5-year Distant Disease-free Survival Research Articles

Longer-term cardiac safety and outcomes of dose dense (dd) doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC) followed by paclitaxel (T) and trastuzumab (H) with and without lapatinib (L) in patients (pts) with early breast cancer (BC).

167 Background: The addition of H to chemotherapy has improved outcomes in HER2-positive early BC. This approach is associated with (w/) an increased risk (<4%) of congestive heart failure (CHF). Dose-dense (every 2 weeks) anthracycline-taxane therapy (Rx) improves survival compared to the every 3 week schedule and can be combined w/ anti-HER2 Rx w/ no increased risk of cardiotoxicity up to 36 months. Here we report the incidence of NYHA Class III/IV CHF in 2 phase II studies with longer follow-up. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of pts w/ HER2 + early stage BC treated at MSKCC and DFCI on two trials: In trial A - pts received dd AC (60/600 mg/m2) x 4 → T (175mg/m2) x 4 (w/ pegfilgrastim) w/ H x 1 year. Trial B differed w/ use of weekly T (80mg/m2) x 12 and the addition of L (1000mg orally daily) x 1 year. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was prospectively assessed by a multi-gated acquisition scan serially throughout Rx. Results: Trial A enrolled 70 pts and Trial B enrolled 95 pts w/ the median age of 46 years (range 27-73 years). Overall, the 5-year distant disease-free survival (DDFS) for trials A and B is 92% (95%Cl; 83-97%) and 89% (95%CI; 81-94%), respectively. The baseline median LVEF was 68% (range 52-81%). In total, 28 of 165 (17%) pts had pre-existing hypertension. Now at a median follow-up of 84 and 57 months respectively, only one (1.4%, 95%CI; 1.36-7.7%) and 4 (4.2%, 95%CI; 4.2-10.4%) pts developed CHF. Since our earlier report, 1 additional CHF event occurred (Trial B) at month 44. Conclusions: Longer follow-up of these 2 studies demonstrate that dd AC → TH with or without L is associated w/ a low risk of CHF. This is consistent w/ the long-term cardiac toxicity reported from the randomized phase III studies of H w/ conventionally scheduled anthracycline-based regimens (with or without taxanes). DDFS outcomes are also encouraging. Clinical trial information: NCT00591851 and NCT00482391.

Long‐term cardiac safety and outcomes of dose‐dense doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel and trastuzumab with and without lapatinib in patients with early breast cancer

The authors have previously reported 2 consecutive phase 2 trials in patients with early breast cancer that overexpresses human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) to assess the feasibility of incorporating anti-HER2 therapies into dose-dense (dd) chemotherapy regimens. The incidence of congestive heart failure (CHF) at a median follow-up of 2 years was 1.4% and 3.2%, respectively. In trial A, patients received dd doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC)→paclitaxel (T) (each given every 2 weeks) × 4 with trastuzumab (H) given × 1 year. In trial B, weekly T (weekly × 12) was substituted for ddT and lapatinib × 1 year was added. Herein, the authors report the longer-term incidence of CHF and distant disease-free survival (DDFS). From January 2005 to May 2008, 165 patients enrolled (median age, 46 years, with a median left ventricular ejection fraction of 68% [range, 52%-81%]), 17%of whom had previous hypertension. With a median follow-up of 84 months (trial A) and 57 months (trial B), 1 additional patient developed CHF. Therefore, the cumulative incidence of CHF was 1.4% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.36%-7.7%) for trial A and 4.2% (95% CI, 4.2%-10.4%) for trial B. The 5-year DDFS for trials A and B was 92% (95% CI, 83%-97%) and 89% (95% CI, 81%-94%), respectively. Longer follow-up of these 2 studies has demonstrated that ddAC→TH only or with lapatinib is associated with a low risk of CHF and promising DDFS in patients with early breast cancer.

Longer-term cardiac safety and outcomes of dose dense (dd) doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC) followed by paclitaxel (T) and trastuzumab (H) with and without lapatinib (L) in patients (pts) with early breast cancer (BC).

