Search Results (41)

Background: Neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) is increasingly investigated in operable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), yet its role in strictly resectable disease remains controversial. Randomized trials have been conducted both in borderline resectable and resectable PDAC and have demonstrated survival advantages, while evidence in strictly resectable tumors remains poor. We conducted an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRMAs) to comprehensively evaluate the highest level of available evidence on NAT versus upfront surgery in operable PDAC. Methods: We performed an umbrella review of completed SRMAs assessing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and/or chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) in resectable and borderline resectable PDAC. MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception through November 2025. Eligible SRMAs reported at least one clinical outcome, including overall survival (OS), disease-free/event-free survival (DFS/EFS), resection rate, R0 resection, nodal status, or perioperative outcomes. Methodological quality was appraised using AMSTAR-2 and ROBIS tools. Overlap among SRMAs was quantified using the Corrected Covered Area (CCA), and RCT-only evidence was prioritized for causal inference. Evidence credibility was graded using an Ioannidis-style classification framework. Results: Thirty-four SRMAs published between 2010 and 2025 were included. In strictly resectable PDAC, RCT-only meta-analyses showed no definitive OS benefit for NAT compared with upfront surgery (pooled HR approximately 0.85, 95% CI 0.68–1.05), although a significant improvement in EFS was observed (HR approximately 0.77, 95% CI 0.65–0.90). Trial sequential analyses suggested insufficient information size for conclusive OS benefit in resectable disease. Conversely, in pooled resectable and borderline resectable populations, NAT significantly improved OS (HR approximately 0.66, 95% CI 0.52–0.85), with subgroup analyses indicating that the survival advantage was primarily driven by borderline resectable tumors. NAT consistently increased R0 resection and node-negative (pN0) rates and reduced non-curative explorations. However, neoadjuvant strategies were associated with treatment-related attrition and, in some analyses, lower overall resection rates. Comparative evidence suggested improved pathological outcomes with chemoradiotherapy versus chemotherapy alone, without a consistent survival advantage. Conclusions: Current high-level evidence supports NAT as the preferred strategy for borderline resectable PDAC, demonstrating consistent survival and pathological benefits. In strictly resectable disease, NAT improves disease-control endpoints and pathological surrogates, but a definitive OS advantage has not been consistently demonstrated in RCT-only syntheses. This should not be interpreted as evidence of equivalence between NAT and a surgery-first strategy, given the heterogeneity, limited power, and therapeutic-era effects of the available literature. Treatment decisions in resectable PDAC should therefore be individualized, balancing potential oncologic benefits against attrition risk. Future adequately powered randomized trials employing contemporary multi-agent regimens are needed to clarify the survival impact of NAT in strictly resectable disease. Full article

Determining the characteristics of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the healthy population and evaluating the effectiveness of detection strategies will facilitate the optimization of hepatitis B screening strategies in the community and accelerate the elimination of HBV infection in China by the end of 2030. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-electrochemiluminescence immunoassays (ECLIAs), HBsAg-rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), and HBV DNA-nucleic acid tests (NATs) were performed on serum samples from 2721 community-based healthy participants in Guangdong Province. The screening performance of the RDT and NAT and the distribution characteristics of HBsAg and HBV DNA were evaluated. The prevalence rates of HBsAg-ECLIA, HBsAg-RDT and HBV DNA-NAT in Guangdong Province were 6.10% (95% CI: 5.26~7.06), 4.96% (95% CI: 4.21~5.84) and 6.55% (95% CI: 5.64~7.49), respectively, and the prevalence rates for the three methods for individuals aged over 30 years were 11.18%, 10.92% and 12.57%, respectively. When the ECLIA was used as the gold standard, the sensitivities of the RDT, NAT and RDT and NAT in parallel were 80.7% (95% CI: 73.9~86.4), 86.7% (95% CI: 80.6~91.5) and 93.4% (95% CI: 88.5~96.6), respectively, and the sensitivity of the RDT and NAT in parallel was greater than that of the RDT alone (p < 0.001). The parallel RDT and NAT revealed an additional cost‒benefit ratio (ACBR) < 1 for males and individuals aged over 30 years, which indicated that switching from the RDT screening strategy to the RDT and NAT in parallel is more cost effective. Adults aged over 30 years are the main population with hepatitis B infection in Guangdong Province, China, whose prevalence of HBsAg-ECLIA was 11.18%. Single RDT screening is prone to miss individuals with low levels of HBsAg. It is recommended to implement an RDT and NAT in parallel for individuals older than 30 years. Full article

