Objective: To explore the relationship between response of primary tumor and positive axillary lymph node to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and examine its correlation with breast cancer distant disease-free survival (DDFS).
Methods: The clinical data of 678 needle biopsy proved node positive breast cancer patients on neoadjuvant chemotherapy were analyzed retrospectively.
Results: The median follow-up period was 45 (6-143) months. The 4-year DDFS in group A (ypT0/is ypN0),B (ypT0/is ypN+), C (ypT ≥ 1mi ypN0) and D (ypT ≥ 1mi ypN+) were 96.4%, 85.7%, 86.7% and 80.2% respectively. As compared with group A, the relative risk ratios of groups B, C and D were 2.32, 2.09 and 4.07 (P = 0.006).Significant difference existed in DDFS between groups A and B (96.4% vs 85.7%, P = 0.045) and groups A and C (96.4% vs 86.7%, P = 0.040).
Conclusion: Pathological response of both primary tumor and positive axillary node are prognostic and crucial for evaluating the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.