630 Background: The addition of H to chemotherapy has improved outcomes in HER2-positive early BC. This approach is associated with (w/) an increased risk (<4%) of congestive heart failure (CHF). At a median f/u of 36 months, the addition of anti-HER2 Rx to dose-dense (every 2 weeks) anthracycline-taxane therapy (Rx) was not associated with excess cardiotoxicity. Here we report the incidence of NYHA Class III/IV CHF in 2 phase II studies with longer follow-up. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of pts w/ HER2 + early stage BC treated at MSKCC and DF/HCC on two trials: In trial A - pts received dd AC (60/600 mg/m2) x 4 → T (175mg/m2) x 4 (w/ pegfilgrastim) w/ H x 1 year. Trial B differed w/ use of weekly T (80mg/m2) x 12 and the addition of L (1000mg orally daily) x 1 year. In both trials, H was begun after completion of AC and concurrent with T. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was prospectively assessed by multi-gated acquisition scan serially throughout Rx. Results: Trial A enrolled 70 pts and Trial B enrolled 95 pts w/ the median age of 46 years (range 27-73 years). Overall, the 5-year distant disease-free survival (DDFS) for trials A and B is 92% (95%Cl; 83-97%) and 89% (95%CI; 81-94%), respectively. The baseline median LVEF was 68% (range 52-81%). In total, 28 of 165 (17%) pts had pre-existing hypertension. Now at a median follow-up of 84 and 57 months respectively, only one (1.4%, 95%CI; 1.36-7.7%) and 4 (4.2%, 95%CI; 4.2-10.4%) pts developed CHF. Since our earlier report, 1 additional CHF event occurred (Trial B) at month 44. Conclusions: Longer follow-up of these 2 studies demonstrate that dd AC → TH with or without L is associated w/ a low risk of CHF. This is consistent w/ the long-term cardiac toxicity reported from the randomized phase III studies of H w/ conventionally scheduled anthracycline-based regimens (with or without taxanes). DDFS outcomes are also encouraging. Clinical trial information: NCT00482391.

Changes in the biologic markers between primary tumor and ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence after breast conserving surgery: Discordance and prognosis.

1116 Background: Changes in biological markers due to recurrence are clinically experienced in breast cancer. However, the clinical significance is still uncertain, especially after breast conserving surgery. The changes in biological markers between primary tumor and ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) and their correlations with prognosis were investigated, retrospectively. Methods: A total of 117 consecutive patients with IBTR without distant metastases were enrolled in this study. All patients were examined for ER, PgR, HER2 and Ki-67 in both the primary and recurrent tumors. The cases were categorized into 3 groups: patients with Ki-67 values <20%, <50% and ≥50%, and divided into 2 groups according to the IBTR site, same quadrant(SQ)and different quadrant(DQ) from the initial sites. The distant disease-free survival (DDFS) was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and evaluated by the log-rank test and multivariate analyses using Cox proportional hazards model. The median follow-up period was 4.8 years after IBTR. Results: The PgR positive rate from the primary tumor to IBTR decreased from 57% to 39% and the Ki-67 values increased significantly from a mean of 17% to 23%. The concordance rate of the subtype was 62%. In the SQ group, the PgR positive rate significantly decreased and the mean Ki-67 values significantly increased, whereas there was no significant difference in the DQ group. In terms of changes by category due to relapse, the discordance rate in Ki-67 was high in the SQ group, and HER2 was high in the DQ group. Regarding DDFS by a change in the categorization, the cases with discordance in Ki-67 values had significantly lower DDFS in the SQ group(5-year DDFS: 75% vs 52%, p=0.04). However, a clear difference was not found in the DQ group. Conclusions: The PgR positive rate decreased while the mean Ki-67 values increased due to IBTR in the SQ group. The categorical discordance in the Ki-67 values was significantly associated with lower DDFS, especially in the SQ group. These findings suggest that the recurrent site and change in the biological markers were clinical significant in the evaluation of the characteristics and treatment in cases with IBTR.

G Protein–Coupled Estrogen Receptor Is Apoptotic and Correlates with Increased Distant Disease-Free Survival of Estrogen Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer Patients

G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1), previously named GPR30, is a membrane receptor reported to mediate nongenomic estrogen responses. We investigated if GPER1 expression correlates with any clinicopathologic variables and distant disease-free survival (DDFS) in patients with breast cancer, if any prognostic impact of the receptor is dependent on estrogen receptor-α (ER-α) status, and if the receptor impacts apoptotic signaling in ER-positive breast cancer cells. GPER1 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in breast tumors from 273 pre- and postmenopausal stage II patients, all treated with adjuvant tamoxifen for 2 years (cohort I) and from 208 premenopausal lymph node-negative patients, of which 87% were not subjected to any adjuvant systemic treatment (cohort II). GPER1-dependent proapoptotic signaling was analyzed in MCF7 cells with and without GPER1 knockdown, T47D cells, HEK293 cells (HEK), and HEK stably expressing GPER1 (HEK-R). GPER1 positively correlates with ER and progesterone receptor expression. Multivariate analysis showed that GPER1 is an independent prognostic marker of increased 10-year DDFS in the ER-positive subgroup. HEK-R has higher basal proapoptotic signaling compared with HEK including increased cytochrome C release, caspase-3 cleavage, PARP cleavage, and decreased cell viability. Treating HEK-R with the proteasome inhibitor epoxomicin, to decrease GPER1 degradation, further increases receptor-dependent proapoptotic signaling. Also, GPER1 knockdown decreases basal and agonist-stimulated proapoptotic receptor signaling in MCF7 cells. GPER1 is a prognostic indicator for increased DDFS in ER-positive breast cancer, which may be associated with constitutive GPER1-dependent proapoptotic signaling in ER-positive breast cancer cells.

