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Fat grafting in the surgical treatment of breast cancer has become popular in a short period of time because of the rising expectations of good esthetic results by the patients as well as the simplicity of the technique; however, the oncological safety for breast cancer patients remains a matter of debate. The procedure raises many questions considering that recent in-vitro studies have shown that fat grafting could promote tumor recurrence through diverse mechanisms, or even facilitate distant metastasis. We present a review of the currently available experimental and clinical data in order to describe and discuss patient selection criteria following breast cancer surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Emerging literature data are showing that a change in human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2) status adversely affects breast cancer patient's prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of HER2 loss in patients with HER2-positive disease treated with neoadjuvant therapy with or without anti-HER2 agents. Methods One hundred and seven consecutive HER2-positive patients were identified from a prospectively maintained database. The first cohort includes 40 patients treated with chemotherapy (CT) alone. The second cohort includes 67 patients treated with neoadjuvant CT plus anti-HER2 agents (trastuzumab and/or lapatinib). HER2 expression was evaluated by immunihistochemistry or fluorescence in situ hybridization on pretreatment core biopsy and on surgical specimen after therapy. Results The rates of pathologic complete response (pCR) and breast-conserving surgery were higher in the CT + anti-HER2 cohort. A loss of HER2 expression was observed in 40% of the patients with residual disease after CT alone versus 14.7% of the patients after CT + anti-HER2 agents (P = 0.019). Patients not achieving a pCR have a significant increase in the risk of relapse when compared with those achieving a pCR (hazard ratio [HR] 9.55, P = 0.028). Patients with HER2 loss tended to have a higher risk of relapse as comparing to patients with maintained HER2 positivity (HR 2.41, P = 0.063). Conclusion The pCR is confirmed as a powerful predictor of long-term outcome. The rate of HER2 loss is higher in patients receiving neoadjuvant CT without anti-HER2 agents. HER2 status on residual disease after preoperative therapy can be helpful in selecting patients at different risk of relapse, to be included in prospective trial exploring further adjuvant therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Preoperative chemotherapy (PCT) allows for in vivo testing of treatment effects on tumor and its microenvironment. Aim of this analysis was to evaluate the effect of PCT on tumor biomarker expression and to evaluate the prognostic role of treatment-induced variation of these biomarkers (molecular response). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This trial was conducted to assess the activity and tolerability of the gemcitabine, epirubicin, taxol triplet combination in patients with operable breast cancer. After core biopsy, 43 women with stage II-IIIA breast cancer were treated with gemcitabine 1000 mg m(-2) over 30 min on days 1 and 4, epirubicin 90 mg m(-2) as an intravenous bolus on day 1, and taxol 175 mg m(-2) as a 3-h infusion on day 1, every 21 days for four cycles. The primary end point was the percentage of pathological complete responses (pCR) in the breast; secondary end points were tolerability, clinical response rates, overall and progression-free survival, tumour biomarkers before and after primary chemotherapy (PCT). All patients were included in safety and survival analyses; 41 eligible patients were evaluated for response. The overall clinical response rate was 87.8% (95% CI 77.8-97.8), with 26.8% complete responses (95% CI 13.3-40.3). A pCR in the breast was observed in six patients (14.6%; 95% CI 3.8-25.4); 15 patients (36.6%; 95% CI 21.9-51.3) had negative axillary lymph nodes. Grade 4 neutropenia was observed in 67.4% of the patients; febrile neutropenia occurred in 1.9% of cycles (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was used in 3.2% of the cycles to shorten the duration of neutropenia). A statistically significant difference between Mib-1 at baseline (> or =20% in 71.4% of the patients) and at definitive surgery (28.6%, P < 0.05) was observed. The gemcitabine, epirubicin, taxol regimen is active and well tolerated as PCT for operable breast cancer. This combination allows the administration of full doses of active agents with a low incidence of febrile neutropenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary:We retrospectively evaluated the predictive and prognostic role of HER2 expression in 44 metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients treated with high-dose consolidation chemotherapy (HDCT) and autologous stem cell support after induction chemotherapy (IC) with six courses of epirubicin+paclitaxel (22 patients) or