超声及钼靶对乳腺癌新辅助化疗后腋窝淋巴结状态的诊断价值评估

目的:评估乳腺癌新辅助化疗(neoadjuvant chemotherapy,NAC)后腋窝淋巴结的变化,探讨超声及钼靶在NAC疗效评价中的应用价值。方法:对我院176例经穿刺病理证实为腋窝淋巴结转移的乳腺癌患者行NAC,所有患者NAC前后均行彩超与钼靶检查,对比两种检查的灵敏度、特异度及准确率。评价NAC后腋窝淋巴结的状态,并评估临床缓解与病理完全缓解（pathological complete response,pCR）的相关性。结果:NAC后超声、钼靶及两者联合评估的灵敏度分别为:79.4%、76.6%、86.5%;特异度分别为:68.6%、51.4%、71.4%;准确率分别为:77.3%、71.6%、83.5%;较NAC前超声、钼靶及两者联合评估的灵敏度、特异度及准确率明显下降,阳性预测价值最高的为两者联合检查（92.4%）。NAC后超声图像评估44例达到临床完全缓解,其中25（25/44,56.8%）例患者经病理证实达到pCR,NAC后超声检查评估pCR的灵敏度为71.4%,特异度为86.5%,准确率为83.5%。结论:超声诊断NAC后腋窝淋巴结转移较钼靶诊断灵敏度、特异度及准确率高,具有重要的临床诊断价值,但尚存局限性,对手术及术后治疗的指导性仍需进一步研究。     

腋淋巴结转移阳性乳腺癌新辅助化疗临床意义的探讨

目的:探讨新辅助化疗对经细针针吸活检证实有腋窝淋巴结癌转移局部晚期乳腺癌的影响.方法:111例局部晚期乳腺癌经细针针吸活检确诊有腋窝淋巴结癌转移且空心针穿刺确诊为浸润性乳腺癌,接受≥2个周期标准剂量新辅助化疗后手术治疗.根据新辅助化疗后不同的腋窝淋巴结临床疗效和腋窝淋巴结病理状况,分组进行生存分析.结果:新辅助化疗后,腋窝淋巴结临床完全缓解(cCR)占60.4%(67/111),其中腋窝淋巴结病理完全缓解(pCR)占29.9%(20/67);未临床完全缓解(no-cCR)占39.6%(44/111),其中PeR占36.4%(16/44).中位随访时间为65个月(13～76个月).cCR与no-cCR两组的无病生存时间(DFS)和总生存时间(OS)差异均无统计学意义,P值分别为0.182和0.984.pCR患者具有较长DFS和OS,P值分别为0.036和0.038.pCR患者中,肿瘤原发灶pCR与no-pCR患者的DFS和OS差异均无统计学意义,P值分别为0.204和0.250.结论:对病理学确诊有腋窝淋巴结癌转移的局部晚期乳腺癌患者,单纯根据临床体检结合常规的腋窝B超检查评价腋窝淋巴结的临床疗效,可能难以准确地预测腋窝淋巴结的病理缓解状况和预后.腋窝淋巴结pCR患者的预后较好,与肿瘤原发灶是否达到pCR无关.     

结合超声特征的腋窝淋巴结阳性乳腺癌新辅助化疗后腋窝病理完全缓解的预测模型

摘 要：［目的］ 分析经空芯针穿刺活检证实腋窝淋巴结阳性乳腺癌患者新辅助化疗（neoadjuvant chemotherapy,NAC）后腋窝病理完全缓解(pathological complete response,pCR)率及其影响因素,并整合超声影像特征与已知的临床病理特征建立预测模型,为新辅助化疗后乳腺癌患者腋窝处理的降级提供信息。［方法］ 回顾性分析哈尔滨医科大学附属肿瘤医院2017年1月至2018年12月入院接受NAC的481例乳腺癌患者的临床病理资料及超声影像特征,使用Logistic回归模型对临床病理特征及超声特征与NAC后腋窝淋巴结pCR的关系进行单因素及多因素分析,采用多因素分析中具有独立预测作用的指标构建新辅助化疗后腋窝pCR的预测列线图,并采用受试者工作特征（receiver operating characteristic,ROC）曲线及Bootstrapping法对此模型进行验证与校准。［结果］ 在481例患者中有147例(30.6%)实现了腋窝pCR。 单因素分析显示分子分型、乳腺原发灶临床疗效、淋巴结皮髓质分界是否清晰、彩色多谱勒血流图是否存在血流信号、淋巴结长径、淋巴结短径与腋窝pCR相关。多因素分析显示分子分型、乳腺原发灶临床疗效、CDFI血流信号、淋巴结短径是腋窝pCR的独立预测因素。与单独使用临床病理特征的预测模型相比,该模型具有良好的识别性能（ROC曲线下面积,0.784 vs 0.694,P<0.001）。［结论］ 结合超声特征的腋窝淋巴结阳性乳腺癌新辅助化疗后腋窝pCR的预测模型提高了仅应用临床病理特征的模型的预测能力,为NAC后选择合适的患者进行侵入性较小的腋窝手术方式提供了参考依据。     

超声和钼靶X线对乳腺癌患者腋窝淋巴结转移的诊断价值

目的探讨超声和钼靶X线对乳腺癌患者腋窝淋巴结转移的诊断价值,为临床是否选择前哨淋巴结活检(SLNB)提供指导。方法选择532例行SLNB并经术后病理检查确诊的原发性乳腺癌患者,所有患者术前均接受乳腺超声和乳腺钼靶X线检查,分析乳腺超声、乳腺钼靶X线征象与腋窝淋巴结转移的关系。以病理诊断结果为金标准,分析乳腺超声、乳腺钼靶X线及SLNB对腋窝淋巴结转移的诊断价值。结果532例患者中,腋窝淋巴结转移272例,未转移260例。乳腺超声检查结果显示,腋窝淋巴结转移和未转移乳腺癌患者的肿块直径、边界情况、淋巴结长短径之比、乳腺影像报告及数据系统(BI-RADS)分级比较,差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.01)。乳腺钼靶X线检查结果显示,腋窝淋巴结转移的乳腺癌患者恶性钙化的发生率明显高于腋窝淋巴结未转移的患者,差异有统计学意义(P﹤0.01)。以病理诊断结果为金标准,SLNB诊断腋窝淋巴结转移的灵敏度和特异度最高,分别为93.01%和97.31%,其次是乳腺超声,其灵敏度和特异度分别为84.93%和92.69%,乳腺钼靶X线诊断腋窝淋巴结转移的灵敏度和特异度最低,分别为49.63%和71.54%。结论腋窝淋巴结转移和未转移乳腺癌患者的乳腺超声和乳腺钼靶X线征象具有一定的差异。乳腺超声和乳腺钼靶X线对腋窝淋巴结转移具有一定的诊断价值,且对是否选择SLNB具有指导意义。     

乳腺钼靶检查在乳腺癌新辅助化疗疗效评估中的价值

目的对乳腺癌新辅助化疗(NAC)前后乳腺钼靶X线征象进行观察分析,以评价其在疗效评估中的应用价值。方法对比分析21例NAC后的乳癌肿块及腋窝淋巴结的大小、形态、钙化和密度等钼靶X线表现。结果 21例乳癌肿块均较NAC前缩小,4例肿块呈局限性密度减低,20例肿块形态发生改变;9例钙化的形态和数目无明显变化,但钙化的范围较前缩小;9例腋窝淋巴结缩小及密度减低。结论新辅助化疗后乳腺癌肿块的钼靶摄影X线征象均有所变化,乳腺钼靶检查可以用来评估NAC的疗效。     

超声结合临床特征基于166例乳腺癌新辅助化疗后腋窝淋巴结评估中的预测价值分析

[目的]探讨超声结合临床特征在乳腺癌新辅助化疗（neoadjuvant chemotherapy,NAC）后腋窝淋巴结状态的预测价值。[方法]回顾性总结2020年6月至2021年10月浙江省肿瘤医院166例初诊乳腺癌且有腋窝淋巴结转移病例,使用Logistic回归模型对临床病理及超声特征与NAC后腋窝淋巴结病理完全缓解(pathological complete response,pCR)的关系进行单因素与多因素分析,建立预测模型,绘制受试者工作特征（receiver operating characteristic,ROC）曲线并得出曲线下面积（area under curve,AUC）。[结果]166例乳腺癌患者中,61例经NAC后实现腋窝淋巴结pCR,单因素与多因素分析发现NAC后腋窝淋巴结纵横比值>2、淋巴结皮质厚度≤3 mm,乳腺癌分子分型为三阴性型与HER2阳性型、乳腺癌原发灶临床疗效达完全缓解和腋窝淋巴结pCR显著相关(P<0.05)。与单独使用临床病理或超声特征的预测模型相比,超声结合临床病理特征预测模型具有良好的识别性能（AUC为0.88,灵敏度为78.7...     

