Prognostic value of receptor status conversion after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients

Abstract Purpose Biomarkers such as hormone receptors (HR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor2 (HER2) found in breast cancer cells may undergo changes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT).This study aimed to investigate receptor change rates after NACT and to determine the prognostic impact of the change. Material and Method : Patients with breast cancer who received NACT were included in the study. Changes in pathological findings before and after NACT were examined. In addition, the effect of receptor exchange on prognosis was evaluated. Results The study included 203 female patients. When pathological findings before and after NACT were compared, significant regression was found in grade and Ki-67 values (p = 0.003, p < 0.001). Estrogen receptor (ER) change rate was 11.8%, progesterone receptor (PR) change rate was 24.6% and HER-2 change rate was 12.5%. No significant correlation was found between ER and HER-2 changes and disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Conclusion In patients with breast cancer, it would be appropriate to re-evaluate the HER2 and HR status of the surgical specimen following NACT, especially in initially negative patients. The correlation of receptor discordance with prognosis is not clear and more extensive studies are needed.