The term identifies a tool used in oncology to quantify the amount of cancer remaining in a patient’s body following neoadjuvant therapy, typically chemotherapy or radiation, administered before surgery. For instance, after a course of chemotherapy for breast cancer, this type of assessment provides a numerical score reflecting the extent of cancer cells that persist in the resected tissue.
This quantification is significant because it provides prognostic information, helping clinicians predict the likelihood of cancer recurrence and guide subsequent treatment decisions. Its development and implementation represent a refinement in cancer management, moving beyond simple binary assessments of “complete response” or “no response” to offer a more nuanced understanding of treatment effectiveness and individual patient risk. This nuanced understanding facilitates personalized treatment strategies.