ER和PR及Her-2对改良根治术后腋窝淋巴结阳性乳腺癌放疗疗效的影响

目的 根据ER、PR和Her-2的免疫组化检查结果,把改良根治术后的高危乳腺癌患者分为不同亚组,了解放疗对不同亚组患者的作用.方法 回顾分析437例改良根治术后病理为浸润癌的乳腺癌患者资料,分期为T3-4N1或N2-3期,有ER、PR和Her-2的免疫组化检查结果.408例接受了化疗,352例接受了放疗.ER+或(和)PR+定义为受体阳性(Rec+),ER-和PR-定义和受体阴性(Rec-),Her-2++或+++定义为Her-2阳性(Her-2+).根据结果分为Rec-/Her-2-(69例)、Rec-/Her-2+(62例)、Rec+/Her-2+(89例)和Rec+/Her-2-(217例)组,分别分析4个组在放疗和未放疗下局部区域复发率(LRR)、远处转移率(DM)、无瘤生存率(DFS)和总生存率(OS)的差别.复发率和生存率计算用Kaplan-Meier法,差异检验用Logrank法.结果 中位随访48个月,除外5例放疗不详的患者,资料齐全可分析患者432例.放疗降低了4个组患者的5年LRR,Rec-/Her-2-、Rec-/Her-2+、Rec+/Her-2+和Rec+/Her-2-组放疗和未放疗的5年LRR分别为13.1%和33.3%、9.3%和21.2%、9.7%和47.0%、3.2%和15.4%;对Rec-/Her-2-、Rec-/Her-2+和Rec+/Her-2+患者,放疗降低了5年DM,放疗和未放疗患者的5年DM分别为26.7%和49.2%、27.6%和67.5%、18.4%和100%,并提高5年DFS和OS,三组患者放疗和未放疗的5年DFS分别为66.7%和33.3%、67.7%和33.3%、72.6%和0%,三组患者放疗和未放疗的5年OS分别为73.9%和25.2%、69.8%和41.5%、91.0%和32.8%.结论 不同ER、PR、Her-2状态的改良根治术后高危乳腺癌患者均能从术后放疗中获益.     

ER和PR及Her-2对改良根治术后腋窝淋巴结阳性乳腺癌放疗疗效的影响

目的 根据ER、PR和Her-2的免疫组化检查结果,把改良根治术后的高危乳腺癌患者分为不同亚组,了解放疗对不同亚组患者的作用.方法 回顾分析437例改良根治术后病理为浸润癌的乳腺癌患者资料,分期为T3-4N1或N2-3期,有ER、PR和Her-2的免疫组化检查结果.408例接受了化疗,352例接受了放疗.ER+或(和)PR+定义为受体阳性(Rec+),ER-和PR-定义和受体阴性(Rec-),Her-2++或+++定义为Her-2阳性(Her-2+).根据结果分为Rec-/Her-2-(69例)、Rec-/Her-2+(62例)、Rec+/Her-2+(89例)和Rec+/Her-2-(217例)组,分别分析4个组在放疗和未放疗下局部区域复发率(LRR)、远处转移率(DM)、无瘤生存率(DFS)和总生存率(OS)的差别.复发率和生存率计算用Kaplan-Meier法,差异检验用Logrank法.结果 中位随访48个月,除外5例放疗不详的患者,资料齐全可分析患者432例.放疗降低了4个组患者的5年LRR,Rec-/Her-2-、Rec-/Her-2+、Rec+/Her-2+和Rec+/Her-2-组放疗和未放疗的5年LRR分别为13.1%和33.3%、9.3%和21.2%、9.7%和47.0%、3.2%和15.4%;对Rec-/Her-2-、Rec-/Her-2+和Rec+/Her-2+患者,放疗降低了5年DM,放疗和未放疗患者的5年DM分别为26.7%和49.2%、27.6%和67.5%、18.4%和100%,并提高5年DFS和OS,三组患者放疗和未放疗的5年DFS分别为66.7%和33.3%、67.7%和33.3%、72.6%和0%,三组患者放疗和未放疗的5年OS分别为73.9%和25.2%、69.8%和41.5%、91.0%和32.8%.结论 不同ER、PR、Her-2状态的改良根治术后高危乳腺癌患者均能从术后放疗中获益.     

激素受体和人表皮生长因子受体2的表达与改良根治术后淋巴结阳性乳腺癌患者预后的关系

目的 探讨雌激素受体(ER)、孕激素受体(PR)和人表皮生长因子受体2(Her-2)的表达情况与行改良根治术后腋窝淋巴结阳性乳腺癌患者预后的关系.方法 收集835例行改良根治术后腋窝淋巴结阳性乳腺癌患者的临床和随访资料.根据ER、PR和Her-2的免疫组化检查结果,将患者分为Rec-/Her-2-(三阴性)组、Rec-/Her-2+组、Rec+/Her-2+组和Rec+/Her-2-组,比较其局部区域复发率、远处转移率、无瘤生存率和总生存率.结果 835例患者中,三阴性组141例,Rec-/Her-2+组99例,Rec+/Her-2+组157例,Rec+/Her-2-组438例.Rec+/Her-2-患者的5年局部区域复发率为6.2%,低于其他患者(12.9%,P=0.004).与受体阳性组(Rec+/Her-2+和Rec+/Her-2-)比较,受体阴性组(Rec-/Her-2-和Rec-/Her-2+)有较高的5年远处转移率(26.4%和19.7%,P=0.0008)、较低的5年无瘤生存率(66.7%和75.6%,P=0.0001)和较低的5年总生存率(71.4%和84.2%.P=0.0000).多因素Cox回归分析结果显示,激素受体和Her-2的表达状态是乳腺癌患者局部区域复发、远处转移、无瘤生存和总生存的独立影响因素(均P<0.05),Rec+/Her-2-患者的局部区域复发风险低,受体阴性患者发生远处转移和死亡的风险高.结论 ER、PR和Her-2是改良根治术后腋窝淋巴结阳性乳腺癌患者的独立预后因素.     

78例乳腺癌改良根治术后pT3N0M0期患者放疗价值探讨

目的 探讨乳腺癌改良根治术后病理分期为T₃N₀期患者的术后放疗价值。方法 回顾分析1997-2014年收治的乳腺癌改良根治术后患者资料,筛选标准为女性、术后病理提示浸润性癌、肿瘤最大径>5 cm且腋窝淋巴结未见转移、未接受新辅助化疗及内分泌治疗,且无远处转移及其他第二原发癌。78例符合条件。40例(51%)接受术后放疗,67例(86%)接受辅助化疗。Kaplan-Meier法计算DFS、OS及LRR率,组间差异用Logrank法检验。结果 中位随访时间79个月(6~232个月),5年OS、DFS和LRR分别为89%、87%和2%。放疗组与未放疗组患者5年DFS分别为84%与91%(P=0.641),5年OS分别为84%与96%(P=0.126),5年LRR分别为0%和5%。仅ER/PR状态、分子分型影响患者DFS (P=0.002、0.031)。未放疗组有1例患者出现胸壁复发。结论 乳腺癌改良根治术后T₃N₀M₀期患者LRR率较低,仅ER/PR状态及分子分型影响患者DFS。在有效系统全身治疗基础上术后病理T₃N₀患者可能不需全部接受胸壁+锁骨上野放疗,但仍需大样本病例证实。     

