title: Neoadjuvant FEC 100 for operable breast cancer: eight-year experience at Centre Jean Perrin.
abstract: This study investigated the efficacy and tolerability of FEC 100 (epirubicin 100 mg/m2 with 5-fluorouracil 500 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2) every 21 days as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in women with stage I-III primary operable breast cancer. Forty patients were treated with 6 cycles of FEC 100, followed by surgery and radiation therapy. In addition, most patients also received an adjuvant treatment for residual disease (11 chemotherapies and 31 tamoxifen). After 6 cycles of FEC 100, the overall clinical response rate of 75% (CI 95%, 61.6-88.4) was achieved, 22.5% of which were complete responses. Breast conservation was achieved in 70% of patients. A pathologic complete response was confirmed in 6 patients (15%; CI 95%, 3.9-26.1) using Chevallier's classification and in 10 patients (25%; CI 95%, 11.6-38.4) using Sataloff's classification. After a median follow-up of 29.5 months, 3 metastatic relapses were observed. The principal toxicity of FEC 100 was myelosuppression; 51.3% of patients developed grade 3/4 neutropenia. Neoadjuvant FEC 100 was both effective and well tolerated in patients with early-stage operable breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Centre Jean Perrin, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Ange
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mouret-Reynier
authors.forename: Catherine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Abrial
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ferrière
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amat
authors.forename: Hervé D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Curé
authors.forename: Fabrice G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Kwiatkowski
authors.forename: Viviane A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Feillel
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lebouëdec
authors.forename: Frédérique M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Penault-Llorca
authors.forename: Philippe J M
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Chollet
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015251:Epirubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil