[Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for primary breast cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility and effect of fluorouracil (5-Fu) in association with anthracycline-based regimen as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for primary breast cancer.


METHODS
For one hundred and eleven primary breast cancer patients with 114 lesions who were to be operated, two to six cycles of 5-Fu (continuous infusion) in association with epirubicin or pirarubicin and cyclophosphamide (CEFci or CTFci regimen) were given before operation. The response rate, side effect and its relation with tumor characteristics were studied.


RESULTS
The overall response rate was 87.7%, of which the complete clinical response was 39.5%, pathological complete response was 23.7%, only one patient (0.9%) showed progressive disease. The regimen containing pirarubicin was superior to epirubicin regimen in pathological complete response rate (P < 0.05). Alopecia was mild in pirarubicin regimen as compared with epirubicin regimen but neutropenia was more severe in pirarubicin regimen than that in epirubicin regimen. Hormonal receptor expressions were significantly related to treatment response, the pathological complete response rate was 33.3% in oestrogen or progestin receptor negative tumors, but it was 7.5% in the positive tumors (P < 0.005). No correlation was observed between treatment response and tumor size, as well as HER-2 expression.


CONCLUSIONS
CTFci/CEFci regimen as neoadjuvant chemotherapy is effective and safe for primary breast cancer. CTFci regimen is superior to CEFci regimen in response rate. The patients with negative hormonal receptor are more sensitive to the neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Li
Jin-Feng
JF
Breast Cancer Center, Beijing Cancer Hospital, School of Oncology, Peking University, Beijing 100036, China.
Ouyang
Tao
T
Wang
Tian-Feng
TF
Lin
Ben-Yao
BY
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D015251:Epirubicin; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; C027260:pirarubicin; D005472:Fluorouracil