A case of inflammatory breast cancer achieving pathological complete response by primary systemic therapy with CEF (cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, 5-fluorouracil) followed by docetaxel

A 48-year-old woman noticed her right breast swelling since a few weeks earlier. Rigidity in the AC area, hotness, swelling and peau d'orange appearance of the right whole breast were recognized. She was diagnosed as inflammatory breast cancer clinically and invasive ductal carcinoma with lymphatic invasion pathologically. The patient underwent primary systemic therapy with 4 cycles of CEF (cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m(2), epirubicin 100 mg/m(2), 5-fluorouracil 500 mg/m(2)) followed by 4 cycles of docetaxel (70 mg/m(2)). The effect of chemotherapy showed a partial response evaluated by mammography and ultrasonography, and complete response by MRI before surgery. Right mastectomy with level II lymph node dissection was performed. Pathologically, complete response was confirmed (pCR). Although IBC has been known for its poor outcome, this case suggests IBC will show a better prognosis by chemotherapy such as CEF followed by docetaxel.     

国产与进口多西紫杉醇应用于乳腺癌新辅助化疗的疗效和安全性比较

目的:比较国产与进口多西紫杉醇应用于乳腺癌新辅助化疗的疗效和安全性。方法:收集2000年1月至2005年12月应用含国产多西紫杉醇(艾素)与进口多西紫杉醇(泰索帝)方案进行新辅助化疗的69例女性乳腺癌患者的临床资料,对近期疗效和不良反应进行回顾性分析。化疗方案为TAC(多西紫杉醇 表阿霉素 环磷酰胺),28天为1个周期,化疗2周期后手术,国产与进口组患者分别为35和34例。结果:所有患者均完成2个周期化疗,两组均无疾病进展病例。其中国产组3例(8.6%)获得完全缓解(CR),26例(74.3%)部分缓解(PR),6例(17.1%)病变稳定(SD);进口组CR4例(11.%),PR25例(73.5%),SD5例(14.7%)。国产与进口组总有效率分别为82.9%和85.3%,两组比较差异无显著性(P>0.05)。两组均无不能耐受不良反应而退出治疗病例。不良反应主要有骨髓抑制、胃肠道反应、脱发、神经毒性和过敏反应等。国产与进口组粒细胞减少发生率均为100%,III度以上发生率分别为38.6%(27/70)、54.4%(38/68),两组相比有显著性差异(P<0.05)。其余不良反应两组相似。结论:国产多西紫杉醇应用于乳腺癌新辅助化疗,疗效确切,不良反应容易处理,与进口多西紫杉醇相似,且价格远低于进口多西紫杉醇,值得推广。     

Docetaxel was effective as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients after failure of trans-arterial neoadjuvant chemotherapy with CEF in 2 cases of advanced breast cancer]

Docetaxel was effective as a second line neoadjuvant chemotherapy after failure of cyclophosphamide, epirubicin and 5-FU (CEF) in 2 cases of breast cancer. In Case 1, 4 cycles of trans-arterial neoadjuvant chemotherapy of docetaxel showed a PR effect after failure of 2 cycles of trans-arterial neoadjuvant chemotherapy with CEF. This patient died of pleuritis carcinomatosa 18 months after surgery for breast cancer (latissimus dorsi muscle myocutaneous flap after radical mastectomy). In Case 2, 6 cycles of neoadjuvant venous drip infusion of docetaxel resulted in a CR effect after failure of 2 cycles of transarterial neoadjuvant chemotherapy with CEF. This patient is alive and disease-free 27 months after the operation for breast cancer (same operation as for Case 1). Docetaxel was effective as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients after failure of trans-arterial neoadjuvant chemotherapy with CEF.     

