MicroRNA-130a Increases and Predicts Cardiotoxicity during Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2-Positive Breast Cancer

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the changes in microRNA-130a (miR-130a) and its correlation with cardiotoxicity during epirubicin/cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel plus trastuzumab (EC-D+T) adjuvant chemotherapy in human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-positive (HER2⁺) breast cancer patients.MethodsA total of 72 HER2⁺ breast cancer patients who underwent resection and were scheduled to receive EC-D+T adjuvant therapy were consecutively enrolled. The expression of miR-130a and cardiotoxicity (defined as any of the following situations: 1) absolute decline of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 10% and LVEF < 53%; 2) heart failure; 3) acute coronary artery syndromes; and 4) fatal arrhythmia) were assessed every 3 months throughout the 15-month EC-D+T treatment.ResultsThe accumulating cardiotoxicity rate was 12 (16.7%), of which the incidence of heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, life-threatening arrhythmias, ΔLVEF ≥ 10%, and LVEF < 53% was 0 (0.0%), 1 (1.4%), 0 (0.0%), and 12 (16.7%), respectively. Baseline miR-130a expression was negatively correlated with LVEF (%) and positively correlated with cardiac troponin I. The expression of miR-130a gradually increased in both cardiotoxicity and non-cardiotoxicity patients during EC-D+T treatment, while the increment of miR-130a was more obvious in cardiotoxicity patients compared with non-cardiotoxicity patients. Further logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that miR-130a was an independent predictive factor for increased cardiotoxicity risk.ConclusionMiR-130a increases constantly and predicts high cardiotoxicity risk during EC-D+T adjuvant chemotherapy in HER2⁺ breast cancer patients.     

Do all patients with HER2 positive breast cancer require one year of adjuvant trastuzumab? A systematic review and meta-analysis

One year of adjuvant trastuzumab is considered the standard treatment for patients with HER2 positive breast cancer. However, a shorter duration of trastuzumab may be associated with reduced costs and side effects. Results from randomized trials with diverse non-inferiority margins comparing one year to a shorter duration of adjuvant trastuzumab are not consistent and have not been systematically reviewed using a non-inferiority meta-analysis approach.We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials to assess whether a shorter duration of adjuvant trastuzumab was non-inferior to one year of treatment or not. The non-inferiority margin for the meta-analysis was pre-defined as the median of the margins of all the trials included. Data of 11,376 patients from 5 trials were analyzed. Non-inferiority margins in included studies varied from 1.15 to 1.53 with median of 1.29 for HR of DFS. A shorter duration of trastuzumab was non-inferior to one year of therapy for DFS (HR 1.13, 95%CI 1.03–1.24) but inconclusive for OS (HR 1.14, 95%CI 1.00–1.30). In a subgroup analysis for DFS outcome, shorter therapy was non-inferior in patients with ER positive disease (HR 1.10, 95%CI 0.95–1.28) and those with sequential therapy (HR 0.97, 95%CI 0.75–1.27) and when the duration of treatment was 6 months (HR 1.09, 95%CI 0.98–1.22). Although a shorter duration of adjuvant trastuzumab was non-inferior to one year of therapy for DFS in patients with HER2 positive breast cancer based on our HR margin of 1.29, any benefit of a shorter duration comes at a loss of efficacy with an increase in absolute risk up to 3.9% for 5 year DFS. Whether the potential increased risk is clinically acceptable for the benefits of a shorter duration remains debatable.     

Evolving landscape of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer treatment and the future of biosimilars

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer comprises approximately 15%–20% of all breast cancers and is associated with a poor prognosis. The introduction of anti-HER2 therapy has significantly improved clinical outcomes for patients with HER2+ breast cancer, and multiple HER2-directed agents (ie, trastuzumab, pertuzumab, lapatinib, and ado-trastuzumab emtansine [T-DM1]) are approved for clinical use in various settings. The treatment landscape for patients with HER2+ breast cancer is continuing to evolve. While novel agents and therapeutic strategies are emerging, biologic therapies, particularly trastuzumab, are likely to remain a mainstay of treatment. However, access issues create barriers to the use of biologics, and there is evidence for underuse of trastuzumab worldwide. A biosimilar is a biologic product that is highly similar to a licensed biologic in terms of product safety and effectiveness. Biosimilars of trastuzumab are in development and may soon become available. The introduction of biosimilars may improve access to anti-HER2 therapies by providing additional treatment options and lower-cost alternatives. Because HER2-targeted drugs may be administered for extended periods of time and in combination with other systemic therapies, biosimilars have the potential to result in significant savings for healthcare systems. Herein we review current and emerging treatment options for, and discuss the possible role of biosimilars in, treating patients with HER2+ breast cancer.     

