Currently, neoadjuvant chemotherapy is the standard for treatment of locally advanced breast cancer to achieve local tumor downstaging in order to make surgery possible. Since the early 1980s, the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in early stage or operable breast cancer has been the subject of study. Potential advantages are early introduction of systemic therapy, determination of chemosensitivity, reduction of tumor volume and good downstaging for surgical feasibility, particularly breast conservation. Concerns exist about local control after downsized surgery and the delay of local treatment in patients with tumors resistant to chemotherapy. The use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy increases breast conservation rates, yet at the associated cost of increased locoregional recurrence rates. However, this rate was not increased as long as surgery remains part of the treatment even after complete tumor regression. The objective of the review was to assess the effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in women with locally advanced breast cancer when compared to postoperative chemotherapy. We concluded that, this review suggests safe application of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of women with locally advanced and operable breast cancer in order to downstage the tumors, making inoperable and irresectable tumors to be operable and easily resectable, also to evaluate response by chemosensitivity and to facilitate breast conserving therapy after good downstaging.