Objective To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of dose-dense neoadjuvant chemotherapy (ddNACT) and conventional neoadjuvant chemotherapy (cNACT) for locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Methods PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Data, and VIP databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing ddNACT regimen with cNACT regimen for breast cancer. The time limit for retrieval was from establishment to March 1st, 2021. Two reviewers independently screened literatures, extracted data and assessed risk bias of included studies; then, meta-analysis was performed by using Stata 15.0 software. Results A total of 13 RCTs were included, including 3 258 patients, of which 1 625 patients received ddNACT and 1 633 patients received cNACT. The results of meta-analysis showed that the ddNACT regimen could improve the pathological complete response rate (pCR, P<0.001), objective response rate (ORR, P<0.001), and disease free survival (DFS, P=0.037) as compared with the cNACT regimen, there was no significant difference in the overall survival (OS) between the two groups (P=0.098). The incidences of grade 3 or 4 oral stomatitis (P=0.005) and neurotoxicity (P<0.001) were higher and the incidence of grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was lower (P=0.025) in the patients with ddNACT regimen, there were no significant differences in grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia (P=0.152), grade 3 or 4 anemia (P=0.123), chemotherapy completion rate (P=0.161) and breast conservative surgery rate (P=0.186) between the two groups. Patients with hormone receptor (HR) negative (HR–) were more likely to get pCR after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P<0.001). ConclusionsCurrent evidence shows that the use of anthracycline/taxane-based ddNACT regimen in LABC patients can improve the pCR, ORR, and DFS as compared with cNACT regimen. The pCR after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the patients with HR– is higher than that with HR+. Prophylactic use of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor could significantly reduce the incidence of neutropenia, and most patients are tolerant to ddNACT regimen, 2 regimens have similar chemotherapy completion rates.
Objective To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of HER2 protein expression in different degrees in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative breast cancer and the factors related to the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer with low HER2 expression. Methods The clinicopathological data of 161 patients with HER2-negative breast cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the Department of Breast Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from March 2019 to March 2022 were retrospectively collected. The difference of clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with different levels of HER2 protein expression were analyzed, and the factors influencing the pathological complete remission (pCR) rate of breast cancer patients with low HER2 expression after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with unconditional logistic regression model were analyzed. Results Among 161 HER2 negative breast cancer patients, 108 cases were low HER2 expression, accounting for 67.1%. Compared with those with zero expression of HER2 [immunohistochemistry (IHC) 0], the patients with low HER2 expression had higher axillary lymph node metastasis rate (P=0.048), lower histological grade (P=0.006), and higher proportion of positive hormone receptor expression (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in pCR rate among the HER2 IHC 0, IHC 1+ and IHC 2+ / in situ hybridization (ISH)– (P=0.099) , and the pCR rate of low expression of HER2 was lower than that of zero expression of HER2 in the general population and Luminal subgroup, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in triple negative breast cancer subgroup (P=0.814). The logistic regression analysis showed that age, histological grade and estrogen receptor expression status were independent influencing factors for pCR rate after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with low HER2 expression (P<0.05). Conclusions Different degrees of HER2 protein expressions in patients with HER2-negative breast cancer have unique clinicopathological characteristics. The pCR rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with low HER2-expression breast cancer is lower than that in patients with zero HER2-expression breast cancer. Age, histological grade and estrogen receptor expression status are independent factors influencing the pCR rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with low HER2-expression breast cancer.
ObjectiveTo observe the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for predicting pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer, and to analyze the cause of the prediction error.MethodsData from 157 breast cancer patients who underwent NAC before surgery in Mianyang Central Hospital from January 2017 to January 2019 were analyzed. MRI parameters before and after NAC and pCR conditions were collected to analyze the parameters that produced false positives and false negatives.ResultsOf the 157 patients, 37 (23.6%) achieved pCR after NAC, and 33 (21.0%) achieved radiation complete remission (rCR) after NAC. The accuracy of MRI prediction was 70.7% (111/157), the sensitivity was 82.5% (99/120), and the specificity was 32.4% (12/37). A total of 25 cases did not achieve rCR, but postoperative evaluation achieved pCR (false positive), 21 cases achieved rCR, but postoperative evaluation did not achieve pCR (false negative). Diameter of tumor, peritumoral oedema, and background parenchymal enhancement were associated with MRI false positive prediction (P<0.05); gland density and tumor rim enhancement were associated with MRI false negative prediction (P<0.05).ConclusionMRI can be used as an important method to predict pCR after NAC in breast cancer patients, and its accuracy may be related to diameter of tumor, peritumoral oedema, background parenchymal enhancement, gland density, and tumor rim enhancement.
ObjectiveTo understand the progress of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) in patients with T1–2N1M0 breast cancer. MethodThe studies and the treatment guidelines relevant to PMRT in the patients with T1–2N1M0 breast cancer in recent years were analyzed and summarized. ResultsThe ability of PMRT to improve the prognosis of patients with T1–2N1M0 breast cancer remained controversial. Owing to the patients with T1–2N1M0 breast cancer were heterogeneous, and the indications for PMRT had not been standardized. With the increasing use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer, some studies had attempted to formulate decisions about PMRT based on changes in tumor characteristics before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, but the findings were currently controversial. ConclusionsWhether PMRT can improve prognosis and decision-making for patients with T1–2N1M0 breast cancer is still controversial. Some ongoing clinical trials may provide some references for the optimal decision-making of PMRT for patients with T1–2N1M0 breast cancer.
Objective To explore the accuracy of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in predicting pathological complete remission (pCR) in breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant therapy (NAC). Methods The clinicopathological data of 245 patients with invasive breast cancer who had completed the surgical resection after NAC in the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from March 2020 to April 2022 were collected retrospectively. According to the results of hormone receptor (HR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) detected by immunohistochemistry, all patients were divided into four subgroups: HR+/HER2–, HR+/HER2+, HR–/HER2+ and HR–/HER2–. The value of MRI in evaluating the efficacy of NAC was analyzed by comparing the postoperative pathological results as the gold standard with the residual tumor size assessed by preoperative MRI. Meanwhile, the sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) of pCR predicted by the evaluation results of enhanced MRI were analyzed, and further analyzed its predictive value for pCR of different subtypes of breast cancer. Results There were 88 cases (35.9%) achieved radiological complete response (rCR) and 106 cases (43.3%) achieved pCR in 245 patients. Enhanced MRI in assessing the size of residual tumors overestimated and underestimated 12.7% (31/245) and 9.8% (24/245) of patients, respectively. When setting rCR as the MRI assessment index the specificity, sensitivity and PPV were 84.2% (117/139), 62.3% (66/106) and 75.0% (66/88), respectively. When setting near-rCR as the MRI assessment index the specificity, sensitivity and PPV were 70.5% (98/139), 81.1% (86/106), and 67.7% (86/127), respectively. The positive predictive value of both MRI-rCR and MRI-near-rCR in evaluating pCR of each subtype subgroup of breast cancer was the highest in the HR–/HER2+ subgroup (91.7% and 83.3%, respectively). In each subgroup, compared with rCR, the specificity of near-rCR to predict pCR decreased to different degrees, while the sensitivity increased to different degrees. Conclusions Breast contrast-enhanced MRI can more accurately evaluate the efficacy of localized breast lesions after NAC, and can also more accurately predict the breast pCR after NAC. The HR–/HER2+ subgroup may be a potentially predictable population with pCR exemption from breast surgery. However, the accuracy of the evaluation of pCR by breast enhancement MRI in HR+/HER2– subgroup is low.
Objective To explore the value of multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) 3D imaging in evaluating the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer. MethodsSixty-one patients with gastric cancer diagnosed by gastroscopy and pathological examination at the First Hospital of Lanzhou University from January 2019 to March 2022 were divided into chemotherapy effective group (n=39) and ineffective group (n=22) according to postoperative pathological regression grade (tumor regression grade, TRG) standards. MSCT was performed before neoadjuvant chemotherapy and before undergoing surgical treatment after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The independent predictors related to the efficacy of chemotherapy were screened by binary logistics regression analysis of CT conventional observation indexes (including maximum tumor thickness, gastric wall motility, enhancement mode, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, peritoneal thickening or peritoneal nodules). Tumor volume and maximum tumor thickness were measured with the imaging histology software ITK-snap, and the diagnostic efficacy of tumor volume and CT conventional observation indexes was analyzed. Results In the evaluation of chemotherapy efficacy, tumor volume reduction rate and tumor maximum thickness reduction rate can evaluate the efficacy of chemotherapy to a certain extent (P< 0.01). The statistically significant indicators (tumor maximum thickness reduction rate, gastric wall motility, lesion intensification mode and peritoneal thickening and nodules) were analyzed by univariate analysis and binary logistic regression. The results showed that gastric wall motility [OR=0.294, 95%CI (0.093, 0.928), P=0.037] and maximum tumor thickness reduction rate [OR=0.282, 95%CI (0.083, 0.957), P=0.042] were independent predictors of the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for progressive gastric cancer. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were plotted based on the predicted probability variable obtained from both and the results showed that the area under curve (AUC=0.900) , sensitivity (83.3%), and specificity (99.8%) of the tumor volume reduction rate were all higher than those of CT clinical index prediction probability variables (AUC=0.802, sensitivity was 58.3%, specificity was 85.7%). ConclusionThe measurement of tumor volume by MSCT combined with the imaging omics software ITK-snap provides an objective basis for the prediction of the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and its diagnostic efficacy is better.