皮肤受侵非炎性和炎性乳腺癌的放疗结果

目的 分析现有放疗技术和剂量对皮肤受侵乳腺癌的控制作用.方法 回顾分析53例改良根治术后病理证实为乳腺浸润癌患者资料.其中炎性乳腺癌10例,非炎性乳腺癌43例.非炎性乳腺癌中临床皮肤受侵19例,病理诊断皮肤受侵24例.30例原发肿瘤最大径≤5 cm,13例>5 cm.全组33例接受术后放疗,中位剂量50 Gy,胸壁硅胶填充的6例20 Gy、21例>20 Gy,6例不详.45例行化疗.结果 随访率87%.全组5年局部区域复发率(LRR)、无瘤生存率(DFS)和总生存率(OS)分别为18%、45%和64%.非炎性乳腺癌比炎性乳腺癌有较高的5年DFS(49%:30%;χ2=4.29,P=0.038)和OS(71%:37%;χ2=5.92,P=0.015).非炎性乳腺癌中肿瘤≤5 cm比>5 cm患者有较低的5年LRR(11%:33%;χ2=3.75,P=0.053)和较高的5年OS(90%:38%;x24.44,P=0.035);临床诊断和单纯病理诊断皮肤受侵患者的局部区域复发率、DFS和OS相似.腋窝淋巴结0～3个阳性比≥4个阳性患者有较高的5年DFS(80%:29%;χ2=6.71,P=0.010)和OS(93%:52%;χ2=6.00,P=0.014).Rec+/Her2-比三阴或Her2+患者有较低的5年LRR(7%:34%;χ2=5.70,P=0.017)和较高DFS(54%:32%;χ2=8.82,P=0.003).放疗和未放疗患者的5年LRR分别为12%和30%(χ2=2.45,P=0.118).但放疗患者胸壁硅胶填充剂量>20 Gy和20 Gy患者的5年胸壁复发率为0%和50%(χ2=9.15,P=0.002).结论 皮肤受侵乳腺癌是一组异质性很强的患者,非炎性乳腺癌、原发肿瘤≤5 cm、腋窝淋巴结0～3个阳性和rec+/Her2-患者预后较好.临床诊断和病理诊断皮肤受侵患者的预后无差别.为降低胸壁复发率,胸壁放疗硅胶填充剂量应>20 Gy.     

T4期乳腺癌患者改良根治术后胸壁放疗加量的疗效及预后分析

目的分析T4期乳腺癌患者改良根治术后胸壁放疗加量的疗效。方法回顾分析2000-2016年收治的148例T4期、改良根治术后放疗的乳腺癌患者资料,胸壁放疗加量组57例,不加量组91例。放疗采用常规+胸壁电子线、三维适形+胸壁电子线、调强放疗+胸壁电子线照射,加量组EQD2>50Gy。全组患者均接受新辅助化疗。Kaplan-Meier法生存分析并Logrank检验差异,Cox模型多因素预后分析。结果中位随访时间67.2个月,5年胸壁复发(CWR)、局部区域复发(LRR)、无瘤生存(DFS)、总生存(OS)率分别为9.9%、16.2%、58.0%、71.4%。胸壁放疗加量和不加量的5年CWR、LRR、DFS、OS率分别为14%和7%、18%和15%、57%和58%、82%和65%(P>0.05)。多因素分析显示胸壁加量与否对预后无显著影响(P>0.05)。45例复发高危组患者中放疗加量组似乎有较高的OS率(P=0.058)、DFS率(P=0.084)和较低的LRR率(P=0.059)。结论T4期乳腺癌患者异质性较强,胸壁放疗加量对全组患者无明显获益。对于有脉管瘤栓阳性、pN2-N3、激素受体阴性中2~3个高危因素患者胸壁放疗加量有改善疗效趋势。     

局部晚期乳腺癌新辅助化疗和改良根治术后放疗价值分析

目的 分析局部晚期乳腺癌患者neoCT和改良根治术后放疗的价值,以及探讨能否根据化疗疗效进行个体化放疗。 方法 选取本院1999—2013年收治的临床Ⅲ_A、Ⅲ_B期乳腺癌病例,完成neoCT和改良根治术的 523例纳入分析,其中 404例术后行放疗,119例未行放疗。用Kaplan-Meier法计算复发率和生存率,Logrank法单因素预后分析,Cox模型多因素预后分析。 结果 放疗组患者 5年LRR显著低于未放疗组(13.9%∶24.8%,P=0.013),DFS显著高于未放疗组(64.1%∶53.9%,P=0.048),OS相近(83.2%∶78.2%,P=0.389)。ypT₃—T₄、ypN₂—N₃以及病理Ⅲ期亚组中放疗患者 5年LRR显著低于未放疗患者(P<0.05),放疗患者 5年OS显著高于未放疗患者(P<0.05)。158例ypN₀期放疗患者 5年LRR显著低于未放疗患者(P=0.004)。41例ypCR患者仅 2例LRR,均未放疗。多因素分析显示放疗是影响全组及ypN₀期患者LRR的因素。 结论 放疗显著降低临Ⅲ_A、Ⅲ_B期乳腺癌neoCT和改良根治术后患者LRR,同时降低ypT₃—T₄、ypN₂—N₃和病理Ⅲ期亚组患者复发率、死亡率。目前尚无充足证据可以根据化疗反应免除ypN₀期和pCR患者术后放疗。     

乳腺导管原位癌与导管原位癌伴微浸润的临床比较

目的 分析乳腺导管原位癌(DCIS)及原位癌伴微浸润(DCIS-MI)患者治疗模式变化、临床特征、治疗结果及预后因素。方法 回顾性分析中国医学科学院肿瘤医院1999-2013年收治的866例女性患者资料。DCIS患者631例,DCIS-MI患者235例。用Kaplan-Meier法计算局控(LC)、无瘤生存(DFS)、总生存(OS)率,并Logrank检验和单因素预后分析。结果 DCIS及DCIS-MI两组之间OS、LC及DFS相近(P>0.05)。单因素分析显示Her-2阳性为OS及DFS影响因素,保乳未放疗患者LC和DFS劣于全乳切除术患者。结论 导管原位癌和导管原位癌伴微浸润总体生存结果类似,Her-2阳性为OS及DFS预后不良因素,保乳未放疗患者的LC和DFS劣于全乳切除术。     

乳腺导管原位癌与导管原位癌伴微浸润的临床比较

目的 分析乳腺导管原位癌(DCIS)及原位癌伴微浸润(DCIS-MI)患者治疗模式变化、临床特征、治疗结果及预后因素。方法 回顾性分析中国医学科学院肿瘤医院1999-2013年收治的866例女性患者资料。DCIS患者631例,DCIS-MI患者235例。用Kaplan-Meier法计算局控(LC)、无瘤生存(DFS)、总生存(OS)率,并Logrank检验和单因素预后分析。结果 DCIS及DCIS-MI两组之间OS、LC及DFS相近(P>0.05)。单因素分析显示Her-2阳性为OS及DFS影响因素,保乳未放疗患者LC和DFS劣于全乳切除术患者。结论 导管原位癌和导管原位癌伴微浸润总体生存结果类似,Her-2阳性为OS及DFS预后不良因素,保乳未放疗患者的LC和DFS劣于全乳切除术。     

乳腺癌局部复发肿瘤组织受体表达变化对患者临床结局的影响

目的:探讨乳腺癌局部复发肿瘤组织受体表达变化对乳腺癌患者预后的影响。方法:收集2005年1月至2008年12月本院肿瘤科收治的乳腺原发癌经治疗后再次复发的患者56例,采用免疫组化SP法检测患者原发肿瘤组织和复发组织中的雌激素受体(ER)、孕激素受体(PR)和人表皮生长因子受体2(Her-2)中的表达变化,并分析受体表达变化对患者总生存期(OS)的影响。结果:(1)原发灶和复发肿瘤灶中ER阳性率分别为60.71%(34/56)和55.36%(31/56),PR阳性率分别为57.14%(32/56)和51.79%(29/56),Her-2阳性率分别为44.64%(25/56)和42.86%(24/56);(2)ER在原发灶与复发灶的变化率为33.93%(19/56),PR变化率为37.50%(21/56),Her-2变化率为8.93%(5/56);(3)56例乳腺癌患者死亡22例(39.29%),中位生存时间为21.5个月,1~5年的生存率分别为87.23%、75.65%、70.11%、60.22%、42.86%;Kaplian-Meier分析显示,原发灶和复发灶中ER及PR表达的变化均对患者OS有明显影响,ER由(-→+)较(+→-)预后为好(P=0.0478),PR由(-→+)较(+→-)预后为好(P=0.0182),而Her-2的表达变化由于样本量太小无法评估其影响;(4)多因素分析表明,患者年龄、病理分型、肿瘤分期、是否转移及ER、PR均是影响乳腺癌患者OS的独立预测性因子。结论:乳腺癌患者原发灶与复发灶中ER、PR的表达变化对患者生存存在影响,检测患者肿瘤复发灶中这些受体表达情况,对患者的治疗及预后评估具有一定意义。     

放疗显著改善HER-2过表达局部晚期乳腺癌改良根治术后LRC率

目的 分析激素受体阴性、HER-2基因过表达局部晚期乳腺癌的局部复发风险和放疗作用。方法 回顾分析1999—2011年间294例激素受体阴性、HER-2基因过表达局部晚期乳腺癌患者资料, 其中239例接受改良根治术后辅助放疗, 55例因各种原因未接受放疗, 比较两组生存率和LRR率。Kaplan-Meier法计算生存率和复发率, Logrank法检验和单因素预后分析, Cox回归模型多因素预后分析。结果 5年样本数为162例。全组56例局部复发, 5年无LRR率为79.7%, 5年OS率为70.0%。放疗显著提高了5年LRRFS率(85.1%和56.0%, P=0.000), 但两组OS率相近(71.3%和64.2%, P=0.441)。多因素分析显示辅助放疗是无LRR影响因素(RR=0.303, 95%CI 0.166~0.554, P=0.000)。结论 激素受体阴性、HER-2基因过表达局部晚期乳腺癌术后放疗显著降低了局部复发率。     

Post-mastectomy radiotherapy benefits subgroups of breast cancer patients with T1–2 tumor and 1–3 axillary lymph node(s) metastasis

Background

To determine the role of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) in breast cancer patients with T1–2 and N1 disease.

Patients and methods.

A total of 207 postmastectomy women were enrolled. The 5-year Kaplan-Meier estimates of locoregional recurrence rate (LRR), distant recurrence rate (DRR) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed by different tumor characteristics. Multivariate analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards modeling.

Results

With median follow-up 59.5 months, the 5-year LRR, DRR and OS were 9.1%, 20.3% and 84.4%, respectively. On univariate analysis, age < 40 years old (p = 0.003) and Her-2/neu over-expression (p = 0.016) were associated with higher LRR, whereas presence of LVI significantly predicted higher DRR (p = 0.026). Negative estrogen status (p = 0.033), Her-2/neu overexpression (p = 0.001) and LVI (p = 0.01) were significantly correlated with worse OS. PMRT didn’t prove to reduce 5-year LRR (p = 0.107), as well as 5-year OS (p = 0.918). In subgroup analysis, PMRT showed significant benefits of improvement LRR and OS in patients with positive LVI.

Conclusions

For patients with T1–2 and N1 stage breast cancer, PMRT can decrease locoregional recurrence and increase overall survival only in patients with lymphovascular invasion.     

The ratio of positive to excised nodes identifies high-risk subsets and reduces inter-institutional differences in locoregional recurrence risk estimates in breast cancer patients with 1-3 positive nodes: an analysis of prospective data from British Columbia and the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

