OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of epirubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by weekly paclitaxel with or without carboplatin as adjuvant therapy for patients with high risk, early stage, triple negative breast cancer. DESIGN:Randomised, open label, phase 3 trial. SETTING:Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center in China between March 2020 and March 2022. PARTICIPANTS:Female patients with operable high risk triple negative breast cancer (defined as either regional node positive or node negative with a Ki-67 labelling index of ≥50%) after definitive surgery. INTERVENTIONS:Patients were randomised in a 1:1 ratio into either the carboplatin arm (four cycles of two weekly epirubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by four cycles of weekly paclitaxel combined with carboplatin) or the control arm (four cycles of three weekly or two weekly epirubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by four cycles of weekly paclitaxel). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:The primary endpoint was disease-free survival in the intention-to-treat population. Secondary endpoints included recurrence-free survival, distant disease-free survival, overall survival, and safety. RESULTS:Of the 808 enrolled patients, 807 received study treatment. At a median follow-up of 44.7 months, estimated percentages of patients who would be disease-free at three years were 92.3% in the carboplatin arm and 85.8% in the control arm (hazard ratio 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43 to 0.95; P=0.03). However, the assessment of the proportional hazards assumption showed that it was violated (P=0.02). A piecewise hazard model showed that the hazard ratio changed over time: the hazard ratio was 0.31 (95% CI 0.13 to 0.73) for 0-12 months, 0.65 (0.39 to 1.09) for 12-36 months, and 1.98 (0.69 to 5.69) for >36 months. For secondary endpoints, the carboplatin arm was associated with improved outcomes in three year recurrence-free survival (93.8% v 88.3%; hazard ratio 0.59, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.93; P=0.02), three year distant disease-free survival (94.8% v 89.8%; hazard ratio 0.61, 0.37 to 0.98; P=0.04), and three year overall survival (98.0% v 94.0%; hazard ratio 0.41, 0.20 to 0.83; P=0.01). The incidence of grade 3-4 treatment related adverse events was 66.7% (269 of 403 patients) in the carboplatin arm and 55.0% (222 of 404 patients) in the control arm. No treatment related deaths occurred. CONCLUSIONS:The addition of carboplatin to adjuvant anthracycline/taxane based chemotherapy significantly improved survival outcomes in patients with high risk, early stage, triple negative breast cancer, driven by reduction of early recurrence risk without new safety concerns. TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04296175.

1086 Background: Camrelizumab and nab-paclitaxel demonstrated promising anti-tumour activity in refractory metastatic immunomodulatory triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in FUTURE trial. Anti-angiogenic agents have been reported to facilitate immune infiltration. Famitinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting VEGFR-2, PDGFR and c-kit. The FUTURE-C-PLUS trial (NCT04129996) which added famitinib to camrelizumab and nab-paclitaxel is a single-arm, phase 2 trial evaluating this novel triplet combinatorial strategy in patients with advanced immunomodulatory TNBC. Study design and the primary endpoint ORR has been reported previously (Zhi-ming Shao, et al. ASCO 2021, Abstract 1007). The final PFS data had been published in Clinical Cancer Research (Clin Cancer Res 2022;28:2807–17). Here, we reported the final overall survival of this trial. Methods: Briefly, this study enrolled women aged 18-70 years, with previously untreated, histologically confirmed, unresectable, locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic immunomodulatory TNBC. Immunomodulatory TNBC was defined as CD8 expression on at least 10% of cells using immunohistochemistry analysis. Eligible patients received the triple therapy. Results: Forty-eight patients were enrolled and treated between Oct 2019 and Oct 2020. The median follow-up was 33.1 months (range, 31.8–34.4). 39 (81.3%, 95% CI 70.2-92.3) patients had a confirmed objective response which has been reported in ASCO 2021. At this updating data cutoff (Feb 1, 2023), the median progression-free survival was 13.6 months (95% CI, 8.4-18.8). While overall survival was 29.4 months (95% CI, 23.3-35.5). The disease control rate was 95.8% (46/48). The most common treatment-related grade 3 or 4 adverse events were neutropenia (16 [33.3%]), anemia (5 [10.4%]), febrile neutropenia (5 [10.4%]), and thrombocytopenia (4 [8.3%]). No new safety concerns were detected. No treatment-related deaths were reported. Conclusions: These data, combined with those from our previous reports, provide further evidence for the triplet combination of famitinib, camrelizumab and nab-paclitaxel as an active therapy in advanced Immunomodulatory TNBC. To our knowledge, this is the best overall survival reached in first-line treatment of advanced TNBC. A randomized controlled FUTURE-Super trial is ongoing to further validate these findings. Clinical trial information: NCT04129996 .

Supplementary Figure from Famitinib with Camrelizumab and Nab-Paclitaxel for Advanced Immunomodulatory Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (FUTURE-C-Plus): An Open-Label, Single-Arm, Phase II Trial

Background Camrelizumab and nab-paclitaxel demonstrated promising anti-tumour activity in refractory metastatic immunomodulatory triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in FUTURE trial. Anti-angiogenic agents have been reported to facilitate immune infiltration. Famitinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting VEGFR-2, PDGFR and c-kit. The FUTURE-C-PLUS trial (NCT04129996) which added famitinib to camrelizumab and nab-paclitaxel is a single-arm, phase 2 trial evaluating this novel triplet combinatorial strategy in patients with advanced immunomodulatory TNBC. Study design and the primary endpoint ORR has been reported previously (Zhi-ming Shao, et al. ASCO 2021, Abstract 1007). Here, we reported the updated results of this trial. Method Briefly, this study enrolled women aged 18-70 years, with previously untreated, histologically confirmed, unresectable, locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic immunomodulatory TNBC. Immunomodulatory TNBC was defined as CD8 expression on at least 10% of cells using immunohistochemistry analysis. Eligible patients received the triple therapy. Study design has been reported previously in ASCO 2021. Results Between Oct 2019 and Oct 2020, 48 patients were enrolled and treated. 39 (81.3%, 95% CI 70.2-92.3) patients had a confirmed objective response which has been reported in ASCO 2021. At this updating data cutoff (June 30, 2021), the median progression-free survival was 11.9 months (95% CI, 7.3-16.5) with the median follow-up was 14.0 months. While overall survival data were not mature yet, a promising overall survival rate was observed at 12 months (84•2%, 95% CI 73.4-95.0) and 18 months (73.6%, 95% CI 52.0-95.2). In the 39 responders, median duration of response was also not mature. The disease control rate was 95.8% (46/48). The most common treatment-related grade 3 or 4 adverse events were neutropenia (16 [33.3%]), anemia (5 [10.4%]), febrile neutropenia (5 [10.4%]), and thrombocytopenia (4 [8.3%]). No treatment-related deaths were reported. Conclusions These data, combined with those from our previous reports, provide further evidence for the triplet combination of famitinib, camrelizumab and nab-paclitaxel as an active therapy in advanced Immunomodulatory TNBC. To our knowledge, this is the best objective response rate reached in first-line treatment of advanced TNBC. A randomized controlled FUTURE-Super trial (NCT04395989) is keeping recruiting patients to further validate those findings. Citation Format: Li Chen, Yi-Zhou Jiang, Songyang Wu, Jiong Wu, Genhong Di, Guangyu Liu, Keda Yu, Lei Fan, Junjie Li, Yifeng Hou, Zhen Hu, Canming Chen, Xiaoyan Huang, Ayong Cao, Xin Hu, Shen Zhao, Xiaoyan Ma, Xiaoyu Zhu, Jianjun Zou, Wentao Yang, Zhonghua Wang, Zhi-ming Shao. Updated data from FUTURE-C-PLUS: Combination of famitinib with camrelizumab plus nab-paclitaxel as first-line treatment for advanced, immunomodulatory triple-negative breast cancer, an open-label, single-arm, phase 2 trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-14-04.

