Predictive factors for local recurrence after breast conservative surgery following neoadjuvant chemotherapy: our long-term results

METHODS

Between January 1991 to July 2005, 29 patients with clinical
stage 2 or 3 who underwent breast conservative surgery following
chemotherapy, were included into the study.

RESULTS

The clinical stages before neoadjuvant chemotherapy were as
follows: T₀ (n=1), T₁ (n=1), T₂ (n=14), T₃ (n=7), and T₄ ( n= 6);
and N₀ (n=2), N₁ (n=9), and N₂ (n=17), and N₃ (n=1). Out of
4 ipsilateral breast tumor recurrences, 2 local recurrences (7%)
were detected in the first 5 years, whereas 4 local recurrences
(14%) were detected in the first 10 years. The 5-year and 10-
year local recurrence free rates were 91.5% and 75%, and the
5-year and 10-year overall survival rates were 92% and 78%,
respectively. The 10-year local recurrence-free survival rate
was only found to be higher in patients with T_0-2 tumors compared
to patients with T_3-4 tumors (86%, vs 60%, p=0.078).

CONCLUSION

Breast conservation after neoadjuvant chemotherapy seems to be
safe in selected patients with locally advanced disease including
those with clinical T_0-2 tumors before neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Keywords: Breast conservative surgery; locally advanced breast cancer; neoadjuvant chemotherapy