ObjectiveTo analyze the relationship between adverse reactions and curative effect in neoadjuvant chemotherapy, this study is to explore whether the adverse reactions of chemotherapy can indirectly predict the efficacy of chemotherapy, so as to give a new definition of adverse reactions of chemotherapy.MethodsThe clinical data of 64 patients with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer (after 4 cycles of TAC regimen) were retrospectively analyzed. The adverse reactions (weakness, nausea, vomiting, alopecia, myelosuppression, cardiotoxicity) during chemotherapy were counted. At the same time, the evaluation of chemotherapy efficacy was carried out according to the RECIST1.1 standard, and the relationship between the degree of adverse reactions of chemotherapy and the curative effect was analyzed one by one. Then, according to the severity of adverse reactions, adopting the form of scoring to assign the value, and use Pearson correlation analysis to clarify the specific relationship between adverse reactions and curative effect. Finally, four subgroups of Luminal A, Luminal B, Her2+ and Sanyin were determined according to molecular typing, and the relationship between adverse reactions and therapeutic effects among different subgroups was analyzed.ResultsThere was no difference in the adverse reactions of chemotherapy in neoadjuvant chemotherapy patients of different ages (correlation coefficient r fluctuated between –0.079 and –0.164, P value fluctuated between 0.195 and 0.533). The patients with high scores of adverse reactions showed relatively good efficacy (r=0.587, P<0.01). There was no significant correlation between fatigue, nausea and vomiting and efficacy (r=0.199, P=0.144; r=0.127, P=0.144). Among the adverse reactions, there was a significant positive correlation between alopecia, myelosuppression, cardiotoxicity and efficacy (r=0.532, r=0.621, r=0.422, all P<0.01). The above correlation was verified in the Luminal A subgroup (r=0.559, P<0.007).ConclusionsThe severity of adverse reactions in neoadjuvant chemotherapy can predict the efficacy of chemotherapy. To a certain extent, the heavier adverse reactions, the better the chemotherapy effect. Hair loss, myelosuppression, and cardiotoxicity have a clearer effect on efficacy in several common adverse reactions.
ObjectiveTo summarize recent research on the surgical treatment of breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and to review the impact of NAC on the surgical treatment of breast cancer. MethodRelevant studies on NAC and surgical treatment of breast cancer from both domestic and international sources were reviewed. The literatures were analyzed, summarized, and discussed. ResultsFollowing NAC, the survival outcomes and risk of local recurrence in patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery were similar to those undergoing mastectomy. The using of image-guided minimally invasive biopsy accurately predicted pathological complete remission (pCR) of breast lesions after NAC, potentially allowed some breast cancer patients to undergo only radiation therapy after NAC, thus avoiding breast surgery. For patients with positive axillary lymph nodes, techniques such as dual-tracer, triple-tracer, and targeted axillary lymph node dissection had achieved clinical requirements in terms of detection rate and false-negative rate of sentinel lymph node biopsy, provided a safe alternative to axillary lymph node dissection. ConclusionsNAC is an important component of comprehensive breast cancer treatment. However, there is still controversy regarding the local treatment of the primary breast lesion and axillary lymph nodes after NAC. Currently, individualized treatment based on the specific circumstances of the patient remains the approach in clinical practice, aiming to achieve the optimal control of local recurrence and survival benefits for patients.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical application of oncoplastic surgery in breast-conserving surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.MethodsFrom May 2016 to May 2018, 32 breast cancer patients (cT2–3N0–3M0) who were scheduled for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and agreed to accept breast-conserving surgery after NAC in the Henan Tumor Hospital were enrolled into the retrospective study. These patients were originally unable to perform traditional breast conserving surgery because of the size or location of the tumor. We observed the success rate, safety and cosmetic effects of breast-conserving therapy, which were applicated of tumor down-staging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with oncoplastic surgery.ResultsIn this study, after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 31 patients achieved CR or PR, and 1 patient had SD. All 32 patients underwent breast-conserving surgery successfully, 3 patients underwent breast-conserving combined with volume replacement, and 29 patients underwent breast-conserving combined with volume displacement. One patient was not satisfied with the cosmetic effects, the other patients were satisfied or basically satisfied with the cosmetic effects. The median follow-up was 18 months (5–24 months), and no local recurrence or distant metastasis was found in 32 patients.ConclusionsBy tumor down-staging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with oncoplastic surgery, we can make some patients who are originally not suitable for breast conserving due to tumor size and tumor location succeed in breast-conserving therapy, and the safety and cosmetic effect are basically satisfied.
Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy followed by minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) for locally advanced esophageal cancer. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 56 consecutive patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer treated by neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery in our hospital between January 2015 and December 2016. There were 51 males and 5 females. The patients were divided into 2 groups. Neoadjuvant therapy followed by open surgery esophagectomy group was as an OE group with 25 patients aged 61 (50-73) years. And neoadjuvant therapy followed by MIE was as a MIE group with 31 patients aged 60 (55-79) years. Results The pathologic complete response (pCR) rate of 28 patients with neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy was significantly higher than that of 28 patients with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (21.4% vs. 10.7%, P<0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, R2 rate and the number of lymph nodes dissection in the MIE group were obviously better than those of the OE group with statistical differences (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the number of resected lymph nodes along the bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerves and lymph node metastasis rate (P>0.05) between the two groups. The incidence of postoperative respiratory complications in the MIE group was lower than that of the OE group (P=0.041). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of other complications, re-operation, re-entry to ICU, median length of stay or perioperative deaths (P>0.05). There was only one patient with neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy in the OE group died due to gastric fluid asphyxia caused by trachea-esophageal fistula. Conclusion Neoadjuvant therapy followed by MIE for locally advanced esophageal cancer is safe and feasible. The oncological outcomes seem comparable regardless of OE.