FEC With G-CSF Support Followed by Ixabepilone With G-CSF Support as Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in BC

Estrogen receptor negative breast cancer may be defined as distinct biologic subtype disease, more aggressive with a typical molecular portrait. \[30\] This subtype seems to have a poor prognosis and poor treatment options because these patients are not candidate to hormonal therapy. Novel treatment strategies focusing upon this subtype are necessary in the future. \[31\] There are reports of clinical benefit in estrogen receptor negative patients treated with dose-dense chemotherapy (see background CALGB 9741 and MIG-1 study). In the CALGB 9741 study, patients randomized to receive dose-dense regimens experienced severe toxicities during paclitaxel treatment leading to dose reduction in 7% and 5%respectively. Ixabepilone has shown consistent activity and an acceptable safety profile in patients with all stages breast cancer. This phase II study evaluate the feasibility of dose-dense Ixabepilone (4 cycles) given sequentially to the combination of Fluorouracil, Epirubicin and Cyclophosphamide (4 cycles) all given every 14 days with the support of Filgrastim as neo-adjuvant treatment for ER-negative breast cancer patients.