Breast Cancer Subtype and Distant Recurrence after Ipsilateral Breast Tumor Recurrence

There is little information about the impact of breast cancer subtype on prognosis after ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR). One hundred eighty-five patients were classified according to breast cancer subtype, as approximated by estrogen receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and Ki-67, of IBTR, and we evaluated whether breast cancer subtype was associated with distant recurrence after IBTR. There was a significant difference in distant disease-free survival (DDFS) after IBTR according to breast cancer subtype defined by a cutoff of the Ki-67 index of 20% (p=0.0074, log-rank test). The 5-year DDFS rates for patients with luminal A, luminal B, triple-negative, and HER2 types were 86.3, 57.1, 56.6, and 65.9%, respectively. In addition, breast cancer subtype was significantly associated with distant recurrence after IBTR on adjustment for various clinicopathologic factors (p=0.0027, Cox proportional hazards model). Our study suggests that breast cancer subtype based on immunohistochemical staining predicts the outcomes of patients with IBTR. Further analyses are needed (UMIN-CTR number UMIN000008136).

Abstract PD10-06: CXCL13 mRNA predicts Docetaxel benefit in Triple Negative tumors

Abstract Background: Presence of immune cell infiltrates in tumor may influence outcome of patients with node negative breast cancer (BC) (Schmidt et al 2008). High expression of CXCL13 (B lymphocyte chemoattractant chemokine) was strongly associated with favorable survival in one recent series consisting of BC patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy (Razis et al. 2012). Here we examined the clinical significance of breast tumor CXCL13 mRNA levels within the context of the FinHer trial, where patients were randomly assigned to receive 3 cycles of either docetaxel or vinorelbine followed by 3 cycles of FEC. Patients with HER2-positive BC had a second randomization for trastuzumab vs. control. Since intratumoral B cells are of particular importance for obtaining response to chemotherapy in triple negative BC (TNBC) and of limited value in luminal BC (Schmidt et al. 2012), and trastuzumab treatment is a confounding factor in HER2+ BC, we focused on TNBC. Methods: RNA was extracted from FFPE tumor tissue of 917 (90.8%) out of the 1010 patients who participated in the FinHer trial. CXCL13 mRNA expression was measured using RT-qPCR. The molecular subtypes (luminal, HER2-enriched and triple-negative) were determined using IHC and central chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) testing. Prognostic significance of factors was assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses. Distant disease-free survival (DDFS) between groups was compared using the log-rank test. Results: Tumor CXCL13 mRNA expression showed a bimodal distribution and correlated negatively with tumor ESR1 mRNA levels (r = −0,31; p < 0.0001). 146 (15.9%) out of the 917cancers were classified as TNBC. High tumor CXCL13 mRNA levels above the median were strongly associated with favorable 5-yr DDFS in TNBC compared to low levels (85% vs. 60%; p < 0.0001). The prognostic value of tumor CXCL13 was evident in the subset of women with TNBC treated with vinorelbine (5-year DDFS 90% vs. 40%; p < 0.0001), whereas no significant association was found in the docetaxel arm (5-year DDFS 80% vs. 80%; p = 0.76). When only patients with TNBC and low CXCL13 mRNA levels were assessed, patients treated with docetaxel had better DDFS compared to those treated with vinorelbine (5-year DDFS 80% versus 40%; p < 0.0064). There was no DDFS difference between treatment arms in patients exhibiting high CXCL13 expression. Conclusions: Tumor CXCL13 mRNA expression is a favorable prognostic factor for women with TNBC treated with adjuvant chemotherapy providing further evidence that the host immune response may influence outcome of patients with early BC. The clinical significance of the host B cell immune response may vary substantially pending on the type of chemotherapy administered. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr PD10-06.

Abstract P2-10-19: Are the mitotic factors Mitotic Activity Index (MAI) and Phosphohistone 3 (PPH3) stronger prognostic proliferation factors than Ki67 in node-negative breast cancer?

Abstract Background: The prognostic value of proliferation in node-negative breast cancer, either in the form of Ki67 or as the main common denominator in different gene expression profiles, has become clearer over the last years. The St Gallen guidelines recommend the use of Ki67 to distinguish between the luminal A and luminal B-like subtypes. Also, data have shown that Ki67 can separate patients with histological grade 2 into two groups with significant difference in prognosis. However, there is no consensus on the methodology for Ki67, and genetic profiling is still expensive. Previous studies have shown a strong prognostic value of the mitosis- and late G2-specific proliferation factors Phosphohistone H3 (PPH3) and mitotic activity index (MAI) in node-negative breast cancer. The present study was set up to study the value of these two factors compared to Ki67, alone and combined. Material and methods: In 221 consecutive premenopausal node-negative breast cancer patients, of whom 87% had received no adjuvant medical treatment, PPH3 was assessed on tissue microarray (TMA), and MAI on whole sections. TMA-data on Ki67 was already available. Cut-offs for MAI, PPH3, and Ki67 were predefined. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to model the impact of the prognostic factors on distant disease-free survival (DDFS). The follow-up was restricted to the first 5 years after diagnosis, a time period during which 34 patients developed distant recurrences. Results: In univariate analysis the strongest prognostic proliferation factor for DDFS was MAI (HR 5.1 95%CI 2.4–11, p < 0.0001), followed by PPH3 (HR 3.7 95%CI 1.8–7.5, p < 0.0001), and Ki67 (HR 2.7 95%CI 1.3–5.4, p = 0.005). ER, PR, HER2, histological grade, and age were also significant prognostic factors. When adding PPH3 to MAI, the prognostic value of MAI was strengthened (HR 6.3 95%CI 2.6–15, p < 0.0001). This corresponded to a 5-year DDFS of 95% for the 57% of the patients who were low risk (95%CI 88–98%), and 71% (95%CI 60–80%) for the 43% high risk patients. Ki67 did however not add any prognostic value to MAI. When stratifying for ER status and histological grade, MAI was a significant prognostic factor in the ER+ patients (HR 15 95%CI 5.1–41, p < 0.0001), as well as in patients with histological grade 2 (HR 11 95%CI 3.2–38, p < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis including HER2, age, and ER, and one proliferation factor at a time, MAI was the only proliferation factor that added independent prognostic value (HR 3.6 95%CI 1.1–11, p = 0.028). Discussion: The present study on node-negative breast cancer patients confirms the strong prognostic value of the proliferation factors MAI and PPH3, in all patients, and more specifically in ER+ patients, and patients with histological grade 2. The study also suggests that by combining two proliferation factors, MAI and PPH3, an even stronger prognostic value is found. Ki67 however, did not add any prognostic value to MAI. Taken together, MAI and PPH3, alone and in combination may be helpful for prognostic considerations and for selection of adjuvant medical treatment. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-10-19.

Human Papillomavirus-16 Infection in Advanced Oral Cavity Cancer Patients Is Related to an Increased Risk of Distant Metastases and Poor Survival

BackgroundHuman papillomavirus (HPV) is an oncogenic virus causing oropharyngeal cancers and resulting in a favorable outcome after the treatment. The role of HPV in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains ambiguous.ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the effect of HPV infection on disease control among patients with OSCC following radical surgery with radiation-based adjuvant therapy.Patients and MethodWe prospectively followed 173 patients with advanced OSCC (96% were stage III/IV) who had undergone radical surgery and adjuvant therapy between 2004 and 2006. They were followed between surgery and death or up to 60 months. Surgical specimens were examined using a PCR-based HPV blot test. The primary endpoints were the risk of relapse and the time to relapse; the secondary endpoints were disease-free survival, disease-specific survival, and overall survival.ResultsThe prevalence of HPV-positive OSCC was 22%; HPV-16 (9%) and HPV-18 (7%) were the genotypes most commonly encountered. Solitary HPV-16 infection was a poor predictor of 5-year distant metastases (hazard ratio, 3.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.4–8.0; P = 0.005), disease-free survival (P = 0.037), disease-specific survival (P = 0.006), and overall survival (P = 0.010), whereas HPV-18 infection had no impact on 5-year outcomes. The rate of 5-year distant metastases was significantly higher in the HPV-16 or level IV/V metastasis group compared with both the extracapsular spread or tumor depth ≥11-mm group and patients without risk factors (P<0.001).ConclusionsHPV infections in advanced OSCC patients are not uncommon and clinically relevant. Compared with HPV-16-negative advanced OSCC patients, those with a single HPV-16 infection are at higher risk of distant metastases and poor survival despite undergoing radiation-based adjuvant therapy and require a more aggressive adjuvant treatment and a more thorough follow-up.

Utilization of fluorescence in situ hybridization with cytokeratin discriminators in TOP2A assessment of chemotherapy-treated patients with breast cancer

Tumor biomarkers increasingly provide information for predicting outcomes with chemotherapeutic regimens (personalized medicine). Topo2A is a DNA helicase targeted by anthracyclines, cytotoxic therapeutics used in both adjuvant and palliative treatments of breast cancer. TOP2A gene amplification/deletion is implicated in response to anthracycline-based chemotherapy. We describe an approach for analyzing formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast tumors on tissue microarrays with TOP2A fluorescence in situ hybridization coupled with cytokeratin immunofluorescence to target tumor cells. Stained tissue from patient specimens was imaged and analyzed using Metafer/Metacyte (Metasystems, Waltham, MA, USA), including customized image classifiers. TOP2A/CEN17 ratios of 2.0 or greater (amplified) and 0.8 or less (deleted) were observed for 10.0% and 6.1% of the patients, respectively. Patient outcomes for adjuvant chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide-epirubicin-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide-methotrexate-fluorouracil, no chemotherapy) were evaluated. No statistical significance was achieved for clinical end points regarding TOP2A status in anthracycline-treated patients. However, patients with TOP2A aberrations receiving methotrexate-based therapy exhibited a significant decrease in 5-year distant disease-free survival and breast cancer-specific overall survival, especially for patients with TOP2A deletions (disease-free survival: hazard ratio, 5.31 [P = .001], and breast cancer-specific overall survival: hazard ratio, 6.45 [P ≤ .001]). No significant differences were seen in patients included in the no-chemotherapy group. Topo2A protein levels were assessed by immunohistochemistry with no correlative statistical relevance to immunofluorescence/fluorescence in situ hybridization-based prognosis for cyclophosphamide-epirubicin-fluorouracil or cyclophosphamide-methotrexate-fluorouracil groups. Interestingly, aberrant (under)expressing patients in the no-chemotherapy group exhibited better 5-year distant disease-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.39; P = .004), trending toward more favorable breast cancer-specific overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.61; P = .11). Our results indicate a strategy by which fluorescence in situ hybridization scoring targeted to cytokeratin-positive tumor cells may provide a tool for added precision and efficiency in TOP2A evaluation from tumor tissue.

Implications of HER2 Amplification in Small, Node‐Negative Breast Cancers: Do Asians Differ?

We investigated the implications of HER2 amplification in Asian women with small, node-negative breast cancer in low- and middle-income countries (LMCs). We reviewed the charts patients treated between 1989 and 2009 with breast conservation therapy for node-negative breast cancers measuring ≤ 2 cm. Disease-free survival (DFS), ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR), distant disease-free survival (DDFS), and overall survival (OS) rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and were compared by the log-rank test. Potential covariates-age, tumor grade, hormone receptor status--were analyzed by multivariate analysis. A total of 519 patients were studied including 204 (39%) and 315 (61%) patients diagnosed with pT1ab and pT1c tumors, respectively. Median follow-up was 57 months. HER2 amplification was found in 17.1% of all patients and in 16.7% patients with pT1ab tumors. Among patients with T1ab tumors, 73.0 and 9.3% underwent adjuvant hormonal and chemotherapy, respectively; 3 of 34 T1ab patients with HER2-amplified tumors received trastuzumab. HER2 amplification was associated with poorer 5-year DFS (83.7% vs. 95.5%, P < 0.0001), DDFS (87.5% vs. 97.9%, P < 0.0001), and IBTR (8.6% vs. 2.1%, P < 0.0001) rates in patients with pT1 tumors. Multivariate analysis showed that HER2 amplification remained a significant negative prognostic factor for DFS [hazard ratio (HR) 4.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.1-7.8, P < 0.0001], DDFS (HR 6.3, 95% CI 2.4-17.0, P < 0.0001), and IBTR (HR 4.5, 95% CI 2.0-10.0, P < 0.0001) rates. In the pT1ab subgroup, univariate analysis showed that HER2 amplification prognosticated for DFS (85.1% vs. 95.7%, P = 0.022) and IBTR (14.9% vs. 3.5%, P = 0.004) rates but not for the OS (100% vs. 99.2%, P = 0.487) rate. Similar results were obtained after excluding patients given trastuzumab. The decision to use trastuzumab in HER2-amplified pT1ab tumors must balance their poor outcome against intrinsic financial limitations in LMCs. Patient selection criteria needs fine-tuning, and resource-sensitive regimens must be explored.

Locoregional Treatment for Breast Carcinoma After Hodgkin's Lymphoma: The Breast Conservation Option

To report clinical and pathologic characteristics and outcome of breast cancer (BC) after irradiation for Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) in women treated at the Institut Curie, with a special focus on the breast-conserving option. Medical records of 72 women who developed either ductal carcinoma in situ or Stage I-III invasive carcinoma of the breast after HL between 1978 and 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Median age at HL diagnosis was 23 years (range, 14-53 years). Median total dose received by the mediastinum was 40 Gy, mostly by a mantle-field technique. Breast cancers occurred after a median interval of 21 years (range, 5-40 years). Ductal invasive carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ represented, respectively, 51 cases (71%) and 14 cases (19%). Invasive BCs consisted of 47 cT0-2 tumors (82%), 5 cN1-3 tumors (9%), and 20 Grade 3 tumors (35%). Locoregional treatment for BCs consisted of mastectomy with (3) or without (36) radiotherapy in 39 patients and lumpectomy with (30) or without (2) adjuvant radiotherapy in 32 patients. The isocentric lateral decubitus radiation technique was used in 17 patients after breast-conserving surgery (57%). With a median follow-up of 7 years, 5-year overall survival rate and locoregional control rate were, respectively, 74.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 64-88%) and 82% (95% CI, 72-93%) for invasive carcinoma and 100% (95% CI, 100 -100%) and 92% (95% CI, 79-100%) for in situ carcinoma. In patients with invasive tumors, the 5-year distant disease-free survival rate was 79% (95% CI, 69-91%), and 13 patients died of progressive BC. Contralateral BC was diagnosed in 10 patients (14%). Breast-conserving treatment can be an option for BCs that occur after HL, despite prior thoracic irradiation. It should consist of lumpectomy and adjuvant breast radiotherapy with use of adequate techniques, such as the lateral decubitus isocentric position, to protect the underlying heart and lung.

A randomized study of individually tailored toxicity-based dosage of fluorouracil-epirubicin-cyclophosphamide chemotherapy (FEC) for early breast cancer.

1017 Background: Dosage of chemotherapy based on body surface area (BSA) does not consider differences in drug clearance and sensitivity, which could result in over- or under-treatment. Several retrospective studies have demonstrated a worse outcome in patients not achieving leucopenia during adjuvant chemotherapy. The SBG 2000−1 trial is the first adjuvant randomized trial designed to compare individually dosed chemotherapy based on grade of leucopenia to standard dosed chemotherapy based on BSA only. Methods: Patients with early breast cancer were included and received the first cycle at a standard dose of FEC (fluorouracil 600 mg/m2, epirubicin 60 mg/m2, cyclophophamide 600 mg/m2). Patients with nadir leucopenia grade 0−2 after first cycle were randomized between either 6 tailored FEC with increased doses (E 75−90 mg/m2, C 900−1200 mg/m2) or continuos treatment with 6 standard FEC. Patients with nadir leucopenia grade 3−4 after the first cycle were not randomized but represented a second control group treated with 6 standard FEC. Primary end-point was distant disease-free survival (DDFS). Results: A total of 1,535 patients were included in the study. After cycle one 1052 patients with low toxicity (leucopenia grade 0−2) were randomized to tailored FEC (n=524) or standard FEC (n=528) whereas 401 patients with leucopenia grade 3−4 continued standard FEC and were registered. With a median follow-up of 5.5 years the 5-year DDFS was 85% and 84% (HR 0.80, CI 0.59−1.08, p=0.14) with a disease-free survival of 82% and 79% (HR 0.76, CI 0.58−0.99, p=0.04) for the tailored and standard FEC group respectively. The overall survival was 90% and 89% (HR 0.80, CI 0.56−1.13, p=0.20,). The 5-year DDFS for the registered second control group was 85% and did not differ from the group of patients allocated to tailored FEC (HR 0.94, CI 0.67−1.32). Conclusions: The SBG 2000−1 study failed to show a statistically significant improvement of tailored dosed chemotherapy compared with standard BSA based chemotherapy. However, all efficacy parameters showed trends towards a better outcome for the tailored treatment with estimated hazard ratios of considerable magnitude.

Combination of the proliferation marker cyclin A, histological grade, and estrogen receptor status in a new variable with high prognostic impact in breast cancer

Global gene expression profiles, consisting mainly of genes associated with proliferation, have been shown to subdivide histological grade 2 breast cancers into groups with different prognosis. We raised the question whether this subdivision could be done using a single proliferation marker, cyclin A. Furthermore, we combined cyclin A (CA), histological grade (G), and estrogen receptor--ER (E) into a new variable, CAGE. Our aim was to investigate not only the prognostic importance of cyclin A alone but also the value of the combination variable CAGE. In 219 premenopausal node-negative patients, cyclin A was assessed using immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays. High cyclin A was defined as above the seventh decile of positive cells. Only 13% of the patients received adjuvant systemic therapy. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to model the impact of the factors on distant disease-free survival (DDFS). Cyclin A divided histological grade 2 tumors into two groups with significantly different DDFS (hazard ratio [HR]: 15, P < 0.001). When stratifying for ER status, cyclin A was a prognostic factor only in the ER positive subgroup. We found that CAGE was an independent prognostic factor for DDFS in multivariate analysis (HR: 4.1, P = 0.002), together with HER2. CAGE and HER2 identified 53% as low-risk patients with a 5-year DDFS of 95%. A new prognostic variable was created by combining cyclin A, histological grade, and ER (CAGE). CAGE together with HER2 identified a large low-risk group for whom adjuvant chemotherapy will have limited efficacy and may be avoided.

