Association of T-cadherin levels with the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced breast cancer

PURPOSE To examine the association of T-cadherin with pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer. RESULTS T-cadherin expression before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was similar (P = 0.162). The multivariable analysis indicated that negative T-cadherin expression was independently associated with pCR after neoadjuvant TAC chemotherapy (P = 0.001). MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 136 patients with locally advanced breast cancer received four cycles of neoadjuvant TAC chemotherapy (docetaxel + epirubicin + cyclophosphamide), followed by surgery. T-cadherin, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), HER-2, and Ki-67 were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The association between T-cadherin expression and pCR after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was analyzed using multivariable logistic analysis. CONCLUSIONS Negative T-cadherin expression before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer was similar. T-cadherin could be considered an independent factor associated with the efficacy of such therapy.