| Inclusion Criteria: | 1) Histological confirmation of breast carcinoma. Pathologic evidence of dermal lymphatic invasion should be noted but not required.
2) Clinical diagnosis of IBC (presence of inflammatory changes in the involved breast, including diffuse erythema, heat, ridging, and peau d'orange).
3) >/= Age 18
4) ECOG performance status </= 1
5) Adequate hematologic function: Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >/= 1.5 x 109/L, Platelet count >/= 100 x 109/L, Hemoglobin >/= 9.0 g/dL
6) Adequate cardiac function (LVEF >/= 45%)
7) Adequate Renal function: Creatinine (Cr) </= 1.5 mg/dL x ULN, Creatinine clearance (CrCl) >/= 50 mL/min calculated by the Cockroft-Gault method as follows: Male creatinine clearance = (140 - age) x (weight in Kg) / (serum Cr x 72) Female CrCl = (140 - age) x (weight in Kg) x 0.85 / (serum Cr x 72)
8) Adequate Hepatic function: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) </= 2.5 x ULN • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) </= 2.5 x ULN • Alkaline phosphatase (Alp) </= 2.5 x ULN.Total bilirubin </=1.5 x ULN
9) Ability and willingness to sign an informed consent form for this protocol
10) If female of childbearing potential (women who are post-menopausal < 1 year, not surgically sterilized, or not abstinent), pregnancy urine test is negative, and agrees to be consistent and correct use of one of the following acceptable methods of birth control: male partner who is sterile prior to the female subject entry into the study and is the sole sexual partner for that female subject; any intrauterine device (IUD) with a documented failure rate of less than 1% per year; oral contraception, or barrier methods, including diaphragm or condom with a spermicide. |