Table I.
Clinicopathological characteristics of 62 patients with invasive breast carcinoma, including the comparison of tumour stage and grade prior to and following neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
| Variable | N (%) |
|---|---|
| Age at the time of core needle biopsy, years | |
| <40 | 10 (16) |
| 40–60 | 34 (55) |
| >60 | 18 (29) |
| Extent of surgery | |
| Mastectomy | 32 (52) |
| Breast-conserving surgery | 30 (48) |
| Neoadjuvant chemotherapy | |
| Doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide | 5 (8) |
| Doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, docetaxel | 34 (55) |
| Doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, paclitaxel | 3 (5) |
| Fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide | 3 (5) |
| Letrozole | 4 (6) |
| Paclitaxel | 2 (3) |
| Other combinations | 11 (18) |
| Neoadjuvant anti-HER2 therapy (trastuzumab) | |
| Yes | 8 (13) |
| No | 54 (87) |
| Stage prior to therapy | |
| I | 4 (6) |
| II | 39 (63) |
| III | 16 (26) |
| IV | 2 (3) |
| Unknown | 1 (2) |
| Stage following therapy | |
| I | 15 (25) |
| II | 30 (48) |
| III | 12 (19) |
| IV | 2 (3) |
| Unknown | 3 (5) |
| Stage changes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy | |
| Decreased | 31 (50) |
| Increased | 11 (18) |
| Unchanged | 17 (27) |
| Unknown | 3 (5) |
| Chevallier classa | |
| III | 48 (77) |
| IV | 14 (23) |
| Tumour grade prior to therapy | |
| G1 | 6 (10) |
| G2 | 33 (53) |
| G3 | 23 (37) |
| Tumour grade following therapy | |
| G1 | 6 (10) |
| G2 | 30 (48) |
| G3 | 26 (42) |
| Histological type of breast cancer | |
| Invasive carcinoma of NST | 62 (100) |
| Minor histological component in invasive carcinoma NSTb | |
| Mixed NST and lobular | 4 (6) |
| Mixed NST and tubular | 1 (2) |
| NST with neuroendocrine features | 1 (2) |
| NST with micropapillary component | 1 (2) |
| Total | 7 (11) |
a
Extent of histological tumour regression after therapy
b
5–20% of primary tumour mass. NST, no special type.