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to identify clinicopathological factors associated with axillary pathological complete response (ApCR) in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer presenting with clinically node-positive disease (cN+) confirmed by biopsy who received neoadjuvant therapy (NAT), and to assess the prognostic significance of ApCR on survival outcomes. Materials and Methods: A total of 221 patients with clinically node-positive (cN+) HER2-positive invasive breast cancer, with nodal involvement confirmed by fine-needle aspiration or core needle biopsy, who received neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) and subsequently underwent surgery at three centers between January 2015 and January 2025 were retrospectively reviewed. The association between clinicopathological factors and axillary pathological complete response (ApCR) was analyzed using logistic regression. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Results: The median follow-up duration was 34.3 months. Axillary pathological complete response (ApCR) was achieved in 67.9% of patients. The ApCR rate was higher in stage II disease compared with stage III (76.9% vs. 62.9%). Patients with HER2 3+ tumors demonstrated a higher ApCR rate (70.8%) than those with HER2 2+/FISH+ tumors (46.2%). In multivariable logistic regression, HER2 3+ status (OR = 2.745; 95% CI: 1.138–6.619; p = 0.025) and lower clinical stage (OR = 2.251; 95% CI: 1.182–4.287; p = 0.014) were independently associated with a higher likelihood of achieving ApCR. In survival analyses, the 3-year event-free survival rate was 92% (95% CI: 86–98%) in the ApCR group, compared with 75% (95% CI: 63–87%) in the non-ApCR group. Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated that ApCR was a significant prognostic factor for EFS (p = 0.001). Median overall survival (OS) was not reached in either group due to the limited number of death events. Conclusions: ApCR was frequent in node-positive HER2-positive breast cancer after neoadjuvant therapy. HER2 3+ status and lower clinical stage independently predicted ApCR, which in turn was associated with improved event-free survival. These findings underscore the prognostic relevance of ApCR in this setting. Full article

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumour thrombosis (PVTT) has a poor prognosis, and the benefits of neoadjuvant therapy are unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the impact of neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) followed by surgery versus surgery alone on survival outcomes. Methods: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review was conducted by searching the OVID databases Embase, Medline, PubMed, and Scopus for English-language comparative studies of resectable HCC with PVTT, up to 23 January 2025. Two reviewers independently screened, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias (ROBINS-I/ROB2). Hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were pooled for meta-analysis. Results: Seven studies (2015–2024, five retrospective cohorts, one non-randomised comparative, one RCT) included 621 patients. The pooled analysis demonstrated that NAT followed by surgery was associated with a significantly improved OS (HR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.295–0.67, p-value < 0.001, I² = 0.00) and improved RFS (HR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2–0.58, p-value < 0.001, I² = 0.00). Conclusions: For patients with HCC and an associated PVTT, neoadjuvant treatment before surgery significantly improves both overall and recurrence-free survival. These findings support a multimodal approach. Current evidence is largely non-randomised and HBV-endemic, warranting prospective validation in aetiologically diverse cohorts, including Western ones. Full article

