regimens created to treat breast cancer and is still used today. Often, methotrexate may be substituted by adriamycin to make up the CAF regimen. Regimens vary and are chosen by a physician based on several factors, including type of cancer and the patient's overall health.
EC/CEF
EC is an acronym for the chemotherapy regimen consisting of epirubicin and cyclophosphamide. Again, with this regimen, another drug, known as fluorouracil, may be added. Both epirubicin and adriamycin are anti-tumor antibiotics, another class of chemotherapy. Fluorouracil is a chemotherapy called an antimetabolite. These medications compliment each other to give greater chances of cell death.
TC Regimen
The TC regimen is made up of the drugs cyclophosphamide and taxotere. Taxotere is from a family of medications called taxanes and is closely related to Taxol. Cyclophosphamide is generally used in most drug regimens for breast cancer, although it is rarely used on its own. Cylclophosphamide is from the family of chemotherapy drugs called aklylating agents.
TCH Regimen
Taxotere, carboplatin and herceptin are the medications that make up the TCH regimen. According to the American Cancer Society, this regimen is used in patients who have a certain type of breast cancer that is hormone sensitive. These cancers respond to hormones such as estrogen. Herceptin may also be used following the treatment of the AC regimen.
Other Chemotherapies
In advanced breast cancer that does not respond to traditional chemotherapy regimens, other drugs may be used. The Core Curriculum of Oncology Nursing lists cisplatin, vinorelbine, capecitabine, Doxil, Gemzar, mitoxantrone, ixabepilone, and Abraxane as medications commonly used to treat advanced and metastatic breast cancer. These medications are also sometimes used in addition to chemotherapy regimens listed above.
References
- "Core Cirriculum for Oncology Nursing"; Joanne, Itano PhD.; Karen Taoka MSN; 2005
- American Cancer Society: Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
