Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is a common treatment approach for breast cancer, but its impact on disease-free survival, quality of life, and recurrence rates is not well understood.


Objectives: To evaluate the association between neoadjuvant chemotherapy and disease-free survival, quality of life, and recurrence rates in patients with breast cancer.


Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 350 patients with breast cancer who underwent surgery at a university clinic between 2015 and 2022. Patients were divided into two groups: those who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (n=105) and those who did not (n=245). Demographic, tumor, and treatment characteristics were compared between groups. Disease-free survival, quality of life, and recurrence rates were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models, multivariate analysis of variance, and logistic regression models. 1 year follow ups were made.


Results: Patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy had a significant reduction in the risk of disease recurrence (HR=0.65, p=0.02) and local recurrence (OR=0.42, p=0.01). However, they had lower physical and social functioning scores compared to those who did not receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p=0.04 and p=0.02, respectively). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was also associated with a higher survival rate at 12 months (92.5% vs. 85.1%, p=0.03).


Conclusions: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with improved disease-free survival and reduced local recurrence rates in patients with breast cancer. However, it may have a negative impact on quality of life, particularly physical and social functioning. These findings have implications for the management of breast cancer and highlight the need for further research on the optimal use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.