Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Predictive Factors for Pathological Complete Response and Prognostic Impact of...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Breast Cancer Research
• Chemotherapy Efficacy

Background:

• Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype lacking standard therapeutic targets.
• TNBC accounts for about 15% of all breast cancers and is highly heterogeneous.
• Understanding TNBC characteristics and treatment response is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate sociodemographic, clinical, pathological, and radiological factors in TNBC patients.
• To evaluate response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and its influencing factors.
• To identify variables affecting disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 90 female TNBC patients (stage IIA-IIIB) treated with NACT followed by surgery.
• Data collected on patient characteristics, treatment response, and survival outcomes.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) used to assess pathological complete response (pCR) post-NACT.

Main Results:

• Postmenopausal status and high pre-treatment ki-67 were predictors of pCR.
• Post-NACT MRI demonstrated high predictive value for pCR (p=0.0001).
• pCR, tumor size, and post-surgical ki-67 influenced 5-year OS; pCR, nodal stage, necrosis, and post-surgical ki-67 impacted 5-year DFS.

Conclusions:

• Achieving pCR after NACT is associated with improved DFS and OS in TNBC.
• Low ki-67 values in residual tumors post-treatment correlate with better survival outcomes.
• Post-NACT MRI is a valuable tool for predicting treatment response in TNBC.