Clinical and pathologic tumor response following response-guided neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally-advanced breast cancer in a Tertiary Hospital Breast Center in the Philippines
- Author:
Shiela S. Macalindong
1
;
Ralph Lazarus R. Rapacon
1
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Breast Neoplasms; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Drug Therapy
- From: Philippine Journal of Surgical Specialties 2024;79(1):42-53
- CountryPhilippines
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Rationale/Objective:Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is
recommended for locally-advanced breast cancer (LABC) to improve
resectability and provide in-vivo tumor response assessment. This
study aimed to describe the clinical and pathologic tumor response
of LABC patients after response-guided NAC.
Methods:This is a retrospective cohort analysis of 128 LABC patients who underwent NAC using sequential doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (AC) – docetaxel (T) regimen at the Philippine General Hospital Breast Care Center. Clinical and pathologic response rates were analyzed according to clinicopathologic variables including tumor intrinsic subtype.
Results:Objective clinical response (complete and partial) was observed in 88% (111/128) of patients with 11% (14/128) achieving pathologic complete response (pCR). The hormone receptor-negative/ Her2-enriched (HR-/Her2+) subtype had the highest pCR rate (23.5%) followed by triple negative subtype (HR-/Her2-) at 19%. The hormone receptor-positive/Her2-positive (HR+/Her2+) subtype had the lowest pCR (4.7%). Two patients with initial poor response to AC but had good response upon shifting to T achieved pCR. Twelve patients (9.4%) had poor response to AC and T chemotherapy. Patients who were pre-menopausal (p=0.04), had ductal histology (p=0.03), with a HR-/Her2- (p=0.002) or HR+/Her2+ subtype (p=0.03) had good response to AC. Intrinsic subtype was not significantly associated with treatment response in those who received docetaxel. There was strong association between the pathologic and clinical responses (Spearman’s Rho score 0.69, p-value <0.0001).
Conclusion:Clinical and pathologic response to NAC was highly dependent on tumor subtype. Clinical response was predictive of pathologic response. Response-guided NAC allowed direct and early evaluation of tumor treatment response that allowed for treatment modifications. - Full text:2024061412033060424pjss 4.pdf
