MRI-based tumor shrinkage patterns after early neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer: correlation with molecular subtypes and pathological response after therapy.

BACKGROUND: MRI-based tumor shrinkage patterns (TSP) after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) have been associated with pathological response. However, the understanding of TSP after early NAT remains limited. We aimed to analyze the relationship between TSP after early NAT and pathological response after therapy in different molecular subtypes. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled participants with invasive ductal breast cancers who received NAT and performed pretreatment DCE-MRI from September 2020 to August 2022. Early-stage MRIs were performed after the first (1st-MRI) and/or second (2nd-MRI) cycle of NAT. Tumor shrinkage patterns were categorized into four groups: concentric shrinkage, diffuse decrease (DD), decrease of intensity only (DIO), and stable disease (SD). Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent variables associated with pathologic complete response (pCR), and stratified analysis according to tumor hormone receptor (HR)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) disease subtype. RESULTS: 344 participants (mean age: 50 years, 113/345 [33%] pCR) with 345 tumors (1 bilateral) had evaluable 1st-MRI or 2nd-MRI to comprise the primary analysis cohort, of which 244 participants with 245 tumors had evaluable 1st-MRI (82/245 [33%] pCR) and 206 participants with 207 tumors had evaluable 2nd-MRI (69/207 [33%] pCR) to comprise the 1st- and 2nd-timepoint subgroup analysis cohorts, respectively. In the primary analysis, multivariate analysis showed that early DD pattern (OR = 12.08; 95% CI 3.34-43.75; p < 0.001) predicted pCR independently of the change in tumor size (OR = 1.37; 95% CI 0.94-2.01; p = 0.106) in HR+/HER2- subtype, and the change in tumor size was a strong pCR predictor in HER2+ (OR = 1.61; 95% CI 1.22-2.13; p = 0.001) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC, OR = 1.61; 95% CI 1.22-2.11; p = 0.001). Compared with the change in tumor size, the SD pattern achieved a higher negative predictive value in HER2+ and TNBC. The statistical significance of complete 1st-timepoint subgroup analysis was consistent with the primary analysis. CONCLUSION: The diffuse decrease pattern in HR+/HER2- subtype and stable disease in HER2+ and TNBC after early NAT could serve as additional straightforward and comprehensible indicators of treatment response. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration at https://www.chictr.org.cn/ . REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2000038578, registered September 24, 2020.

An ultrasound-based nomogram for predicting axillary node pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer: Modeling and external validation.

INTRODUCTION: The staging and treatment of axillary nodes in breast cancer have become a focus of research. For breast cancer patients with fine-needle aspiration-or core needle biopsy-confirmed positive nodes, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is still a standard treatment. However, some patients achieve an axillary pathologic complete response (pCR) after NAC. In this study, the authors sought to construct a model to predict axillary pCR in patients with positive axillary lymph nodes (cN+) breast cancer. METHODS: Data from patients with pathologically proven cN+ breast cancer treated with NAC followed by ALND between January 2010 and April 2019 at the Peking University Cancer Hospital were reviewed. Axillary lymph node status was assessed using ultrasonography before and after NAC. The patient cohort was assigned to the construction and internal validation cohorts according to admission time. A nomogram was constructed based on the significant factors associated with axillary pCR. The predictive performance of the model was externally validated using data from Peking University First Hospital. RESULTS: This study included 953 and 267 patients from Peking University Cancer Hospital and Peking University First Hospital, respectively. In the construction cohort, 39.7% (238 of 600) of patients achieved axillary pCR after NAC. The result of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that tumor grade, clinical nodal response, NAC regimen, tumor pCR, lymphovascular invasion, and tumor biologic subtype were significant independent predictors of ypN0 (p < 0.05). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the construction, validation, and independent testing cohorts were 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84-0.90), 0.83 (95% CI, 0.79-0.87), and 0.84 (0.79-0.89), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A nomogram was constructed to predict the pCR of axillary lymph nodes after NAC for breast cancer. Validation of both the internal and external cohorts achieved good predictive performance, indicating that the model has preliminary clinical application prospects.

Impact of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab adherence on pathologic complete response in triple-negative breast cancer: a real-world analysis.

BACKGROUND: The addition of pembrolizumab (pembro) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is standard of care for the treatment of early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) after KEYNOTE-522 trial demonstrated improved pathologic complete response (pCR) rates with the combination. However, the optimal treatment strategy for TNBC remains uncertain as questions persist about which patients benefit from pembro and the best treatment schedule and regimen. We identified real-world clinical characteristics and treatment variables associated with response to NAC plus pembro. METHODS: Patients with early TNBC treated with NAC plus pembro between February 2020 and September 2023 were identified. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed using logistic regression to identify factors associated with pCR. Cox proportional hazard prediction models were used to identify predictors of invasive disease-free survival and overall survival in this cohort. RESULTS: A pCR was achieved in 75 (63.6%) of 118 patients. Age at diagnosis (P = .04), Ki-67 (P = .004), duration from start of pembro to surgery (P = .006) and NAC to surgery (P = .01), number of cycles of pembro (P = .04) and NAC (P = .02), and completion of at least 8 cycles of pembro (P = .015) and NAC (P = .015) were each significantly associated with pCR in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, patients younger than 55 years at time of diagnosis (vs age > 55 years) and those completing at least 8 cycles of pembro remained predictive of pCR (OR's 2.50, 2.49, P = .035 and .037, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In this real-world analysis of patients with TNBC treated with NAC plus pembro, younger age and the completion of at least 8 cycles of pembrolizumab were associated with pCR.

Clinical outcomes after 1 versus 2-3 lines of neoadjuvant therapy in stage III inflammatory breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Many stage III inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) patients experience a sufficient response to first-line (1L) neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) to allow surgery, while some require additional NAC. We evaluated the pathologic complete response (pCR), breast cancer-free survival (BCFS) and overall survival (OS) among patients requiring 1 vs. 2-3 lines (L) of NAC prior to surgery. METHODS: Stage III IBC patients from 2 institutions who received 1L or 2-3L of NAC prior to surgery were identified. Hormone receptor and HER2 status, grade, and pCR were evaluated. BCFS and OS were evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariable Cox models were utilized to estimate the hazard ratio (HR). RESULTS: 808 eligible patients (1997-2020) were identified (median age 51 years, median follow-up 69 months). 733 (91%) had 1L and 75 (9%) had 2-3L of NAC. Grade III, triple-negative and HER2-positive disease were more prevalent in 2-3L patients. 178 (24%) 1L and 14 (19%) 2-3L patients had pCR. 376 1L patients and 41 2-3L patients had recurrences. The 5-year BCFS was worse for the 2-3L group (33 vs. 46%, HR = 1.37; 95% CI 0.99-1.91). However, in 192 patients with a pCR, BCFS was similar (76 vs. 83% in 1L vs. 2-3L, respectively). There were 308 deaths (276 among 1L and 32 among 2-3L patients). The 5-year OS in 1L vs. 2-3L was 60 vs. 53% (HR = 1.32, 95% CI 0.91-1.93). CONCLUSIONS: Among stage III IBC patients, pCR rates were similar, irrespective of the NAC lines number, and BCFS and OS were comparable with pCR after 1L and 2-3L.

