title: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with accelerated CNF plus G-CSF in patients with breast cancer tumors larger than three centimeters: a pilot study.
abstract: From February 1992 to November 1993, forty patients with operable breast cancer tumors larger than three centimeters were enrolled in this study of accelerated neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Thirty-seven patients are evaluable: one patient was excluded from the protocol and two refused to continue treatment after the first cycle. Chemotherapy consisted of three presurgical cycles of CNF [cyclophosphamide at 600 mg/m2, mitoxantrone (Novantrone) at 10 mg/m2 and 5-fluorouracil at 600 mg/m2] administered every 2 weeks, plus G-CSF (5 microg/kg s.c./day on days 7-12). Twenty-six of 37 patients (70%) achieved objective tumor response and were submitted to quadrantectomy. Toxicity was easily manageable. After a median 55-month follow-up (range 48-70), no locoregional recurrences were observed. Distant metastases occurred in 12/37 (32%) patients. The five-year disease-free (DFS) and overall (OS) survival were 58% and 80%, respectively. Accelerated CNF plus G-CSF proved to be a safe and tolerable regimen yielding a good clinical response thereby increasing the possibility of breast conservation surgery for patients otherwise candidates for mastectomy.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Operative Unit, Oncology Institute, Via Amendola 209, Bari 70126, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lorusso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Catino
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schittulli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Racanelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Timurian
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marzullo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brandi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Lena
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008942:Mitoxantrone; D005472:Fluorouracil