The Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for HER-2-Positive Locally Advanced Breast Cancer and Survival Analysis

To provide reference data, we retrospectively investigated the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) on 119 patients withHER-2+locally advanced breast cancer, treated from November 2010 to July 2016, with respect to influencing factors andsurvival. They were divided into the pathological complete response (pCR;n=15; 12.6%) and non-pCR (n= 104; 87.4%)groups. We usedΧ2and logistic tests to the analyze effect and influencing factors. Survival rate was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test. We lost 12 patients (including 1 pCR patient) and followed 107 patients, of whom 31 (all inthe non-pCR group) had local recurrences or distant metastasis. The two groups significantly differed in 3-year disease-freesurvival (pCR group: 100%; non-pCR group: 59.0%;P=0039); pCR was significantly affected by histological grade, PR status,Ki67 index, primary tumor size, clinical staging, and number of trastuzumab cycles. The model was tested, and the differencewas statistically significant (Χ2= 31.938,P=0032). Patients with HER-2+locally advanced breast cancer with pCR responses toNAC have improved prognoses. Patients without pCR have increased risk for relapse. The use of a combination of NAC, suchas trastuzumab and chemotherapy, and more cycles should be considered to increase the likelihood of pCR.