Breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancer of Bangladeshi women and presents comparatively at late stage of their diseases. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been recommended as the primary treatment of choice in locally advanced and metastatic breast cancers. Objective: To assess the clinical response, comparison of responses, toxic effects of two schedules of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy randomly applied in patients with locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer. Material &

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... ds: This randomized control trial study was carried out in the Department of Medical Oncology, National Institute of Cancer Research & Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2009 to June 2010. The study cases were locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer. Most of the cases were histological proved infiltrating duct cell carcinomas of both sexes and age was between 20-60 years. The study was comprised of two arms; ACT arm; -combination of three drugs such as Adriamycine, Cyclophoshphamide, Paclitaxel and FACVP arm; - combination of five drugs such as 5- Fluorouracil, Adriamycine, Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine, Prednisolone. A total of 70 patients were enrolled in this study of which 35 patients were included in the ACT arm and the rest 35 patients in FACVP arm. Total six cycles of chemotherapy were given in each patient at 21 days' interval. After two cycles, each patient was evaluated clinically to measure clinical response. All the data were compiled and analyzed by SPSS version 12.0. Results: All the cases were locally advanced and have metastatic disease and almost all were (97%) with axillary lymph node involvement. Left and right breast involvement was (54.3%) and (46.7%) in FACVP arms respectively. Left and right breast involvement was (51.4%) and (48.6%) in ACT arm respectively. Two patients were with both breast involvements in ACT arm. Characteristics of the patients such as body build, age, stage, performance status, social status were more .........