title: Pathologic complete response with six compared with three cycles of neoadjuvant epirubicin plus docetaxel and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in operable breast cancer: results of ABCSG-14.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preoperative (neoadjuvant) chemotherapy for operable breast cancer downstages tumors initially not suitable for breast-conserving surgery. A pathologic complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be a surrogate for longer overall survival, but this beneficial effect remains to be established. This phase III trial evaluated whether doubling the number of cycles of neoadjuvant treatment increased the pCR rate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with biopsy-proven breast cancer (T1-4a-c, N+/-, M0; stage I to III) were eligible and randomly assigned to either three or six cycles of epirubicin 75 mg/m2 and docetaxel 75 mg/m2 on day 1 and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on days 3 through 10 (ED+G), every 21 days. The primary end point was the pCR rate of the breast tumor. Secondary end points were pathologic nodal status after surgery and the rate of breast-conserving surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 292 patients were accrued, and 288 patients were assessable for efficacy and safety. Groups were well balanced for known prognostic factors. Six cycles of ED+G, compared with three cycles, resulted in a significantly higher pCR rate (18.6% v 7.7%, respectively; P = .0045), a higher percentage of patients with negative axillary status (56.6% v 42.8%, respectively; P = .02), and a trend towards more breast-conserving surgery (75.9% v 66.9%, respectively; P = .10). Rates of adverse events were similar, and no patients died on treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Doubling the number of neoadjuvant ED+G cycles from three to six results in higher rates of pCR and negative axillary nodal status with no excess of adverse effects. Thus, six cycles of ED+G should be the standard neoadjuvant treatment for operable breast cancer if this combination is chosen.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. guenther.steger@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Günther G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Steger
authors.forename: Arik
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galid
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gnant
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mlineritsch
authors.forename: Alois
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tausch
authors.forename: Margaretha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rudas
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Greil
authors.forename: Catharina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.forename: Christian F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haid
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pöstlberger
authors.forename: Hellmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Samonigg
authors.forename: Gero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luschin-Ebengreuth
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kwasny
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Klug
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kubista
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Menzel
authors.forename: Raimund
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jakesz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001365:Axilla / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin