Neoadjuvant Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab in Combination with Standard Chemotherapy for HER2-Positive Early Breast Cancer: Real-World Practice in Cuba.

PURPOSE: Dual HER2 blockade chemotherapy is the standard of care for localized HER2+ breast cancer (BC). However, despite the efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy, relapses occurring in around 10% of patients highlight the need to improve its clinical approach. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness/safety of neoadjuvant therapy with subcutaneous (SC) trastuzumab- pertuzumab chemotherapy (real world) to extend the evidence, which comes mainly from clinical trials (selected population; intravenous [IV] trastuzumab). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, longitudinal, observational study in a Cuban hospital. POPULATION: women aged ≥18 years with histologically confirmed HER2+ early-stage BC (2017-2021) eligible for neoadjuvant treatment (IV pertuzumab, SC trastuzumab, taxane-based chemotherapy). The aim was to determine the pathological complete response (pCR) rate to this scheme, its safety, and the impact of patient's characteristics on the outcomes. RESULTS: Eighty-seven women were included: n=29 (DPT [docetaxel-IV pertuzumab- SC trastuzumab 600 mg; 4 cycles]); n=58 (ddAC-DPT [dose-dense anthracycline-based scheme+DPT]; 8 cycles). The median age was 57 years (range 30-83), ECOG 0: 97%. Time from diagnosis to treatment (median) was 28 days. The overall pCR rate was 62.1% (55.2%, DPT; 66.5%, ddAC-DPT; p =0.351); HR+, 47.7% vs. HR-, 76.7% (p=0.006). There were no statistically significant differences based on nodal status, stage, or Ki-67 levels. Overall, 94.2% of patients experienced ≥1 adverse event related to treatment, all of them grade 1-3 and more common with ddAC-DPT. The main cause of treatment delays (n=19; ddAC-DPT, 16; DPT, 3) was treatment-related toxicities. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant trastuzumab (SC) and pertuzumab plus chemotherapy for HER2+ early-stage BC showed benefits in a real-life setting, with an acceptable safety profile.

The clinical features, management and prognosis of primary and secondary indolent lymphoma of the bone: a retrospective study of the International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group (IELSG #14 study).

Indolent lymphomas primarily involving the skeleton (iPBL) represent < 1% of all primary bone lymphomas. The management and prognosis have not been previously described. Patients with primary and secondary iPBL were selected from an international database of 499 patients with a histopathological diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and skeleton involvement, and clinical features, management and prognosis were analyzed. Twenty-six (5%) patients had an iPBL. Ten patients had small lymphocytic lymphoma, 10 had follicular lymphoma and six had lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. Eleven patients had limited stage and 15 had advanced disease. The overall response rate was 73% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 57-89%). Median follow-up was 58 months, and the 5- and 10-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 37 ± 10% and 25 ± 12%, respectively. Nine patients are alive, with 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS) rates of 46 ± 10% and 29 ± 11%, respectively. Patients with small lymphocytic lymphoma showed significantly better outcome than patients with follicular lymphoma. Performance status and stage of disease were independently associated with OS. The prognosis of patients with primary bone lymphoplasmacytic or follicular lymphoma was less favorable.