Table 5. Correlation analysis between downstaging and the highest individual grade by CTCAE.

Groups within patient cohort	Spearman correlation coefficient (95% CI)	P value
AE-grades in entire cohort (n=261)	−0.133 (−0.245 to −0.020)	0.033*
AE-grades in cohort all pre-planned NAC-cycles (n=200)	−0.148 (−0.283 to −0.016)	0.038**
AE-grades in cohort NAC-cycles <3 (n=61)	−0.021 (−0.281 to 0.218)	0.874

*, when AE grade decrease, downstaging will increase (in entire cohort). **, when AE grade decrease, downstaging will increase (in cohort who received all pre-planned). CTCAE, Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events; AE, adverse event; NAC, neoadjuvant chemotherapy; CI, confidence interval.