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus trastuzumab,lapatinib or their combination: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BackgroundA relationship between baseline tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and outcomes has been described in HER2-positive breast cancer. Nevertheless, the magnitude of this association and whether this effect differs based on the type of anti-HER2 agent remain controversial. This meta-analysis investigated the association between baseline TIL and pathologic complete response (pCR) rates in HER2-positive breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus trastuzumab and lapatinib either alone or in combination.MethodsA literature search covering PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane library up to October 31, 2016 identified randomized, controlled trials investigating neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus trastuzumab and lapatinib either alone or in combination where published data for pCR based on pre-treatment TIL scores were available. Two subgroups were considered: high baseline TIL vs. non-high TIL, according to each study definition. Summary risk estimates (odds ratio) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for pCR using pre-treatment TIL levels for each trial. Pooled analyses were conducted using random and fixed effects models. Interaction P-values were computed using a Monte Carlo permutation test.ResultsA total of 5 studies (N = 1256 patients) were included. Overall, high TIL subgroup was associated with a significantly increased pCR rate (OR 2.46; 95% CI 1.36–4.43; P = 0.003). No interaction was observed between TIL subgroup (high vs. non-high TIL) and response to anti-HER2 agent(s) (trastuzumab vs. lapatinib vs. their combination; P = 0.747) and chemotherapy (anthracycline and taxanes vs. taxanes only; P = 0.201). A stronger association between high TIL subgroup and pCR rates was observed when examining only the 4 studies using anthracycline- and taxane- based neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the 60% cut-off for high TIL (N = 869, NeoALTTO excluded) with an OR of 2.88 (95% CI 2.03–4.08; P < 0.001).ConclusionsIn HER2-positive breast cancer, high baseline TIL are associated with increased pCR probability irrespective of neoadjuvant anti-HER2 agent(s) and chemotherapy regimens used.     

Cost-effectiveness of trastuzumab in metastatic breast cancer: Mainly a matter of price in the EU?

Trastuzumab (TR), a monoclonal antibody approved by EMA in 2000 and one of the first examples of “targeted therapy”, is indicated to treat human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive breast cancer. TR, whose patent will expire in 2015 in Europe, has been judged positively for reimbursement by most public authorities in the EU. Here we critically review the existing evidence on TR in metastatic breast cancer (MBC), in line with the multidisciplinary health technology assessment (HTA) approach, to assess whether the existing evidence supports TR positive reimbursement decisions taken in MBC by EU health authorities. We did a literature search for the main HTA topics (efficacy, quality of life and ethics) on the PubMed international database (2000–2013). Then, we did a specific literature search to select the full economic evaluations (FEEs) conducted in EU countries focused on TR as first-line innovative therapy in MBC. We retrieved scant evidence in the literature to support TR reimbursement in MBC. We found only two clinical trials and their results were unclear because of the large proportion of patients who crossed over. Moreover, the quality of methods was poor in all four European FEEs selected. This example of HTA exercise on a mature monoclonal antibody in a specific indication casts doubts on how often the reimbursement decisions taken by EU health authorities in emotional pathologies like cancer are rational. These decisions should at least be reconsidered periodically on the basis of the latest evidence.     

