MRI in Evaluating Early Response to Chemotherapy in Women With Infiltrating Breast Cancer

"Neoadjuvant tehrapy as per standard practice :~Patients will be treated with six cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combining epirubicin (75 mg/m² on day 1) and docetaxel (75 mg/m² on day 1), administered every 21 days (Delcambre, 2005; Wenzel, 1999). This treatment regimen is in line with the latest international recommendations (Kaufmann, 2003). The addition of a leukocyte growth factor in cases of grade IV leukopenia and/or treatment postponements due to grade 3-4 toxicity will be authorized with a maximum delay of 2 weeks per cycle. Dose reductions will be authorized in 25% increments for grade 3-4 toxicity~. Systematic surgical excision of the residual lesion (or the initial tumor site) will be performed between 22 and 35 days after the last chemotherapy treatment, in the form of a lumpectomy or mastectomy, depending on the residual tumor. Lymph node dissection will be systematically associated."