title: Primary systemic chemotherapy with sequential, dose-dense epirubicin and docetaxel for inoperable, locally advanced inflammatory breast cancer: a phase II study.
abstract: Sequential, dose-dense epirubicin plus docetaxel was evaluated as primary systemic therapy for women with inoperable, locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) or inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). Patients (LABC n=27; IBC n=7) received 3 cycles of epirubicin 120 mg/m2 every 2 weeks followed by 3 cycles of docetaxel 100 mg/m2 every 2 weeks, with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Grade 3-4 toxicities were observed in 21 of 195 cycles (10.8%). Grade 3 anemia and leukopenia each occurred in 1% of cycles. Following chemotherapy, all patients underwent surgery. Eight patients (23.5%) had a clinical complete response and 15 (44.1%) had a partial response. In patients with IBC, median skin thickness decreased from 5.85 mm (range: 3.1-6.2 mm) to 4 mm (range: 2.7-5.1 mm) (p<0.005). Sequential, dose-dense epirubicin plus docetaxel achieved a high response rate among patients with LABC or IBC with only moderate toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Senology, University Medicine Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany. sherko.kuemmel@charite.de
authors.forename: Sherko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kümmel
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paepke
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wetzel
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Elling
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kohls
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lichtenegger
authors.forename: Jens-Uwe
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Blohmer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012074:Remission Induction; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin