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Sacituzumab govitecan (SG), a novel antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) targeting TROP2, is approved for pre-treated metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC). We conducted an investigator-initiated clinical trial evaluating neoadjuvant (NA) SG (NCT04230109), and report primary results. Participants with early-stage TNBC received NA SG for four cycles. The primary objective was to assess pathological complete response (pCR) rate in breast and lymph nodes (ypT0/isN0) to SG. Secondary objectives included overall response rate (ORR), safety, event-free survival (EFS), and predictive biomarkers. A response-guided approach was utilized, and subsequent systemic therapy decisions were at the discretion of the treating physician. From July 2020 to August 2021, 50 participants were enrolled (median age = 48.5 years; 13 clinical stage I disease, 26 stage II, 11 stage III). Forty-nine (98%) completed four cycles of SG. Overall, the pCR rate with SG alone was 30% [ n = 15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 18% to 45%]. The ORR per RECIST V1.1 after SG alone was 64% (n = 32/50, 95% CI 77% to 98%). Higher Ki-67 and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were predictive of pCR to SG (P = 0.007 for Ki-67 and 0.002 for TILs), while baseline TROP2 expression was not (P = 0.440). Common adverse events were nausea (82%), fatigue (76%), alopecia (76%), neutropenia (44%), and rash (48%). With a median follow-up time of 18.9 months (95% CI 16.3-21.9 months), the 2-year EFS for all participants was 95%. Among participants with a pCR with SG (n = 15), the 2-year EFS was 100%. In the first NA trial with an ADC in localized TNBC, SG demonstrated single-agent efficacy and feasibility of response-guided escalation/de-escalation. Further research on optimal duration of SG as well as NA combination strategies, including immunotherapy, are needed. • NA treatment with SG for localized TNBC is safe and feasible. • Approximately two-thirds of patients responded to NA SG alone, and 30% achieved pCR without additional chemotherapy. • Higher Ki-67 and TILs were predictive of pCR to SG, whereas TROP2 expression was not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: Oncology providers often find it difficult to discuss end-of-life issues with patients and assume that patients are reluctant to think about the issues involved. This study examined whether or not patients with metastatic breast cancer had advance directives, and if so, with whom they discussed written plans for end-of-life decisions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional sample of 32 women with metastatic breast cancer and their providers from two academic medical centers in the United States were surveyed at baseline and again 3 months later about advance directives, decision-making goals, and their expectations. After the baseline assessment, patients viewed a decision aid that discussed choices for treatment of metastatic disease. The patients' experience with advance directives in addition to associations between advance directives and patient preferences regarding end-of-life care, demographics, and clinical characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS: At baseline, the majority of women had gathered information (75%) about or had written (66%) advance directives. These percentages increased at 3 months. Providers were only aware of the presence of an advance directive in a minority of cases (14%). Patients were more than three times as likely to talk to and share written plans with family and friends than with their providers. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients gathered information about advance directives and had made written plans, yet few discussed these plans with their providers. Explicit discussion of advance directives and patient preferences regarding end-of-life care are lacking in this setting. Facilitation of doctor-patient communication about end-of-life care is needed in order to provide quality patient care at this difficult time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Previous data suggest that the immune microenvironment plays a critical role in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) -positive breast cancer; however, there is little known about the immune profiles of small HER2-positive tumors. In this study, we aimed to characterize the immune microenvironment of small HER2-positive breast cancers included in the Adjuvant paclitaxel and trastuzumab for node-negative, HER2-positive breast cancer (APT) trial and to correlate the immune markers with pathological and molecular tumor characteristics. Patients and methods The APT trial was a multicenter, single-arm, phase II study of paclitaxel and trastuzumab in patients with node-negative HER2-positive breast cancer. The study included 406 patients with HER2-positive, node-negative breast cancer, measuring up to 3 cm. Exploratory analysis of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression (by immunohistochemistry), and immune gene signatures using data generated by nCounter PanCancer Pathways Panel (NanoString Technologies, Seattle, WA), and their association with pathological and molecular characteristics was carried out. Results Of the 406 patients, 328 (81%) had at least one immune assay carried out: 284 cases were evaluated for TIL, 266 for PD-L1, and 213 for immune gene signatures. High TIL (≥60%) were seen with greater frequency in hormone-receptor (HR) negative, histological grades 2 and 3, as well in HER2-enriched and basal-like tumors. Lower stromal PD-L1 (≤1%) expression was seen with greater frequency in HR-positive, histological grade 1, and in luminal tumors. Both TIL and stromal PD-L1 were positively correlated with 10 immune cell signatures, including Th1 and B cell signatures. Luminal B tumors were negatively correlated with those signatures. Significant correlation was seen among these immune markers; however, the magnitude of correlation did not indicate a monotonic relationship between them. Conclusion Immune profiles of small HER2-positive breast cancers differ according to HR status, histological grade, and molecular subtype. Further work is needed to explore the implication of these findings on disease outcome. Clinical trial registration clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00542451. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background We report longitudinal health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) data from the international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III ExteNET study, which demonstrated an invasive disease-free survival benefit of extended adjuvant therapy with neratinib over placebo in human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-positive early-stage breast cancer. Patients and methods Women (N   =   2840) with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer who had completed trastuzumab-based adjuvant therapy were randomly assigned to neratinib 240  mg/day or placebo for 12  months. HRQoL was an exploratory end point. Patients completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Breast (FACT-B) and EuroQol 5-Dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaires at baseline and months 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12. Changes from baseline were compared using analysis of covariance with no imputation for missing values. Sensitivity analyses used alternative methods. Changes in HRQoL scores were regarded as clinically meaningful if they exceeded previously reported important differences (IDs). Results Of the 2840 patients (intention-to-treat population), 2407 patients were evaluable for FACT-B (neratinib, N   =   1171; placebo, N   =   1236) and 2427 patients for EQ-5D (neratinib, N   =   1186; placebo, N   =   1241). Questionnaire completion rates exceeded 85%. Neratinib was associated with a decrease in global HRQoL scores at month 1 compared with placebo (adjusted mean differences: FACT-B total, –2.9 points; EQ-5D index, −0.02), after which between-group differences diminished at later time-points. Except for the FACT-B physical well-being (PWB) subscale at month 1; all between-group differences were less than reported IDs. The FACT-B breast cancer-specific subscale showed small improvements with neratinib at months 3–9, but all were less than IDs. Sensitivity analyses exploring missing data did not change the results. Conclusions Extended adjuvant neratinib was associated with a transient, reversible decrease in HRQoL during the first month of treatment, possibly linked to treatment-related diarrhea. With the exception of the PWB subscale at month 1, all neratinib-related HRQoL changes did not reach clinically meaningful thresholds. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00878709. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residual disease after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) is associated with higher risk of recurrence, including local failure (25%) in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Novel combinations that increase the efficacy of standard-of-care treatments on locoregional control are warranted. PARP inhibitors (PARPi) target the DNA damage repair pathway, which is often altered in TNBC, and show promise as radiosensitizers. The objective of this phase I trial (NCT03945721) was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of a PARPi, niraparib, in pts with high risk TNBC receiving postoperative radiotherapy (RT). Eligible pts had stage I-III TNBC with residual invasive disease following NAT or primary tumor ≥1 cm after upfront surgery. A 3+3 escalation design was used to test 2 dose levels of QD niraparib (100mg, 200mg) with concurrent RT to the chest wall or breast +/- regional lymph nodes over 4-6 weeks. Dose expansion followed at the MTD. A boost was delivered in pts who had lumpectomy. 2 pts received proton beam RT. Bolus was administered in postmastectomy RT or in cases of dermal lymphatic invasion. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) was collected at baseline, mid-RT, end of RT, and 30 days post-RT to assess the kinetics of ctDNA levels during RT and the association with clinical outcomes. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed using CTCAE v5.0. 21 pts were enrolled from July 2019 – October 2021. The median age was 49 (31-69). 19/21 pts had residual disease after NAT (6 RCB I, 7 RCB II, 6 RCB III); among them, 2 underwent adjuvant chemotherapy prior to enrolling. The remaining 2/21 pts (pT2N0; pT1cN0) received upfront breast conserving surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. In dose escalation, 6 pts received 100mg niraparib + RT and 2 pts received 200mg niraparib + RT. One DLT in the 100mg cohort (G3 dermatitis) was attributed to RT. Two DLTs in the 200mg cohort (G3 thrombocytopenia) were attributed to niraparib and study drug was discontinued. In dose expansion, 13 pts received 100mg niraparib + RT. G3 AEs were dermatitis (4/21), hematologic (4/21), consisting of thrombocytopenia, anemia & lymphopenia, and elevated alkaline phosphatase (1/21). There was one G4 thrombocytopenia. All skin AEs were attributed to RT and were not exacerbated by niraparib. No pts in dose expansion discontinued treatment due to toxicity. 20/21 went on to standard-of-care capecitabine after completing RT. Results of ctDNA will be reported at the meeting. The MTD of niraparib + postop RT was determined to be 100mg QD and was associated with a 24% rate of G3-4 hematologic toxicities and 19% rate of G3 radiation dermatitis in pts with localized TNBC, which is within upper limits of normal for pts in whom chest wall/skin is targeted. These results will be informative for a future larger study testing the efficacy of niraparib + postop RT in high risk TNBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose/objective(s): Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) is a devastating diagnosis with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. With recent advances in treatment, women with breast cancer (BC) are living longer and the incidence of LMD in this population is increasing. There remains little data regarding the prognosis and optimal treatment of these patients. As such, we conducted a multi-institutional retrospective review of women with BC LMD and analyzed outcomes based on prognostic factors and treatments.Materials/methods: We analyzed the records of women diagnosed with BC LMD via MRIs of their brain and/or spine between 2000 and 2020 at two academic medical centers. Demographic and clinical characteristics were abstracted from electronic medical records and an in-depth radiographic review was performed by a neuro-radiologist for each case. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional-hazards models were generated to identify factors associated with prolonged survival. Collection and analysis of the data was approved by institutional IRB.Results: We identified 227 women with BC LMD. Prior to developing LMD, most women initially presented with Stage I-III BC (62.1%) with ductal histology (67.0%) and biological subtypes including ER-positive/HER2-negative (56.8%), HER2-positive (17.6%), and triple-negative (22.0%). LMD was first diagnosed a median of 4.6 years (range: 0 to 34.1 years) after the initial diagnosis of BC, and the median age at LMD diagnosis was 54.6 years (range: 29.4 to 84.5 years). At time of LMD diagnosis, 146 (64.3%) women presented with a Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥ 70, 90 (39.6%) had a preceding parenchymal brain metastasis, and 23 (10.1%) had LMD as their only site of metastatic disease. Radiographically, classical LMD (61.7%) was observed more frequently than nodular-only LMD (13.2%). Brain-only LMD was present in 55.1% of patients, spine-only in 6.1% of patients, and both brain and spine in 38.8% of patients. Median survival from the time of LMD diagnosis was 4.5 months (95% CI: 3.4-7.8). Pre-treatment clinical factors associated with improved survival on univariate analysis included ER-positive/HER2-negative subtype (P = 0.010), KPS ≥ 70 (P < 0.001), LMD as the only site of metastasis (P = 0.004), stable or controlled extracranial metastases (P = 0.042), absence of leukopenia (P = 0.040) and the presence of nodular LMD (P < 0.001). After adjusting for these clinical factors, the receipt of radiation therapy (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] 0.50, 95% CI: 0.37 - 0.68), systemic therapy (AHR 0.27, 95% CI: 0.19 - 0.38) and intrathecal chemotherapy (AHR 0.49, 95% CI: 0.33 - 0.75) were all associated with improved survival.Conclusion: In one of the largest multi-institutional reviews to date, we found that several pre-treatment clinical factors were significantly associated with improved survival among women with breast cancer LMD. However, despite treatment overall survival remains poor, and there is a need for new, effective therapies.Author Disclosure: M.G. Milligan: None. A. Aitelli: None. W.A. Mehan: Consultant; Kura Oncology. D.D. Shi: None. D.N. Cagney: Research Grant; Viewray, NhTheraguix. K.S. Oh: None. N. Wang: None. P. Brastianos: Research Grant; Merck, Eli Lily, BMS. Honoraria; Merck, Genentech. Consultant; Angiochem, Dantari Pharmaceuticals, Elevatebio, Eli Lily, Genentech, Pfizer, SK Life Sciences, Tesaro. B. Moy: Research Grant; PUMA biotechnology. N.U. Lin: Research Grant; Genentech, Merck, Pfizer, Seattle Genetics. Consultant; PUMA Biotechnology, Seattle Genetics, Daiichi Sankyo, Astra Zeneca, Denali Therapeutics, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Prelude