Radiologic complete response (rCR) in contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer predicts recurrence-free survival but not pathologic complete response (pCR)

Table 1 Patient characteristics

Characteristics		Study population (n = 246)
Median age (range), years		50 (23–81)
Stage	cT1	59	24%
	cT2	140	57%
	cT3/4	47	19%
	cN0	120	49%
	cN+	124	50%
	Nx	2	1%
Tumor grading	G1–2	106	43%
Tumor grading	G3	139	57%
Ki-67	≤ 20%	48	20%
	> 20%	154	63%
	Unknown	44	18%
Subtype^a	Luminal A-like	57	23%
	Luminal B-like	29	12%
	HER2+/HR-	33	13%
	HER2+/HR+	37	15%
	Triple-negative	90	37%
Histology	Ductal	201	82%
	Lobular	17	7%
	Other subtypes	28	11%
Neoadjuvant therapy	Anthracycline-based and taxane-based	225	92%
	Anthraycycline-based	2	< 1%
	Taxane-based	18	7%
	Trastuzumab	67^b	27%
	Pertuzumab	23^c	9%
Type of surgery	Breast conserving	179	73%
Type of surgery	Mastectomy	66	27%
MRI	Baseline MRI	234	95%
	1.5 Tesla after NACT	112	45%
	3.0 Tesla after NACT	123	50%
Radiologic response	rCR	111	45%
	rPR	121	49%
	rSD	8	3%
	rPD	6	2%
Pathologic response	pCR	71	29%
Pathologic response	no pCR	175	71%
Adjuvant therapy	Additional chemotherapy	5	2%
	Endocrine therapy	109^d	44%
	Trastuzumab	63^e	26%

NACT neoadjuvant chemotherapy, rCR radiologic complete response, rPR radiologic partial response, rSD radiologic stable disease, rPD radiologic progressive disease, pCR pathologic complete response, HER2 human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, MRI magnetic resonance imaging
^aDefined by immunohistochemical analysis: luminal A-like was defined as hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2 negative, grade (G) 1–2 and Ki-67 < 20% (if available); luminal B-like was defined as HR-positive, HER2 negative, G2 and Ki-67 ≥ 20% or G3
^b96% of patients with HER2-positive tumors
^c33% of patients with HER2-positive tumors
^d85% of patients with HR+ tumors
^e87% of patients with HER2-positive tumors

ISSN: 1465-542X