Safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Preoperative systemic therapy (PST) including neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer (BC) is used nowadays on a large scale especially in aggressive BC subtypes. The use of NAC in BC may be associated with some safety issues and hazards including possible increased rate of locoregional recurrence, inadequate staging with subsequent over or under-treatment, and surgical complications. Areas covered: This review article aims to discuss these concerns and to clarify the adequate steps and procedures needed to increase safety and alleviate the possible drawbacks of NAC. The author will discuss the adequate and meticulous technical procedures needed to stage and localize the breast tumor, detect any affected axillary lymph node, improve the accuracy and safety of doing sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) after NAC, estimate the tumor response to NAC to determine the extent of surgery, and enhance the precise documentation of pCR. Expert opinion: The use of breast MRI, image-detectable clips in the tumor bed, dual technique during SLNB, and target axillary dissection are among the required steps to maintain safety. In the future, ongoing prospective trials will allow us to select patients who can safely avoid breast and/or axillary surgery after systemic therapy.