Treatment utilization and effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy comparing men and women diagnosed with breast cancer: a Swedish retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: Evidence supporting the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in early breast cancer is based on studies mainly including women, whereas the utilization and effectiveness of NAC in men is less studied. The present study aimed to investigate the utilization and effectiveness of NAC in men and women with early breast cancer. METHODS: Eligible patients were identified through the Swedish National Breast Cancer Quality Register, that includes all newly diagnosed breast cancer cases in Sweden from 2008 and onwards. For the treatment utilization analysis, all patients with stage I-III between 2008 and 2020 were included (n = 82,888), whereas for the effectiveness analysis the cohort was restricted to patients receiving NAC (n = 6487). For both analyses, multivariate logistic regression models were applied to investigate potential sex disparities in NAC utilization and effectiveness, adjusted for patient- and tumor characteristics. RESULTS: In the NAC utilization analysis, 487 men and 82,401 women with stage I-III were included. No statistically significant difference between sexes in terms of NAC utilization was observed (adjusted Odds Ratio (adjOR): 1.135; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.606-2.128) with an overall utilization rate of 4.9% in men compared to 7.8% in women. Among the 24 men and 6463 women who received NAC, the pathologic complete response (pCR) rates were 16.7% and 21.2%, respectively (adjOR: 1.141; 95% CI 0.141-9.238). CONCLUSION: The present study did not find any sex disparities in NAC utilization or effectiveness in terms of pCR. This supports the current recommendations of treating men with breast cancer with the same indications for NAC as women.

Minimally Invasive Breast Biopsy After Neoadjuvant Systemic Treatment to Identify Breast Cancer Patients with Residual Disease for Extended Neoadjuvant Treatment: A New Concept.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer patients with residual disease after neoadjuvant systemic treatment (NAST) have a worse prognosis compared with those achieving a pathologic complete response (pCR). Earlier identification of these patients might allow timely, extended neoadjuvant treatment strategies. We explored the feasibility of a vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) after NAST to identify patients with residual disease (ypT+ or ypN+) prior to surgery. METHODS: We used data from a multicenter trial, collected at 21 study sites (NCT02948764). The trial included women with cT1-3, cN0/+ breast cancer undergoing routine post-neoadjuvant imaging (ultrasound, MRI, mammography) and VAB prior to surgery. We compared the findings of VAB and routine imaging with the histopathologic evaluation of the surgical specimen. RESULTS: Of 398 patients, 34 patients with missing ypN status and 127 patients with luminal tumors were excluded. Among the remaining 237 patients, tumor cells in the VAB indicated a surgical non-pCR in all patients (73/73, positive predictive value [PPV] 100%), whereas PPV of routine imaging after NAST was 56.0% (75/134). Sensitivity of the VAB was 72.3% (73/101), and 74.3% for sensitivity of imaging (75/101). CONCLUSION: Residual cancer found in a VAB specimen after NAST always corresponds to non-pCR. Residual cancer assumed on routine imaging after NAST corresponds to actual residual cancer in about half of patients. Response assessment by VAB is not safe for the exclusion of residual cancer. Response assessment by biopsies after NAST may allow studying the new concept of extended neoadjuvant treatment for patients with residual disease in future trials.

Utility of Axillary Staging in Older Patients with HER2-Positive Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The utility of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in older patients remains controversial. Advancements in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-directed therapy have revolutionized disease response rates and prognosis, supporting efforts to re-evaluate the utility of SLNB. We aimed to assess the differences in treatment and overall survival (OS) in older patients with HER2-positive breast cancer based on SLNB. METHODS: Using the National Cancer Database (2010-2020), patients ≥ 70 years of age diagnosed with cT1-2/cN0/M0, HER2-positive breast cancer were identified. Logistic regression assessed associations with SLNB, systemic therapy, and radiation. Cox proportional hazard models were used to identify factors associated with OS. Analyses were stratified by treatment sequence, i.e. upfront surgery or neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) followed by surgery. RESULTS: Of the 17,609 patients included, 94% underwent upfront surgery (n = 16,492) and the remaining underwent NAT (n = 1117). Those who underwent SLNB were more likely to receive adjuvant therapy, irrespective of nodal status {upfront surgery/systemic therapy (odds ratio [OR] 2.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.17-3.67); upfront surgery/radiation (OR 3.97, 95% CI 3.03-5.21); NAT/radiation (OR 5.69, 95% CI 1.83-17.69)}. The breast pathologic complete response (pCR) rate was highest among the hormone receptor (HR)-negative/HER2-positive subtype (50.0%), of which none were found to be ypN+. Comorbidity burden was associated with significantly lower rates of adjuvant systemic therapy and worse OS. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who underwent SLNB, regardless of pN status, were more likely to receive adjuvant therapy. Nodal positivity is exceedingly rare for patients with a breast pCR following NAT, especially among the HR-negative/HER2-positive subtype. It is reasonable to consider omission of SLNB in select subgroups of older patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.