乳腺钼靶检查在乳腺癌新辅助化疗疗效评估中的价值

目的对乳腺癌新辅助化疗（NAC）前后乳腺钼靶X线征象进行观察分析,以评价其在疗效评估中的应用价值。方法对比分析21例NAC后的乳癌肿块及腋窝淋巴结的大小、形态、钙化和密度等钼靶X线表现。结果21例乳癌肿块均较NAC前缩小,4例肿块呈局限性密度减低,20例肿块形态发生改变;9例钙化的形态和数目无明显变化,但钙化的范围较前缩小;9例腋窝淋巴结缩小及密度减低。结论新辅助化疗后乳腺癌肿块的钼靶摄影X线征象均有所变化,乳腺钼靶检查可以用来评估NAC的疗效。     

影像检查在乳腺肿块针吸细胞学诊断中的应用

目的:探讨钼靶摄片与B型超声波(B超)检查联合针吸细胞学检查诊断乳腺肿块的可靠性及对临床的指导意义.方法:选择有病理对照的104例乳房肿块患者,部分患者采用钼靶摄片及超声检查的影像学手段联合针吸细胞学,并将其结果与单一细胞学检查结果比较,评价钼靶摄片和超声检查与针吸细胞学联合检查的准确性.结果: 104例患者中联合钼靶摄片的细胞学诊断准确率为95.2%,联合超声检查的细胞学诊断准确率为90.9%,单一的细胞学诊断准确率为80%.假阳性未见.结论: 通过钼靶摄片及超声检查的影像学手段与细针穿刺细胞学联合诊断较为可靠,对术前诊断有一定的指导意义,但应结合实际情况选择合适的联合检查模式.     

经皮注射超声造影对乳腺癌前哨淋巴结的显像及转移的诊断价值

目的 探讨经皮注射超声造影剂Sono Vue对乳腺癌腋窝前哨淋巴结的显像效果及转移的诊断价值.方法 2011年1月至2012年12月对超声检查疑似乳腺癌的患者,经皮在肿块周边组织注射Sono Vue,观察其在淋巴管中的实时显像,确定前哨淋巴结(SLN),根据SLN的显像强度判断其良恶性.体表定标SLN,术中单独分离并送快速病理检查,后常规方法行乳腺癌改良根治术.结果 共入组26例患者,其中25例腋窝显示淋巴结回声,11例疑似转移.术后病理结果显示,24例前哨淋巴结与腋窝淋巴结完全符合,12例转移,SLN显像成功率为92.30%(24/26),良恶性灵敏度为91.67%(11/12).结论 经皮行乳腺肿块周围组织内注射超声造影剂可显示淋巴管和淋巴结,成为探测乳腺癌前哨淋巴结的方法之一,且对判断是否转移有一定诊断价值.     

乳腺癌新辅助化疗后前哨淋巴结活检意义的前瞻性研究

目的:探讨乳腺癌患者新辅助化疗(NAC)后腋窝前哨淋巴结活检的可行性.方法:采用99Tc硫胶体联合亚甲蓝示踪法对60例NAC后达到临床腋淋巴结阴性的乳腺癌患者和60例临床腋淋巴结阴性的早期乳腺癌患者进行腋窝前哨淋巴结活检术(SLNB),评估SLNB的检出率和准确性,比较两组患者SLNB的检出率和假阴性率,并分析NAC后SLNB检出率和假阴性率与患者及肿瘤特点的关系.结果:60例NAC后患者的前哨淋巴结(SLN)检出率为90%,SLNB的敏感度为90%,特异度为93.33%,准确性为91.67%,假阴性率为10%.其检出率和假阴性率与早期乳腺癌组比较,差异均无统计学意义(P=0.743,P=1.000).NAC组化疗前临床分期T3或N2以上者,腋淋巴结的检出率均显著下降,差异有统计学意义(P=0.030,P=0.000),分期N2以上者假阴性率显著增高,差异有统计学意义,P=0.001.结论:对NAC后达到临床淋巴结阴性的乳腺癌患者,腋窝SLN的检出率和假阴性率与早期乳腺癌SLNB差异无统计学意义,化疗前的TN分期是SLNB检出率和假阴性影响因素.     