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a transfusion-transmissible infection of global concern. While mandatory screening for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) has reduced overt infections, occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) poses ongoing risk. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of anti-HBc, HBsAg, and OBI in Saudi blood donors, as well as to assess regional variations and temporal trends. Methods: A systematic meta-analysis was conducted using nine studies published between 2013 and 2024, encompassing a total of 87,820 blood donors. Prevalence was pooled using random-effects models with logit transformation and Hartung–Knapp adjustment. Heterogeneity was quantified with I² and τ². Subgroup analyses examined geographic regions; meta-regression assessed publication year. Publication bias was evaluated with Egger’s regression; sensitivity analyses tested robustness. Results: The pooled prevalence of anti-HBc was 5% (95% CI: 3–7%), HBsAg was 0.46% (95% CI: 0.31–0.69%), and OBI was 0.12% (95% CI: 0.03–0.39%). High heterogeneity was observed (I² = 90.6–98.9%). Subgroup analyses revealed regional disparities, and meta-regression showed no significant temporal trends. Conclusions: The findings suggest that past HBV exposure remains relatively common among Saudi blood donors, while current active infection and OBI are infrequent. These results support continued enhanced screening, including anti-HBc and nucleic acid testing (NAT), to ensure transfusion safety. The lack of a national hemovigilance system that monitors transfusion-transmitted infections among recipients represents a critical gap in Saudi Arabia’s transfusion safety framework. Addressing this gap is essential to fully assess residual risks, evaluate the real-world effectiveness of screening policies, and align with global best practices in blood safety. Full article

Background/Objectives: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major global public health challenge with a significant impact on human life. The current study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the magnitude of dyslipidemia and the factors associated with elevated LDL-C levels among Black South Africans with T2DM. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary hospital. Blood samples for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and lipid profile were collected from the study participants and analyzed using Siemens Atellica™ analyzer. The data was entered into Microsoft excel and analyzed using SPSS version 24. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify variables significantly associated with the outcomes, with a p-value  ≤  0.05 and a 95% confidence interval. Results: A total of 194 study participants with T2DM were recruited in the study. The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia was 90.72%. Of those with dyslipidemia, 40.9% had an isolated dyslipidemia, 39.7% had a combined dyslipidemia and 19.3% had atherogenic dyslipidemia. Significant factors associated with elevated levels of LDL-C included age, non-adherence to treatment (NAT) and duration. However, after multivariate analysis, NAT was found to be an independent associated factor with elevated levels of LDL-C (AOR: 4.596; 95% CI: 0.177–2.874; p = 0.027). Conclusions: Our study found that dyslipidemia is highly prevalent among Black South African patients with T2DM at a tertiary hospital, despite the use of lipid-lowering therapy. NAT was significantly associated with elevated levels of LDL-C. However, it is important to note that the study employed a cross-sectional design, conducted at a single hospital, which may impair the generalizability of the findings. Full article

Objective: Accurate diagnosis of sentinel lymph node (SLN) status after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) for breast cancer is crucial for guiding axillary management. This study aimed to evaluate novel contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) patterns for assessing SLNs following NAT. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical and imaging data from 279 breast cancer patients who completed NAT and underwent surgery between June 2019 and December 2024. Preoperative SLN evaluations included percutaneous CEUS (PCEUS), intravenous CEUS (IVCEUS), and conventional ultrasound (CUS). Intraoperative SLN biopsy was performed using methylene blue tracer, with pathological results serving as the gold standard. Diagnostic efficacy was compared among CUS, previously used PCEUS patterns, newly proposed PCEUS, IVCEUS, and combined CEUS. Results: The newly proposed PCEUS classified SLNs into six types, while IVCEUS categorized enhancement into three sequences and four patterns. Among the 347 SLNs detected via PCEUS, 292 (84.15%) were benign and 55 (15.85%) were malignant. The newly proposed PCEUS demonstrated higher diagnostic efficacy compared to CUS, prior PCEUS patterns, IVCEUS, and combined CEUS, with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy, and area under the curve of 49.1% (27/55), 86.3% (252/292), 40.3% (27/67), 90.0% (252/280), 80.4% (279/347), and 0.677 (95% CI: 0.625–0.726), respectively. However, DeLong tests revealed no statistically significant differences between the methods (all p > 0.05). Conclusions: The novel CEUS classification improved diagnostic accuracy for SLNs after NAT, though accuracy remains relatively low. Future integration of artificial intelligence may further enhance diagnostic efficacy. Full article

