Identifying Predictors of Pathological Complete Response in Moroccan Patients With HER2-Positive Breast Cancer...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Clinical Research
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Prognosis for HER2-positive breast cancer improved with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and anti-HER2 therapy.
• Pathological complete response (pCR) correlates with favorable long-term outcomes.
• Limited real-world data exists on pCR predictors in North Africa, necessitating region-specific evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess pCR rates in Moroccan HER2-positive breast cancer patients.
• To identify predictors of pCR in this population.
• To evaluate the association between pCR and disease-free survival (DFS).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 203 patients with stage I-III HER2-positive breast cancer.
• Treatment included neoadjuvant chemotherapy with trastuzumab (± pertuzumab), followed by surgery.
• Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze pCR predictors and DFS.

Main Results:

• 44.3% of patients achieved pCR.
• Higher pCR rates were associated with hormone receptor-negative tumors (OR=2.20), HER2 score 3 (OR=4.80), and dual HER2 blockade (OR=2.05).
• Lower pCR rates were observed in T3-T4 tumors (OR=0.45). Achieving pCR significantly improved DFS (HR=0.07, p<0.001).

Conclusions:

• Tumor stage, hormone receptor status, HER2 expression, and neoadjuvant pertuzumab use independently predict pCR.
• These findings highlight the importance of tailored neoadjuvant strategies for HER2-positive breast cancer.
• Region-specific data on pCR predictors is crucial for optimizing treatment in diverse populations.