Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced breast cancer: a preliminary report. Turkish Oncology Study Group

A pilot study of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide-epirubicin-5-fluorouracil (FEC) was performed on 85 patients with locally advanced breast cancer.

Patients received four cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery, radiotherapy and a treatment with cyclophosphamide-methotrexate-5-fluorouracil for three cycles.

Major clinical response was obtained in 76 (89%) patients. Complete response was documented in 14 (17%) patients at pathologic examination of surgical specimen. Grade 1-2 nausea and vomiting was the most common (77%) side effect. Grade 2-3 alopecia was 66%. Grade 2-3 neutropenia occurred in 16% of patients. None of the patients developed febrile neutropenia. Sinus tachycardia was observed only in one patient. Three patients had a more than 10% decrease in the left ventricular ejection fraction without any clinical signs. Nine patients had progressive or stable disease and 4 did not undergo surgery or receive radiation therapy; thus 13 were excluded from survival analysis. After a median followup of 31 months (range, 15-41), disease-free survival and overall survival were 20 (range, 13-32) and 23 months (range, 17-32).

The FEC combination is safe and effective for a neoadjuvant setting in locally advanced breast cancer. A longer follow-up is necessary for the end point results.