简介：ObjectiveThisstudywasinitiallydesignedtoevaluatetheeffectofcelecoxibontheregimenof5-fluorouracil,epirubicin,andcyclophosphamide(FEC)combination,followedbydocetaxel(T)inneoadjuvantsetting.AnunplannedpreliminaryreviewonsafetywasconductedafterahaltofthestudyduetotheconcernedpotentialcardiovascularriskofusingCOX-2inhibitors.MethodsWestudied23consecutivecasesofoperablebreastcancerhavingreceivedfourcyclesofFEC(500mg/m2,100mg/m2,500mg/m2)followedbyfourcyclesofT(100mg/m2)withconcurrentcelecoxib(400mgtwicedaily)(groupA)orsamechemotherapyregimenbutwithoutconcurrentcelecoxib(groupB).Thesecombinedchemotherapieswereadministeredevery3weeks.TheChi-squaretestorFisher'sexacttestwereusedtoassessthedifferenceinincidenceoflimitinghematologicaltoxicitesbetweengroups.Results23patients(groupA:n=12;groupB,n=11)receivedatotalof183outof184plannedtreatmentcycles;one(4%,1/23)ofthemomittedthefourthcycleofFECowingtorepeatedincidencesoffebrileneutropenia.Receiveddoseintensity(RDI)forFECingroupA(90%±11%)washigherthanthatingroupB(80%±8%)whileRDIforTwassimilarbetweengroupA(93%±8%)andgroupB(96%±9%).Ofthefirst91treatmentcyclesofFEC,limitinghematologicaltoxicity,severeneutropeniaincludingfebrileneutropenia,wassignificantlydifferentbetweengroupAandB[(10.4%,5/48)vs.(32.6%,14/43),P=0.009].Othertoxicitiescommonlyobservedinchemotherapyreceivingpatientsweremanageable.ConclusionsNeoadjuvantuseofFECfollowedbyTwithconcurrentcelecoxibappearedtobesafefortreatmentofoperableinvasivebreastcancer.Theobservedlowerincidenceofchemotherapy-inducedneutropeniaispossiblycontributedbytheadministrationofCOX-inhibitor.WebelievethatfurtherinvestigationmightprovidemoreevidenceontheuseofCOX-2inhibitorsinbreastcancer.