Postmastectomy radiotherapy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in cT1-2N+ breast cancer patients: a single center experience and review of current literature

Abstract

PurposePostmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) after NAC in breast cancer patients with initial clinical stage cT1−2N+, especially for those who achieved ypT1−2N0, is still controversial. This study was to evaluate the survival prognosis of cT1−2N+ patients after NAC with or without PMRT, and to discuss the selection of patients who may omit PMRT.Patients and MethodsFrom January 2005 to December 2017, 3055 female breast cancer patients underwent mastectomy in our medical center, among whom 215 patients of cT1−2N+ stage, receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with or without PMRT were finally analyzed. The median follow-up duration was 72.6 months. The primary endpoint was overall survival, and the secondary endpoint was disease-free survival. Comparison was conducted between PMRT and non-PMRT subgroups.ResultsOf the 215 eligible patients, 35.8% (77/215) cT1−2N+ patients achieved ypT0−2N0 after NAC while 64.2% (138/215) of the patients remained nodal positive (ypT0−2N+). The 5-year DFS of ypT0−2N0 non-PMRT was 79.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 63.4-95.6%). No statistically significant difference was observed between the ypT0−2N0 PMRT and non-PMRT subgroups for the 5-year DFS (78.5% vs 79.5%, p = 0.673) and OS (88.8% vs 90.8%, p = 0.721). The 5-years DFS didn’t obviously differ between the ypT0−2N0 non-PMRT subgroup and cT1−2N0 subgroup (79.5% vs 93.3%, p = 0.070). By using Cox regression model in multivariate analyses of prognosis in ypT0−2N+ PMRT subgroup, HER2 overexpression and triple-negative breast cancer were significantly poor predictors of DFS and OS, while ypN stage was significant independent predictors of OS.ConclusionAn excellent response to NAC (ypT0−2N0) indicates a sufficiently favorable prognosis, and PMRT might be omitted for cT1−2N+ breast cancer patients with ypT0−2N0 after NAC.