Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Versus Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Hispanic/Latino (H/L) Women With Local or Locally Advanced Triple-negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)

Abstract

Background/aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of neoadjuvant and chemotherapy (NACT) and adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) in Hispanic/Latino (H/L) women with TNBC.

Patients and methods: We reviewed the charts of patients with TNBC, stages I-III, treated at TTUHSC from 2006 to 2016. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were estimated and compared between the treatment groups. Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were conducted to estimate unadjusted and adjusted effects of NACT compared to ACT.

Results: A total of 104 patients with TNBC, 30 (29%) received NACT and 74 (71%) ACT. Women undergoing NACT were younger, with a mean age of 50.8 years. Of the 30 patients who received NACT, 12 (40%) had pathologically complete response (pCR). Women who achieved pCR had an excellent RFS (HR=0.5, p=0.001). Women with residual cancer after NACT had worse outcome compared to patients who received ACT (HR=1.7, p=0.005).

Conclusion: pCR to NACT is a powerful surrogate for OS in H/L women with TNBC.

Keywords: Hispanic/Latino women; Triple-negative breast cancer; adjuvant chemotherapy; locally advancer cancer; neoadjuvant chemotherapy; racial disparity.

Figure 1. PFS NACT (RD) vs. ACT.

Figure 2. PFS NACT (cPR) vs. ACT.