Pathological response of breast cancer to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy at a single tertiary centre with no access to Trastuzumab

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dc.contributor.advisorMalherbe, Francois
dc.contributor.authorKhamajeet, Arvin
dc.date.accessioned2025-02-18T12:00:33Z
dc.date.available2025-02-18T12:00:33Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.date.updated2025-02-18T11:57:19Z
dc.description.abstractIntroduction: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) has firmly solidified its status as the gold standard in the treatment of breast cancer for eligible patients. While prevailing guidelines advocate for a combined approach involving chemotherapy and Trastuzumab for individuals with HER2-positive breast cancer, Groote Schuur Hospital faces constraints in administering Trastuzumab due to cost-related considerations. This study delves into the impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on breast cancer patients, specifically focusing on the response of local patients who are HER2-positive and do not receive Trastuzumab. Methods A retrospective audit was conducted on all patients who underwent NACT followed by surgical intervention, to assess response, between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2018 within the Cape Town, Metro West surgical platform. Comprehensive data were gathered about tumour dimensions, axillary staging, tumour subtype, and treatment response. Results Data from 160 tumours were included. Predominantly, the cohort comprised women (97.5%, n=156), with a smaller representation of men (2.5%, n=4). In terms of surgical approach, a majority of patients underwent mastectomy (88%,n=141 ), while a minority opted for breast-conserving surgery (12%, n=19). The most common histology was infiltrating ductal carcinoma (94%, n=151), followed by infiltrating lobular carcinoma (3.8%, n=6). The analysis of NACT responses revealed a spectrum of outcomes: overall, 21% of patients achieved a pathological complete response (pCR), 31% demonstrated a partial response, 31% exhibited stable disease, and 17% experienced disease progression. Notably, triple-negative breast cancer displayed the most favourable response, with a pCR rate of 32% (p<0.005). In contrast, patients with ER-positive/HER2-negative tumours exhibited the least favourable response, with 2.9% achieving pCR (p<0.05). ER-negative/HER2-positive patients demonstrated a pCR rate of only 6.7% (p=0.215). Conclusion: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy appears particularly beneficial for patients with triple-negative breast cancer. This study reveals a significantly lower pCR rate in ER-negative/HER2-positive patients, even when compared to studies where Trastuzumab was not administered. For HER2-positive patients, the addition of Trastuzumab is advocated to augment the likelihood of achieving pCR and thereby improve overall survival rates.
dc.identifier.apacitationKhamajeet, A. (2024). <i>Pathological response of breast cancer to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy at a single tertiary centre with no access to Trastuzumab</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Division of General Surgery. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40980en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationKhamajeet, Arvin. <i>"Pathological response of breast cancer to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy at a single tertiary centre with no access to Trastuzumab."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Division of General Surgery, 2024. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40980en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationKhamajeet, A. 2024. Pathological response of breast cancer to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy at a single tertiary centre with no access to Trastuzumab. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Division of General Surgery. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40980en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Khamajeet, Arvin AB - Introduction: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) has firmly solidified its status as the gold standard in the treatment of breast cancer for eligible patients. While prevailing guidelines advocate for a combined approach involving chemotherapy and Trastuzumab for individuals with HER2-positive breast cancer, Groote Schuur Hospital faces constraints in administering Trastuzumab due to cost-related considerations. This study delves into the impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on breast cancer patients, specifically focusing on the response of local patients who are HER2-positive and do not receive Trastuzumab. Methods A retrospective audit was conducted on all patients who underwent NACT followed by surgical intervention, to assess response, between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2018 within the Cape Town, Metro West surgical platform. Comprehensive data were gathered about tumour dimensions, axillary staging, tumour subtype, and treatment response. Results Data from 160 tumours were included. Predominantly, the cohort comprised women (97.5%, n=156), with a smaller representation of men (2.5%, n=4). In terms of surgical approach, a majority of patients underwent mastectomy (88%,n=141 ), while a minority opted for breast-conserving surgery (12%, n=19). The most common histology was infiltrating ductal carcinoma (94%, n=151), followed by infiltrating lobular carcinoma (3.8%, n=6). The analysis of NACT responses revealed a spectrum of outcomes: overall, 21% of patients achieved a pathological complete response (pCR), 31% demonstrated a partial response, 31% exhibited stable disease, and 17% experienced disease progression. Notably, triple-negative breast cancer displayed the most favourable response, with a pCR rate of 32% (p<0.005). In contrast, patients with ER-positive/HER2-negative tumours exhibited the least favourable response, with 2.9% achieving pCR (p<0.05). ER-negative/HER2-positive patients demonstrated a pCR rate of only 6.7% (p=0.215). Conclusion: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy appears particularly beneficial for patients with triple-negative breast cancer. This study reveals a significantly lower pCR rate in ER-negative/HER2-positive patients, even when compared to studies where Trastuzumab was not administered. For HER2-positive patients, the addition of Trastuzumab is advocated to augment the likelihood of achieving pCR and thereby improve overall survival rates. DA - 2024 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Pathological response KW - breast cancer KW - neoadjuvant chemotherapy KW - tertiary centre KW - trastuzumab LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2024 T1 - Pathological response of breast cancer to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy at a single tertiary centre with no access to Trastuzumab TI - Pathological response of breast cancer to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy at a single tertiary centre with no access to Trastuzumab UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40980 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/40980
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationKhamajeet A. Pathological response of breast cancer to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy at a single tertiary centre with no access to Trastuzumab. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Division of General Surgery, 2024 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40980en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDivision of General Surgery
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectPathological response
dc.subjectbreast cancer
dc.subjectneoadjuvant chemotherapy
dc.subjecttertiary centre
dc.subjecttrastuzumab
dc.titlePathological response of breast cancer to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy at a single tertiary centre with no access to Trastuzumab
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMMed
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