title: CMF + radiotherapy in the primary treatment of operable breast cancer: preliminary results of a phase II pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chemotherapy and radiotherapy have been investigated in several studies about their role in primary (neoadjuvant) treatment before surgery in breast cancer. We proposed a pilot study to evaluate a primary scheme of alternate radio-chemotherapy in the treatment of operable (T2- small T3) breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  14 patients were recruited. Cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) were administered on days 1 and 8, every 4 wk, for two cycles. Radiotherapy was administered during the 3rd and 4th wk (5 d/wk) after the beginning of chemotherapy. The patients were operated on within 24 wk. All the patients received four additional cycles of chemotherapy within 1 mo after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed: 1 (8.3%) complete remission (CR), 8 (66.7%) partial remission (PR), 3 (25%) stationary disease (SD); no progressive disease was observed. Modified radical mastectomy was performed on 7 patients (58.3%). Conservative surgery was performed on 5 cases (41.7%). No major complications were observed. No patient has shown local or distant recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows the feasibility of a primary chemoradiotherapy treatment for breast cancer. But to evaluate the impact of this therapy on overall survival and recurrence risk and its possible introduction in clinical practice, we need larger series and longer follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Clinica Chirurgica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bellantone
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Cefaro
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nardone
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raffaelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crucitti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D015411:Mastectomy, Modified Radical; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate