Effect of adding sequential docetaxel to neoadjuvant epirubicin in treatment of advanced breast cancer: Preliminary results of tumor response.

e12509Background: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and pathological response rates to anthracycline containing regimens with or without taxanes as neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) in women with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Methods: Patients diagnosed with LABC were included. A cohort received 4 cycles of FEC (5-fluorouracil 500 mg/m2, epirubicin 75 mg/m2, cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2, respectively) every 3 weeks followed by 4 cycles of docetaxel (D) 75 mg/m2 as infusion intravenous (IV) every 3 weeks. Another cohort received 6 cycles of FEC (500 mg/m2, 100 mg/m2, 600 mg/m2, respectively). After the chemotherapy surgery was performed. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in overall response rate (ORR: 78.5% vs 85%; P = 0.299) and clinical complete response (cCR: 20.6% vs 33.3%; P = 0.103) for 4FEC→4D compared to 6FEC, respectively. Instead, there was a statistically significant improved rate of pathological complete response (pCR: 30.2% vs 16.7%; P = 0.049) a...