Mastectomy Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Mastectomy, including details on breast cancer, prosthesis, recovery, surgery, complications.

Breast conservation after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Chen AM, Meric-Bernstam F, Hunt KK, Thames HD, Outlaw ED, Strom EA, McNeese MD, Kuerer HM, Ross MI, Singletary SE, Ames FC, Feig BW, Sahin AA, Perkins GH, Babiera G, Hortobagyi GN, Buchholz TA

Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.

BACKGROUND: The appropriate selection criteria for breast-conserving therapy (BCT) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy are poorly defined. The purpose of the current report was to develop a prognostic index to help refine selection criteria and to serve as a general framework for clinical decision-making for patients treated by this multimodality approach. METHODS: From a group of 340 patients treated with BCT after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the authors previously determined 4 statistically significant predictors of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) and locoregional recurrence (LRR): clinical N2 or N3 disease, residual pathologic tumor size > than 2 cm, a multifocal pattern of residual disease, and lymphovascular space invasion in the specimen. The M. D. Anderson Prognostic Index (MDAPI) was developed by assigning scores of 0 (favorable) or 1 (unfavorable) for each of these 4 variables and using the total to give an overall MDAPI score of 0-4. RESULTS: The MDAPI stratified the 340 patients into 3 subsets with statistically different levels of risk for IBTR and LRR after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and BCT. Actuarial 5-year IBTR-free survival rates were 97%, 88%, and 82% for patients in the low (MDAPI overall score 0 or 1, n=276), intermediate (MDAPI score 2, n=43), and high (MDAPI score 3 or 4, n=12) risk groups, respectively (P<0.001). Corresponding actuarial 5-year LRR-free survival rates were 94%, 83%, and 58%, respectively (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with an MDAPI score of 0 or 1, which made up 81% of the study population, had very low rates of IBTR and LRR. The MDAPI enabled the identification of a small group (4%) of patients who are at high risk for IBTR and LRR and who may benefit from alternative locoregional treatment strategies.

Published 15 February 2005 in Cancer, 103(4): 689-95.
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