曲妥珠单抗联合长春瑞滨或吉西他滨对人类表皮生长因子受体2阳性乳腺癌患者的临床观察

目的 探讨曲妥珠单抗联合长春瑞滨或吉西他滨对人类表皮生长因子受体2（HER-2）阳性乳腺癌患者的临床研究。方法 选择2012年1月-2015年12月汉中市三二〇一医院收治的103例HER-2阳性乳腺癌患者，根据随机数字表法，分为A组（49例）及B组（54例），A组给予曲妥珠单抗联合长春瑞滨，B组给予曲妥珠单抗联合吉西他滨，21 d为1个疗程，共用4~6个疗程。观察两组的实体瘤疗效、健康生存质量、治疗后1、2年生存率、总生存时间、无进展生存时间及毒副反应。结果 A组部分缓解率及客观有效率明显高于B组，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；两组完全缓急、疾病稳定及病情进展对比无统计学意义。A组的健康生存质量评分明显高于B组，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。A组治疗后1、2年的生存率高于B组，A组的总生存期及无进展生存时间长于B组，但差异无统计学意义。两组毒副反应对比无统计学意义。结论 与吉西他滨联合曲妥珠单抗对比，长春瑞滨联合曲妥珠单抗治疗HER-2阳性乳腺癌患者的部分缓解率、客观有效率及健康生存质量较高，且毒副反应患者可耐受，值得临床推广应用。     

Safety and efficacy of adjuvant subcutaneous trastuzumab in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive early breast cancer: Final results of the SafeHER study

AimTo report the final results of the 5-year follow-up of the non-randomized SafeHER Phase III study (NCT01566721) describing the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of subcutaneous (SC) trastuzumab alone and in combination with concurrent or sequential chemotherapy.MethodsPatients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive early breast cancer (EBC) with no prior anti-HER2 therapy were included. SC trastuzumab was administered every 3 weeks for 18 cycles as adjuvant therapy with or without chemotherapy (concurrent or sequential). The primary objective was overall safety and tolerability of SC trastuzumab; efficacy was a secondary objective.ResultsNo new safety signals were observed during the final evaluation. The majority of adverse events (AEs) were grade 1 or 2 across the chemotherapy subgroups. Treatment discontinuation due to AEs was 5.1% for the intent-to-treat (ITT) population and similar for all chemotherapy subgroups. The overall disease-free survival (DFS) 5-year event-free rate in the ITT population (n = 2573) was 86.6% (95% CI, 85.2%–87.9%) with a median follow-up of 72 months. Based on chemotherapy timing, the no (n = 235), concurrent (n = 1533), and sequential (n = 805) chemotherapy subgroups had DFS 5-year event-free rates (95% CI) of 88.5% (83.4%–92.2%), 88.4% (86.6%–89.9%), and 82.6 (79.7%–85.2%), respectively.ConclusionsThe 5-year follow-up analysis of the SafeHER trial demonstrating that SC trastuzumab has an acceptable safety profile, including cardiac toxicity, and efficacy for the treatment of HER2-positive EBC with and without chemotherapy, corresponding with historical data with trastuzumab.     

Neoadjuvant Pyrotinib plus Trastuzumab and Chemotherapy for Stage I–III HER2‐Positive Breast Cancer: A Phase II Clinical Trial

Lessons Learned

• This is the first trial to explore the neoadjuvant therapy of pyrotinib in HER2‐positive operable and locally advanced breast cancer, in combination with epirubicin plus cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel plus trastuzumab.
• Results primarily showed that pyrotinib in combination with epirubicin plus cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel plus trastuzumab was effective and safe in HER2‐positive operable and locally advanced breast cancer.
• A subsequent randomized controlled trial is still warranted to confirm these results.

BackgroundThe efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant therapy of pyrotinib, a new irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), was first estimated in patients with HER2‐positive breast cancer in this phase II study, in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy.MethodsBetween February 19, 2019, and November 20, 2019, 20 female Chinese patients with stage I–III HER2‐positive breast cancer were assigned to receive eight cycles of neoadjuvant pyrotinib (P) in combination with four cycles of epirubicin (E) and cyclophosphamide (C) followed by four cycles of docetaxel (T) and trastuzumab (H), once every 3 weeks, referred to as P + EC‐TH.ResultsA total of 19 patients completed the therapy and final surgery. The total pathological complete response (tpCR) rate was 73.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 48.8–90.9), and no recurrence or metastasis occurred during the short‐term follow‐up period. The objective response rate (ORR) was 100% (95% CI, 82.4–100). The most common adverse events (AEs) were diarrhea and leukopenia in 18 of 20 patients (90%), but no grade 5 AEs were reported.ConclusionThis study showed that in HER2‐positive operable or locally advanced breast cancer, the tpCR rate of P + EC‐TH neoadjuvant therapy was about twice as high as that of EC‐TH neoadjuvant therapy reported in other trials, with tolerable side effects.