Therapeutics. H.A. Shih: Employee; Dartmouth Hitchcock. Research Grant; AbbVie, NIH. Honoraria; UpToDate. Consultant; Cleveland Clinic. Speaker's Bureau; prIME Oncology. advisory; The Radiosurgery Society. director of clinical operations; Massachusetts General Hospital. clinical operational leader; Massachusetts General Hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Institutional academic-industry relationships have the potential of creating institutional conflicts of interest. To date there are no empirical data to support the establishment and evaluation of institutional policies and practices related to managing these relationships.Objective: To conduct a national survey of department chairs about the nature, extent, and consequences of institutional-academic industry relationships for medical schools and teaching hospitals.Design, Setting, and Participants: National survey of department chairs in the 125 accredited allopathic medical schools and the 15 largest independent teaching hospitals in the United States, administered between February 2006 and October 2006.Main Outcome Measure: Types of relationships with industry.Results: A total of 459 of 688 eligible department chairs completed the survey, yielding an overall response rate of 67%. Almost two-thirds (60%) of department chairs had some form of personal relationship with industry, including serving as a consultant (27%), a member of a scientific advisory board (27%), a paid speaker (14%), an officer (7%), a founder (9%), or a member of the board of directors (11%). Two-thirds (67%) of departments as administrative units had relationships with industry. Clinical departments were more likely than nonclinical departments to receive research equipment (17% vs 10%, P = .04), unrestricted funds (19% vs 3%, P < .001), residency or fellowship training support (37% vs 2%, P < .001), and continuing medial education support (65% vs 3%, P < .001). However, nonclinical departments were more likely to receive funding from intellectual property licensing (27% vs 16%, P = .01). More than two-thirds of chairs perceived that having a relationship with industry had no effect on their professional activities, 72% viewed a chair's engaging in more than 1 industry-related activity (substantial role in a start-up company, consulting, or serving on a company's board) as having a negative impact on a department's ability to conduct independent unbiased research.Conclusion: Overall, institutional academic-industry relationships are highly prevalent and underscore the need for their active disclosure and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study's objective was to test whether there were signfiicant differences in adjustment between younger and older breast and endometrial cancer survivors.Methods: Two hundred and fifty-two breast and endometrial cancer survivors participated in this study, ranging in age from either 18 to 55 years old or 65 years old or older. Survivors were interviewed by telephone at study entry and 12 months, using a battery of measures to assess their adjustment, physical functioning, and treatment-related physical problems.Results: With an average of 3.7 years since treatment completion, almost all survivors reported good adjustment to having had cancer. While most differences in psychosocial adjustment between groups were small, younger survivors reported significantly worse adaptation than older survivors, as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS, p<0.0001), Appearance-Orientation Scale (AOS, body image; p=0.02), Fear of Recurrence (p<0.0001), Distress about Long-term Treatment-Related Cancer Problems (p=0.01), and Number of Sexual Problems Attributed to Cancer (p<0.0001).Conclusion: Survivors reported few cancer-related problems with only a small subset reporting problems in adjustment. Although differences were small, younger cancer survivors reported significantly worse adaptation than older survivors. Much of the adaptation to having had cancer may have already occurred in long-term survivors. Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CNS metastases is a devastating complication of breast cancer, occurring in approximately 10%–15% of patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and resulting in median survival of less than one year in historic cohorts. Biological factors that govern metastases to the brain, including the role of activating PIK3CA mutations, the most common actionable alterations in HR+/HER2- MBC, are poorly understood. In this retrospective cohort study, we determined the cumulative incidence of brain metastasis in PIK3CA mutant and PIK3CA non-mutant HR+/HER2- MBC patients treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital and genotyped during their routine clinical care with a highly sensitive multiplexed assay for real time mutation profiling of clinical samples. In the overall cohort of 307 patients, 120 patients (39.1%) had PIK3CA mutant disease and 187 patients (60.9%) had PIK3CA non-mutant disease, comparable to previously published results. Median OS from the time of diagnosis of metastatic disease was 3.96 yrs (95% CI 3.40-4.87 yrs) for PIK3CA mutant patients and 4.43 yrs (95% CI 3.82-5.32 yrs) for PIK3CA non-mutant patients, p = 0.6. 