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Preoperative chemotherapy of continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin or pirarubicin and cyclophosphamine in operable primary breast cancer

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Chinese Journal of Cancer Research

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and activity of continuous-infusion of fluorouracil in association with epirubicin or pirarubicin and cyclophosphamine as neoadjuvant regimen in patients with primary breast cancer. Methods: A total of 111 (including 114 breasts) were entered into the study. Chemotherapy consisted of two to six cycles of epirubicin 50 mg/(m2·d) and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/(m2·d) on day 1 and 8, and continuous intravenous administration of 5-fluorouracil 200 mg/(m2·d) from day 1 to 28 with a microinfusional elastomer (CEFci) or pirarubicin 35 mg/(m2·d) on day 1 and 8 instead of epirubicin (CTFci). Results: The overall response rate was 87.7%. Forty-five patients (39.5%) attained a complete clinical response and 27 (23.7%) attained a pathological complete response. CTFci regimen was superior to CEFci regimen in response rate, the pathological complete response rate (pCR) of former regimen was significantly higher than that of latter regimen (34.8% vs. 16.2%) (P=0.022). The pCR rate in ER/PgR negative tumor was significantly higher than that of ER/PgR positive tumor, achieving 33.3% and 7.5% respectively (P=0.001, x 2=11.043). There was no relationship between HER-2 expression and tumor response. The toxicity of two regimens was well tolerated. Alopecia was mild in CTFci regimen comparing with CEFci regimen but neutropenia in CTFci regimen was higher than CEFci regimen. Conclusion: Continuous-infusion of fluorouracil in association with epirubicin or pirarubicin and cyclophosphamine is effective regimens as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for primary breast cancer and the toxicity is well tolerated. Pirarubicin regimen was superior to epirubicin regimen in response rate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgical Oncology, Peking University School of Oncology, Beijing Institute for Cancer Research, Beijing Cancer Hospital, 100036, Beijing

    Li Jin-feng, Ou Yang-Tao, Wang Tian-feng & Lin Ben-yao

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  1. Li Jin-feng
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  2. Ou Yang-Tao
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  3. Wang Tian-feng
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  4. Lin Ben-yao
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Correspondence to Li Jin-feng.

Additional information

Foundation item: This work was supported by a grant from the Key project of Beijing Science & Technology Committee.

Biography: LI Jin-feng (1965–), male, associate professor, doctor of medicine, Peking University School of Oncology, majors in surgical oncology.

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Li, Jf., Ou, YT., Wang, Tf. et al. Preoperative chemotherapy of continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin or pirarubicin and cyclophosphamine in operable primary breast cancer. Chin. J. Cancer Res. 16, 197–202 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11670-004-0026-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11670-004-0026-6

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