The odds of achieving pathologic complete response (pCR) and improved overall survival (OS) among patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy may vary based on race/ethnicity. A retrospective cohort study revealed that Black women with TNBC were less likely to achieve pCR compared to white women, while Hispanic women were more likely to achieve pCR. This emphasizes the importance of considering racial differences when determining treatment strategies for TNBC patients.
Impact of Achieving pCR on Overall Survival
Unadjusted overall survival was significantly higher for patients who achieved pCR compared to those with residual disease. However, the effect of achieving pCR on overall survival did not differ by race/ethnicity. This suggests that while achieving pCR is crucial for improving survival outcomes, other factors such as race/ethnicity may also play a role in determining overall survival in TNBC patients.
The study highlighted the need to understand the influences, including biological factors, that contribute to the observed differences in outcomes among TNBC patients of different racial backgrounds. It was noted that certain races may have varying responsiveness to standard treatments, indicating the necessity for further research to identify more effective therapies for these patients. The study also raised questions about potential biological differences that may impact treatment responses based on race.
Implications for Future Research
The study served as a hypothesis-generating investigation into the differences in treatment response based on race among TNBC patients. The findings indicated that there is a significant disparity in treatment response based on race, prompting the need for further exploration into the underlying biological mechanisms driving these differences. This research opens the door for future studies to delve deeper into the specific factors contributing to treatment response variations among TNBC patients of different racial backgrounds.
The study analyzed data from a large cohort of TNBC patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery. The findings were based on information collected from 40,890 patients with stage I-III TNBC from the National Cancer Database spanning from 2010 to 2019. The demographic breakdown of the study population revealed varying rates of pCR achievement among different racial groups, with age and income level also playing a role in overall survival outcomes.
The study highlighted the disparities in achieving pathologic complete response among TNBC patients based on race/ethnicity. While achieving pCR is crucial for improving overall survival, the study’s findings underscored the need to consider racial differences in treatment strategies for TNBC patients. Further research into the biological factors contributing to treatment response variations based on race is essential for developing more personalized and effective therapies for TNBC patients of diverse racial backgrounds.
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