22.44% of patients with HR+/HER2- disease developed brain metastases; 30.83% of PIK3CA mutant patients and 17.11% of PIK3CA non-mutant patients developed CNS metastases, p = 0.0049. Median time to the development of CNS disease was 8.61 yrs for PIK3CA mutant subset and not reached (NR) for PIK3CA non-mutant subset, p = 0.0086. Among patients with CNS metastases, median OS for PIK3CA mutant patients was 0.48 yrs (95% CI 0.27-0.74) and for PIK3CA non-mutant it was 1.09 yrs (95% CI 0.39-2.27), p = 0.019). Brain metastases are common in HR+/HER2- MBC. This incidence of brain metastases is particularly high among patients with HR+/HER2- tumors harboring a PIK3CA mutation, where it approaches the incidence historically seen in HER2+ MBC. Early recognition of symptoms potentially related to brain metastases is important even in HR+/HER2- subtype of breast cancer. High incidence of brain metastases in PIK3CA mutant HR+/HER2- MBC warrants development of blood-brain barrier penetrant agents targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. The authors. Has not received any funding. S. Isakoff: Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Myriad; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Puma; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Immunomedics; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Mylan; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Genentech; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Pharmamar; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Abbvie; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): OncoPep; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Merck; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): AstraZeneca. A. Bardia: Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Genentech/Roche; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Immunomedics; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Pfizer; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Merck; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Radius Health; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Specturm; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Taiho Pharmaceutical; Research grant / Funding (institution): Mersana; Research grant / Funding (institution): Innocrin; Research grant / Funding (self): Biothernostics. P.K. Brastianos: Research grant / Funding (institution): Merck; Research grant / Funding (institution): Pfizer; Research grant / Funding (institution): Bristol-Myer Squibb; Advisory / Consultancy: Genentech-Roche; Advisory / Consultancy: Merck; Advisory / Consultancy: Lily; Advisory / Consultancy: TESARO; Advisory / Consultancy: AngioChem. D. Juric: Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Genentech; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Eisai; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): EMD Serono; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Syros; Advisory / Consultancy: Ipsen; Research grant / Funding (institution): Takeda; Research grant / Funding (institution): Celgene; Research grant / Funding (institution): Placon Therapeutics. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Cooperative group trials and institutional series reported the risk of MDS and/or AML after adjuvant chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer (eg, NSABP 0.21%, Smith JCO 2003; ECOG 2197 0.5%, Goldstein ASCO 2012). We examined the incidence of MDS and/or AML in breast cancer survivors that are part of the NCCN Breast Cancer Outcomes Database. METHODS: The NCCN Database prospectively identifies all incident breast cancers diagnosed at participating cancer centers, and patients that continue their care at an NCCN site are followed annually with information collected on subsequent treatment, recurrence, and new cancers. Mortality is also ascertained for all diagnosed patients every 2 years through the National Death Index. Women with stages 1-3 breast cancer (BC) diagnosed between 1997- 2008 were included in this analysis. Univariate chi square analyses were used to compare characteristics between patients with BC and BC&MDS and/or AML. Time from BC to MDS and/or AML and 5-/10-year cumulative incidence rates were analyzed using proportional subdistribution hazards regression models that account for death as a competing risk to MDS and/or AML. RESULTS: Among 21563 stage 1-3 BC patients from 8 NCCN sites, 39 (0.18%) subsequently developed MDS and/or AML. Median overall follow-up was 4.7 years and median time from BC to MDS and/or AML was 2.8 years (range, 0.6 to 8.3 years). Cumulative MDS and/or AML incidence was 0.19% at 5y and 0.27% at 10y. Overall, cancer characteristics at BC diagnosis within BC&MDS and/or AML and within BC groups were similar (Caucasian 82%v82%, AA 8% v8%; ER+ 79%v75%, HER2+ 14%v21%, TNBC 15%v14%; contralateral BC 3%v2%; pancreas or ovarian cancer 0%v1%). 