OBJECTIVE: We investigated the pathological effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy based on the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 in operable breast cancer. METHODS: This prospective clinical study was a pilot involving 63 female patients. Before surgery, patients with tumors overexpressing human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 received four cycles of 60 mg/m(2) anthracycline and 600 mg/m(2) cyclophosphamide every 3 weeks, whereas those whose tumors did not overexpress human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 received four cycles of 75 mg/m(2) docetaxel and 600 mg/m(2) cyclophosphamide every 3 weeks. A quasi-pathological complete response (i.e. absence of invasive tumor or only focal residual tumor cells) was the primary endpoint, with compliance and predictors for each regimen as secondary endpoints. If a quasi-pathological complete response was not achieved, then crossover to the alternative treatment was recommended. RESULTS: The quasi-pathological complete response rate was 36.5% (23 of 63) overall, 27.8% (5 of 18) for the anthracycline and cyclophosphamide regimen and 40.0% (18 of 45) for the docetaxel and cyclophosphamide regimen. Docetaxel and cyclophosphamide treatment induced a quasi-pathological complete response in most patients with triple-negative tumors (15 of 19). The relative dose intensity was 97.3% for the anthracycline and cyclophosphamide regimen and 96.6% for the docetaxel and cyclophosphamide regimen. Quasi-pathological complete response to the docetaxel and cyclophosphamide regimen was associated with low estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor expression and high MIB-1 and topoisomerase IIalpha expression, in univariate analyses, but only with low estrogen receptor expression in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Selecting neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens on the basis of individual human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status improved efficacy, with docetaxel and cyclophosphamide treatment showing particular promise in tumors with the potential to be highly malignant.
OBJECTIVE: We investigated the pathological effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy based on the humanepidermal growth factor receptor 2 in operable breast cancer. METHODS: This prospective clinical study was a pilot involving 63 female patients. Before surgery, patients with tumors overexpressing humanepidermal growth factor receptor 2 received four cycles of 60 mg/m(2) anthracycline and 600 mg/m(2) cyclophosphamide every 3 weeks, whereas those whose tumors did not overexpress humanepidermal growth factor receptor 2 received four cycles of 75 mg/m(2) docetaxel and 600 mg/m(2) cyclophosphamide every 3 weeks. A quasi-pathological complete response (i.e. absence of invasive tumor or only focal residual tumor cells) was the primary endpoint, with compliance and predictors for each regimen as secondary endpoints. If a quasi-pathological complete response was not achieved, then crossover to the alternative treatment was recommended. RESULTS: The quasi-pathological complete response rate was 36.5% (23 of 63) overall, 27.8% (5 of 18) for the anthracycline and cyclophosphamide regimen and 40.0% (18 of 45) for the docetaxel and cyclophosphamide regimen. Docetaxel and cyclophosphamide treatment induced a quasi-pathological complete response in most patients with triple-negative tumors (15 of 19). The relative dose intensity was 97.3% for the anthracycline and cyclophosphamide regimen and 96.6% for the docetaxel and cyclophosphamide regimen. Quasi-pathological complete response to the docetaxel and cyclophosphamide regimen was associated with low estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor expression and high MIB-1 and topoisomerase IIalpha expression, in univariate analyses, but only with low estrogen receptor expression in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Selecting neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens on the basis of individual humanepidermal growth factor receptor 2 status improved efficacy, with docetaxel and cyclophosphamide treatment showing particular promise in tumors with the potential to be highly malignant.