Impact of Presenting Stage on Overall Survival in Patients Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

PURPOSE: For operable triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), clinical prognostication and postoperative decision-making relies exclusively on whether a pathologic complete response (pCR) is achieved or not. We evaluated whether extent of disease at presentation further influenced overall survival (OS) among patients with pCR or with residual disease (RD) following NAC. METHODS: Patients with stage I-III TNBC who underwent NAC were identified from the National Cancer Database from 2010 to 2019. Overall survival was assessed by disease extent using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression for univariate and multivariable analysis. RESULTS: A total of 35,598 patients met inclusion criteria, and 11,967 achieved pCR. Ten-year OS was 88.5% and varied by cT and cN category at presentation. Best 10-year OS was seen in patients with cT1-2, cN0 (90.9%) and was worst in those with cT3-4, cN2-3 disease (72.0%). A total of 23,631 patients had RD. Ten-year OS was 60.1% and varied by cT and cN category at presentation. Best 10-year OS was seen in patients with cT1-2, cN0 (73.0%) and was worst in those with cT3-4, cN2-3 disease (36.3%). Notably, OS was significantly poorer for patients with cT3-4, cN2-3 disease at diagnosis and pCR versus those with cT1-2 cN0 and RD (aHR 1.30, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.63, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with TNBC, extent of disease at presentation was prognostic for OS independently of response to NAC. Patients with advanced stage at presentation had poorer OS even in the context of pCR. Further investigation is needed to evaluate whether additional adjuvant therapy strategies should be considered for these patients.

Pathologic Complete Response, Total Neoadjuvant Therapy and the Survival Paradox in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Pathologic complete response (pCR) after preoperative chemoradiation (nCRT) correlates with improved overall survival for patients with locally advanced rectal cancers (LARCs). Escalation protocols including total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT), which delivers multi-agent chemotherapy and chemoradiation before surgery, are associated with increased complete response rates. However, TNT is not associated with improved overall survival. The authors hypothesized that the route to pCR may be an important predictor of oncologic outcome. METHODS: Adults with LARC between 2006 and 2017 were identified in the National Cancer Database. The cohort was limited to those who received neoadjuvant radiation (45-70 Gy) and underwent proctectomy. RESULTS: Of 25,880 patients, 16 % received TNT and 84 % had nCRT followed by either multi-agent (27 %), single-agent (14 %), or no adjuvant chemotherapy (44 %). Overall, 18 % achieved pCR, with higher rates in the TNT cohort than in the nCRT (18 %) or multi-agent (14 %) chemotherapy cohorts. With control for covariates, the OS in the pCR cohort was similar for the patients that received single-agent therapy and those that received multi-agent adjuvant therapy, and superior to the TNT and no adjuvant therapy cohorts. Conversely, among the patients who did not achieve pCR, those who received single-agent chemotherapy had OS comparable with those who had multi-agent adjuvant therapy and TNT, which was better than no adjuvant therapy. CONCLUSION: Patients achieving pCR after TNT had worse OS than those who had CRT alone, suggesting that the neoadjuvant route by which pCR is achieved is prognostically relevant. Therefore, in the era of neoadjuvant therapy escalation, pCR does not necessarily portend a uniformly favorable prognosis.

