ObjectiveTo evaluate the predictive value of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) combined with multislice computed tomography (MSCT) in the evaluation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for breast cancer. MethodsThe clinical, imaging, and pathological data of breast cancer patients who received NACT in the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from February 2019 to August 2021 were retrospectively collected. Based on the results of postoperative pathological examination, the patients were assigned into significant remission (Miller-Payne grade Ⅰ–Ⅲ) and non-significant remission (Miller-Payne grade Ⅳ–Ⅴ). The variables with statistical significance by univariate analysis or factors with clinical significance judged based on professional knowledge were included to conduct the logistic regression multivariate analysis to screen the risk factors affecting the degree of pathological remission after NACT. Then, the screened risk factors were used to establish a prediction model for the degree of pathological remission of breast cancer after NACT, and the efficacy of this model was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) curve. ResultsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 211 breast cancer patients who received NACT were collected, including 116 patients with significant remission and 95 patients with non-significant remission. Logistic regression multivariate analysis results showed that the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive, lower early enhancement rate after NACT, lower arterial stage net increment after NACT, and lower CT value of arterial phase of lesions would increase the probability of significant remission in patients with breast cancer after NACT (P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve of the model for predicting the degree of pathological remission of breast cancer after NACT was 0.984, the specificity was 93.7%, and the sensitivity was 95.7%. The calibration curve showed that the model result fit well with the actual result, and the DCA result showed that it had a high clinical net benefit value. ConclusionFrom the results of this study, DCE-MRI combined with MSCT enhanced scanning has a good predictive value for pathological remission degree after NACT for breast cancer, which can provide clinical guidance for further treatment.
Objective To investigate the effect of radiotherapy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and modified radical surgery on breast cancer specific survival (BCSS) of patients with stage cT1–2N1M0 breast cancer. Methods A total of 917 cT1–2N1M0 stage breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and modified radical surgery from 2010 to 2017 were extracted from the The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Of them 720 matched patients were divided into radiotherapy group (n=360) and non-radiotherapy group (n=360) by using propensity score matching (PSM). Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to explore the factors affecting BCSS. Results Patients were all interviewed for a median follow-up of 65 months, and the 5-year BCSS was 91.9% in the radiotherapy group and 93.2% in the non-radiotherapy group, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups (χ2=0.292, P=0.589). The results were the same in patients with no axillary lymph node metastasis, one axillary lymphnode metastasis, two axillary lymph node metastasis and 3 axillary lymph node metastasis group (χ2=0.139, P=0.709; χ2=0.578, P=0.447; χ2=2.617, P=0.106; χ2=0.062, P=0.803). The result of Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that, after controlling for Grade grade, time from diagnosis to treatment, efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, number of positive axillary lymph nodes, molecular typing, and tumor diameter at first diagnosis, radiotherapy had no statistically significant effect on BCSS [HR=1.048, 95%CI (0.704, 1.561), P=0.817]. Conclusions The effect of radiotherapy on the BCSS of patients with stage cT1–2N1M0 breast cancer who have received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and modified radical surgery with 0 to 3 axillary lymph nodes metastases is limited, but whether to undergo radiotherapy should still be determined according to the comprehensive risk of individual tumor patients.