Docetaxel plus epidoxorubicin as neoadjuvant treatment in patients with large operable or locally advanced carcinoma of the breast

Abstract

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe objective of this study was to test the activity and toxicity of epirubicin plus docetaxel as primary chemotherapy for women with large, operable (T2; > 3 cm) or locally advanced (Stage III) breast carcinoma, including patients with inflammatory breast carcinoma.METHODSIn this single‐center, open‐label, single‐stage, Phase II trial, epirubicin (75 mg/m2; intravenous bolus) followed by docetaxel (80 mg/m2; 1‐hour intravenous infusion) was administered on Day 1 of each cycle for four cycles.RESULTSNine of 30 patients (30%) had inflammatory breast carcinoma. Twenty‐three patients (76.7%; 95% confidence interval, 57.7–90.1) had a clinical objective response that was complete in 6 patients (20%). Twenty‐seven patients (90%) underwent surgery that was conservative in 5 patients (16.7%). Pathologic response evaluation revealed four complete responses (13.3%; 95% confidence interval, 3.8–30.7). Grade 4 neutropenia was recorded in 80.0% of patients, and febrile neutropenia was recorded in one‐third of patients. Anemia and thrombocytopenia were never severe. Other side effects were diarrhea (26.6%), oral mucositis (43.3%), and emesis (26.6%).CONCLUSIONSNeoadjuvant chemotherapy with epirubicin plus docetaxel was a feasible treatment and was active in an unfavorable series of patients with locally advanced breast carcinoma, including patients with inflammatory breast carcinoma. Cancer 2002;94:895–901. © 2002 American Cancer Society.DOI 10.1002/cncr.20335