1007 Background: Camrelizumab (anti-PD-1 antibody) and nab-paclitaxel (nab-P) have demonstrated promising anti-tumour activity in patients with immunomodulatory (IM) subtype metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), with 52.6% of ORR observed in heavily pretreated patients in our previous umbrella trial (FUTURE). As antiangiogenic agents were known to enhance the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, we assessed the efficacy and safety of novel triplet combination of famitinib (tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting VEGFR-2, PDGFR and c-kit), camrelizumab and nab-paclitaxel in patients with IM subtype advanced TNBC. Methods: In this prospective, single-arm, phase 2 study, eligible patients were 18-70 years and had treatment-naive IM subtype unresectable locally advanced or metastatic TNBC. IM subtype was defined as CD8+ by immunohistochemistry. Eligible patients received camrelizumab (200 mg iv, d1, 15, q4w) with nab-P (100 mg/m2 iv, d1, 8, 15, q4w) and famitinib (20 mg po qd, d1-28, q4w). Treatment was continued until disease progression, patient withdrawal, or unacceptable toxic effects. In the absence of intolerable toxicity, nab-P was to be administered for a minimum of 6 cycles. Primary endpoint was objective response rate according to RECIST v1.1. We explored the predictive biomarkers using targeted sequencing with a 484-gene panel. Results: From Oct 2019 to Oct 2020, 48 patients were enrolled. Confirmed objective responses were achieved in 39 (81.3%; 95% CI 70.2%-92.3%) of 48 patients in the intention-to-treat population and in 39 (84.8%; 95% CI 74.4%-95.2%) of 46 patients in the per-protocol population. Median time to response was 1.8 months (95% CI 1.8-2.0 months). With a median follow-up of 9.0 months, progression-free survival (PFS) and duration of response data were not mature. Thirty patients (62.5%) are still on the study treatment. The 9-month PFS rate was 60.2% (95% CI, 43.2% to 77.3%). Grade 3 or 4 adverse events were neutropenia (33.3%), anaemia (10.4%), febrile neutropenia (10.4%), thrombocytopenia (8.3%), hypertension (4.2%), hypothyroidism (4.2%), proteinuria (2.1%), septicemia (2.1%) and immune related myocarditis (2.1%). Adverse events that led to the discontinuation of any agent occurred in 6.3% of the patients. Two patients had treatment-related serious adverse events. No treatment-related deaths were reported. Biomarker analysis showed that somatic mutations of GSK3A may have the potential to predict immunotherapy response. Conclusions: Addition of famitinib to camrelizumab and nab-paclitaxel showed promising antitumour activity as first-line therapy with manageable toxicity profile for IM subtype advanced TNBC patients. Results from ongoing randomized controlled trial FUTURE-SUPER (NCT 04395989) are eagerly awaited. Clinical trial information: NCT04129996 .

BackgroundTo determine the histopathological and MRI features of BRCA1/2 mutation-associated familial breast cancers compared with those of BRCA1/2 mutation-negative and sporadic breast cancers and to further compare the imaging features of cancers from BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers according to lesion type on MRI.MethodsA retrospective review of medical records was conducted to determine tumour clinicopathologic features and MRI characteristics between June 2011 and July 2017, and 93 lesions with BRCA mutations, 93 lesions without BRCA mutations from familial breast cancers and 93 lesions from sporadic breast cancers were included. Histopathologic data, including immunohistochemistry findings and MRI data according to the BI-RADS lexicon, were reviewed. The association between MRI or histopathologic findings and BRCA mutations was analysed.ResultsBRCA-positive familial breast cancers had a higher number of IDCs with high nuclear grade and lymph node metastasis (all P<0.05), while the BRCA-negative group had a significantly lower Ki-67 index (P<0.001). BPE on MRI was found to be significantly lower for BRCA mutations of familial breast cancer (P=0.024). BRCA1 carriers tended to exhibit the triple-negative phenotype with a more benign shape and margin (P=0.006 and 0.019), whereas BRCA2 mutations were associated with the luminal phenotype and more malignant features.ConclusionsBRCA mutation carriers had a significantly higher number of IDCs with more aggressive cancer, and BRCA-negative cancers had low proliferation levels. Background features on MRI may help to identify BRCA status, while tumour characteristics can differentiate the BRCA1/2 mutation status, consistent with the differences in their clinicopathologic features.

Background The current randomized, controlled, multicenter clinical trial was conducted to investigate the efficacy of concurrent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) and estrogen deprivation in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer. Methods Eligible patients with AJCC stage IIB to stage IIIC, ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive NCT with or without estrogen deprivation. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR). Results A total of 249 patients were assigned to either neoadjuvant chemoendocrine therapy (NCET) (125 patients) or the NCT group (124 patients). In the intention-to-treat analysis, the ORR was found to be significantly higher in the NCET group compared with the NCT group (84.8% vs 72.6%; odds ratio, 2.11 [95% CI, 1.13-3.95; P = .02). The efficacy of NCET was more prominent in tumors with a higher Ki-67 index (>20%), with an ORR of 91.2% reported in the NCET group versus 68.7% in the NCT group (P = .001). The pathologic complete response and pathological response rates did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. Although there was no significant difference with regard to progression-free survival (PFS) between the 2 groups (P = .188), patients with a higher baseline Ki-67 index appeared to derive a greater PFS benefit from NCET (2-year PFS rate of 91.5% in the NCET group vs 76.5% in the NCT group; P = .058). Adding endocrine agents to NCT did not result in significant differences in adverse events (grade 3 or 4; graded according to National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [version 3.0]) between the 2 groups. Conclusions The addition of estrogen deprivation to NCT appears to improve the clinical response in patients with ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, especially for those individuals with a higher Ki-67 index. Patients with a higher Ki-67 index might derive more PFS benefit from concurrent neoadjuvant treatment.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) plus anti-HER2 agents are the standard of care for locally advanced HER2-positive breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and prognostic impact of HER2 loss in patients with HER2-positive disease treated with neoadjuvant therapy with or without trastuzumab.

We retrospective analyzed triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients who received either taxane-based or anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy, evaluated whether pathological complete response (pCR) is a surrogate endpoint for relapse free survival (RFS) in TNBC and explored which subgroup of patients benefits more from superior treatment regimen. 186 patients received taxane-based (Group A) or anthracycline-based (Group B) neoadjuvant chemotherapy, median follow-up was 48.1 months. 42 patients received total pCR (ypT0/is ypN0), 34 in Group A and 8 in Group B, p < 0.001. Patients who achieved pCR had an increased RFS when compared with non-pCR patients, p = 0.043. Patients in Group A had a better RFS, p = 0.025, after adjusting for tumor size and clinical lymph node status before neoadjuvant therapy. Only patients sensitive to neoadjuvant chemotherapy exhibited RFS benefit from taxane-based treatment, and those who were treatment insensitive had similar RFS between both groups. Our analysis showed Taxane-based regimen had higher pCR rate and could predict improved RFS in TNBC, and the prognostic value was greater in treatment sensitive patients. This retrospective analysis supports the use of pCR as a surrogate endpoint for RFS in TNBC.

BACKGROUND:This study aims to understand the quality of life (QOL) and psychological state (PS) of Chinese breast cancer patients who received BRCA1/2 genetic testing; to examine the psychological changes between BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and non-carriers; and to further explore the psychological experience of BRCA1/2 mutation carriers.METHODS:This study was combined with quantitative and qualitative designs. First, we performed a quantitative investigation using FACT-B (Chinese version) and Irritability, Depression and Anxiety scale (IDA) to assess the QOL and PS in breast cancer patients who received BRCA1/2 genetic testing. Then semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews among 13 mutation carriers were conducted in hospital.RESULTS:Results from the quantitative study showed QOL scores were relatively high and the IDA scores were relatively low among the patients, and there was no significant difference in the QOL or IDA scores between non-carriers and carriers. Based on the qualitative analysis, four main themes emerged: (1) Finding the reason for having breast cancer; (2) Negative emotions; (3) Behavioral changes; (4) Lack of information.CONCLUSIONS:The present study showed that QOL and PS are good among the breast cancer patients who received genetic testing. Genetic testing itself does not cause long psychosocial effects. BRCA1/2 mutation carriers may have certain negative emotions at the first stage they knew the testing results and may initiate behavioral and lifestyle changes. The patients with a BRCA1/2 mutation desire knowledge with regard to genetic aspects in mainland China. Professional information and advice can be provided to relieve the patients' negative emotions when they were informed of gene defect.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of progesterone receptor (PgR) as a biomarker for differentiating estrogen receptor (ER)-positive patients who fail to achieve a pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) with different prognoses. A total of 327 consecutive, locally advanced breast cancer patients with ER-positive disease were included in this study. According to their HER-2 and Ki-67 status, the patients were classified into the Luminal-A or Luminal-B subtype. We evaluated the clinical and pathological response to NCT and relapse or death occurring during follow-up according to PgR status in the different luminal subtypes. In the Luminal-B subtype, patients with PgR- tumors had a relatively higher pathological complete response (pCR) rate (29.5% vs. 4.7% pCR, P < 0.001) and Miller-Payne grades (45.5% vs. 23.5% of grade 4-5, P = 0033) compared to PgR+ tumors. In Luminal-B patients with residual tumor after NCT, PgR loss was also independently correlated with poor relapse-free survival (P = 0.017; HR = 0.430; PgR- as a reference) and overall survival (P = 0.013; HR = 0.355; PgR- as a reference). However, in the Luminal-A subtype, there were no statistically significant differences between PgR+ and PgR- disease in response to NCT or survival. Our findings have demonstrated the prognostic value of PgR loss in the neoadjuvant setting, indicating that ER+/PgR- Luminal-B tumors warrant further attention due to their high risk of relapse after primary treatment.

The genetic etiology of hereditary breast cancer has not been fully elucidated. Although germline mutations of high-penetrance genes such as BRCA1/2 are implicated in development of hereditary breast cancers, at least half of all breast cancer families are not linked to these genes. To identify a comprehensive spectrum of genetic factors for hereditary breast cancer in a Chinese population, we performed an analysis of germline mutations in 2,165 coding exons of 152 genes associated with hereditary cancer using next-generation sequencing (NGS) in 99 breast cancer patients from families of cancer patients regardless of cancer types. Forty-two deleterious germline mutations were identified in 21 genes of 34 patients, including 18 (18.2%) BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, 3 (3%) TP53 mutations, 5 (5.1%) DNA mismatch repair gene mutations, 1 (1%) CDH1 mutation, 6 (6.1%) Fanconi anemia pathway gene mutations, and 9 (9.1%) mutations in other genes. Of seven patients who carried mutations in more than one gene, 4 were BRCA1/2 mutation carriers, and their average onset age was much younger than patients with only BRCA1/2 mutations. Almost all identified high-penetrance gene mutations in those families fulfill the typical phenotypes of hereditary cancer syndromes listed in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, except two TP53 and three mismatch repair gene mutations. Furthermore, functional studies of MSH3 germline mutations confirmed the association between MSH3 mutation and tumorigenesis, and segregation analysis suggested antagonism between BRCA1 and MSH3. We also identified a lot of low-penetrance gene mutations. Although the clinical significance of those newly identified low-penetrance gene mutations has not been fully appreciated yet, these new findings do provide valuable epidemiological information for the future studies. Together, these findings highlight the importance of genetic testing based on NCCN guidelines and a multi-gene analysis using NGS may be a supplement to traditional genetic counseling.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the role of germline mutations of TP53 gene among a Chinese population with high risk for breast cancer.METHODS:A total of 81 BRCA-negative breast cancer probands from cancer families were analyzed using targeted capture and next-generation sequencing. Candidate mutations were verified with Sanger sequencing. Co-segregation analyses were carried out to explore the likely pathogenicity of the mutation.RESULTS:Of the 81 BRCA-negative patients, 3 exonic mutations in the TP53 gene were identified in 3 breast cancer patients. Of these, 2 mutations were previously reported and 1 was novel. One family with TP53 mutation has met the criteria for Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) and accounted for 9.1% of all families who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for LFS. Two of the carriers were diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 30, and have accounted for 11.8% (2/17) of all very young (≤30 years) breast cancer patients in our study.CONCLUSION:The TP53 germline mutation is more common in Chinese population with a high risk for breast cancer than previously thought. TP53 gene mutation screening should be considered particularly for patients with a family history of LFS and very young age of onset.

