PAM50 HER2-enriched subtype as an independent prognostic factor in early-stage HER2+ breast cancer following adjuvant chemotherapy plus trastuzumab in the ShortHER trial.

Abstract

544 Background: We investigated the prognostic role of the PAM50 HER2-enriched (HER2-E) subtype in HER2+ early breast cancer enrolled in the randomized Phase III ShortHER trial. Methods: The ShortHER study randomized 1254 HER2+ early breast cancer patients to receive 9 weeks vs 1 year of adjuvant trastuzumab combined with chemotherapy. Gene expression measured using nCounter platform was available for 438 surgical samples. Intrinsic subtyping was determined using the research-based PAM50 predictor. Metastasis-free survival (MFS) was calculated from randomization to distant disease recurrence or death (median follow up 72 months). Uni- and multi-variable analysis were performed using Cox models. Results: PAM50 subtype distribution was: HER2-E 53% (N = 233), Luminal A 20% (N = 87), Luminal B 10% (N = 43), Normal-like 11% (N = 48) and Basal-like 6% (N = 27). HER2-E subtype was associated with hormone receptor-negative status (p < 0.001) and TILs ≥20% (p < 0.001), but not with stage and age ( < or ≥60 yrs). HER2-E subtype was associated with worse MFS vs other PAM50 subtypes overall (HR 2.78, p = 0.001), in the short (HR 2.24, p = 0.046), and in the long arm (HR 4.04, p = 0.011). Multivariable Cox model confirmed the independent prognostic value of HER2-E subtype (Table). HER2-E subtype added significant prognostic value on top of clinicopathological variables (Likelihood ratio test p < 0.001). Conclusions: HER2-E intrinsic subtype is an independent prognostic factor for HER2+ early breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy and trastuzumab. Integration of PAM50 subtype in prognostic algorithms can help refine risk stratification. These findings warrant independent validation. Clinical trial information: NCT00629278. [Table: see text]