Phase II Study of Primary Chemotherapy With Paclitaxel, Gemcitabine, and Trastuzumab

To evaluate the pathologic complete response rate to preoperative administration of Paclitaxel, Gemcitabine, and Trastuzumab (HerceptinÒ) (PGH)

Primary objectives: To evaluate the pathologic complete response rate to preoperative administration of Paclitaxel, Gemcitabine, and Trastuzumab (HerceptinÒ) (PGH) Secondary objectives: To assess breast conserving rate after preoperative chemotherapyTo evaluate clinical response rate, disease free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) To assess the safety profiles of PGH

Treatment will be delivered in the outpatient setting. Each three-week cycle consists of paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 (day 1, 8) and gemcitabine 1200 mg/m2 (day1, 8) in addition to trastuzumab, which is given at a dose of 4 mg/kg IV on day 1 of the first treatment cycle over 90 min, and subsequently given weekly at a dose of 2 mg/kg over 30 min. Patients will receive 6 cycles of therapy unless there is any evidence of no response suitable for operation(SD or PD) or unacceptable toxicity or noncompliance by patient with protocol requirements. Patients who are unsuitable for op due to SD or PD, will undergo XRT. However, when patients are still suitable for op even with SD or PD, these patients will undergo op.Such decision will be made at physician's discretion at each institution. Also, even though there is neither clear evidence of disease progression nor severe toxicity, if patient declines the treatment, study treatment can be discontinued. Response will be documented by physical examination, sonography and/or chest CT prior to treatment and every three cycles. Postoperatively within 1-3 week, trastuzumab 6 mg/kg every 3 weeks x 11 and tamoxifen or AI for 5 years will be given as indicated. Radiation therapy will be initiated postoperatively in 3-4 weeks according to the standard practice guidelines.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* All patients must have histologically confirmed and newly diagnosed operable breast cancer
* HER2 positive (all FISH +)
* Axillary node positive (by PET or cytologically determine node by sonography) and/or tumor size \> 5 cm -No prior hormonal, chemotherapy or radiotherapy is allowed.
* No breast operation other than biopsy to make diagnosis is allowed.
* Age: 18-years and older, not pregnant pre-, and postmenopausal women with good performance status (ECOG 0-1)
* Adequate hematopoietic function:

Absolute granulocyte count ³1500/mm3,

* platelet ³100,000/mm3, Hemoglobin ³ 10 g/mm3
* Adequate renal function: Serum creatinine £ 1.5 mg/dl
* Adequate hepatic function: total bilirubin: £ 1.5 mg/dl, AST/ALT: £ 2 times normal, Alkaline phosphatase: £ 2 times normal-Adequate cardiac function:

  1. normal or nonspecific EKG taken within 1 mo of enrollment
  2. LVEF ³ 50% by MUGA or Echocardiogram taken within 1 mo of enrollment
* Normal mental function to understand and sign the consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* patients who received hormonal, chemotherapy or radiotherapy for breast cancer
* patients who underwent surgery for breast cancer
* patients with a history of uncompensated congestive heart failure
* Patients with node-negative stage IIA (T2N0) breast cancer
* Patients who have history of cancer other than in situ uterine cervix cancer or nonmelanotic skin cancer