Biweekly docetaxel and gemcitabine as neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by adjuvant doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide therapy in stage II and III breast cancer patients: results of a phase II study.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this phase II study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant docetaxel/gemcitabine treatment in a biweekly regimen.


METHODS
Patients with stage II/III breast cancer were treated with docetaxel (65 mg/m(2)) followed by gemcitabine (2500 mg/m(2)) every 2 weeks for 6 cycles. Patients with a clinical response or stable disease underwent mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery plus axillary dissection. After surgery, patients received 4 cycles of standard doxorubicin 60 mg/m(2) and cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m(2) every 21 days.


RESULTS
Thirty-five patients were included in the trial. The overall response rate was 71.4% (95% CI: 53.7-85.4), with 8 complete and 17 partial responses. Breast conservation was possible in 59% of the patients. Toxicity was manageable.


CONCLUSIONS
We consider biweekly docetaxel and gemcitabine could be an active and tolerable regimen option in the neoadjuvant setting sequentially with standard adjuvant doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide in patients with stage II or III breast cancer.
Estévez
L G
LG
Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain. borabora@pol2.jazztel.es
Sánchez-Rovira
P
P
Dómine
M
M
León
A
A
Calvo
I
I
Jaén
A
A
Casado
V
V
Rubio
G
G
Díaz
M
M
Miró
C
C
Lobo
F
F
Carrasco
E
E
Casillas
M
M
San Antonio
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D043823:Taxoids; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D000093542:Gemcitabine