Table 1 Characteristics of patients and univariate analysis of factors associated with pCR (n = 179)

Age (years)

0.974

  < 45

32(17.9)

19(59.4)

13(40.6)

 45–59

104(58.1)

64(61.5)

40(38.5)

  ≥ 60

43(24.0)

26(60.5)

17(39.5)

Menopausal status

0.770

 Pre-menopause

74(41.3)

46(62.2)

28(37.8)

 Post-menopause

105(58.7)

63(60.0)

42(40.0)

BMI (kg/m2)

0.754

  < 24

87(48.6)

54(62.1)

33(37.9)

  ≥ 24

92(51.4)

55(59.8)

37(40.2)

Clinical T stage

0.110

 cT1

13(7.3)

10(76.9)

3(23.1)

 cT2

139(77.7)

87(62.6)

52(37.4)

 cT3

17(9.5)

9(52.9)

8(47.1)

 cT4

10(5.6)

3(30.0)

7(70.0)

Clinical N stage

0.067

 cN0

55(30.7)

39(70.9)

16(29.1)

  ≥ cN1

124(69.3)

70(56.5)

54(43.5)

Clinical stage

0.320^a

 I

6(3.4)

5(83.3)

1(16.7)

 II

123(68.7)

77(62.6)

46(37.4)

 III

50(27.9)

27(54.0)

23(46.0)

HR status

0.013

 Negative

82(45.8)

58(70.7)

24(29.3)

 Positive

97(54.2)

51(52.6)

46(47.4)

Ki-67

0.851

  < 20%

7(3.9)

5(71.4)

2(28.6)

  ≥ 20%

172(96.1)

104(60.5)

68(39.5)

HER2 status (IHC)

0.003

 2 + 

22(12.3)

7(31.8)

15(68.2)

 3 + 

157(87.7)

102(65.0)

55(35.0)

NAT regimens

0.181

 AC-THP

46(25.7)

23(50.0)

23(50.0)

 TCbHP

124(69.3)

81(65.3)

43(34.7)

 Others ^b

9(5.0)

5(55.6)

4(44.4)

Cycles of targeted treatment

0.035

 4

53(29.6)

26(49.1)

27(50.9)

 > 4

126(70.4)

83(65.9)

43(34.1)

Time to surgery

0.706

  ≤ 21 days

66(36.9)

39(59.1)

27(40.9)

  > 21 days

113(63.1)

70(61.9)

43(38.1)