The combination of navelbine and epirubicin as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced breast cancer / 中国癌症杂志

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of Navelbine( NVB) and Epirubicin ( Epi -ADM) as the neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced breast cancer. Methods: From September 2001 to February, 2003, 76 cases, LABC patients ( II b ~ HI b ) were treated with NE chemotherapy before operation. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens containing vinorelbine( N), 25 mg/m (days 1 and 8) and epirubicin( E), 60 mg/m (days 1) were administered every 3 weeks for three cycles before local treatment. The response in the primary tumor and the regional lymph nodes and the chemotherapy toxicity were observed for each patient. Results: The response in the primary tumor clinical objective response was 84. 2% (19.7% (15/76) CR and 64. 5% (49/76) PR) , 14. 5% (11/76) SD and 1.3% (1/76) PD. Pathological complete response was found in 11 cases( 14. 5%). 9 cases (28. 1%) who have positive FNA result in the regional lymph node before chemotherapy showed negative result in the surgery specimen. The most common toxicities are leukocytopenia, nausea/vomiting and alopecia. Leucopenia grade 3-4 was reported in 54. 2% of the patients but there were no chemotherapy related toxic deaths. Conclusions: The combination of Vinorelbine and Epirubicin is a very active and well-tolerated regimen as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for the LABC.