Rates of Pathologic Complete Response and Overall Survival in Patients with Inflammatory Breast Cancer: A National Cancer Database Study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) have worse survival compared with stage III non-IBC matched cohorts; however, the prognostic significance of achieving pathologic complete response (pCR) in the setting of IBC is not well described. We evaluated overall survival (OS) between IBC patients and non-IBC patients who achieved pCR. METHODS: Adult females diagnosed in 2010-2018 with clinical prognostic stage III unilateral invasive breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by surgery were selected from the National Cancer Database. Unadjusted OS from surgery was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and log-rank tests were used to compare groups. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the association of study groups with OS after adjustment for available covariates. RESULTS: The study included 38,390 patients; n = 4600 (12.0%) IBC and n = 33,790 (88.0%) non-IBC. Overall pCR rates were lower for IBC compared with non-IBC (20.7% vs. 23.3%; p < 0.001). Among those achieving pCR, 5-year mortality was higher for IBC patients (16.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 13.9-19.1%) versus non-IBC patients (9.1%, 95% CI 8.4-9.8%; log-rank p < 0.001). Among all patients achieving pCR, IBC remained associated with worse OS compared with non-IBC (hazard ratio 1.48, 95% CI 1.19-1.85; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We found a lower pCR rate and worse OS in IBC patients compared with non-IBC stage III patients. Despite effective systemic therapies, achieving a pCR for IBC patients may not carry the same prognostic impact compared with non-IBC stage III patients.

The residual cancer burden index as a valid prognostic indicator in breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: The residual cancer burden index (RCB) was proposed as a response evaluation criterion in breast cancer patients treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy (NAC). This study evaluated the relevance of RCB with replase-free survival (RFS). METHODS: The clinical data of 254 breast cancer patients who received NAC between 2016 and 2020 were retrospectively collected. The relationship between clinicopathologic factors and RFS was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression models. RFS estimates were determined by Kaplan-Meier(K-M) analysis and compared using the log-rank test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the risk factors associated with RCB. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves showed the potential of the RCB and MP grading systems as biomarkers for RFS. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 52 months, 59 patients(23.23%) developed relapse. Multivariate Cox regression showed that older age (P = 0.022), high Pathologic T stage after NAC (P = 0.023) and a high RCB score(P = 0.003) were risk factors for relapse. The outcomes of the multivariate logistic analysis indicated that RCB 0 (pathologic complete response [pCR]) was associated with HER2-positive patients (P = 0.002) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients (P = 0.013). In addition, the RCB and MP scoring systems served as prognostic markers for patients who received NAC, and their area under curves (AUCs) were 0.691 and 0.342, respectively. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that RCB can be equally applied to predict RFS in Chinese patients with NAC. The application of RCB may help guide the selection of treatment strategies.

Immune cell patterns before and after neoadjuvant immune checkpoint blockade combined with chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) combined with chemoradiotherapy offers high pathologic complete response (pCR) rate for patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC). But the dynamic tumor immune microenvironment modulated by such neoadjuvant therapy remains unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 41 patients with locally advanced ESCC were recruited. All patients received neoadjuvant toripalimab combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Matched pre- and post-treatment tissues were obtained for fluorescent multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) and IHC analyses. The densities and spatial distributions of immune cells were determined by HALO modules. The differences of immune cell patterns before and after neoadjuvant treatment were investigated. RESULTS: In the pre-treatment tissues, more stromal CD3 + FoxP3 + Tregs and CD86+/CD163 + macrophages were observed in patients with residual tumor existed in the resected lymph nodes (pN1), compared with patients with pCR. The majority of macrophages were distributed in close proximity to tumor nest in pN1 patients. In the post-treatment tissues, pCR patients had less CD86 + cell infiltration, whereas higher CD86 + cell density was significantly associated with higher tumor regression grades (TRG) in non-pCR patients. When comparing the paired pre- and post-treatment samples, heterogeneous therapy-associated immune cell patterns were found. Upon to the treatment, CD3 + T lymphocytes were slightly increased in pCR patients, but markedly decreased in non-pCR patients. In contrast, a noticeable increase and a less obvious decrease of CD86 + cell infiltration were respectively depicted in non-pCR and pCR patients. Furthermore, opposite trends of the treatment-induced alterations of CD8 + and CD15 + cell infiltrations were observed between pN0 and pN1 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our data demonstrate a comprehensive picture of tumor immune landscape before and after neoadjuvant ICB combined with chemoradiotherapy in ESCC. The infiltration of CD86 + macrophage may serve as an unfavorable indicator for neoadjuvant toripalimab combined with chemoradiotherapy.

