Key clinical point: Overall incidence of nodal disease was lower in patients with clinical T1-T2 (cT1-cT2)N0M0, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer (BC) who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) vs surgery.
Major finding: Incidence of nodal disease was ~20% in patients with cT1-cT2N0 BC who underwent upfront surgery, which increased to ~25% in patients with cT1c tumors, but was ~10% in patients with cT1-cT2N0 BC who received NAC. Receipt of NAC was significantly associated with a decreased risk for nodal positivity (adjusted odds ratio 0.411; P = .014).
Study details: Findings are from an analysis of two international cohorts including patients with cT1-cT2N0M0 HER2+ BC.
Disclosures: This study was funded by the US National Cancer Institute and other sources. The authors declared receiving fees, grants, or research funding, or having other ties with several sources.
Source: Weiss A et al. Nodal positivity and systemic therapy among patients with clinical T1-T2N0 human epidermal growth factor receptor-positive breast cancer: Results from two international cohorts. Cancer. 2023 (Mar 23). Doi: 10.1002/cncr.34750