Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy with Docetaxel and Adriamycin in Breast Cancer; Clincopathologic Factors Influencing to Response Rate

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this study was to test the efficacy and toxicity of adriamycin plus docetaxel as the primary chemotherapy for women with advanced breast carcinoma, and including those patients with inflammatory breast cancer. Our study also evaluated the clinicopathologic factors influencing the response rate to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: Twenty-eight patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy between 2002 and 2004 were included for this study. The patients were treated with adriamycin (50 mg/m2 ; intravenous bolus) followed by docetaxel (75 mg/m 2 ; 1-hr intravenous infusion) on the first day of each cycle for an average four cycles. We analysed the response rate to adjuvant chemotherapy by reviewing the post operative pathologic report. Additionally we compared the clincopathologic factors related to the response rate. Statistical analyses were performed with 2 -tests and using SPSS 11.0. Results: The mean age at diagnosis was 48.9 yr old (range 29-63 yr). The tumoral response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy was, 3 patients (10.7%) showed a complete response ( CR), 21 patients (75%) showed a partial response (PR). and which about lymph node were that 15 patients (75%) have shown responder, 5 patients (25%) have shown non-responder. The overall response rate to neoadjuvant chemotherapy was 85.7%. The preoperative serum-CEA level was influenced the response rate to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p=0.025). Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was recorded in 81.9% of the patients (N=59/72). Grade 3 or 4 anemia was recorded in 2.8% of the patients. Conclusion: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with adriamycin plus docetaxel was effective treatment for patients with locally advanced breast cancer. The preoperative serum CEA level colud be the important factor for the neoadjuvant chemotherapy response rate.