Evaluation of ER, PgR, HER-2, Ki-67, cyclin D1, and nm23-H1 as predictors of pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer

Clinical N3 is an independent risk factor of recurrence for breast cancer patients achieving pathological complete response and near-pathological complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Background

Although achieving pathological complete response (pCR) and near-pathological complete response (near-pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer predicts a better outcome, some patients still experience recurrence. The aim of our study was to investigate the predictive factors of recurrence in the pCR and near-pCR population.

Methods

We reviewed 1,209 breast cancer patients treated with NAC between January 2010 and April 2021 in the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CHCAMS). A total of 292 patients achieving pCR and near-pCR were included in our analysis. pCR was defined as ypT0N0/ypTisN0. Near-pCR was defined as ypT1mi/1a/1bN0 or ypT0/isN1mi. Clinical features and follow-up information were collected. Survival and predictive factors of recurrence were analyzed.

Results

Of the 292 patients, 173 were pCR and 119 were near-pCR. The median age was 46 years (range, 23–75 years). The predominant tumor subtypes were human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer (49.0%) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) (30.8%). The median duration of follow-up was 53 months (range, 9–138 months). A total of 25 (8.6%) patients developed recurrence, with 9 (5.2%) in the pCR group and 16 (13.4%) in the near-pCR group. The vast majority of recurrence occurred within 36 months from onset of NAC. The 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate of patients achieving pCR was significantly higher than that of patients achieving near-pCR (94.6% vs. 85.6%, p = 0.008). However, the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate between the two cohorts had no statistical difference (94.3% vs. 89.6%, p = 0.304). Clinical N3 (cN3) before NAC was an independent risk factor of recurrence in patients who achieved pCR (p = 0.003) and near-pCR (p = 0.036). Tumor size before NAC, subtypes of breast cancer, and chemotherapy regimens showed no significant association with RFS both for patients who achieved pCR and for those who achieved near-pCR (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

cN3 before NAC was an independent risk factor of recurrence in patients who achieved pCR and near-pCR. It is worthwhile to closely monitor patients with cN3, especially in the first 3 years.

Evaluation of Pathologic Complete Response (pCR) to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Iranian Breast Cancer Patients with Estrogen Receptor Positive and HER2 Negative and impact of predicting variables on pCR

Objective

The pathologic complete response (pCR) in the breast and axillary lymph node after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) would improve outcomes and it is used as a surrogate marker for survival. Our objective was to evaluate the breast and nodal pCR in breast cancer patients with estrogen receptor-positive (ER) and HER2 negative subtypes. Meanwhile, we sought to examine the impact of predicting factors on the rate of pCR.

Materials and Methods

In this multicenter retrospective study, medical records data of 314 women with ER+/HER2- breast cancer subtype who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy was extracted from oncology centers' data between 2011 and 2018. Breast and axillary lymph node pCR were assessed. Meanwhile, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to assess the predictive value for proliferative index (Ki-67%) expression.

Results

Breast pCR was seen in 25.2% (n=79) of the 314 cancer patients and partial response was seen in 47.8% (n=150), too. Nodal pCR was reported in 30.9% (n=97) of the 249 node-positive patients. The overall pCR (both breast & node) was observed in 14.6 % (n=46) of the 272 patients in which the data of breast and nodal were available. We identified 22.5% as the best cut-off value for ki-67 expression in predicting complete response to NAC.

Conclusion

The pCR rate after NAC in ER+/HER2- subtypes of breast cancer is low. Therefore, the optimal therapy for these patients should be further investigated.

Colony stimulating factor-1 receptor promotes proliferation, migration and invasion in the human nasopharyngeal carcinoma 6-10B cell line via the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathway

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R) on proliferation, migration and invasion in the human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) 6-10B cell line, and to investigate the possible underlying mechanisms. Using a lentiviral transfection method, a virus carrying the CSF-1R gene was transfected into 6-10B cells. The expression of CSF-1R was then detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis, and was revealed to be markedly enhanced in 6-10B cells. Subsequently, an MTT assay was performed to assess cell proliferative ability, and flow cytometric analysis was utilized to measure the apoptotic rate of the cells. Wound healing and Transwell assays were also performed to observe cell migration and invasion capabilities. Additionally, western blot analysis was used to detect the protein expression of the proliferation and apoptosis signaling factors cyclin D1, B-cell lymphoma 2, Bcl-2-associated X protein, and phosphorylated and total extracellular protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) in 6-10B cells. The results showed that CSF-1R overexpression promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of the 6-10B cells. The corresponding mechanism may be associated with activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathway, which promotes cell survival and proliferation. These results indicated a potential molecular target for the treatment of NPC.

