Neoadjuvant Chemo-endocrine Therapy Versus Chemotherapy Alone in ER-positive, HER2-negative Breast Cancer

Postmenopausal patients were treated with letrozole 2.5mg/day p.o until complement of neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery, while premenopausal ones received letrozole 2.5mg/day p.o and a subcutaneous injection of the GnRH-a, leuprorelin, as concomitant treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (fluorouracil 600mg/m2 IV, epirubicin 90mg/m2 IV and cyclophosphamide 600mg/m2 IV on day 1 at 3-weekly intervals for 3 cycles followed by docetaxel 100mg/m2 IV on day 1 at 3-weekly intervals for 3 cycles; or epirubicin 90mg/m2 IV and cyclophosphamide 600mg/m2 IV on day 1 at 2-weekly intervals for 4 cycles, followed by docetaxel 80mg/m2 IV on day 1 at 2-weekly intervals for 4 cycles), letrozole was delivered after 1 week of first dose of leuprorelin injection.

Patients received fluorouracil 500mg/m2 IV, epirubicin 90mg/m2 IV and cyclophosphamide 500mg/m2 IV on day 1 at 3-weekly intervals for 3 cycles followed by docetaxel 100mg/m2 IV on day 1 at 3-weekly intervals for 3 cycles; or epirubicin 90mg/m2 IV and cyclophosphamide 600mg/m2 IV on day 1 at 2-weekly intervals for 4 cycles, followed by docetaxel 100mg/m2 IV on day 1 at 2-weekly intervals for 4 cycles.