[Combination therapy of local tumour recurrence in patients with breast cancer (author's transl)].

Treatment of 54 patients with extensive loco-regional recurrence of breast cancer is reported. Combined radio-chemotherapy was given to all patients with the aim of reducing the irradiation dosage and also decreasing the side effects of chemotherapy by reduced drug dosage. In this way a significant improvement in the quality of life could be achieved. The remission rate in patients with their first recurrence was 87.5%, while for subsequent recurrences the rate decreased to 50%. The median time of remission in both groups of patients was 7 months. There was complete loco-regional tumour control in 51% of all patients (with and without distant metastases). A significant prolongation of the survival time was not accomplished by this treatment.