121P Can axillary surgery be avoided in patients with breast pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant systemic therapy? A real-world study in China

Abstract

Some breast cancer patients can achieve pathologic complete response (pCR) for breast and/or axillary lymph node after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST). If the breast achieved pCR confirmed by extensive biopsy, the necessity of breast surgery has been questioned. Whereas, the appropriate management of the axilla in breast pCR patients is rarely studied. This cohort study was designed to retrospectively evaluate the status of axillary lymph nodes in relation to breast pCR and identify patients who may be eligible for omission of axillary surgery.