Biweekly docetaxel and gemcitabine as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in stage II and III breast cancer patients: preliminary results of a phase II and pharmacogenomic study.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a biweekly neoadjuvant docetaxel/gemcitabine regimen in patients with histologically confirmed stage II and III breast cancer. In addition, a cDNA microarray study attempted to correlate pretreatment gene-expression profile with clinical and pathologic responses. Docetaxel 65 mg/m(2) was given in a 60-minute intravenous infusion followed by gemcitabine 2,500 mg/m(2) in a 30-minute intravenous infusion every 2 weeks for six cycles; prophylaxis with growth factors was allowed.