[Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for the treatment of breast cancer].

To obtain higher anti-tumor efficacy for breast cancer (BC), high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) with autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) is believed to be one of most effective strategies. PBSCT shows earlier hematological recovery comparing with ABMT, therefore HDC could be performed more safety to introduce PBSCT in the treatment of BC. Several investigators have reported that higher complete response (CR) rate and continuously CR rate were obtained to employ HDC in the earlier course of treatment for patient with advanced or recurrent BC responding to standard-dose chemotherapy. The efficacy of HDC has been also observed in adjuvant setting for patient with high-risk (> or = 10 axillary lymph nodes) after mastectomy. Phase III studies will clarify the efficacy of HDC with ABMT, PBSCT for the treatment of BC in near future.