Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer: Pathologic response rates but not tumor size, has an independent prognostic impact on survival.

Achievement of pCR, but not tumor size (pretreatment cT category), has an independent prognostic impact on survival. These results suggest potential NAC benefits in patients with small tumors (<2 cm), even in absence of clinically suspicious lymph nodes. Residual lymph node disease after NAC is the most powerful adverse prognostic factor.