Evaluating the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer patient by Taxanes - doxorubicin regimen

Abstract

Background and objective: neoadjuvant chemotherapy plays an important role in downstaging of locally advanced breast cancer and makes it easier for surgery afterward. Due to limitation of Vietnamese breast volume, breast conservation surgery in breast cancer patients often gets limited cosmetic outcome. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is expected to improve this situation. The authors conducted this study to evaluate the efficacy of Taxanes - doxorubicin (TA) regimen as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in stage II breast cancer and to analyse early results of breast conserving surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients and method: 41 patients with stage II breast cancer received TA regimen as neoadjuvant chemotherapy and breast conserving surgery at K Hospital, and uncontrolled clinical intervention was used for the study. The mean of age was 43.7 (the youngest: 27, the oldest: 61), and the mean size of tumors was 31 mm. After 3 cycles, there were 4 patients (9.8%) with disappearing tumor in clinical. After 6 cycles, there were 19 patients (46.3%) with complete response. From the research results, the authors concluded that, for patient with stage II breast cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy with TA regimen achieved high response but low toxicity. After 6 cycles, the rate of clinical and histological complete response reached 46.3% and 22%, respectively. The common toxicity was neutropenia grade I and II. 92.7% underwent breast conservation after preoperative chemotherapy with safety surgery and low complication (5.2%) provided the good cosmetic outcome and the satisfaction in most patients.