Chemotherapy Before Surgery and Tissue Sample Collection in Patients With Stage IIA-IIIC Breast Cancer

You may be eligible if

• Estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2/neu status documented by core needle biopsy of the primary tumor and/or regional lymph node must be known prior to beginning systemic therapy
• Patients must have had a bilateral diagnostic mammogram within 6 months of registration, and may also have a targeted sonography of the breast and/or ipsilateral axilla and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) if clinically indicated
• Patients with clinically suspicious axillary lymph node involvement must have either aspiration cytology or biopsy prior to beginning therapy
• It is strongly encouraged that all patients have metallic clips placed in the tumor prior to neoadjuvant therapy in order to facilitate evaluation for microscopic disease at the time of surgery; placement of clips is particularly encouraged for patients being considered for breast conserving surgery
• No prior chemotherapy, irradiation, or definitive therapeutic surgery (eg, mastectomy or lumpectomy or axillary dissection) for this malignancy; patients who have had a prior sentinel lymph node biopsy for this malignancy are eligible
• Patients who received tamoxifen or another selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) for prevention or for other indications (e.g., osteoporosis, prior ductal carcinoma in situ \[DCIS\]) are eligible; tamoxifen therapy or other SERMs should be discontinued at least 1 week before the patient is enrolled on this study
• The patient is medically suitable candidate for preoperative chemotherapy and surgery in the judgment of the treating physicians
• Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document, and willing to provide blood samples before and during preoperative therapy; patients are also asked but not required to have research biopsies performed before and after therapy