Association between mammographic breast density and achievement of a pathologic complete remission (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for early breast cancer (EBC).

e12611 Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is indicated in early breast cancer (EBC) with an unfavorable tumor biology. Achievement of pathologic complete remission (pCR) after NACT is indicating an improved prognosis. An association between pCR and mammographic breast density as defined by BIRADS (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System) could be demonstrated. However, the definition of mammographic breast density by the American College of Radiology (ACR) is widely used worldwide and data regarding an association of breast density by this definition and pCR after NACT are missing. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis among patients who had received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for EBC and had available data regarding mammographic breast density as defined by ACR before therapy, pCR, age, estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER, PR) status, HER2neu status and grading were included. An association between mammographic breast density (ACR) and pCR was analyzed. Results: 185 patients were included in this analysis, 35.7% of whom achieved a pCR. Mammographic breast density was ACR 1 in 15.1%, ACR 2 in 41.6%, ACR3 in 38.4% and ACR 4 in 4.9% of the patients. A negative correlation (Spearman-Rho) between mammographic breast density and pCR (correlation coefficient (CC) -0.240) was highly statistically significant (p = 0.001). The association of decreasing pCR rates with increasing mammographic breast density (pCR rates by ACR 1: 53.6%, ACR 2: 41.6, ACR 3: 25.4% and 11.1 %) was statistically significant (Chi-Square, p = 0.013). These results were independent of age, ER status, PR status, HER2neu status and grading. Conclusions: In our analysis higher mammographic breast density as defined by ACR was significantly correlated with a lower chance of achieving a pCR after NACT. Although this result has to be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size and the retrospective character of our investigation, it is completely in line with other investigations using other definitions of mammographic breast density. The pathophysiological cause of this association should be further elucidated to reveal potential mechanisms of treatment resistance.

FLOT Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by Laparoscopic D2 Gastrectomy in the Treatment of Locally Resectable Advanced Gastric Cancer

Background. The prognosis of patients with advanced gastric cancer remains unsatisfactory, highlighting the need for improved therapeutic strategies. We analyzed 23 resectable advanced gastric cancer patients who received FLOT followed by laparoscopic gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy to evaluate the efficacy and safety. Methods. Patients aged 18–75 years with gastric adenocarcinoma (stage cT3–4 and/or N + M0) underwent neoadjuvant FLOT therapy (four preoperative and four postoperative 2-week cycles) at Shanghai East Hospital. Laparoscopic gastrectomy was scheduled 3-4 weeks after completion of the last cycle of preoperative chemotherapy. The type of surgical procedure was determined by the location and extent of the primary tumor. Results. 23 patients were reviewed in the study. 20 patients (81.2%) received four courses of FOLT therapy, while 3 patients (18.8%) received three courses of treatment. There were 3 (13.0%) complete responses, 13 (56.5%) partial responses, 4 (26.1%) of stable disease, and 1 (4.3%) of progressive disease. The clinical efficacy response rate was 69.6%. The R0 resection rate was 91.3%. Only one patient exhibited grade III postoperative complications. The pathologic complete remission was 13%. The common grade 3/4 adverse events from chemotherapy were leucopenia (17.4%), neutropenia (30.4%), anemia (13%), anorexia (13%), and nausea (17.4%). Postoperative complications occurred in 5 patients (26.1%). There was no treatment-related mortality or reoperation. The most reason for not completing chemotherapy was the patient’s request. Conclusions. These findings suggest that FLOT neoadjuvant chemotherapy, followed by laparoscopic D2 gastrectomy, is effective and safe in advanced, resectable advanced gastric cancer.

Colorectal cancer in the elderly patient: the role of neo-adjuvant therapy

BackgroundNeoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy has a significant role in downstaging cancer. It improves the local control of the disease and can make conservative resection of rectal cancer possible.MethodsWe enrolled 114 patients with subperitoneal rectal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradio-therapy and radical excision with total mesorectal excision (TME). The primary endpoint was oncological outcomes and the secondary endpoint was surgical outcomes.We evaluate the experience of a multidisciplinary team and the role of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in integrated treatment of cancer of the subperitoneal rectum.ResultsSurgical procedures performed were abdominal perineal resection in 4 cases (3.5%), anterior resection in 89 cases (78%), Hartmann’s procedure in 5 cases (4.4%), and ultralow resection with coloanal anastomosis and diverting stoma in 16 patients (14%).Local recurrence occurred in 6 patients (5.2%), the overall survival was 71.9% at 5 years and disease-free survival was about 60%.ConclusionsThe effect of pathological downstaging amounted to 58.8%, including cPR. The pathologic complete remission occurred in 8.8% of cases.The outcomes of neoadjuvant therapy can be achieved when this treatment is associated with correct surgical technique with TME and the prognosis is defined by an anatomopathological examination performed according to Quirke’s protocol.

A Proposal to Redefine Pathologic Complete Remission as Endpoint following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Early Breast Cancer

Many analyses of the efficacy of neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) for early breast cancer including a meta-analysis derived from 10 randomized trials came to the conclusion that patients who would achieve pathologic complete response (pCR) following NAT would experience significant improvement in disease-free and overall survival (OS). Thus, pCR was proposed as a surrogate endpoint for OS, with pCR representing a robust prognostic marker for survival at an individual level. In the current analysis, we argue that OS following NAT-induced pCR might have reflected the initial prognosis of patients mainly defined – among other factors – by the initial pathological lymph node status while being largely independent on the type of administrated treatment, thus pleading against the pCR surrogacy hypothesis. We therefore propose to redefine pCR as a surrogate endpoint of NAT trials by the involvement of additional biologic parameters.