Expanding the Staging Criteria for T1-2N0 Hormone-Receptor Positive Breast Cancer Patients Enrolled in TAILORx.

BACKGROUND: The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition pathologic prognostic staging (PPS) incorporates anatomic and biologic factors. The OncotypeDX Breast Recurrence Score (RS) was included based on the initial report of the TAILORx trial, with T1-2N0 hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer patients who had a RS < 11 staged as PPS 1A. This study examined whether the RS criteria for PPS 1A can be further expanded using patients enrolled in the TAILORx trial. METHODS: The TAILORx trial enrolled 10,273 HR+HER2- T1-2N0 patients. Those with incomplete HR-status/grade and T3 disease were excluded for analysis. The recurrence-free interval (RFI) was compared between the patients who did and those who did not fall into the current PPS 1A category using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The study enrolled 9535 patients for analysis. The RS was < 11 in 16.1%, 11-17 in 35.9%, 18-25 in 32.4%, and > 25 in 15.6% of the patients. The majority (91.2%) of the patients (including all the T1N0 patients regardless of RS) were PPS 1A, and 8.8% were not-PPS 1A. The median follow-up time was 95 months. The PPS 1A patients had an 8-year RFI of 94.2%, which was similar to that of the patients with a RS of 11-17 who were not-PPS 1A (91.7%; p = 0.07) and better than that of the patients with a RS ≥ 18 who were not-PPS 1A (85.4% for a RS of 18-25, 76.0% for a RS > 25; both p < 0.01). Similar RFI trends were seen in patients who received endocrine therapy or chemotherapy followed by endocrine therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with T1-2N0 HR+HER2- breast cancer and a RS < 18 have an RFI similar to that of patients staged as PPS 1A by the current AJCC staging system, regardless of treatment, suggesting that the criteria for PPS 1A can be expanded to include a RS < 18.

Response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the 21-gene Breast Recurrence Score test in young women with estrogen receptor-positive early breast cancer.

PURPOSE: The 21-gene Breast Recurrence Score test predicts benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy in estrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative (ER+/HER2-) breast cancer (BC). We examined whether the 21-gene assay predicts response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT). METHODS: We identified patients with stage I-III ER+/HER2- BC treated with NCT from the Young Women's Breast Cancer Study, a prospective cohort of women diagnosed with BC at age ≤40 years. The 21-gene assay was performed on tumor specimens removed prior to NCT either as part of clinical care or retrospectively for research. Pathological complete response (pCR) was defined as ypT0/is ypN0. The relationship between Recurrence Score result and pCR was evaluated using logistic regression modeling. RESULTS: 76 women received NCT for ER+/HER2- BC and were eligible for this analysis. Median age at diagnosis was 37 years (range 24-40). Scores ranged between 5 and 77 with 50% >25 and 5% <11. Median Recurrence Score result was significantly higher among tumors achieving pCR vs. non-pCR response (61.5 vs. 23, pwilcoxon = 0.0005). pCR rate in patients with scores >25 was 21% (8/38) vs. 5% in patients with scores <25 (2/38) (p = 0.09), with both pCRs in the <25 group in patients with scores between 21 and 25. In multivariable analysis, only Recurrence Score result was significantly associated with pCR (OR: 1.07, 95%CI 1.01-1.12, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In young women with ER+/HER2- BC who received NCT, higher pretreatment Recurrence Score result was associated with an increased likelihood of pCR. Gene expression profile assays may have a role in decision making in young women in need of neoadjuvant therapy.

Discordance in Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® Results for Bilateral Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® assay is a clinically useful tool to determine the benefit of chemotherapy in the treatment of early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Bilateral breast cancer (BBC) is found in ~ 5% of patients with breast cancer, and data regarding discordance of Oncotype DX results between BBC defined by current TAILORx subgroups are limited. Our goals are to study the rate of Oncotype DX discordance between BBC and investigate whether such differences can affect chemotherapy treatment discussions. METHODS: Patients with BBC were identified in US samples submitted to Genomic Health for 21-gene testing between January 2019 and July 2020. The risk categories were defined as 0-25 and 26-100 as well as 0-17, 18-30, and 31-100 for all patients. Subgroup analysis was also performed for node-negative women age ≤ 50 years with Recurrence Score results of 0-15, 16-20, 21-25, and 26-100. RESULTS: 944 BBC patients with known nodal status (702 node negative, 242 node positive) were identified and included. Among node-negative patients aged > 50 years, the rate of discordance in Recurrence Score by group (0-25 and 26-100) was 4.2% (n = 598). For node-negative patients aged ≤ 50 years, the risk group was discordant in < 3% when considering the risk grouping of 0-25 and 26-100. However, upon subgroup analysis based on TAILORx analysis, the rate of discordance was 48.1% in these younger patients (n = 104). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that a clinically relevant rate of discordance in Oncotype DX results in patients with BBC may impact medical decision-making regarding chemotherapy.

Factors associated with MRI detection of occult lesions in newly diagnosed breast cancers.

BACKGROUND: The use of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for newly diagnosed breast cancer remains controversial. We examined factors associated with detection of occult multicentric, multifocal, and contralateral malignant lesions only seen by MRI. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients undergoing preoperative MRI for breast cancer. Clinicopathologic data were assessed regarding the findings of multifocality, multicentricity, and the presence of contralateral lesions. We analyzed the association of factors with these findings on MRI. RESULTS: Of 857 patients undergoing MRI, 770 patients met inclusion criteria. Mean age was 54.7 years. Biopsy-proven detection rates by MRI for multifocal, multicentric, and contralateral cancers were 6.2% (48 of 770), 1.9% (15 of 770) and 3.1% (24 of 770), respectively. African American race and heterogeneously or extremely dense mammographic density were associated with multifocal cancers on MRI. Larger lesion size and mammographic density were associated with multicentric cancers. Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) and progesterone receptor (PR)-positivity were associated with contralateral cancers. CONCLUSIONS: African American race, heterogeneously or extremely dense mammographic density, ILC, and PR-positivity were associated with additional biopsy-proven cancers based on MRI. These factors should be considered when assessing the clinical utility of preoperative breast MRI.

Value of routine staging imaging studies for patients with stage III breast cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Routine staging imaging studies (RSIS) are optional in stage III breast cancer (BC). The impact of RSIS on treatment decisions and patient outcomes has not been extensively studied. The goal of this study was to determine whether RSIS in stage III BC affected treatment or patient outcomes. METHODS: Stage III BC patients from 2000 to 2010 were retrospectively identified. RSIS results and treatment plan in response to RSIS results were recorded. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models with time-dependent covariates were used to assess associations between RSIS use and recurrence-free survival (RFS). RESULTS: Of 420 patients, 362 (86.2%) received RSIS. RSIS were negative in 264 (72.9%), indeterminate in 77 (18.3%), and positive in 21 patients (5.0%) for metastatic disease. Treatment was altered in 21 (5.8%) patients based on RSIS results (20 with metastatic disease, 1 with indeterminate disease). There was no difference in RFS with RSIS use on multivariate analysis (hazard ratio 1.3; 95% confidence interval 0.73-2.5, P = 0.32). CONCLUSIONS: Most stage III BC patients underwent RSIS, but RSIS results infrequently affected treatment decisions. There was no significant difference in RFS with RSIS use. RSIS to identify metastatic disease for stage III BC has limited value. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:917-921. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Lymph node status in inflammatory breast cancer.

Positive lymph node status in breast cancer is known to be an adverse prognostic factor, but the effect of lymph node (LN) status in inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) has not been evaluated. This study was designed to investigate the association between lymph node status and overall survival (OS) in individuals with IBC. Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 registry, we collected data on 761 patients diagnosed with non-metastatic IBC from 2004 to 2008. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazard regression was performed to evaluate univariate and multivariate associations between estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER/PR) status, treatment, and OS. Positive nodal status was associated with a significant decrease in OS (p < 0.001). Five-year survival for LN-positive and LN-negative patients was 49 and 66 %, respectively. In node-positive patients, ER or PR positivity was associated with improved OS, (p = 0.025, p = 0.007). In node-positive patients, the combination of surgery and radiation therapy improved OS when compared with surgery alone (p = 0.002). Nearly 80 % of the patients in this study had nodal metastasis. Positive nodal status was found to be an adverse prognostic factor. ER/PR positivity and treatment with surgery and radiation in node-positive patients was found to improve outcomes. Further studies are required to characterize the biology of IBC and guide the optimal treatment of this disease.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® Test from a US Societal Perspective.

Background and Objectives: The 21-gene assay (the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® test) estimates the 10-year risk of distant recurrence in hormone receptor positive (HR+) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) early-stage breast cancer to inform adjuvant chemotherapy decisions. The cost-effectiveness of the 21-gene assay compared against standard clinical-pathological risk tools alone for HR+/HER2- early-stage breast cancer was assessed using an economic model informed by evidence from randomized controlled trials. Materials and Methods: A cost-effectiveness model consisted of a decision-tree to stratify patients according to their Recurrence Score (RS) results and the use of adjuvant chemotherapy, followed by a Markov component to estimate the long-term costs and outcomes of the chosen treatment. Distributions of patients and distant recurrence probabilities were derived from the TAILORx (N0) and RxPONDER (N1) trials. The model was evaluated from a healthcare payer and societal perspective. Endocrine therapy and chemotherapy use were informed using clinical expert opinion to reflect US clinical practice and were combined with Medicare drug costs (2021) to estimate the cost of treatment. Societal costs included lost productivity and patient out-of-pocket costs obtained from literature. Results: The Oncotype DX test generated more quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) (N0: 0.25; N1: 0.08) at a lower cost (N0: -$13,395; N1: -$2526) compared to clinical-pathological risk alone from a societal cost perspective. The overall conclusions from the model did not change when considering a payer perspective. The main cost drivers were avoidance of distant recurrence for N0 (-$12,578), and the cost of adjuvant chemotherapy for N1 (-$2133). Lost productivity had a major impact in the societal perspective analysis (N0: -$4607; N1: -$1586). Conclusion: Adjuvant chemotherapy decisions based on the RS result led to more life year gains and lower healthcare costs (dominant) compared to using clinical-pathological risk factors alone among patients with HR+/HER2- N0 and N1 early-stage breast cancer.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast: perspectives on biology and controversies in current management.

The incidence of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) has increased because of increasing use of sensitive imaging modalities. MRI is commonly used for the detection of breast cancer but has not yet been validated in randomized trials. There have not been randomized trials addressing optimal margins of excision or axillary sampling. Whole breast radiation after lumpectomy decreases the risk of recurrence but may be omitted in selected patients. Adjuvant Tamoxifen reduces the risk of recurrence but has no impact on overall survival rates.

Expanding Criteria for Prognostic Stage IA in Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic significance of patients with low-risk recurrence score (RS) results in the context of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) eighth edition pathologic prognostic staging has not been investigated. We evaluated if expanded RS criteria can be considered for downstaging in AJCC pathologic prognostic staging. METHODS: Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data, we identified patients with T1-3N0-3M0 hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer treated from 2010 to 2015 with follow-up data through 2016. We evaluated TNM categories, grade, and RS result. The primary outcome measured was 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) of patients with low-risk RS results not already pathologic prognostic stage IA, determined by T and N categories per AJCC eighth edition. All statistical tests were 2-sided. RESULTS: Of 154 050 patients with median follow-up of 49 months (range = 0-83), RS results were obtained in 60 886 (39.5%): RS was less than 11 in 13 570 (22.3%); 11-17 in 22 719 (37.3%); 18-25 in 16 521 (27.1%); and 26 or higher in 8076 (13.3%). Five-year DSS for pathologic prognostic stage IA patients (n = 114 910, 74.6%) was 98.8%. Among N0-1 patients with a RS less than 18 not staged as pathologic prognostic stage IA by current criteria, 5-year DSS was excellent and not statistically significantly different than for pathologic prognostic stage IA patients (97.2%-99.7%; P > .05). For those with a RS of 18-25, there was a small decrease in DSS for T2N0 (2.3%) and modest decrease for T1-2N1 (4.2%-6.4%) compared with pathologic prognostic stage IA patients (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Patients with a RS less than 18 have excellent 5-year DSS regardless of T category for N0-1 disease suggesting further modification of the AJCC staging system using this cutoff.

Neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer.

The past few decades have seen an increase in both the role and the complexity of neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer. Neoadjuvant therapy was initially described as systemic chemotherapy for inflammatory or locally advanced breast cancer but now entails a combination of chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, and targeted therapy. Neoadjuvant systemic therapy is employed for inoperable inflammatory and locally advanced breast cancer, and also for patients with operable breast cancers who desire breast-conserving therapy (BCT) but are not candidates based on the initial size of the tumor in relation to the size of the breast. Neoadjuvant therapy in this subset of patients may impact the surgical options. This review will summarize the benefits of neoadjuvant systemic therapy and implications for BCT, the timing of sentinel node biopsy, and the utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to predict response to therapy.

Young-Onset Colon Cancer and Recurrence Risk by Gene Expression.

The incidence and mortality from colorectal cancer in younger adults (younger than 55 years) is increasing. We reviewed the complete database of a gene-expression test, Oncotype DX Colon Recurrence Score test, to determine age-related differences in recurrence score (RS) and single-gene results (7 cancer-related of the 12-gene assay). We included 20 478 stage II and III A and B colon cancer patients submitted to Genomic Health. RS results were grouped by low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups. Single-gene scores were described using median and interquartile range. Of all patients 72.5% and 72.6% of those younger than 40 years had low-risk RS. Comparing older with younger patients, RS or single-gene expression did not differ by age group or stage. Young-onset colon cancer does not differ by expression of the RS component genes. Most patients with stage II and III colon cancer have low-risk disease as measured by the 12-gene assay, regardless of age.

Clinical relevance of the 21-gene Recurrence Score® assay in treatment decisions for patients with node-positive breast cancer in the genomic era.

In contemporary management of early-stage breast cancer, clinical decisions regarding adjuvant systemic therapy are increasingly made after considering both genomic assay results and clinico-pathologic features. Genomic information augments the prognostic information gleaned from clinico-pathologic features by providing risk estimates for distant recurrence and/or breast cancer-specific survival based on individual tumor biology. The 21-gene Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® (RS) assay is validated to be prognostic and predictive of chemotherapy benefit in patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), HER2-negative early-stage breast cancer, regardless of nodal status. Because patients frequently are recommended to receive adjuvant chemotherapy based on the perceived poor prognosis related to a positive nodal status, inconsistent use of any prognostic genomic assay in the node-positive (N+) setting likely results in overtreatment of some patients, particularly those with a low genomic risk as defined by the RS test. This comprehensive review of the evidence for the RS assay in patients with N+, HR+, HER2-negative early-stage breast cancer focuses on outcomes of patients with low RS results treated with hormonal therapy alone. Aggregate findings show that the RS assay consistently identifies patients with low genomic risk N+ breast cancer, in whom adjuvant chemotherapy can be avoided without adversely affecting outcomes. This evidence suggests that HR+ patients with limited nodal involvement and low RS results should discuss with their physicians the pros and cons of adjuvant chemotherapy at the time their treatment plans are being decided.

The tipping point: Tamoxifen toxicity, central serous chorioretinopathy, and the role of estrogen and its receptors.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of tamoxifen toxicity superimposed on central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). We review the role of estrogen and the effect of tamoxifen on ocular tissues. OBSERVATIONS: A 32-year-old Hispanic female with infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the left breast (T2N1M0, triple-positive), status post chemotherapy and bilateral mastectomy, presented with complaint of a floater and decreased central vision of the right eye (OD). Symptoms began three weeks after initiating tamoxifen and five months after the last cycle of chemotherapy and dexamethasone. Visual acuity (VA) was 20/30 OD at presentation. Clinical examination and multimodal imaging revealed subretinal fluid (SRF) and pigment epithelial detachment (PED) suggestive of CSCR. After one month of monitoring, VA improved to 20/20; there was SRF resolution, small PED, and focal ellipsoid zone (EZ) band loss. Two weeks later, after undergoing surgery and starting a topical steroid, she returned with count fingers (CF) VA and large SRF OD. Steroid cessation improved SRF after one month, but VA was unchanged. Tamoxifen was discontinued, and VA improved to 20/100 with near-complete resolution of SRF at three weeks, and significant reduction in choroidal thickness at two months. At final follow-up, VA was 20/200, and there was focal EZ band loss sub-foveally, minimal SRF, and small PED. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: Treatment with tamoxifen may lead to ocular toxicity and can complicate the recovery course of patients affected with CSCR. Variations in levels of the estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-α) and treatment with tamoxifen (ER-α partial agonist) may lead to loss of the protective effect of estrogen in the retinal pigment epithelial cells in premenopausal women. Furthermore, tamoxifen toxicity can lead to focal photoreceptor loss. Treatment in these cases should be coordinated together with the oncologist.