乳腺癌新辅助化疗疗效的评价及影响因素分析

目的分析不同评价方法评估乳腺癌新辅助化疗疗效的价值,探讨化疗疗效的影响因素。方法对171例Ⅱ、Ⅲ期可手术乳腺癌患者分别行CEF、NE和TEC方案新辅助化疗。完成2个周期化疗者11例,3个周期者111例,≥4个周期者49例。采用触诊、超声和病理学方法评价疗效。化疗效果影响因素的判定采用单因素分析和多因素Logistic回归分析方法。结果触诊评价完全缓解（CR）32例（18．7％）,总有效率为88．3％。超声评价CR7例（4．1％）,总有效率为74．9％。病理组织学评价CR26例（15．2％）。触诊和超声评价与病理组织学评价的CR符合率分别为43．8％和42．9％。多因素分析结果表明,肿瘤大小是影响乳腺癌新辅助化疗病理CR的独立因素。结论化疗疗效的临床评价与病理组织学评价缺乏很好的一致性,触诊和超声评价CR易高估和低估。肿瘤大小是影响乳腺癌新辅助化疗病理CR的独立因素,肿块不易达到病理CR。     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy

BACKGROUND: We surveyed single-center and multi-center studies pertaining to sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy to compare the results with those of our current study to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of SLNB after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: From October 2001 to July 2003, 80 patients who had neoadjuvant chemotherapy underwent curative surgery and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) after SLNB at the Center for Breast Cancer, National Cancer Center. A MEDLINE search was performed using the keywords breast cancer, sentinel lymph node biopsy, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: Our results showed that 42 (52.6%) of 80 patients had downstaging of the primary tumor; 9 patients (11.3%) had pathologic complete response (pCR) and 33 (41.3%) had pathologic partial response (pPR). 26 patients (32.5%) showed complete axillary clearance after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Among them, 5 patients (6.3%) revealed pCR of both the primary tumor and axillary metastasis. SLNB was successful in 61 of 80 patients (76.3%) and there were 3 false negatives, yielding a false negative rate (FNR) of 7.3% (3/41), a negation prediction value (NPV) of 87.0%(20/23), and an accuracy of 95.1% (58/61). Thirteen out of 16 studies retrieved by to MEDLINE pertaining SLNB after neoadjuvant chemotherapy concluded its feasibility and accuracy with a identification rate of 82%-100% and a FNR of 17-100%. CONCLUSION: Most studies, including ours, concluded that SLNB after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is accurate and could be an alternative to ALND.     

Imaging and Clinicopathologic Features Associated With Pathologic Complete Response in HER2-positive Breast Cancer Receiving Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy With Dual HER2 Blockade

BackgroundIn human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2⁺) breast cancer, the incorporation of a dual HER2 blockade into neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has been shown to induce a higher rate of pathologic complete response (pCR). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether pretreatment imaging and clinicopathologic features show any association with pCR in HER2⁺ breast cancer receiving NAC plus dual blockade.Materials and MethodsThis retrospective study evaluated 94 consecutive patients (mean age, 49.8 ± 9.9 years) with HER2⁺ breast cancer who underwent NAC plus dual blockade with trastuzumab and pertuzumab between April 2016 and June 2018. All patients underwent mammography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging prior to NAC. Clinicopathologic and imaging features acquired before NAC were evaluated for their ability to predict the pathologic response after surgery. Multivariate analysis was used to identify independent predictors of pCR.ResultsFifty patients (53.2%) showed pCR and 44 (46.8%) did not. According to a univariate analysis, fine pleomorphic/fine linear or linear-branching calcification morphology on mammography, parallel orientation on ultrasound, intratumoral high signal intensity on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, progesterone receptor negativity, and high levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were associated with pCR. On multivariate analysis, fine pleomorphic/fine linear or linear-branching calcification morphology on mammography (odds ratio [OR], 7.23), progesterone receptor negativity (OR, 6.76), and a high tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte level (OR, 5.92) remained significant independent factors associated with pCR.ConclusionSeveral pretreatment imaging and clinicopathologic features were shown to be independent variables predicting pCR in patients with HER2⁺ breast cancer receiving NAC with dual blockade.     

