The purpose of this study is to compare the short-term and long-term efficacies and the safeties of pirarubicin plus docetaxel(AT group) and pirarubicin plus cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel(AC-T group) in neoadjuvant chemotherapy of breast cancer.

Based on the results of NSABP(National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project) B27 trial, anthracyclines(A) and Taxanes(T) are most commonly recommended in neoadjuvant chemotherapy of breast cancer.

Pirarubicin is one of anthracyclines and by embedding the DNA double stranded, which inhibits DNA replication and RNA synthesis, thereby impedes the rapid growth of cancer cells.

Docetaxel in one of taxanes and by strengthening the tubulin polymerization, inhibiting of microtubule depolymerization and leading to the formation of stable non functional microtubule bundles, which destroys mitosis of tumor cells.

Inclusion Criteria:

• histopathologically diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancers;
• clearly confirmed ER, PR and HER2 statuses;
• the state of axillary lymph nodes was determined through the relevant examination steps (puncture or sentinel lymph node biopsy);
• the patients were not treated with neoadjuvant therapy and surgery.

Exclusion Criteria:

• the patients whose breasts or axillary lumps had received excision biopsy;
• the patients who had severely abnormal organ functions or who could not tolerate chemotherapy,
• the patients with severe concomitant diseases;
• the patients with heart disease or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50%.