Post by Koen Kwakkenbos

Despite the widespread use of ypTNM staging in breast cancer, there is substantial variation in how pathologists interpret tumor size after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, especially in cases with scattered residual disease. In our latest work in Modern Pathology, guided by Carolien van Deurzen and co-conceptualized by Abeer Shaaban and Mieke Van Bockstal, we captured the real-world variability using input from 208 pathologists across 35 countries. Read the full study here: https://lnkd.in/e-Fu5MjY Measurement variability directly impacts: • Risk stratification after neoadjuvant therapy • Adjuvant treatment decisions • Development of robust prognostic models and AI tools Therefore, we suggest clearer, pattern-based definitions combined with standardized dual reporting using both ypTNM and Residual Cancer Burden (RCB) elements. We believe that this standardized approach will improve reproducibility while providing more personalized risk stratification. Grateful to all co-authors: Edi Brogi, Gábor Cserni, Ian Ellis, Maria Pia Foschini, Stephen Fox, Zsuzsanna Zsuzsanna Bago-Horvath, Shabnam Jaffer, Agnes Jager, Pinder Sarah, Elena Provenzano, Cecily Quinn, Emad Rakha, Wendy Raymond, Puay Hoon Tan, Gary Tse, Zsuzsanna Varga and Hannah Wen #BreastCancer #Pathology #ModernPathology