Early prediction of lymph node metastasis (LNM) following neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) is crucial for timely treatment optimization in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This study developed and validated a computed tomography-based radiomic model for predicting pathologically confirmed LNM status at the time of surgery in ESCC patients after NAT. A total of 469 ESCC patients from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center were retrospectively enrolled and randomized into a training cohort (n = 328) and a test cohort (n = 141). Three signatures were constructed: the tumor-habitat-based signature (Habitat_Rad), derived from radiomic features of three tumor subregions identified via K-means clustering; the multiple instance learning-based signature (MIL_Rad), combining features from 2.5D deep learning models; and the clinicoradiological signature (Clinic), developed through multivariate logistic regression. A combined radiomic nomogram integrating these signatures outperformed the individual models, achieving areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.929 (95% CI, 0.901–0.957) and 0.852 (95% CI, 0.778–0.925) in the training and test cohorts, respectively. The decision curve analysis confirmed a high net clinical benefit, highlighting the nomogram’s potential for accurate LNM prediction after NAT and guiding individualized therapy. Full article

Antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity (ATDH) is a common adverse drug reaction often requiring treatment interruption, complicating tuberculosis management. The slow acetylator phenotype, characterized by reduced N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) enzyme activity, is associated with increased hepatotoxicity risk, while rapid acetylators are associated with a higher risk of therapeutic failure. This study investigates the association between the NAT2 acetylation phenotype and ATDH occurrence, with an emphasis on its predictive value in regard to a multiethnic population and its impact on the timing of ATDH onset. A retrospective observational study was conducted on tuberculosis patients treated at Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy (July 2020–September 2023). The NAT2 genotyping identified slow and rapid/intermediate acetylators. Cumulative incidence analysis and Fine–Gray competing risks regression models were used to assess ATDH risk and onset timing. Among 102 patients, 21.6% developed ATDH, including 16.7% with slow and 4.9% with rapid/intermediate acetylators. ATDH onset was significantly earlier in regard to slow acetylators (median 0.5 vs. 2 months, interquartile range-IQR: 0.5–3 vs. 1.7–5.5). Slow acetylators were associated with a higher risk of developing ATDH (Sub-distribution hazard ratio, SHR = 3.05; 95% confidence interval-CI: 1.17–7.95; p = 0.02), even after adjusting for confounders. The NAT2 acetylation phenotype strongly influences ATDH risk and timing. Early acetylator status identification may enable dose adjustments, enhancing treatment safety. These findings highlight the role of pharmacogenetics in optimizing antituberculosis therapy by improving efficacy and minimizing toxicity. Full article

Backgrounds: Neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) is a cornerstone in the management of breast cancer (BC), enabling tumor downstaging and improved surgical options. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 607 BC patients treated with NAT and surgery at IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy, to compare long-term oncologic outcomes of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) versus mastectomy. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment details were analyzed using descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and Cox proportional hazards models. Results: Of the 607 patients, 54.7% underwent BCS, and 45.3% had mastectomy. BCS was associated with significantly superior 10-year outcomes compared to mastectomy, including disease-free survival (DFS, 75.2% vs. 71.1%, p = 0.001), distant DFS (75.2% vs. 71.1%, p = 0.001), overall survival (OS, 82.9% vs. 78.1%, p = 0.002), and BC-specific survival (BCSS, 87.7% vs. 83.1%, p = 0.001). Pathologic complete response (pCR) emerged as a protective factor across all endpoints, while mastectomy was independently associated with worse BCSS (HR: 2.068, 95% CI: 1.016–4.210, p = 0.045). Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate the oncologic safety and potential superiority of BCS over mastectomy in NAT-treated BC patients, highlighting the importance of individualized surgical decision-making to optimize survival outcomes. Full article

Background: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)-recommended treatment for patients with borderline-resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) and locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) involves a combination of neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy and the curative surgical resection of the tumor. This study seeks to identify the clinical, radiological, laboratory, and pathologic predictors that can anticipate the oncological outcomes of patients. Methods: In this study, we conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who had undergone curative surgical resection for BRPC, LAPC, or resectable disease with high-risk features after receiving neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX at two institutions. We evaluated by means of multivariate analysis whether clinical and laboratory response, tumor markers, radiological response, and pathologic tumor response grade correlated with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results: The study enrolled a total of 70 patients with BRPC, LAPC, and resectable disease with high-risk features who underwent resection after neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX. Age above 65 years and fewer than nine cycles of chemotherapy (OR 4.2; 95% CI 1.4–12.0; p-value 0.007); locally advanced tumors after neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) (OR 7.0; 95% CI 1.9–25.7; p-value 0.003); and lymph node disease and histological tumor regression grade 2 and 3 (OR 4.3; 95% CI 0.9–19.2; p-value 0.05) were risk factors linked to adverse OS and DFS. The median OS and DFS were 33 (22–43.9) months and 16.5 (11.3–21.6) months, respectively. Conclusions: Classification as a LA tumor after NAT was the only preoperative radiological factor that predicted adverse survival in patients undergoing curative surgery after NAT. Other clinical, biochemical, and radiological measures of response were not found to predict OS. Patient age, the cumulative administration of more than eight cycles of chemotherapy, and a significant pathological response were associated with better OS. The results of this study are important for treatment decision-making and prognostication in patients with BRPC and LAPC. Full article

Neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) for early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) has recently gained prominence. We investigated the clinical significance of mucin 5 AC (MUC5AC), which exists in two major glycoforms, a less-glycosylated immature isoform (IM) and a heavily glycosylated mature isoform (MM), as a biomarker in resected PDA. Immunohistochemistry was performed on 100 resected PDAs to evaluate the expression of the IM and MM of MUC5AC using their respective monoclonal antibodies, CLH2 (NBP2-44455) and 45M1 (ab3649). MUC5AC localization (cytoplasmic, apical, and extra-cellular (EC)) was determined, and the H-scores were calculated. Univariate and multivariate (MVA) Cox regression models were used to estimate progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Of 100 resected PDA patients, 43 received NAT, and 57 were treatment-naïve with upfront surgery (UpS). In the study population (n = 100), IM expression (H-scores for objective response vs. no response vs. UpS = 104 vs. 152 vs. 163, p = 0.01) and MM-MUC5AC detection rates (56% vs. 63% vs. 82%, p = 0.02) were significantly different. In the NAT group, MM-MUC5AC-negative patients had significantly better PFS according to the MVA (Hazard Ratio: 0.2, 95% CI: 0.059–0.766, p = 0.01). Similar results were noted in a FOLFIRINOX sub-group (n = 36). We established an association of MUC5AC expression with treatment response and outcomes. Full article

