[Three Cases of Locally Advanced Breast Cancer with Skin Invasion Treated with Cadexomer Iodine for Local Control].

Advanced breast cancer with skin invasion are relatively often accompanied by bleeding, effusion, malodor, and pain, which reduce the quality of life(QOL)of the patients and their families. Therefore, local symptom control is as important as surgical treatment and chemotherapy. We control these symptoms by using cadexomer iodine, cadexomer iondine is expensive, but relatively easy for family to use and keep patients' QOL.

[Adjuvant Capecitabine for Residual Disease after Standard Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Among Patients with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer].

CREATE-X trial demonstrated the effectiveness of additional capecitabine therapy in prolonging disease-free survival among patients who are HER2 negative, especially those with triple-negative breast cancer who had residual invasive disease after standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We investigated our data regarding adjuvant capecitabine for residual disease. Ten patients were enrolled, and the average age of the patients was 54.2 years. All patients completed 8 courses of treatment; all adverse events were Grade 2 or lower. Five-year disease-free survival rate was 70.0% in an average observation period of 40.9 months. Three patients recurred within 2 years, and all patients had brain metastasis. In the CREATE-X trial, the rate of disease-free survival was 69.8% in the capecitabine group versus 56.1% in the control group; our results were same as those of CREATE-X. Brain metastasis may be detected by the early phase of enhanced brain MRI.

Effect of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with ER + /HER2- breast cancer, assessed by propensity score matching: significance of nuclear grade and nodal status.

BACKGROUND: Survival benefits of chemotherapy (CT) differ among patients with estrogen receptor-positive (ER +) breast cancer. This study investigated the survival benefits of CT for ER + and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer (BC) patients by propensity score matching (PSM). METHODS: Patients with stages I-IIIER + /HER2- BC were enrolled in this study. The primary endpoints were 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in the non-CT and CT groups of the selected population matched by PS. The PS was analyzed by a logistic regression model with factors those influence provided indication of chemotherapy [tumor size, nuclear grade (NG), progesterone receptor, and nodal status]. RESULTS: This study enrolled 895 patients between 2000 and 2015. The median follow-up period was 5.7 years. Overall, the 5-year RFS was 94.3% and 90.1% in the non-CT and CT-treated groups, respectively (p = 0.106). The 5-year OS was 97.5% in the non-CT group and 95.6% in the CT group (p = 0.047). Using PSM, 236 patients were selected. After matching, both the 5-year RFS and the 5-year OS were higher in the CT group than in the non-CT group (96.8% vs. 82.7%, p = 0.003 and 100% vs. 91.9%, p < 0.001, respectively). Particularly in the case of the node negative/NG3 and 1-3 node positive/NG2 patients after PSM, the 5-year RFS was significantly higher in the CT group than in the non-CT group (p = 0.041 and p = 0.006, respectively). CONCLUSION: After PSM, CT significantly improved both the RFS and OS of ER + / HER2- BC patients, especially for node negative/NG3 and 1-3 node positive/NG2 patients.

Breast-conserving surgery without radiation in elderly women with early breast cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Irradiation after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) decreases the incidence of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) and breast cancer-related death. However, daily radiation treatments are burdensome to elderly patients, whose risk of IBTR is relatively low. Since 2001, we have offered BCS without radiation to patients meeting our selection criteria. This study assessed the prognosis of the patients who chose this option. METHODS: Between 2001 and 2014, 203 patients met the selection criteria: aged ≥60 years; pathologically node-negative, hormone-positive breast cancer; a negative surgical margin; and no lymphovascular invasion. Among these patients, 84 and 119 underwent BCS with or without radiation, respectively. IBTR, overall survival (OS), and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) were evaluated. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 6.2 years. There were no significant differences in tumor size or the number of patients with adjuvant therapy between the groups. The 5-year IBTR rates were 0.9% and 1.6% in the non-irradiated and irradiated groups, respectively (p = 0.308). The 5-year OS rates were 94.1% and 98.7% (p = 0.391). Similarly, the 5-year BCSS rates were 97.2% and 98.7% (p = 0.812). CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the omission of irradiation could be an option for elderly breast cancer patients who satisfy our criteria.