Abstract PD01-02: Integration of Capecitabine into Anthracycline-and Taxane-Based Adjuvant Therapy for Triple-Negative Early Breast Cancer: Final Subgroup Analysis of the FinXX Study

Abstract Background: Standard adjuvant chemotherapy regimens for patients with moderate-to-high risk early breast cancer typically contain a taxane, an anthracycline and cyclophosphamide. The randomised, phase III FinXX study aimed to investigate whether the integration of capecitabine into such a regimen enhances outcome. Here we present final 5-year exploratory analyses from the subgroup of patients with triple-negative early breast cancer (TNBC). Methods: Patients aged 18-65 years, with histologically confirmed invasive node positive breast cancer or node negative progesterone receptor negative breast cancer &amp;gt; 20 mm, and with a WHO performance status of 0 or 1, with no previous neoadjuvant chemotherapy were randomised. Patients received 3 x XT (capecitabine 900mg/m2 bid d1-15 + docetaxel 60mg/m2 d1)≥3 x CEX (cyclophosphamide 600mg/m2 d1, + epirubicin 75mg/m2 d1 + X 900mg/m2 bid d1-15, q3w) or 3 x T (80mg/m2 d1)≥3 x CEF (C 600mg/m2 d1, E 75mg/m2 d1, 5-FU 600mg/m2 d1, q3w). The primary endpoint was RFS, defined as the time from randomisation to the first time the patient is recorded as having disease recurrence or the date of death if the patient dies due to causes other than disease recurrence. Secondary endpoints included overall survival and safety. Results: Between January 2004 and May 2007, 1,500 women from Finland and Sweden were randomised (XT→CEX n=753, T→CEF n=747). Of these, 202 patients (13.5%) had TNBC (XT→CEX n=93, T→CEF n=109). After a median follow-up of 59 months, RFS was significantly improved in the TNBC XT→CEX arm versus control (HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.26-0.88; p=0.018). The following endpoints were also significant: 5-year RFS in patients with TNBC versus those without TNBC (HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.36-0.69; P&amp;lt;0.001); 5-year distant disease-free survival in TNBC patients receiving XT→CEX versus control (HR 0.51, p=0.035); overall survival in TNBC patients receiving XT→CEX versus control (HR 0.42, p=0.019). Conclusions: The FinXX trial is the first to report the efficacy of capecitabine in combination with anthracycline-/taxane-containing therapy in the adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer. The exploratory subgroup analysis shows that XT→CEX is more effective than T→CEF in triple-negative BC, a population with a high unmet need; XT→CEX versus control resulted in a significant improvement in RFS and OS after 5 years. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr PD01-02.

The clinical research of local recurrence after breast-conserving therapy for breast cancer

To compare and analyze the data of breast cancer recurrence after breast-conserving therapy (BCT), and to find high risk factors that can affect local recurrence. A total of 1034 patients in the data base between January 2000 and June 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients aged 23 to 94 years when diagnosed (median age, 48 years). The data was investigated to compare of two different groups in local recurrence rate and survival rate. The high risk factors of recurrence after BCT [estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER-2), age, lymph node involvement, tumor diameter, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, pathological status] were studied. The patients were followed-up to June 2010, and the median period was 42 months (range, 3-126 months). During the period, 35 patients developed ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (3.3%), 47 patients had metastasis to distant organs (4.5%). The 5-year disease-free survival was 87.7%, 5-year distant disease-free survival was 94.0%. The lymph node status, HER-2 status and age were significant risk factors for ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence on univariate analysis. One peak recurrence period was from the 2nd to 3rd year, and the other was from the 5th to 6th year after the operation. The HER-2 status was independent factors of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence on multivariate analysis. The recurrence happens primarily in the 2nd to 3rd and the 5th to 6th year after the breast-conserving therapy. HER-2 status is an independent factor of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence. The patients with high risk factors of recurrence should be treated more aggressively.

Identification of a low-risk subgroup of HER-2-positive breast cancer by the 70-gene prognosis signature

Background:Overexpression of HER-2 is observed in 15–25% of breast cancers, and is associated with increased risk of recurrence. Current guidelines recommend trastuzumab and chemotherapy for most HER-2-positive patients. However, the majority of patients does not recur and might thus be overtreated with adjuvant systemic therapy. We investigated whether the 70-gene MammaPrint signature identifies HER-2-positive patients with favourable outcome.Methods:In all, 168 T1–3, N0–1, HER-2-positive patients were identified from a pooled database, classified by the 70-gene signature as good or poor prognosis, and correlated with long-term outcome. A total of 89 of these patients did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy.Results:In the group of 89 chemotherapy-naive patients, after a median follow-up of 7.4 years, 35 (39%) distant recurrences and 29 (33%) breast cancer-specific deaths occurred. The 70-gene signature classified 20 (22%) patients as good prognosis, with 10-year distant disease-free survival (DDFS) of 84%, compared with 69 (78%) poor prognosis patients with 10-year DDFS of 55%. The estimated hazard ratios (HRs) were 4.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–18.7, P=0.04) and 3.8 (95% CI 0.9–15.8, P=0.07) for DDFS and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS), respectively. In multivariate analysis adjusted for known prognostic factors and hormonal therapy, HRs were 5.8 (95% CI 1.3–26.7, P=0.03) and 4.7 (95% CI 1.0–21.7, P=0.05) for DDFS and BCSS, respectively.Interpretation:The 70-gene prognosis signature is an independent prognostic indicator that identifies a subgroup of HER-2-positive early breast cancer with a favourable long-term outcome.