Ki-67 labeling index is a predictive marker for a pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

A pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) is a strong indicator of the benefit of therapy and presents an early surrogate for a favorable long-term outcome. It remains unclear whether Ki-67, a marker for tumor proliferation, can function as a predictor of the response to NCT in breast cancer. The objective of this meta-analysis was to compare the pCR rate and clinical outcomes in breast cancer patients with different Ki-67 labeling indexes (Ki-67 LI) who received NCT.

METHODS

Clinical studies were retrieved from the electronic databases of PubMed, Embase, Clinical Trials, Wanfang, and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, from their inception to July 31, 2017. Meta-analysis was performed on pool eligible studies to determine whether Ki-67 LI was associated with the pCR rate and clinical outcomes of breast cancer patients who were treated with NCT. Pooled analyses were performed using fixed effects models. Two reviewers screened all titles and abstracts and independently assessed all articles.

RESULTS

A total of 36 studies involving 6793 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled analysis results revealed that patients with high Ki-67 LI exhibited significantly higher pCR rates (odds ratio [OR] = 3.94, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.33-4.67, P <.001) but poorer relapse-free survival (OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.39-2.85, P <.001) than those with low Ki-67 LI, but there was no significant difference in objective tumor response rate.

CONCLUSION

The meta-analysis reported here demonstrates that pretherapeutic Ki-67 LI is associated with pCR in breast cancer patients undergoing NCT. More phase III randomized clinical trials will be required to confirm our findings.

Expression of Cyclin D1 protein in residual tumor after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer

PURPOSE

Hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer (BC) shows a poor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). New treatment targets like the Cyclin D1-CDK4/CDK6 complex are promising adjuvant/post-neoadjuvant therapeutic strategies. Evaluating Cyclin D1 overexpression in residual tumor could recognize those patients that benefit most from such post-neoadjuvant treatment. In this study, we determined Cyclin D1 expression in residual BC after NACT. Secondary aims were to correlate Cyclin D1 expression levels with clinicopathological parameters and to assess its prognostic value after NACT.

METHODS

We retrospectively assessed the nuclear expression of Cyclin D1 on tissue microarrays with residual tumor from 284 patients treated in the neoadjuvant GeparTrio (n = 186) and GeparQuattro (n = 98) trials. Evaluation was performed with a standardized immunoreactive score (IRS) after selecting a cut-off value.

RESULTS

A high expression level (IRS ≥ 6) of Cyclin D1 was found in 37.3% of the assessed specimens. An increased Cyclin D1 expression was observed in HR-positive tumors, compared to HR-negative tumors (p = 0.02). Low Cyclin D1 levels correlated with clinical tumor stage 1-3 (p = 0.03). Among patients with HR-positive/Her2-negative tumors and high Cyclin D1 expression, a better disease-free survival (DFS) was graphically suggested, but not significant (p = 0.21).

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates a measurable nuclear expression of Cyclin D1 in post-neoadjuvant residual tumor tissue of HR-positive BC. Cyclin D1 expression was not prognostic for DFS after NACT. Our results and defined cut-off suggest that the marker can be used to stratify tumors according to protein expression levels. Based on this, a prospective evaluation is currently performed in the ongoing Penelope-B trial.

Effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on HER-2 expression in surgically treated gastric and oesophagogastric junction carcinoma: a multicentre Italian study

Predictors of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy are not available for gastric and oesophago-gastric junction carcinoma. HER-2 over-expression in breast cancer correlates with poor prognosis and high incidence of recurrence. First aim of this study was to evaluate if the HER-2 expression/amplification is predictive of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in terms of pathologic regression. Secondary aim was to evaluate if HER-2 expression varies after neoadjuvant treatment. Thirty-five patients with locally advanced gastric or oesophago-gastric junction carcinoma underwent preoperative chemotherapy and surgical resection at San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Spedali Civili of Brescia. HER-2 expression/amplification was evaluated on every biopsy at diagnosis time and on every surgical sample after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Pathologic response to chemotherapy was evaluated according to TNM classification (ypT status and ypN status) and Mandard's tumour regression grade classification. In our series 10 patients (28.6%) showed a reduction in HER-2 overexpression and in 6 of them (17.1%) HER-2 expression completely disappeared. Only three of the six patients with HER-2 disappearance had a complete pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. There was a strong correlation between HER-2 negativity on biopsy and absence of lymph node metastasis in surgical samples after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, irrespective of nodal status before chemotherapy. A direct correlation between HER-2 reduction after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and pathologic regression (primary tumour and lymph nodes) in surgical samples was found. HER-2 negativity may represent a predictor of pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for gastric and oesophago-gastric junction adenocarcinoma. Neoadjuvant treatment can reduce HER-2 overexpression.

