title: Efficacy and toxicity of preoperative chemotherapy with docetaxel and epirubicin in locally advanced invasive breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel plus epirubicin with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) support in locally advanced breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively evaluated the records of 39 patients with locally advanced breast cancer. All of them received neoadjuvant epirubicin 75 mg/m(2) plus docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks with G-CSF support. Responding patients were subjected to breast-conserving or modified radical mastectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four (10.3%) patients achieved clinical complete response (cCR) and 25 (64.1%) clinical partial response (cPR). Pathologic complete response (pCR) was observed in 4 patients with cCR. Ten (25.6%) patients achieved stable disease (SD), while no patient had progressive disease (PD). Grade 3 and 4 neutropenia was observed in 6 (15.3%) and 4 cases (10.3%), respectively. Febrile neutropenia was observed in 2 (5.1%) cases and anemia in 7 (17.9%) cases. Grade 1/2 mucositis was observed in 12 (30.7%) patients and grade 1/2 peripheral neuropathy in 7 (17.9%) patients. Dose reduction was necessary in 4 patients with grade 4 neutropenia. The median disease-free survival was 60 months (95% CI: 41-79 months). Median overall survival was not reached. Five-year overall survival was 64.2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of docetaxel plus epirubicin was active and tolerable in neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Gazi University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buyukberber
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benekli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tekin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cifter
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yaman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uner
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yamac
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D043823:Taxoids; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin