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Purpose:Cardiac toxicity is a serious potential complication of HER2-directed therapies and anthracyclines. HER2 codon 655 and SLC28A3 gene polymorphisms have been reported to be associated with cardiac toxicity from anti-HER2 and anthracycline therapy, respectively. Association of the polymorphism at HER2 codon 655 with prognosis has also been reported.Experimental Design:Whole blood samples from patients treated on a randomized adjuvant breast cancer trial (BCIRG-006) that compared chemotherapy with or without trastuzumab plus either anthracycline or nonanthracycline chemotherapy were tested for genetic polymorphisms in HER2 codon 655 and SLC28A3. Genotypes were correlated with cardiac function and disease-free survival (DFS) outcomes.Results:Of 3,222 patients enrolled in BCIRG-006, 662 patient samples were successfully genotyped for the rs1136201 allele in HER2 (codon 655): 424 (64%) were AA, 30 (4.5%) were GG, and 208 (31%) were AG genotype. In addition, 665 patient samples were successfully genotyped for the rs7853758 allele in the SLC28A3 gene: 19 (3%) were AA, 475 (71%) were GG, and 171 (26%) were AG genotype. Follow-up time was 10 years. No correlation between DFS, cardiac event rate, or mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and rs1136201 genotype was seen in the trastuzumab-treated or non–trastuzumab-treated patients. Moreover, mean LVEF and cardiac event rates were similar in all rs7853758 genotype groups treated with anthracycline-based therapy.Conclusions:In the largest study to date to evaluate whether two polymorphisms are associated with DFS and/or cardiac toxicity in HER2-positive breast cancer treated with trastuzumab and/or anthracyclines, we observed no correlation.

Purpose:Cardiac toxicity is a serious potential complication of HER2-directed therapies and anthracyclines. HER2 codon 655 and SLC28A3 gene polymorphisms have been reported to be associated with cardiac toxicity from anti-HER2 and anthracycline therapy, respectively. Association of the polymorphism at HER2 codon 655 with prognosis has also been reported.Experimental Design:Whole blood samples from patients treated on a randomized adjuvant breast cancer trial (BCIRG-006) that compared chemotherapy with or without trastuzumab plus either anthracycline or nonanthracycline chemotherapy were tested for genetic polymorphisms in HER2 codon 655 and SLC28A3. Genotypes were correlated with cardiac function and disease-free survival (DFS) outcomes.Results:Of 3,222 patients enrolled in BCIRG-006, 662 patient samples were successfully genotyped for the rs1136201 allele in HER2 (codon 655): 424 (64%) were AA, 30 (4.5%) were GG, and 208 (31%) were AG genotype. In addition, 665 patient samples were successfully genotyped for the rs7853758 allele in the SLC28A3 gene: 19 (3%) were AA, 475 (71%) were GG, and 171 (26%) were AG genotype. Follow-up time was 10 years. No correlation between DFS, cardiac event rate, or mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and rs1136201 genotype was seen in the trastuzumab-treated or non–trastuzumab-treated patients. Moreover, mean LVEF and cardiac event rates were similar in all rs7853758 genotype groups treated with anthracycline-based therapy.Conclusions:In the largest study to date to evaluate whether two polymorphisms are associated with DFS and/or cardiac toxicity in HER2-positive breast cancer treated with trastuzumab and/or anthracyclines, we observed no correlation.

Purpose: To investigate the clinical relevance of PTEN in HER2-amplified and HER2-nonamplified disease.Experimental Design: We assessed PTEN status in two large adjuvant breast cancer trials (BCIRG-006 and BCIRG-005) using a PTEN immunohistochemical (IHC) assay that was previously validated in a panel of 33 breast cancer cell lines and prostate cancer tissues with known PTEN gene deletion.Results: In the HER2-positive patient population, absence of tumor cell PTEN staining occurred at a rate of 5.4% and was independent of ER/PR status. In contrast, 15.9% of HER2-negative patients exhibited absence of PTEN staining with the highest frequency seen in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subgroup versus ER/PR-positive patients (35.1% vs. 10.9%). Complete absence of PTEN staining in tumor cells was associated with poor clinical outcome in HER2-positive disease. Those patients whose cancers demonstrated absent PTEN staining had a significant decrease in disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) compared with patients with tumors exhibiting any PTEN staining patterns (low, moderate, or high). Trastuzumab appeared to provide clinical benefit even for patients lacking PTEN staining. In the HER2-negative population, there were no statistically significant differences in clinical outcome based on PTEN status.Conclusions: This study is the largest to date examining PTEN status in breast cancer and the data suggest that the rate and significance of PTEN status differ between HER2-positive and HER2-negative disease. Furthermore, the data clearly suggest that HER2-positive patients with PTEN loss still benefit from trastuzumab. Clin Cancer Res; 21(9); 2065–74. ©2015 AACR.

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Supplemental Figure 2. Clinical outcome based on PTEN data availability. Kaplan Meier analysis was performed for patients with PTEN data available compared to patients without PTEN data available. Disease free survival (A, C) and overall survival (B, D) are shown for BCIRG 006 (HER2-amplified) (A, B) and BCIRG 005 (HER2-non-amplified) (C, D).

Supplemental Figure 3a. PTEN IHC assay validation and scoring. PTEN IHC was performed on a panel of FFPE breast cancer cell pellets of known PTEN status confirmed by western immunoblot. (A.) Western immunoblot analyses for MDA-MB-468, CAL-148, MDA-MB-361, MT-3, and MDA-MB-436 human breast cancer cell lines are illustrated above with PTEN IHC illustrated below.

Supplementary Data from Genetic Polymorphisms and Correlation with Treatment-Induced Cardiotoxicity and Prognosis in Patients with Breast Cancer

Purpose: The mechanisms by which trastuzumab imparts clinical benefit remain incompletely understood. Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity via interactions with Fcγ receptors (FcγR) on leukocytes may contribute to its antitumor effects. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in FCGR3A and FCGR2A genes lead to amino acid substitutions at positions 158 and 131, respectively, and affect binding of antibodies to FcγR such that 158V/V and 131H/H bind with highest affinity. This study aimed to determine whether high-affinity SNPs are associated with disease-free survival (DFS) among patients with HER2-positive nonmetastatic breast cancer.Experimental Design: Genomic DNA was isolated from 1,286 patients enrolled in a trial of adjuvant trastuzumab-based chemotherapy. Genotyping was conducted using Sanger sequencing and Sequenom mass spectrometry.Results: Patient samples (N = 1,189) were successfully genotyped for FCGR3A and 1,218 for FCGR2A. Compared with the overall results of the BCIRG006 study, in the subset of patients genotyped in this analysis, a less robust improvement in DFS was observed for the trastuzumab arms than control arm (HR, 0.842; P = 0.1925). When stratified for prognostic features, the HR in favor of trastuzumab was consistent with that of the overall study (HR, 0.74; P = 0.036). No correlation between DFS and FCGR3A/2A genotypes was seen for trastuzumab-treated patients (158V/V vs. V/F vs. F/F, P = 0.98; 131H/H vs. H/R vs. R/R, P = 0.76; 158V/V and/or 131H/H vs. others, P = 0.67).Conclusion: This analysis evaluating the association between FCGR3A/2A genotypes and trastuzumab efficacy in HER2-positive breast cancer did not show a correlation between FCGR3A-V/F and FCGR2A-H/R SNPs and DFS in patients treated with trastuzumab. Clin Cancer Res; 18(12); 3478–86. ©2012 AACR.

PDF file - 507K, Supplemental Table 1A: PCR and Sanger Sequencing Primers Supplemental Table 1B: PCR and Sequenom Genotyping Primers Supplemental Figure 1. Kaplan-Meier estimates of disease free survival for BCIRG 006 study, entire population, third planned analysis. (N=3222) Supplemental Table 2. Patient Characteristics: Genotyped vs. Non-genotyped Supplemental Figure 2. Kaplan-Meier estimates of disease free survival in subset of patients enrolled in BCIRG006 (third planned analysis) who were genotyped for this study (N=1,286) Supplemental Figure 3. Kaplan-Meier estimates of disease free survival in subset of patients enrolled in BCIRG006 (third planned analysis) who were genotyped for this study with stratification for major prognostic factors Supplemental Table 3. Patients Characteristics by Genotype (Advanced Disease Cohort) Supplemental Table 4. Genotype and Allele Frequencies of the FCGR2A and FCGR3A Polymorphisms Supplemental Figure 4. Kaplan-Meier estimates of disease free survival in trastuzumab treated patients within the adjuvant cohort according to FcGammaR polymorphisms, broken down by treatment arm Supplemental Figure 5. Kaplan-Meier estimates of disease free survival in patients treated with chemotherapy alone (no trastuzumab) in the adjuvant cohort according to FcGammaR polymorphisms, broken down by treatment arm. Supplemental Figure 6. Kaplan-Meier estimates of overall survival (OS) in trastuzumab treated patients within the adjuvant cohort according to FcGammaR polymorphisms. Supplemental Figure 7. Kaplan-Meier estimates of progression free survival (PFS) in trastuzumab treated patients within the advanced disease cohort according to FcGammaR polymorphisms.

Supplemental Figure 4b. A serial section shows the same microscopic field after processing for PTEN localization by immunohistochemistry. Note the lack of immunostaining in the tumor cells.

Supplemental Figure 1. Clinical trial schemata. Diagrammatic representation of the BCIRG 005 (A) and BCIRG 006 (B) adjuvant breast cancer clinical trials

PURPOSE APHINITY, at 45 months median follow-up, showed that pertuzumab added to adjuvant trastuzumab and chemotherapy significantly improved invasive disease–free survival (IDFS) (hazard ratio 0.81 [95% CI, 0.66 to 1.00], P = .045) for patients with early human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–positive breast cancer (BC), specifically those with node-positive or hormone receptor (HR)–negative disease. We now report the preplanned second interim overall survival (OS) and descriptive updated IDFS analysis with 74 months median follow-up. METHODS After surgery and central HER2-positive confirmation, 4,805 patients with node-positive or high-risk node-negative BC were randomly assigned (1:1) to either 1-year pertuzumab or placebo added to standard adjuvant chemotherapy and 1-year trastuzumab. RESULTS This interim OS analysis comparing pertuzumab versus placebo did not reach the P = .0012 level required for statistical significance ( P = .17, hazard ratio 0.85). Six-year OS were 95% versus 94% with 125 deaths (5.2%) versus 147 (6.1%), respectively. IDFS analysis based on 508 events (intent-to-treat population) showed a hazard ratio of 0.76 (95% CI, 0.64 to 0.91) and 6-year IDFS of 91% and 88% for pertuzumab and placebo groups, respectively. The node-positive cohort continues to derive clear IDFS benefit from pertuzumab (hazard ratio 0.72 [95% CI, 0.59 to 0.87]), 6-year IDFS being 88% and 83%, respectively. Benefit was not seen in the node-negative cohort. In a subset analysis, IDFS benefit from pertuzumab showed a hazard ratio of 0.73 (95% CI, 0.59 to 0.92) for HR-positive disease and a hazard ratio of 0.83 (95% CI, 0.63 to 1.10) for HR-negative disease. Primary cardiac events remain < 1% in both the treatment groups. No new safety signals were seen. CONCLUSION This analysis confirms the IDFS benefit from adding pertuzumab to standard adjuvant therapy for patients with node-positive HER2-positive early BC. Longer follow-up is needed to fully assess OS benefit.

OBJECTIVE: In early 2020, the spread of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) led the World Health Organization to declare this disease a pandemic. Initial epidemiological data showed that patients with cancer were at high risk of developing severe forms of COVID-19. National scientific societies published recommendations modifying the patients’ breast cancer (BC) management to preserve, in theory, quality oncologic care, avoiding the increased risk of contamination. The Senology International Society (SIS) decided to take an inventory of the actions taken worldwide. This study investigates COVID-19-related changes concerning BC management and analyzes the will to maintain them after the pandemic, evaluating their oncological safety consequences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SIS network members participated in an online survey using a questionnaire (Microsoft(®) Forms) from June 15(th) to July 31(st), 2020. RESULTS: Forty-five responses from 24 countries showed that screening programs had been suspended (68%); magnetic resonance imagines were postponed (73%); telemedicine was preferred when possible (71%). Surgeries were postponed: reconstructive (77%), for benign diseases (84%), and in patients with significant comorbidities (66%). Chemotherapy and radiotherapy protocols had been adapted in 28% of patients in both. Exception for telemedicine (34%), these changes in practice should not be continued. CONCLUSION: The SIS survey showed significant changes in BC’s diagnosis and treatment during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, but most of these changes should not be maintained. Indeed, women have fewer severe forms of COVID-19 and are less likely to die than men. The risk of dying from COVID-19 is more related to the presence of comorbidities and age than to BC. Stopping screening and delaying treatment leads to more advanced stages of BC. Only women aged over 65 with BC under treatment and comorbidities require adaptation of their cancer management.

Background: The APHINITY trial demonstrated that pertuzumab, when added to adjuvant trastuzumab and chemotherapy, modestly but statistically significantly improved invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) among patients with HER2-positive, operable breast cancer. From November 2011 until August 2013, 2400 patients were randomly assigned to receive pertuzumab and 2405 to receive placebo. The clinical cut off-date for the primary analysis was 19 Dec 2016 after a median follow-up of 45.4 months. In the intent-to-treat (ITT) population, the estimates of the 3-year rates of IDFS were 94.1% in the pertuzumab group and 93.2% in the placebo group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 1.00; P=0.045). The benefit appeared more pronounced in patients with node-positive disease, with a HR of 0.77 (95% CI 0.62-0.96), and in those with hormone receptor-negative disease, where the HR was 0.76 (95% CI 0.56-1.04). Based on these results, pertuzumab in combination with trastuzumab was approved for high risk early HER2-positive breast cancer patients. The first interim analysis of OS took place at that same time. A total of 169 patients had died, with no significant treatment effect with regards to mortality found at that time. Diarrhea, grade 3 or higher, was more frequent within the pertuzumab group (9.8%) compared with the placebo group (3.7%). Heart failure, cardiac death, and cardiac dysfunction were infrequent in both treatment groups. Results: At 74.1 months of median follow-up (clinical cut-off date June 19, 2019), we now report results of the pre-planned, calendar-driven second interim OS analysis which requires a p-value of 0.0012 to reach statistical significance. Updated descriptive analyses of IDFS and cardiac safety were also performed. Fewer deaths were observed in the pertuzumab (P) arm [125 (5.2%) vs 147 (6.1%)], however statistical significance was not reached at this interim analysis. The hazard ratio for OS is 0.85 [95% CI 0.67-1.07 (p=0.17)]; 6-year OS percents are 94.8% vs 93.9% (0.9% difference).Updated IDFS results based on 508 events in the ITT population are: hazard ratio 0.76 [95% CI 0.64-0.91]; 6-year IDFS percents are 90.6% vs 87.8% (2.8% difference). Of note, the difference was due mainly to the reduction in distant (5.9% vs 7.7%) and loco-regional (1.2% vs 2.0%) BC relapses. The node-positive cohort continues to derive clear benefit from the addition of P: hazard ratio 0.72 (95% CI 0.59-0.87). The benefit in terms of 6-year IDFS percent is 4.5% [87.9% vs 83.4%].In the node-negative cohort, the IDFS hazard ratio is 1.02 (95% CI; 0.69-1.53) with 95% of patients being event-free in both arms at 6 years.With longer follow up, a treatment benefit of P is also seen in the hormone receptor (HR) positive cohort: IDFS hazard ratio for HR positive is 0.73 (95% CI 0.59 -0.92). IDFS hazard ratio for HR negative is 0.83 (95% CI 0.63 -1.10). No new cardiac safety concerns emerged. One additional primary cardiac event (heart failure) was reported in the P arm and 1 additional patient in each arm had a secondary cardiac event resulting to 18 and 8 for primary cardiac events and 65 and 68 for secondary cardiac events in the P and placebo arms, respectively. The benefit of P in HER2+ early BC is maintained, with the greatest benefit continuing to be observed in the node positive population. With longer follow-up, the benefit of P no longer appears to depend on HR status. Continued follow up of patients is very important to determine possible benefit for OS. A calendar-driven third interim OS analysis is planned in 2.5 years, and the event-driven final OS analysis is planned when 640 deaths have occurred. Citation Format: Martine Piccart, Marion Procter, Debora Fumagalli, Evandro de Azambuja, Emma Clark, Michael S. Ewer, Eleonora Restuccia, Guy Jerusalem, Susan Dent, Linda Reaby, Hervé Bonnefoi, Ian Krop, Tsang-Wu Liu, Tadeusz Pieńkowski, Masakazu Toi, Nicolas Wilcken, Michael Andersson, Young-Hyuck Im, Ling-Ming Tseng, Hans-Joachim Lueck, Marco Colleoni, Estefania Monturus, Mihaela Sicoe, Sébastien Guillaume, José Bines, Richard Gelber, Giuseppe Viale, Christoph Thomssen. Interim overall survival analysis of APHINITY (BIG 4-11): A randomized multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial comparing chemotherapy plus trastuzumab plus pertuzumab versus chemotherapy plus trastuzumab plus placebo as adjuvant therapy in patients with operable HER2-positive early breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr GS1-04.

Introduction: Although HER2+ breast cancer (BC) is considered a moderately immunogenic tumor, several studies have shown a role of pre-existing immunity associated with favorable long-term prognosis and better response to treatment. In this study, we performed exploratory analyses to assess whether the efficacy of HER2 targeted treatment in the MARIANNE trial correlated with immune gene expression. Methods: MARIANNE (NCT01120184) is a phase 3 study in patients (pts) with centrally confirmed HER2+ local advanced/metastatic BC naïve to prior treatments in the advanced disease. Pts were randomized (1:1:1) to trastuzumab+taxane (HT), T-DM1, or T-DM1+Petuzumab (P) and the trial showed noninferior PFS of T-DM1 and T-DM1+P vs HT. Gene expression (RNA) analysis was performed on tumor samples by a custom 800-gene codeset on the nCounter platform. PD-L1, CD8 expressions and immune gene signatures (sign) analyses were assessed by multivariate Cox regression models using median (cut-off) as categorical variable and adjusted by prior HT, presence of visceral disease, world region, baseline ECOG, measureable disease at baseline, therapy setting, HER2 mRNA expression, PIK3CA mutation status. Results: MARIANNE randomized 1095 pts (HT, n=365; T-DM1, n=367; T-DM1+P, n=363). Gene expression results were available for 671 pts (61.3% of the intent-to-treat [ITT] population) which was representative of ITT. In ITT, HR below 1 was observed when comparing pts with high (>median) vs low (≤median) immune gene expression by clinical outcome suggesting a potential association of high immune marker expression with improved PFS (Table 1) and to some extent with OS (data not shown). This association was primarily observed in the T-DM1 arm where the HR suggested a risk reduction of disease progression(PD)/death especially in the high Teff, high PD-L1 and high CD8 subgroups, and to some extent in the HT arm (Table 1). When assessing the predictive impact on PFS by comparing T-DM1 vs HT, HR below 1 was observed especially in pts with high Teff signature, high PD-L1 and high CD8 expressions (HR 0.67 (95% CI (0.47-0.95)), HR 0.68 (95% CI (0.48-0.97), and HR 0.64 (95%CI 0.44-0.93), respectively). When comparing T-DM1+P vs. HT, HR below 1 was observed especially in pts with low Teff signature and low PD-L1 expression (HR 0.70 (95% CI (0.50-0.99), and HR 0.68 (95% CI (0.48-0.96) respectively). No clear differences between immune gene expression subgroups was observed when comparing treatment arms in regards to OS (data not shown). Conclusions: In the exploratory analysis from the MARIANNE study, high immune gene expression, especially in the high PD-L1, CD8 and Teff subgroups, showed an association with improved clinical benefit with HRs reflecting for a risk reduction of PD/death for PFS and partially for OS. This association was less obvious in the T-DM1+P arm. When comparing the treatments effect, the data showed a potential impact of high Teff signature, and high CD8 and PD-L1 expressions on T-DM1 and less on HT. The potential opposite association of low Teff signature and low PD-L1 expression with improved benefit in the T-DM1+P arm was unexpected and needs further investigation. Table 1: Prognostic biomarker effect on PFSBiomarker by categories (>Median vs ≤Median)HR (95% CI) ITT n=671HR (95% CI) HT n=220HR (95% CI) T-DM1 n=227HR (95% CI) T-DM1+P n=224Teff sign0.89 (0.73-1.09)0.97 (0.68-1.38)0.64 (0.45-0.91)1.09 (0.75-1.58)Th1 cytokine sign0.91 (0.74-1.11)0.92 (0.64-1.31)0.78 (0.55-1.11)0.96 (0.67-1.36)Checkpoint inhibitor sign0.95 (0.78-1.15)0.91 (0.64-1.29)0.90 (0.64-1.26)1.02 (0.71-1.47)PD-L10.80 (0.66-0.98)0.79 (0.55-1.13)0.62 (0.44-0.87)1.07 (0.74-1.55)CD80.91 (0.75-1.11)1.10 (0.77-1.57)0.66 (0.46-0.93)0.98 (0.68-1.41) Citation Format: Edith A Perez, Sanne Lysbet de Haas, Carlos H Barrios, Wolfgang Eiermann, Masakazu Toi, Young-Hyuck Im, Pier Franco Conte, Miguel Martin, Tadeusz Pienkowski, Xavier B Pivot, Howard A Burris III, Chiara Lambertini, Silke Hoersch, Monika Patre, Paul Anthony Ellis. Association of immune gene expression with outcome in the MARIANNE phase 3 clinical trial in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD5-11.

As most erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer (BC) patients currently receive dual HER2-targeting added to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, improved methods for identifying individual response, and assisting post-surgical salvage therapy, are needed. Herein, we evaluated the 41-gene classifier trastuzumab advantage risk model (TRAR) as a predictive marker for patients enrolled in the NeoSphere trial. TRAR scores were computed from RNA of 350 pre- and 166 post-treatment tumor specimens. Overall, TRAR score was significantly associated with pathological complete response (pCR) rate independently of other predictive clinico-pathological variables. Separate analyses according to estrogen receptor (ER) status showed a significant association between TRAR score and pCR in ER-positive specimens but not in ER-negative counterparts. Among ER-positive BC patients not achieving a pCR, those with TRAR-low scores in surgical specimens showed a trend for lower distant event-free survival. In conclusion, in HER2-positive/ER-positive BC, TRAR is an independent predictor of pCR and represents a promising tool to select patients responsive to anti-HER2-based neoadjuvant therapy and to assist treatment escalation and de-escalation strategies in this setting.

Background. The ASCO-CAP guidelines for HER2 testing by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) have a category, referred to as “equivocal” (average HER2 copies per tumor cell >4-6 with HER2/CEP17 ratio Methods. We retrospectively assessed the use of chromosome 17 p-arm and q-arm alternative control genomic sites (TP53, D17S122, SMS, RARA, TOP2A), as recommended by the 2013/2014 ASCO-CAP guidelines, in patients whose data were available through the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC)(N=1980) or whose tissues were available from the BCIRG-005 clinical trial (N=3298). We used either FDA-approved HER2 IHC (HercepTest) or laboratory-developed HER2 (10H8) IHC assays to assess HER2 protein expression. Results. Using METABRIC we found heterozygous deletions, particularly in specific p-arm sites, were common in both HER2-amplified and HER2-not-amplified breast cancers. Use of alternative control probes from these regions to assess HER2 by FISH in “HER2 equivocal” as well as HER2-not-amplified breast cancers resulted in high rates of false-positive ratios (HER2-to-alternative control ratio >2·0) due to heterozygous deletions of control p-arm genomic sites used as ratio denominators. Misclassifications of HER2 status was observed not only in breast cancers with ASCO-CAP “equivocal” status but also in breast cancers with an average of 2·0 did not differ significantly from clinical outcomes of those with HER2-to-alternative control ratio Conclusion. Using chromosome 17 p-arm alternative controls, as recommended by 2013/2014 ASCO-CAP guidelines, instead of CEP17 for resolution of “HER2 equivocal” cases, is problematic due to frequent heterozygous deletions of these loci in breast cancers. The indiscriminate use of alternative control probes to calculate a HER2 FISH ratio in “HER2-equivocal” breast cancers leads to false-positive interpretations of HER2 status resulting from unrecognized heterozygous deletions in one or more of these alternative control genomic sites and incorrect HER2 ratio determinations. Citation Format: Press MF, Seoane JA, Curtis C, Quinaux E, Guzman R, Sauter G, Eiermann W, Mackey JR, Robert N, Pienkowski T, Crown J, Martin M, Valero V, Bee V, Ma Y, Villalobos I, Slamon DJ. HER2/ERBB2 status in “HER2 equivocal” breast cancers by FISH and ASCO-CAP guidelines: False-positives due to heterozygous deletions of alternative control loci [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD3-11.

BACKGROUNDPertuzumab increases the rate of pathological complete response in the preoperative context and increases overall survival among patients with metastatic disease when it is added to trastuzumab and chemotherapy for the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer. In this trial, we investigated whether pertuzumab, when added to adjuvant trastuzumab and chemotherapy, improves outcomes among patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer.METHODSWe randomly assigned patients with node-positive or high-risk node-negative HER2-positive, operable breast cancer to receive either pertuzumab or placebo added to standard adjuvant chemotherapy plus 1 year of treatment with trastuzumab. We assumed a 3-year invasive-disease-free survival rate of 91.8% with pertuzumab and 89.2% with placebo.RESULTSIn the trial population, 63% of the patients who were randomly assigned to receive pertuzumab (2400 patients) or placebo (2405 patients) had node-positive disease and 36% had hormone-receptor-negative disease. Disease recurrence occurred in 171 patients (7.1%) in the pertuzumab group and 210 patients (8.7%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 1.00; P = 0.045). The estimates of the 3-year rates of invasive-disease-free survival were 94.1% in the pertuzumab group and 93.2% in the placebo group. In the cohort of patients with node-positive disease, the 3-year rate of invasive-disease-free survival was 92.0% in the pertuzumab group, as compared with 90.2% in the placebo group (hazard ratio for an invasive-disease event, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.62 to 0.96; P = 0.02). In the cohort of patients with node-negative disease, the 3-year rate of invasive-disease-free survival was 97.5% in the pertuzumab group and 98.4% in the placebo group (hazard ratio for an invasive-disease event, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.68 to 1.86; P = 0.64). Heart failure, cardiac death, and cardiac dysfunction were infrequent in both treatment groups. Diarrhea of grade 3 or higher occurred almost exclusively during chemotherapy and was more frequent with pertuzumab than with placebo (9.8% vs. 3.7%).CONCLUSIONSPertuzumab significantly improved the rates of invasive-disease-free survival among patients with HER2-positive, operable breast cancer when it was added to trastuzumab and chemotherapy. Diarrhea was more common with pertuzumab than with placebo. (Funded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche/Genentech; APHINITY ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01358877.)

Background: Patients (pts) with residual disease (RD) after neoadjuvant therapy are at higher risk of relapse. We investigated whether biomarkers assessed at surgery in patients pts with RD in the NeoSphere study were informative for risk of distant event free survival (DEFS) Methods: In NeoSphere 417 HER2+ pts were randomized to neoadjuvant TD, TPD, TP or PD (T=trastuzumab, P=pertuzumab, D=docetaxel), and received FAC/FEC and trastuzumab after surgery. 296 pts had RD. Affymetrix derived gene expression profiles (GEPs) were available at surgery for 201 pts (67.9%). 176 pts (60.1%) had paired samples before and after treatment with available GEPs. We investigated the prognostic value of proliferation evaluated by Mitosis Kinase Score (MKS) (Bianchini G Cancer Res 2010), and performed a gene discovery for association between gene expression at surgery and DEFS. Results: MKS as continuous marker was associated with significantly higher risk of relapse when assessed at surgery (HR 1.80 [1.23-2.65]; p=0.002), but not before treatment (HR 1.50 [0.80-2.78]; p=0.20). In paired samples, there was an average decrease (p=9.2E-11) of MKS after treatment, which was prominent in ER+ and chemotherapy-containing arms. In ER- and TP arm there were cases of increase and of decrease of MKS. In ER+ the 5 years DEFS was 94.3% in the Low/Int MKS tertiles group (pooled) vs 70.5% in the High MKS tertile group (HR 5.41 [1.87-15.6]; p=0.002). In ER-, the 5 years DEFS was 85.0% in the Low/Int vs 64.1% in the High group (HR 2.89 [1.08-7.76]; p=0.035). Notably, MKS at surgery after the two monoclonal alone was also prognostic. In the gene discovery approach only the expression of CDKN1A (p21)at surgery was associated with DEFS after correction for false discovery rate (FDR=0.01). Pre-treatment p21 was not associated with DEFS. Paired comparison showed significant upregulation of p21 in all patients, treatment arms and ER groups. The Int/High p21 tertiles group (pooled) had lower risk of recurrence than the low tertile in ER+ (HR 4.31 [1.60-11.6]; p=0.004) and in ER- (HR 5.81 [1.87-18.1]; p=0.002) groups. p21 in TP arm was also prognostic. MKS and p21 expression provided independent prognostic information and remained significant after correction for clinico-pathological variables (nodes and T stage) and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Combining the two markers, there was a group at very low risk (Low/Int MKS and Int/High p21) and one at high risk (High MKS and Low p21). The other tertiles combinations had intermediate risk. In ER+, the 5 yrs DEFS was 94.9% in the low risk group and 52.9% in the high risk (p=1.9E-05). In ER-, the 5 yrs DEFS was 96.5% in the low and 45.5% in the high risk group (p=0.001).The markers' combination was also prognostic in the two monoclonal only arm. Conclusions: Proliferation (MKS) and p21 expression are modulated by trastuzumab and/or pertuzumab regimens. Tumors with high MKS and low p21 in RD after neoadjuvant therapy defined a group at very high risk of relapse. Tumors with low/int proliferation and int/high p21 had low risk of recurrence similar to that of patients achieving pCR. Whether the pharmacodynamic modulation of p21 could be used as surrogate marker of long term benefit in patients with RD deserves additional investigation. Citation Format: Bianchini G, Pienkowski T, Im Y-H, Bianchi GV, Tseng L-M, Liu M-C, Lluch A, de la Haba-Rodríguez J, Semiglazov V, Oh D-Y, Poirier B, Pedrini JL, Valagussa P, Gianni L. Proliferation and p21 refine risk of relapse in residual disease after HER2-directed therapies [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-09-04.

Summary Background CLEOPATRA was a phase 3 study comparing the efficacy and safety of pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and docetaxel with placebo, trastuzumab, and docetaxel in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. In the primary analysis and subsequent reports, progression-free and overall survival were significantly improved in the pertuzumab group compared with the placebo group. Here, we report the end-of-study analysis of CLEOPATRA. Methods This was a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial that was done at 204 centres in 25 countries. Eligible patients were 18 years or older, had HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer, had not received previous chemotherapy or biological treatment for their metastatic disease, and had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1. All study drugs were given intravenously, every 3 weeks. Patients were assigned to receive either pertuzumab or placebo at a loading dose of 840 mg, and 420 mg thereafter; plus trastuzumab at 8 mg/kg loading dose and 6 mg/kg thereafter; and docetaxel at 75 mg/m2, escalating to 100 mg/m2 if tolerated. Pertuzumab or placebo and trastuzumab were given until disease progression; docetaxel was given for six cycles, or longer at the investigators’ discretion. Randomisation (1:1) was done by use of an interactive voice-response system and was stratified by geographical region (Asia, Europe, North America, or South America) and previous treatment (previous adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy vs none). The primary endpoint was independent review facility-assessed progression-free survival, which has been reported previously. Since the confirmatory overall survival analysis had also occurred before this prespecified end-of-study analysis, analyses presented here are descriptive. Overall survival analyses were based on the intention-to-treat population with crossover patients analysed in the placebo group; analyses were not adjusted for crossover to the pertuzumab group and are likely to be conservative. Safety analyses were based on treatment received; crossover patients were counted in the placebo group up to the day before first pertuzumab dose. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , number NCT00567190 . Findings Between Feb 12, 2008, and July 7, 2010, 1196 patients were assessed for eligibility, of whom 808 were enrolled and randomly assigned. 402 patients were assigned to receive docetaxel plus trastuzumab plus pertuzumab, and 406 patients were assigned to receive docetaxel plus trastuzumab plus placebo. Clinical cutoff for this analysis was Nov 23, 2018. Between July 2012 and clinical cutoff, 50 patients crossed from the placebo to the pertuzumab group. Median follow-up was 99·9 months in the pertuzumab group (IQR 92·9–106·4) and 98·7 months (90·9–105·7) in the placebo group. Median overall survival was 57·1 months (95% CI 50–72) in the pertuzumab group and 40·8 months (36–48) in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·69, 95% CI 0·58–0·82); 8-year landmark overall survival rates were 37% (95% CI 31–42) in the pertuzumab group and 23% (19–28) in the placebo group. The most common grade 3–4 adverse event was neutropenia (200 [49%] of 408 patients in the pertuzumab group, 183 [46%] of 396 patients in the placebo group). Five (1%) of 408 patients in the pertuzumab group and six (2%) of 396 patients in the placebo group had treatment-related deaths. One new serious adverse event suggestive of congestive heart failure (pertuzumab group) and one new symptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction (post-crossover) occurred since the previous analysis. Interpretation Our analysis shows that the previously observed improvements in overall survival with pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and docetaxel versus placebo, trastuzumab, and docetaxel were maintained after a median of more than 8 years of follow-up. The long-term safety and cardiac safety profiles of pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and docetaxel were maintained in the overall safety population and within crossover patients. HER2-targeted therapy has changed the natural history of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, with the dual blockade of pertuzumab and trastuzumab, with docetaxel, demonstrating an 8-year landmark overall survival rate of 37%. Funding F Hoffmann-La Roche and Genentech.

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported the following errors in the article.

Background In the phase 3 MARIANNE trial, trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) with or without pertuzumab showed noninferior progression-free survival and better tolerability than trastuzumab plus a taxane (HT) for the first-line treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive advanced breast cancer. This article reports the final descriptive overall survival (OS) analysis, updated safety data, and additional patient-reported outcomes and biomarker analyses. Methods OS was assessed in 1095 patients with HER2-positive breast cancer and no prior therapy for advanced disease who had been randomized to HT, T-DM1 plus a placebo (hereafter T-DM1), or T-DM1 plus pertuzumab (T-DM1+pertuzumab). A post hoc exploratory landmark analysis of OS, baseline patient and disease characteristics, and tumor biomarkers in patients with and without an objective tumor response (OR) according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors within 6.5 months of randomization was conducted. Results The median OS was similar across groups (50.9, 53.7, and 51.8 months for the HT, T-DM1, and T-DM1+pertuzumab groups, respectively). Among patients with an OR, the median OS was longer with T-DM1 (64.4 months) and T-DM1+pertuzumab (not reached) versus HT (56.3 months). No baseline characteristics or biomarkers were strongly associated with OR. The incidence of grade 3 or higher adverse events was greater with HT (55.8%) than T-DM1 (47.1%) or T-DM1+pertuzumab (48.6%). The median time to clinically meaningful deterioration (a 3-point or greater change) in neurotoxicity symptoms was shorter with HT (2.1 months) and T-DM1+pertuzumab (4.2 months) than T-DM1 (6.2 months). Fewer patients reported alopecia and diarrhea and were bothered by treatment side effects in the T-DM1 arm. Conclusions These results support T-DM1 as a first-line treatment for patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who are deemed unsuitable for taxane-based therapy.

Purpose ASCO and the College of American Pathologists (ASCO-CAP) recently recommended further changes to the evaluation of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 gene (HER2) amplification by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). We retrospectively assessed the impact of these new guidelines by using annotated Breast Cancer International Research Group (BCIRG) -005, BCIRG-006, and BCIRG-007 clinical trials data for which we have detailed outcomes. Patients and Methods The HER2 FISH status of BCIRG-005/006/007 patients with breast cancers was re-evaluated according to current ASCO-CAP guidelines, which designates five different groups according to HER2 FISH ratio and average HER2 gene copy number per tumor cell: group 1 (in situ hybridization [ISH]–positive): HER2-to-chromosome 17 centromere ratio ≥ 2.0, average HER2 copies ≥ 4.0; group 2 (ISH-positive): ratio ≥ 2.0, copies < 4.0; group 3 (ISH-positive): ratio < 2.0, copies ≥ 6.0; group 4 (ISH-equivocal): ratio < 2.0, copies ≥ 4.0 and < 6.0; and group 5 (ISH-negative): ratio < 2.0, copies < 4.0. We assessed correlations with HER2 protein, clinical outcomes by disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) and benefit from trastuzumab therapy (hazard ratio [HR]). Results Among 10,468 patients with breast cancers who were successfully screened for trial entry, 40.8% were in ASCO-CAP ISH group 1, 0.7% in group 2; 0.5% in group 3, 4.1% in group 4, and 53.9% in group 5. Distributions were similar in screened compared with accrued subpopulations. Among accrued patients, FISH group 1 breast cancers were strongly correlated with immunohistochemistry 3+ status (P < .0001), whereas groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 were not; however, groups 2, 4 and, 5 were strongly correlated with immunohistochemistry 0/1+ status (all P < .0001), whereas group 3 was not. Among patients accrued to BCIRG-005, group 4 was not associated with significantly worse DFS or OS compared with group 5. Among patients accrued to BCIRG-006, only group 1 showed a significant benefit from trastuzumab therapy (DFS HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.83; P < .0001; OS HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.55 to 0.85; P = .0006), whereas group 2 did not. Conclusion Our findings support the original categorizations of HER2 by FISH status in BCIRG/Translational Research in Oncology trials.

Summary Background The randomised phase 3 TURANDOT trial compared two approved bevacizumab-containing regimens for HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer in terms of efficacy, safety, and quality of life. The interim analysis did not confirm non-inferior overall survival (stratified hazard ratio [HR] 1·04; 97·5% repeated CI [RCI] –∞ to 1·69). Here we report final results of our study aiming to show non-inferior overall survival with first-line bevacizumab plus capecitabine versus bevacizumab plus paclitaxel for locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. Methods In this multinational, open-label, randomised phase 3 TURANDOT trial, patients aged 18 years or older who had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0–2 and measurable or non-measurable HER2-negative locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer who had received no previous chemotherapy for locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer were stratified and randomly assigned (1:1) using permuted blocks of size six to either bevacizumab plus paclitaxel (bevacizumab 10 mg/kg on days 1 and 15 plus paclitaxel 90 mg/m 2 on days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks) or bevacizumab plus capecitabine (bevacizumab 15 mg/kg on day 1 plus capecitabine 1000 mg/m 2 twice daily on days 1–14 every 3 weeks) until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal of consent. Stratification factors were oestrogen or progesterone receptor status, country, and menopausal status. The primary objective was to show non-inferior overall survival with bevacizumab plus capecitabine versus bevacizumab plus paclitaxel in the per-protocol population by rejecting the null hypothesis of inferiority (HR ≥1·33) using a stratified Cox proportional hazard model. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00600340. Findings Between Sept 10, 2008, and Aug 30, 2010, 564 patients were randomised, representing the intent-to-treat population. The per-protocol population comprised 531 patients (266 in the bevacizumab plus paclitaxel group and 265 in the bevacizumab plus capecitabine group). At the final overall survival analysis after 183 deaths (69%) in 266 patients receiving bevacizumab plus paclitaxel and 201 (76%) in 265 receiving bevacizumab plus capecitabine in the per-protocol population, median overall survival was 30·2 months (95% CI 25·6–32·6 months) versus 26·1 months (22·3–29·0), respectively. The stratified HR was 1·02 (97·5% RCI –∞ to 1·26; repeated p=0·0070), indicating non-inferiority. The unstratified Cox model (HR 1·13 [97·5% RCI –∞ to 1·39]; repeated p=0·061) did not support the primary analysis. Intent-to-treat analyses were consistent with the per-protocol results. The most common grade 3 or worse adverse events were neutropenia (54 [19%] of 284 patients in the bevacizumab plus paclitaxel group vs 5 [2%] of 277 patients in the bevacizumab plus capecitabine group), hand–foot syndrome (1 [ vs 43 [16%]), peripheral neuropathy (39 [14%] vs 1 [ vs 1 [ vs 16 [6%]). Serious adverse events were reported in 65 (23%) of 284 patients receiving bevacizumab plus paclitaxel and 68 (25%) of 277 receiving bevacizumab plus capecitabine. Deaths in two (1%) of 284 patients in the bevacizumab plus paclitaxel group were deemed by the investigator to be treatment-related. No treatment-related deaths occurred in the bevacizumab plus capecitabine group. Interpretation Bevacizumab plus capecitabine represents a valid first-line treatment option for HER2-negative locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer, offering good tolerability without compromising overall survival compared with bevacizumab plus paclitaxel. Although progression-free survival with the bevacizumab plus capecitabine combination is inferior to that noted with bevacizumab plus paclitaxel, we suggest that physicians should consider possible predictive risk factors for overall survival, individual's treatment priorities, and the differing safety profiles. Funding Roche.

Background The optimal regimen for adjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy is undefined. We compared sequential to concurrent combination of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide with docetaxel chemotherapy in women with node-positive non-metastatic breast cancer. We report the final, 10-year analysis of disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and long-term safety. Patients and methods A total of 3298 women with HER2 nonamplified breast cancer were randomized to doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide every 3 weeks for four cycles followed by docetaxel (AC → T) every 3 weeks for four cycles or docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (TAC) every 3 weeks for six cycles. The patients received standard radiotherapy and endocrine therapy and were followed up for 10 years with annual clinical evaluation and mammography. Results The 10-year DFS rates were 66.5% in the AC → T arm and 66.3% in the TAC arm (P = 0.749). OS was 79.9% in the AC → T arm and 78.9% in the TAC arm (P = 0.506). TAC was associated with higher rates of febrile neutropenia, although G-CSF primary prophylaxis greatly reduced this risk. AC → T was associated with a higher rate of myalgia, hand-foot syndrome, fluid retention, and sensory neuropathy. Conclusion This 10-year analysis of the BCIRG-005 trial confirmed that the efficacy of TAC was not superior to AC → T in women with node-positive early breast cancer. The toxicity profiles differ between arms and were consistent with previous reports. The TAC regimen with G-CSF support provides shorter adjuvant treatment duration with less toxicity. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT00312208.

e12620 Background: Preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) have been suggested to be correlated with the prognosis of patients with breast cancer (BC). However, the results still remain controversial. The goal of our study was to evaluate the predictive and prognostic value of NLR in early stage triple negative and HER2-pos breast cancer patients undergoing NAC. Methods: 96 female patients (pts) with histologically proven breast cancer (51 TNBC, and 45 HER2 pos) were analysed in this retrospective analysis. The NLR before the initiation of NAC was documented. Histopathological response in surgically removed specimens was evaluated using the Residual Cancer Burden (RCB) Calculator (by MD Anderson Cancer Center). The pCR was defined as no invasive tumor in primary tumor bed and lymph nodes. The NLR variable was analyzed as both continuous and categorical. The impact on pCR and RCB was tested using Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Willis or the Chi-2 test, respectively. Results: Only 4 categories of NAC were used: in TNBC 4 x ACdd followed by 12 x PCL (38 pts) or 4 x ACdd followed by 12 x PCL+ carboplatin AUC 1.0-2 (13 pts), in HER2-pos 39 pts received 6 x TCH (docetaxel + tratuzumab + carboplatin AUC 6) and 6 pts 4 x ACdd followed by 12 x PCL iv + 4 x trastuzumab. In 27 pts (53%) with TNBC and 24 pts (53%) with HER2-pos breast cancer pCR was obtained after NAC. RCB distribution was: 0-53.1%, 1-22%, 2-17.6%, 3-7.3%. No association with NLR and pCR could be observed (p > 0.26). No association with NLR and RCB could be observed (p > 0.18). Conclusions: In our retrospective analysis we could not demonstrate predictive or prognostic value of NLR in the cohort of early stage triple negative and HER2-positive breast cancer patients treated with NAC. Further studies are planned in a group of patients with Luminal B, HER2 – negative breast cancer, who received NAC.

Background To investigate in the NeoSphere trial the contribution of the immune system to pathologic complete response in the breast (pCRB) after neoadjuvant docetaxel with trastuzumab (TH), pertuzumab (TP), or both (THP), or monoclonal antibodies alone (HP). Patients and methods Immune gene mRNA expression (n = 350, 83.8%), lymphocyte infiltration (TIL, n = 243, 58.3%), and PDL1 by immunohistochemistry (n = 305, 73.1%) were correlated with pCRB. We studied five selected genes (IFNG, PD1, PDL1, PDL2, CTLA4) and six immune metagenes corresponding to plasma cells (IGG), T cells (CD8A), antigen-presenting cells (MHC2), and to MHC1 genes (MHC1), STAT1 co-expressed genes (STAT1), and interferon-inducible genes (IF-I). Gene expression data from the NOAH trial were used for validation. Results TIL as continuous variable and PDL1 protein expression were not significantly associated with pCRB. Expression of immune genes/metagenes had different association with pCRB after THP than after other therapies. With THP, higher expression of PD1 and STAT1, or any among PDL1, CTLA4, MHC1, and IF-I were linked with lower pCRB. In the combined TH/TP/HP treatment group, in multivariate analysis, higher expression of PD1, MHC2, and STAT1 were linked with pCRB, and higher PDL1, MHC1, or IF-I to lower pCRB. In the NOAH, a similar association of higher STAT1 with higher pCRB, and higher MHC1 and IF-I with lower pCRB was found for trastuzumab/chemotherapy but not for chemotherapy treatment only. Conclusions The immune system modulates response to therapies containing trastuzumab and pertuzumab. Greatest benefit from THP is observed for low expression of some immune markers (i.e. MHC1, CTLA4). The involvement of PDL1 in resistance supports testing combinations of HER2-directed antibodies and immune-checkpoint inhibitors.

Wstep. Wyniki leczenia chorych na raka piersi zalezą w duzym stopniu od sprawnego przeprowadzenia procesu diagnostyczno-terapeutycznego. Szczegolnie istotny jest czas uplywający od początku choroby do rozpoczecia leczenia. Opoźnienie w podjeciu leczenia moze wynikac z przyczyn lezących po stronie pacjenta, lekarza lub systemu opieki zdrowotnej. Celem projektu bylo określenie przyczyn opoźnien w rozpoznawaniu i leczeniu chorych na raka piersi w Polsce. Poprzednio przedstawiliśmy przyczyny opoźnien wynikające z postaw pacjentek, natomiast w niniejszej pracy omowiono systemowe uwarunkowania opoźnien. Material i metody. Dane uzyskano z ankiety przeprowadzonej w grupie 1000 chorych na raka piersi, leczonych w 10 losowo wybranych polskich ośrodkach onkologicznych i szpitalach z oddzialami onkologicznymi. Czas i strukture procesu rozpoznawania raka piersi oceniono na podstawie pytan elektronicznego, interaktywnego kwestionariusza. Respondentki zaznaczaly, ktore spośrod 6 wydarzen przypadly im w udziale, oraz określaly czas, jaki uplynąl pomiedzy poszczegolnymi etapami. Wyniki. Średni czas opoźnienia wynikającego z systemowych uwarunkowan wyniosl 9,0 tygodni. Brak zachorowan na nowotwory w najblizszej rodzinie chorej związany byl z wydluzeniem opoźnienia o 2,1 tygodnia. W grupie chorych, ktore na pierwszą wizyte udaly sie do onkologa, opoźnienie bylo krotsze o 1,8 tygodnia w porownaniu z grupą, w ktorej pierwsza wizyta odbyla sie u lekarza innej specjalności. Chore w wieku powyzej 59 lat w porownaniu z mlodszymi chorymi oczekiwaly na rozpoczecie terapii o 1,5 tygodnia krocej. Średni czas oczekiwania w grupie chorych mieszkających w mieście powyzej 300 tys. mieszkancow byl o 1,3 tygodnia krotszy niz w grupie chorych z mniejszych miejscowości. Wieksza o 1 stopien nieufnośc w stosunku do systemu ochrony zdrowia i wynikow leczenia wplywala na wydluzenie opoźnienia o 0,8 tygodnia. Wiekszy o 1 punkt poziom wsparcia ze strony bliskich związany byl z krotszym o 0,6 tygodnia czasem do rozpoczecia leczenia. Wnioski. Dzialania na rzecz zmniejszenia systemowego opoźnienia w rozpoznawaniu i leczeniu chorych na raka piersi w Polsce powinny polegac na usprawnieniu i standaryzacji ściezek diagnostycznych, zwiekszaniu dostepności do badan mieszkankom mniejszych miejscowości, zmniejszaniu nieufności w stosunku do systemu opieki zdrowotnej oraz zwiekszaniu kompetencji i roli lekarzy rodzinnych w profilaktyce chorob nowotworowych. Priorytetem powinno byc szybkie utworzenie specjalistycznych ośrodkow diagnostyczno-leczniczych, zapewniających kompleksową opieke onkologiczną, ujednolicony sposob rozpoznawania nowotworu i wysoką jakośc leczenia.

Purpose Trastuzumab and pertuzumab are human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) –targeted monoclonal antibodies, and trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) is an antibody–drug conjugate that combines the properties of trastuzumab with the cytotoxic activity of DM1. T-DM1 demonstrated encouraging efficacy and safety in a phase II study of patients with previously untreated HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Combination T-DM1 and pertuzumab showed synergistic activity in cell culture models and had an acceptable safety profile in a phase Ib and II study. Methods In the MARIANNE study, 1,095 patients with centrally assessed, HER2-positive, advanced breast cancer and no prior therapy for advanced disease were randomly assigned 1:1:1 to control (trastuzumab plus taxane), T-DM1 plus placebo, hereafter T-DM1, or T-DM1 plus pertuzumab at standard doses. Primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS), as assessed by independent review. Results T-DM1 and T-DM1 plus pertuzumab showed noninferior PFS compared with trastuzumab plus taxane (median PFS: 13.7 months with trastuzumab plus taxane, 14.1 months with T-DM1, and 15.2 months with T-DM1 plus pertuzumab). Neither experimental arm showed PFS superiority to trastuzumab plus taxane. Response rate was 67.9% in patients who were treated with trastuzumab plus taxane, 59.7% with T-DM1, and 64.2% with T-DM1 plus pertuzumab; median response duration was 12.5 months, 20.7 months, and 21.2 months, respectively. The incidence of grade ≥ 3 adverse events was numerically higher in the control arm (54.1%) versus the T-DM1 arm (45.4%) and T-DM1 plus pertuzumab arm (46.2%). Numerically fewer patients discontinued treatment because of adverse events in the T-DM1 arms, and health-related quality of life was maintained for longer in the T-DM1 arms. Conclusion T-DM1 showed noninferior, but not superior, efficacy and better tolerability than did taxane plus trastuzumab for first-line treatment of HER2-positive, advanced breast cancer.

Aim To assess the safety and tolerability of adjuvant subcutaneous trastuzumab (Herceptin ® SC, H SC), delivered from an H SC Vial via hand-held syringe (Cohort A) or single-use injection device (Cohort B), with or without chemotherapy, for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive stage I to IIIC early breast cancer (EBC) in the phase III SafeHer study (NCT01566721). Methods Patients received 600 mg fixed-dose H SC every 3 weeks for 18 cycles. The chemotherapy partner was at the investigators' discretion (H SC monotherapy was limited to ≤10% of the population). Data from the first H SC dose until 28 days (plus a 5-day window) after the last dose are presented. Results are descriptive. Results In the overall population, 2282/2573 patients (88.7%) experienced adverse events (AEs). Of the above, 128 (5.0%) patients experienced AEs leading to study drug discontinuation; 596 (23.2%) experienced grade ≥ 3 AEs and 326 (12.7%) experienced serious AEs. Grade ≥ 3 cardiac disorders were reported in 24 patients (0.9%), including congestive heart failure in eight (0.3%). As expected, the AE rates varied according to the timing of chemotherapy in both cohorts, with higher rates in concurrent versus sequential chemotherapy subgroups. In the concurrent chemotherapy subgroup, AEs were more common during the actual period of concurrent chemotherapy compared with the period when patients did not receive concurrent chemotherapy. Conclusion SafeHer confirms the safety and tolerability of the H SC 600 mg fixed dose for 1 year (every 3 weeks for 18 cycles) as adjuvant therapy with concurrent or sequential chemotherapy for HER2-positive EBC. These primary analysis results are consistent with the known safety profile for intravenous H and H SC.

Background: The randomised phase III TURANDOT trial compared first-line bevacizumab–paclitaxel (BEV–PAC) vs bevacizumab–capecitabine (BEV–CAP) in HER2-negative locally recurrent/metastatic breast cancer (LR/mBC). The interim analysis revealed no difference in overall survival (OS; primary end point) between treatment arms; however, progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate were significantly superior with BEV–PAC. We sought to identify patient populations that may be most appropriately treated with one or other regimen. Methods: Patients with HER2-negative LR/mBC who had received no prior chemotherapy for advanced disease were randomised to either BEV–PAC (bevacizumab 10 mg kg−1 days 1 and 15 plus paclitaxel 90 mg m−2 days 1, 8 and 15 q4w) or BEV–CAP (bevacizumab 15 mg kg−1 day 1 plus capecitabine 1000 mg m−2 bid days 1–14 q3w). The study population was categorised into three cohorts: triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), high-risk hormone receptor-positive (HR+) and low-risk HR+. High- and low-risk HR+ were defined, respectively, as having ⩾2 vs ⩽1 of the following four risk factors: disease-free interval ⩽24 months; visceral metastases; prior (neo)adjuvant anthracycline and/or taxane; and metastases in ⩾3 organs. Results: The treatment effect on OS differed between cohorts. Non-significant OS trends favoured BEV–PAC in the TNBC cohort and BEV–CAP in the low-risk HR+ cohort. In all three cohorts, there was a non-significant PFS trend favouring BEV–PAC. Grade ⩾3 adverse events were consistently less common with BEV–CAP. Conclusions: A simple risk factor index may help in selecting bevacizumab-containing regimens, balancing outcome, safety profile and patient preference. Final OS results are expected in 2015 (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00600340).

Background: The phase III EMILIA and TH3RESA trials demonstrated clinical benefits of trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) therapy in patients with previously treated HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Data from these and other trials showed that T-DM1–associated survival benefits were observed across biomarker subgroups tested in these trials. Prespecified, exploratory analyses of the phase III MARIANNE study examined the effects of HER2-related biomarkers on PFS in patients administered T-DM1 in the first-line MBC setting. Methods: In MARIANNE, patients with previously untreated HER2-positive MBC were randomized (1:1:1) to trastuzumab plus taxane, T-DM1 plus placebo, or T-DM1 plus pertuzumab. Biomarker subgroups included HER2 and HER3 mRNA expression levels (≤median vs. >median), HER2 staining intensity (IHC 3+ vs. 2+ vs. 0/1+), PIK3CA status (mutated vs. non-mutated), PTEN H-score (≤median vs. >median), and PTEN protein expression level (0 vs. 1+ vs. 2+ vs. 3+ vs. 4+). PFS was analyzed descriptively for each subgroup using Kaplan–Meier methodology. Additional exploratory post-hoc analyses evaluated the effects of HER2 heterogeneity. Multivariate analyses were also performed. Results: Median PFS was numerically longer for patients with HER2 mRNA levels >median versus ≤median across treatment arms. In general, there were no predictive biomarkers of benefit for either T-DM1 treatment arm; most hazard ratios were close to 1 with wide confidence intervals that included the value 1. Focal HER2 expression (IHC 3+ or IHC 2+) was present in 3.8% of patients and was associated with numerically shorter PFS in the T-DM1–containing treatment arms versus trastuzumab plus taxane. Compared with non-mutated PIK3CA, mutated PIK3CA was associated with numerically shorter median PFS across treatment groups. Post-hoc multivariate analysis showed HER2 mRNA expression and mutated PIK3CA were prognostic for PFS (P ≤ 0.001 for both biomarkers). Conclusions: In MARIANNE, biomarkers related to the HER2 pathway did not have predictive value for PFS when comparing T-DM1 (with or without pertuzumab) with trastuzumab plus taxane. However, HER2 mRNA level and PIK3CA mutation status showed prognostic value. Evaluation of other potential biomarkers, including immune markers, is ongoing., The Correction to this article has been published in BMC Cancer 2019 19:620

Key Points Questions How does one assess the status of HER2 ISH-equivocal breast cancers as either HER2 positive or HER2 negative for treatment purposes, and are the use of alternative controls, as recommended by the 2013/2014 American Society of Clinical Oncology and College of American Pathologists guidelines, appropriate? Findings In this study, chromosome 17 p-arm genomic sites had a high rate of heterozygous deletions, both in the publicly available Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium database and in the Breast Cancer International Research Group-005 clinical trial samples using fluorescence in situ hybridization. Meaning The indiscriminate use of alternative controls to assess HER2 status with HER2-to-control gene ratios by ISH may lead to false-positive determinations and should be avoided, as recommended by the 2018 clinical practice update., This study examines HER2 ISH-equivocal breast cancers to asses 2013/2014 American Society of Clinical Oncology and College of American Pathologists guidelines in determining HER2-positive or HER2-negative breast cancers and false-positive results., Importance The 2013/2014 American Society of Clinical Oncology and College of American Pathologists (ASCO-CAP) guidelines for HER2 testing by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) designated an “equivocal” category (average HER2 copies per tumor cell ≥4-6 with HER2/CEP17 ratio

Background: Reducing treatment delay improves outcomes in breast cancer. The aim of this study was to determine factors influencing patient- and system-related delays in commencing breast cancer treatment in different countries. Methods: A total of 6588 female breast cancer patients from 12 countries were surveyed. Total delay time was determined as the sum of the patient-related delay time (time between onset of the first symptoms and the first medical visit) and system-related delay time (time between the first medical visit and the start of therapy). Results: The average patient-related delay time and total delay time were 4.7 (range: 3.4–6.2) weeks and 14.4 (range: 11.5–29.4) weeks, respectively. Longer patient-related delay times were associated with distrust and disregard, and shorter patient-related delay times were associated with fear of breast cancer, practicing self-examination, higher education level, being employed, having support from friends and family and living in big cities. The average system-related delay time was 11.1 (range: 8.3–24.7) weeks. Cancer diagnosis made by an oncologist versus another physician, higher education level, older age, family history of female cancers and having a breast lump as the first cancer sign were associated with shorter system-related delay times. Longer patient-related delay times and higher levels of distrust and disregard were predictors of longer system-related delay times. Conclusions: The delay in diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer remains a serious problem. Several psychological and behavioural patient attributes strongly determine both patient-related delay time and system-related delay time, but their strength is different in particular countries.

Wstep. Czas uplywający od początku choroby do rozpoczecia terapii chorych na raka piersi ma wplyw na koncowyefekt leczenia. Opoźnienie w podjeciu leczenia moze miec przyczyne lezącą po stronie pacjenta, lekarza lub systemuopieki zdrowotnej. Czas od zauwazenia objawow sugerujących raka piersi do zgloszenia sie do lekarza jest określonyjako opoźnienie wynikające z postaw pacjenta. Celem projektu bylo określenie przyczyn opoźnien w rozpoznaniuraka piersi i podjeciu leczenia u kobiet w Polsce. W niniejszej pracy odniesiono sie do przyczyn opoźnienia wynikającychz postaw pacjentek.Material i metody. Badanie polegalo na przeprowadzeniu ankiety w grupie 1000 chorych na raka piersi, pochodzącychz 10 losowo wybranych ośrodkow onkologicznych i szpitali z oddzialami onkologicznymi. Ankiete przeprowadzalyodpowiednio przeszkolone pielegniarki zatrudnione w danej placowce, z wykorzystaniem elektronicznegokwestionariusza umieszczonego na przenośnym komputerze typu tablet. Przedmiotem analizy byly chore, ktoresame zauwazyly objawy sugerujące raka piersi, stanowiące 56% respondentek (u pozostalych podejrzenie chorobypojawilo sie podczas rutynowej kontroli lekarskiej lub badania mammografi cznego).Wyniki. Średni czas opoźnienia wynikającego z postaw pacjentek wynosil 3,6 tygodnia. Byl on związany dodatnioz lekcewazeniem dostrzezonych objawow i brakiem zaufania do systemu ochrony zdrowia oraz ujemnie — z poziomemleku przed konsekwencjami raka piersi i nawykiem samobadania piersi. Lek byl odczuwany silniej przez pacjentkiw mlodszym wieku (R = -0,147; p = 0,001), lepiej wyksztalcone (R = 0,109; p = 0,012) oraz te, u ktorych rozpoznanieustalono w prywatnej placowce ochrony zdrowia (R = -0,115; p = 0,008). Lekcewazenie bylo silniejsze dla respondentekz nizszym wyksztalceniem (R = -0,121; p = 0,005), mieszkanek miejscowości < 300 tys. mieszkancow (R = -0,116;p = 0,008) oraz starszych kobiet (R = 0,104; p= 0,016). Samobadanie piersi cześciej deklarowaly kobiety mlodsze(R = -0,121; p = 0,005), lepiej wyksztalcone (R = 0,156; p < 0,001) oraz te, u ktorych rozpoznanie ustalono w prywatnejplacowce ochrony zdrowia (R = -0,126; p = 0,004). Im nizsze bylo wyksztalcenie, tym wyzszy byl deklarowany poziomnieufności wobec systemu opieki medycznej i szans na udane leczenie (R = -0,191; p < 0,001).Wnioski. Zgloszenie sie do lekarza jest wynikiem calego ciągu zdarzen o podlozu psychicznym i spolecznym,takich jak dostrzezenie podejrzanej zmiany, przekonania zdrowotne, poziom wyksztalcenia, reakcje emocjonalnei wiezi spoleczne. Dzialania na rzecz zmniejszenia opoźnienia w podjeciu diagnostyki i leczenia raka piersi w Polscespowodowanego postawami pacjentek powinny polegac na oslabianiu udzialu czynnikow opoźniających rozpoznanieoraz wzmacnianiu udzialu czynnikow zmniejszających to opoźnienie. Dzialania te powinny byc elementemwieloplaszczyznowej edukacji zdrowotnej.

Summary Background For women with oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive early breast cancer, treatment with tamoxifen for 5 years substantially reduces the breast cancer mortality rate throughout the first 15 years after diagnosis. We aimed to assess the further effects of continuing tamoxifen to 10 years instead of stopping at 5 years. Methods In the worldwide Adjuvant Tamoxifen: Longer Against Shorter (ATLAS) trial, 12 894 women with early breast cancer who had completed 5 years of treatment with tamoxifen were randomly allocated to continue tamoxifen to 10 years or stop at 5 years (open control). Allocation (1:1) was by central computer, using minimisation. After entry (between 1996 and 2005), yearly follow-up forms recorded any recurrence, second cancer, hospital admission, or death. We report effects on breast cancer outcomes among the 6846 women with ER-positive disease, and side-effects among all women (with positive, negative, or unknown ER status). Long-term follow-up still continues. This study is registered, number ISRCTN19652633. Findings Among women with ER-positive disease, allocation to continue tamoxifen reduced the risk of breast cancer recurrence (617 recurrences in 3428 women allocated to continue vs 711 in 3418 controls, p=0·002), reduced breast cancer mortality (331 deaths vs 397 deaths, p=0·01), and reduced overall mortality (639 deaths vs 722 deaths, p=0·01). The reductions in adverse breast cancer outcomes appeared to be less extreme before than after year 10 (recurrence rate ratio [RR] 0·90 [95% CI 0·79–1·02] during years 5–9 and 0·75 [0·62–0·90] in later years; breast cancer mortality RR 0·97 [0·79–1·18] during years 5–9 and 0·71 [0·58–0·88] in later years). The cumulative risk of recurrence during years 5–14 was 21·4% for women allocated to continue versus 25·1% for controls; breast cancer mortality during years 5–14 was 12·2% for women allocated to continue versus 15·0% for controls (absolute mortality reduction 2·8%). Treatment allocation seemed to have no effect on breast cancer outcome among 1248 women with ER-negative disease, and an intermediate effect among 4800 women with unknown ER status. Among all 12 894 women, mortality without recurrence from causes other than breast cancer was little affected (688 deaths without recurrence in 6454 women allocated to continue versus 679 deaths in 6440 controls; RR 0·99 [0·89–1·10]; p=0·78). For the incidence (hospitalisation or death) rates of specific diseases, RRs were as follows: pulmonary embolus 1·87 (95% CI 1·13–3·07, p=0·01 [including 0·2% mortality in both treatment groups]), stroke 1·06 (0·83–1·36), ischaemic heart disease 0·75 (0·60–0·95, p=0·02), and endometrial cancer 1·74 (1·30–2·34, p=0·0002). The cumulative risk of endometrial cancer during years 5–14 was 3·1% (mortality 0·4%) for women allocated to continue versus 1·6% (mortality 0·2%) for controls (absolute mortality increase 0·2%). Interpretation For women with ER-positive disease, continuing tamoxifen to 10 years rather than stopping at 5 years produces a further reduction in recurrence and mortality, particularly after year 10. These results, taken together with results from previous trials of 5 years of tamoxifen treatment versus none, suggest that 10 years of tamoxifen treatment can approximately halve breast cancer mortality during the second decade after diagnosis. Funding Cancer Research UK, UK Medical Research Council, AstraZeneca UK, US Army, EU-Biomed.

Summary Background We compared standard adjuvant anthracycline chemotherapy with anthracycline–taxane combination chemotherapy in women with operable node-positive breast cancer. Here we report the final, 10-year follow-up analysis of disease-free survival, overall survival, and long-term safety. Methods BCIRG 001 was an open label, phase 3, multicentre trial in which 1491 patients aged 18–70 years with node-positive, early breast cancer and a Karnofsky score of 80% or more were randomly assigned to adjuvant treatment with docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (TAC) or fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FAC) every 3 weeks for six cycles. Randomisation was stratified according to institution and number of involved axillary lymph nodes per patient (one to three vs four or more). Disease-free survival was the primary endpoint and was defined as the interval between randomisation and breast cancer relapse, second primary cancer, or death, whichever occurred first. Efficacy analyses were based on the intention-to-treat principle. BCIRG 001 is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00688740. Findings Enrolement took place between June 11, 1997 and June 3, 1999; 745 patients were assigned to receive TAC and 746 patients were assigned to receive FAC. After a median follow-up of 124 months (IQR 90–126), disease-free survival was 62% (95% CI 58–65) for patients in the TAC group and 55% (51–59) for patients in the FAC group (hazard ratio [HR] 0·80, 95% CI 0·68–0·93; log-rank p=0·0043). 10-year overall survival was 76% (95% CI 72–79) for patients in the TAC group and 69% (65–72) for patients in the FAC group (HR 0·74, 0·61–0·90; log-rank p=0·0020). TAC improved disease-free survival relative to FAC irrespective of nodal, hormone receptor, and HER2 status, although not all differences were significant in these subgroup analyses. Grade 3–4 heart failure occurred in 26 (3%) patients in the TAC group and 17 (2%) patients in the FAC group, and caused death in two patients in the TAC group and four patients in the FAC group. A substantial decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (defined as a relative decrease from baseline of 20% or more) was seen in 58 (17%) patients who received TAC and 41 (15%) patients who received FAC. Six patients who received TAC developed leukaemia or myelodysplasia, as did three patients who received FAC. Interpretation Our results provide evidence that the initial therapeutic outcomes seen at the 5-year follow-up with a docetaxel-containing adjuvant regimen are maintained at 10 years. However, a substantial percentage of patients had a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction, probably caused by anthracycline therapy, which warrants further investigation. Funding Sanofi.

