Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy is Associated with Worse 5-Year Overall Survival in Patients with Metaplastic Breast Cancer Compared with Primary Surgery: A National Cancer Database Analysis.

BACKGROUND

Metaplastic breast carcinoma (MpBC) is a rare breast cancer subtype frequently exhibiting triple-negative receptor status and poor response to chemotherapy. The optimal treatment sequence for MpBC remains unclear. This study evaluated overall survival (OS) in MpBC patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) versus upfront surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy using the National Cancer Database (NCDB).

METHODS

A retrospective cohort analysis was performed using the NCDB to identify patients with stage I-III MpBC diagnosed from 2010 to 2019 who received either NACT followed by surgery or upfront surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients with metastatic disease or missing survival data were excluded. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate OS. Primary endpoints included pathologic complete response (pCR), breast conservation rate, and 5-year OS.

RESULTS

Of 5136 patients, 3491 (67.9%) underwent upfront surgery and 1645 (32.1%) received NACT. The 5-year OS was significantly better in patients treated with upfront surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] 0.556, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.464-0.667; p < 0.0001). The pCR rate was 4.92%. Patients receiving NACT had a lower breast conservation rate than those undergoing upfront surgery (33.25% vs. 49.53%; p < 0.0001). Adjuvant chest wall radiation was associated with improved OS (HR 0.641, 95% CI 0.536-0.766, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

NACT was associated with worse OS in MpBC, likely due to its chemotherapy-resistant biology and low pCR rate. For patients with resectable MpBC, upfront surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation may offer better outcomes. Further research is needed to clarify the role of immunotherapy and advance systemic treatment strategies.