乳腺癌两周方案新辅助化疗临床研究

 目的 探讨使用以蒽环类药物新辅助化疗2周方案（14 d为1周期）替代传统3周方案（21 d为1周期）应用价值。方法 66例原发性乳腺癌患者随机分为两组，32例使用2周方案，34例使用3周方案，比较化疗疗效和毒副作用。结果 两组有效率分别为93.3 %与88.2 %，缓解率差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。各种毒副作用的发生率相比差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。结论 2周方案与3周方案在术前新辅助化疗近期临床效果相同，毒副作用比较差异无统计学意义，且能够缩短患者化疗时间，是一种有效可行的化疗方案。     

曲妥珠单抗联合蒽环类及紫杉类方案在乳腺癌新辅助化疗中安全性的观察和分析

人表皮生长因子受体2(human epidermal growth factorreceptor,HER-2)是乳腺癌明确的预后指标,HER-2阳性的乳腺癌具有恶性度高、预后差等特点,应用曲妥珠单抗能够有效的提高pCR率。NOAH临床研究证实,新辅助化疗中采用曲妥珠单抗联合AT方案对比单纯化疗能显著提高pCR率(P=0.002)[1]。目前相关的研究报道相对较少,由于蒽环类和曲妥珠单抗均存在心脏毒性,尽管最新的Meta分     

紫杉类联合蒽环类的新辅助化疗方案治疗三阴乳腺癌的疗效及预后

背景与目的:三阴乳腺癌(triple-negative breast cancer,TNBc)是一类不能受益于分子靶向治疗的高危乳腺癌.本研究比较紫杉类联合蒽环类新辅助化疗方案对TNBC和非TNBC的疗效及远期生存率.方法:对接受4个周期紫杉联合蒽环类新辅助化疗方案治疗的138例乳腺癌资料进行回顾性分析.用免疫组化法将雌激素受体(ER)、孕激素受体(PR)和人表皮生长因子受体(Her-2)表达均阴性的肿瘤定义为TNBC,分析紫杉类联合蒽环类的新辅助化疗对TNBC和非TNBC的临床、病理疗效及其与远期生存的关系.结果:138例中37(26.8%)例为TNBC,101(73.2%)例为非TNBC.138例患者的总有效率(OR)为85.5%(118/138),其中临床完全缓解(cCR)为35.5%(49/138),临床部分缓解50.0%(69/138),病理完全缓解(pCR)30(21.7%)例.TNBC的cCR(51.4%)、pCR(45.9%)明显高于非TNBC的cCR(29.7%)、pCR(12.9%)(P<0.05).TNBC的5年无病生存率(DFS)为59.5%,低于非TNBC者(84.2%)(P=0.05);TNBC者的5年OS为75.7%,与非TNBC者(94.1%)相比差异无显著性(P=0.108).获得cCR、pCR的TNBC者的5年DFS及总生存率(OS)与非TNBC者间差异无显著性(P>0.05).相反,新辅助化疗后仍有残留病灶的TNBC的5年DFS及OS明显低于非TNBC(P<0.05). 结论:本研究结果表明,TNBC对紫杉联合蒽环类的新辅助化疗更敏感,更易获得cCR、pCR,获得cCR、pCR的TNBC患者预后好,未获得cCR、pCR的TNBC患者远期生存明显低于非TNBC.     

CTF联合化疗方案在乳腺癌新辅助化疗中的应用

乳腺癌新辅助化疗在乳腺癌治疗中越来越受到重视,是在手术前确诊的乳腺癌先行化疗治疗,其主要目的和意义在于能够为肿瘤降期,为后续的手术治疗和综合治疗争取更好的机会,更重要的是肿瘤通过肿块大小和病理改变可以评估化疗的疗效,乳腺癌的化疗方案经过大规模的临床实验,证明含有蒽环类的化疗方案,大幅度的提高了乳腺癌化疗的有     

蒽环类联合紫衫类新辅助化疗方案与以蒽环类为主的联合化疗方案在乳腺癌Ⅱ/Ⅲ期患者中的安全性和有效性分析

目的 探讨蒽环类联合紫衫类新辅助化疗对比以蒽环类为主的联合化疗方案在乳腺癌Ⅱ/Ⅲ期患者中的安全性和有效性差异.方法 通过计算机在The Cochrane Library、PubMed、Embase、CNKI、CBM、维普中文期刊全文数据库(VIP)及万方数据库中检索相关文献,依据纳入和排除标准筛选TNM分期为Ⅱ/Ⅲ期的女性乳腺癌患者的随机对照研究,对符合标准的文献进行方法学质量评价,采用RevMan 5.3版软件进行Meta分析.结果 共纳入11篇文献,911例乳腺癌患者,其中6篇425例患者为多西他赛+表柔比星+环磷酰胺(TEC)联合治疗方案vs 5-氟脲嘧啶+表柔比星+环磷酰胺(CEF)联合治疗方案,5篇486例患者为多西他赛+吡柔比星+环磷酰胺(TTC)联合治疗方案vs 5-氟脲嘧啶+吡柔比星+环磷酰胺(CTF)联合治疗方案.Meta分析结果显示,在有效性方面,蒽环类联合紫衫类(TEC/TTC)新辅助化疗方案的临床完全缓解率、总有效率均明显高于以蒽环类为主(CEF/CTF)的联合化疗方案(OR=1.84、2.32,95％CI:1.32～2.57、1.69～3.19,P﹤0.01);在安全性方面,TEC/TTC新辅助化疗方案脱发率和白细胞减少率高于CEF/CTF联合治疗方案(P﹤0.05).结论 对比CEF/CTF联合治疗方案,TEC/TTC新辅助化疗方案在治疗乳腺癌Ⅱ/Ⅲ期的中国女性患者中有更好的临床疗效,但是也更容易发生脱发和白细胞减少的症状,临床上应密切关注,有必要展开更多设计严谨、大样本、多中心的随机对照试验加以验证.     

蒽环类药物及蒽环序贯紫杉类方案对乳腺癌辅助化疗后心脏毒性的影响

目的 研究蒽环类药物及蒽环序贯紫杉类两种化疗方案,对乳腺癌辅助化疗后引起的心脏毒性影响.方法 乳腺癌辅助化疗患者84例,根据化疗方案的不同,将其分为蒽环类组42例和蒽环序贯紫杉类组42例.蒽环类组患者接受蒽环类药物化疗方案治疗,而蒽环序贯紫杉类组则接受蒽环序贯紫杉类化疗方案治疗.试验过程中,分别于化疗前、首次化疗后及末次化疗次日3个实验时间点上,测定所有研究对象的静脉肌钙蛋白T和肌红蛋白含量,同时借助自制心脏毒性评级表评价患者心脏毒性级别,以评估上述两种化疗方案对患者引起的心脏毒性程度.结果 两种化疗方案组患者在进行辅助化疗后,静脉肌钙蛋白T含量均没有超出正常范围(P<0.1 ng/ml);在末次治疗后,蒽环序贯紫杉类组静脉肌钙蛋白T含量为(0.0210±0.0166)ng/ml,而另外一组为(0.0390±0.0168)ng/ml,前者低于后者,但无统计学意义(P>0.05);两组患者在3个实验时间点上的肌红蛋白含量均未发生明显变化,且均低于21 ng/ml;两组患者末次化疗后心脏毒性评级表情况,未出现明显差异.结论 蒽环序贯紫杉类化疗方案较蒽环类药物化疗方案,并没有引起患者心脏毒性的明显增大;静脉肌钙蛋白T含量及肌红蛋白含量在评估患者心脏毒性程度方面发挥一定的作用,但尚存在进一步优化之处.     

影响乳腺癌新辅助化疗后病理完全缓解的临床因素分析

目的:探讨影响乳腺癌新辅助化疗后病理完全缓解（pathological complete response,pCR）的临床因素。方法:回顾分析新辅助化疗并行根治性手术的120例女性乳腺癌患者的临床资料;所有患者均接受6~8周期EC-T方案化疗,化疗结束后2~4周行根治性手术。采用χ2检验及 Logistic 回归分析影响pCR和非pCR的临床因素。结果:疗效结果单因素分析显示:T分期、N分期、乳腺癌分子分型、治疗前Ki-67表达水平、治疗前血小板水平与乳腺癌新辅助化疗后肿瘤pCR率显著相关。Logistic二元回归分析发现乳腺癌非Luminal分子亚型和新辅助化疗前高血小板水平是影响乳腺癌新辅助化疗后pCR的独立预测因素。结论:乳腺癌非Luminal分子亚型和新辅助化疗前高血小板水平是影响乳腺癌新辅助化疗后pCR的决定性因素。     

炎性标志物在乳腺癌新辅助化疗中的应用研究进展

新辅助化疗（neoadjuvant chemotherapy,NAC）作为乳腺癌治疗方法之一,因具有可使肿瘤降期,增加不可手术患者的手术机会、提高保乳率、评估药效等优势,目前被越来越多地应用于局部晚期乳腺癌患者,但是由于肿瘤的异质性,NAC并不能使所有患者获益,且存在一定的疾病进展率。因此,有必要寻找能够反映NAC疗效的生物标志物以帮助临床医生早期掌握患者对NAC的敏感程度,及早将化疗反应不敏感的患者识别出来,针对这部分患者及时调整或更换治疗方案。但现有的评估手段均有其局限性,外周血炎性标志物的提出可以推动具有更好预测价值的生物标志物的出现。全文就外周血炎性标志物在乳腺癌新辅助化疗中的应用研究进展作一综述,旨在为乳腺癌的综合诊疗提供更全面的参考。     

三阴性乳腺癌新辅助化疗药物研究进展

摘 要：三阴性乳腺癌是一种侵袭性强、复发率高、易发生远处转移、预后较差且具有高度异质性的乳腺癌亚型。新辅助化疗是三阴性乳腺癌系统治疗中的重要手段。蒽环联合紫杉一直是三阴性乳腺癌新辅助化疗的常用化疗方案。近年来多项研究发现,某些细胞毒药物在三阴性特定亚型乳腺癌中表现出较好的治疗敏感性,且具有不错的临床疗效。全文就三阴性乳腺癌新辅助化疗药物研究进展进行综述。     

蒽环类为主序贯紫杉类新辅助化疗方案治疗三阴乳腺癌的临床观察

目的 探讨蒽环类为主序贯紫杉醇新辅助化疗方案治疗三阴乳腺癌的临床疗效和安全性.方法 将200例三阴乳腺癌患者按照化疗方案的差异分为观察组112例和对照组88例.对照组患者接受4个周期的CTF(环磷酰胺+阿霉素或表阿霉素+5-氟尿嘧啶)新辅助化疗方案,观察组在4个周期CTF化疗方案后序贯4个周期的紫杉醇,135mg/m2静脉滴注,滴注时间超过3h,用药之前使用抗过敏药物,21 d为1个周期.2组患者分别于化疗结束后2周进行改良乳腺癌根治术.观察比较2组的疗效.结果 观察组有效率(68.8％)显著高于对照组(52.3％)(P＜0.05),部分缓解率、稳定率和进展率无统计学差异(P＞0.05).2组患者不良反应的发生率均较高,但差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).观察组肿瘤的转移率显著低于对照组(P＜0.05);复发率和死亡率与对照组比较,差异无统计学意义.观察组5年生存率为82.1％,对照组5年生存率为75.0％,差异有统计学意义(P=0.028).结论 蒽环类为主序贯紫杉醇新辅助化疗方案治疗三阴乳腺癌能明显提高患者的有效率和5年生存率,且不增加患者的不良反应,值得临床推广使用.     

长春瑞滨联合顺铂治疗蒽环类和紫杉类耐药晚期乳腺癌的临床研究

目的评估长春瑞滨联合顺铂方案治疗蒽环类和紫杉类耐药晚期乳腺癌的近期疗效和安全性。方法对37例蒽环类和紫杉类耐药的晚期乳腺癌患者采用长春瑞滨25mg/m^2,静脉滴注30min,第1、8天;顺铂40mg/m^2,静脉滴注,第1、2天。3周为1个周期。每2～3个周期后进行一次客观疗效评价。所有患者随访均超过6个月。结果37例患者中完全缓解（CR）0例,部分缓解（PR）16例（43.2%）,稳定（SD）14例（37.8%）,进展（PD）7例（18.9%）;总有效率（CR＋PR）43.2%。中位疾病进展时间（TTP）5.5个月。本方案的主要毒副作用为Ⅱ/Ⅲ度中性粒细胞减少、胃肠道反应和静脉炎。结论长春瑞滨联合顺铂3周方案治疗蒽环类和紫杉类耐药的晚期乳腺癌患者具有良好的疗效和较低的毒副作用。     

Postmastectomy radiation improves the outcome of patients with locally advanced breast cancer who achieve a pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of postmastectomy radiation therapy in women with breast cancer who achieved a pathologic complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We retrospectively identified 226 patients treated at our institution who achieved a pCR at surgery after receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Of these, the 106 patients without inflammatory breast cancer who were treated with mastectomy were analyzed. The patients' clinical stages at diagnosis were I in 2%, II in 31%, IIIA in 30%, IIIB in 25%, and IIIC in 11% (American Joint Committee on Cancer 2003 system). Of the patients, 92% received anthracycline-based chemotherapy, and 38% also received a taxane. A total of 72 patients received postmastectomy radiation therapy, and 34 did not. The actuarial rates of local-regional recurrence (LRR) and survival of the two groups were compared using the log-rank test. RESULTS: The median follow-up of surviving patients was 62 months. Use of radiation therapy did not affect the 10-year rates of LRR for patients with Stage I or II disease (the 10-year LRR rates were 0% for both groups). However, the 10-year LRR rate for patients with Stage III disease was significantly improved with radiation therapy (7.3% +/- 3.5% with vs. 33.3% +/- 15.7% without; p = 0.040). Within this cohort, use of radiation therapy was also associated with improved disease-specific and overall survival. CONCLUSION: Postmastectomy radiation therapy provides a significant clinical benefit for breast cancer patients who present with clinical Stage III disease and achieve a pCR after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.     

Adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer: To use or not to use,the anthracyclines

Breast cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of cancer mortality in the world. The treatment generally involves multiple modalities including surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy. Anthracyclines, one of the first chemotherapeutic agents introduced in the 1960s, has been the backbone for the last 30 years and has been used extensively so far. However, the cardiac toxicity and the concern for secondary hematological malignancy has always been a challenge. A better understanding of the tumor biology, role of Her2 expression and the discovery of trastuzumab and other anti-Her 2 agents along with other effective novel therapeutic options, have revolutionized the treatment for breast cancer. The role of anthracyclines has come under close scrutiny, especially in the adjuvant setting for patients with early stage breast cancer and those with low or intermediate risk of disease recurrence. Recent studies have highlighted such a shift in the use of anthracyclines in both the academic and community clinical practice. However, in patients with a high risk of relapse, anthracyclines still hold promise. Ongoing clinical trials are underway to further define the role of anthracyclines in such a patient population. This review highlights the development, clinical utility, limitations and potential future use of anthracyclines in the adjuvant setting for patients with breast cancer. We consulted PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, ASCO annual symposium abstracts, and http://clinicaltrials.gov/ for the purpose of this review.     

Clinical and pathological predictors of recurrence in breast cancer patients achieving pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy

IntroductionDespite the excellent prognosis associated with pathological complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), some patients still develop recurrence. Here, we investigated the outcomes of breast cancer patients with pCR, as well as the clinical and pathological predictors of cancer recurrence in these patients.Materials and methodsOf the 1599 breast cancer patients treated with NAC, we evaluated 394 patients who achieved pCR between January 2007 and December 2016. pCR was defined as no evidence of invasive cancer in breast. Residual in situ ductal and axillary lymph node diseases were not considered. We analyzed the outcomes using the Kaplan–Meier method. We assessed the association of clinical and pathological predictors with cancer recurrence using the cox proportional hazards regression model.ResultsThe median follow-up time was 63 months. The 5-year disease-free survival rate was 92.3%. Cancer recurrence was observed in 28 patients (7.1%): local recurrence 8 patients (2.0%), visceral metastasis 10 patients (2.5%), and brain metastasis 10 patients (2.5%). Brain metastases were found in patients with HER2 type breast cancer. The significant predictors of cancer recurrence were HER2 positivity (p = 0.04), clinical tumor size (p < 0.01), and lymph node metastasis (p < 0.01) before NAC on univariate analysis and only lymph node metastasis on multivariate analysis.ConclusionPatients achieving pCR to NAC showed excellent outcomes. Advanced clinical stage, large tumor size, presence of lymph node metastasis, and HER2 positivity before NAC were identified as significant predictors of cancer recurrence. Residual in situ ductal and lymph node diseases after NAC were not significant predictors.     

Issues in the assessment of the pathologic effect of primary systemic therapy for breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggests that induction of pathologic complete response (pCR) after primary systemic therapy (PST) is, at least to some extent, predictive of survival. However, standards for processing surgical specimens and for histopathologic evaluation of the pathologic response to therapy appear to be lacking. METHODS: To perform a systematic review of representative articles on this topic, a computerized (MEDLINE) search was undertaken followed by a manual search based on the reference lists of the publications identified. RESULTS: Several classification systems have been used to assess pathologic response to PST, the term pCR has not been applied in a consistent standardized manner, and only limited information is available about the reliability and validity of these classification systems. However, definitions of pCR can be summarized as follows: near pCR, only focal invasive tumor residues in the removed breast; quasi pCR, total or near total disappearance of invasive tumor in the removed breast; pCRinv, only in situ tumor residual in the removed breast; comprehensive pCR, no evidence of residual invasive tumor in the removed breast; strict pCR, disappearance of all tumor cells in the removed breast; comprehensive pCR (br+n), no evidence of residual invasive tumor in the breast and axillary nodes; strict pCR (br+n), no malignant tumor cells in the removed breast and axillary nodes. Comparison of the use of the term "pCR" in various trials reveals that it is not applied equivalently in these studies. CONCLUSION: Assessment of pCR needs to be standardized, with verification for reliability and validity. For now, the non-equivalency in the definition of pCR should be taken into account when comparing the results of PST.     

Pathologic response rates for breast cancer stages as a predictor of outcomes in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by breast-conserving surgery

PurposeTo determine easy-to-use predictors of overall survival (OS), locoregional recurrence (LRR), and distant metastasis (DM) in patients with breast invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by breast-conserving surgery (BCS), we obtained pathologic response rates (PRRs) for combined primary and nodal diseases (American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] stages) from clinical and pathologic reports, and we used these as predictors.Patients and methodsWe enrolled patients with IDC who had received NACT followed by BCS. Cox regression analysis was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) for the patients’ PRRs; other independent predictors were controlled for or stratified in the analysis.ResultsWe analyzed 1047 patients with IDC (611, 260, and 176 patients in clinical stages IIB, IIIA, and IIIB-C, respectively) receiving NACT and BCS. After multivariate Cox regression analyses, the adjusted HRs (aHRs; 95% CI) in patients with pathologic complete response (ypT0N0) were 0.26 (0.13–0.56), 0.36 (0.15–0.85), and 0.15 (0.08–0.31) for all-cause mortality, LRR, and DM, respectively. The aHRs (95% CI) in patients with downstaging of AJCC stages were 0.55 (0.35–0.89), 0.91 (0.62–0.96), and 0.63 (0.43–0.91) for all-cause mortality, LRR, and DM, respectively. The aHRs (95% CI) in patients with upstaging of AJCC stages were 1.77 (1.06–2.24), 1.08 (1.03–1.82), and 1.19 (1.07–2.01) for all-cause mortality, LRR, and DM, respectively.ConclusionThe impacts of AJCC-stage PRRs are useful predictive tools and strong predictors for OS, LRR, and DM in patients with breast IDC receiving NACT followed by BCS.     

Breast radiologic complete response is associated with favorable survival outcomes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to examine the accuracy of radiologic complete response (rCR) in predicting pathologic complete response (pCR), and determine whether rCR is a predictor of favorable survival outcomes.Materials and methodsWe retrospectively reviewed breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by surgery from September 2007 to June 2016. Breast lesions and axillary nodes were measured by MRI and categorized into either disappeared (breast rCR) or residual disease (breast non-rCR) and either normalized (axillary rCR) or abnormal findings (axillary non-rCR) in the axillary nodes. Correlation between rCR and pCR were compared using Cohen’s Kappa statistics, and the recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method.ResultsOut of the 1017 eligible patients, 287 (28.2%) achieved breast pCR, 165 (16.2%) achieved breast rCR, 529 (52.0%) had axillary pCR, and 274 (26.9%) achieved axillary rCR. The correlation between a breast rCR and pCR showed a Cohen’s Kappa value of 0.459, and between axillary rCR and pCR, the value was 0.384. During a median follow-up time of 48.0 months, the 5-year RFS rates were 90.6% for breast rCR, and 69.2% for breast non-rCR. The 5-year RFS rates were 82.3% for axillary rCR, and 68.8% for axillary non-rCR. Patients without breast rCR had a 2.4-fold significant increase in the risk of recurrence (p = 0.004) compared to patients with breast rCR.ConclusionAlthough rCR correlated with pCR by only moderate to fair degrees, breast rCR was a strong predictor for a favorable RFS outcome.     

多西紫杉醇联合顺铂治疗蒽环类耐药的晚期乳腺癌

目的:观察多西紫杉醇(DXL)联合顺铂(DDP)方案对蒽环类耐药的晚期乳腺癌患者的临床疗效及毒副作用。方法:2000年1月～2004年6月采用DXL联合DDP方案治疗晚期乳腺癌患者45例。DXL60mg/m2,静脉滴注,第1天;DDP30mg/m2水化后静脉滴入,第1～3天,每28天重复,至少应用2个周期,中位化疗周期数3个(2～6周期)。结果:45例患者中,CR、PR及SD率分别为11.1%(5/45)、40.0%(18/45)和22.2%(10/45),总有效率为51.1%(23/45),疾病控制率为73.3%(33/45)。45例患者中22例死亡,中位无进展生存时间为7.8(1.0～34.5)个月,中位生存时间为17.6个月(1.9～48.0月),1年生存率为65.2%。主要不良反应为骨髓抑制。结论:DXL联合DDP方案治疗蒽环类耐药的晚期乳腺癌疗效好,不良反应轻,是治疗蒽环类耐药的晚期乳腺癌较好的方案。     

Immunohistochemical expression of PTEN and phosphorylated Akt are not correlated with clinical outcome in breast cancer patients treated with trastuzumab-containing neo-adjuvant chemotherapy

The loss of PTEN and phosphorylated Akt (pAkt) expression is thought to be involved in the mechanism leading to trastuzumab resistance in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. We retrospectively performed immunohistochemical analyses for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, HER2/neu, PTEN, pAkt, and p53 expression in tumor specimens obtained before and after trastuzumab-containing neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. The intensity of staining was evaluated for each biomarker, and the correlations between the immunohistochemical profiles and the clinical outcome were analyzed. The changes in the immunohistochemical profiles between specimens obtained before and after trastuzumab-containing neo-adjuvant chemotherapy were evaluated for patients with residual tumors. The present study included 44 patients with breast cancer who received trastuzumab-containing neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Seventeen patients achieved a pathological complete response. The patients were positive for PTEN and pAkt (PTEN = 14%, N = 6/44; pAkt, 80%, N = 35/44). The expression of both PTEN and pAkt were not correlated with pathological complete response. Persistent HER2/neu over-expression after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy was significantly associated with recurrence. Among 27 patients with residual cancer, the percentages of patients with HER2/neu-positive or pAkt-positive tumors were low, but PTEN expression was elevated. The present study suggested that neither the immunohistochemical expression of PTEN nor the expression of pAkt was associated with the clinical outcome of trastuzumab-containing neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Except among patients with pathological complete remission, the persistent over-expression of HER2/neu may be a poor prognostic factor.     

Utility of the CPS + EG staging system in hormone receptor-positive,human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy

BackgroundPathologic complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) correlates with overall survival (OS) in primary breast cancer. A recently described staging system based on pre-treatment clinical stage (CS), final pathological stage (PS), estrogen receptor (ER) status and nuclear grade (NG) leads to a refined estimation of prognosis in unselected patients. Its performance in luminal type breast cancers has not been determined. This study investigates the clinical utility of this CPS + EG score when restricted to hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2–) patients and compares the results to a cohort of unselected patients.MethodsThe CPS + EG score was calculated for 6637 unselected patients and 2454 patients with HR + /HER2− tumours who received anthracycline/taxane-based NACT within 8 prospective German trials.ResultsFive-year disease-free survival (DFS) and OS were 75.6% and 84.1% for the unselected cohort and 80.6% and 87.8% for the HR + /HER2− subgroup, respectively. The CPS + EG system distinguished different prognostic groups with 5-year DFS ranging from 0% to 91%. The CPS + EG system leads to an improved categorisation of patients by outcome compared to CS, PS, ER or NG alone. When applying the CPS + EG score to the HR + /HER2− subgroup, a shift to lower scores was observed compared to the overall population, but 5-year DFS and OS for the individual scores were identical to that observed in the overall population.ConclusionsIn HR + /HER2− patients, the CPS + EG staging system retains its ability to facilitate a refined stratification of patients according to outcome. It can help to select candidates for post-neoadjuvant clinical trials in luminal breast cancer.