scholarly journals A novel epigenetic signature for overall survival prediction in patients with breast cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuanwen Bao ◽  
Natasa Anastasov ◽  
Yanfang Wang ◽  
Michael Rosemann

Abstract Background Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in female patients worldwide. Because of its heterogeneity in terms of prognosis and therapeutic response, biomarkers with the potential to predict survival or assist in making treatment decisions in breast cancer patients are essential for an individualised therapy. Epigenetic alterations in the genome of the cancer cells, such as changes in DNA methylation pattern, could be a novel marker with an important role in the initiation and progression of breast cancer. Method DNA methylation and RNA-seq datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were analysed using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) Cox model. Applying gene ontology (GO) and single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) an epigenetic signature associated with the survival of breast cancer patients was constructed that yields the best discrimination between tumour and normal breast tissue. A predictive nomogram was built for the optimal strategy to distinguish between high- and low-risk cases. Results The combination of mRNA-expression and of DNA methylation datasets yielded a 13-gene epigenetic signature that identified subset of breast cancer patients with low overall survival. This high-risk group of tumor cases was marked by upregulation of known cancer-related pathways (e.g. mTOR signalling). Subgroup analysis indicated that this epigenetic signature could distinguish high and low-risk patients also in different molecular or histological tumour subtypes (by Her2-, EGFR- or ER expression or different tumour grades). Using Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) the 13-gene signature was confirmed in four external breast cancer cohorts. Conclusion An epigenetic signature was discovered that effectively stratifies breast cancer patients into low and high-risk groups. Since its efficiency appears independent of other known classifiers (such as staging, histology, metastasis status, receptor status), it has a high potential to further improve likely individualised therapy in breast cancer.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengdi Chen ◽  
Deyue Liu ◽  
Weilin Chen ◽  
Weiguo Chen ◽  
Kunwei Shen ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe 21-gene assay recurrence score (RS) provides additional information on recurrence risk of breast cancer patients and prediction of chemotherapy benefit. Previous studies that examined the contribution of the individual genes and gene modules of RS were conducted mostly in postmenopausal patients. We aimed to evaluate the gene modules of RS in patients of different ages.MethodsA total of 1,078 estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer patients diagnosed between January 2009 and March 2017 from Shanghai Jiao Tong University Breast Cancer Data Base were included. All patients were divided into three subgroups: Group A, ≤40 years and premenopausal (n = 97); Group B, >40 years and premenopausal (n = 284); Group C, postmenopausal (n = 697). The estrogen, proliferation, invasion, and HER2 module scores from RS were used to characterize the respective molecular features. Spearman correlation and analysis of the variance tests were conducted for RS and its constituent modules.ResultsIn patients >40 years, RS had a strong negative correlation with its estrogen module (ρ = −0.76 and −0.79 in Groups B and C) and a weak positive correlation with its invasion module (ρ = 0.29 and 0.25 in Groups B and C). The proliferation module mostly contributed to the variance in young patients (37.3%) while the ER module contributed most in old patients (54.1% and 53.4% in Groups B and C). In the genetic high-risk (RS >25) group, the proliferation module was the leading driver in all patients (ρ = 0.38, 0.53, and 0.52 in Groups A, B, and C) while the estrogen module had a weaker correlation with RS. The impact of ER module on RS was stronger in clinical low-risk patients while the effect of the proliferation module was stronger in clinical high-risk patients. The association between the RS and estrogen module was weaker among younger patients, especially in genetic low-risk patients.ConclusionsRS was primarily driven by the estrogen module regardless of age, but the proliferation module had a stronger impact on RS in younger patients. The impact of modules varied in patients with different genetic and clinical risks.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
juanjuan Qiu ◽  
Li Xu ◽  
Yu Wang ◽  
Jia Zhang ◽  
Jiqiao Yang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Although the results of gene testing can guide early breast cancer patients with HR+, HER2- to decide whether they need chemotherapy, there are still many patients worldwide whose problems cannot be solved well by genetic testing. Methods 144 735 patients with HR+, HER2-, pT1-3N0-1 breast cancer from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database were included from 2010 to 2015. They were divided into chemotherapy (n = 38 392) and no chemotherapy (n = 106 343) group, and after propensity score matching, 23 297 pairs of patients were left. Overall survival (OS) and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) were tested by Kaplan–Meier plot and log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify independent prognostic factors. A nomogram was constructed and validated by C-index and calibrate curves. Patients were divided into high- or low-risk group according to their nomogram score using X-tile. Results Patients receiving chemotherapy had better OS before and after matching (p < 0.05) but BCSS was not significantly different between patients with and without chemotherapy after matching: hazard ratio (HR) 1.005 (95%CI 0.897, 1.126). Independent prognostic factors were included to construct the nomogram to predict BCSS of patients without chemotherapy. Patients in the high-risk group (score > 238) can get better OS HR 0.583 (0.507, 0.671) and BCSS HR 0.791 (0.663, 0.944) from chemotherapy but the low-risk group (score ≤ 238) cannot. Conclusion The well-validated nomogram and a risk stratification model was built. Patients in the high-risk group should receive chemotherapy while patients in low-risk group may be exempt from chemotherapy.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 542-542
Author(s):  
Martin Filipits ◽  
Peter Christian Dubsky ◽  
Margaretha Rudas ◽  
Jan C. Brase ◽  
Ralf Kronenwett ◽  
...  

