Multicenter Phase II Study with Weekly Bendamustine and Paclitaxel as First- or Later-Line Therapy in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer: RiTa II Trial.

The combination of bendamustine (B) and paclitaxel (P) as anthracycline-free treatment option in patients with advanced breast cancer has been evaluated in the previous RiTa I trial. The regimen of weekly B 70 mg/m(2) and P 90 mg/m(2) with a pause every 4th week was established as an effective regimen with low toxicity. The aim of the present RiTa II study was to investigate the potential of BP as anthracycline-free combination therapy.

Prediction of Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: New Biomarker Approaches and Concepts.

SUMMARY: About 10-25% of breast cancer patients achieve a pathologically confirmed complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Tissue samples of pretreatment core biopsies are a valuable resource for translational research aiming towards predictive biomarkers for selecting patients who are likely to benefit from neoadjuvant therapy. The German Breast Group (GBG) and the AGO-B Group (AGO = Working Group Gynecological Oncology) have extensive experience in conducting neoadjuvant clinical trials.

Lessons from the neoadjuvant setting on how best to choose adjuvant therapies.

Aims: To review the recent literature on neoadjuvant treatment of breast cancer with respect to insights that might be used for better using systemic treatment in early breast cancer.

Results: Much more insight was gained during recent years on how to use information on pathologic complete response (pCR). pCR appears to be a valid surrogate for long-term survival mainly in triple-negative and HER2-positive disease.