Relationship Between Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Induced Apoptosis and Chemotherapeutic Efficacy in Breast Cancer

To investigate the change of apoptosis index(AI) in breast cancer patients who accepted neoadjuvant chemotherapy with CEF regimen, and the relationship between the change of AI and clinical efficacy. Fifty-eight patients with breast cancer received chemotherapy with CEF regimen for 3 cycles before operation. AI was measured by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end-label(TUNEL) assay preoperatively and postoperatively with intact data in 42 cases. Overall response rate in patients with CEF neoadjuvant chemotherapy was 62.1%. The values of AI were significantly decreased after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P0.05), and the changes of AI value were significant related to the efficacy of pre-operation chemotherapy (P0.05). [Conclusions] The level of AI after neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be used as an index for predicting efficacy of chemotherapy in patients with for breast cancer.