gemcitabine+epirubicin+paclitaxel (22 patients). HER2 expression was evaluated by an immunohistochemical method (Herceptest, Dako). A total of 13 patients (29.5%) showed a HER2 overexpression (score 3+). After IC, nine patients were in complete response (CR), 30 in partial response (PR), and five in stable disease (SD); after HDCT, 20 (45.5%) obtained a CR, and 23 were in PR, for a conversion rate of 48.5%. Conversion rate for HER2-positive patients was 87.5 vs 37% for HER2-negative patients (P=0.018). The median progression-free (PFS) and overall survivals (OS) were 17.6 (95% CI 13.2-22.0) and 44 (95% CI 25.9-62.3) months, respectively. Patients with HER2 overexpression experienced a significantly (P=0.0042) shorter median PFS (15.3 months, 95% CI 11.1-19.5) compared to HER2-negative patients (21.3 months, 95% CI 14.3-28.4). The median OS was 27.6 months (95% CI 4.5-50.7) in HER2-positive patients and 50.3 months (95% CI 38.7-62.0) in HER2-negative patients (P=0.345). These results indicate that HER2 overexpression predicts a worse outcome for patients with MBC treated with HDCT, despite the high CR rate obtained in this subset of patients.Bone Marrow Transplantation (2004) 34, 413-417. doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1704619 Published online 26 July 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the impact of prior adjuvant chemotherapy on response rate (RR), progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of metastatic breast cancer patients treated with epirubicin/paclitaxel (ET) regimens. In all, 291 patients enrolled in five studies in metastatic breast cancer were analysed: 101 (35%) were chemonaive, 109 (37%) had received adjuvant CMF and 81 (28%) adjuvant anthracyclines. Response rate to ET was 66%. Response rate was 63% for cyclophosphamide plus methotrexate plus 5-fluorouracil (CMF), 67% for prior anthracyclines and 68% in chemonaive patients (P=0.5). By multivariate analysis, adjusted odds ratio for response was 0.81 (95% CI: 0.37-1.79) for CMF and 0.92 (95% CI 0.43-2.01) for anthracyclines (P=0.86). The CR rates were 14% for both CMF and anthracyclines and 22% for chemonaive patients (P=0.2). By multivariate analysis, the relative odds of CR for CMF or anthracyclines were 0.40 and 0.39 as compared to chemonaive patients (P=0.036). The median PFS was 11.0 months for prior CMF, 10.2 months for anthracyclines and 12.5 months in chemonaive patients (P=0.33). In multivariate Cox's model, a nonsignificant increase in the risk of progression was seen in patients treated with adjuvant CMF or anthracyclines. The median OS was 23.8 months for CMF, 20.2 months for anthracyclines and 27.5 months in chemonaive patients (P=0.61). The same, nonsignificant, association was seen in multivariate analysis. The ET regimens provide satisfactory results in metastatic breast cancer, regardless of previous adjuvant chemotherapy.British Journal of Cancer (2004) 90, 962-967. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6601634 www.bjcancer.com [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preliminary randomized studies have failed to show a survival benefit of high-dose chemotherapy with alkylators in advanced breast cancer. Idarubicin is an active agent in breast cancer and is suitable for dose escalation. We designed a dose finding study with escalating high-dose idarubicin (HD-Ida) followed by fixed high-dose thiotepa+melphalan (HD-TM) with peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) in MBC patients with stable disease or in partial response after six courses of induction chemotherapy with gemcitabine 1000?mg/m2 days 1 and 4, epirubicin 90?mg/m2 day 1, taxol 175?mg/m2 day 1 (GET). Aims of the study were to identify the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of idarubicin, to evaluate the cardiac safety and activity of HD-Ida and HD-TM after GET and to study the pharmacokinetic profile of idarubicin and idarubicinol. A total of 14 patients were treated. Idarubicin was administered as a 48?h continuous i.v. infusion at the following dose levels: 40?mg/m2 (three patients), 50?mg/m2 (three patients), 60?mg/m2 (five patients) and 70?mg/m2 (three patients). Mucositis was the dose-limiting toxicity and the MTD was 60?mg/m2. Cmax of Idarubicin and idarubicinol were 7.7±2.0 and 26.3±9.7?ng/ml at 40?mg/m2 and increased to 14.8+3.0 and 47.4+12.6?ng/ml at 70?mg/m2. AUCt0-264 of idarubicin and idarubicinol increased from 423.2±111.6 and 2581±606?hng/ml at 40?mg/m2 to 732.8±140.2 and 4590±1258?hng/ml at 70?mg/m2. Conversion rates after HD-Ida and HD-TM were 28.6 and 38.5%, respectively. No episodes of cardiac toxicity were observed. We conclude that HD-Ida followed by HD-TM is feasible and devoid of cardiac toxicity. Moreover, the activity of HD-Ida after a epirubicin-containing regimen suggests incomplete crossresistance between the two drugs.Bone Marrow Transplantation... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline provides key recommendations and algorithms for the management of patients with EBC. • It covers diagnosis, staging, risk assessment, treatment, follow-up, specific situations and the patient perspective. • The author group is multidisciplinary, with experts representing a range of institutions worldwide. • Recommendations, including ESMO-MCBS and ESCAT scores where applicable, are based on available evidence and expert opinion. • Patient communication and shared decision making are covered with respect to diagnostic procedures and treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The HER2DX genomic test predicts pathological complete response (pCR) and survival outcome in early-stage HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer. Here, we evaluated the association of HER2DX scores with (i) pCR according to hormone receptor status and various treatment regimens, and (ii) survival outcome according to pCR status. Seven neoadjuvant cohorts with HER2DX and clinical individual patient data were evaluated (DAPHNe, GOM-HGUGM-2018-05, CALGB-40601, ISPY-2, BiOnHER, NEOHER and PAMELA). All patients were treated with neoadjuvant trastuzumab (n = 765) in combination with pertuzumab (n = 328), lapatinib (n = 187) or without a second anti-HER2 drug (n = 250). Event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) outcomes were available in a combined series of 268 patients (i.e. NEOHER and PAMELA) with a pCR (n = 118) and without a pCR (n = 150). Cox models were adjusted to evaluate whether HER2DX can identify patients with low or high risk beyond pCR status. HER2DX pCR score was significantly associated with pCR in all patients [odds ratio (OR) per 10-unit increase = 1.59, 95% confidence interval 1.43-1.77; area under the ROC curve = 0.75], with or without dual HER2 blockade. A statistically significant increase in pCR rate due to dual HER2 blockade over trastuzumab-only was observed in HER2DX pCR-high tumors treated with chemotherapy (OR = 2.36 (1.09-5.42). A statistically significant increase in pCR rate due to multi-agent chemotherapy over a single taxane was observed in HER2DX pCR-medium tumors treated with dual HER2 blockade (OR = 3.11, 1.54-6.49). The pCR rates in HER2DX pCR-low tumors were ≤30.0% regardless of treatment administered. After adjusting by pCR status, patients identified as HER2DX low-risk had better EFS (P < 0.001) and OS (P = 0.006) compared with patients with HER2DX high-risk. HER2DX pCR score and risk score might help identify ideal candidates to receive neoadjuvant dual HER2 blockade in combination with a single taxane in early-stage HER2+ breast cancer. • Seven neoadjuvant cohorts with HER2DX and clinical individual patient data were evaluated (n = 765). • HER2DX pCR score was found to be significantly associated with pCR in all patients. • HER2DX identify patients who benefit more from dual HER2 blockade. • HER2DX identify patients who benefit more from multi-agent chemotherapy over single taxane. • HER2DX risk score identify patients with lower risk of recurrence irrespective of pCR status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Since the introduction of anti-Her2 agents, the prognosis of HER2 positive breast cancer patients significantly improved. In the adjuvant setting, the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab has been evaluated in six randomized trials including more than 10,000 patients. Different modes of administration (concurrent versus sequential), durations (one year, two years or 9 weeks) and different chemotherapy regimens have been evaluated. To date, one year of trastuzumab in combination or after chemotherapy is the standard adjuvant therapy for patients with HER2 overexpressing tumors. Cardiac safety is still a major clinical issue, in particular in the treatment of early breast cancer. Several large randomized trials exploring shorter, and potentially less toxic, regimens are ongoing across several European countries. In the neoadjuvant setting, the addition of trastuzumab to chemotherapy resulted in a significantly higher activity as compared to chemotherapy alone. Unfortunately, primary and secondary resistance to trastuzumab is observed both in early and advanced disease. Several mechanisms are described as possible determinants of trastuzumab failure, and several new antiHER2 strategies are in development. Lapatinib, the HER1–2 TK inhibitor is currently approved in advanced disease after trastuzumab failure. Lapatinib is under evaluation in a large adjuvant trial, and in several neoadjuvant studies. Other molecules such pertuzumab, which binds the HER2 dimerization domain, or the pan-erbB TK inhibitor neratinib are under evaluation in the (neo)-adjuvant setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are emerging as strong prognostic factor for early breast cancer patients, especially in the triple-negative subtype. Here, we aim to validate previous findings on the prognostic role of TIL in the context of two randomized adjuvant trials and to investigate whether lymphocyte infiltrates can predict benefit from adjuvant anthracyclines. Patients