[Preoperative chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer]

Preoperative chemotherapy was initiated for breast cancer in an effort to decrease the number of viable cancer cells that were released into the blood stream during surgical procedure. This possibility was substantiated by several observations made in animal experiments and clinical studies. Preoperative chemotherapy was also given to render the advanced disease amenable to surgical intervention. In one report, systemic chemotherapy (CAF) for advanced breast cancer produced a response rate of 86% preoperatively, facilitating subsequent mastectomy and a postoperative 5-year survival rate of 52%. However no definite conclusion has yet been obtained as to the prognostic significance of systemic chemotherapy give preoperatively, and further comparative studies are therefore required. Preoperative intra-arterial chemotherapy as an induction therapy was administered to patients with locally advanced breast cancer including inflammatory breast cancer, the treatment developed in Japan. In our institute, intra-arterial chemotherapy with ADR or MMC plus 5-FU resulted in a marked decrease in the size of primary and lymph node lesions with 82% CR + PR. Histological examination of resected specimens also revealed that 35% of the patients had no viable cancer cells remaining in their lesions. Five-year and 10-year survival rates were 57% and 41%, respectively, compared with 24% and 18%, respectively for historical controls. Patients showing better local responses to intra-arterial chemotherapy had longer survival time with less frequent local recurrences. Some other studies also indicated improved survival in locally advanced breast cancer as a result of preoperative intra-arterial chemotherapy. Preoperative chemotherapy including systemic administration is a promising modality for advanced breast cancer.