Incident comorbidities and all-cause mortality among 5-year survivors of Stage I and II breast cancer diagnosed at age 65 or older: a prospective-matched cohort study

Addition of carboplatin to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in HER2-negative breast cancer may improve pathological complete response (pCR) rates. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of carboplatin and weekly paclitaxel (wPTX) followed by cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, and 5-fluorouracil (CEF) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for HER2-negative breast cancer. Patients with stage II/IIIA HER2-negative breast cancer were randomly assigned to preoperatively receive CP-CEF (four 3-week cycles of carboplatin [area under the curve 5 mg/mL/min, day 1] and wPTX [80 mg/m², day 1, 8, 15] followed by four 3-week cycles of CEF [500/100/500 mg/m²] or P-CEF (four cycles of wPTX followed by four cycles of CEF). The primary objective was pCR rate. Of 181 eligible patients, 89 were randomly assigned to the CP-CEF and 92 to the P-CEF. Two patients in each arm refused to receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Overall 88 patients in the CP-CEF and 91 patients in the P-CEF were assessable for efficacy and safety. The pCR rate in the CP-CEF was significantly higher than that in the P-CEF (31.8 vs. 17.6 %, one-sided P = 0.01). Among patients with triple-negative breast cancer, the pCR rate in the CP-CEF was significantly higher than that in the P-CEF [61.2 (23/37) vs. 26.3 % (10/38), P = 0.003]. Grade 3–4 neutropenia was observed in the CP-CEF more frequently than in the P-CEF (65.9 vs. 38.5 %). Adding carboplatin to neoadjuvant wPTX followed by CEF for HER2-negative breast cancer improved the pCR rate and exacerbated hematotoxicity.     

多西紫杉醇及氟尿嘧啶辅助化疗治疗BorrmannIV型胃癌的临床研究

目的观察多西紫杉醇联合顺铂及氟尿嘧啶/亚叶酸钙(5-Fu/CF)方案新辅助化疗治疗BorrmannIV型胃癌的疗效。方法自2002年7月至2004年7月,将55例BorrmannIV型胃癌分为两组,新辅助化疗组29例(NCT组),术前给予多西紫杉醇75mg/m2,第1天,静脉点滴;顺铂30mg/m2,第1~3天,静脉点滴;5-Fu500mg/m2,第1~5天,静脉点滴;亚叶酸钙200mg/m2于5-Fu前30min冲入,每3周为1个周期,共3个周期。术后又给予3个周期化疗。对照组26例(非NCT组),在术后给予6个周期的化疗。观察新辅助化疗后肿瘤原发病灶的缓解情况、手术根治切除率、术后病理缓解率、切缘癌残留以及淋巴结转移情况及毒性反应等。结果29例BorrmannIV型胃癌患者经新辅助化疗后,临床有效率RR(CR PR)为58.6%,病理缓解率为6.8%,临床表现为原发肿瘤缩小,淋巴转移减少,降低了临床分期,同对照组比,提高了手术根治切除率,并降低术后切缘癌残留率,延长了患者生存期。毒性反应轻,无严重感染和死亡病例。结论采用多西紫杉醇联合顺铂及氟尿嘧啶/亚叶酸钙(5-Fu/CF)的方案进行BorrmannIV型胃癌的新辅助化疗,疗效显著,患者耐受性良好。     

新辅助化疗联合同期放化疗治疗局部晚期鼻咽癌的毒副反应及近期疗效

Background and Objective:Concurrent chemoradiation therapy(CCRT) is the standard treatment for patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC).The effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by CCRT has not been determined.Therefore,we conducted 2 phase Ⅱ studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with a regimen of docetaxel,cisplatin,and 5-fluorouracil(5-Fu)(TPF) followed by radiotherapy and concurrent cisplatin in patients with stage-Ⅲ and -Ⅳ(A -B) NPC.This articl...     

Final results of a randomized phase III trial comparing cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, and fluorouracil with a dose-intensified epirubicin and cyclophosphamide + filgrastim as neoadjuvant treatment in locally advanced breast cancer: an EORTC-NCIC-SAKK multicenter study.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of a standard anthracycline-based regimen to a dose-intensified anthracycline regimen in locally advanced breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Locally advanced breast cancer patients were randomly assigned onto a study comparing cyclophosphamide (C; 75 mg/m(2) orally days 1 to 14), epirubicin (E; 60 mg/m(2) intravenously [IV] days 1, 8), and fluorouracil (F; 500 mg/m(2) IV days 1, 8) six cycles every 28 days versus E (120 mg/m(2) IV day 1), C (830 mg/m(2) IV day 1), and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (filgrastim; 5 micro g/kg/d subcutaneously days 2 to 13) six cycles every 14 days. The study was designed to detect a 15% improvement; that is, from 50% to 65% in median progression-free survival (PFS) in favor of the dose-intensified regimen. RESULTS: A total of 448 patients were enrolled over a period of 3 years. The median dose intensity delivered for C and E reached, respectively, 85% and 87% of that planned in the CEF arm and 96% and 95% of that planned in the EC arm. The dose-intensified arm was slightly more emetogenic and generated more grade 3 to 4 anemia but less febrile neutropenia episodes. After a median follow-up of 5.5 years, 277 events have been reported. The median PFS was 34 and 33.7 months for CEF and EC, respectively (P =.68), and the 5-year survival rate was 53% and 51% for CEF and EC, respectively (P =.94). CONCLUSION: Dose-intensified EC does not provide a measurable therapeutic benefit over CEF as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for unselected locally advanced breast cancer patients.     

A phase II study of three-weekly docetaxel and weekly trastuzumab in HER2-overexpressing advanced breast cancer

BACKGROUND: To test safety and activity of 3-weekly doses of docetaxel and a weekly dose of trastuzumab in women with HER2-overexpressing advanced breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-two women, median age 53 years (range 36-73 years), with HER2-overexpressing advanced breast cancer were enrolled in a study of docetaxel, 75 mg/m(2) q3w for 6 cycles, and trastuzumab, 4 mg/kg loading dose, 2 mg/kg weekly thereafter. Thirty-four patients (81%) had visceral metastatic involvement. Thirty-five patients had received prior chemotherapy as part of their treatment: adjuvant/neoadjuvant (26), metastatic (2) and both (7). Thirty-one patients had been previously exposed to an anthracycline and 11 to paclitaxel. Four patients had previously received high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant. RESULTS: 226 cycles (median 6, range 1-6) were administered. The median delivered dose intensity for docetaxel was 24 mg/m(2)/week (range 16-25 mg/m(2)/week). The intent to treat overall response rate was 67% (95% confidence interval, 52-79%). Median progression-free survival, time to treatment failure, and duration of response were 9, 8 and 12 months, respectively. Symptomatic cardiotoxicity (grade 3) occurred in 1 patient. The most common grade 3/4 toxicity was neutropenia (76% of the patients), although febrile neutropenia did not occur. CONCLUSIONS: Three-weekly doses of docetaxel and a weekly dose of trastuzumab is an active and safe combination in patients with HER2-overexpressing advanced breast cancer.     

ER、PR、p53和Bcl-2的表达变化在乳腺癌新辅助化疗中的意义

目的:回顾性探讨乳腺癌组织中ER、PR、p53及Bcl-2表达变化在新辅助化疗(neoadjuvant chemo-therapy,NAC)中的意义,指导乳腺癌化疗的选择及判断预后。方法:术前采用空心针穿刺活检予以病理确诊并行ER、PR、p53及Bcl-2测定。化疗采用CEF方案[氟尿嘧啶(flurouracil,5-FU)500mg/m2,表柔比星(epirubicin,EPI)75mg/m2,环磷酰胺(cyclophosphamide,CTX)500mg/m2],经3个疗程化疗,再行乳腺癌改良根治术或保乳手术,免疫组化SP法检测98例Ⅱ/Ⅲ期乳腺癌病例在疗前后乳腺癌组织中ER、PR、p53及Bcl-2的表达,比较化疗前后上述各指标阳性表达率的变化。结果:98例Ⅱ/Ⅲ期乳腺癌患者经3个周期新辅助化疗后,70例(71.4%)获得临床部分缓解。化疗前后ER、PR阳性表达率均无显著变化(P>0.05);p53及Bcl-2化疗前后表达阳性率显著变化(P<0.05),化疗有效组中p53蛋白阳性表达率显著下降(P<0.05)而Bcl-2阳性表达率显著上升(P<0.05)。结论:ER、PR表达在新辅助化疗前后无显著差异,新辅助化疗可能通过抑制p53的表达来抑制乳腺癌的增殖并通过上调Bcl-2表达来调整肿瘤细胞分化。     

A phase II study of sequential chemotherapy with docetaxel after the weekly PELF regimen in advanced gastric cancer. A report from the Italian group for the study of digestive tract cancer

