Response rate to neoadjuvant chemotherapy measured on imaging predicts early recurrence and death in breast cancer patients with lymph node involvements

BackgroundThe use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer is effective as postoperative adjuvant therapy, permits more lumpectomies, and can be used to study breast cancer biology. Although pathological response is the strongest prognostic factor, response rates vary according to various parameters, such as dissociation between breast and axillary node responses.PurposeTo clarify the correlation of response rates between breast tumors and metastasized lymph nodes and to identify the clinical significance; response rates measured on imaging were evaluated among breast cancer patients with axillary lymph node involvement.Material and MethodsSubjects consisted of 98 patients diagnosed with node-positive breast cancer who received chemotherapy before surgery. The response to the therapy was evaluated by changes in the largest dimensions of the breast mass and of regional lymph nodes measured on a multidetector row helical CT before and after chemotherapy. The percent reduction was calculated as a respon...