A Multicenter, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Randomized Phase II Trial of Neoadjuvant Treatment With Single-Agent Bevacizumab or Placebo, Followed by Six Cycles of Docetaxel, Doxorubicin, and Cyclophosphamide (TAC), With or Without Bevacizumab in Patients With Stage II or Stage III Breast Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

- Histologically or cytologically proven adenocarcinoma of the breast

- Stage II (T > 3 cm) or Stage III disease (except inflammatory breast cancer),
according to the AJCC Staging Manual, 6th Edition, 2002

- HER2-negative disease (as defined by fluorescence in situ hybridization [FISH])

- ECOG performance status 0-1

- No prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or endocrine therapy for invasive or noninvasive
breast cancer

- Normal cardiac function (ejection fraction > lower limit of normal) as determined by
MUGA or echocardiogram

- Adequate organ function

Exclusion Criteria:

- Prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy for Stage II or Stage III breast cancer

- Inflammatory Breast Cancer, clinically defined as the presence of erythema or
induration involving one-third or more of the breast

- Prior treatment with an anti-angiogenic agent

- Prior ipsilateral radiation therapy for invasive or non-invasive breast cancer

- Bilateral invasive breast cancer

- Concurrent therapy with any other non-protocol anti-cancer therapy

- Current therapy with hormone replacement therapy, or any hormonal agent such as
raloxifene, tamoxifen, or other selective estrogen receptor modulators (agents must
be stopped prior to randomization)

- Presence of neuropathy > grade 2 (NCI-CTC version 3.0) at baseline

- Presence of any non-healing wound, bone fracture, or ulcer, or the presence of
clinically significant (> grade 2) peripheral vascular disease

- History of any other malignancy within the past 5 years, with the exception of
non-melanoma skin cancer or carcinoma-in-situ of the cervix

- Clinically significant cardiovascular disease (e.g., hypertension [BP > 150/100],
myocardial infarction or stroke within 6 months, unstable angina), New York Heart
Association (NYHA) Grade II or greater congestive heart failure, or serious cardiac
arrhythmia requiring medication

- Active peptic ulcer disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or other gastrointestinal
condition increasing the risk of perforation; history of abdominal fistula,
gastrointestinal perforation, or intra-abdominal abscess within 6 months prior to
beginning therapy

- Active, uncontrolled infection requiring parenteral antimicrobials

- The presence of any other medical or psychiatric disorder that, in the opinion of the
treating physician, would contraindicate the use of the drugs in this protocol or
place the subject at undue risk for treatment complications

- Pregnancy or lactation

- A history of a severe hypersensitivity reaction to bevacizumab, or docetaxel or other
drugs formulated with polysorbate 80

- Evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy

- Major surgical procedure, open biopsy, or significant traumatic injury within 28 days
prior to beginning therapy, or anticipation of the need for a major surgical
procedure during the course of the study; minor surgical procedure, fine needle
aspiration, or core biopsy within 7 days prior to beginning therapy

- Urine protein:creatinine ratio of > 1.0 at screening