Abstract PO1-09-11: Racial Differences in Pathologic Complete Response Rate and Overall Survival Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
Authors: Chad Livasy, Erin Donahue, Brittany Neelands, Lejla Hadzikadic-Gusic, Terry Sarantou, Mckenzie Needham, Alicia Patrick, Arielle Heeke, Antoinette Tan, Richard White
Journal: Cancer Research (2024)

Abstract Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is increasingly used in the treatment of breast cancer and has been utilized in multiple clinical trials assessing the efficacy of novel therapies. Pathologic complete response (pCR) following NAC is associated with improved survival outcomes in breast cancer and pCR is a commonly used endpoint in clinical trials. Despite improvements in breast cancer survival using modern treatment regimens, Black women continue to experience worse survival outcomes as compared to White women. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between race and clinical outcomes, specifically pCR rate, recurrence free survival and overall survival, in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy at our institution. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients who completed at least 75% of the recommended cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer between 2010 and 2016 and underwent surgery. Receptor subtypes were defined as HR+/HER2-negative, HER2+ or triple-negative. The association between race and pCR, defined as ypT0/ypTis ypN0, and survival endpoints of overall survival and recurrence free survival were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models. Results: A total of 532 women met the inclusion criteria, 323 (60.7%) were White, 188 (35.3%) were Black and 21 (3.9%) were other/unknown. Median follow-up was 65 months. The receptor subgroups consisted of 195 (36.7%) HR+/HER2-negative cancers, 193 (36.3%) HER2+ cancers and 144 (27.1%) triple-negative cancers. No significant association between race and receptor subtype (p=0.55) or pre-treatment clinical stage (p=0.96) was observed. The overall observed pCR rate was 19% for Black patients and 27% for White patients, demonstrating a significantly different pCR rate by race in multivariate analysis (odds ratio of pCR White vs Black of 1.75; p=0.02). The largest discrepancy in pCR rate between White and Black patients was within subjects with triple-negative disease (pCR rate 44% White patients vs 27% Black patients, p=0.03). There was no association between recurrence free survival and race in univariate analysis (p=0.15). A significant difference in overall survival by race was observed using multivariable Cox proportions hazard model (hazard ratio Black vs White 1.77; p=0.03). Conclusions: In this retrospective analysis of patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy, Black patients experienced a significantly lower pCR rate compared to White patients, with the biggest gap identified within triple-negative breast cancers. During the study period, Black patients also experienced a lower overall survival rate compared to White patients. Differences in the ability to achieve a pCR may be a contributing factor to the worse survival outcomes of Black patients. Citation Format: Chad Livasy, Erin Donahue, Brittany Neelands, Lejla Hadzikadic-Gusic, Terry Sarantou, Mckenzie Needham, Alicia Patrick, Arielle Heeke, Antoinette Tan, Richard White. Racial Differences in Pathologic Complete Response Rate and Overall Survival Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO1-09-11.