[Ethinyl Estradiol Therapy for Postmenopausal Women with Heavily Pre-Treated Endocrine-Responsive Metastatic Breast Cancer].

Ethinyl estradiol(EE2)therapy has been reported to be an effective endocrine therapy for postmenopausal hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer, especially in the supposed acquired resistance state. The current study retrospectively investigated the efficacy and safety of EE2 therapy in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer who had previously undergone multiple endocrine therapies. Twelve patients were enrolled; median lines of endocrine therapies were seven before EE2. Median PFS was 4.8 months and median overall survival was 10.0 months. Grade 3 adverse event comprised of anorexia in only one patient. EE2 therapy may be considered effective and safe in hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer even in late-stage endocrine therapy.

[A Case of Breast Carcinoma with Cartilaginous Differentiation and Distant Metastasis with Complete Response to Post-Operative Chemotherapy].

We report a case of breast cancer with cartilaginous differentiation that responded well to chemotherapy, which completely eliminated distant metastasis. A 63-year-old woman visited our hospital complaining of a large hemorrhagic mass measuring 15 cm in diameter with ulceration of the left breast. Palpation revealed swelling of the left axillary and right supraclavicular (SC)lymph nodes, suggesting breast cancer metastasis. A CT scan revealed metastasis in the right lung measuring 2.5 cm in size. She underwent a total mastectomy with axillary dissection. The pathological findings were as follows; breast carcinoma with cartilaginous differentiation accompanied by a single lymph node metastasi(s 1/21)and skin involvement, ly0, v0, ER(-), PgR(-), HER2 0, Ki-67 80%. Four courses of AC therapy were administered as postoperative chemotherapy, which resulted in a decrease in the size of the SC lymph node to 1 cm. Subsequently, 12 courses of weekly paclitaxel yielded a complete response of the lung and SC lymph node metastasis. Oral administration of S-1 after paclitaxel therapy resulted in no recur- rence for 16 months after the operation.

Long-term effect of exemestane therapy on bone mineral density supported by bisphosphonates: Results of 5-year adjuvant treatment in postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Unlike anastrozole, the effect of long-term exemestane (EXE) therapy on bone mineral density (BMD) is still unknown. We assessed changes in BMD from baseline to 5 years of EXE treatment. METHODS: Postmenopausal women with endocrine-responsive breast cancer receiving EXE as adjuvant therapy were enrolled in this study. EXE was administered for 5 years. The BMD of the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline and after 6 months and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 years. Oral bisphosphonate (Bis) treatment was initiated when patients were diagnosed with osteoporosis with a T-score of -2.5 or lower. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients were enrolled in the study between 2005 and 2010. The median follow-up period was 54.9 months. Forty-two patients were administered Bis. Overall, the BMD of the LS increased by 7.3% from baseline and that of the FN increased by 3.4% with 5 years of EXE treatment. At the sixth year (i.e. 1 year after the treatment), BMD of the LS increased by 7.2% and that of the FN increased by 5.7%. Furthermore, the BMD of the FN increased by 12.0% in patients treated upfront with Bis and by 1.2% in those not treated with Bis (P = 0.0262). Fractures developed in nine patients (11.1%) and seven (8.6%) had fragility fractures. CONCLUSION: Oral Bis improves BMD of the FN in patients with osteoporosis. Five-year EXE treatment with proper addition of Bis helps maintain the BMD of the LS and FN at the sixth year.

[HER2-Positive Breast Cancer with Severe Infusion Reaction to Pertuzumab plus Trastuzumab-A Case Report].

A 64-year-old woman detected a tumor in her left breast in July 2015, and the tumor became exposed and ulcerated in January 2016. Subsequently, the tumor began to bleed, and the patient was admitted to our hospital on an emergency basis in March 2016. A CT scan revealed the presence of a giant tumor in the left breast, accompanied by chest wall infiltration, left axillary lymph node metastasis, and multiple liver and bone metastases. Following needle biopsy, the specimen was diagnosed as Luminal-HER2-type invasive ductal carcinoma, and pertuzumab plus trastuzumab plus docetaxel was administered. Upon administration of 2/3 of the pertuzumab, the patient developed chills. Therefore, the administration rate was reduced; however, the patient experienced palpitations, nausea, tachycardia, and decreased blood pressure at the end of the administration. Pertuzumab was temporarily discontinued, a replenisher was infused, and the symptoms improved within approximately 20 minutes. However, the patient again experienced chills, tachycardia, and decreased blood pressure immediately after reinitiating trastuzumab administration and complained of strong pain at the tumor site. Continuation of chemotherapy was deemed dangerous, and administration was discontinued. It has been reported that infusion reactions to trastuzumab are associated with clinical stage. In this case, the symptoms of the infusion reaction were severe because of the large tumor volume. It is necessary to consider administration of premedication and the administration time of anti-HER2 drugs in cases with high tumor burden such as the current case.

[Ethinylestradiol Following Everolimus plus Exemestane Was Effective in Postmenopausal Endocrine-Responsive Metastatic Breast Cancer - A Case Report].

A 71-year-old woman diagnosed with left breast cancer underwent mastectomy and axillary dissection in 1987. Pathological findings showed invasive ductal carcinoma that was ER and PgR positive and HER2 negative.5 -FU and tamoxifen were administered for 2 years as adjuvant therapy.Bone metastasis was found in 2002, and endocrine therapy was started, using anastrozole, exemestane, letrozole, medroxyprogesterone acetate, and fulvestrant.However, liver, lung, pleural, penetiral, and lymph-node metastases were observed, and the following chemotherapy regimen was administered: CAF, capecitabine, paclitaxel, vinorelbine, gemcitabine, methotrexate plus mitomycin C, and eribulin.Then, estrogen therapy with ethinylestradiol( EE2)was started in December 2013.T he pleural effusion disappeared and the liver metastases were reduced.After 11 months of progression-free survival(PFS), regrowth of the liver metastases was seen.Thus, everolimus plus exemestane was administered, and approximately 8 months of PFS was obtained.Therefore, both EE2 and everolimus are effective therapy even for heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer.

The effect of anastrozole on bone mineral density during the first 5 years of adjuvant treatment in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer.

PURPOSE: The administration of aromatase inhibitors is associated with bone loss in postmenopausal women. We assessed changes in bone mineral density (BMD) from baseline to 60 months of treatment in patients receiving anastrozole as initial adjuvant therapy. METHODS: Postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer receiving anastrozole as adjuvant therapy at our center since 2004 were enrolled in this study. BMD was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline and after 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months. Oral bisphosphonate (Bis) treatment was initiated when patients were diagnosed with osteoporosis having a T-score of -2.5 or lower. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were enrolled in the study between 2004 and 2011, and the mean follow-up period was 53.6 months. Thirty-five patients were administered Bis (risedronate in 27 patients, alendronate in 8 patients). After 6 months of hormone therapy, BMD decreased by 0.5% from baseline at the lumbar spine (LS) and BMD decreased by 1.5% at the femoral neck (FN). However, BMD increased by 1.9% at the LS and BMD decreased by 1.5% at the FN for 60 months of treatment. In patients treated with upfront Bis (n = 19), 5.4% BMD increase from baseline was noted at the LS whereas in those without Bis (n = 21) BMD decreased by 4.3% from baseline within 24 months (P < 0.0001). Fractures were observed in 4 patients (7.3%), and 1 patient (1.8%) had a fragility fracture. CONCLUSIONS: Upfront treatment of Bis with anastrozole significantly increased BMD at the LS and an optimal use of Bis would not increase bone fractures. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN0000017571.