Abstract Background: Whether administration of LHRH analog during CT in premenopausal patients with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive disease would reduce CT-induced premature ovarian failure (POF) is still controversial. Moreover, whether LHRH analog would influence the prognosis of patients is unknown yet. This randomized study is to evaluate whether administration of LHRH analog during CT would reduce POF and effect the prognosis of breast cancer. Methods: This is arandomized, controlled phase III clinical trial. Premenopausal patients age <46 with stage I-IIIA, ER/PR-positive BC to be treated with CT were randomized into two arms. Concurrent arm received CT with goserelin (GN) 3.6 mg SQ starting 0-7 days prior to the first CT dose, and after CT, the researchers determined whether continuous GN to 2-5years or cessation. Sequential arm received CT without GN, and after CT, the researchers determined GN 2-5 years immediately or after restoration of ovarian function or bilateral ovariectomy. Neoadjuvant CT was allowed. Five-year tamoxifen after CT was administered to all patients. The primary endpoint is POF, defined as amenorrhea for the prior 12 months and post-menopausal FSH or not assessed after last CT dose or last GN dose. Other endpoints include efficacy of neoadjuvant CT and relapse-free survival (RFS), defined as time to the first of these events: loco-regional recurrence, contralateral breast cancer or distant metastasis. Results: Between 2/09 and 5/13, the trial has finished enrollment, 216 patients were enrolled. The median age were 37.5 in combined arm (n=108) and 39 in sequential arm (n=108), respectively. The median follow-up time was 27.4 months and 25.7 months, respectively. 15 patients and 21 patients received neoadjuvant CT, respectively. There were no significant difference in age, tumor stage and CT regimens (p>.05). The median cycles of GN were 25, respectively. 47% had complete primary endpoint data. POF rate were 5/42 (11.9%) in the combined arm and 16/60 (26.7%) in the sequential arm. POF rate (and post-menopausal FSH) rate were 1/42 (2.4%) in the combined arm and 8/60 (13.3%) in the sequential arm. In neoadjuvant CT subgroup, each has 1 patient achieved pathological complete remission, and there was no significant difference in objective clinical response. There were 9 patients in the combined arm and 3 patients in the sequential arm had occured RFS events (including 2 and 0 deaths, respectively, OR=3.18, 95%CI:0.84-12.09, P=.075). Conclusions:LHRH analog administration with CT might be associated with less POF and did not affect the efficacy of neoadjuvant CT, however, had no RFS benefit, it may need longer follow-up. We will conduct an interim analysis in November 2014. Clinicaltrials.gov Registry Number: NCT01712893. Citation Format: Jian-Wei Li, Guang-yu Liu, Ke-Da Yu, Ya-jie Ji, Miao Mo, Li Lei, Jiong Wu, Gen-hong Di, Yi-feng Hou, Zhen Hu, Can-ming Chen, Zhen-Zhou Shen, Zhi-Ming Shao. Effect of using LHRH analog during chemotherapy (CT) on premature ovarian failure and prognosis in premenopausal patients with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer: The primary analysis of a randomized controlled phase III trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-12-02.

