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Clinical features associated with a favorable outcome following neoadjuvant chemotherapy in women with localized breast cancer aged 35 years or younger

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Abstract

Background

There is scarce data on the outcome of young patients aged 35 years and younger, who have been treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of body mass index (BMI) and various prognostic factors on pathologic response and survival in young patients with localized breast cancer.

Patients and methods

This is a retrospective evaluation on the outcome of 110 patients who were younger than 35 years at diagnosis and treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CT). Patients were grouped in quartiles of BMI calculated prior to initiation of chemotherapy. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the associations between prognostic variables including BMI and treatment outcome. The impact of prognostic factors on survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Maier and Cox regression tests.

Results

Body mass index was not correlated with pathologic complete response (pCR) (n = 13, 11.7%) or survival. Cox regression analysis revealed nodal pCR following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (HR 2.45, P = 0.048) and stage at diagnosis (HR1.99, P = 0.027) as significant independent prognostic factors for DFS, while recurrence was independently associated with shorter OS (HR 169, P = 0.029).

Conclusion

Body mass index was not correlated with pCR or prognosis in young women with early breast cancer. Pathologic CR was shown to have a significant influence on DFS. Total axillary clearance may be used a surrogate variable in determining prognosis in young patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Breast Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA

    Yesim Eralp, Kadri Altundağ, Shu-Wan Kau, Jennifer Litton, Vicente Valero, Aman Buzdar, Gabriel N. Hortobagyi & Banu Arun

  2. Department of Biostatistics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA

    Terry L. Smith

  3. Institute of Oncology, İstanbul University, Topkapı, 34390, Istanbul, Turkey

    Yesim Eralp

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  1. Yesim Eralp
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  2. Terry L. Smith
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  3. Kadri Altundağ
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  4. Shu-Wan Kau
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  5. Jennifer Litton
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  6. Vicente Valero
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  7. Aman Buzdar
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  8. Gabriel N. Hortobagyi
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  9. Banu Arun
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Correspondence to Yesim Eralp.

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Eralp, Y., Smith, T.L., Altundağ, K. et al. Clinical features associated with a favorable outcome following neoadjuvant chemotherapy in women with localized breast cancer aged 35 years or younger. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 135, 141–148 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-008-0428-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-008-0428-9

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