title: 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.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain. borabora@pol2.jazztel.es
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Estévez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Rovira
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dómine
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: León
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaén
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Casado
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miró
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lobo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carrasco
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casillas
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: San Antonio
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D043823:Taxoids; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D000093542:Gemcitabine