OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical value of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of operable breast cancer.

METHODSA total of 120 patients with pathologically proven operable breast cancer were randomized into two groups to receive 2-4 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel combined with pirarubicin (TThp) or docetaxel combined with epirubicin (TE). Operations were performed two weeks after the neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The short-term therapeutic effect, toxic reaction and the impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the choice of surgical approaches were evaluated.

RESULTSThe total effective rate for the primary sites was 87.2% in these patients, and the rate of breast conservation significantly increased from 12.7% to 41.8% (P<0.05), with a tumor resection rate of 97.2%. The major adverse effects of the therapy included leukopenia, nausea, vomiting and alopecia.

CONCLUSIONNeoadjuvant chemotherapy can enhance the breast conservation rate, lower the clinical staging of the tumors and minimize the surgery area to improve the postoperative quality of life of the patients.