A comparison of indocyanine green fluorescence imaging plus blue dye and blue dye alone for sentinel node navigation surgery in breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate two methods of sentinel node navigation surgery (SNNS) using blue dye with and without indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging (FI) to determine the usefulness of combined ICG and blue dye. METHODS: Between 2005 and 2010, a total of 501 patients underwent SNNS in our hospital. Detection of sentinel lymph node (SLN) was performed with sulfan blue (SB) alone until 2008 and with a combination of SB and ICG-FI since 2009. ICG 5 mg and SB 15 mg were injected in the subareolar region, and FI was obtained by a fluorescence imaging device. RESULTS: We attempted to identify SLNs in 393 patients by SB alone and in 108 patients by a combination of SB and FI. The mean number of SLNs detected was 1.6 (0-5) for SB alone and 2.2 (1-6) for the combination method. The SLN identification rate was 95.7 % for SB alone and 100 % for the combination method so that the combination was significantly superior to SB in terms of the identification rate (p = 0.0037). In patients who received the combination method, detection of SLN was made through only SB in 1 patient, only ICG in 8 patients, and both in 99 patients. Lymph node metastasis was found in 56 patients with SB alone and in 16 patients with the combination method. Recurrence of an axillary node was observed in 3 patients (0.8 %) with SB alone and in no patients with the combination method. CONCLUSIONS: ICG-FI is a useful method and is especially recommended in cases where no radiotracers are available.

[Responses to primary systemic therapy for breast cancer as assessed by hormone receptor and HER2 status].

The aim of this study was to investigate responses to primary systemic therapy (PST) for breast cancer, by hormone receptor (HR) and HER2 status. This study included 107 women with T>3 cm and/or node-positive breast cancer who received PST at this department between March 2004 and January 2009. Treatment with epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (EC) followed by docetaxel (DTX) therapy was undertaken up to December 2005. From January 2006, EC followed by weekly paclitaxel (PTX) with or without trastuzumab (T) therapy was performed. From February 2008 and thereafter, the EC-PTX-T therapy was continued in HER2-positive patients, whereas the preceding EC-DTX therapy was administered in HER2-negative patients. Clinical responses of the 107 patients (56 were treated with EC-DTX, 37 with EC-PTX, and 14 with EC-PTX-T) were as follows: CR was achieved in 18 patients, PR in 74 patients, SD in 12 patients, and PD in 3 patients, with a response rate of 86. 0%. Histologically, 14 patients(13. 2%)had pathological CR(pCR)in a limited sense. When these patients were further divided according to HR status, those positive for both estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) accounted for 1. 8%, those positive for ER and negative for PgR accounted for 5. 3%, and those negative for both ER and PgR accounted for a significantly higher percentage of 40. 0% (p<0. 0001) . By HER2 status, pCR was achieved at a significantly higher rate (47. 8%) of HER2-positive patients, compared to 3. 6% of HER2-negative patients (p<0. 0001). Common adverse events included Grade 3/4 leukopenia (57. 9%), neutropenia (67. 3%), and Grade 3 febrile neutropenia (11. 2%). The results show that a higher pCR rate can be expected after PST in HR-negative patients and HER2-positive patients. HER2-positive patients would particularly benefit from preoperative anthracycline chemotherapy followed by a taxane combined with trastuzumab.

A phase II study of epirubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by weekly paclitaxel with or without trastuzumab as primary systemic therapy in locally advanced breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity and toxicity of epirubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by weekly paclitaxel with or without trastuzumab as primary systemic therapy in locally advanced breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with T2-4 (>3 cm) or N1-3 breast cancer received epirubicin (100 mg/m(2)) and cyclophosphamide (600 mg/m(2)) every three weeks for four cycles followed by paclitaxel (80 mg/m(2)) every week for twelve cycles. Trastuzumab (initially 4 mg/kg, then 2 mg/kg) was added to paclitaxel in HER2-positive patients. The primary endpoint was the pathological complete response (pCR) rate in the breast and axilla, and secondary endpoints were the breast-conserving rate and toxicity. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were enrolled into this study and 3 patients withdrew. The pCR rate was 20.0% (95% confidence interval, 10.5-34.8%). Patients with HER2-positive tumours had a significantly higher pCR rate than the others (62.5% vs. 9.4%; p=0.0008). Twenty-four patients (60.0%) underwent breast-conserving surgery. Grade 4 neutropenia was recorded in 30.0% of the patients, and febrile neutropenia occurred in 7 patients (17.5%). CONCLUSION: Epirubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by weekly paclitaxel, either with or without trastuzumab, was an active and well-tolerated treatment for locally advanced breast cancer.

Successful neoadjuvant therapy with trastuzumab, paclitaxel and epirubicin for an elderly patient with inflammatory breast cancer.

A 75-year old woman presented with diffuse left breast enlargement, redness, edema, and a firm palpable lymph node with skin fixation in the left axilla. The tumor was diagnosed as invasive ductal carcinoma with a strongly positive human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) score (3+). She was diagnosed as having inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) (T4d N2M0, stage IIIb). The patient received primary systemic chemotherapy with 4 courses of epirubicin 75 mg/m(2) and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m(2) every three weeks, then 12 courses of paclitaxel 80 mg/m(2) and trastuzumab 2 mg/kg (initially 4 mg/kg) weekly. Six months after the start of chemotherapy, a left modified radical mastectomy with axillary dissection was performed. No cancer cells in the breast specimen and no metastases to the axillary nodes were observed, so the therapeutic effect was determined as a pathological complete response (pCR). This report suggests that combination therapy with epirubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by trastuzumab and paclitaxel was useful for HER2-positive IBC.

Epirubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel as primary systemic chemotherapy in locally advanced breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity and toxicity of epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (EC) followed by docetaxel as primary systemic chemotherapy (PST) in locally advanced breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this phase II trial, 46 patients with locally advanced breast cancer (T > 3 cm or N > 1) received epirubicin (90 mg/m2) and cyclophosphamide (600 mg/m2) every 3 weeks for four cycles, followed by docetaxel (70 mg/m2) every 3 weeks for four cycles. Primary endpoints were pathological and objective response in the breast and axilla, and toxicities. RESULTS: The clinical response rate was 80.4% (95% confidence interval, 68.9-91.9%). Pathological response evaluation revealed 6 complete responses (CR: 13.0%). Patients with ER-negative tumors had a significantly higher rate of pathological CR than the others (33.3% vs. 3.2%; p = 0.0105). Febrile neutropenia occurred in 4 patients (8.7%). CONCLUSION: EC followed by docetaxel is an active and well-tolerated treatment as PST for locally advanced breast cancer.

Current trends of sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer--a surgeon's perspective.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is standard care for patients with early-stage breast cancer, and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is considered unnecessary when sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) are tumor-free. Additional non-SLN metastasis in patients with positive SLNs can be estimated using several risk factors such as primary tumor size, metastatic tumor size in SLNs, lymphatic vessel invasion, and so on. All patients with positive SLNs may be treated with further ALND based on their own risk for non-SLN metastasis. Recent randomized clinical trials have already proved less surgical morbidity and better QOL for SLNB alone compared with ALND. However, trials concerning the efficacy of ALND in positive SLNB patients in preventing local regional recurrence and improving overall survival compared with no ALND, and also, concerning the effectiveness of ALND compared with axillary radiation therapy (RT), have not yielded clear results. The prognostic significance of micrometastasis in SLNs or bone marrow also remains to be determined. So far SLNB is not acceptable for patients with positive nodes in the axilla at initial diagnosis even if their axillary metastases are down-staged to negative by neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Although basically SLNB does not need to be performed for patients with pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), it is recommended for patients with an initial diagnosis of DCIS which is large, palpable, high grade, or found in younger patients. Because these types of DCIS have higher incidences of accompanying invasive lesions. In addition if patients will undergo mastectomy, SLNB is recommended because of the inability to perform SLNB after mastectomy. SLNB may be acceptable for patients with T3 or T4b tumors, even though SLN identification is lower yet SLN involvement is higher compared with T1 or T2 tumors, and systemic adjuvant therapy is more important for patients with T3 or T4b tumors. SLNB is a bridge to further axillary treatment such as ALND or axillary RT, and which strategy, including no further treatment, is best considered individually based on recurrence risk, treatment responsiveness and use or non-use of systemic therapy.