In advanced gastric cancer, we investigated feasibility and activity of sequential chemotherapy with docetaxel after an intensive weekly regimen consisting of cisplatin, epidoxorubicin, fluorouracil, leucovorin (PELF) plus filgrastim. Chemotherapy-naive patients with relapsed or metastatic gastric cancer received 8 weekly administrations of chemotherapy with cisplatin 40 mg/m(2), fluorouracil 500 mg/m(2), epidoxorubicin 35 mg/m(2), 6S-stereoisomer of leucovorin 250 mg/m(2) and glutathione 1.5 g/m(2). On the other days filgrastim 5 microg kg(-1) was administered by subcutaneous injection. Subsequently, patients with partial response or stable disease received 3 cycles of docetaxel 100 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks. 40 patients have been enrolled and they are evaluable for response and toxicity. After the PELF regimen, 3 patients achieved complete response, 13 patients showed partial response, 21 patients had stable disease and 3 patients progressed (40% response rate; 95% CI 25% to 55%). After docetaxel, 9 out 34 patients improved the outcome (26.5%); 7 patients with stable disease achieved partial response and 2 patients with partial response achieved complete response. The overall response rate in the 40 patients was 57.5% (95% CI, 42.5% to 72.5%). The PELF regimen did not cause any grade IV toxicity, the most frequent grade III acute side-effects were thrombocytopenia and vomiting which occurred in the 10% of 320 PELF cycles. Docetaxel caused grade III-IV neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in the 10% and the 19% of cycles respectively. Fatigue was a frequent side-effect during both PELF and docetaxel chemotherapy. The sequential application of docetaxel after PELF chemotherapy gained major objective responses with manageable toxicity. This strategy is worth of further investigation in the setting of palliative or neoadjuvant chemotherapy.     

A phase II feasibility trial of dose-dense docetaxel followed by doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide as adjuvant or neoadjuvant treatment for women with node-positive or high-risk node-negative breast cancer

PURPOSE: Dose-dense adjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (AC) followed by paclitaxel has improved results compared with standard dosing at 3-week intervals. Because docetaxel might be more active than paclitaxel in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, we explored the feasibility of substituting docetaxel for paclitaxel in dose-dense adjuvant therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-six patients with node-positive breast cancer received treatment with 4 cycles of docetaxel followed by 4 cycles of AC administered with pegfilgrastim at 2-week intervals. When treatment proved difficult for the first 33 patients, 2 additional cohorts were treated: first, with a reduction of pegfilgrastim and dexamethasone prophylaxis doses (cohort 2) and then with a reduction of docetaxel from 100 mg/m2 to 75 mg/m2 (cohort 3). RESULTS: Treatment with dose-dense docetaxel at 100 mg/m2 resulted in unacceptable toxicity (24% of patients required hospitalization) and compromised subsequent dosing of AC as a result of neutropenia on the day of scheduled treatment. Only 21 patients (40%) who received docetaxel 100 mg/m2 were able to receive all 8 doses at full dose and on schedule. Reduction of docetaxel to 75 mg/m2 allowed 74% of patients to receive all 8 doses as scheduled. Delivery of AC as scheduled occurred in 82% of patients who received docetaxel 75 mg/m2 versus 40% when docetaxel 100 mg/m2 was administered. CONCLUSION: Full-dose docetaxel is difficult to administer as part of this dose-dense treatment regimen. Docetaxel 75 mg/m2 can be administered with improved subsequent delivery of 4 courses of dose-dense AC. Until comparative clinical studies are available, docetaxel should not be substituted for paclitaxel in dose-dense adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with high-risk breast cancer.     

In vivo chemosensitivity-adapted preoperative chemotherapy in patients with early-stage breast cancer: the GEPARTRIO pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Response to the first two cycles of preoperative chemotherapy might differentiate subgroups of breast cancer patients with high or minimal chances for a pathologic complete response (pCR) and may be used as an in vivo chemosensitivity test. METHODS: Breast cancer patients were treated with two cycles of TAC (docetaxel 75 mg/m(2), doxorubicin 50 mg/m(2), cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m(2) every 21 days). Patients whose tumors showed a response received four more cycles. Patients whose tumors did not respond were randomized to four additional cycles TAC or NX (vinorelbine 25 mg/m(2) days 1 and 8, capecitabine 2000 mg/m(2) days 1-14, every 21 days). The primary end point was pCR at surgery. RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty-five patients showed a clinical response, in 73.0% after two cycles, in 88.4% at surgery, and a pCR was seen in 17.9%. Breast conservation was possible in 72.2%. Responding patients obtained a pCR in 22.6% whereas non-responding patients reached a pCR in 7.3% and 3.1% with TAC or NX, respectively. Grade III/IV neutropenia and febrile neutropenia were observed during TAC in 70.2% and 13.5%, respectively. Significantly less toxicity were observed with NX. CONCLUSION: Early response to TAC can reliably identify patients with a high chance of achieving a pCR. New effective treatments need to be explored for patients without an early response.     

多西他赛联合吡柔比星在乳腺癌新辅助化疗中的应用

目的观察多西他赛联合吡柔比星(THP)治疗局部晚期乳腺癌的近期疗效和毒性反应。方法48例局部晚期乳腺癌患者接受多西他赛75mg/m2,静滴,第1天;THP40mg/m2,第1天,静滴。21d为1个周期,完成3个周期。结果总有效率(CR PR)为79.2%。主要不良反应有骨髓抑制和脱发(发生率分别为95.8%和97.9%)。结论多西他赛联合THP治疗局部晚期乳腺癌疗效显著,不良反应可耐受,是局部晚期乳腺癌新辅助化疗的有效方案。     

Neoadjuvant docetaxel in breast cancer: 3-year survival results from the Aberdeen trial

Over the past 30 years there has been an increased use of neoadjuvant (or primary) chemotherapy for treating patients with breast cancer. However, while it is clear that chemotherapy given in the adjuvant setting after surgery does prolong patients' overall and disease-free survival, the evidence that chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting also increases survival remains unproven. In the Aberdeen study, 162 patients with large and locally advanced breast cancer underwent 4 cycles of CVAP (cyclophosphamide/vincristine/doxorubicin/prednisone) primary chemotherapy. Patients with a complete or partial response were then randomized to either 4 further cycles of CVAP or 4 cycles of docetaxel (100 mg/m2). It was shown that the addition of sequential docetaxel (100 mg/m2) to CVAP neoadjuvant chemotherapy resulted in a significantly enhanced clinical response rate (94% vs. 64%) and a substantially increased complete histopathological response rate (34% vs. 16%) when compared to patients receiving CVAP alone. Furthermore, patients receiving docetaxel had an increased breast conservation rate (67% vs. 48%) and an increased survival at a median follow-up of 3 years. It is important to note that this was a small study, and the survival results should be interpreted with caution. The results are encouraging, however, and further studies are urgently required.     

A phase II trial of neoadjuvant docetaxel and capecitabine for locally advanced breast cancer.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the toxicity and efficacy of docetaxel/capecitabine as neoadjuvant treatment for stage 2/3 breast cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Subjects with newly diagnosed invasive stage 2 and 3 breast cancer were eligible. The first cohort of patients was treated at dose A with neoadjuvant docetaxel (75 mg/m(2) i.v. day 1) and capecitabine (1000 mg/m(2) orally twice daily days 2-15) for four cycles. A second cohort of subjects was treated with a reduced dose, dose B, of docetaxel (60 mg/m(2) i.v. day 1) and capecitabine (937.5 mg/m(2) orally twice daily days 2-15). RESULTS: Thirty patients were enrolled. Eight of 10 patients treated at dose A required dose reductions of either docetaxel or capecitabine secondary to grade 3 or 4 toxicities: mucositis (1), hand-foot syndrome (3), diarrhea (2), perirectal abscess (1), and neutropenia (2). Because of a high rate of dose reductions, the next 20 patients were treated at dose B. The mean cumulative administered dose of docetaxel was 285 and 231 mg/m(2) at dose A and dose B, respectively. For capecitabine, the mean cumulative dose at dose A and B were similar at 1585 and 1627 mg/m(2)/day, respectively. The overall clinical response rate was 90% with 31% of patients having a complete response and 59% having a partial response. A pathological complete response in the breast was achieved in 10% of patients after four cycles of docetaxel/capecitabine. CONCLUSIONS: Docetaxel/capecitabine is a highly active regimen in the neoadjuvant setting. Neoadjuvant therapy with 75 mg/m(2) docetaxel and 1600 mg/m(2)/day days 2-15 is recommended.     