The predictive value of Ki-67 before neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

To review the predictive values of Ki-67 before neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer patients.

METHODS

PubMed and EMBASE were searched. Random-effect model meta-analysis was conducted using Revman software.

RESULTS

High Ki-67 was associated with more pathological complete responses (pCRs) events (odds ratio: 3.10; 95% CI: 2.52-3.81; 53 studies, 10,848 patients) regardless of HR⁺, HER2⁺ and triple-negative breast cancer types, the definitions of pCR and cut-off points for Ki-67. Ki-67 could predict pCR in those who received anthracyclines plus taxanes, and anthracyclines only, and those from Asia and Europe.

CONCLUSION

High Ki-67 before NAC was a predictor for pCR in neoadjuvant setting for breast cancer patients.

In stage II/III lymph node-positive breast cancer patients less than 55 years of age, keratin 8 expression in lymph node metastases but not in the primary tumour is an indicator of better survival

Axillary lymph node status is one of the most important prognostic variables for breast cancer (BC). To investigate and understand the clinical, histopathological and biological factors that affect prognosis in node-positive young breast cancer patients, we compared the phenotype of 100 primary tumours with their corresponding loco-regional lymph node (LN) metastases using conventional immunohistochemistry (IHC) markers currently in use for molecular classification of breast cancer. By comparing the expression of ER, PR, HER-2, Ki67, K8, K5/6 and vimentin, we found that expression of HER-2, Ki67, K8 and vimentin is frequently lost in lymph node metastases. Between the primary tumour and corresponding lymph node metastases, expression of keratins K8 and K5/6 significantly changed. Expression of K8 in lymph node metastases, but not in primary tumours, segregates patients in two sub-groups with different outcomes. Survival of patients with K8-positive LN metastases at 5 years in comparison with patients with K8-negative LN metastases was 75 vs 48 %, at 10 years 62 vs 22 % and at 20 years 53 vs 14 % (p < 0.001). K8 immunostaining of tissue from the lymph node metastasis allows defining a sub-group of lymph node-positive BC patients with a highly unfavourable outcome, for whom therapeutic options might have to be reconsidered.

The transcription factor KLF4 as an independent predictive marker for pathologic complete remission in breast cancer neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a case-control study

Background

To identify whether a stem cell biomarker, KLF4, may predict the pathologic tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced breast cancer.

Methods

Twelve locally advanced breast cancer patients who achieved pathologic complete remission (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were identified and for each, three non-pCR breast cancer patients – matched for age, clinical tumor–node–metastasis stage, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy cycles – were selected. The relationship between KLF4 expression in the core needle biopsied cancer tissue and patient pCR rate was assessed using univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results

Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the patients with a histoscore of KLF4 expression >0.18 had a lower pCR rate. Multivariable analysis showed that higher KLF4 expression (odds ratio 0.013; 95% confidence interval 0.013–0.444; P=0.004) was independently correlated with a lower pCR rate after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Conclusion

KLF4 overexpression was associated with lower pCR in locally advanced breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This study suggests that KLF4 may serve as a predictor for pCR in patients with breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Ki-67 as a predictor of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients

PURPOSE

The objectives of this study were to assess the potential value of Ki-67 in predicting response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients and to suggest a reasonable cutoff value for classifying Ki-67 expression.

METHODS

This study included 74 breast cancer patients who underwent surgery after anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy between 2007 and 2012. We analyzed the clinical and immunohistochemical characteristics using core biopsy specimens obtained before neoadjuvant chemotherapy to determine their correlations with the response to chemotherapy.

RESULTS

A clinical complete response was observed in 6 patients (8.1%); a clinical partial response, in 44 patients (59.5%); and clinical stable disease, in 24 patients (32.4%). A pathologic complete response (pCR) was observed in 10 patients (13.5%). In univariate analysis, estrogen receptor (ER) negativity (p=0.031), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positivity (p=0.040), and high Ki-67 expression (p=0.036) were predictive factors for a pCR. In multivariate analysis, Ki-67 was the only independent predictor of a pCR (p=0.049). The analysis of Ki-67 values revealed that 25% was a reasonable cutoff value for predicting the response to chemotherapy. In subgroup analysis, a higher Ki-67 value (≥25%) was a significant predictive factor for the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, especially in ER-negative and HER2-positive breast cancer patients.

CONCLUSION

Ki-67 expression in breast cancer tissue may be an effective factor for predicting the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We suggest that a 25% level of Ki-67 expression is a reasonable cutoff value for predicting a response to chemotherapy. Moreover, Ki-67 is a useful predictive factor for pCR, especially in patients with ER-negative and HER2-positive breast cancer.

Are breast cancer molecular classes predictive of survival in patients with long follow-up?