Summary Background A subcutaneous formulation of trastuzumab has been developed, offering potential improvements in patient convenience and resource use compared with the standard intravenous infusion of the drug. We compared the pharmacokinetic profile, efficacy, and safety of the subcutaneous and intravenous formulations in patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer. Methods The HannaH study was a phase 3, randomised, international, open-label, trial in the (neo)adjuvant setting. Patients with HER2-positive, operable, locally advanced or inflammatory breast cancer were randomly assigned to eight cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy administered concurrently with trastuzumab every 3 weeks either intravenously (8 mg/kg loading dose, 6 mg/kg maintenance dose) or subcutaneously (fixed dose of 600 mg); 1:1 ratio. Chemotherapy consisted of four cycles of docetaxel (75 mg/m 2 ) followed by four cycles of fluorouracil (500 mg/m 2 ), epirubicin (75 mg/m 2 ), and cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m 2 ), every 3 weeks. After surgery, patients continued trastuzumab to complete 1 year of treatment. Coprimary endpoints were serum trough concentration (C trough ) at pre-dose cycle 8 before surgery (non-inferiority margin for the ratio between groups of 0·80) and pathological complete response (pCR; non-inferiority margin for the difference between groups of −12·5%), analysed in the per-protocol population. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00950300. Findings 299 patients were randomly assigned to receive intravenous trastuzumab and 297 to receive subcutaneous trastuzumab. The geometric mean presurgery C trough was 51·8 μg/mL (coefficient of variation 52·5%) in the intravenous group and 69·0 μg/mL (55·8%) in the subcutaneous group. The geometric mean ratio of C trough subcutaneous to C trough intravenous was 1·33 (90% CI 1·24–1·44). 107 (40·7%) of 263 patients in the intravenous group and 118 (45·4%) of 260 in the subcutaneous group achieved a pCR. The difference between groups in pCR was 4·7% (95% CI −4·0 to 13·4). Thus subcutaneous trastuzumab was non-inferior to intravenous trastuzumab for both coprimary endpoints. The incidence of grade 3–5 adverse events was similar between groups. The most common of these adverse events were neutropenia (99 [33·2%] of 298 patients in the intravenous group vs 86 [29·0%] of 297 in the subcutaneous group), leucopenia (17 [5·7%] vs 12 [4·0%]), and febrile neutropenia (10 [3·4%] vs 17 [5·7%]). However, more patients had serious adverse events in the subcutaneous group (62 [21%] of 297 patients) than in the intravenous group (37 [12%] of 298); the difference was mainly attributable to infections and infestations (24 [8·1%] in the subcutaneous group vs 13 [4·4%] in the intravenous group). Four adverse events led to death (one in the intravenous group and three in the subcutaneous group), all of which occurred during the neoadjuvant phase. Of these, two—both in the subcutaneous group—were deemed to be treatment related. Interpretation Subcutaneous trastuzumab, administered over about 5 min, has a pharmacokinetic profile and efficacy non-inferior to standard intravenous administration, with a similar safety profile to intravenous trastuzumab, and therefore offers a valid treatment alternative. Funding F Hoffmann-La Roche.

Purpose: The mechanisms by which trastuzumab imparts clinical benefit remain incompletely understood. Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity via interactions with Fcγ receptors (FcγR) on leukocytes may contribute to its antitumor effects. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in FCGR3A and FCGR2A genes lead to amino acid substitutions at positions 158 and 131, respectively, and affect binding of antibodies to FcγR such that 158V/V and 131H/H bind with highest affinity. This study aimed to determine whether high-affinity SNPs are associated with disease-free survival (DFS) among patients with HER2-positive nonmetastatic breast cancer. Experimental Design: Genomic DNA was isolated from 1,286 patients enrolled in a trial of adjuvant trastuzumab-based chemotherapy. Genotyping was conducted using Sanger sequencing and Sequenom mass spectrometry. Results: Patient samples (N = 1,189) were successfully genotyped for FCGR3A and 1,218 for FCGR2A. Compared with the overall results of the BCIRG006 study, in the subset of patients genotyped in this analysis, a less robust improvement in DFS was observed for the trastuzumab arms than control arm (HR, 0.842; P = 0.1925). When stratified for prognostic features, the HR in favor of trastuzumab was consistent with that of the overall study (HR, 0.74; P = 0.036). No correlation between DFS and FCGR3A/2A genotypes was seen for trastuzumab-treated patients (158V/V vs. V/F vs. F/F, P = 0.98; 131H/H vs. H/R vs. R/R, P = 0.76; 158V/V and/or 131H/H vs. others, P = 0.67). Conclusion: This analysis evaluating the association between FCGR3A/2A genotypes and trastuzumab efficacy in HER2-positive breast cancer did not show a correlation between FCGR3A-V/F and FCGR2A-H/R SNPs and DFS in patients treated with trastuzumab. Clin Cancer Res; 18(12); 3478–86. ©2012 AACR.

Summary Background Studies with pertuzumab, a novel anti-HER2 antibody, show improved efficacy when combined with the established HER2-directed antibody trastuzumab in breast cancer therapy. We investigated the combination of pertuzumab or trastuzumab, or both, with docetaxel and the combination of pertuzumab and trastuzumab without chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting. Methods In this multicentre, open-label, phase 2 study, treatment-naive women with HER2-positive breast cancer were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1) centrally and stratified by operable, locally advanced, and inflammatory breast cancer, and by hormone receptor expression to receive four neoadjuvant cycles of: trastuzumab (8 mg/kg loading dose, followed by 6 mg/kg every 3 weeks) plus docetaxel (75 mg/m 2 , escalating, if tolerated, to 100 mg/m 2 every 3 weeks; group A) or pertuzumab (loading dose 840 mg, followed by 420 mg every 3 weeks) and trastuzumab plus docetaxel (group B) or pertuzumab and trastuzumab (group C) or pertuzumab plus docetaxel (group D). The primary endpoint, examined in the intention-to-treat population, was pathological complete response in the breast. Neither patients nor investigators were masked to treatment. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00545688. Findings Of 417 eligible patients, 107 were randomly assigned to group A, 107 to group B, 107 to group C, and 96 to group D. Patients given pertuzumab and trastuzumab plus docetaxel (group B) had a significantly improved pathological complete response rate (49 of 107 patients; 45·8% [95% CI 36·1–55·7]) compared with those given trastuzumab plus docetaxel (group A; 31 of 107; 29·0% [20·6–38·5]; p=0·0141). 23 of 96 (24·0% [15·8–33·7]) women given pertuzumab plus docetaxel (group D) had a pathological complete response, as did 18 of 107 (16·8% [10·3–25·3]) given pertuzumab and trastuzumab (group C). The most common adverse events of grade 3 or higher were neutropenia (61 of 107 women in group A, 48 of 107 in group B, one of 108 in group C, and 52 of 94 in group D), febrile neutropenia (eight, nine, none, and seven, respectively), and leucopenia (13, five, none, and seven, respectively). The number of serious adverse events was similar in groups A, B, and D (15–20 serious adverse events per group in 10–17% of patients) but lower in group C (four serious adverse events in 4% of patients). Interpretation Patients given pertuzumab and trastuzumab plus docetaxel (group B) had a significantly improved pathological complete response rate compared with those given trastuzumab plus docetaxel, without substantial differences in tolerability. Pertuzumab and trastuzumab without chemotherapy eradicated tumours in a proportion of women and showed a favourable safety profile. These findings justify further exploration in adjuvant trials and support the neoadjuvant approach for accelerating drug assessment in early breast cancer. Funding F Hoffmann-La Roche.

Purpose Docetaxel-trastuzumab (TH) is effective therapy for HER2-amplified metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Preclinical findings of synergy between docetaxel, carboplatin, and trastuzumab (TCH) prompted a phase III randomized trial comparing TCH with TH in patients with HER2-amplified MBC. Patients and Methods Two hundred sixty-three patients were randomly assigned to receive eight 3-week cycles of TH (trastuzumab plus docetaxel 100 mg/m2) or TCH (trastuzumab plus carboplatin at area under the serum concentration-time curve 6 and docetaxel 75 mg/m2). Trastuzumab was given at 4 mg/kg loading dose followed by a 2 mg/kg dose once per week during chemotherapy, and then 6 mg/kg once every 3 weeks until progression. Results Patient characteristics were balanced between groups. There was no significant difference between TH and TCH in terms of the primary end point, time to progression (medians of 11.1 and 10.4 months, respectively; hazard ratio, 0.914; 95% CI, 0.694 to 1.203; P = .57), response rate (72% for both groups), or overall survival (medians of 37.1 and 37.4 months, respectively; P = .99). Rates of grades 3 or 4 adverse effects for TH and TCH, respectively, were neutropenic-related complications, 29% and 23%; thrombocytopenia, 2% and 15%; anemia, 5% and 11%; sensory neuropathy, 3% and 0.8%; fatigue, 5% and 12%; peripheral edema, 3.8% and 1.5%; and diarrhea, 2% and 10%. Two patients given TCH died of sepsis, and one patient given TH experienced sudden cardiac death. Absolute left ventricular ejection fraction decline > 15% was seen in 5.5% of patients on the TH arm and 6.7% of patients on the TCH arm. Conclusion Adding carboplatin did not enhance TH antitumor activity.TH (docetaxel, 100 mg/m2) and TCH (docetaxel, 75 mg/m2) demonstrated efficacy with acceptable toxicity in women with HER2-amplified MBC.

Fibroblast growth factor receptors 1 (FGFR1) belongs to a subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), which are involved in proliferation and apoptosis. FGFR1 amplification and mRNA overexpression occurs in ∼10% of breast cancers and has been associated with poor outcome. However, studies assessing FGFR1 amplification and protein overexpression in a large collection of breast tumors are lacking. In this prospective, we examined a series of primary breast cancers samples derived from the BCIRG trials assembled into 15 tissue microarrays. FGFR1 gene amplification was studied using chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) and evaluated with respect to association with level of protein expression and clinicopathological parameters. FGFR1 gene amplification was significantly associated with high protein levels as determined by immunohistochemistry (P Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-10-24.