Clinical and pathological predictors of recurrence in breast cancer patients achieving pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy

IntroductionDespite the excellent prognosis associated with pathological complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), some patients still develop recurrence. Here, we investigated the outcomes of breast cancer patients with pCR, as well as the clinical and pathological predictors of cancer recurrence in these patients.Materials and methodsOf the 1599 breast cancer patients treated with NAC, we evaluated 394 patients who achieved pCR between January 2007 and December 2016. pCR was defined as no evidence of invasive cancer in breast. Residual in situ ductal and axillary lymph node diseases were not considered. We analyzed the outcomes using the Kaplan–Meier method. We assessed the association of clinical and pathological predictors with cancer recurrence using the cox proportional hazards regression model.ResultsThe median follow-up time was 63 months. The 5-year disease-free survival rate was 92.3%. Cancer recurrence was observed in 28 patients (7.1%): local recurrence 8 patients (2.0%), visceral metastasis 10 patients (2.5%), and brain metastasis 10 patients (2.5%). Brain metastases were found in patients with HER2 type breast cancer. The significant predictors of cancer recurrence were HER2 positivity (p = 0.04), clinical tumor size (p < 0.01), and lymph node metastasis (p < 0.01) before NAC on univariate analysis and only lymph node metastasis on multivariate analysis.ConclusionPatients achieving pCR to NAC showed excellent outcomes. Advanced clinical stage, large tumor size, presence of lymph node metastasis, and HER2 positivity before NAC were identified as significant predictors of cancer recurrence. Residual in situ ductal and lymph node diseases after NAC were not significant predictors.     

Cytologically proven axillary lymph node metastases are eradicated in patients receiving preoperative chemotherapy with concurrent trastuzumab for HER2‐positive breast cancer

BACKGROUND:

The axillary pathologic complete response rate (pCR) and the effect of axillary pCR on disease‐free survival (DFS) was determined in patients with HER2‐positive breast cancer and biopsy‐proven axillary lymph node metastases who were receiving concurrent trastuzumab and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy is reported to result in pCR in the breast and axilla in up to 25% of patients. Patients achieving a pCR have improved DFS and overall survival. To the authors' knowledge, the rate of eradication of biopsy‐proven axillary lymph node metastases with trastuzumab‐containing neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens has not been previously reported.

METHODS:

Records were reviewed of 109 consecutive patients with HER2‐positive breast cancer and axillary metastases confirmed by ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration biopsy who received trastuzumab‐containing neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by breast surgery with complete axillary lymph node dissection. Survival was evaluated by the Kaplan‐Meier method. Clinicopathologic factors and DFS were compared between patients with and without axillary pCR.

RESULTS:

Eighty‐one patients (74%) achieved a pCR in the axilla. Axillary pCR was not associated with age, estrogen receptor status, grade, tumor size, initial N classification, or median number of lymph nodes removed. More patients with an axillary pCR also achieved a pCR in the breast (78% vs 25%; P < .001). At a median follow‐up of 29.1 months, DFS was significantly greater in the axillary pCR group (P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS:

Trastuzumab‐containing neoadjuvant chemotherapy appears to be effective in eradicating axillary lymph node metastases in the majority of patients treated. Patients who achieve an axillary pCR are reported to have improved DFS. The success of pCR with concurrent trastuzumab and chemotherapy in eradicating lymph node metastases has implications for surgical management of the axilla in these patients. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.     

