Chemotherapy Before Surgery and Tissue Sample Collection in Patients With Stage IIA-IIIC Breast Cancer
Chemotherapy Before Surgery and Tissue Sample Collection in Patients With Stage IIA-IIIC Breast Cancer
This pilot clinical trial studies chemotherapy before surgery and tissue sample collection in
 patients with stage IIA-IIIC breast cancer. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as doxorubicin
 hydrochloride, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of
 tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Monoclonal
 antibodies, such as trastuzumab, may interfere with the ability of tumor cells o grow and
 spread. Giving doxorubicin hydrochloride, cyclophosphamide, paclitaxel and trastuzumab may
 kill more tumor cells. Collecting and storing samples of tissue from patients with breast
 cancer to study in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about how well patients will
 respond to treatment.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

 I. To evaluate the effects of preoperative neoadjuvant paclitaxel and doxorubicin
 (doxorubicin hydrochloride)/cyclophosphamide (AC) on: senescence; invasion/motility (tumor
 microenvironment of metastasis [TMEM] and 67 kDa laminin receptor [67LR]).

 II. To create a biospecimen repository for future studies derived from patients with breast
 cancer receiving standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

 OUTLINE: Patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive disease are
 assigned to Stratum A, and patients with HER2-negative disease are randomized to Stratum B or
 C.

 STRATUM A: Patients receive paclitaxel intravenously (IV) over 1 hour and trastuzumab IV over
 30-90 minutes weekly for 12 weeks. Beginning 2-3 weeks later, patients receive doxorubicin
 hydrochloride IV over 5-10 minutes and cyclophosphamide IV over 30-60 minutes every 2 weeks
 for 8 weeks

 STRATUM B: Patients receive paclitaxel, doxorubicin hydrochloride, and cyclophosphamide as in
 Stratum A.

 STRATUM C: Patients receive doxorubicin hydrochloride IV over 5-10 minutes and
 cyclophosphamide IV over 30-60 minutes every 2 weeks for 8 weeks. Patients then receive
 paclitaxel IV over 1 hour weekly for 12 weeks.

 Patients undergo surgery 2-6 weeks after the last chemotherapy dose.

 In all arms, treatment continues in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients must have histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the breast associated
 with the following clinical stage: IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC; patients with stage
 IV disease are also eligible if there is an intention to perform breast surgery after
 neoadjuvant therapy is completed, or in patients participating in clinical trials
 where surgery after neoadjuvant therapy may be an option (eg. E2108)

 -  Estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2/neu status documented by
 core needle biopsy of the primary tumor and/or regional lymph node must be known prior
 to beginning systemic therapy

 -  Patients must have had a bilateral diagnostic mammogram within 6 months of
 registration, and may also have a targeted sonography of the breast and/or ipsilateral
 axilla and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) if clinically indicated

 -  Patients with clinically suspicious axillary lymph node involvement must have either
 aspiration cytology or biopsy prior to beginning therapy

 -  It is strongly encouraged that all patients have metallic clips placed in the tumor
 prior to neoadjuvant therapy in order to facilitate evaluation for microscopic disease
 at the time of surgery; placement of clips is particularly encouraged for patients
 being considered for breast conserving surgery

 -  No prior chemotherapy, irradiation, or definitive therapeutic surgery (eg, mastectomy
 or lumpectomy or axillary dissection) for this malignancy; patients who have had a
 prior sentinel lymph node biopsy for this malignancy are eligible

 -  Patients who received tamoxifen or another selective estrogen receptor modulator
 (SERM) for prevention or for other indications (e.g., osteoporosis, prior ductal
 carcinoma in situ [DCIS]) are eligible; tamoxifen therapy or other SERMs should be
 discontinued at least 1 week before the patient is enrolled on this study

 -  The patient is medically suitable candidate for preoperative chemotherapy and surgery
 in the judgment of the treating physicians

 -  Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document,
 and willing to provide blood samples before and during preoperative therapy; patients
 are also asked but not required to have research biopsies performed before and after
 therapy