Recurrence after sentinel lymph node biopsy with or without axillary lymph node dissection in patients with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: A regional nodal recurrence is a major concern after a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) alone in patients with breast cancer. In this study we investigated patterns and risk factors of regional nodal recurrence after SLNB alone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1999 and March 2005, a series of 1,704 consecutive breast cancer cases in 1,670 patients (34 bilateral breast cancer cases) with clinically negative nodes or suspicious nodes for metastasis who underwent SLNB at a single institute (Saitama Cancer Center) were studied. All 1,704 cases were classified based upon presence or absence of a metastatic lymph node, treated with or without axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). The site of first recurrence was classified as local, regional node, or distant. The regional node recurrences were subclassified as axillary, interpectoral, infraclavicular, supraclavicular, or parasternal. RESULTS: After a median follow-up period of 34 months (range, 2-83 months), first recurrence occurred in local sites in 32 (1.9%) cases, regional nodes in 26 (1.5%) cases, and distant sites in 61 (3.6%) cases. In 1,062 cases with negative nodes treated without ALND and 459 cases with positive nodes treated with ALND, 11 (1.0%) and 15 (3.3%) recurred in regional nodes, respectively, and 4 (0.4%) and 2 (0.6%) recurred in axillary nodes, respectively. Of 822 cases of invasive breast cancer with negative nodes treated with SLNB alone, 10 (1.4%) recurred in regional nodes, and 4 (0.5%) recurred in axillary nodes. In the 10 patients with regional nodal failure, all of the tumors were negative for estrogen receptor (ER) and/or progesterone receptor (PR) and were nuclear grade (NG) 3. CONCLUSIONS: The axillary recurrence rate was low in patients treated with SLNB alone. Omitting ALND is concluded to be safe after adequate SLNB. Risk factors for regional nodal failure after SLNB alone are negative hormone receptor status and high NG.

Added value of the presence of blue nodes or hot nodes in sentinel lymph node biopsy of breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Combined use of blue dye and radiocolloid is considered to be useful for sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy of breast cancer. Whether both techniques together is superior to either alone was analyzed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A consecutive series of 308 cases of breast cancer who underwent SLN biopsy using the combination technique was used. The frequency of a blue node or hot node was analyzed in all cases and only node-positive cases. Furthermore, the frequency of a blue node and hot node together, or either alone, and the highest radiocount of the SLNs in each case were examined for correlation with 8 clinicopathologic features. Three types of SLN containing both blue dye and radioactivity (blue-hot node), blue dye alone (blue-only node) and radioactivity alone (hot-only node), and the SLN radiocounts were analyzed for correlation with metastatic tumor. RESULTS: Of 308 cases, a blue node was present in 298 (97%), a hot node in 295 (96%), and either a blue or hot node in 306 (99%). The presence of a blue node or hot node was similarly affected by previous surgical biopsy and body mass index (BMI), and the presence of a hot node was also affected by age and tumor location. However, the presence of either a blue node or hot node was not affected by any of these characteristics. Of 77 node-positive cases, 8 (10%), 15 (19%) and 6 (8%) were considered to be node-negative based on blue node, hot node and either blue node or hot node positivity, respectively. The frequency of positivity for SLN metastasis decreased in order from blue-hot, blue-only to hot-only nodes. Of 62 cases with metastatic hot nodes, six (10%) were negative when the hottest node was examined, but the second-hottest node was positive. CONCLUSIONS: The added value of the presence of blue node or hot node was confirmed in the SLN biopsy using the combination technique, which suggests that all blue nodes and hot nodes need to be harvested.

The combination of epirubicin plus docetaxel as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally-advanced breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the activity and toxicity of epirubicin plus docetaxel as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this single-center, phase II trial, twenty-one patients with locally advanced breast cancer (T>3 cm or N>1) received epirubicin (70 mg/m2) and docetaxel (60 mg/m2) on Day 1 of each cycle for up to 6 cycles. RESULTS: Clinically complete responses (CR) were observed in 5 patients and partial responses were observed in 14 patients. The clinical response rate was 90.5% (95% confidence interval, 78.0-99.9). Eleven patients (52.4%) underwent breast conserving surgery. Pathological response evaluation revealed 2 CR (9.5%). Grade 4 neutropenia was recorded in 81.0% of the patients and febrile neutropenia occurred in 1 patient. CONCLUSION: The combination of epirubicin plus docetaxel was an active and well-tolerated treatment for locally-advanced breast cancer.