# Clinical complete response and predictive factors in HER2-positive early breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy aimed at omission of surgery: an exploratory analysis of the JCOG1806 trial

## TL;DR

This study explores the possibility of avoiding surgery for some HER2-positive breast cancer patients who achieve a complete response after chemotherapy.

## Contribution

The study identifies predictive factors for achieving a clinical complete response in HER2-positive breast cancer patients, potentially guiding surgery omission.

## Key findings

- A clinical complete response rate of 57.6% was observed in HER2-positive early breast cancer patients.
- ER-negative tumors, IHC 3+ tumors, and higher histological grades were found to be independent predictors of a clinical complete response.
- Among non-responders, 22.2% had no residual tumor upon surgery, suggesting potential for surgery omission in some cases.

## Abstract

The JCOG1806 trial (jRCTs031190129) is underway to evaluate the omission of surgery in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2)-positive early breast cancer who have a clinical complete response (cCR) after primary systemic therapy (PST). We aimed to assess the cCR rate in this trial and identify predictive factors.

HER2-positivity was defined as an immunohistochemistry (IHC) score of 3 + or in situ hybridization-positivity. A cCR was defined as the absence of detectable lesions upon palpation, contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasonography; biopsy-based confirmation was optional in hormone receptor (HR)-negative cases and mandatory in HR-positive cases. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of a cCR.

The cCR rate was 57.6% (196/340 patients; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 52.2–63.0%). Strongly estrogen-receptor (ER)-positive tumors (≥ 10%) were significantly less likely to have a cCR than ER-negative tumors (odds ratio [OR], 0.41; 95% CI: 0.20–0.81). IHC 3 + tumors had higher cCR rates than IHC 1 + or 2 + tumors (OR, 2.19; 95% CI: 1.01–4.74). Compared with histological grade I tumors, cCR odds were higher in grade II (OR: 2.92; 95% CI: 1.07–7.93) and III (OR: 4.90; 95% CI: 1.76–13.7) tumors. Among patients without a cCR patients undergoing surgery, 22.2% were diagnosed with ypT0 tumors upon analysis of surgical specimens.

ER-negativity, an IHC score of 3 + , and a higher histological grade were independent predictors of a cCR. Identifying these features may improve the feasibility and safety of surgery omission for patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10147-026-02967-7.