Evaluation of the Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

Abstract

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is increasingly used in breast cancer, especially for downstaging the primary tumor in the breast and the metastatic axillary lymph node. Accurate evaluations of the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy provide important information on the impact of systemic therapies on breast cancer biology, prognosis, and guidance for further therapy. Moreover, pathologic complete response is a validated and valuable surrogate prognostic factor of survival after therapy. Evaluations of neoadjuvant chemotherapy response are very important in clinical work and basic research. In this review, we will elaborate on evaluations of the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer and provide a clinical evaluation procedure for neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Keywords:

• neoadjuvant chemotherapy
• breast cancer
• evaluations of response

Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81972791). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Abbreviations

NAC, neoadjuvant chemotherapy; pCR, pathological complete responses; OS, overall survival; DFS, disease-free survival; RECIST, Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors; CR, complete response; PR¸ partial response; PD, progressive disease; SD, stable disease; PET¸ positron emission tomography; CT¸ computed tomography; DCE-MRI, dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI; DWI-MRI¸ quantitative diffusion-weighted imaging MRI; ADC, apparent diffusion coefficient; IVIM, quantitative Intravoxel incoherent motion; RCB¸ residual cancer burden; EORTC, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer; PERCIST, PET Response Criteria in Solid Tumors; LVI, lymphovascular infiltration; CPS, Clinical-Pathologic Scoring System; ER, estrogen receptor; NG, nuclear grade; TAD, targeted axillary dissection.

Research Involving Human Participants and/or Animals

Not applicable. This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors. This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed to data analysis, drafting or revising the article, gave final approval of the version to be published, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.