Comparison of the efficacy and safety of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin and epirubicin in neoadjuvant chemotherapy for HER2-negative breast cancer: a real-world case–control study

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness and side effects of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) and epirubicin in neoadjuvant treatment for HER2-negative breast cancer. Patients and methods: The authors performed a retrospective analysis of 107 patients diagnosed with HER2-negative breast cancer who underwent TA (PLD 35 mg/m 2 , docetaxel 75 mg/m 2 ) or TE (epirubicin 100 mg/m 2 , docetaxel 75 mg/m 2 ) neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) from January 2021 to December 2022. PLD was administered in 57 instances, while epirubicin was used in 50 cases. The clinicopathological features, chemotherapy effects, and adverse responses of these individuals were examined, and logistic regression was applied to determine the parameters defining the effectiveness of NAC. Results: The clinicopathological characteristics of the PLD and epirubicin groups were consistent, and there was no statistical difference. Also, there was no statistical difference in the efficacy of NAC between the two groups. Leukopenia, hair loss, digestive tract responses, and irregular electrocardiograms were dramatically decreased in the PLD group compared to the epirubicin group. However, hand-foot syndrome and hypersensitivity were significantly increased, with statistical relevance. Conclusion: PLD has the same efficacy as traditional epirubicin in NAC for HER2-negative breast cancer.