Meta-Analysis of Five Studies on Tegafur plus Uracil (UFT) as Post-Operative Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

Abstract

Meta-analysis of 5 studies on postoperative breast cancer cases (2 studies on surgery alone vs. tegafur plus uracil (UFT) and 3 studies on tamoxifen (TAM) alone vs. TAM + UFT) were carried out to evaluate the anticancer drug UFT in oral postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Of the 1973 patients enrolled, 1898 were eligible and 75 were excluded (exclusion rate 3.8%). There was no bias in major background factors in either the UFT-treated (965) or non-UFT-treated (933) groups. The reduction in the odds of death and the odds of recurrence were 17 ± 17% (p = 0.33) and 21 ± 11% (p = 0.060), respectively. Multivariate analysis using Cox’s proportional hazards model emphasized the effectiveness of UFT treatment for suppression of recurrence compared with non-treatment with UFT (p = 0.038). Suppression of recurrence was remarkable in the group treated with UFT for 2 years. (the reduction in the odds of recurrence: 23 ± 11%, p = 0.048) Stratified analysis was applied concerning recurrence, and improved results were obtained in premenopausal cases (the reduction in the odds of recurrence: 33 ± 11%, p = 0.019). These results suggested that UFT treatment for 2 years was effective as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for stage I – IIIA breast cancer for the prolongation of the reccurence-free survival period.