Impact of Node Involvement After Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): Pierga J-Y, Mouret E, Diéras V, Laurence V, Beuzeboc P, Dorval T, Palangié T, Jouve M, Vincent-Salomon A, Scholl S, Extra J-M, Asselain B, Pouillart P
Primary Institution: Institut Curie
Hypothesis
What is the prognostic value of persistent node involvement after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients?
Conclusion
Patients with extensive nodal involvement after neoadjuvant chemotherapy have a very poor outcome.
Supporting Evidence
- The overall objective response rate before local treatment was 52%.
- Breast tumor size was reduced in 83% of patients.
- No pathologic nodal involvement was observed in 46.5% of patients.
- Patients with ≥ eight positive nodes had a median disease-free survival of only 20 months.
- The 10-year disease-free survival rate for patients with no node involvement was 64%.
- Median survival for patients with ≥ eight nodes positive was 48 months.
Takeaway
This study found that if breast cancer patients still have cancer in their lymph nodes after chemotherapy, they are likely to have a much worse chance of surviving.
Methodology
The study analyzed data from 488 patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by tumor excision and axillary lymph-node dissection.
Participant Demographics
Patients with T2–T3, N0–N1 breast cancer treated between 1981 and 1992.
Statistical Information
P-Value
P < 0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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