and methods: A total of 816 patients enrolled and treated at the Gustave Roussy in the context of two multicentric randomized trials comparing adjuvant anthracyclines versus no chemotherapy were included in the present analysis. Primary end point was overall survival (OS). Hematoxilin and eosin slides of primary tumors were retrieved and evaluated for the percentage of intratumoral (It) and stromal (Str) TIL. Each case was also defined as high-TIL or low-TIL breast cancer adopting previously validated cutoffs. Results: TIL were assessable for 781 of 816 cases. High-TIL cases were more likely grade 3 and estrogen receptor (ER)-negative (P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, both continuous It-TIL and Str-TIL were strong prognostic factors for OS [hazard ratio (HR) 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77-0.95 P = 0.003; HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.81-0.96, P = 0.005 for It-TIL and Str-TIL, respectively]. The prognostic effect of continuous TIL was limited to triple-negative and HER2-positive patients. Ten-year OS rates were: 89% and 68% for triple-negative high-TIL and low-TIL, respectively (HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.18-1.10, P = 0.07) and 78% and 57% for HER2-positive high-TIL versus low-TIL, respectively (HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.20- 1.11, P = 0.08). Either continuous or binary TIL variables did not predict for the efficacy of anthracyclines. Test for interaction P value was not significant in the whole study population and in subgroups (ER+/HER2-, HER2+, ER-/HER2-). Conclusions: We confirmed the prognostic role of TIL in triple-negative early breast cancer and suggested a prognostic impact in HER2+ patients as well. Basing on our data, TIL should not be used as a parameter to select patients for anthracyclines chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this work was to evaluate the impact of (and relative contribution of) tumor-related and immunerelated diversity of HER2-positive disease on the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus anti-HER2 agents. Patients and methods: The CherLOB phase II study randomized 121 HER2-positive breast cancer patients to neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus trastuzumab, lapatinib or both. Tumor samples from diagnostic core biopsy were centralized. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were evaluated on H&E slides. Intrinsic subtyping was carried out using the researchbased 50-gene prediction analysis of a microarray (PAM50) subtype predictor. Immune-related gene signatures were also evaluated. Results: Continuous Str-TILs and It-TILs were significantly associated with pCR [OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.05 (P < 0.001) and OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.04-1.15 (P < 0.001) for Str-TILs and It-TILs, respectively]. According to PAM50, the subtype distribution was as follows: HER2-enriched 26.7%, Luminal A 25.6%, Luminal B 16.3%, Basal-like 14% and Normal-like 17.4%. The highest rate of pCR was observed for the HER2-enriched subtype (50%), followed by Basal-like, Luminal B and Luminal A (2 test, P = 0.026). Immune gene signatures significantly associated with pCR in univariate analyses were identified: most of them maintained a significant association with pCR in multivariate analyses corrected for PAM50 subtypes, whereas TILs did not. Conclusions: In this study, both tumor-related and immune-related features contribute to the modulation of pCR after neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus anti-HER2 agents. Immune signatures rather than TILs added significant prediction of pCR beyond PAM50 intrinsic subtypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of a high level of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with better prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer patients. This parameter may represent a new surrogate of drug efficacy in the neoadjuvant setting and a new risk stratification tool to select patients who may benefit from the inclusion in post-neoadjuvant trials.Background There is a need to develop surrogates for treatment efficacy in the neoadjuvant setting to speed-up drug development and stratify patients according to outcome. Preclinical studies showed that chemotherapy induces an antitumor immune response. In order to develop new surrogates for drug efficacy, we assessed the prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) on residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Patients and methods Three hundred four TNBC patients with residual disease after NACT were retrospectively identified in three different hospitals. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides from surgical postchemotherapy specimens were evaluated for intratumoral (It-TIL) and stromal (Str-TIL) TIL. Cases were classified as High-TIL if It-TIL and/or Str-TIL >60%. Results TIL were assessable for 278 cases. Continuous It-TIL and Str-TIL variables were strong prognostic factors in the multivariate model, both for metastasis-free [hazard ratio (HR) 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77–0.96, P = 0.01 and HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.75–0.98, P = 0.02 for Str-TIL and It-TIL, respectively] and overall survival (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.77–0.97, P = 0.01 and HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.75–0.99, P = 0.03 for Str-TIL and It-TIL, respectively). The 5-year overall survival rate was 91% (95% CI 68% to 97%) for High-TIL patients (n = 27) and 55% (95% CI 48% to 61%) for Low-TIL patients (HR 0.19, 95% CI 0.06–0.61, log-rank P = 0.0017). The major prognostic impact of TIL was seen for patients with large tumor burden following NACT (residual tumor >2 cm and/or node metastasis). In all but one High-TIL case, It-TIL and Str-TIL values were lower on the prechemotherapy sample. Conclusions The presence of TIL in residual disease after NACT is associated with better prognosis in TNBC patients. This parameter may represent a new surrogate of drug efficacy to test investigational agents in the neoadjuvant setting and a new prognostic marker to select patients at high risk of relapse. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background Tumor phenotype may change during breast cancer progression. This study evaluates the prognostic impact of receptor discordance between paired primaries and recurrences. Patients and methods One hundred and thirty-nine patients underwent histological sampling of suspected breast cancer recurrence. All the pathology assessments [ER, PgR and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)] on both primaries and confirmed recurrences were performed at the same laboratory. Results A breast cancer recurrence was confirmed in 119 cases. Rates of discordance were 13.4%, 39% and 11.8% for ER, PgR and HER2, respectively. Ninety-two patients maintained the same tumor phenotype [i.e. the same hormone receptors (HR) and HER2 status], whereas 27 (22.7%) changed during progression. The loss of HR positivity and the loss of HER2 positivity resulted in a worse post-recurrence survival (P = 0.01 and P = 0.008, respectively) and overall survival (OS; P = 0.06 and P = 0.0002, respectively), compared with the corresponding concordant-positive cases. Tumor phenotype discordance was associated with worse post-recurrence and OS (P = 0.006 and P = 0.002, respectively); those cases who turned into triple-negative experienced the poorest outcome, respect to the concordant group (P = 0.001, OS). Conclusions We demonstrated for the first time an impact on OS of phenotype discordance between primary breast cancer and relapse. Among discordant cases, receptor loss resulted in the main determinant of poorer outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer (BC) comprises all the intrinsic molecular subtypes, with the HER2-enriched (HER2-E) usually being the most represented. Data coming from neoadjuvant trials of HER2+ BC treated with anti-HER2 containing regimens, with or without chemotherapy (CT), have shown that HER2-E tumors are more likely to achieve pathologic complete response (pCR) than non-HER2-E tumors. We decided to perform a meta-analysis combining all the available data in attempt to validate the ability of the HER2-E signature to predict pCR. A systematic literature search was performed to identify clinical studies exploring the correlation between BC subtypes and pCR after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) with anti-HER2 containing regimens in patients affected by HER2+ early BC. Primary analysis compared the association of gene signatures with pCR. Secondary analyses compared the association of gene signatures with pCR within hormone receptor (HR) positive (+) or negative (-) BC. Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for pCR were extracted from each trial. A random-effect model was applied. The Higgins' I2 was used to quantify heterogeneity. Sixteen studies (2,857 patients) were included; 4 investigated CT-free regimens. Various methods for assessing BC intrinsic subtypes were used across all trials. HER2-E subtype was significantly associated with pCR in all patients (OR: 3.32, 95% CI: 2.70-4.07, p < 0.001, I2=25%) and in HR + (OR: 3.40, 2.51-4.61, p < 0.001, I2=0%) and HR- (OR: 1.97, 1.10-3.54, p = 0.02, I2=46%) disease. In CT-free studies, HER2-E subtype was significantly associated with pCR in all patients (OR: 4.43, 2.34-8.38, p < 0.001, I2=0%) and in HR+ disease (OR: 4.79, 2.23-10.29, p < 0.001, I2=0%), but not within HR- tumors (OR: 2.18, 0.66-7.26, p = 0.20). HER2-E subtype identifies patients with a higher likelihood of achieving a pCR following anti-HER2-based NAT, with or without CT. In the latter case, albeit limited by small casuistry, the association seems stronger in HR+ tumors. This suggests that strategies to escalate or de-escalate systemic therapy in HER2+ tumors would benefit from incorporating intrinsic subtypes. The authors. Has