Prognostic significance of receptor conversion following neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer: a systematic review & meta-analysis

Purpose: Receptor conversion following neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer may influence prognosis and adjuvant treatment decisions. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the prognostic significance of changes in hormone receptor (HR) and HER2 status after neoadjuvant therapy. Methods:...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gavin P. Dowling, Gordon R. Daly, Cian M. Hehir, Maen M. AlRawasdeh, Gavin G. Calpin, Sami Almasri, Sinead Toomey, Leonie S. Young, Bryan T. Hennessey, Arnold D.K. Hill
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Breast
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960977625005338
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849715526946783232
author Gavin P. Dowling
Gordon R. Daly
Cian M. Hehir
Maen M. AlRawasdeh
Gavin G. Calpin
Sami Almasri
Sinead Toomey
Leonie S. Young
Bryan T. Hennessey
Arnold D.K. Hill
author_facet Gavin P. Dowling
Gordon R. Daly
Cian M. Hehir
Maen M. AlRawasdeh
Gavin G. Calpin
Sami Almasri
Sinead Toomey
Leonie S. Young
Bryan T. Hennessey
Arnold D.K. Hill
author_sort Gavin P. Dowling
collection DOAJ
description Purpose: Receptor conversion following neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer may influence prognosis and adjuvant treatment decisions. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the prognostic significance of changes in hormone receptor (HR) and HER2 status after neoadjuvant therapy. Methods: This study was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A systematic search of the literature was conducted to identify studies assessing the prognostic effect of receptor conversion after neoadjuvant treatment in breast cancer. Studies reporting receptor status before and after neoadjuvant therapy, with associated survival outcomes, were included. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated using random-effects models. Results: Twenty-two studies (n = 5370) were included in this meta-analysis. HR gain demonstrated significantly improved DFS (HR 0.49, 95 % CI 0.25–0.97; p = 0.04), but no OS benefit. HR loss was associated with both significantly worse DFS (HR 3.42, 95 % CI 1.93–6.08; p < 0.001) and OS (HR 1.99, 95 % CI 1.04–3.84; p = 0.04). HER2 gain had a negative impact on DFS (HR 1.89, 95 % CI 1.00–3.58; p = 0.05), with no significant effect on OS. HER2 loss was associated with significantly poorer DFS (HR 1.92, 95 % CI 1.51–2.43; p < 0.001) and OS (HR 2.20, 95 % CI 1.44–3.38; p < 0.001). Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrates that receptor conversion following neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer significantly impacts survival outcomes. Specifically, gaining HR positivity is associated with improved DFS, while losing HR positivity correlates with worse DFS and OS. With regards to HER2, gaining positivity is associated with worse DFS, and losing positivity is associated with worse DFS and OS, compared to patients who maintain their initial status. These findings underscore the potential importance of reassessing receptor status after neoadjuvant therapy to tailor subsequent treatment decisions accurately.
format Article
id doaj-art-48ca8e90dae24de3b4b65c4eb9b2f295
institution DOAJ
issn 1532-3080
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Breast
spelling doaj-art-48ca8e90dae24de3b4b65c4eb9b2f2952025-08-20T03:13:21ZengElsevierBreast1532-30802025-08-018210451610.1016/j.breast.2025.104516Prognostic significance of receptor conversion following neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer: a systematic review &amp; meta-analysisGavin P. Dowling0Gordon R. Daly1Cian M. Hehir2Maen M. AlRawasdeh3Gavin G. Calpin4Sami Almasri5Sinead Toomey6Leonie S. Young7Bryan T. Hennessey8Arnold D.K. Hill9Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland; Medical Oncology Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; Corresponding author. Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), 123 St Stephen's Green, Dublin, Ireland.Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, IrelandMedical Oncology Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, IrelandMedical Oncology Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, IrelandPurpose: Receptor conversion following neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer may influence prognosis and adjuvant treatment decisions. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the prognostic significance of changes in hormone receptor (HR) and HER2 status after neoadjuvant therapy. Methods: This study was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A systematic search of the literature was conducted to identify studies assessing the prognostic effect of receptor conversion after neoadjuvant treatment in breast cancer. Studies reporting receptor status before and after neoadjuvant therapy, with associated survival outcomes, were included. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated using random-effects models. Results: Twenty-two studies (n = 5370) were included in this meta-analysis. HR gain demonstrated significantly improved DFS (HR 0.49, 95 % CI 0.25–0.97; p = 0.04), but no OS benefit. HR loss was associated with both significantly worse DFS (HR 3.42, 95 % CI 1.93–6.08; p < 0.001) and OS (HR 1.99, 95 % CI 1.04–3.84; p = 0.04). HER2 gain had a negative impact on DFS (HR 1.89, 95 % CI 1.00–3.58; p = 0.05), with no significant effect on OS. HER2 loss was associated with significantly poorer DFS (HR 1.92, 95 % CI 1.51–2.43; p < 0.001) and OS (HR 2.20, 95 % CI 1.44–3.38; p < 0.001). Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrates that receptor conversion following neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer significantly impacts survival outcomes. Specifically, gaining HR positivity is associated with improved DFS, while losing HR positivity correlates with worse DFS and OS. With regards to HER2, gaining positivity is associated with worse DFS, and losing positivity is associated with worse DFS and OS, compared to patients who maintain their initial status. These findings underscore the potential importance of reassessing receptor status after neoadjuvant therapy to tailor subsequent treatment decisions accurately.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960977625005338Breast cancerReceptor conversionHER2Hormone receptorNeoadjuvant therapyPrognosis
spellingShingle Gavin P. Dowling
Gordon R. Daly
Cian M. Hehir
Maen M. AlRawasdeh
Gavin G. Calpin
Sami Almasri
Sinead Toomey
Leonie S. Young
Bryan T. Hennessey
Arnold D.K. Hill
Prognostic significance of receptor conversion following neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer: a systematic review &amp; meta-analysis
Breast
Breast cancer
Receptor conversion
HER2
Hormone receptor
Neoadjuvant therapy
Prognosis
title Prognostic significance of receptor conversion following neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer: a systematic review &amp; meta-analysis
title_full Prognostic significance of receptor conversion following neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer: a systematic review &amp; meta-analysis
title_fullStr Prognostic significance of receptor conversion following neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer: a systematic review &amp; meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Prognostic significance of receptor conversion following neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer: a systematic review &amp; meta-analysis
title_short Prognostic significance of receptor conversion following neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer: a systematic review &amp; meta-analysis
title_sort prognostic significance of receptor conversion following neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer a systematic review amp meta analysis
topic Breast cancer
Receptor conversion
HER2
Hormone receptor
Neoadjuvant therapy
Prognosis
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960977625005338
work_keys_str_mv AT gavinpdowling prognosticsignificanceofreceptorconversionfollowingneoadjuvanttherapyinbreastcancerasystematicreviewampmetaanalysis
AT gordonrdaly prognosticsignificanceofreceptorconversionfollowingneoadjuvanttherapyinbreastcancerasystematicreviewampmetaanalysis
AT cianmhehir prognosticsignificanceofreceptorconversionfollowingneoadjuvanttherapyinbreastcancerasystematicreviewampmetaanalysis
AT maenmalrawasdeh prognosticsignificanceofreceptorconversionfollowingneoadjuvanttherapyinbreastcancerasystematicreviewampmetaanalysis
AT gavingcalpin prognosticsignificanceofreceptorconversionfollowingneoadjuvanttherapyinbreastcancerasystematicreviewampmetaanalysis
AT samialmasri prognosticsignificanceofreceptorconversionfollowingneoadjuvanttherapyinbreastcancerasystematicreviewampmetaanalysis
AT sineadtoomey prognosticsignificanceofreceptorconversionfollowingneoadjuvanttherapyinbreastcancerasystematicreviewampmetaanalysis
AT leoniesyoung prognosticsignificanceofreceptorconversionfollowingneoadjuvanttherapyinbreastcancerasystematicreviewampmetaanalysis
AT bryanthennessey prognosticsignificanceofreceptorconversionfollowingneoadjuvanttherapyinbreastcancerasystematicreviewampmetaanalysis
AT arnolddkhill prognosticsignificanceofreceptorconversionfollowingneoadjuvanttherapyinbreastcancerasystematicreviewampmetaanalysis