PURPOSE: To examine the power of the nodal ratio (NR) of positive/excised nodes in predicting postmastectomy locoregional recurrence (LRR) in patients with 1-3 positive nodes (N+) and in identifying cohorts at similar risk across independent data sets. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Data from 82 patients with 1-3 N+ treated without postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) in the British Columbia (BC) randomized trial were compared with data from 462 patients treated without PMRT in prospective chemotherapy trials at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC). Kaplan-Meier LRR curves were compared between centers using the absolute number of N+ and nodal ratios. RESULTS: The median number of excised nodes was 10 in BC and 16 in MDACC (p < 0.001). Examining LRR by number of N+, the 10-year LRR rate for patients with 1-3 N+ was higher in BC compared with MDACC (21.5% vs. 12.6%; p = 0.02). However, when examining LRR using NR, no differences were found between institutions. In patients with NR < or = 0.20, the 10-year LRR rate was 17.7% BC vs. 10.9% MDACC (p = 0.27). In patients with NR > or = 0.20, the 10-year LRR rate was 28.7% BC vs. 22.7% MDACC (p = 0.32). On Cox regression analysis, NR was a stronger prognostic factor compared with number of N +. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with 1-3 N+, evaluating nodal positivity using NR reduced inter-institutional differences in LRR estimates that may exist due to variations in numbers of nodes excised. Nodal ratio >0.20 was associated with LRR >20%, warranting PMRT consideration. Nodal ratio may be useful for extrapolating data from prospective trials to clinical practices in which axillary staging extent vary.     

Implications of constructed biologic subtype and its relationship to locoregional recurrence following mastectomy

Introduction

We examined the prognostic value of biologic subtype on locoregional recurrence (LRR) after mastectomy in a cohort of low risk women who did not receive adjuvant radiation therapy.

Methods

A total of 819 patients with invasive breast cancer underwent mastectomy from January 2000 through December 2005. No patient received preoperative chemotherapy. Estrogen receptor (ER) receptor, progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status were used to construct the following 4 subtypes: i) ER+ or PR+ and HER2- (HR+/HER2-), ii) ER+ or PR+ and HER2+ (HR+/HER2+), iii) ER- and PR- and HER2+ (HR-/HER2+)and iv) ER- and PR- and HER2- (HR-/HER2-). LRR-free survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the association between time-to-event outcomes and patient prognostic factors.

Results

At a median follow-up of 58 months, five-year cumulative incidence of LRR for the entire cohort was 2.5%. Subtype specific LRR rates were 1% for HR+/HER2-, 6.5% in HR+/HER2+, 2% for HR-/HER2+ and 10.9% for HR-/HER2- (P < 0.01). In HER-2+ patients (irrespective of ER/PR status), trastuzumab therapy was not associated with LRR-free survival. On multivariate analysis, one to three positive lymph nodes (HR 4.75 (confidence interval (CI) 1.75 to 12.88, P < 0.01), ?? 4 positive lymph nodes (HR23.4 (CI 4.64 to 117.94, P < 0.01), HR+/HER2+ (HR 4.26 (CI 1.05 to 17.33), P = 0.04), and HR-/HER2- phenotype (HR 13.87 (CI 4.96 to 38.80), P < 0.01) were associated with shorter LRR-free survival whereas age > 50 at diagnosis (HR 0.31 (CI 0.12 to 0.80), P = 0.02) was associated with improved LRR-free survival. Among the HR-/HER2- subtypes, five-year LRR incidence was 23.4% in patients with positive lymph nodes compared to 7.8% for lymph node negative patients (P = 0.01), although this association did not reach significance when the analysis was limited to HR-/HER2- women with only one to three positive lymph nodes (15.6% versus 7.8%, P = 0.11).

Conclusions

Constructed subtype is a prognostic factor for LRR after mastectomy among low risk women not receiving adjuvant radiation therapy, although rates of LRR remain low across subtypes. Patients with node positive, HR-/HER2- type tumors were more likely to experience LRR following mastectomy alone. Prospective studies to further investigate the potential benefit of adjuvant radiation therapy in these women are warranted.     

Locoregional recurrence risks in elderly breast cancer patients treated with mastectomy without adjuvant radiotherapy

