title: Effects on quality of life, anti-cancer responses, breast conserving surgery and survival with neoadjuvant docetaxel: a randomised study of sequential weekly versus three-weekly docetaxel following neoadjuvant doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide in women with primary breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Weekly docetaxel has occasionally been used in the neoadjuvant to downstage breast cancer to reduce toxicity and possibly enhance quality of life. However, no studies have compared the standard three weekly regimen to the weekly regimen in terms of quality of life. The primary aim of our study was to compare the effects on QoL of weekly versus 3-weekly sequential neoadjuvant docetaxel. Secondary aims were to determine the clinical and pathological responses, incidence of Breast Conserving Surgery (BCS), Disease Free Survival (DFS) and Overall Survival (OS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-nine patients receiving four cycles of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide were randomised to receive twelve cycles of weekly docetaxel (33 mg/m2) or four cycles of 3-weekly docetaxel (100 mg/m2). The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast and psychosocial questionnaires were completed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At a median follow-up of 71.5 months, there was no difference in the Trial Outcome Index scores between treatment groups. During weekly docetaxel, patients experienced less constipation, nail problems, neuropathy, tiredness, distress, depressed mood, and unhappiness. There were no differences in overall clinical response (93% vs. 90%), pathological complete response (20% vs. 27%), and breast-conserving surgery (BCS) rates (49% vs. 42%). Disease-free survival and overall survival were similar between treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weekly docetaxel is well-tolerated and has less distressing side-effects, without compromising therapeutic responses, Breast Conserving Surgery (BCS) or survival outcomes in the neoadjuvant setting.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ISRCTN: ISRCTN09184069.
authors: Oncology Health Centres and the Institute of Rehabilitation, University of Hull, Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire HU3 2PG, UK.
authors: Leslie G
authors: LG
authors: Walker
authors: Jennifer M
authors: JM
authors: Eremin
authors: Mark M
authors: MM
authors: Aloysius
authors: Wichai
authors: W
authors: Vassanasiri
authors: Mary B
authors: MB
authors: Walker
authors: Mohamed
authors: M
authors: El-Sheemy
authors: Ged
authors: G
authors: Cowley
authors: Jeanette
authors: J
authors: Beer
authors: Srila
authors: S
authors: Samphao
authors: Janice
authors: J
authors: Wiseman
authors: Jibril A
authors: JA
authors: Jibril
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Valerio
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Clarke
authors: Mujahid
authors: M
authors: Kamal
authors: Gerald W
authors: GW
authors: Thorpe
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Baria
authors: Oleg
authors: O
authors: Eremin
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