[Preoperative intensive chemotherapy of operable breast cancer]

Eighty-one patients with operable breast cancers received the short-term and intensive preoperative chemotherapy, followed by radical mastectomy are presented. The total response rate in the primary tumor to chemotherapy was 59%. Seven patients (8.6%) had complete remission, 41 (50.6%) partial remission and 33 (40.7%) stable lesions. No cancer cells were found histopathologically by serial sections from two primary lesions after chemotherapy. The authors found that tumor with small size, short course and regular shape had a better response rate. Histopathological type, firmness and boundary of tumor, menopausal status, and estrogen receptor (ER) status were not related to the chemotherapeutic effect. No obvious toxicity and side effects were found during the chemotherapy. The chemotherapy did not influence the wound healing. The results indicate that the chemotherapy has a favorable effect on breast cancer and is safe and valid. The response rate of breast cancer to chemotherapy before operation can be used as breast cancer chemosensitivity test in vivo.