Neoadjuvant Endocrine Therapy as an Alternative to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Among Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Patients: Pathologic and Surgical Outcomes

Background Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) is considered more effective in downstaging hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer than neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET), particularly in node-positive disease. This study compared breast and axillary response and survival after NCT and NET in HR+ breast cancer. Methods Based on American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG) Z1031 criteria, women age 50 years or older with cT2-4 HR+ breast cancer who underwent NET or NCT and surgery were identified in the National Cancer Database 2010-2016. Chi-square and logistic regression analysis determined differences between the NCT and NET groups and therapy response, including downstaging and pathologic complete response (pCR, ypT0/is and ypN0). Results Of 19,829 patients, 14,025 (70.7%) received NCT and 5804 (29.3%) received NET. The NET patients were older (mean age, 68.9 vs. 60.3; P < 0.001) and had greater comorbidity (1+ Charlson-Deyo score, 21% vs. 16%; P < 0.001). Therapy achieved T downstaging (any) for 58% of the patients with NCT versus 40.5% of the patients with NET, and in-breast pCR was achieved for 9.3% of the NCT versus 1.3% of the NET patients (P < 0.001). Approximately half of the mastectomy procedures could have been potentially avoided for the patients with in-breast pCR (53.6% of the NCT and 43.8% of the NET patients). For the cN+ patients, N downstaging (any) was 29% for the NCT patients versus 18.3% for the NET patients (P < 0.001), and nodal pCR was achieved for 20.3% of the NCT versus 13.5% of the NET patients (P < 0.001). Among those with nodal pCR, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) still was performed for 56% of the patients after NCT and 45% of the patients after NET. Conclusions Although the response rates after NCT were higher, NET achieved both T and N downstaging and pCR. Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy can be used to de-escalate surgery for patients who cannot tolerate NCT or when chemotherapy may not be effective based on genomic testing.