Two special types of breast cancer presenting as progressive disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel plus doxorubicin

Seventy-eight patients with primary breast cancer over 3 cm in diameter in stages II A, II B, III A and III B according to the UICC classification received neoadjuvant chemotherapy from August 1, 1998 to June 30, 2000 at the Breast Division of the National Cancer Center Hospital. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy consisted of doxorubicin (Adriamycin: ADM) 50 mg/m(2) and docetaxel (Taxotere: DOC) 60 mg/m(2) every three weeks. The overall clinical response to this regimen was 88% (69/78). Although neoadjuvant chemotherapy with this regimen achieved good responses in patients with breast cancer, 2 patients presented with progressive disease (PD) after treatment. One patient had inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and the other had primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the breast. There were 4 cases of IBC and one case of SCC of the breast who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy in this series. Our observations suggest that this regimen might not be effective for these types of breast cancer.     

Neoadjuvant docetaxel for operable breast cancer induces a high pathological response and breast-conservation rate

Docetaxel (Taxotere), alone or in combination with other anticancer agents, has proven efficacy in the first- and second-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer. This phase II study investigated the efficacy and tolerability of docetaxel as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in women with stage II-III primary operable breast cancer. Patients (n=88) were treated with six cycles of docetaxel at 100 mg m(-2) every 21 days, followed by definitive surgery and radiotherapy. After six cycles of docetaxel, the overall clinical response rate was 68.4% (CI 95%: 58.1-78.7%), including 19.0% complete remissions. Breast conservation was achieved in 72.4% of patients. A high pathological complete response (pCR) rate in breast was confirmed in 15 patients (19.8% (CI 95%: 10.8-28.8%)) on Chevallier's classification restricted to breast and in 27 patients (35.5% (CI 95%: 24.7-46.3%)) on Sataloff's classification. After a median follow-up of 30.8 months, 19 recurrences were documented with a median time to first recurrence of 17.3 months. Patients with stage III tumours had more recurrences than patients with stage II tumours (P=0.02). The principal toxicity of docetaxel is myelosuppression and 70.5% of patients developed grade III or IV neutropenia with 13.6% developing neutropenic sepsis. There was no case of severe cardiac toxicity, thrombocytopenia or any other serious adverse events. In conclusion, neoadjuvant docetaxel induces a high pCR and breast-conservation rate. Docetaxel monotherapy is a highly effective regimen that merits formal comparison with currently used combination regimens in a randomised phase III study.     

Neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin and docetaxel in locally advanced breast cancer

Fifty patients with histologically confirmed stage III breast cancer were enrolled in this study of doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 and docetaxel 75 mg/m2 intravenously infused over 1 hour every 21 days with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for 4 cycles. This was followed by surgery (mastectomy or lumpectomy) and 4 more cycles of doxorubicin/docetaxel postoperatively, then radiation and tamoxifen as indicated. Forty-six of the 50 patients (92%) completed neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and 38 patients (76%) completed adjuvant chemotherapy. Clinical response (defined as > 50% decrease in size of tumor) was achieved after 2 cycles in 37 patients (74%) and after 4 cycles in 42 of the 46 patients (91%) who finished neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Pathologic complete response (pCR; no pathologic invasive cancer) at the primary site was obtained in 7 of 46 patients (15%); 11 had no residual gross disease but did have microscopic persistence or microscopic complete response (mCR), for a combined pCR and mCR of 18 of 46 patients (39%). No treatment-related deaths occurred, but 3 patients died during treatment: 1 from progressive disease, 1 from a gastrointestinal bleeding, and 1 from unexplained sudden cardiac death. Dose-limiting toxicities were hematologic (grade 3 neutropenia in 5 patients and grade 4 in 23 patients). Congestive heart failure developed in 4 of 50 patients (8%), with a mean decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 20% in affected patients and 1 asymptomatic decrease in LVEF of 25%. At last follow-up, 10 patients had died of progressive disease, and 1 each from sudden cardiac death and lower gastrointestinal bleeding. In locally advanced breast cancer, neoadjuvant doxorubicin/docetaxel is a very active regimen that achieved pCR of 15% and a combined pCR and mCR of 39%, for an overall clinical response rate of 91%. Adjuvant chemotherapy was complicated by dropouts and congestive heart failure. This regimen should be used with close monitoring of cardiac function.     

