Pathologic Findings of Residual Tumor according to the Response Rate after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

PURPOSE: There are questions about selecting the best postoperative chemotherapeutic regimen for breast cancer patients who have different response rates after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to examine the pathologic findings of residual tumors according to the response rate after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. METHODS: We obtained specimens of residual tumors from 43 breast cancer patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by curative operation at the Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Sacred Heart Hospital, between Oct. 2002 and Oct. 2006. Four patients received 3 cycles of FAC (5-FU, Adriamycin, Cyclophosphamide) and 39 patients received 3 cycles of AT (Adriamycin, Docetaxel). We analyzed the pathologic characteristics according to the response rate. RESULTS: The clinical response rate for neoadjuvant chemotherapy was 69.8%. There was no significant difference in the response rate for neoadjuvant chemotherapy between the AT and the FAC regimen groups. The tumors of the complete response group showed to be more ER-negative, PR-positive, p53-negative and c-erb-B2-positive and they had a lower Ki-67 staining index than the tumors of the partial response group. Moreover, the tumors of the clinical complete response group showed more triple (ER/PR/c-erb-B2) negative tumor than did the tumors of the partial response group. CONCLUSION: Although the tumor responded to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the pathologic findings of the residual tumors in the clinical complete response group differed from that of the partial response group. So, this should be considered for the selection of postoperative chemotherapeutic agents.

Laparoscopic Assisted Distal Rectal Cancer Resection with Preoperative Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: Anatomy of deep pelvis, narrow distal margin and tumor invasion into neighbor organ are obstacles for curative radical resection for advanced cancer of distal rectum. Technically, laparoscopic application after downstaging the tumor with preoperative concurrent chemotherapy (CCRT) may give a solution to overcome the anatomical difficulties. We compared the results of laparoscopic surgery in the patients who received CCRT with those of patients who had conventional surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A continuous infusion of 5FU plus leucovorin and radiotherapy (50.4 Gy) in 28 fractions was given each patient as CCRT. They underwent D2 radical resection with TME and ANP for the rectal cancer in 4 weeks. RESULTS: Thirty three patients had laparoscopic resection such as LAR, colo-anal anastomosis and APR. The results were compared with 12 cases of the conventional resections. As a result of preoperative CCRT, the cancer was down-staged in 71%. Two year disease free survival was 75% and 74% in the group of conventional and laparoscopic resection, respectively (p=0.427). Ileus, voiding difficulty and leakage after surgery were not different between two groups. Weakness of ejaculation was noted in 9~11% of both groups. The DFS of the preoperative CCRT followed by radical resection in the groups with a response was more favorable than that in the group with progressive or stable disease. CONCLUSION: Radical resection of advanced distal rectal cancer could be done with performing a laparoscopic assisted operation after CCRT induced down-staging. We may suggest that laparoscopic assisted resection is a good treatment option as it doesn't increase the complications and it has a compatible survival rate to conventional surgery.