The primary objective in operable breast cancer (BC) is to achieve a pathological complete response (pCR). Although some markers can predict pCR, there is still a need for additional factors.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed patients with early BC patients treated with neoadjuvant systemic treatment
(NST) at the one academic center. Baseline neutrophile/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the maximum standardized
uptake value (SUVmax) were analyzed before surgery and their relationship to pCR was determined.
RESULTS
Ninety-nine patients were included in our analysis. Overall, 36 patients (36.4% of the total) achieved
pCR, while 63 patients (63.6% of the total) did not. High SUVmax at baseline was associated with worse
prognostic factors, including larger tumor size, high grade, negative ER, and triple-negative breast
cancer (TNBC). The median NLR was 1.85 for patients with pCR and 1.90 for those without pCR
(p=0.392). Patients with pCR had a higher median baseline SUVmax than those with residual tumors
(14.5 vs. 10, respectively, p=0.023).
CONCLUSION
Our findings demonstrated that baseline SUVmax is a predictor of pCR, patients with early BC who received
NST. We found no association between baseline NLR and pCR.