Purpose: The study was to estimate the likelihood of axillary downstaging and to identify the factors predicting a pathologically node negative status after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with or without trastuzumab in HER2-positive breast cancer.Methods: Patients with HER2-positive, stage IIa-IIIc breast cancer were enrolled. Axillary status was evaluated by palpation and fine needle aspiration (FNA) before NAC. All patients received 4-6 cycles of PCrb (paclitaxel 80 mg/m(2) and carboplatin AUC=2 d1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle, or paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) and carboplatin AUC=6 every-3-week) and were non-randomly administered trastuzumab (2 mg/kg weekly or 6 mg/kg every-3-week) or not. After NAC, each patient underwent standard axillary lymph node dissection and breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy. And some patients received sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) before axillary dissection.Results: Between November-2007 and June-2013, 255 patients were enrolled. Of them, 157 were confirmed as axillary node positive by FNA (group-A) and 98 as axillary node negative either by FNA or impalpable (group-B). After axillary dissection, the overall pathologically node negative rates (pNNR) were 52.9% in group-A and 69.4% in group-B. The ER-poor/HER2-positive subtype acquired the highest pNNR (79.6% in group-A and 87.9% in group-B, respectively) and the lowest rate of residual with >= 4 nodes involvement (1.9% and 3%, respectively) after PCrb plus trastuzumab. In multivariate analysis, trastuzumab added and ERpoor status were independent factors in predicting a higher pNNR in HER2-positive breast cancer. Forty-six tested patients showed that the ER-poor/HER2-positive subtype acquired a considerable high pNNR and axillary status with SLNB was well macthed with the axillary dissection.Conclusions: ER-poor/HER2-positive subtype of breast cancer is a potential candidate for undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy instead of regional node dissection for accurate axillary evaluation after effective downstaging by neoadjuvant chemo-trastuzumab therapy.

Background. The efficacy and tolerability of two different schedules of paclitaxel, carboplatin, and trastuzumab (PCarH) for HER2-positive, locally aggressive (stage IIB-IIIC) breast cancers were evaluated in this phase II trial.Methods. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either weekly (12 doses over 16 weeks) or once-every-3-weeks (4 doses over 12 weeks) treatment. The primary endpoint was pathologic complete remission (pCR) in the breast and axilla. To detect an assumed 35% pCR absolute difference between the two schedules, a minimum of 26 assessable patients in each group was required (two-sided alpha = 0.05, beta = 0.2).Results. A total of 56 patients were enrolled (weekly group, n = 29; every-3-weeks group, n = 27). In the intent-to-treat analysis, pCR in the breast/axilla were found in 31 patients (55%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 41%-69%). Compared with the every-3-weeks schedule, the weekly administration achieved higher pCR (41% vs. 69%; p = .03). After adjustment for clinical and pathological factors, the weekly administration was more effective than the every-3-weeks schedule, with hazard ratio of 0.3 (95% CI: 0.1-0.9; p = .03). Interestingly, weekly administration resulted in high pCR rates in both lumina I-B (HER2-positive) and ERBB2+ tumors (67% vs. 71%; p = .78), whereas lumina I-B (HER2-positive) tumors benefited less from the every-3-weeks schedule compared with the ERBB2+ tumors (21% vs. 62%, p = .03). These results remain after multivariate adjustment, showing weekly administration was more effective in the luminal-B (HER2-positive) subgroup (p = .02) but not in the ERBB2+ subgroup (p = .50).Conclusion. A more frequent administration might improve the possibility of eradicating invasive cancer in the breast and axilla, especially in the luminal-B (HER2-positive) subtype. Further studies to validate our findings are warranted.