13191 had adjuvant chemo (75%v67%; anthracycline 89%v91%, AC-taxane 46%v35%, dose-dense 6%v5%). Trends observed included more patients in BC&MDS and/or AML group with prior radiation (85%v70%, p = 0.06) and older age at BC diagnosis (median age 59v54 years, p = 0.09). Risk for developing MDS and/or AML after BC (adjusted for age at BC and race) was increased in those receiving any chemotherapy versus no chemotherapy (HR 2.16, 95% CI 0.98-4.77, p = 0.06), any RT versus no RT (HR 2.44, 95% CI 1.01-5.88, p = 0.04), and if chemo/RT given versus just chemo or just RT (HR 2.2, 95% CI 1.05-4.59, p = 0.04). No increased risk was observed if a taxane was added to an anthracycline regimen (HR 1.27, 95% CI 0.57-2.81, p = 0.56). CONCLUSIONS: In a large national prospective registry across NCCN sites, risk of MDS and/or AML is increased after adjuvant chemotherapy and/or adjuvant radiation therapy for stages 1-3 breast cancer, especially if both are used. Specific population subsets will be further examined. These rates are similar to those observed in clinical trials, but may underestimate actual numbers due to patients lost to follow-up. In addition, an MDS diagnosis was routinely under-reported in population databases until recently. Strategies to limit risk of subsequent cancers in patients likely to survive early stage breast cancer should be considered at the time of initial diagnosis. Predictors of MDS and/or AML in breast cancer survivors are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Near-infrared optical measurements have been recently shown to offer a promising non-invasive way for monitoring breast neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and predicting outcome. In particular, snapshots of tissue oxy and deoxy-hemoglobin concentration as well as water and lipid content have been demonstrated to be sensitive to therapy-induced changes. In this study, we extend optical measurements to capture additional hemodynamic and metabolic biomarkers revealed by dynamically imaging breast tissue during fractional mammographic compression. Using our dynamic tomographic optical breast imaging (TOBI) system we evaluate the early prediction performance of this advanced technology. Methods: We are conducting a pilot feasibility study in female patients with unilateral locally advanced breast cancer undergoing standard-of-care NAC. Pre-treatment and day 7 post-treatment TOBI scans are obtained, with additional (optional) scans on day 1 of each subsequent chemotherapy cycle. Both breasts are compressed in turn to 4-8 lbs of force, and optical images are acquired once every 2 seconds over two minutes. Time-resolved oxy-(HbO), deoxy-(HbR), and total-(HbT) hemoglobin concentration and hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SO2) are calculated. The compression-induced rate of change of HbT correlates with changes in tissue blood volume indicative of biomechanical properties. The evolution of tissue SO2 is modeled to obtain an index of the ratio of oxygen metabolism to blood flow. Therapy induced changes are quantified, and comparisons between changes in responders vs. non-responders are performed (response is defined here as >50% reduction in the largest tumor diameter). Results: We have enrolled 20 patients so far, of which 90% (N = 18) completed both the day 0 and day 7 scans. 17 patients have undergone surgery at this point. We focused our initial analysis on 5 HER2+ patients, of which two were non-responders, and three were responders according to our criteria. Four patients received taxol+herceptin+lapatinib, while the other received taxol+lapatinib only. In this small subgroup, the non-responders had an average increase of 1% in total hemoglobin concentration (HbT) from day 0 to day 7, while the responders had an average 12% decrease in HbT, respectively. We also noted different trends in the evolution of the tissue oxygen consumption to blood flow ratio, which increased 32% in non-responders from day 0 to day 7, while decreasing 11% in responders. Conclusions: The large percentage of enrolled patients that completed both initial scans demonstrates the feasibility of using dynamic optical breast tomography for breast neoadjuvant chemotherapy monitoring. Results in a small cohort of 5 HER2+ patients suggested a decreasing trend in HbT for responders as observed by previous studies. We also report for the first time an increase in the metabolic ratio of oxygen consumption to blood flow in non-responders vs. a decrease in responders. These initial results of our on- going study suggest that dynamic TOBI can detect changes due to treatment and may have predictive value for the treatment outcome and supports further studies of this non- invasive and portable tool for chemotherapy monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Population based studies (eg, Hershman et al. BCRT 2006 and Lohrisch et al. JCO 2006) showed poorer survival associated with long delays in adjuvant chemotherapy (CTX) initiation following definitive surgery (DS) for women with breast cancer (BC). Delays in CTX following diagnosis (DX) have not been evaluated. The ASCO/NCCN quality measures (QMs) recommend CTX <=120 days after DX for patients with stage II/III ER/PR negative disease. We sought to examine the impact of delayed CTX on survival overall and stratified by disease-specific prognostic factors. Methods: 4,608 women with stage I-III HER2 negative breast cancer diagnosed between 2000 and 2006 at 8 NCCN centers were identified using