Inflammatory and locally advanced breast cancer respond similar to operable breast cancer to neoadjuvant chemotherapy: Results from 278 patients with cT4a-d tumors of the GeparTRIO trial

542 Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is the treatment of choice in patients with T4a-c and inflammatory (T4d) breast cancer. However, data on large-scale, multicentre, prospective trials are missing. In the GeparTRIO study (SABCS 2006, abstr. 42) 278 of 2,090 patients with cT4a-c or T4d tumors were included as a separate stratum for inoperable disease for a prospectively planned analysis. Methods: Patients were treated with 2 cycles TAC (docetaxel 75 mg/m2, doxorubicin 50 mg/m2, cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2, q d 21). If tumor reduction was >50%, patients were randomized to receive 4 or 6 additional TAC cycles. If tumor reduction was less, patients were randomized to 4 additional TAC cycles or to 4 NX cycles (vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 day 1 + 8, capecitabine 2,000 mg/m2 day 1 14, q21). Efficacy endpoints were pCR-rate (no invasive and no non-invasive residuals in breast and lymph nodes) (primary), clinical response before surgery and breast conserving therapy (BCT) rate (secondary). Results: 95 (4.6%) T4d, 18...