Background: To evaluate the predictive and prognostic value of various molecular factors associated with the Ras/MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways in HER2-positive locally advanced breast cancer patients treated with anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).Methods: A total of 113 patients were recruited in this retrospective study. Core needle biopsies and excision samples were assessed through immunohistochemistry for various biomarkers, including IGF-1R, Phospho-p44/42, Ki67, pAKT, PTEN, p27, and cyclinD1. The changes in these biomarkers after NAC and their predictive and prognostic values were investigated.Results: Significant decreases in Ki67, Phospho-p44/42, and pAKT expression were observed after treatment (30.7% vs. 18.1%, 36.4% vs. 18.9%, and 35.1% vs. 16.4%, respectively). The decreases in Phospho-p44/42, pAKT, and Ki67 expression were strongly associated with the response to anthracycline treatment (P = 0.027, P = 0.031, and P = 0.008, respectively). In a multivariate survival analysis, Phospho-p44/42 expression after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and lymph node status were significant independent prognostic factors of both relapse-free survival and overall survival.Conclusions: Reductions in Ki-67, Phospho-p44/42, and pAKT expression are related to the clinical response to anthracycline-based NAC in HER2-positive breast cancer patients. High pAKT expression prior to NAC had a better clinical response. Phospho-p44/42 expression and lymph node status after NAC could be useful for determining relapse-free survival and overall survival.

目的 通过回顾笔者所在中心102例游离腹直肌皮瓣乳房重建术开展的情况,介绍该乳房重建术式的手术方法及结果. 方法 自2006年11月至2012年12月,笔者对102例接受全乳切除术的患者,通过游离腹直肌皮瓣、显微外科技术吻合血管、移植皮瓣的方法重建乳房103侧,观察了其手术的安全性及并发症的发生情况. 结果 依据游离腹直肌皮瓣肌肉保留程度(muscle sparing,MS)的分类,共完成MS-0类3侧、MS-1类1侧、MS-2类46侧、MS-3类53侧.平均保留腹壁下深血管穿支数为3支,平均手术时间为7.86 h,平均热缺血时间为1.5h.术后发生血管危象7侧,其中静脉血栓5侧,静脉成角2侧；解救成功4侧；3侧全皮瓣坏死,最终100侧皮瓣存活,成功率为97.1％.术后中位随访时间12个月,术后脂肪坏死发生率为30.1％,腹部膨隆发生率为3.9％,腹壁疝发生率为0％,术后感染发生率7.8％.手术距首疗程化疗的中位时间为19d,术后局部复发率为0％,1侧出现远处转移. 结论 虽然掌握游离腹直肌皮瓣乳房重建手术需要显微外科设备,对术者要求较高,存在学习曲线,但术式成功率高,术后并发症较少,不影响肿瘤学安全性。

Background. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) for breast cancer might change the number of involved and detected nodes in axillary lymph node dissections (ALND). In this study, we analyzed whether the number of dissected nodes and the lymph node ratio (LNR, defined as the proportion of involved nodes in dissected nodes) would have a better prognostic value than traditional pN staging.Methods. A total of 569 patients with stage II, III breast cancer were included in this retrospective study. All patients underwent a median of three cycles of NCT followed by mastectomy and ALND. Clinical and pathological variables were investigated using univariate and multivariate survival analyses.Results. In post-NCT node-negative (LN-) patients, those with 4-9 dissected nodes experienced a significantly lower relapse-free survival (RFS) compared with those with 10 or more dissected nodes (hazard ratio = 0.19, 0.41, for 10-19 nodes, 20+ nodes, respectively; 4-9 nodes as the reference; P = 0.002). In post-NCT node-positive (LN+) patients, a lower LNR was correlated with a better RFS on multivariate analysis, and pN staging failed to show independent prognostic significance when the LNR was included in the Cox regression model (hazard ratio = 4.2, 2.97, 2.24, and 1.68 for LNR 81-100, 61-80, 41-60; and 21-40 %, respectively; LNR 0-20 % as the reference. P < 0.001). In addition, there were significant differences in the estimated 5-year RFS for pN1 (P = 0.043) and pN3 patients (P = 0.03) among the different LNR subgroups.Conclusions. Our study has provided new evidence that the number of dissected nodes (in LN-patients) and the LNR (in LN+ patients) might be a complementary or alternative method to traditional pN staging when evaluating disease after primary treatment.