Review of Novel Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Techniques in Breast Cancer Patients Treated With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Breast cancer patients who present with nodal metastasis receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with increasing frequency and can have complete pathologic response after treatment. In this clinical scenario, sentinel node mapping and biopsy are gaining acceptance instead of axillary dissection to avoid morbidity. Biopsy proven positive lymph nodes must be reliably excised and examined after NAC to further decrease the false negativity rate of sentinel lymph node (SLN) surgery. The standard method for axillary staging in breast cancer patients even after NAC is SLN biopsy (SLNB) with a radioisotope, blue dye, or both (dual technique). Currently, preoperative axillary staging with ultrasound and biopsy, along with placement of an image-detectable marker to be removed at the time of definitive surgery is recommended. In this study, we evaluated some methods of SLNB for patients treated with NAC like indocyanine green fluorescence, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, indigocarmine blue dye, contrast-enhanced ultrasound using microbubbles, and tattooing. Some methods are also needed to ensure that the initially biopsy proven positive node is removed at the time of surgery to be carefully evaluated for residual disease after chemotherapy like clip placement to the suspected or involved nodes before NAC, and removing the clipped node with the guidance of 125I-labeled radioactive seed or guide wires.     

影像学预测乳腺癌患者预后及新辅助化疗反应的研究进展

在世界范围内,乳腺癌是女性发病率最高的恶性肿瘤,也是女性因癌症死亡的主要原因。新辅助化疗(Neoadjuvant chemotherapy,NAC)可以降低乳腺癌分期、缩小肿瘤,甚至使病灶达到病理完全缓解(Pathological complete response,pCR),在乳腺癌综合治疗中得到广泛应用。由于患者对治疗的反应各有差异,所以及时准确评估NAC疗效已成为临床医生关注并致力解决的重点。常规影像学检查手段如乳腺钼靶、超声、PET-CT和磁共振成像(MRI)已广泛用于乳腺癌NAC疗效的评估,且每种影像学检查各有优势和不足。本文就常规影像学检查用于预测乳腺癌患者预后及NAC疗效的研究进展进行综述。     

磁共振与超声评估乳腺癌患者新辅助化疗后病理完全缓解价值的比较

目的:比较磁共振增强成像（MRI）和超声检查（US）评估乳腺癌新辅助化疗后病理完全缓解(pCR)价值的研究。方法:收取2013年至2016年期间我院接受MRI和B超影像学随访、手术治疗和病理检查的75例乳腺癌患者。病理检查以及MRI和US的评估基于肿瘤的最长直径。结果:增强磁共振预测乳腺癌新辅助化疗患者pCR的敏感性为76.5%(13/17,95%CI 63%~84%),特异性和准确性为91.6%(44/48,95%CI 87%~94%)和76%(57/75,95%CI 70%~81%)。超声预测pCR的敏感性58.8%(10/17,95%CI 45%~67%),特异性和准确性为82.9%(34/41,95%CI 77%~91%)和58.6%(44/75,95%CI 42%~67%)。在影像检查和病理结果的一致性分析中,手术前MRI测量的肿瘤大小与病理学大小之间存在统计学上显著关系（P<0.005,CI:0.687）。这种相关关系在MRI测量中比在US中更强（P<0.001,CI:0.927）。结论:在接受新辅助化疗患者的术前pCR和肿瘤大小评估中,磁共振增强成像准确性优于超声,在病理反应分类的一致性明显高于超声。     

Predictors of Pathological Complete Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Iranian Breast Cancer Patients

Background: Achievement of pathologic complete response (pCR) in breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is associated with both overall survival and disease-free survival. The aim of present study was to identify clinical and pathological factors associated with achieving pCR in Iranian breast cancer patients receiving NAC. Methods: A retrospective review of all breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy between April 2012 and September 2016 at our institution was performed; 207 cases were evaluable for analysis. pCR was defined as having no residual invasive tumor in the breast surgical specimen removed following neoadjuvant therapy. Results: In univariate analysis, factors associated with pCR were age less than 35 years (p = 0.03), absence of Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) (p = 0.002) and negative hormone receptor status (p = 0.003). Hormone receptor status (P = 0.01; OR, 2.45; CI, 1.20 - 4.99) and LVI (P = 0.001; OR, 0.22; CI, 0.10 - 0.46) remained predictive variables in multivariate analysis after correction for the other variables. Conclusions: In conclusion, the results of this study suggests that presence of Lymphovascular invasion and positive hormone receptor status are associated with poorer response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.