Combination of predicted sensitivity to endocrine therapy (SET2,3 index) and the Recurrence Score in node-positive breast cancer: Independent validation in the PACS-01 trial.

Abstract

565 Background: SET2,3 index measures hormone receptor-related transcriptional activity (SETER/PR) adjusted for a baseline prognosis index (BPI) derived from tumor size, nodes involved and a 4-gene molecular subtype (RNA4). SET2,3 added prognostic information to the 21-gene Breast Recurrence Score (RS) in the SWOG 8814 trial (1). To confirm this, we independently evaluated both tests performed on node-positive, hormone receptor-positive (HR+) cancers from the PACS-01 trial (Roche et al, JCO 2006, PMID: 17116941) that evaluated the addition of adjuvant docetaxel to anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Adjuvant endocrine therapy became standard for premenopausal patients during PACS-01, justifying a sensitivity analysis in the population who received adjuvant endocrine therapy. Methods: SET2,3 was measured with the QuantiGene Plex bead-based hybridization assay (ThermoFisher) using an aliquot of residual RNA from prior RS testing in 791 HR+ tumor samples. Pre-defined cut points defined higher risk if RS >25 or SET2,3 <2.10. SETER/PR index and BPI, individual components of SET2,3 index, were evaluated as continuous variables. The primary endpoint was distant recurrence-free interval (DRFI). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios with 95% confidence interval (HR, 95%CI) adjusted for treatment arm, and the likelihood ratio (LR) of benefit from addition of SET2,3 to RS with LR test for significance at p <0.05. Results: Of 791 tumor samples, 760 (96.1%) passed quality control (QC) for the SET assay; 724 had pathologic information to calculate SET2,3 index; and 659 had results for RS and SET2,3. At a median follow-up of 8 years, distant recurrence occurred in 144 of 659 (21.9%) patients overall, and 94 of 490 (19.2%) patients in the sensitivity population. Overall, high RS status (HR 2.33, 1.60-3.39) and high SET2,3 (HR 0.43, 0.30-0.62) were independently prognostic. SET2,3 was high in 303/377 (80.4%) patients with RS ≤25, with 5-year DRFI of 93.7% [95%CI 90.2;95.9]; and SET2,3 was low in 171/282 (60.6%) patients with RS >25, with 5-year DRFI 64.6% [95%CI 56.9;71.3]. SETER/PR index of endocrine transcriptional activity and the BPI, each contributed additional prognostic information to RS status in the sensitivity population (Table). Conclusions: SET2,3 index added prognostic information to the Recurrence Score in this independent blinded validation study of the PACS-01 trial for node-positive breast cancer. 1. Speers et al, JCO 2023, PMID: 36649570. [Table: see text]