Research Article

The Role of Radiotherapy for Patients with Unresectable Locally Advanced Breast Cancer following Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy

Table 1

Patient characteristics at time of primary diagnosis and comparison between DRT and NART subgroups.

ParametersTotalDRT (n = 45)NART (n = 26)
No. (%)No. (%)No. (%)

Median age (range) (years)50 (26–74)48 (30–74)53 (26–72)

Menopausal statusPre/peri38 (53.5)25 (55.6)13 (50.0)0.640
Post32 (45.1)19 (42.2)13 (50.0)
Male1 (1.4)1 (2.2)0 (0.0)

LateralityLeft37 (52.1)25 (55.6)12 (46.2)0.445
Right34 (47.9)20 (44.4)14 (53.8)

cTcT12 (2.8)2 (4.4)0 (0.0)0.002
cT29 (12.7)8 (17.8)1 (3.8)
cT315 (21.1)14 (31.1)1 (3.8)
cT445 (63.4)21 (46.7)24 (92.3)
cT4d27 (38.0)13 (28.9)14 (53.8)

cNcN03 (4.2)2 (4.4)1 (3.8)0.066
cN114 (19.7)5 (11.1)9 (34.6)
cN217 (23.9)10 (22.2)7 (26.9)
cN337 (52.1)28 (62.2)9 (34.6)

Site of regional nodesNone3 (4.2)2 (4.4)1 (3.8)0.241
ALN30 (42.3)16 (35.6)14 (53.8)
SCV1 (1.4)0 (0.0)1 (3.8)
ALN + SCV25 (35.2)19 (42.2)6 (23.1)
ALN + IMN9 (12.7)5 (11.1)4 (15.4)
ALN + SCV + IMN3 (4.2)3 (6.7)0 (0.0)

cMcM062 (87.3)36 (80.0)26 (100.0)0.015
cM1 (bone)9 (12.7)9 (20.0)0 (0.0)

Clinical TNM stage (pre-treatment)IIIA3 (4.2)3 (6.7)0 (0.0)0.001
IIIB27 (38.0)10 (22.2)17 (65.4)
IIIC32 (45.1)23 (51.1)9 (34.6)
IV9 (12.7)9 (20.0)0 (0.0)

Biologic subtypeLuminal A10 (14.1)8 (17.8)2 (7.7)0.290
Luminal B15 (21.1)11 (24.4)4 (15.4)
HER2-overexpressed15 (21.1)10 (22.2)5 (19.2)
Triple-negative31 (43.7)16 (35.6)15 (57.7)

DRT = definitive radiotherapy; NART = neoadjuvant radiotherapy; ALN = axillary lymph nodes; SCV = supraclavicular; ICV = infraclavicular; IMN = internal mammary nodes.