[Clinical examination of safety and effectiveness of primary chemotherapy with CEF followed by docetaxel in preoperative breast cancer].

SUBJECTS: The subjects were patients with resectable breast cancer who visited our department between August 2003 and November 2004, did not have any other risk factors defined in the St. Gallen Consensus Conference,and were receptor-negative or had axillary lymph node metastasis.

METHODS

The histological type, ER, PgR, HER2, and histological grade were evaluated by needle biopsy. Four courses of CEF (5-FU: 500 mg/m(2)+EPI: 75 mg/m(2)+CPA: 500 mg/m(2)) were performed at 3-week intervals, followed by 4 courses of Docetaxel (70 mg/m(2)).

RESULTS

Treatment was performed in 14 patients including a male. Their age ranged from 37 to 69 years (mean, 55.3 years). Stage IIA was observed in 5 patients, IIB in 4, IIIA in 1, and IIIB in 4. In patients with Grade 3 or more, leukocytopenia was observed in 7 patients and diarrhea in 1 as adverse events. CR was obtained in 6 patients, PR in 5, and NC in 3 (response rate, 78.5%). Pathological examination showed pCR in 1 patient and pPR in 10 (response rate, 78.5%). Of the 10 patients with pPR, 2 showed a state near pCR.

DISCUSSION: Our results showed the safety and effectiveness of preoperative chemotherapy with CEF followed by Docetaxel.