Delayed esophagectomy for adenocarcinoma is associated with a negative impact on long-term survival and an increased risk of perioperative morbidity.

OBJECTIVE: Delayed esophagectomy (DE) following chemoradiation therapy (CXRT) for esophageal carcinoma is undertaken in selected patients. This study aimed to assess both short-term outcomes and long-term survival for patients with adenocarcinoma undergoing DE. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer clinical stage II-III esophageal adenocarcinoma undergoing esophagectomy after CXRT. Patients were categorized as (1) DE, ≥90 days between completion of CXRT and surgery or (2) nondelayed esophagectomy (NDE), <90 days. Cox regression was performed to identify factors associated with mortality. RESULTS: A total of 8157 patients met criteria. Age >69, nonwhite race, Medicare/Medicaid insured patients preferentially underwent DE. Five-year overall survival (OS) favored NDE (36% vs. 31%, p = 0.008). Cox regression identified DE, clinical stage >T2, or >N0 as factors associated with mortality. Within the DE group, OS favored early cT-status. DE fared worse than NDE in 30- and 90-day mortality (4.5%/11.1% vs. 2.9%/6.5%, p < 0.01/p < 0.001) and margin positive resection (7.1% vs. 4.2%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: For esophageal adenocarcinoma, DE is associated with decreased OS compared to NDE. For DE, cT-status is prognostic for OS, while cN-status was not. Increased 30-/90-day mortality and margin positive resection rates for DE question whether patients with locally advanced (cT3/T4) primary esophageal adenocarcinoma should undergo intentional DE.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of pathologic complete response rates for patients with cholangiocarcinoma treated on liver transplant protocols.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many heterogenous orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) protocols exist for patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma. Little is known about the incidence, predictors for, and the significance of achieving a pathologic complete response (pCR). METHODS: We performed a systematic review through September 2022 of the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. A random-effect meta-analysis was conducted to pool data across studies with reported pCR rates. Heterogeneity between treatment protocols was assessed via subgroup analysis. The pCR and 1-, 3-, and 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were extracted as outcomes of interest. RESULTS: A total of 15 studies reported pCR rates and were grouped by use of the Mayo protocol (4/15), stereotactic body radiation therapy (2/15), and an Other category (9/15). The pooled pCR rate among all studies was 32%. Both radiation technique and duration of CHT showed no significant association with pCR (p = 0.05 and 0.13, respectively). Pooled 1-year RFS and OS after any neoadjuvant therapy and OLT was 80% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61-0.91), and 91% (95% CI, 0.87-0.94), respectively. There was no 1-year OS difference detected among the three groups. pCR was not associated with OS in the meta-regression. Pooled 3- and 5-year OS among all studies was 72% and 61%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The pooled incidence of pCR was 32%. Differences in radiation technique did not appear to influence pCR rates and upon meta-regression, pCR was not a surrogate marker for survival.

Circulating microRNAs as potential biomarkers in triple-negative breast cancer: a translational research study of the NACATRINE trial.

Liquid biopsy is increasingly vital in monitoring neoadjuvant breast cancer treatment. This study collected plasma samples at three time points from participants in the Neoadjuvant Carboplatin in Triple Negative Breast Cancer (NACATRINE), analyzing miRNA expression with NanoString's nCounter® Human v3 miRNA assay. In the carboplatin arm, four ct-miRNAs exhibited dynamic changes linked to pathologic complete response, with a combined area under the curve of 0.811. Similarly, the non-carboplatin arm featured four ct-miRNAs with an area under the curve of 0.843. These findings underscore the potential of ct-miRNAs as personalized tools in breast cancer treatment, assisting in predicting treatment response and assessing the risk of relapse. Integrating ct-miRNA analysis into clinical practice can optimize decisions and enhance patient outcomes.