not received any funding. F. Schettini: Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Pfizer and Celgene. T. Pascual: Advisory / Consultancy: Roche. P.F. Conte: Honoraria (self): BMS, Roche, EliLilly, Novartis, AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy: Novartis, EliLilly, AstraZeneca, Tesaro; Research grant / Funding (self): Novartis, Roche, BMS, Merck-KGa; Research grant / Funding (self): Italian Ministry of Health, Veneto Secretary of Health, University of Padua. S. De Placido: Honoraria (self): Roche, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Celgene, Lilly and Eisai. L. Carey: Research grant / Funding (institution): Genentech / Roche, Novartis, Seattle Genetics, G1 Therapeutics, Immunomedics, Innocrin. C.M. Perou: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options: BioClassifier LLC; Advisory / Consultancy: BioClassifier LLC; Licensing / Royalties: Breast PAM50. A. Prat: Full / Part-time employment, An immediate family member employed: Novartis; Honoraria (self): Pfizer, Novartis, Roche, MSD Oncology, Lilly and Daiichi Sankyo; Advisory / Consultancy: NanoString Technologies, Amgen, Roche, Novartis, Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb; Research grant / Funding (self): Roche, Novartis; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Daiichi Sankyo. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In HR+/HER2- early BC, high tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) levels predict higher pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, but are associated with shorter overall survival (Denkert, Lancet Oncol 2018). HR+/HER2- BC is a biologically heterogeneous disease, encompassing all BC molecular intrinsic subtypes, with different clinical behaviour (Cejalvo, CTR 2018). Little is known concerning the distribution of TIL levels and immune infiltrate composition across intrinsic subtypes in HR+/HER2- BC. Gene-expression data (Affymetrix platform) from pre-treatment frozen core-biopsies was available from 66 postmenopausal patients with HR+/HER2- early BC from the LETLOB trial (neoadjuvant letrozole+/-lapatinib) (Guarneri, JCO 2014). Intrinsic subtype was assigned using a research-based PAM50 subtype predictor. Relative leukocyte fractions were calculated using CIBERSORT (Newman, Nature Methods 2015), a deconvolution method based on RNA gene-expression signatures. Pre-treatment stromal TILs were assessed on centralized HES slides according to recommendations (Salgado, Ann Oncol 2015). Intrinsic subtype distribution was as follows: basal 18% (N = 12), HER2-enriched 8% (N = 5), Luminal A 39% (N = 25), Luminal B 36% (N = 24). Non-luminal subtypes (HER2-enriched and Basal) had significantly higher baseline TIL levels than luminal subtypes (median (range): 7 (0-100) and 2 (0-35), respectively; p = 0.038). Non-luminal subtypes also presented higher fractions of CD4 memory activated T-cells (p = 0.018), γδ T-cells (p = 0.010) and M1 macrophages (p = 0.001) and lower fractions of T-regulatory cells (p = 0.002) than luminal subtypes. In HR+/HER2- early BC, non-luminal subtypes show higher TIL levels and a more pro-inflammatory anti-tumour immune infiltrate composition. This immune heterogeneity across intrinsic subtypes should be considered when analysing the complex prognostic role of TILs in HR+/HER2- early BC. NCT00422903. University of Padua. GlaxoSmithKline funded the clinical trial (LETLOB) including gene-expression analysis; DOR grants 1721185/17 and 1830512/18 from the University of Padua. M.V. Dieci: Advisory / Consultancy: EliLilly; Advisory / Consultancy: Genomic Health; Advisory / Consultancy: Celgene. A. Frassoldati: Advisory / Consultancy: Roche; Advisory / Consultancy: Novartis; Honoraria (self): Pfizer; Honoraria (self): Novartis; Honoraria (self): AstraZeneca; Honoraria (self): Roche; Honoraria (self): Eisai. A. Prat: Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Roche; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Pfizer; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Novartis; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Amgen; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: BMS; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Daiichi Sankyo; Advisory / Consultancy: Puma; Advisory / Consultancy: Oncolytics Biotech; Honoraria (institution), Research grant / Funding (institution): Nanostring; Research grant / Funding (institution): Boehringer; Research grant / Funding (institution): Lilly. P.F. Conte: Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Novartis; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: EliLilly; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy: Tesaro; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Roche; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): BMS; Research grant / Funding (institution): Merck-KGa. V. Guarneri: Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: EliLilly; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Roche. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]