PRIMARY CHEMOTHERAPY IN EARLY STAGE BREAST CANCER

Tumour response seems to be a marker of outcome in breast cancer. It is well known that preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy have improved the relapse-free survival. 72 patients with early breast cancer (Stage I and II) have been treated by primary chemotherapy protocol of FEC/FNP/FEP (F: Fluorouracil 600 mgr/m2, N: Mitoxantrone 12 mgr/m2, E: Epirubicin 70 mgr/m2, P: Cisplatin 70 mgr/m2, C: Cyclophophamide 600 mgr/m2). Complete and partial response to primary chemotherapy has been achieved in 42 patients (79%) treated with FEC, in 10 patients (100%) treated with FNP, and 8 patients (89%) treated with FEP. Overall response rate is 83 percent in 72 patients. These results show that early breast cancer has a high sensitivity to primary chemotherapy which represents good prognosis.