Dynamic tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes predicts survival in HR+/HER2- early breast cancer: a pre-to-post neoadjuvant chemotherapy study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The prognostic implications of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and their temporal changes (ΔTILs) during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in hormone receptor-positive/ HER2-negative early breast cancer (HR+/HER2- eBC) remains clinically ambiguous. Our study investigates the association between TILs levels, longitudinal TILs evolution, and survival outcomes in a NAC-treated HR+/HER2- eBC cohort.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort analysis of 576 HR+/HER2- eBC patients (April 2011-December 2021), TILs were categorized as low (< 10%) or high (≥ 10%) using predefined thresholds. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models evaluated invasive disease-free survival (iDFS) and overall survival (OS). ΔTILs patterns were analyzed in residual tumors.

Results

SUBMITTER: Qiu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12619435 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature