DCb (Docetaxel/Carboplatin) Versus EC-D (Epirubicin/Cyclophosphamide Followed by Docetaxe) as Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype lacking estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) amplification. TNBC accounts for 15-20% of all invasive breast cancer. Although PARP inhibitors and immunotherapy may play a role in the treatment of early TNBC, the mainstay of treatment for TNBC is cytotoxic chemotherapy. However, despite its sensitivity to chemotherapy, TNBC is still associated with a poor prognosis.

TNBC is usually recommended for neoadjuvant therapy. The benefits of neoadjuvant therapy include reducing the size of the tumor to suit breast conserving surgery, avoiding axillary lymph node dissection, making inoperable tumors operable, and obtaining an in vivo evaluation of the tumor's chemosensitivity. Taxane- and anthracycline-based neoadjuvant regimens have become a standard treatment for TNBC, and patients have been proved to have better event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) who achieve a pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy1.

Carboplatin attack cancer cells by inducing double-stranded DNA breaks, and TNBC may be sensitive to carboplatin2. Previous studies have shown that adding carboplatin to neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens significantly improved pCR rate in TNBC patients3, 4.

Due to the long-term cardiotoxicity caused by anthracycline, several studies have explored the efficacy of neoadjuvant paclitaxel plus carboplatin regimens in TNBC and have achieved satisfactory pCR rates, but there are still controversies5. However, there is no study making comparisons between the combination of taxanes and carboplatin without anthracycline and the standard neoadjuvant regimens. Whether the combination of taxanes and carboplatin without anthracycline can achieve better efficacy while reducing adverse reactions still needs to be explored.

The NeoCART study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of docetaxel plus carboplatin with standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy in TNBC.

Eligibility Criteria：

Patients must meet the following criteria for study entry:

• Female, aged 18 Years to 70 Years
• Signed written informed consent approved by the study site Ethics Committee
• Histologically confirmed Triple-Negative invasive breast carcinoma：Pathologically confirmed as triple negative, defined as ER and PR expression both < 1 % of tumor cell nuclei per ASCO/CAP guidelinesa and HER2 negative per ASCO/CAP guidelinesa (IHC 0 or 1+ or FISH-, or IHC 2+ and FISH-)
• Stage at presentation: II - III (T1cN1-2 or T2-4N0-2)
• Patients must have measurable disease as defined by palpable lesion with caliper and/or a positive mammogram or ultrasound. Bilateral mammogram is required for study entry. Baseline measurements of the indicator lesions must be recorded on the Patient Registration Form. To be valid for baseline, the measurements must have been made within the 14 days if palpable. If not palpable, a mammogram or MRI must be done within 14 days. If palpable, a mammogram or MRI must be done within 2 months prior to study entry. If clinically indicated, x-rays and scans must be done within 28 days of study entry.
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 to 1 within 14 days of study entry
• Adequate organ function within 2 weeks of study entry:

ANC ≥ 1500 cells/μL Platelet count ≥ 100,000 cells/μL Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL; patients may receive red blood cell transfusions to obtain this level Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN) INR and (activated) partial thromboplastin time (aPTT/PTT) ≤ 1.5 ×ULN AST and ALT ≤ULN Serum total bilirubin ≤ ULN, except for patients with Gilbert's syndrome for whom direct bilirubin should be within the normal range Serum alkaline phosphatase ≤ULN

• Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test performed within 7 days prior to the start of treatment
• Women of childbearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception (barrier method of birth control) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation

Exclusion criteria

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Patients who meet any of the following criteria will be excluded from study entry:

• Stage IV (metastatic) breast cancer
• Patients with a history of invasive breast cancer.
• Patients with a history of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), except for patients treated exclusively with mastectomy > 5 years prior to diagnosis of current breast cancer
• Patients with bilateral breast cancer
• Prior chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biologic therapy, investigational agent, targeted therapy or radiation therapy for current breast cancer.
• Patients who have undergone incisional and/or excisional biopsy of primary tumor and/or axillary lymph nodes
• History of previous or current malignancy at other sites with the exception of adequately treated carcinoma in-situ of the cervix or basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. Patients with a history of other malignancies, who remain disease free for greater than five years are eligible.
• Current severe, uncontrolled systemic disease that may interfere with planned treatment (e.g., clinically significant cardiovascular, pulmonary, or metabolic disease; wound-healing disorders)
• Major surgical procedure unrelated to breast cancer or significant traumatic injury within 28 days prior to randomization or anticipation of the need for major surgery during the course of study treatment
• Current pregnancy and/or breastfeeding