Case 1: Patient Presentation and Risk Assessment

A premenopausal patient with stage III, node-positive HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer is presented to illustrate real-world risk stratification. The case review covers initial presentation, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, residual disease, and extensive nodal involvement. The discussion emphasizes how high tumor grade, elevated Ki-67, and lack of pathologic complete response collectively define a very high-risk clinical scenario. The faculty explain why this combination of biologic and anatomic factors strongly supports escalation of adjuvant systemic therapy. This case demonstrates how clinicians integrate trial eligibility criteria with individualized patient characteristics to assess recurrence risk and guide treatment intensity.