In-Depth Analysis of the Peripheral Immune Profile of HER2+ Breast Cancer Patients on Neoadjuvant Treatment with Chemotherapy Plus Trastuzumab Plus Pertuzumab.

Currently, therapy for early-stage human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer (BC) is based on the combination of trastuzumab and pertuzumab plus chemotherapy in a neoadjuvant regimen. The INMUNOHER study aimed to detect immunological markers in peripheral blood and their association with treatment response. Sixty-two HER2+ BC patients were recruited. Pre-treatment samples were obtained before the start of treatment, while post-treatment samples were obtained after completing therapy and before surgery and were analyzed by flow cytometry. The pathologic complete response (pCR) rate achieved was 82.3%. The expression of the NKp30, PD-1, and TIM-3 receptors was reduced in the Natural Killer (NK)-CD56dim subset of patients who did not achieve pCR. Following therapy, many changes were found in leukocytes, including alterations in T cell lymphocyte proportions. Also, the percentage of NK cells decreased, and several phenotypic changes were observed in this population. After treatment, IFN-γ production by NK cells against HER2+-cells with or without trastuzumab was significantly reduced. HER2-targeted therapy plus chemotherapy demonstrated high efficacy in most patients, reducing the statistical power for finding immunological markers. However, NK subset phenotypes correlated better with response groups, and numerous changes in the percentage of leukocytes and T and NK cells, as well as changes in the functionality of NK cells, were observed in most patients after treatment, encouraging further research into these immune populations.

The Emerging Role of Tertiary Lymphoid Structures in Breast Cancer: A Narrative Review.

This narrative review aims to clarify the role of tertiary lymphoid structures in breast cancer. We examine their development, composition, and prognostic value, and current ways of recognizing them. A comprehensive literature review was performed using the PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and EMBASE databases. A significant area of interest in breast cancer research involves targeting immune checkpoint molecules, particularly in the triple-negative subtype, where treatment options remain limited. However, existing biomarkers have limitations in accurately predicting treatment response. In this context, tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) emerge as a prognostic biomarker and also as a promising predictive marker for response. TLSs are ectopic lymphoid formations or neo-organogenesis that can develop after prolonged exposure to inflammatory signals mediated by chemokines and cytokines. Their presence is inversely correlated with estrogen receptor (ER) and/or progesterone receptor (PR) expression, but positively associated with a higher pathologic complete response rate and improved overall survival. In certain scenarios, TLS-positive tumors were associated with improved outcomes regardless of the presence of PDL-1 (programmed cell death ligand 1) expression or TILs (tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes).

Lack of Prognostic Value of Pretreatment Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Early Breast Cancer.

Background: Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease with large differences in the risk of recurrence. An elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is correlated with a poor prognosis in a variety of tumors, and although it is still controversial in breast cancer, there are multiple studies, including meta-analysis, suggesting this. The purpose of this study was to analyze the prognostic value of preoperative NLR in an Argentine population of patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer, not exposed to neoadjuvant treatment. Methods: Retrospective multicenter cohort study that includes patients over 18 years of age from three centers in the city and province of Buenos Aires who have had surgery for early breast cancer between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2014. Based on the previous literature, a cutoff value of 2.0 was defined. Results: A total of 791 patients were eligible for the analysis. Median age was 55 years (IQR 45-65). Median NLR was 1.92 (IQR 1.50-2.56). The distribution of groups according to the 8th edition of the AJCC was 54.1% for stage I, 35.6% stage II, and 10.4% stage III. Among the different tumor phenotypes, 79.0% were HR+/HER2-, 11.4% were HR+ or-/HER2+, and 9.2% were HR-/HER2-. With a median follow-up of 5.3 years, 112 patients (14.2%) had disease recurrence. Stage III patients had a higher NLR than stage I and stage II patients (p = 0.002). The rest of the clinical and pathological characteristics did not show differences in the groups according to NLR. There were no differences in relapse-free survival according to the NLR (p = 0.37), and it did not change after adjusting for other prognostic variables. Conclusion: We consider it is important to determine the efficacy of prognostic markers that are easily accessible and of simple, systematic application. However, NLR does not appear to be an independent prognostic factor for recurrence in our population. In this sense, we consider it is important to publish negative results in order to avoid publication bias.

A Comprehensive and Contemporary Review on Immunosuppression Therapy for Heart Transplantation.

Heart transplantation is the standard of therapy for patients with end-stage heart disease. Since the first human-to-human heart transplantation, performed in 1967, advances in organ donation, surgical techniques, organ preservation, perioperative care, immunologic risk assessment, immunosuppression agents, monitoring of graft function and surveillance of long-term complications have drastically increased recipient survival. However, there are yet many challenges in the modern era of heart transplantation in which immunosuppression may play a key role in further advances in the field. A fine-tuning of immune modulation to prevent graft rejection while avoiding side effects from over immunosuppression has been the vital goal of basic and clinical research. Individualization of drug choices and strategies, taking into account the recipient's clinical characteristics, underlying heart failure diagnosis, immunologic risk and comorbidities seem to be the ideal approaches to improve post-transplant morbidity and survival while preventing both rejection and complications of immunosuppression. The aim of the present review is to provide a practical, comprehensive overview of contemporary immunosuppression in heart transplantation. Clinical evidence for immunosuppressive drugs is reviewed and practical approaches are provided. Cardiac allograft rejection classification and up-to-date management are summarized. Expanding therapies, such as photophoresis, are outlined. Drug-to-drug interactions of immunosuppressive agents focused on cardiovascular medications are summarized. Special situations involving heart transplantation such as sarcoidosis, Chagas diseases and pediatric immunosuppression are also reviewed. The evolution of phamacogenomics to individualize immunosuppressive therapy is described. Finally, future perspectives in the field of immunosuppression in heart transplantation are highlighted.

Breast Cancer in Young Women Presents With More Aggressive Pathologic Characteristics: Retrospective Analysis From an Argentine National Database.

PURPOSE: Multiple studies have reported that breast cancer in young patients is associated with aggressive characteristics, and it is suggested that prognosis is worse independently of pathologic variables. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of the Breast Cancer Registry of the Argentinian Society of Mastology, including public and private centers. Patients ≤ 40 years of age at diagnosis were classified as "young," and patients ≤ 35 years of age at diagnosis were classified as "very young." Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to detect differences between groups. RESULTS: Patients ≤ 40 years of age comprised 10.40% (739/7,105) of the participants, with an average age of 35.61 ± 4.04 years. Multivariate analysis showed that human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive tumor phenotype (odds ratio [OR], 1.82), nodal involvement (OR, 1.69), histologic grade (grade 3 OR, 1.41), and tumor size (T2 OR, 1.37; T3-T4, 1.47) were independently associated with younger age at diagnosis. Patients ≤ 35 years of age (n = 286), compared with patients 36 to 40 years of age, had a higher proportion of HER2 tumors (24.58% v 16.94%; P = .021), absence of progesterone receptor expression (29.85% v 22.95%; P = .043), and stage 3 cancer (29.34% v 18.52%; P < .001). Fewer breast-conserving surgeries (75.37% v 62.89%; P < .001) and more adjuvant chemotherapy (59.04% v 36.66%; P < 0.001) were reported in patients ≤ 40 years of age. CONCLUSION: In the population studied, breast cancer in young women was associated with aggressive pathologic features and locally advanced disease at the time of diagnosis. Moreover, tumor characteristics in very young patients with breast cancer nested in the population ≤ 40 years of age showed differences in important prognostic factors. More high-quality evidence is needed to improve treatment strategies in these patients.

Quimioterapia neoadyuvante: indicaciones y resultados. Experiencia de 15 años en el Instituto Alexander Fleming / Neoadjuvant chemotherapy: indications and results. Fifteen years of experience at Instituto Alexander Fleming

Introducción Existe consenso sobre los subgrupos de pacientes con más probabilidades de beneficiarse del tratamiento neoadyuvante, pero su utilización en la práctica clínica es variable. Las pacientes con cáncer de mama en etapa temprana susceptibles de requerir quimioterapia adyuvante podrían considerarse para realizar quimioterapia neoadyuvante (qtna). Objetivos Evaluar las tasas de cirugía conservadora en pacientes con cáncer de mama que reciben qtna y describir las tendencias de respuestas clínica, imagenológica y patológica en la mama y la axila. Material y método Se realizó una evaluación retrospectiva de 125 pacientes con cáncer de mama invasor (Estadios IB-IIA/B-IIIA), operadas en el Instituto Alexander Fleming en el período 2002-2018. Resultados Las tasas más altas de respuesta patológica completa (pcr) se obtuvieron en los tumores her2, tn y Luminal B-her2, representando el 56%, 55% y 40% respectivamente. En la respuesta patológica completa ganglionar, las tasas más altas se obtuvieron en los Luminal B-her2 82%, los tn 80% y los her2 70%. Las tasas de cirugía conservadora fueron: para Luminal A 44%, para Luminal B 58%, para Luminal B-her2 54%, para her2 76% y para tn 59%. Conclusiones Concordante con trabajos publicados, se describen altas tasas de cirugía conservadora y altas tasas de pcr en tumores her2 y tn

Introduction Even though there is evidence about better outcomes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nac) for breast cancer (bc), it is unclear who are the indicated patients and what are the correct indications for using it. Our hypothesis is that early stage bc patients, who are identified as susceptible for adjuvant chemotherapy, could be the most benefited of receiving nac. Objectives We aimed to study the number of patients who received nac and breast conserving surgery (bcs) assessing clinical, pathological and radiological response in both, breast and axilla. Materials and method We carried out a retrospective study of 125 patients newly diagnosed of bc (Stage IB-IIA-B and IIIA) who received nat and bcs in our institution, "Instituto Alexander Fleming", during the 2002-2018 period Results We obtained the higher rates of pathological complete response (pcr) in her2 being 56%; for tn was 55% and 40% for Luminal B-her2. The highest rates of complete pathological lymph node response were obtained in Luminal B-her2 82%, tn 80% and her2 70%. The rates for bcs where 44%, 58%, 54% and 76% for Luminal A, Luminal B, Luminal B-her2 and her2 respectively. Conclusions There is current data available supporting our findings, having similar results for bcs and pcr performing bcs after nat

Los linfocitos estromales intratumorales (tils) como factor pronóstico en tumores primarios de mama Triple Negativos / Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (tils) in Triple Negative breast cancer as a prognostic factor

Introducción Los tumores de mama se encuentran frecuentemente rodeados por células inflamatorias como signo de interacción entre el tumor y el huésped, siendo esta crítica para el desarrollo y progresión del cáncer. Algunas observaciones sugieren el valor pronóstico de los linfocitos estromales intratumorales (tils). Sin embargo, su evaluación no es rutinaria ya que su relevancia clínica aún no se encuentra consolidada. Objetivos Los objetivos de este trabajo son: • la evaluación de la concordancia interobservador de los linfocitos intratumorales (tils); • su relación con la sobrevida libre de enfermedad (sle); • su valoración como factor pronóstico en cáncer de mama Triple Negativo. Material y método Se seleccionaron retrospectivamente pacientes con tumores de mama Triple Negativos operados en el Instituto Alexander Fleming entre 2010-2016 sin tratamiento neoadyuvante, alcanzando una muestra de 65 pacientes. Resultados El porcentaje mediano de tils fue de 30% (12,5-50), y se consideraron como "Tumores ricos en linfocitos" (Lymphocyte Predominant Breast Cancerlpbc) a los de 19 pacientes (29,2%). Tanto la presencia de tils (p>0,01) como la definición del subtipo de lpbc (p=0,03) presentaron asociación estadísticamente significativa con la recurrencia de enfermedad. En el análisis multivariado, presentaron asociación la histología ductal y el valor de tils. Por cada 10% de aumento, disminuye 31% el riesgo de recaída. El valor de tils estratificado en 3 subgrupos (≤20; 30-40; ≥50%) presentó asociación estadísticamente significativa con la Sobrevida Libre de Enfermedad (Log Rank <0,01). Conclusiones En este trabajo se logró describir una característica tumoral y del huésped reproducible, cuya instrumentación podría generalizarle por el potencial valor pronóstico.

Introduction Breast tumors are frequently surrounded by inflammatory cells as a sign of interaction between the tumor and host, being this relationship critical for cancer development and progression. Present evidence suggests that tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (tils) may provide prognostic information. Nevertheless, tils description is not generalized as its clinical relevance is not consolidated. Objectives • evaluation of interobserver concordance of intratumoral lymphocytes (tils); • its relationship with Disease Free Survival; • its assessment as a prognostic factor in Triple Negative breast cancer. Materials end method Triple Negative breast cancer patients with surgery in Instituto Alexander Fleming, between 2010-2016, without neoadyuvant treatment, were selected retrospectively. 65 patients were selected. Results In the 65 patients selected, tils median percentage was 30% (12.5-50), and 19 (29.2%) were considered Lymphocyte Predominant Breast Cancer (lpbc). tils percentage (p>0.01) and lpbc subtype (p=0.03) presented significant association with disease recurrence. Multivariate analysis showed that ductal histology and tils percentage are associated with disease recurrence. For every 10% increment in tils, there was a 31% reduction of risk of recurrence. High tils value stratified in 3 subgroups (≤20; 30-40; ≥50%) was associated with better Disease Free Survival (Log Rank 0.01). Conclusions Due to its potential prognostic value and its technical reproducibility, we believe that this tumoral and host characteristic must be generalized.

Predictive Factors for Non-Sentinel Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients with ACOSOG Z0011 Criteria.

BACKGROUND: Nodal staging constitutes an element of great importance in the treatment planning for early breast cancer. The ACOSOG Z0011 trial demonstrated that sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy alone results in rates of local control, disease-free survival, and overall survival equivalent to those seen after axillary lymph node dissection. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of patients that fulfill the ACOSOG Z0011 inclusion criteria and to define predictive factors for non-SLN positivity. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the breast surgery database of the Argentinian Society of Mastology was carried out. Patients were selected if they fulfilled the ACOSOG Z0011 inclusion criteria. The association of clinical and pathological factors with non-SLN positivity was evaluated in univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Among 8,262 patients, 973 had positive SLN, and 348 satisfied the inclusion criteria. Histological grade (G3 vs. G1-2, odds ratio (OR) 1.81; p = 0.024), tumor size (T2 vs. T1, OR 2.39; p = 0.001), and age (>50 vs. <50 years, OR 1.95; p = 0.007) were associated with non-SLN positivity in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Although the clinical relevance of our data is not established, older women with tumors bigger than 2 cm and/or high histological grade are at greater risk of having metastatic disease in the lymph nodes if axillary lymph node dissection is avoided. This subgroup of patients represents only 30% of the trial population.

High Histologic Grade and High Ki-67 Expression Predict Phenotypic Alterations in Node Metastasis in Primary Breast Cancers.

PURPOSE: Several studies have shown that estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression may vary during tumoral progression. We aimed to describe and compare ER, PR, and HER2 expressions in primary breast tumors and synchronic axillary nodal metastases, and evaluate phenotypic correlations between them. METHODS: Patients were identified prospectively through surgical procedures between September 2013 and July 2016. The status of ER, PR, HER2, and Ki-67 were pathologically analyzed in breast cancers and axillary nodal metastases; these patients were classified based on the breast cancer phenotypes into five subgroups. RESULTS: Synchronic axillary nodal metastases were observed in 127 patients. In breast cancers and nodal metastases, correlation analyses of ER, PR, and Ki-67 expression showed a statistical dependence and concordance between these samples was unambiguously demonstrated through Bland-Altman plots for each determination. Primary breast tumors were classified as follows: luminal A, 41.6%; luminal B, 40.0%; luminal B/HER2, 9.6%; HER2, 2.4%; triple negative, 6.4%. Alterations in phenotype were observed in 28% of patients. The most frequent phenotypic alteration was from luminal B to A (36.4%). Ten cases (30.3%) showed alterations with therapeutic implications; six gained HER2 overexpression, and four, hormonal receptor (HR) expression. A moderate strength of agreement (Cohen's κ coefficient, 0.59; 95% confidence interval, 0.48-0.71) was observed. In multivariate analyses, high histologic grade (odds ratio [OR], 2.79; p<0.047) and high Ki-67 expression (OR, 1.05; p<0.037) were independent factors predictive of phenotypic alterations. CONCLUSION: Strong correlations were observed in HR and Ki-67 expressions between primary breast tumors and axillary nodal metastases, and a moderate concordance was observed in their phenotypical characteristics. Nevertheless, alterations did exist, and one-third of these changes may have therapeutic implications. The nodal metastases of tumors with high grade and high Ki-67 expression may need to be analyzed, to obtain complete therapeutic information.

TDM-1 en cáncer de mama metastásico HER2 positivo. Experiencia institucional / TDM-1 in HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer. Institutional experience

El cáncer de mama es una de las enfermedades más frecuentes en todo el mundo. La amplificación del proto-oncogén HER2 se presenta en 20-25% de los tumores de mama. TDM-1 es un conjugado anticuerpo-quimioterápico. Se realizó en forma retrospectiva, observacional y descriptiva un análisis de los datos de pacientes con diagnóstico de cáncer de mama metastásico HER2 positivo, que realizaban y/o habían realizado tratamiento con dicho fármaco. Se evaluaron 27 mujeres. La indicación de TDM-1 fue en 7.4% (2) en primera línea, 37% (10) en segunda línea, y 55.5% (15) en líneas posteriores, con un tiempo a la progresión de 7.44 meses (IC: 4.33-NC) para el global de pacientes, tasa de respuesta objetiva de 44% y se constataron 7 (26%) toxicidades G3-4 (AU)

Breast cancer is one of the most common diseases worldwide. HER2 proto-oncogene amplification occurs in 20-25% of breast tumors. TDM-1 is an antibody-chemotherapeutic conjugate. We performed a retrospective, observational and descriptive analysis of data from patients diagnosed with metastatic HER2 positive breast cancer who were and / or had been treated with this drug. Twenty-seven women were evaluated. The indication for TDM-1 was 7.4% (2) in the 1st line, 37% (10) in the 2nd line, and 55.5% (15) in later lines, with a time to progression of 7.44 months (CI:4.33-NC) for the global patient, objective response rate was 44% and 7 (26%) G3-4 toxicities were found (AU)

Production and function of jasmonates in nodulated roots of soybean plants inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum.

Little is known regarding production and function of endogenous jasmonates (JAs) in root nodules of soybean plants inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum. We investigated (1) production of jasmonic acid (JA) and 12-oxophytodienoic acid (OPDA) in roots of control and inoculated plants and in isolated nodules; (2) correlations between JAs levels, nodule number, and plant growth during the symbiotic process; and (3) effects of exogenous JA and OPDA on nodule cell number and size. In roots of control plants, JA and OPDA levels reached a maximum at day 18 after inoculation; OPDA level was 1.24 times that of JA. In roots of inoculated plants, OPDA peaked at day 15, whereas JA level did not change appreciably. Shoot dry matter of inoculated plants was higher than that of control at day 21. Chlorophyll a decreased more abruptly in control plants than in inoculated plants, whereas b decreased gradually in both cases. Exogenous JA or OPDA changed number and size of nodule central cells and peripheral cells. Findings from this and previous studies suggest that increased levels of JA and OPDA in control plants are related to senescence induced by nutritional stress. OPDA accumulation in nodulated roots suggests its involvement in "autoregulation of nodulation."

Triple-negative breast cancer.

Perou's molecular classification defines tumors that neither express hormone receptors nor overexpress HER2 as triple-negative (TN) tumors. These tumors account for approximately 15% of breast cancers. The so-called basaloid tumors are not always synonymous with TN tumors; they differ in the fact that they express different molecular markers, have a higher histologic grade, and have a worse prognosis. Clinically they occur in younger women as interval cancer, and the risk of recurrence is higher within the first 3 years. Distant recurrences in the brain and visceral metastases are more common than in hormone receptor-positive tumors. Therapeutically, despite being highly chemosensitive, their progression-free time is generally short. In terms of chemotherapeutic treatment, anthracyclines and taxanes are useful drugs, and high response rates have been described for the combination of ixabepilone-capecitabine and platinums. The combination with antiangiogenic drugs has also proven useful. A group of new drugs, poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase inhibitors, showed favorable results in TN tumors with BRCA mutation. There are currently several ongoing studies with new drugs including epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, c-kit inhibitors, Raf/Mek/Map kinase inhibitors and mTOR inhibitors.