Management of early-stage breast cancer: Are we headed in the right direction?

2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (27_suppl) ◽  
pp. 284-284
Author(s):  
U. Zurawska ◽  
D. A. Baribeau ◽  
C. Victor ◽  
S. Giilck ◽  
A. Florescu ◽  
...  

284 Background: The understanding of breast cancer (BC) as a heterogeneous disease consisting of distinct subtypes based on variation in expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) has led to more personalized treatment. We postulated that with increased adoption of chemotherapy and targeted therapy for HER2 positive patients, the outcomes of ER/PR+, HER2- and of HER2+ subtypes of breast cancer would be similar. Methods: A chart review was performed of female patients >18 years old seen by a medical oncologist at an academic cancer centre in Toronto, Canada, between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2006, for stage I-III invasive breast cancer. Clinical features, 5-year overall (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) of three BC subtypes were compared: ER/PR+, HER2- (hormone receptor positive, HR), HER2+ (HER2), and ER/PR-, HER2- (triple negative, TN). Results: Of 870 patient charts reviewed, 525 were analysed. There were 341 HR, 101 HER2 and 83 TN patients. TN patients were younger (p<0.001), and had higher stage (p<0.001) and higher histological grade tumors (p<0.001). The 5-year RFS and OS were: HR: 88.2% and 96.6%, HER2: 76.7% and 92%, TN: 79.8% and 83.9%. Chemotherapy was used in 41.1%, 84.2% and 83.1% of HR, HER2 and TN patients. Anthracycline plus taxane regimens were used in 48.6%, 52.9% and 68.1% of HR, HER2 and TN patients, respectively. Among HER2 patients, only 74.3% received trastuzumab. The 5-year RFS and OS for HER2 patients who received trastuzumab were 79.9% and 91.8%, and for those who did not: 69% and 91.6%. Conclusions: HR+ patients have an excellent outcome. Despite significant improvement in outcomes of HER2+ patients with early stage breast cancer, they still remain at higher risk of recurrence along with TN patients. Trastuzumab was underutilized among HER2+ patients in this cohort, which may have contributed to decreased 5 year RFS. Ongoing prospective follow up of early BC outcomes by breast cancer subtypes is important.

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Mashari Alzahrani ◽  
Mark Clemons ◽  
Lynn Chang ◽  
Lisa Vendermeer ◽  
Angel Arnaout ◽  
...  

When managing older patients with lower-risk hormone-receptor-positive (HR+), HER2 negative (HER2−) early-stage breast cancer (EBC), the harms and benefits of adjuvant therapies should be taken into consideration. A survey was conducted among Canadian oncologists on the definitions of “low risk” and “older”, practice patterns, and future trial designs. We contacted 254 physicians and 21% completed the survey (50/242). Most respondents (68%, 34/50) agreed with the definition of “low risk” HR+/HER2− EBC being node-negative and either: ≤3 cm and low histological grade, ≤2 cm and intermediate grade, or ≤1 cm and high grade. The most popular chronological and biological age definition for older patients was ≥70 (45%, 22/49; 45% 21/47). In patients ≥ 70 with low risk EBC, most radiation and medical oncologists would recommend post-lumpectomy radiotherapy (RT) and endocrine therapy (ET). Seventy-eight percent (38/49) felt that trials are needed to evaluate RT and ET’s role in patients ≥ 70. The favored design was ET alone, vs. RT plus ET (39%, 15/38). The preferred primary and secondary endpoints were disease-free survival and quality of life, respectively. Although oncologists recommended both RT and ET, there is interest in performing de-escalation trials in patients ≥ 70.


2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (20) ◽  
pp. 3271-3277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hagen Kennecke ◽  
Rinat Yerushalmi ◽  
Ryan Woods ◽  
Maggie Chon U. Cheang ◽  
David Voduc ◽  
...  

Purpose Prognostic and predictive factors are well established in early-stage breast cancer, but less is known about which metastatic sites will be affected. Methods Patients with early-stage breast cancer diagnosed between 1986 and 1992 with archival tissue were included. Subtypes were defined as luminal A, luminal B, luminal/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), HER2 enriched, basal-like, and triple negative (TN) nonbasal. Distant sites were classified as brain, liver, lung, bone, distant nodal, pleural/peritoneal, and other. Cumulative incidence curves were estimated for each site according to competing risks methods. Association between the site of relapse and subtype was assessed in multivariate models using logistic regression. Results Median follow-up time among 3,726 eligible patients was 14.8 years. Median durations of survival with distant metastasis were 2.2 (luminal A), 1.6 (luminal B), 1.3 (luminal/HER2), 0.7 (HER2 enriched), and 0.5 years (basal-like; P < .001). Bone was the most common metastatic site in all subtypes except basal-like tumors. In multivariate analysis, compared with luminal A tumors, luminal/HER2 and HER2-enriched tumors were associated with a significantly higher rate of brain, liver, and lung metastases. Basal-like tumors had a higher rate of brain, lung, and distant nodal metastases but a significantly lower rate of liver and bone metastases. TN nonbasal tumors demonstrated a similar pattern but were not associated with fewer liver metastases. Conclusion Breast cancer subtypes are associated with distinct patterns of metastatic spread with notable differences in survival after relapse.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 815-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Julienne Genuino ◽  
Usa Chaikledkaew ◽  
Due Ong The ◽  
Thanyanan Reungwetwattana ◽  
Ammarin Thakkinstian

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1417
Author(s):  
Binafsha M. Syed ◽  
Andrew R. Green ◽  
Emad A. Rakha ◽  
David A.L. Morgan ◽  
Ian O. Ellis ◽  
...  

As age advances, breast cancer (BC) tends to change its biological characteristics. This study aimed to explore the natural progression of such changes. The study included 2383 women with clinically T0-2N0-1M0 BC, managed by primary surgery and optimal adjuvant therapy in a dedicated BC facility. Tissue micro-arrays were constructed from their surgical specimens and indirect immunohistochemistry was used for analysis of a large panel (n = 16) of relevant biomarkers. There were significant changes in the pattern of expression of biomarkers related to luminal (oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptors (PgR), human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER-2), E-cadherin, MUC1, bcl2 CK7/8, CK18 and bcl2) and basal (CK5/6, CK14, p53 and Ki67) phenotypes, lymph node stage, histological grade and pathological size when decade-wise comparison was made (p < 0.05). The ages of 40 years and 70 years appeared to be the milestones marking a change of the pattern. There were significantly higher metastasis free and breast cancer specific survival rates among older women with ER positive tumours while there was no significant difference in the ER negative group according to age. Biological characteristics of BC show a pattern of change with advancing age, where 40 years and 70 years appear as important milestones. The pattern suggests <40 years as the phase with aggressive phenotypes, >70 years as the less aggressive phase and 40–70 years being the transitional phase.


2018 ◽  
Vol 92 ◽  
pp. S93
Author(s):  
A. Stravodimou ◽  
A. Bodmer ◽  
V. Aedo Lopez ◽  
J.P. Zurcher ◽  
K. Zaman

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