title: Effect of primary anthracycline-based chemotherapy on disseminated tumor cells in locally advanced breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The leading cause of death from epithelial cancer is metastatic tumor relapse due to early dissemination of tumor cells. In this study we investigated the elimination rate of disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow and the clinical response under primary chemotherapy in locally advanced breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients underwent primary anthracycline-containing chemotherapy for breast cancer. For immunocytochemical tumor cell detection in bone marrow, the monoclonal antibody 5D3 was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At time of diagnosis, 10/30 (33%) patients had cytokeratin-positive tumor cells in bone marrow. After primary and chemotherapy, 8/30 (27%) patients still tested positive. Clinical complete response (cCR) was observed in 5/30 (17%) patients partial response (cPR) in 12/30 (40%) patients, resulting in an overall rate of clinical response to primary chemotherapy in 57%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary chemotherapy in breast cancer is effective regarding the reduction of tumor size but seems incapable of reducing the burden of disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ulm, Prittwitzstrasse 43, D-89075 Ulm, Germany. christoph.jaeger@medizin.uni-ulm.de
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jäger
authors.forename: Ariane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kafka
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bossert
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grundmann
authors.forename: Jasmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Windisch
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kreienberg
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Heilmann
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D017273:Goserelin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077235:Vinorelbine
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D013629:Tamoxifen; D017273:Goserelin; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin; D014747:Vinblastine; D007633:Keratins; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D017239:Paclitaxel; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D008727:Methotrexate