Study of response of axillary lymph nodal metastases toneoadjuvant chemotherapy in carcinoma breast

Abstract

Background and aim of the study: Our study aims to evaluate pathological response in axillary lymph nodes with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Absence of invasive disease in breast and axilla after completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on histological examination was taken as pathological complete response (pCR). Absence of invasive disease in axilla after completion of chemotherapy on histological examination was taken as pathological complete response in axilla. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on breast cancer patients who were treated at MNJ Institute of Oncology and Regional Cancer Centre for a period of 22 months. A total of 55 with operable breast cancer and cytologically proven axillary lymph node metastases and subsequently received neoadjuvant chemotherapy were considered for this study. All these patients were registered in our hospital and were followed prospectively. Of them, 2 patients defaulted chemotherapy, 3 patients did not visit hospital after completion of chemotherapy and 1patient died due to reason other than carcinoma breast and all these patients were excluded from the study. Results:In this study, we had pathological complete response in breast and axilla in 24.5% of the study population.