Primary chemotherapy in breast cancer shows excellent clinical and pathological response with docetaxel and epirubicin

Autor: Jurandyr Moreira de Andrade, Hélio Ha Carrara, H. R. C. Marana, F. E. Zola, F.J.C. Reis, S. Bighetti, Daniel Guimarães Tiezzi
Rok vydání: 2006
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Clinical Oncology. 24:10779-10779
ISSN: 1527-7755
0732-183X
Popis: 10779 Background: Primary chemotherapy is becoming the standard of care for locally advanced breast cancer. Recently tested regimens using new drugs have been showing better results than usual anthracycline based treatments. Methods: From April 1998 through April 2004, 104 patients (18 stage IIA; 36 stage IIB; 13 stage IIIA; 33 stage IIIB; 4 stage IV) were included in the trial and received three cycles of docetaxel 75 mg/m2 and epirubicin 50 mg/m2 (q3w). Patients with stable or progressive disease were excluded from the trial, receiving alternative treatment. Those with partial response after three cycles but still not suitable for conservative surgery received up to 3 additional cycles. Following completion of the chemotherapy regimen, tumour response was assessed and appropriate surgery performed. Pathological response was evaluated in excised specimens. Results: According to the UICC criteria for clinical evaluation, 79 pts (76%) had objective regression (14 CR and 65 PR); 21 resulted in stabilised disease and 4 showed progression (24%). There was no toxicity in 62 patients, grade I/II in 4 and grade III/IV in seven patient. Ninity-nine patients became eligible for surgery (95%); 60 underwent conservative surgical treatment (60.6%) and in 39 patients a modified radical surgery was done (39.4%). No axyllary involvement were detected in 22 patients, other 23 had 1–3 positive nodes and 54 had 3 or more positives node in axillary dissection. 338 chemotherapy cycles were given, with an average of previously expected 3.25 cycles per patient. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates a high response rate with primary docetaxel and epirubicin chemotherapy in locally advanced breast cancer and high axillary envolvement group, enabling conservative surgery to take place and carrying no significant toxicity. Survival rate was directly linked to pathological response and complete response was associated to highest rate of survival in the group. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Databáze: OpenAIRE