The hormonal receptor status in breast cancer can be altered by neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Recently, several studies have published conflicting results on the alteration of biomarkers after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on biomarker status in breast cancer utilizing eligible studies identified through MEDLINE. This pooled analysis has demonstrated a significant change in estrogen receptor (p = .016) and progesterone receptor (p < .001) status before and after chemotherapy. Our findings suggest that in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy, hormonal receptor status is altered by the chemotherapy, and thus, consideration should be given to reevaluation of the HR status after administration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.