Methods
We randomly assigned 1948 patients with a median tumor size of 40 mm on palpation
to receive neoadjuvant epirubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel,
with or without concomitant bevacizumab. Patients with untreated HER2-negative
breast cancer were eligible if they had large tumors, hormone-receptor–negative disease,
or hormone-receptor–positive disease with palpable nodes or positive findings
on sentinel-node biopsy, and no increased cardiovascular or bleeding risk.