Prediction of pathological complete response and prognosis in patients with neoadjuvant treatment for triple-negative breast cancer
Paul Gass,
Michael P. Lux,
Claudia Rauh,
Alexander Hein,
Mayada R. Bani,
Cornelia Fiessler,
Arndt Hartmann,
Lothar Häberle,
Jutta Pretscher,
Ramona Erber,
David L. Wachter,
Rüdiger Schulz-Wendtland,
Matthias W. Beckmann,
Peter A. Fasching,
Marius Wunderle
Affiliations
Paul Gass
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, University Breast Center for Franconia, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen–Nuremberg
Michael P. Lux
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, University Breast Center for Franconia, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen–Nuremberg
Claudia Rauh
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, University Breast Center for Franconia, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen–Nuremberg
Alexander Hein
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, University Breast Center for Franconia, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen–Nuremberg
Mayada R. Bani
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, University Breast Center for Franconia, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen–Nuremberg
Cornelia Fiessler
Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Arndt Hartmann
Institute of Pathology, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen–Nuremberg
Lothar Häberle
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, University Breast Center for Franconia, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen–Nuremberg
Jutta Pretscher
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, University Breast Center for Franconia, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen–Nuremberg
Ramona Erber
Institute of Pathology, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen–Nuremberg
David L. Wachter
Institute of Pathology, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen–Nuremberg
Rüdiger Schulz-Wendtland
Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen–Nuremberg
Matthias W. Beckmann
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, University Breast Center for Franconia, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen–Nuremberg
Peter A. Fasching
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, University Breast Center for Franconia, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen–Nuremberg
Marius Wunderle
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, University Breast Center for Franconia, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen–Nuremberg
Abstract Background It has been reported that pathological complete response is an important surrogate marker for disease-free survival and overall survival in patients with triple-negative breast cancer. This study investigates predictors of the response to neoadjuvant platinum-based or anthracycline-based treatment, and of the prognosis, in patients with triple-negative breast cancer. Methods A total of 121 patients with triple-negative breast cancer received neoadjuvant treatment with either platinum or anthracycline between 2008 and 2013. Pathological complete response was assessed relative to different treatments using logistic regression models with age, clinical tumor stage, grading, and Ki-67 as predictors and interaction terms, to obtain adjusted and subgroup-specific results. The impact of the pathological complete response rate on disease-free survival and overall survival was also analyzed. Results The pathological complete response rate was higher after platinum/taxane treatment compared with anthracycline/taxane (50.0% vs. 41.8%), but this was not significant in the adjusted analysis (OR 1.44; 95% CI, 0.68 to 3.09). A high histological grade (G3) was a predictor for higher pathological complete response in platinum-based therapy (OR 2.27; 95% CI, 1.00 to 5.30). The effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on pathological complete response was significantly different for G1–2 vs. G3 (P interaction = 0.013), and additional subgroup-specific differences were noted. Pathological complete response was a predictor for improved disease-free survival and overall survival in both treatment groups, with and without platinum chemotherapy. Conclusions This retrospective study of patients with triple-negative breast cancer adds to the evidence that the treatment effect of platinum may be greatest particularly in G3 tumors. In addition, the effect of pathological complete response on the prognosis does not depend on the treatment used.