In this study we investigate the clinical outcomes of 305 breast cancer (BC) patients, aged 55 years or younger, with long follow-up and according to intrinsic subtypes. The cohort included 151 lymph node negative (LN-) and 154 lymph node positive (LN+) patients. Luminal A tumors were mainly LN-, well differentiated, and of stage I; among them AR was an indicator of good prognosis. Luminal B and HER2 positive nonluminal cancers showed higher tumor grade and nodal metastases as well as higher proliferation status and stage. Among luminal tumors, those PR positive and vimentin negative showed a longer survival. HER2-positive nonluminal and TN patients showed a poorer outcome, with BC-specific death mostly occurring within 5 and 10 years. Only luminal tumor patients underwent BC death over 10 years. When patients were divided in to LN- and LN+ no differences in survival were observed in the luminal subgroups. LN- patients have good survival even after 20 years of follow-up (about 75%), while for LN+ patients survival at 20 years (around 40%) was comparable to HER2-positive nonluminal and TN groups. In conclusion, in our experience ER-positive breast tumors are better divided by classical clinical stage than molecular classification, and they need longer clinical follow-up especially in cases with lymph node involvement.

Initial biopsy Gleason score as a predictive marker for survival benefit in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with docetaxel: data from the TAX327 study

BACKGROUND

Since 2004, docetaxel has been the standard first-line systemic therapy for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). With abiraterone recently becoming available in the predocetaxel setting, it is warranted to identify subgroups of patients who may obtain the greatest benefit from docetaxel and particularly qualify for receiving docetaxel as first-line treatment for mCRPC.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to identify factors that could characterize subgroups of patients who obtain the greatest benefit from the use of docetaxel.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

TAX327 was multinational, randomized, phase 3 study that was conducted from 2000 to 2002 in 1006 men with mCRPC.

INTERVENTION

Patients were randomized to receive docetaxel every 3 wk (D3), weekly docetaxel (D1), or mitoxantrone every 3 wk (M3), each with prednisone.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

We investigated whether patients with poorly differentiated tumors (Gleason score ≥7) at diagnosis had greater benefit from D3 compared with M3 than patients with better differentiated tumors (Gleason score ≤6). Using a Cox model, we compared overall survival (OS) between the treatment groups within each subgroup of Gleason score.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

The TAX 327 data showed that the OS benefit of D3 versus M3 was greater in patients with high-grade tumors (median OS: 18.9 vs 14.5 mo; p=0.009) than in patients with low-grade tumors (median OS: 21.6 vs 20.7 mo; p=0.674). Limitations of a retrospective analysis apply.

CONCLUSIONS

The survival benefit obtained with docetaxel is most pronounced in patients with high-Gleason-score tumors (Gleason ≥7). In a time of shifting paradigms in mCRPC, with abiraterone becoming available prior to docetaxel chemotherapy, Gleason score may help in selecting patients who obtain the greatest benefit from docetaxel as first-line treatment for mCRPC. Prospective validation of these findings is warranted.

Low expression of stathmin in tumor predicts high response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel-containing regimens in locally advanced breast cancer

AIMS

We performed this retrospective study to evaluate the value of clinicopathological factors and a novel molecular marker stathmin in predicting treatment response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) with docetaxel-containing regimens in patients with locally advanced breast cancer.

METHODS

Fifty-four consecutive locally advanced patients receiving docetaxel-containing NCT between January 2006 and July 2010 in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital were included. The expression levels of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2), and p53 were detected by immunohistochemistry, while expression of stathmin mRNA was measured by Quanti-Gene assay.

RESULTS

The overall clinical objective response (cOR) rate was 75.9% (41/54) in breast. A total of 34 patients (63.0%) experienced pathological OR (pOR), with pathological complete remission (pCR) rate of 20.4% (11/54) in breast and 16.7% (9/54) in both breast and axilla. In univariate analysis, there were associations of pOR in both breast and axilla with age (p=0.054), ER status (p=0.059), subtypes (p=0.062), p53 (p=0.030), and stathmin expression (three terciles) (p=0.039). Mean expression of stathmin in pOR group was 0.410, compared with that in no response group of 0.556 (p=0.051 by Student's t-test). Similarly, a lower expression of stathmin might represent a higher pCR rate (p=0.061). Moreover, the LOWESS smoothing plot showed the same trend, that is, that tumor with a lower level of stathmin expression had a higher probability of response to docetaxel-containing NCT. After multivariate adjustment, both ER and stathmin remained significant with hazard ratio of 4.58 (95% CI: 1.11-18.94, p=0.036) and 2.94 (95% CI: 1.26-6.86, p=0.012), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, ER and stathmin were independent predictive factors for NCT with docetaxel-containing regimens.