TPF诱导化疗或PF诱导化疗联合同期放化疗治疗局部晚期鼻咽癌的临床观察

背景与目的：TPF(多西他赛+顺铂+氟尿嘧啶)诱导化疗加同期放化疗治疗局部晚期鼻咽癌的疗效尚不清楚。该研究旨在比较TPF诱导化疗或PF(顺铂+氟尿嘧啶)诱导化疗联合同期放化疗治疗局部晚期鼻咽癌的疗效和耐受性。方法：将局部晚期鼻咽癌患者随机分为两组。TPF组116例接受TPF诱导化疗(多西他赛60 mg/m2,第1天+顺铂60 mg/m2,第1天+氟尿嘧啶750 mg/m2,持续静脉滴注120 h),每3周重复,共3个疗程。PF组116例接受PF诱导化疗(顺铂80 mg/m2,第1天+氟尿嘧啶750 mg/m2,持续静脉滴注120 h),每3周重复,共3个疗程。诱导化疗结束后行同期放化疗,放疗采用调强适形放疗(intensity modulated radiation therapy,IMRT)技术,大体肿瘤靶区(gross tumor volume,GTV)6810 cGy/30次,5次/周,共6周,同期化疗用顺铂80 mg/m2,第1、22天。评价完全缓解(complete response,CR)、部分缓解(partial response,PR)和有效缓解率(response rate,RR), RR=CR+PR。评价两组患者的近期疗效及不良反应,并随访比较5年无进展生存(progression-free survival,PFS)和5年总生存(overall survival,OS)。结果：诱导化疗结束后和治疗结束后13周TPF组的有效缓解率都高于PF组,两组差异有统计学意义(P=0.001,P=0.002);TPF组中位复发时间为2.98年,5年的PFS为84.48%,PF组中位复发时间为2.32年,5年的PFS为82.75%,差异无统计学意义(P=0.458);TPF组5年的OS为87.06%,PF组5年的OS为85.34%,差异无统计学意义(P=0.274)。TPF组在中性粒细胞下降、血小板下降、肝功能和肾功能损伤、腹泻以及黏膜坏死的发生上均明显高于PF组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.001),TPF组发生Ⅲ度和Ⅳ度不良反应较PF组明显增高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.001)。结论：TPF方案诱导化疗治疗局部晚期鼻咽癌的临床疗效并不优于PF方案诱导化疗治疗局部晚期鼻咽癌,且TPF方案诱导化疗的不良反应较PF方案明显,临床上不适合推广。     

A phase II study of dose-dense epirubicin plus cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel plus capecitabine and pegfilgrastim support as preoperative therapy for patients with stage II, IIIA breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: This phase II study was conducted to evaluate tumor response rate and safety profile of dose-dense epirubicin plus cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel plus capecitabine given preoperatively to patients with stage II or IIIA breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients underwent four cycles of dose-dense cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m(2) and epirubicin 90 mg/m(2) every 2 weeks followed by two cycles of docetaxel 36 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15 plus capecitabine 1250 mg/m(2) on days 5-18 every 4 weeks, with prophylactic pegfilgrastim. The primary objective of the study was to determine the incidence of pathologic complete response defined as the absence of invasive or in situ cancer in the breast and the axillary nodes at definitive surgery. RESULTS: Forty-four patients were enrolled in the study and 41 (93%) were assessable for response to chemotherapy. An objective clinical response was observed in 38 (93%) patients. Seven patients (17.1%) exhibited a pathologic complete response. Breast-conserving surgery was carried out in 36 (88%) patients. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in 4.3% of 252 administered chemotherapy cycles. No febrile neutropenia, cardiac toxicity, thrombocytopenia or other serious adverse event was registered. CONCLUSION: The sequential combination of dose-dense epirubicin plus cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel plus capecitabine is an effective and well-tolerated neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II, IIIA breast cancer.