Postoperative Adjuvant Systemic Therapy in Completely Resected Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review

The purpose of the present review was to determine whether the use of postoperative adjuvant systemic therapy in patients with completely resected non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) improves survival. Cancer Care Ontario's Program in Evidence-Based Care reviewed the evidence to update previously published recommendations for patients with completely resected NSCLC. Relevant studies were identified from a systematic MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews search of studies published from 2010 to 2016. All phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and relevant systematic reviews were included. Data on overall survival (OS), disease-free survival, adverse events, and quality of life were extracted from each of the studies. Two relevant systematic reviews, 13 RCTs, and a series of pooled analyses by Lung Adjuvant Cisplatin Evaluation-Biomarker were included in the present review. Adjuvant chemotherapy statistically significantly improved OS for resected stage II-IIIA NSCLC and is recommended. For patients with stage IB NSCLC, no significant improvement was seen in OS; however, the results from subgroup analyses indicate that it would be reasonable to consider adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with larger tumors (≥ 4 cm). The present data do not support the use of adjuvant novel therapies (ie, epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, bevacizumab, and immunotherapy) either as an addition to, or instead of, cytotoxic chemotherapy. No predictive biomarkers are available to select patients more likely to benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. Cytotoxic chemotherapy remains the standard of care as adjuvant therapy for patients with resected stage II-IIIA NSCLC. Additional clinical trials are needed to evaluate targeted agents in molecularly defined subgroups before these agents can be recommended in the adjuvant setting.     

Clinical Utility of Multigene Profiling Assays in Early-Stage Invasive Breast Cancer: An Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) Clinical Practice Guideline

Objective: The purpose of this guideline is to determine the clinical utility of multigene profiling assays in individuals with early-stage invasive breast cancer. Methods: This guideline was developed by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario)’s Program in Evidence-Based Care (PEBC) through a systematic review of relevant literature, patient- and caregiver-specific consultation and internal and external reviews. Recommendation 1: In patients with early-stage estrogen receptor (ER)-positive/human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer, clinicians should consider using multigene profiling assays (i.e., Oncotype DX, MammaPrint, Prosigna, EndoPredict, and the Breast Cancer Index) to help guide the use of systemic therapy. Recommendation 2: In patients with early-stage node-negative ER-positive/HER2-negative disease, clinicians may use a low-risk result from Oncotype DX, MammaPrint, Prosigna, EndoPredict/EPclin, or Breast Cancer Index assays to support a decision not to use adjuvant chemotherapy. Recommendation 3: In patients with node-negative ER-positive/HER2-negative disease, clinicians may use a high-risk result from Oncotype DX to support a decision to offer chemotherapy. A high Oncotype DX recurrence score is capable of predicting adjuvant chemotherapy benefit. Recommendation 4: In postmenopausal patients with ER-positive/HER2-negative tumours and one to three nodes involved (N1a disease), clinicians may withhold chemotherapy based on a low-risk Oncotype DX or MammaPrint score if the decision is supported by other clinical, pathological, or patient-related factors. Recommendation 5: The evidence to support the use of molecular profiling to select the duration of endocrine therapy is evolving. In patients with ER-positive disease, clinicians may consider using a Breast Cancer Index (H/I) high assay result to support a decision to extend adjuvant endocrine therapy if the decision is supported by other clinical, pathological, or patient-related factors.