Association between pathologic complete response and biochemical indicators after neoadjuvant therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the changes in the fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting triglyceride (FTG), and fasting total cholesterol (FTC) levels during neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer (BC) and the association with pathologic complete response (pCR). METHODS: Relevant data from Sichuan Cancer Hospital from June 2019 to June 2022 were collected and analyzed, and FBG, FTG, and FTC were divided into baseline, change, and process groups, which were grouped to analyze the changes after receiving NAT and the association with pCR. RESULTS: In the estrogen receptor (ER)-negative subgroup, patients with low levels of FTG in the process group were more likely to achieve pCR compared to high levels, and in the progesterone receptor (PR)-negative subgroup, patients with lower FTG compared to higher FTG after receiving NAT was more likely to achieve pCR. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HER2-positive BC undergoing NAT develop varying degrees of abnormalities (elevated or decreased) in FBG, FTG, and FTC; moreover, the status of FTG levels during NAT may predict pCR in ER-negative or PR-negative HER2-positive BC.Early monitoring and timely intervention for FTG abnormalities may enable this subset of patients to increase the likelihood of obtaining a pCR along with management of abnormal markers.

Neoadjuvant pertuzumab plus trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive breast cancer: a real-world retrospective single-institutional study in China.

INTRODUCTION: Real-world studies on neoadjuvant dual anti-HER2 therapy combined with chemotherapy for breast cancer (BC) are scarce in China. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant dual anti-HER2 therapy combined with chemotherapy in a real-world setting. Moreover, differences in estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and proliferation cell nuclear antigen (Ki-67) expression pre- and post-neoadjuvant therapy were analyzed. METHODS: Clinical and pathological data of patients with HER2-positive BC who received neoadjuvant dual anti-HER2 therapy combined with chemotherapy at Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, China, between September 2021 and September 2023, were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Among 179 included patients, a pathologic complete response (pCR) was achieved in 109 patients (60.9%). The univariate analysis results indicated that the hormone receptor (HR) status (P = 0.013), HER2 status (P = 0.003), and cycles of targeted treatment (P = 0.035) were significantly correlated with pCR. Subsequent multivariable analysis showed that HR negative and HER2 status 3 + were independent predictive factors of pCR. Anemia was the most common adverse event (62.0%), and the most common grade 3-4 adverse event was neutropenia (6.1%). The differences in HER2 (34.5%) and Ki-67 (92.7%) expression between core needle biopsy and the residual tumor after neoadjuvant therapy were statistically significant, whereas the differences were insignificant in terms of ER or PR status. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of neoadjuvant trastuzumab and pertuzumab with chemotherapy showed good efficiency, and the toxic side effects were tolerable in patients with BC. In cases where pCR was not achieved after neoadjuvant therapy, downregulation of HER2 and Ki-67 expressions was observed.

