Characteristics | Number of patients | Number of pCR (%) | Chi-squared test P value | Multivariate P value |
---|---|---|---|---|
Age | Â | Â | 0.564 | NS |
  < 40 | 60 | 23 (38.3) |  |  |
 40–59 | 194 | 66 (34.0) |  |  |
 60+ | 49 | 14 (28.6) |  |  |
Menopausal status | Â | Â | 0.817 | NS |
 Pre | 159 | 55 (34.6) |  |  |
 Post | 144 | 48 (33.3) |  |  |
Tumor size at baseline | Â | Â | 0.026 | 0.030 |
 T2 | 150 | 62 (41.3) |  |  |
 T3 | 100 | 28 (28.0) |  |  |
 T4 | 53 | 13 (24.5) |  |  |
Node status at baseline | Â | Â | 0.917 | NS |
 - | 52 | 18 (34.6) |  |  |
 + | 251 | 85 (33.9) |  |  |
Histology at baseline | Â | Â | 0.263 | NS |
 Invasive ductal carcinoma | 224 | 82 (36.6) |  |  |
 Invasive (mixed) carcinoma | 62 | 17 (27.4) |  |  |
 Others | 17 | 4 (23.5) |  |  |
Ki-67 expression at baseline |  |  | < 0.001 | 0.001 |
  < 20% | 107 | 22 (20.6) |  |  |
  ≥ 20% | 196 | 81 (41.3) |  |  |
sMMP-9 at baseline (ng/ml) | Â | Â | 0.519 | NS* |
 Low (< 505.5) | 101 | 34 (33.7) |  |  |
 Intermediate (505.5–712.8) | 100 | 38 (38.0) |  |  |
 High (> 712.8) | 102 | 31 (30.4) |  |  |
sMMP-9 at surgery (ng/ml) | Â | Â | 0.020 | 0.043* |
 Low (< 423.2) | 100 | 42 (42.0) |  |  |
 Intermediate (423.2–612.3) | 102 | 37 (36.3) |  |  |
 High (> 612.3) | 101 | 24 (23.8) |  |  |
sMMP-9 decrease (ng/ml) |  |  | < 0.001 | 0.003* |
 Low (< 28.3) | 100 | 24 (24.0) |  |  |
 Intermediate (28.3–143.8) | 101 | 29 (28.7) |  |  |
 High (> 143.8) | 102 | 50 (49.0) |  |  |
Clinical response | Â | Â | 0.172 | NS |
 CR/PR | 102 | 40 (39.2) |  |  |
 SD/PD | 201 | 63 (31.3) |  |  |