Hormone receptor and HER2 status: The only predictive factors of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer

Abstract

We report our experience in neoadjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy in a single centre between 2000 and 2011. We looked for predictive factors for response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the present study. A total of 110 consecutive breast cancer patients were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in our centre. Pathological response was achieved in 24 HR+/HER2– (38.7%), 25 HER2+ (67.6%) and five triple-negative (45.5%) (p = 0.02) patients. No statistically significant differences were found in pathological tumour response according to T stage. The multivariate analysis revealed tumour subtype was the only associated factor for pathological response, with HER2 + tumours the best responders, OR 3.9 (1.5–9.9): 5-year DFS was 40% HER2+/no response; 78% HER2+/response; 65% HR+/HER2–/no response; 82% HR+/HER2–/response; 25% triple-negative/no response and 100% triple-negative/response. HR and HER2 status were the only prognostic factors for pathological response. pCR was correlated with survival in all tumour subtypes.

Keywords::

• Breast cancer
• breast tumour subtypes
• neoadjuvant chemotherapy
• pathological response
• predictive factors

Acknowledgements

We thank Kate Williams for her help in writing the manuscript and revision of English.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.