the NCCN outcomes database. Patients with T3/4 disease or who received neoadjuvant therapy were excluded. The association between CTX timing and OS was evaluated using multivariate Cox models adjusted for CTX type, age, race, BMI, residential distance, insurance, SES, comorbidity, ER/PR, LVI, grade, T stage, and N stage. The impact of CTX timing was evaluated using a >90-day (d) DS-to-CTX threshold, based on poor outcomes observed in prior studies, and a >120d DX-to-CTX threshold, based on the ASCO/NCCN QMs. Results: Median follow-up was 7.2 years and OS at 7 years was 89%. Overall, 401 (8.7%) patients received CTX >120d after DX and 113 (2.4%) patients received CTX >90d after DS. The DX-to-CTX interval was more strongly correlated with the DX-to-DS (r = 0.74) interval than DS-to-CTX (r = 0.54) interval. A >90d DS-to-CTX interval was significantly associated with poorer survival (HR: 1.65, 95% CI 1.04-2.60, p = 0.03) in adjusted analyses. Shorter DS-to-CTX thresholds of >60d (n = 636, HR: 1.13, 95% CI: 0.89-1.43, p = 0.319) or >75d (n = 273, HR: 1.05, 95% CI 0.74-1.49, p = 0.76) were not associated with OS. The association between a >120d DX-to-CTX interval and OS was not statistically significant (HR: 1.32, 95% CI 0.99-1.76, p = 0.06). Patients who received CTX >135d(n = 231, HR1.25, 95% CI: 0.87-1.81, p = 0.22)or>150d(n = 128, HR1.15, 95% CI: 0.59-2.24, p = 0.69) after DX did not display an increased risk of death. Excluding pathological staging factors from the model had no effect on the results. In subgroup analyses stratified by ER/PR, LVI, grade, T stage or N stage, a >120d delay in CTX did not display significant associations with OS. Among ER/PR negative patients, the association between a >120d delay and OS was borderline non-significant after adjusting the p-value for multiple hypothesis testing using the false discovery rate method (HR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.16-2.79, p = 0.09). Conclusion: Consistent with previous studies, CTX delays of >90 days following surgery were associated with poorer survival. OS was not significantly compromised in patients with DX-to-CTX intervals >120 days although this analysis may have limited power to detect small effects. More variation in the DX-to-CTX interval was attributed to pre-surgery time which may explain the differences observed between the DX-to-CTX and DS-to-CTX intervals. Among patients with ER/PR negative disease, a non-significant association between OS and a >120 day DX-to -CTX interval was observed that warrants further examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The results of the ACOSOG- Z0011 trial have had potential practice changing implications for the management of patients with positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) undergoing lumpectomy and radiation for breast cancer. However, some evidence suggests a shift in axillary management even prior to the initial report of data supporting sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) alone in mid-2010. We analyzed data in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) outcomes database from NCCN centers and the Michigan Breast Oncology Quality Initiative (MiBOQI) hospitals to examine institutional practice patterns with respect to use of completion axillary dissection (CALND) for SLN positive breast cancer in the years leading up to publication of these trial results. We hypothesized that CALND would be omitted more frequently in women treated at NCCN centers compared to those treated at MiBOQI programs. Methods: We identified 2,172 women with clinical T1/T2 N0 breast cancer who underwent breast surgery and SLNB and had a positive SLN from 2007 through 2010 at one of 12 participating NCCN centers or 12 MiBOQI sites. Patient and tumor characteristics, definitive breast procedure, year of diagnosis, and institutional affiliation were analyzed as predictors of use of SLNB alone in univariate Chi-Square and multivariable logistic regression models. Results: CALND was omitted in 314 (14.5%) of the 2,172 patients. Over time, there was a dramatic increase in the use of SLNB alone (12% in 2007 to 23% in 2010). In the univariate analyses, increased patient age, later year of diagnosis, lower T stage, and lower pathologic N stage were significant predictors of use of SLNB alone (all p < .0001). There was no association between definitive breast surgery type, hormone receptor status, Her-2 Neu status, or institutional affiliation and use of SLNB alone. In the multivariable model, older age at diagnosis, later year of diagnosis, and lower pathologic N stage remained significant independent predictors of SLNB alone. There were no significant differences in rates of omission of CALND between NCCN and MIBOQI sites. Conclusions: Omission of CALND occurred frequently in women with SLN positive breast cancer cared for in both NCCN and MiBOQI institutions in advance of reporting results of ACOSOG-Z0011. This shift was seen in management of patients undergoing lumpectomy as well as mastectomy. Further study is warranted to determine the extent of durable practice changes as well as any impact on survival and local-regional control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]