Background: Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is a poor prognostic subtype of breast cancer. Response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy was proved to be associated with better survival. Platinum-based chemotherapy was suggested to be associated with better response in the neoadjuvant setting
Aim of the work: The current study is a phase III prospective study aimed at comparing platinum-based chemotherapy to anthracycline/taxanes conventional therapy in the neoadjuvant setting.
Patients and Methods: The study was carried out in Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University. Inclusion criteria: nonmetastatic breast cancer cases, age more than 18 years, ECOG performance status of 0-2, and tumor proved to be triple negative subtype. Exclusion criteria: chemotherapy treatment contraindications, pregnancy, history of prior malignancy, presence of distant metastasis, and bilateral cases.
Results: The study included 45 patients who fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups, Group A: included 22 patients received anthracycline containing regimen (FEC or FAC) followed by Docetaxel and Group B: included 23 patients received platinum-based chemotherapy (Cisplatin or Carboplatin) combined with Docetaxel. Three patients in each arm had pCR in tumor, while one patient in each arm had PD. In axillary lymph nodes, complete regression occurred in 8 patients of group A and 11 patients of group B. Treatment was well tolerated in both groups.
Conclusion: Platinum based chemotherapy in treatment of TNBC was well tolerated and had non inferior outcome compared to the classic anthracycline/taxanes based treatment, yet better biological understanding of the TNBC subtypes is mandatory for better treatment outcome.