Comparison of therapeutic outcomes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy: A prospective observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) may not always receive resection despite the possible achievement of a pathologic complete response (pCR) being associated with superior survival benefit. We aimed to compare outcomes among ESCC patients with or without pCR and those refusing surgery. METHODS: In total, 111 medically operable, non-cervical ESCC patients after the same protocol of nCRT (platinum/5-fluorouracil plus radiation 50Gy) were prospectively enrolled between 2011 and 2021. Eighty-three of them underwent esophagectomy comprising pCR (n = 32) and non-pCR (n = 51), while 28 operable patients declined surgery (refusal-of-surgery group). Predictors and survival data were analyzed. RESULTS: In terms of esophagectomy, 38.5% (32/83) patients achieved pCR. The pCR group exhibited better pretreatment performance status than the non-pCR group (adjusted odds ratio: 0.11, 95% confidence interval: 0.03-0.58; p = 0.01). Among pCR, non-pCR, and refusal-of-surgery groups, the 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 56%, 29% and 50% (p = 0.08) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 52%, 28% and 36% (p = 0.07) respectively. The pCR group had significantly better OS and PFS than the non-PCR group (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.33 and 1.93, p = 0.02 and 0.049 respectively) but not the refusal-of-surgery group. CONCLUSION: Better pretreatment performance status is associated with higher chance of pCR. Consistent with previous studies, we found attainment of pCR confers the best OS and PFS. Suboptimal OS in the refusal-of-surgery group reflects some of them would have residual disease in addition to complete remission. Further studies are needed to identify prognostic factors of pCR to select candidates who could validly decline esophagectomy.

Image-based artificial intelligence for the prediction of pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with rectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Artificial intelligence (AI) holds enormous potential for noninvasively identifying patients with rectal cancer who could achieve pathological complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to summarize the diagnostic performance of image-based AI models for predicting pCR to nCRT in patients with rectal cancer. METHODS: This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A literature search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science was performed from inception to July 29, 2023. Studies that developed or utilized AI models for predicting pCR to nCRT in rectal cancer from medical images were included. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-AI was used to appraise the methodological quality of the studies. The bivariate random-effects model was used to summarize the individual sensitivities, specificities, and areas-under-the-curve (AUCs). Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were conducted to identify potential sources of heterogeneity. Protocol for this study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022382374). RESULTS: Thirty-four studies (9933 patients) were identified. Pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of AI models for pCR prediction were 82% (95% CI: 76-87%), 84% (95% CI: 79-88%), and 90% (95% CI: 87-92%), respectively. Higher specificity was seen for the Asian population, low risk of bias, and deep-learning, compared with the non-Asian population, high risk of bias, and radiomics (all P < 0.05). Single-center had a higher sensitivity than multi-center (P = 0.001). The retrospective design had lower sensitivity (P = 0.012) but higher specificity (P < 0.001) than the prospective design. MRI showed higher sensitivity (P = 0.001) but lower specificity (P = 0.044) than non-MRI. The sensitivity and specificity of internal validation were higher than those of external validation (both P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Image-based AI models exhibited favorable performance for predicting pCR to nCRT in rectal cancer. However, further clinical trials are warranted to verify the findings.

Different Chemotherapy Regimens and Pathologic Complete Response in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: An Updated Network Meta-Analysis of Phase 3 Trials.

Background and Objectives: Currently, the standard treatment for non-metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) consists of a systemic neoadjuvant (or perioperative) anthracycline plus taxane-based chemotherapy, delivered either sequentially or concomitantly. We performed a network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare the relative efficacy of different neoadjuvant treatments for TNBC in terms of pathologic complete response (pCR). Materials and Methods: The MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched from database inception to 1 November 2023. Randomized clinical trials were used that enrolled adults with stage I-III TNBC and provided data on pCR defined as residual ypT0/TisN0M0. Between-group comparisons were estimated using risk ratios (RRs) with 95% credible intervals (95% CrIs). The primary outcome was the pCR rate. Results: 1129 citations were screened, and 12 randomized clinical trials were included. In Bayesian comparisons, all regimens, except anthracycline/taxanes plus gemcitabine or capecitabine, resulted in a higher pCR than the standard regimen in both direct and indirect comparisons. In particular, immunotherapy-based regimens resulted in more than double the pCR compared to historical regimens (RR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.9-2.9) and ranked as being the optimal regimen with a probability of 97%. Disease-free survival was better for immune checkpoint inhibitor-based chemotherapy (HR = 0.36, 95% 1.21-2.09) than for historical regimens. Conclusion: This meta-analysis confirmed that incorporating immunotherapy with neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy is the best option to guarantee remarkable pathologic downstaging and improve clinical outcomes.