January 2022: pCR in the breast and axillary lymph nodes correlates with iDFS – results from GeparOcto trial

The conversion of initially histologically confirmed axillary lymph node-positive (pN+) to ypN0 after neoadjuvant systemic treatment (NAST) is an important prognostic factor in breast cancer patients and may influence surgical de-escalation strategies. This study investigated the pathological complete response (pCR) rates in breast and axillary lymph nodes in patients with initially pN+; evaluated predictors of pCR and assessed the relation between clinical outcomes.

Highlights:

• pCR in breast and axillary lymph nodes after NAST in patients with initially pN+ correlates with invasive disease-free survival (iDFS).
• Conversion to ypN0 is of high prognostic value.
• Surgical axillary staging after NAST is essential to offer tailored treatment.

Conclusion: In initially pN+ patients undergoing NAST, the conversion to ypN0 is of high prognostic value. Surgical axillary staging after NAST is still essential in these patients to offer tailored treatment.

Gerber B, Schneeweiss A, Möbus V, et al. Pathological Response in the Breast and Axillary Lymph Nodes after Neoadjuvant Systemic Treatment in Patients with Initially Node-Positive Breast Cancer Correlates with Disease Free Survival: An Exploratory Analysis of the GeparOcto Trial. Cancers (Basel). 2022 Jan 20;14(3):521; doi: 10.3390/cancers14030521.

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