ABSTRACT
Chemotherapy, which includes preoperative chemotherapy (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) and postoperative chemotherapy, is one of the most important parts of systemic therapy in breast cancer. However, not every patient is sensitive to the chemotherapy. In recent years, it is reported that, apart from those of the tumor cells, the characteristics of stromal components could also affect the effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, which include markers of immune cells, stromal fibroblasts, proteomic and genomic markers, etc. These researches bring new approaches to adjust the regimen and improve the effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This article aims at reviewing and summarizing the literature at these points. Copyright © 2012 by TUMOR.