542 Background: Many ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer patients are treated by adjuvant chemotherapy according to current clinical guidelines. We retrospectively assessed whether the combined gene expression/ clinicopathological EndoPredict-clin (EPclin) score improved the accuracy of risk classification in addition to considering clinical guidelines. Methods: Three clinical breast cancer guidelines (National Comprehensive Cancer Center Network (NCCN), German S3 and St. Gallen 2011), and the EPclin score - assessed by quantitative RT-PCR in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue - were used to assign risk groups in 1,702 ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer patients from two randomized phase III trials (Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group 6 and 8) treated with endocrine therapy only. Results: Although all analyzed clinical guidelines identified a low-risk group with improved metastasis-free survival, the overwhelming majority of all patients (81-94%) were classified as intermediate / high risk. In contrast to that, the EPclin classified only 37% of all patients as high risk and that stratification resulted in the best separation between low and high risk groups (p < 0.001, HR = 5.11 (3.48-7.51). Consequently, the majority of all patients deemed intermediate / high risk by the clinical guidelines was re-classified as low risk by the EPclin score. Kaplan Meier analyses demonstrated that the re-classified subgroups (47 to 57% of all patients) had an excellent 10-year metastasis-free survival of 95% comparable to the clinical assigned low-risk groups although encompassing a higher proportion of the trial patients. Conclusions: The EPclin score predicted distant recurrence more accurately than all three clinical guidelines and is especially useful to reclassify patients considered as intermediate / high risk by the guidelines. The data suggests that the EPclin score provides clinically useful prognostic information beyond common clinical guidelines and can be used to accurately identify the clinically relevant group of patients who are adequately and sufficiently treated with adjuvant endocrine therapy alone.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 555-555
Author(s):  
Dennis Sgroi ◽  
Yi Zhang ◽  
Catherine A. Schnabel

555 Background: Identification of N+ breast cancer patients with a limited risk of recurrence improves selection of those for which chemotherapy and/or extended endocrine therapy (EET) may be most appropriate to reduce overtreatment. BCIN+ integrates gene expression with tumor size and grade, and is highly prognostic for overall (0-10yr) and late (5-10yr) distant recurrence (DR) in N1 patients. Clinical Treatment Score post-5-years (CTS5) is a prognostic model based on clinicopathological factors (nodes, age, tumor size and grade) and significantly prognostic for late DR. The current analysis compares BCIN+ and CTS5 for risk of late DR in N1 patients. Methods: 349 women with HR+, N1 disease and recurrence-free for ≥5 years were included. BCIN+ results were determined blinded to clinical outcome. CTS5 was calculated as previously described (Dowsett et al, JCO 2018; 36:1941). Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression for late DR (5-15y) were evaluated. Results: 64% of patients were > 50 years old, 34% with tumors > 2cm, 79% received adjuvant chemotherapy and 64% received up to 5 years of ET. BCIN+ stratified 23% of patients as low-risk with 1.3% risk for late DR vs those classified as high-risk with 16.1% [HR 12.4 (1.7-90.4), p = 0.0014]. CTS5 classified patients into 3 risk groups: 29% of patients as low-risk (4.2% DR), 37% as intermediate-risk (10.6% DR), and 34% as high-risk (22.1% DR) [HR intermediate vs. low: 2.3 (0.7-7.0), p = 0.16; high vs. low: 5.3 (1.8-15.5), p = 0.002]. In a subset of patients who completed 5 years of ET (N = 223), BCIN+ identified 22% of patients as low-risk with a late DR rate of 2.1%, while CTS5 identified 29% and 37% of patients as low- and intermediate-risk with late DR rates of 5.2% and 10.3%, respectively. Conclusions: BCIN+ classified N1 patients into binary risk groups and identified 20% patients with limited risk of late DR ( < 2%) that may be advised to forego EET and its attendant toxicities/side effects. In comparison, CTS5 classified patients into 3 risk groups, with low- and intermediate-risk of late DR of 4-5% and 10%, wherein the risk-benefit profile for extension of endocrine therapy is less clear.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e13671-e13671
Author(s):  
Chen Tian ◽  
Lili Fu ◽  
Jiyu Wei ◽  
Pengfei Yin ◽  
Henghui Zhang

e13671 Background: A 70-gene prognosis-signature, known as MammaPrint (MP), is validated as a good predictor of recurrence in patients with ER+/HER2- early stage breast cancer in Europe and America. Previous studies on Japanese and Korean breast cancer patients showed that the proportion of MP Low-Risk tumours is significantly lower than the percentage which reported in previous studies. Here we use MammaPrint to determine the gene profiles of breast cancer tumours from Chinese patients and investigate the test’s potential clinical applications. Methods: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumour samples or fresh tumour samples from 594 eligible breast cancer patients were collected from 97 hospitals in China. Tumor RNAs were isolated from samples and analyzed using RNA sequencing technology. Clinical risk was categorized based on the Adjuvant! algorithm as used in the MINDACT trial. Concordance between risk predicted by the MammaPrint and clinical characteristics were evaluated. We also analyzed the clinical-pathology features of patients and compared them to previous studies. Results: Overall, 315 patients were categorized as clinical high risk (182 were MP Low-Risk and 133 MP High-Risk), while 279 patients were categorized as clinical low risk (203 were MP Low-Risk and 76 MP High-Risk). The concordance rate between risk predicted by the MammaPrint and clinical characteristics was 56.57%. Among the clinical-pathology features, age, ER/PR/HER2 status, tumour grade and tumour size were significantly related to the genomic risk (p = 0.009, 0.003, < 0.001, 0.001, < 0.001, and 0.007 respectively). Conclusions: The proportion of MP Low-Risk tumours was 64.81%, which is similar to previous validated studies in Europe and America. Of the patients that were clinical high risk, 58% was categorized as MP Low-Risk, and this group of patients may have limited benefit from chemotherapy. Our results indicate that MammaPrint is applicable to Chinese patients and has potential value in clinical practice to avoid over-treatment.


2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 11008-11008 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Ben-Baruch ◽  
A. Hammerman ◽  
S. Klang ◽  
N. Liebermann

11008 Background: The Oncotype DX™ Recurrence Score (RS) assay predicts distant recurrence risk and benefit of chemotherapy (CT) in N-, ER+ breast cancer patients (pts). In February 2006, Clalit Health Services in Israel (CHS) was the first public health insurer to reimburse the assay outside the USA. Methods: CHS requires a pre-authorization form with data on biological parameters and specification of treatment (Rx) recommendation (1) before knowledge of RS and (2) the Rx planned according to each of 3 possible RS risk levels. For the first 200 reimbursed assays, we compared: (1) the Rx offered without RS knowledge, (2) the Rx the patient actually received after RS, and (3) the planned Rx stated on the form to be given according to the RS. Results: 200 pts. Median age: 57 yrs (34–81). RS: Low risk (RS<18), 37.5%; Intermediate (int) risk (RS 18–30), 44.5%; High risk (RS≥31), 18%. In 20 pts, Rx recommendations before RS were not specified. Before the RS, CT was offered in 106/180 (59%) and hormonal therapy (HT) in 74/180 (41%). In 71/180 pts (39%) the actual Rx changed from the recommendation before RS - CT to HT in 62 pts (low risk: 37, int risk: 21, high risk: 4) and HT to CT in 9 pts (int risk: 4, high risk: 5). Suggested therapy by RS was not specified in 19 pts. In 30/181 (17%) actual Rx differed from planned - CT to HT in 20 pts (int risk: 17, high risk: 3) and HT to CT in 10 pts (low risk: 4, int risk: 6). Conclusions: RS changed the treatment decision in a significant proportion of pts (39%), mostly from CT to HT. In 58% of pts originally offered CT, knowledge of RS changed the Rx to HT. 12% of pts originally offered HT were treated with CT. Rx decisions in intermediate RS are sometimes not obvious. In 26% of intermediate RS, final Rx differed from original plan; in these cases, patients’ preferences might have had a major impact on decision making. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 512-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Bender ◽  
M. Knauer ◽  
E. J. Rutgers ◽  
A. M. Glas ◽  
F. A. de Snoo ◽  
...  

512 Background: The 70-gene expression profile (MammaPrint) is validated as an independent prognostic indicator for breast cancer patients with T1–2 node-negative and positive disease regardless of estrogen receptor status. Here we present the relationship between MammaPrint outcome and chemotherapy benefit in the adjuvant setting. Methods: We performed a pooled analysis of 1,637 patients with MammaPrint outcomes (T1–2, node-negative and positive invasive breast cancer and median FU 7.1 yrs) to determine the chemotherapy benefit of patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy in addition to endocrine therapy. Patients were collected from 7 large datasets at multiple institutions across Europe. Results: In this meta-analysis, MammaPrint assigned 772 patients (47%) to “low risk” and 865 (53%) to “high risk”. In total 349 patients were treated with endocrine therapy alone, whereas 226 were treated with both chemo- and endocrine therapy. Patients with poor prognosis MammaPrint profile had a substantial benefit from chemotherapy: At 5 years, distant disease-free survival was improved from 69% to 88% (HR 0.28 (95% CI 0.14–0.56, p<0.001) when chemotherapy was added to hormonal therapy. The results remained significant in multivariate analysis including stratification by standard clinico-pathologic prognostic factors. Patients classified by MammaPrint as good prognosis (“low risk”) had no significant benefit from chemotherapy (p=0.962). Conclusions: The 70-gene MammaPrint profile is not only a strong and independent prognostic indicator for patients with early stage breast cancer, but it may also be predictive for the benefit of chemotherapy. While MammaPrint “high risk” classified patients demonstrate a clear benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy added to hormonal therapy, patients classified by MammaPrint as “low risk” for recurrence do not appear to benefit from the addition of chemotherapy to hormonal treatment alone. [Table: see text]


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelien Schaafsma ◽  
Baoyi Zhang ◽  
Merit Schaafsma ◽  
Chun-Yip Tong ◽  
Lanjing Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The Oncotype DX breast recurrence score has been introduced more than a decade ago to aid physicians in determining the need for systemic adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with early-stage, estrogen receptor (ER)+, lymph node-negative breast cancer. Methods In this study, we utilized data from The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program to investigate temporal trends in Oncotype DX usage among US breast cancer patients in the first decade after the introduction of the Oncotype DX assay. Results We found that the use of Oncotype DX has steadily increased in the first decade of use and that this increase is associated with a decreased usage of chemotherapy. Patients who utilized the Oncotype DX test tended to have improved survival compared to patients who did not use the assay even after adjusting for clinical variables associated with prognosis. In addition, chemotherapy usage in patients with high-risk scores is associated with significantly longer overall and breast cancer-specific survival compared to high-risk patients who did not receive chemotherapy. On the contrary, patients with low-risk scores who were treated with chemotherapy tended to have shorter overall survival compared to low-risk patients who forwent chemotherapy. Conclusion We have provided a comprehensive temporal overview of the use of Oncotype DX in breast cancer patients in the first decade after Oncotype DX was introduced. Our results suggest that the use of Oncotype DX is increasing in ER+ breast cancer and that the Oncotype DX test results provide valuable information for patient treatment and prognosis.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document