Study Suggests Surgery May Be Avoidable for Some Early-Stage Breast Cancer Patients

A new study from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reveals that some women with early-stage breast cancer may not need surgery if they have a complete response to chemotherapy and radiation.

Published in JAMA Oncology, the five-year results of a Phase II trial showed that none of the 31 patients who skipped surgery after achieving a pathologic complete response (pCR) saw their cancer return. The overall survival rate was 100% after a median follow-up of more than 55 months.

"This surgery-free approach shows tremendous potential," said Dr. Henry Kuerer, lead investigator and professor of Breast Surgical Oncology. The trial marks the first modern, prospective study to explore omitting surgery in carefully selected patients.

The study included 50 women over age 40 with triple-negative or HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer. Using image-guided vacuum-assisted core biopsies (VACB), researchers confirmed the absence of cancer before deciding to skip surgery.

The findings were also presented at the Society of Surgical Oncology 2025 Annual Meeting and may signal a major shift in how certain breast cancers are treated—possibly sparing some patients the physical and emotional toll of surgery.