title: Weekly docetaxel as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for stage II and III breast cancer: efficacy and correlation with biological markers in a phase II, multicenter study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This is one of the first reports of weekly docetaxel (Taxotere) in the neoadjuvant treatment of stage II and III breast cancer. We evaluated docetaxel's efficacy and safety and analyzed correlations between response and the expression of c-erbB2, ER status, and Ki-67 labeling index.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with previously untreated, stage II and III breast cancer were entered into the study. Docetaxel (40 mg/m(2)) was given i.v. once weekly for the first 6 weeks of an 8-week cycle for 2 cycles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 56 patients were evaluated by intention-to-treat analysis for efficacy and safety. The overall clinical response rate was 68% (complete and partial response, 29 and 39%, respectively). Nine patients (16%) achieved a pathological complete response. There was no correlation between response to docetaxel and the expression of molecular markers, however, the majority of the pathological complete responses were observed in patients with c-erbB2-negative tumors. Nonhematological toxicity was more common than hematological toxicity, with alopecia and asthenia the most frequently reported adverse events (89 and 77% of patients, respectively). Severe hematological toxicity was rare.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weekly docetaxel appears to be very effective in the neoadjuvant setting. A high pathological response rate was achieved with tolerable toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Fundación Jiménez Díaz, 28040 Madrid, Spain. lestevez@fjd.se
authors.forename: Laura G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Estévez
authors.forename: José Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cuevas
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antón
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Florián
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: López-Vega
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Velasco
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lobo
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herrero
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fortes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D013030:Spain; D043823:Taxoids; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D043823:Taxoids