Endomucin (EMCN) contributes to both cell adhesion and signaling processes, thereby participating in the modulation of immune responses within the vasculature. In this study, we uncover how EMCN modulates the tumor immune microenvironment in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was used to obtain clinicopathological and expression data on KIRC. The prognostic significance of EMCN expression in ccRCC was assessed through univariate analysis. DNMIVD was used to investigate the methylation status of EMCN in tumor and normal adjacent tissue (NAT). TCGExplorer was utilized to employ GSEA to identify pathways enriched by the high or low expression of EMCN. Hallmark Gene sets from MSigDB were utilized. The immune microenvironment was evaluated using the Tumor IMmune Estimation Resource (TIMER 2.0). High EMCN expression was associated with heightened overall survival and better survival (HR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.52–0.68, p < 0.0001) in the TCGA ccRCC cohort. The promoter region of EMCN was hypermethylated in tumor tissue, in contrast to normal adjacent tissue, with an increased beta value of 0.13715 (p < 0.001) associated with decreased expression of EMCN in tumor tissue compared to NAT. The top three enriched GSEA terms when EMCN was highly expressed were hallmark_TGF_beta_signaling, KRAS_signalling_up, and Apical_junction. In contrast, when the expression of EMCN was low, E2F_targets, Oxidative_phosphorylation, and MYC_targets_v2 were the top terms. EMCN expression was positively correlated with resting memory CD4+T cells (ρ = 0.217, p = 2.68e⁻⁶), naïve B cells (ρ = 0.273, p = 2.43e⁻⁹), plasma B cells (ρ = 0.158, p = 6.73e⁻⁴), M1 macrophages (ρ = 0.167, p = 3.05e⁻⁴), Monocytes (ρ = 0.29, p = 2.17e⁻¹⁰), resting NK cells (ρ = 0.208, p = 6.39e⁻⁶), activated mast cells (ρ = 0.373, p = 1.05e⁻¹⁶), and M2 macrophages (ρ = 0.127, p = 6.45e⁻³). It correlated negatively with Tregs (ρ = −0.349, p = 1.23e⁻¹⁴), activated memory CD4+ T cells (ρ = −0.17, p = 2.42e⁻⁴), follicular helper T cells (ρ = −0.209, p = 6.20e⁻⁶), neutrophils (ρ = −0.101, p = 3.07e⁻²), M0 macrophages (ρ = −0.333, p = 2.15e⁻¹³), and memory B cells (ρ = −0.217, p = 2.53e⁻⁶). Full article

Oxynitrides such as LaTa(O,N)₃ are attractive materials as photoelectrodes for photoelectrocatalytic solar water splitting. The potential anionic ordering in their perovskite-type structure has been shown to impact the materials’ properties. Given the importance attributed to it, the present study reports a detailed experimental analysis supported by simulations of the anionic ordering of La_1−xY_xTa(O,N)₃. The influence of O/N and yttrium content on the anionic order was assessed. Neutron diffraction analysis was performed on four different nominal compositions—LaTaON₂, LaTaO₂N, La_0.9Y_0.1TaON₂, and La_0.9Y_0.1TaO₂N—at 10 K and 300 K to study potential long-range ordering. Neutron pair distribution function (PDF) analysis was performed on all samples at 10 K and on non-Y-substituted samples at 300 K to evaluate short-range ordering. There was no evidence of long-range O/N order in any of the compounds. In contrast, at a short range (1.5 Å ≤ r < 6 Å), a Pnma (a⁻b⁺a⁻) tilting pattern and local cis-ordering of the anions were seen. The latter faded rapidly, leaving the Pnma tilting pattern in a 6 Å ≤ r ≤ 11 Å range. At higher distances, the PDF analysis agreed with the Imma (a⁻b⁰a⁻) O/N disordered long-range structure. As the O/N content changed, not much difference in behavior was observed. Yttrium substitution introduced some disorder in the structure; nonetheless, it showed marginal influence on octahedral tilting and anionic ordering. Full article

Purpose: To search for new predictive breast cancer biomarkers. We analyzed the serum concentrations of biomarkers involved in carcinogenesis, which can also be targeted by therapy. Methods: In a single-center prospective study, the serum levels of Aurora A, thymidine kinase 1, and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 3 (HER3) were determined in 119 women with BC before neoadjuvant treatment using ELISA kits. Results: The following clinical data were analyzed: age; TNM; the expression of ER, PGR, HER2, and Ki67; histological grade (G); and the response to neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) in the residual tumor burden classification (RCB). A complete pathological response (pCR) was achieved after NAT in 41 patients (34%). The highest proportion of the patients with a confirmed pCR was found for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) (62.5%); non-luminal HER2-positive (52.6%) cancer subtypes (p = 0.0003); and in the G3 group (50%; p = 0.0078). The patients with higher levels of Aurora A were more likely to achieve pCR (p = 0.039). In the multivariate analysis, the serum Aurora A levels ≥ 4.75 ng/mL correlated with a higher rate of pCR (OR: 3.5; 95% CI: 1.2–10.1; p = 0.023). Conclusions: We showed that in a biologically heterogeneous group of BC patients, the pretreatment serum Aurora A levels were of significant value in predicting the response to NAT. Full article