This study examined tumour and treatment characteristics in elderly women treated with mastectomy without radiotherapy and compared their outcomes to younger counterparts. Data were analysed for 2362 women aged 50 years and older referred to the British Columbia Cancer Agency, Canada between 1989 and 1997. The women had invasive T1-4, N0-N3, M0 breast cancer treated with mastectomy without adjuvant radiotherapy. Clinical characteristics and patient outcomes were compared between two age cohorts: 50-69 (n = 1423) and 70+ years (n = 939). Median follow-up was 8.3 years. Tumours > 5 cm were present in 5% of women aged 50-69 and 3.5% of women aged 70+, respectively. The distribution of nodal stage was similar in the two age cohorts but older women were more likely to have fewer axillary nodes removed (P = 0.009). Fewer women aged 70+ had grade III histology (P = 0.002) and estrogen receptor (ER)-negative status (P < 0.001). The rates of systemic therapy use were comparable in the two age groups. With tumours > 5 cm, locoregional recurrence (LRR) were 13.7% and 30.0% in women aged 50-69 and 70+, respectively. With 1-3 positive nodes (N+), LRR were 14.8% and 13.0% in women aged 50-69 and 70+. In the presence of 4 N+, LRR were 16.8% and 30.8% in women aged 50-69 and 70+. On multivariate analysis, age was not significantly associated with LRR (P = 0.62). Independent prognostic factors for LRR were grade III histology, lymphovascular invasion and positive nodal status. This study suggests that despite more favourable tumour characteristics and comparable systemic therapy use, women aged 70+ years have similar or higher postmastectomy LRR risks compared to younger women. Chronologic age alone should not preclude these women from consideration of adjuvant radiotherapy.     

Pathologic tumor size and lymph node status predict for different rates of locoregional recurrence after mastectomy for breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant versus adjuvant chemotherapy

PURPOSE: To compare the pathologic factors associated with postmastectomy locoregional recurrence (LRR) in breast cancer patients not receiving radiation who were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NEO) vs. adjuvant chemotherapy (ADJ). METHODS AND MATERIALS: We retrospectively analyzed the rates of LRR of subsets of women treated in prospective trials who underwent mastectomy and received chemotherapy but not radiation. These trials were designed to answer chemotherapy questions. There were 150 patients in the NEO group and 1031 patients in the ADJ group. In the NEO group, 55% had clinical Stage IIIA or higher vs. 9% in the ADJ group (p <0.001, chi-square test). RESULTS: Despite the more advanced clinical stage in the NEO group, the pathologic size of the primary tumor and the number of positive lymph nodes (+LNs) were significantly less in the NEO group than in the ADJ group (p <0.001 for both comparisons). However, the 5-year actuarial LRR rate was 27% for the NEO group vs. 15% for the ADJ group (p = 0.001, log-rank). The 5-year risk for LRR was higher in the NEO patients for all pathologic tumor sizes: 0-2 cm (18% vs. 8%, p = 0.011), 2.1-5 cm (36% vs. 15%, p <0.001), and >5 cm (46% vs. 28%, p = 0.028). The risk of LRR by the number of +LNs was similar in the NEO and ADJ groups, except for the subset of patients with > or =4 +LNs (53% vs. 23%, p <0.001). The rates of LRR in the patients with primary tumors measuring < or =2.0 cm and 1-3 +LNs were similar in both groups. However, for the patients with a pathologic tumor size of 2.1-5.0 cm and 1-3 +LNs, the LRR was higher in the NEO group than in the ADJ group (30% vs. 15%, p = 0.016). Most failures in this NEO subgroup had clinical Stage III disease. In a subset of NEO and ADJ patients matched for clinical stage, no significant differences were found in the rates of LRR according to primary tumor size and number of +LNs when these variables were analyzed independently. Again, however, differences were found in the subgroup of patients with tumors pathologically measuring 2.1-5.0 cm with 1-3 +LNs (32% NEO vs. 8% ADJ, p = 0.030). CONCLUSION: The rates of postmastectomy LRR for any pathologic tumor size are higher for patients treated with initial chemotherapy than for patients treated with initial surgery. Radiotherapy should be offered to all patients with > or =4 +LNs, tumor size >5 cm, or clinical Stage IIIA or greater disease, regardless of whether they receive neoadjuvant or postoperative chemotherapy. The information assessing LRR rates in patients with clinical Stage II disease who receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy, particularly if 1-3 lymph nodes remain pathologically involved, is insufficient to determine whether these patients should receive radiotherapy.