Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33868462›Full record

ArticleTherapeutic advances in medical oncology2021

Efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant therapy for HER2-positive early breast cancer: a network meta-analysis.

Jie Zhang, Yushuai Yu, Yuxiang Lin, Shaohong Kang, Xinyin Lv, Yushan Liu, Jielong Lin, Jun Wang, Chuangui Song

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Therapeutic advances in medical oncology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
14citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

14 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  4. Prognostic value of post-neoadjuvant pathological response and residual disease in early breast cancer: a real-world cohort study.Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico · 2026
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  7. Patient outcomes and clinician perspectives following one year ofTranslational breast cancer research : a journal focusing on translational research in breast cancer · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Jie ZhangDepartment of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China.
Yushuai YuDepartment of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China.
Yuxiang LinDepartment of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China.
Shaohong KangDepartment of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China.
Xinyin LvDepartment of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China.
Yushan LiuDepartment of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China.
Jielong LinDepartment of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China.
Jun WangDepartment of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China.
Chuangui SongDepartment of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, No.29, Xin Quan Road, Gulou District, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350001, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5703-9123

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsCurrently, there are many approaches available for neoadjuvant therapy for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer that improve therapeutic efficacy but are also controversial. We conducted a two-step Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare odds ratios (ORs) for pathologic complete response (PCR) and safety endpoints.

methodsThe Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, Embase, and online abstracts from the American Society of Clinical Oncology and San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium were searched comprehensively and systematically. Phase II/III randomised clinical trials for targeted therapy in at least one arm were included.

resultsA total of 9779 published manuscripts were identified, and 36 studies including 10,379 patients were finally included in our analysis. The NMA of PCR showed that dual-target therapy is better than single-target therapy and combination chemotherapy is better than monochemotherapy. However, anthracycline did not bring extra benefits, whether combined with dual-target therapy or single-target therapy. On the other hand, the addition of endocrine therapy in the HER2-positive, hormone receptor (HR)-positive subgroup might have additional beneficial effects but without significant statistical difference. By performing a conjoint analysis of the PCR rate and safety endpoints, we found that 'trastuzumab plus pertuzumab' and 'T-DM1 containing regimens' were well balanced in terms of efficacy and toxicity in all target regimens.

conclusionIn summary, trastuzumab plus pertuzumab-based dual-target therapy with combination chemotherapy regimens showed the highest efficacy of all optional regimens. They also achieved the best balance between efficacy and toxicity. As our study showed that anthracycline could be replaced by carboplatin, we strongly recommended TCbHP as the preferred choice for neoadjuvant treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer. We also look forward to the potential value of T-DM1 in improving outcomes, which needs further study in future trials.

Indexed as

breast cancerchemotherapyHER2-positiveneoadjuvantnetwork meta-analysistarget therapy

Identifiers

PMID33868462
PMCPMC8020239

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.