Necessity of Post-mastectomy Radiotherapy After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Mastectomy

Postoperative radiotherapy is generally recommended for patients with breast cancer who have undergone breast-conserving surgery, regardless of prior chemotherapy. However, the criteria for postoperative radiation therapy (PMRT) in patients with breast cancer who have received upfront chemotherapy and mastectomy remain controversial. PMRT is recommended for patients with suspected axillary lymph node metastases before chemotherapy or residual cancer in the axillary lymph nodes after surgery, but this varies by institution and physician. In particular, breast cancer patients with a very good treatment response (pCR or RCB 0-I after prior chemotherapy) have a very good prognosis, and the question of whether PMRT is necessary for these patients continues to be raised. With the addition of new targeted therapies and immuno-oncology agents to conventional chemotherapy, the number of patients with good response is increasing, but there are no prospective studies to date. The studies that have evaluated the need for PMRT in breast cancer patients with a very good treatment response after upfront chemotherapy and mastectomy are all retrospective studies, lacking evidence to apply to standard of care, and have different definitions of a good treatment response group. Therefore, in this study, the investigators aim to reduce unnecessary overtreatment by comparing survival between PMRT and no PMRT in breast cancer patients with a good response to prior chemotherapy and mastectomy, demonstrating non-inferiority of PMRT to no PMRT. By doing so, the investigators hope to reduce patients' side effects and discomfort, improve their satisfaction and quality of life, and contribute to a new standard of care. The purpose of this study is to confirm that in patients with breast cancer who have undergone mastectomy after prior neoadjuvant chemotherapy, omitting radiotherapy is non-inferior to post-mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) in terms of 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with pathologic complete remission and a good response to treatment corresponding to RCB class 0-I, compared to patients treated with PMRT.