Double-Blind Phase III Randomized Trial of the Antiprogestin Agent Mifepristone in the Treatment of Unresectable Meningioma: SWOG S9005.

PURPOSE: Progesterone receptors are expressed in approximately 70% of meningiomas. Mifepristone is an oral antiprogestational agent reported to have modest activity in a phase II study. This multicenter, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled phase III trial conducted by SWOG was planned to define the role of mifepristone in the treatment of unresectable meningioma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive either mifepristone or placebo for 2 years unless disease progressed. Patients who were stable or responding to protocol therapy after 2 years had the option to continue with the same blinded therapy. Serial follow-up allowed assessment of efficacy and toxicity. Time to treatment failure and overall survival were ascertained for all randomly assigned patients. On progression, patients receiving placebo could cross over and receive active drug. RESULTS: Among 164 eligible patients, 80 were randomly assigned to mifepristone and 84 to placebo. Twenty-four patients (30%) were able to complete 2 years of mifepristone without disease progression, adverse effects, or other reasons for discontinuation. Twenty-eight patients (33%) in the placebo arm completed the 2-year study. There was no statistical difference between the arms in terms of failure-free or overall survival. CONCLUSION: Long-term administration of mifepristone was well tolerated but had no impact on patients with unresectable meningioma.

Gemcitabine and platinum-based chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer.

Although anthracyclines and the taxanes comprise the most active first-line cytotoxic treatments in patients with hormone-insensitive or life-threatening metastatic breast cancer, many patients progress and require other chemotherapeutic agents. Development of new combinations and/or agents is thus needed. Gemcitabine (Gemzar) and platinum compounds have been employed as single agents, and the addition of gemcitabine to the platinums results in significant clinical benefit and response rates. Correlative biologic studies are expected from several already-reported trials and may help elucidate predictive factors for both response and toxicity when combining gemcitabine and the platinums. Trials incorporating these doublets in earlier stages of breast cancer or in the neoadjuvant setting may further elucidate their role in breast cancer treatment.

Personalized medicine for breast cancer: it is a new day!

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States and is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer mortality. Breast cancer has become the prototypical solid tumor where targets have been identified within the tumor allowing for a personalized approach of systemic therapy.

Phase III comparison of standard doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide versus weekly doxorubicin and daily oral cyclophosphamide plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor as neoadjuvant therapy for inflammatory and locally advanced breast cancer: SWOG 0012.

PURPOSE: Patients with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) or locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) were randomly assigned to 21-day doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide administered for five cycles (standard arm) versus weekly doxorubicin and daily oral cyclophosphamide administered with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support for 15 weeks (continuous arm). All patients had subsequent weekly paclitaxel for 12 weeks before surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients (n = 372) were randomly assigned to the standard arm (n = 186) or the continuous arm (n = 186) stratified by disease type (LABC, n = 256; IBC, n = 116). The primary outcome was microscopic pathologic complete response (pCR) at surgery. Secondary outcomes included disease-free survival, overall survival, and toxicity. RESULTS: More patients in the standard arm had grade 3 to 4 leukopenia and neutropenia, but there were more instances of stomatitis/pharyngitis and hand-foot skin reaction in the continuous arm. Assessed among 356 eligible patients, pCR was not different between the treatment groups stratified by disease type (P = .42). In subset analysis, higher pCR rates were observed in the continuous arm versus the standard arm only for stage IIIB disease (P = .0057) and in IBC (P = .06). Comparison of overall survival and disease-free survival showed no difference between treatment groups (P = .37 and P = .87, respectively). CONCLUSION: No significant clinical benefit was seen for the investigational arm in this trial overall.