A phase II trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (EC) followed by docetaxel with gemcitabine (DG) (+trastuzumab if HER2-positive) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for women with large operable or locally advanced breast carcinoma (ANZ 0502 NeoGem)

* Dataset of 134 women with ER-positive, HER2-negative grade 2/3 invasive breast cancer > 20mm * Randomised 2:1 to receive either standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy concurrently with aromatase inhibitor (89 patients) or standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy only (45 patients)for 18-24 weeks * Rate of downstaging to pathologic stage 0 or 1A, pCR at time of surgery data * Median breast tumour volume percentage decrease, rate of breast conserving surgery, SAE rates data