Mammary-derived growth inhibitor (MDGI) interacts with integrin α-subunits and suppresses integrin activity and invasion

The majority of mortality associated with cancer is due to formation of metastases from the primary tumor. Adhesion mediated by different integrin heterodimers has an important role during cell migration and invasion. Protein interactions with the β1-integrin cytoplasmic tail are known to influence integrin affinity for extracellular ligands, but regulating binding partners for the α-subunit cytoplasmic tails have remained elusive. In this study, we show that mammary-derived growth inhibitor (MDGI) (also known as FABP-3 or H-FABP) binds directly to the cytoplasmic tail of integrin α-subunits and its expression inhibits integrin activity. In breast cancer cell lines, MDGI expression correlates with suppression of the active conformation of integrins. This results in reduced integrin adhesion to type I collagen and fibronectin and inhibition of cell migration and invasion. In tissue microarray of 1331 breast cancer patients, patients with MDGI-positive tumors had more favorable 10-year distant disease-free survival compared with patients with MDGI-negative tumors. Our data indicate that MDGI is a novel interacting partner for integrin α-subunits, and its expression modulates integrin activity and suppresses cell invasion in breast cancer patients. Retained MDGI expression is associated with favorable prognosis.

Challenges in Developing New Biomarkers for Breast Cancer

Adjuvant systemic treatment of breast cancer has been improved. However, despite guided endocrine therapy with tamoxifen and/or aromatase inhibitors (AIs) to estrogenreceptor (ER) and/or progesterone-receptor (PR)–positive tumors and trastuzumab for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive tumor, a substantial proportion of these women develop recurrence indicative of drug resistance. The need to identify new markers as predictors of response to targeted agents is apparent. In a recent issue of the World Journal of Surgery, Falck and colleagues [1] evaluated whether the additional analysis of lymph node metastasis for ER/PR, HER2, and Ki67 status might improve the prognostic and predictive power of the standard primary breast tumor analysis. The authors found high concordance for ER/PR, HER2, and Ki67 expression in primary tumors and corresponding lymph node metastases. Falck et al. [1] conclude that treatment selection based on biomarkers in the lymph node is a topic for further studies. The study showed that 5-year distant disease-free survival was modestly improved when ER, PR, HER2, and Ki67 analysis of lymph node metastasis was considered in addition to standard primary tumor analysis. This finding is not surprising because it is widely accepted that cancer cells that escape from the primary tumor are responsible for metastases in the lymph nodes and distant organs. Given the current use of trastuzumab for HER2-positive tumors as standard treatment, the finding in this study that HER2 positivity at both locations—in the primary tumor and nodal metastases—was an indicator of early relapse is of limited clinical utility. Despite its limitations, the study by Falck and colleagues confirms the need to identify novel sophisticated biomarkers. Despite all of the efforts by academia and industry, including the excitement with a series of papers that reported many potential markers, no new predictor of recurrence risk, survival, and response to therapy has been included as standard tool in clinical practice. The latest studies using massively parallel sequencing technology reveal that breast cancer is a much more heterogeneous and complex disease than we could imagine. It appears that without understanding the molecular, genetic, and genomic basis of breast cancer and how recurrence and metastasis is driven and by which mutated genes or their interaction, the probability to discover robust biomarkers with a true clinical application is minimal [2–14].

Prognostic Significance of Neutropenia on Day One of Anthracycline-Based Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Operable Breast Cancer

Objectives: It is currently unknown whether neutropenia during neoadjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer is associated with prognosis. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 103 breast cancer patients who were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy including epirubicin-based chemotherapy followed by docetaxel. The association between neutropenia due to epirubicin-based chemotherapy and distant disease-free survival (DDFS) was assessed. Results: Thirty-one patients (30%) demonstrated neutropenia during the epirubicin-based regimen. Patients without neutropenia showed a significantly (p = 0.004) lower 5-year DDFS rate (64%) than those with neutropenia (97%). In addition, multivariate analysis showed that neutropenia is an independent prognostic factor for DDFS (p = 0.02). Conclusion: Neutropenia occurring in early breast cancer patients during the initial neoadjuvant treatment is strongly associated with a better prognosis.