title: Epirubicin and docetaxel as neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced breast cancer: a phase II study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is the standard treatment for locally advanced breast cancer. The combination of anthracyclines and taxanes is considered the first choice chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer. We report here the overall results of a phase II study of epirubicin and docetaxel as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five patients with locally advanced, nonmetastatic breast carcinoma were treated with epirubicin, 90 mg/m2, docetaxel, 75 mg/m2, intravenously, every 3 weeks for 4 cycles before and 4 cycles after surgery, followed by tamoxifen for 5 years if estrogen receptor positive and radiation therapy if indicated. Patient characteristics included a median age of 45 years; pre Ipostmenopausal, 311/14 patients; T3-T4 in 33, N0/N1 in 12/33; ductal/lobular in 42/3; ER+ in 23; and HER2 overexpression in 23.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical response included complete remission in 7 patients and partial remission in 27 (response rate, 75%). All 45 patients underwent surgery (quadrantectomy in 7). Histological examination of the breast and lymph nodes revealed no signs of disease in 3 patients and ductal carcinoma in situ only in 2. Twenty-five patients completed the chemotherapy program. G3-G4 toxicity included neutropenia in 39 patients. No other G3-4 toxicity nor toxic deaths occurred. Median relapse-free and overall survival were 35 and 56 months, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The neoadjuvant treatment was active and well tolerated, but the incidence of pathologic complete remissions was relatively low.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology C, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Aviano, Italy. dlombardi@cro.it
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scalone
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crivellari
authors.forename: Maria Donatella
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Magri
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: La Mura
authors.forename: Gianmaria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miolo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murrone
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Perin
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coran
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Candiani
authors.forename: Samuele
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Massarut
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Veronesi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin