PROMISING RESULTS OF AN INDUCTION REGIMEN WITH HIGH-DOSE CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE AND EPIRUBICIN FOR INFLAMMATORY BREAST-CANCER

Forty-eight patients with inflammatory breast cancer were treated by a n induction regimen with cyclophosphamide (1200 mg/m(2)), and epirubic in (75 mg/m(2)). Four to six courses were given every two weeks, whate ver the absolute leukocyte counts, before mastectomy, loco-regional ra diation, and conventional, or reinforced, for selected patients, chemo therapy. Main toxicity was leukopenia, with grade IV in 25% of cases. However, febrile neutropenia was rare, and relative dose intensity was 102% after four courses, and 97% after six courses. Complete disappea rance of inflammatory signs was observed in 90% of patients. Three pat ients had a pathological complete response, and ten patients had negat ive axillary lymph nodes. Furthermore, 13 patients had a major patholo gical response. With a medium follow-up of 42 months, progression-free survival and overall survival are 48% and 66%, respectively.