Brain metastases after achieving local pathological complete responses with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
BACKGROUND
We encountered two patients with inflammatory breast carcinoma who developed symptomatic brain metastases after achieving local pathological complete responses (pCR) with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).


METHODS
The first patient is a 39-year-old woman (Case 1), who underwent NAC with AC (doxorubicin + cyclophosphamide)followed by weekly paclitaxel. After achieving a clinical CR (cCR), we conducted a modified radical mastectomy. Pathological evaluation confirmed no residual malignant cells within the breast tissue or lymph nodes. However, she developed neurological symptoms from brain metastases one month postoperatively. The second patient is a 44-year-old woman (Case 2). Again, no residual malignant cells were detected within the breast tissue or lymph nodes following NAC, but the patient developed symptomatic brain metastases eight months postoperatively. When primary breast tumors are locally advanced, it may be worthwhile to rule out brain metastases even if pCR is obtained after NAC.
Tsukamoto
Shunsuke
S
Breast Surgery Division, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Akashi-Tanaka
Sadako
S
Shien
Tadahiko
T
Terada
Kotoe
K
Kinoshita
Takayuki
T
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008408:Mastectomy; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012074:Remission Induction
D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D017239:Paclitaxel