title: [Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel plus epirubicin for locally advanced breast cancer: a multi-center phase II study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the clinical response, pathological complete response (pCR), tumor resection rate and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel and epirubicin (ET) for locally advanced breast cancer (LABC).
  
  
  METHODS
  From March to December 2001, 40 women with LABC, aged from 28-67 (medium 48) years were alloted. Twenty patients had clinical stage IIIa disease, 15 had stage IIIb disease and 5 stage IV patients who had ipsilateral sura-clavicular metastasis. The dose was: epirubicin (E) 60 mg/m2, docetaxel (T) 75 mg/m2 every 3 weeks, with G-CSF given preventively. After 2 cycles of ET, a pilot clinical response evaluation was performed by investigators for each patient to decide if she should receive another 1-2 cycles of ET before surgery or radiation therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-eight patients received 2-3 cycles of ET regimen. The pCR, clinical complete response (cCR) and clinical partial response (cPR) rates were 15.0%, 20.0% and 52.5%, respectively. Tumor resection rate in this group was 92.5%. Incidence of III/IV Grade neutropenia was 8.4%/14.0% of cycles, and 3 patients suffered from neutropenia with fever. Non-hematological adverse events were alopecia, nausea, vomiting, fluid retention, myalgia, arthralgia and nail disorders, which were mild to moderate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy with a combination of docetaxel and epirubicin is effective and well tolerated by women with locally advanced breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast, Cancet Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Zhen-zhou
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Guang-yu
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Feng-xi
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Ping-qing
authors.initials: PQ
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Ming-tian
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jun-yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Ya-fen
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D015251:Epirubicin; D017239:Paclitaxel