A pilot evaluation of alternating preoperative chemotherapy in the management of patients with locoregionally advanced breast carcinoma

BACKGROUND: This prospective trial was conducted to evaluate the outcome of patients treated with preoperative and post operative chemotherapy, mastectomy, and irradiation for locoregionally advanced breast carcinoma. METHODS: Between June 1986 and September 1990, 71 patients received 2 cycles of doxorubicin that alternated with 2 cycles of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil prior to mastectomy; irradiation was administered when the tumor was not amenable to surgical resection. Additional chemotherapy and tamoxifen, in hormone receptor-positive tumors, was used after mastectomy. Post-operative irradiation was given on a selective basis for patients at high risk for locoregional disease recurrence. RESULTS: Although 5 patients (7%) had disease progression, clinical partial or complete tumor response to preoperative chemotherapy was noted in 46 patients (65%). Sixty-eight patients (96%) underwent mastectomy. With a median follow-up of 52 months, the relapse-free and overall survival rates at 5 years were 42% and 57% respectively. Locoregional tumor recurrence occurred in 14 patients (20%), and 28 patients (39%) developed metastatic disease. Menopausal status, clinical presentation (noninflammatory vs. inflammatory), and American Joint Committee on Cancer clinical stage were independent covariates associated with patient outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative alternating chemotherapy, with the selective use of irradiation, resulted in significant locoregional disease regression and the successful integration of mastectomy into the therapeutic strategy. Locoregional tumor control and relapse-free and overall survival estimates for the approach described herein compared favorably with other comtemporary reports for this condition.