Clinical Application of CTC in Operable Breast Cancer Patients

Inclusion Criteria:

* Written informed consent must be obtained and documented according to the local regulatory requirements prior to beginning specific protocol procedures.
* Age of at least 18 and at most 70 years.
* Performance status (Karnofsky-Index) \>80%.
* Chemotherapy is necessary before or after surgery.
* No clinical evidence of local recurrence or distant metastases.
* Complete staging work-up within 3 months prior to registration. All patients must have (bilateral) mammography or breast MRI, chest X-ray; other tests may be performed as clinically indicated.
* Life expectancy of at least 2 years, disregarding the diagnosis of cancer.
* Adequate organ function including normal red and white blood count, platelets, serum creatinine, bilirubin, and transaminases within normal range of the institution.
* Patients must be available for and compliant to treatment and follow-up.
* Patients registered on this trial must be treated and followed up at the participating center.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Known hypersensitivity reaction to the investigational compounds or incorporated substances.
* Local recurrence and/or metastasis of breast cancer.
* No need of chemotherapy.
* Pregnant or lactating patients. Patients of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test (urine or serum) within 14 days prior to registration.
* Prior or concomitant secondary malignancy (except non-melanomatous skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix).
* Any other serious medical pathology, such as congestive heart failure; unstable angina; history of myocardial infarction during the previous year; uncontrolled high risk arrhythmias.
* Other serious illness or medical condition that may interfere with the understanding and giving of informed consent and the conduct of the study.
* Concurrent treatment with other experimental drugs or any other anti-cancer therapy.
* Males.