Combination Chemotherapy Before Surgery in Treating Women With Breast Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed carcinoma of the breast Locally advanced or inflammatory disease (T4, any N or any T, N2 or N3 or T4d) OR Large operable disease (large T2 or T3 for which tumor shrinkage is needed) No distant metastasis on chest x-ray, liver ultrasound, or bone scan except for ipsilateral supraclavicular nodes No abnormal bone scintigrams that cannot be confirmed as benign Hormone Receptor Status Not specified
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 to 70 Sex: Female Menopausal status: Not specified Performance status: WHO 0-1 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.25 times upper limit of normal (ULN) SGOT no greater than 2 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular: LVEF normal by echocardiography or MUGA Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception No other serious uncontrolled illnesses No uncontrolled psychiatric or addictive disorders No other concurrent or prior malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics