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Al Mahmasani L, Amhaz G, Abou Zeidane R, Chamseddine N, Hatab T, Sabbagh S, Charafeddine M, Assi HI. Preferences for the sequencing of first-line systemic treatments in metastatic hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1181375. [PMID: 37920158 PMCID: PMC10619648 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1181375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is a diverse disease. Therapeutic options include hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies. The optimal treatment sequence for patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR-positive), HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer remains unknown. Methods This was a retrospective and prospective study. The data was collected from the medical records of patients in a tertiary healthcare center in Lebanon between the years 2016 and 2019, and patients were followed up for a 3-year duration. The main aim was to identify oncologists' preferences in the choice and sequence of treatment for newly diagnosed and/or recurrent cases of HR-positive, HER2-negative MBC. Results A total of 51 patients were included. 24 patients received chemotherapy, while 27 received endocrine therapy as first-line treatment after a diagnosis of MBC, with a median overall survival (OS) of 13 months and a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 12 months after first-line treatment with chemotherapy, compared to 27 months and 18 months with endocrine therapy. A higher percentage of patients have received chemotherapy in the first-line setting compared to the data reported in the literature, with the choice being multifactorial. Conclusion Factors to consider in MBC management include the choice of first-line treatment, the optimal sequence of treatment, and the combination of available treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layal Al Mahmasani
- Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ghid Amhaz
- Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Reine Abou Zeidane
- Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Nathalie Chamseddine
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Taha Hatab
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Saad Sabbagh
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Maya Charafeddine
- Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hazem I Assi
- Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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Müller V, Fasching PA, Nabieva N, Fehm TN, Thill M, Schmidt M, Kühn T, Banys-Paluchowski M, Belleville E, Juhasz-Böss I, Untch M, Kolberg HC, Harbeck N, Aktas B, Stickeler E, Kreuzeder J, Hartkopf AD, Janni W, Ditsch N. Systemic Therapy of Premenopausal Patients with Early Stage Hormone Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer - Controversies and Standards in Healthcare. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2023; 83:673-685. [PMID: 37614683 PMCID: PMC10442909 DOI: 10.1055/a-2073-1887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In patients with existing ovarian function, there are some special aspects to adjuvant endocrine therapy in premenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative (HR pos./HER2 neg.) breast cancer. Treatment options include tamoxifen with or without a GnRH analog, and aromatase inhibitors with a GnRH analog. Furthermore, ovarian function is affected by previous chemotherapy. Both aromatase inhibitors (+GnRH analogs) and GnRH analogs in combination with tamoxifen are supposed to be indicated for patients at increased risk of recurrence. However, national and international guidelines and therapy recommendations do not provide a clear definition of intermediate or high risk; as a result, therapy decisions are often made for each patient on an individual basis. This is also reflected in the considerable variability at national and international levels, e.g., with regard to the use of aromatase inhibitors + GnRH analogs. This review summarizes the data on completed studies (e.g., SOFT, TEXT, EBCTCG meta-analyses) and the current multigene testing studies (TailorX, RxPonder, ADAPT), discusses the rationale for current studies (e.g., CLEAR-B), and looks ahead to future questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volkmar Müller
- Department of Gynecology, Hamburg-Eppendorf University Medical Center, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Peter A. Fasching
- Erlangen University Hospital, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen,
Germany
| | | | - Tanja N. Fehm
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Marc Thill
- Department of Gynecology and Gynecological Oncology, Agaplesion Markus Krankenhaus, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | | | | | - Maggie Banys-Paluchowski
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | | | | | - Michael Untch
- Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Breast Cancer Center, Gynecologic Oncology Center, Helios Klinikum Berlin Buch, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Nadia Harbeck
- Breast Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics and CCC Munich LMU, LMU University Hospital, München, Germany
| | - Bahriye Aktas
- Department of Gynecology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Elmar Stickeler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO Aachen, Bonn, Cologne, Düsseldorf), University Hospital of RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Andreas D. Hartkopf
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Janni
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Nina Ditsch
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
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Zhang F, Cho WC. Therapeutic potential of RUNX1 and RUNX2 in bone metastasis of breast cancer. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023; 27:413-417. [PMID: 37243490 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2219395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Fei Zhang
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - William C Cho
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Kang S, Park M, Cho JY, Ahn SJ, Yoon C, Kim SG, Cho SJ. Tumorigenic mechanisms of estrogen and Helicobacter pylori cytotoxin-associated gene A in estrogen receptor α-positive diffuse-type gastric adenocarcinoma. Gastric Cancer 2022; 25:678-696. [PMID: 35391613 DOI: 10.1007/s10120-022-01290-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diffuse-type gastric cancer (DGC), for which Helicobacter pylori infection is a causal factor, is associated with poor prognosis among young women, possibly due to female hormones such as estrogen. We aimed to identify the carcinogenesis induced by estrogen and H. pylori in DGC. METHODS We screened and selected estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-positive (MKN45) and ERα-negative (SNU5) DGC cell lines. H. pylori strain 60190 and its isogenic mutant strain lacking cytotoxin-associated gene A (60190ΔCagA) were used to infect MKN45 cells. And the cytotoxin-related gene A (CagA) cDNA which was cloned into pSP65-SR-HA (cagA-pSP65SRa) vector was used to transfect MKN45 cells. Tumor samples were used for DGC organoid culture. RESULTS In MKN45 cells, we found that estradiol promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness phenotypes via HOTAIR expression. These effects were further enhanced by the addition of CagA secreted by H. pylori but were reversed by co-treatment with fulvestrant (ICI 182,780), a selective ER degrader. We also validated the effect of estrogen on DGC organoids. ERα expression was associated with tumor invasion and HOTAIR expression in DGC patients with overt H. pylori infection. CONCLUSIONS These findings may explain the rapid DGC progression in young women with physiologically high levels of estrogen and suggest that fulvestrant with ovarian function suppression could serve as a tumor-suppressive agent in premenopausal patients with DGC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungkyung Kang
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Miree Park
- Seoul National University Hospital, 101, Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Yeon Cho
- Seoul National University Hospital, 101, Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Su Jin Ahn
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103, Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Changhwan Yoon
- Department of Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 630 W. 168th St, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Sang Gyun Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo-Jeong Cho
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
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Kaul D, Sophie Berghoff A, Grosu AL, Weiss Lucas C, Guckenberger M. Focal Radiotherapy of Brain Metastases in Combination With Immunotherapy and Targeted Drug Therapy. DEUTSCHES ARZTEBLATT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 118:arztebl.m2021.0332. [PMID: 34730083 PMCID: PMC8841640 DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.m2021.0332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Advances in systemic treatment and in brain imaging have led to a higher incidence of diagnosed brain metastases. In the treatment of brain metastases, stereotactic radiotherapy and radiosurgery, systemic immunotherapy, and targeted drug therapy are important evidence-based options. In this review, we summarize the available evidence on the treatment of brain metastases of the three main types of cancer that give rise to them: non-small-cell lung cancer, breast cancer, and malignant melanoma. METHODS This narrative review is based on pertinent original articles, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews that were retrieved by a selective search in PubMed. These publications were evaluated and discussed by an expert panel including radiation oncologists, neurosurgeons, and oncologists. RESULTS There have not yet been any prospective randomized trials concerning the optimal combination of local stereotactic radiotherapy/radiosurgery and systemic immunotherapy or targeted therapy. Retrospective studies have consistently shown a benefit from early combined treatment with systemic therapy and (in particular) focal radiotherapy, compared to sequential treatment. Two metaanalyses of retrospective data from cohorts consisting mainly of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and melanoma revealed longer overall survival after combined treatment with focal radiotherapy and checkpoint inhibitor therapy (rate of 12-month overall survival for combined versus non-combined treatment: 64.6% vs. 51.6%, p <0.001). In selected patients with small, asymptomatic brain metastases in non-critical locations, systemic therapy without focal radiotherapy can be considered, as long as follow-up with cranial magnetic resonance imaging can be performed at close intervals. CONCLUSION Brain metastases should be treated by a multidisciplinary team, so that the optimal sequence of local and systemic therapies can be determined for each individual patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Kaul
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Radiotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health
| | - Anna Sophie Berghoff
- Department of Medicine 1 and Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna
| | - Anca-Ligia Grosu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Freiburg
| | - Carolin Weiss Lucas
- Center of Neurosurgery, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine und University Hospital Cologne
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Beyaz H, Uludag H, Kavaz D, Rizaner N. Mechanisms of Drug Resistance and Use of Nanoparticle Delivery to Overcome Resistance in Breast Cancers. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1347:163-181. [PMID: 34287795 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2021_648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the leading cancer type diagnosed among women in the world. Unfortunately, drug resistance to current breast cancer chemotherapeutics remains the main challenge for a higher survival rate. The recent progress in the nanoparticle platforms and distinct features of nanoparticles that enhance the efficacy of therapeutic agents, such as improved delivery efficacy, increased intracellular cytotoxicity, and reduced side effects, hold great promise to overcome the observed drug resistance. Currently, multifaceted investigations are probing the resistance mechanisms associated with clinical drugs, and identifying new breast cancer-associated molecular targets that may lead to improved therapeutic approaches with the nanoparticle platforms. Nanoparticle platforms including siRNA, antibody-specific targeting and the role of nanoparticles in cellular processes and their effect on breast cancer were discussed in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huseyin Beyaz
- Bioengineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cyprus International University, Nicosia, Turkey.
| | - Hasan Uludag
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Doga Kavaz
- Bioengineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cyprus International University, Nicosia, Turkey
- Biotechnology Research Center, Cyprus International University, Nicosia, Turkey
| | - Nahit Rizaner
- Bioengineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cyprus International University, Nicosia, Turkey
- Biotechnology Research Center, Cyprus International University, Nicosia, Turkey
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Schneeweiss A, Bauerfeind I, Fehm T, Janni W, Thomssen C, Witzel I, Wöckel A, Müller V. Therapy Algorithms for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients with Early and Advanced Breast Cancer. Breast Care (Basel) 2020; 15:608-618. [PMID: 33447235 DOI: 10.1159/000511925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In order to offer optimal treatment approaches based on available evidence, the Commission Breast of the Working Group Gynecologic Oncology (AGO) of the German Cancer Society developed therapy algorithms for eight complex treatment situations in primary and advanced breast cancer. Summary Therapy algorithms for the following complex treatment situations are outlined in this paper: (neo)adjuvant therapy of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer; axillary surgery and neoadjuvant chemotherapy; adjuvant endocrine therapy in premenopausal patients; adjuvant endocrine therapy in postmenopausal patients; hormone receptor (HR)-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer: strategies; HR-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer: endocrine-based first-line treatment; HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: first to third-line; metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Key Messages The therapy options shown in these algorithms are based on the current AGO recommendations updated in January 2020 but cannot represent all evidence-based treatment options. Prior therapies, performance status, comorbidities, patient preference, etc. must be taken into account for the actual treatment choice. Therefore, in individual cases, other evidence-based treatment options not listed here may also be appropriate and justified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Schneeweiss
- National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital and German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Tanja Fehm
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Janni
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Christoph Thomssen
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital, Halle, Germany
| | - Isabell Witzel
- Department of Gynecology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Achim Wöckel
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Volkmar Müller
- Department of Gynecology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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8
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El Sayed R, El Jamal L, El Iskandarani S, Kort J, Abdel Salam M, Assi H. Endocrine and Targeted Therapy for Hormone-Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer: Insights to Sequencing Treatment and Overcoming Resistance Based on Clinical Trials. Front Oncol 2019; 9:510. [PMID: 31281796 PMCID: PMC6597942 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Advanced hormone-receptor positive HER2 negative breast cancer is a common and a very heterogeneous disease. Hormone therapy is the main first line treatment of choice, given alone or in combination with other agents that have shown to improve patient outcomes, Nevertheless, treatment remains generally palliative rather than curative. Sequencing of such treatment remains challenging, especially with resurgence of variable resistance patterns. Multiple attempts have been made to overcome resistance and improve patient survival, yet resistance remains not very well understood and metastatic cancer remains a disease with dismal prognosis. Methods: In this paper, we searched pubmed database as well as local and international meetings for all studies discussing advanced and metastatic hormone-receptor-positive, her2-negative breast cancer, hormonal treatment, resistance to hormonal treatment, mechanism of resistance, and means to overcome such resistance. Conclusion: There does not exist an optimal treatment sequence for hormone-receptor-positive, her2-negative advanced breast cancer. However, after review of literature, a reasonable approach may be starting with tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, or fulvestrant in absence of visceral crisis, in addition to ensuring adequate ovarian function suppression in pre/peri-menopausal women. Aromatase inhibitors and fulvestrant seem to be superior. Resistance to such agents is increasing, mostly attributed to genetic and molecular changes. Multiple modalities are addressed to overcome such resistance including use of CKD4/6 inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors and PI3K inhibitors in addition to other agents under study, all with promising results. CDK4/6 inhibitors work best when used in frontline setting. Finally, treatment of breast cancer remains a growing field, and more studies are to be awaited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rola El Sayed
- Oncology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Lara El Jamal
- School of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | - Jeries Kort
- Oncology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | - Hazem Assi
- Oncology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
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9
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Johnson RH, Anders CK, Litton JK, Ruddy KJ, Bleyer A. Breast cancer in adolescents and young adults. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2018; 65:e27397. [PMID: 30156052 PMCID: PMC6192832 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.27397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common cancer of adolescents and young adult (AYA) women aged 15 to 39 years, accounting for 5.6% of all invasive breast cancer in women. In comparison with older women, AYAs are more likely to have familial cancer predisposition genes, larger breast tumors, unfavorable biological characteristics, distant metastatic disease at diagnosis, and adverse outcome. Endocrine therapy and some chemotherapy recommendations differ between young and older women. AYAs require coordinated multidisciplinary care, treatment regimens that minimize late effects such as premature menopause and osteoporosis, and proactive management of psychological and sexual health during and after cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carey K. Anders
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center; Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | | | | | - Archie Bleyer
- Oregon Health and Science University; Portland, Oregon
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Al-Mahmood S, Sapiezynski J, Garbuzenko OB, Minko T. Metastatic and triple-negative breast cancer: challenges and treatment options. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2018; 8:1483-1507. [PMID: 29978332 PMCID: PMC6133085 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-018-0551-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 296] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The major current conventional types of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) treatments include surgery, radiation, hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy. Introducing biological drugs, targeted treatment and gene therapy can potentially reduce the mortality and improve the quality of life in patients with MBC. However, combination of several types of treatment is usually recommended. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for 10-20% of all cases of breast carcinoma and is characterized by the low expression of progesterone receptor (PR), estrogen receptor (ER), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Consequently, convenient treatments used for MBC that target these receptors are not effective for TNBC which therefore requires special treatment approaches. This review discusses the occurrence of MBC, the prognosis and predictive biomarkers of MBC, and focuses on the novel advanced tactics for treatment of MBC and TNBC. Nanotechnology-based combinatorial approach for the suppression of EGFR by siRNA and gifitinib is described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumayah Al-Mahmood
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 160 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854-8020, USA
| | - Justin Sapiezynski
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 160 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854-8020, USA
| | - Olga B Garbuzenko
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 160 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854-8020, USA
| | - Tamara Minko
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 160 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854-8020, USA.
- Rutgers Cancer Institute, New Brunswick, NJ, 08903, USA.
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
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Kim JY, Im SA, Jung KH, Ro J, Sohn J, Kim JH, Park YH, Kim TY, Kim SB, Lee KS, Kim GM, Kim SH, Kim S, Ahn JS, Lee KH, Ahn JH, Park IH, Im YH. Fulvestrant plus goserelin versus anastrozole plus goserelin versus goserelin alone for hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative tamoxifen-pretreated premenopausal women with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer (KCSG BR10-04): a multicentre, open-label, three-arm, randomised phase II trial (FLAG study). Eur J Cancer 2018; 103:127-136. [PMID: 30223226 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2018.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We investigated the efficacy and safety of fulvestrant plus goserelin (F + G) versus anastrozole plus goserelin (A + G) in comparison with goserelin (G) alone in premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-), tamoxifen-pretreated metastatic breast cancer (MBC). PATIENTS AND METHODS In this multicentre, open-label, randomised phase II study, premenopausal women aged ≥18 years with HR+, HER2-, tamoxifen-pretreated MBC were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to F + G, A + G or G alone. The primary end-point was time to progression (TTP). Secondary end-points included overall survival, overall response rate, clinical benefit rate and toxicity. RESULTS Of 138 eligible patients, 44 were randomly assigned to receive F + G, 47 to A + G and 47 to G alone. The median follow-up duration was 32.2 months (interquartile range: 23.69-40.86) and the median age was 43.0 years (range 23.0-55.0). The median TTP was 16.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.5-25.1) for F + G, 14.5 months (95% CI 11.0-18.0) for A + G and 13.5 months (95% CI 10.3-16.8) for G alone. Compared with G alone, the hazard ratios were 0.608 for F + G (95% CI, 0.370-0.998; p = 0.049) and 0.982 for A + G (95% CI, 0.624-1.546; p = 0.937). In terms of visceral metastasis, a stratification factor, there were no TTP differences according to treatment arm. Grade III or IV toxicities were rarely observed. Of the common adverse events, grade I arthralgia and joint stiffness were more frequently observed in the F + G than in the A + G or G-alone groups (p < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS F + G provides a promising new option for the treatment of premenopausal women with HR+, HER2-, tamoxifen-pretreated MBC. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01266213 and Korean Cancer Study Group (KCSG) Breast cancer protocol number BR10-04.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Yeon Kim
- Division of Haematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Centre, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seock-Ah Im
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Hae Jung
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Centre, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jungsil Ro
- Centre for Breast Cancer, National Cancer Centre, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Joohyuk Sohn
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Centre, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee Hyun Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeon Hee Park
- Division of Haematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Centre, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Yong Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Bae Kim
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Centre, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Keun Seok Lee
- Centre for Breast Cancer, National Cancer Centre, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Gun Min Kim
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Centre, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Hyun Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Seonwoo Kim
- Staticstics and Data Centre, Samsung Medical Centre, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Seok Ahn
- Division of Haematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Centre, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Hun Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Hee Ahn
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Centre, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - In Hae Park
- Centre for Breast Cancer, National Cancer Centre, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Hyuck Im
- Division of Haematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Centre, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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12
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Tancredi R, Furlanetto J, Loibl S. Endocrine Therapy in Premenopausal Hormone Receptor Positive/Human Epidermal Growth Receptor 2 Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer: Between Guidelines and Literature. Oncologist 2018; 23:974-981. [PMID: 29934412 DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.2018-0077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing interest in the endocrine treatment (ET) of premenopausal women with hormone receptor positive (HR+) metastatic breast cancer (MBC). This review summarizes available data on endocrine therapy for this patient subset and aims to define the most appropriate treatment approach. The combination of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists plus tamoxifen seems effective and safe and is considered as being superior to either approach alone; still, single-agent therapy remains an acceptable treatment option. Due to their mechanism of action, aromatase inhibitors alone are not suitable for the treatment of premenopausal patients, but the combination with LHRH agonists may result in excellent disease control. Fulvestrant, in conjunction with LHRH agonists, also yields interesting results regarding clinical benefit rate and time to progression; currently, other orally available selective estrogen receptor downregulators are under clinical evaluation. Recently, targeted drugs have been added to ET in order to reverse endocrine resistance, but only limited information regarding their activity in premenopausal patients is available. The cyclin dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitor palbociclib when combined with fulvestrant and LHRH agonists was shown to prolong progression-free survival over endocrine therapy alone in pretreated patients; similar results were obtained with the addition of abemacicilib or ribociclib to endocrine therapy. Currently, activity of the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor everolimus in combination with letrozole and goserelin is under assessment in premenopausal patients after progression on tamoxifen (MIRACLE trial). IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE This review provides clinicians with an overview on the available data regarding endocrine treatment of hormone receptor positive (HR+) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in premenopausal women and summarizes the treatment options available in routine clinical practice. Knowledge of an up-to-date therapeutic approach in women with premenopausal HR+ MBC will lead to better disease management, thereby improving disease control and quality of life while minimizing side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Tancredi
- Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico, San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
- GBG Forschungs GmbH, Neu-Isenburg, Germany
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13
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Bardia A, Hurvitz S. Targeted Therapy for Premenopausal Women with HR +, HER2 - Advanced Breast Cancer: Focus on Special Considerations and Latest Advances. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 24:5206-5218. [PMID: 29884743 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-0162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The incidence of advanced breast cancer in premenopausal women is increasing, and breast cancer in younger women is often more aggressive and has a worse prognosis compared with breast cancer in older women. Premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer are frequently under-represented in clinical trials, and treatment strategies in the premenopausal setting are usually extrapolated from data from postmenopausal patients, with the addition of ovarian function suppression to endocrine therapy in HR+ disease. However, the underlying biology of breast cancer in premenopausal women can be different from postmenopausal women, and treatment strategies should ideally be specifically tested in premenopausal patients. Recent phase III trials have now investigated cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors in premenopausal patients with HR+, HER2- advanced breast cancer: Palbociclib and abemaciclib have been tested in a subset of premenopausal patients in the PALOMA-3 and MONARCH-2 studies, and ribociclib has been tested in the phase III MONALEESA-7 trial, which was entirely dedicated to premenopausal women. This comprehensive review summarizes the differences in the biology of HR+, HER2- breast cancer in the premenopausal population compared with the postmenopausal population; discusses special considerations for treatment of premenopausal women; and reviews the evidence from clinical trials investigating endocrine therapy, other targeted treatments, and ovarian function suppression in the HR+, HER2- advanced breast cancer setting. Clin Cancer Res; 24(21); 5206-18. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Bardia
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Sara Hurvitz
- UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California
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14
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Watanabe Y, Anan K, Saimura M, Koga K, Fujino M, Mine M, Tamiya S, Nishihara K, Nakano T, Mitsuyama S. Upstaging to invasive ductal carcinoma after mastectomy for ductal carcinoma in situ: predictive factors and role of sentinel lymph node biopsy. Breast Cancer 2018; 25:663-670. [PMID: 29786772 DOI: 10.1007/s12282-018-0871-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate preoperative factors associated with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) upstaged to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and sentinel lymph node (SLN) status in patients who underwent mastectomy for a preoperative diagnosis of DCIS. METHODS The medical records of 220 patients who underwent mastectomy for a preoperative diagnosis of DCIS were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS Fifty-one (22.6%) of 226 lesions were upgraded to IDC after mastectomy. Preoperative factors associated with upstaging to IDC included patient-reported signs and symptoms, a clinically palpable mass, ultrasound findings classified as category 4 or 5, the ultrasound appearance of a mass or widely distributed non-mass abnormality (NMA), and a high Ki67 index. The prevalence of SLN macrometastasis was 0.9%. IDC was diagnosed for 10.9% of lesions of a preoperative ultrasound category of 0-3, 13.0% of those with no mass or NMA detected by ultrasonography, and 14.1% of lesions preoperatively diagnosed by methods other than core needle biopsy (CNB). Of those lesions, none was associated with SLN metastasis. CONCLUSIONS Routinely performing SLN biopsy for patients undergoing mastectomy for a preoperative diagnosis of DCIS is overtreatment, because the prevalence of SLN metastasis was low. SLN biopsy can be omitted for most patients. In particular, we suggest omitting SLN biopsy for patients who have lesions of ultrasound category 0-3, who have neither a mass nor NMA detected by ultrasound, or whose initial diagnosis was made based on a specimen obtained by methods other than CNB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Watanabe
- Department of Surgery, Kitakyushu Municipal Medical Center, 2-1-1 Bashaku, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, 802-0077, Japan.
| | - Keisei Anan
- Department of Surgery, Kitakyushu Municipal Medical Center, 2-1-1 Bashaku, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, 802-0077, Japan
| | - Michiyo Saimura
- Department of Surgery, Kitakyushu Municipal Medical Center, 2-1-1 Bashaku, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, 802-0077, Japan
| | - Kenichiro Koga
- Department of Surgery, Kitakyushu Municipal Medical Center, 2-1-1 Bashaku, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, 802-0077, Japan
| | - Minoru Fujino
- Department of Surgery, Kitakyushu Municipal Medical Center, 2-1-1 Bashaku, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, 802-0077, Japan
| | - Mari Mine
- Department of Pathology, Kitakyushu Municipal Medical Center, 2-1-1 Bashaku, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, 802-0077, Japan
| | - Sadafumi Tamiya
- Department of Pathology, Kitakyushu Municipal Medical Center, 2-1-1 Bashaku, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, 802-0077, Japan
| | - Kazuyoshi Nishihara
- Department of Surgery, Kitakyushu Municipal Medical Center, 2-1-1 Bashaku, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, 802-0077, Japan
| | - Toru Nakano
- Department of Surgery, Kitakyushu Municipal Medical Center, 2-1-1 Bashaku, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, 802-0077, Japan
| | - Shoshu Mitsuyama
- Department of Surgery, Kitakyushu Municipal Medical Center, 2-1-1 Bashaku, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, 802-0077, Japan
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15
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Pistelli M, Mora AD, Ballatore Z, Berardi R. Aromatase inhibitors in premenopausal women with breast cancer: the state of the art and future prospects. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 25:e168-e175. [PMID: 29719441 DOI: 10.3747/co.25.3735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 11% of patients with breast cancer (bca) are diagnosed before menopause, and because in most of those patients the tumour expresses a hormone receptor, treatment with endocrine interventions can be applied in any setting of disease (early or advanced). In the past, hormonal treatment consisted only of the estrogen receptor modulator tamoxifen, associated with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (lhrh); more recently, aromatase inhibitors (ais) have come into widespread use. The ais interfere with the last enzymatic step of estrogen synthesis in which androgens are converted into estrogens. Initially, the ais were used alone in postmenopausal patients to prevent disease recurrence, but together with lhrh analogs, they can be used in premenopausal patients to produce better estrogen suppression than can be achieved with tamoxifen plus a lhrh analog. Using a systematic review of the scientific literature (prospective and retrospective studies), we set out to assess the efficacy of ais compared with other endocrine therapy in various disease settings (neoadjuvant, adjuvant, metastatic).
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Affiliation(s)
- M Pistelli
- Clinica di Oncologia Medica e Centro Regionale di Genetica Oncologica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - A Della Mora
- Clinica di Oncologia Medica e Centro Regionale di Genetica Oncologica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Z Ballatore
- Clinica di Oncologia Medica e Centro Regionale di Genetica Oncologica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - R Berardi
- Clinica di Oncologia Medica e Centro Regionale di Genetica Oncologica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
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16
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Başaran GA, Twelves C, Diéras V, Cortés J, Awada A. Ongoing unmet needs in treating estrogen receptor-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. Cancer Treat Rev 2017; 63:144-155. [PMID: 29329006 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2017.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Revised: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) advanced or metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is the most common MBC subtype and currently remains incurable, with a median overall survival of 24.8 months (95% confidence interval, 21.3-30.3). Common sites of metastases are bone, viscera, and brain, causing significant symptoms that negatively affect patient functioning, quality of life (QoL), and work productivity. Guidelines state that endocrine therapy (ET) is preferable to chemotherapy as first-line treatment for patients with ER+ MBC, regardless of limited visceral metastases, unless rapid tumor response is required or ET resistance is suspected. Although response rates up to 40% have been reported for first-line MBC treatment, the majority of initial responders eventually develop ET resistance. Notwithstanding the steep decline in efficacy between first and later lines of ET, some patients may receive chemotherapy earlier than necessary. Although new treatments have been approved for patients with ER+/HER2- advanced or MBC in the past decade, neither survival nor QoL appear to have improved significantly. Thus, there remain significant unmet needs for this patient population, including improved survival, maintaining or improving patient QoL, and emphasizing the importance of treatment selection to assist healthcare practitioners managing patient care. In this review, we identify current challenges and unmet needs in this patient population, review cutting-edge treatments, and provide clinically relevant suggestions for treatment selection that can optimize outcomes and patients' health-related QoL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gül A Başaran
- Department of Medical Oncology, Acıbadem University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Chris Twelves
- Cancer Research UK Clinical Centre, St James' University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
| | | | - Javier Cortés
- Medical Oncology Department, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital, Madrid, Spain; Medical Oncology Department, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Ahmad Awada
- Medical Oncology Clinic, Institut Jules Bordet Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
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17
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Rossi L, Pagani O. The Role of Gonadotropin-Releasing-Hormone Analogues in the Treatment of Breast Cancer. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2017; 27:466-475. [PMID: 28926289 DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2017.6355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The prognosis of premenopausal breast cancer patients with early disease has improved over the past decades, particularly in women expressing hormone receptors in their tumors. Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, has dramatically changed outcomes in these patients and remains one of the standards of care. Ovarian function suppression by gonadotropin-releasing-hormone analogues (GnRHa) represents an additional treatment option. Long-term data are required before firm conclusions can be drawn, whereas recent clinical trials suggest that the use of GnRHa is effective in both adjuvant and metastatic settings, particularly in younger patients (<35 years old). The decision to select the optimal therapy should be individualized according to the biological characteristics of tumors, estimates of disease response, comorbidities, patient preference, and long-term toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Rossi
- 1 Institute of Oncology of Southern Switzerland (IOSI) , Bellinzona, Switzerland .,2 Breast Unit of Southern Switzerland (CSSI) , Lugano, Switzerland .,3 Breast Unit of Southern Switzerland (CSSI) , Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Olivia Pagani
- 1 Institute of Oncology of Southern Switzerland (IOSI) , Bellinzona, Switzerland .,2 Breast Unit of Southern Switzerland (CSSI) , Lugano, Switzerland .,3 Breast Unit of Southern Switzerland (CSSI) , Bellinzona, Switzerland
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18
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Loibl S, Turner NC, Ro J, Cristofanilli M, Iwata H, Im SA, Masuda N, Loi S, André F, Harbeck N, Verma S, Folkerd E, Puyana Theall K, Hoffman J, Zhang K, Bartlett CH, Dowsett M. Palbociclib Combined with Fulvestrant in Premenopausal Women with Advanced Breast Cancer and Prior Progression on Endocrine Therapy: PALOMA-3 Results. Oncologist 2017; 22:1028-1038. [PMID: 28652278 DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.2017-0072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The efficacy and safety of palbociclib, a cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor, combined with fulvestrant and goserelin was assessed in premenopausal women with advanced breast cancer (ABC) who had progressed on prior endocrine therapy (ET). PATIENTS AND METHODS One hundred eight premenopausal endocrine-refractory women ≥18 years with hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) ABC were among 521 women randomized 2:1 (347:174) to fulvestrant (500 mg) ± goserelin with either palbociclib (125 mg/day orally, 3 weeks on, 1 week off) or placebo. This analysis assessed whether the overall tolerable safety profile and significant progression-free survival (PFS) improvement extended to premenopausal women. Potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) and ovarian suppression with goserelin were assessed via plasma pharmacokinetics and biochemical analyses, respectively. (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01942135) RESULTS: Median PFS for premenopausal women in the palbociclib (n = 72) versus placebo arm (n = 36) was 9.5 versus 5.6 months, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.50, 95% confidence interval: 0.29-0.87), and consistent with the significant PFS improvement in the same arms for postmenopausal women. Any-grade and grade ≤3 neutropenia, leukopenia, and infections were among the most frequent adverse events reported in the palbociclib arm with concurrent goserelin administration. Hormone concentrations were similar between treatment arms and confirmed sustained ovarian suppression. Clinically relevant DDIs were not observed. CONCLUSION Palbociclib combined with fulvestrant and goserelin was an effective and well-tolerated treatment for premenopausal women with prior endocrine-resistant HR+/HER2- ABC. Inclusion of both premenopausal and postmenopausal women in pivotal combination ET trials facilitates access to novel drugs for young women and should be considered as a new standard for clinical trial design. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE PALOMA-3, the first registrational study to include premenopausal women in a trial investigating a CDK4/6 inhibitor combined with endocrine therapy, has the largest premenopausal cohort reported in an endocrine-resistant setting. In pretreated premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer, palbociclib plus fulvestrant and goserelin (luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone [LHRH] agonist) treatment almost doubled median progression-free survival (PFS) and significantly increased the objective response rate versus endocrine monotherapy, achieving results comparable to those reported for chemotherapy without apparently interfering with LHRH agonist-induced ovarian suppression. The significant PFS gain and tolerable safety profile strongly support use of this regimen in premenopausal women with endocrine-resistant disease who could possibly delay chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sibylle Loibl
- German Breast Group GBG Forschungs GmbH, Neu-Isenburg, Germany
- Centre for Haematology and Oncology Bethanien, Frankfurt, Germany
| | | | - Jungsil Ro
- National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, South Korea
| | - Massimo Cristofanilli
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Seock-Ah Im
- Seoul National University Hospital, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Norikazu Masuda
- Breast Oncology, NHO Osaka National Hospital, Osaka-city, Japan
| | - Sherene Loi
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Nadia Harbeck
- Brustzentrum der Universität München (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Sunil Verma
- University of Calgary, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Ke Zhang
- Pfizer Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | | | - Mitchell Dowsett
- Royal Marsden Hospital and Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
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19
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Defining the optimal sequence for the systemic treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Clin Transl Oncol 2016; 19:149-161. [PMID: 27314861 PMCID: PMC5239809 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-016-1520-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Metastatic breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease that presents in varying forms, and a growing number of therapeutic options makes it difficult to determine the best choice in each particular situation. When selecting a systemic treatment, it is important to consider the medication administered in the previous stages, such as acquired resistance, type of progression, time to relapse, tumor aggressiveness, age, comorbidities, pre- and post-menopausal status, and patient preferences. Moreover, tumor genomic signatures can identify different subtypes, which can be used to create patient profiles and design specific therapies. However, there is no consensus regarding the best treatment sequence for each subgroup of patients. During the SABCC Congress of 2014, specialized breast cancer oncologists from referral hospitals in Europe met to define patient profiles and to determine specific treatment sequences for each one. Conclusions were then debated in a final meeting in which a relative degree of consensus for each treatment sequence was established. Four patient profiles were defined according to established breast cancer phenotypes: pre-menopausal patients with luminal subtype, post-menopausal patients with luminal subtype, patients with triple-negative subtype, and patients with HER2-positive subtype. A treatment sequence was then defined, consisting of hormonal therapy with tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, fulvestrant, and mTOR inhibitors for pre- and post-menopausal patien ts; a chemotherapy sequence for the first, second, and further lines for luminal and triple-negative patients; and an optimal sequence for treatment with new antiHER2 therapies. Finally, a document detailing all treatment sequences, that had the agreement of all the oncologists, was drawn up as a guideline and advocacy tool for professionals treating patients with this disease.
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20
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Clarke R, Tyson JJ, Dixon JM. Endocrine resistance in breast cancer--An overview and update. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2015; 418 Pt 3:220-34. [PMID: 26455641 PMCID: PMC4684757 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2015.09.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 238] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Revised: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 09/29/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tumors that express detectable levels of the product of the ESR1 gene (estrogen receptor-α; ERα) represent the single largest molecular subtype of breast cancer. More women eventually die from ERα+ breast cancer than from either HER2+ disease (almost half of which also express ERα) and/or from triple negative breast cancer (ERα-negative, progesterone receptor-negative, and HER2-negative). Antiestrogens and aromatase inhibitors are largely indistinguishable from each other in their abilities to improve overall survival and almost 50% of ERα+ breast cancers will eventually fail one or more of these endocrine interventions. The precise reasons why these therapies fail in ERα+ breast cancer remain largely unknown. Pharmacogenetic explanations for Tamoxifen resistance are controversial. The role of ERα mutations in endocrine resistance remains unclear. Targeting the growth factors and oncogenes most strongly correlated with endocrine resistance has proven mostly disappointing in their abilities to improve overall survival substantially, particularly in the metastatic setting. Nonetheless, there are new concepts in endocrine resistance that integrate molecular signaling, cellular metabolism, and stress responses including endoplasmic reticulum stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR) that provide novel insights and suggest innovative therapeutic targets. Encouraging evidence that drug combinations with CDK4/CDK6 inhibitors can extend recurrence free survival may yet translate to improvements in overall survival. Whether the improvements seen with immunotherapy in other cancers can be achieved in breast cancer remains to be determined, particularly for ERα+ breast cancers. This review explores the basic mechanisms of resistance to endocrine therapies, concluding with some new insights from systems biology approaches further implicating autophagy and the UPR in detail, and a brief discussion of exciting new avenues and future prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Clarke
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC 20057, USA.
| | - John J Tyson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - J Michael Dixon
- Edinburgh Breast Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
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21
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Ribnikar D, Ribeiro JM, Pinto D, Sousa B, Pinto AC, Gomes E, Moser EC, Cardoso MJ, Cardoso F. Breast cancer under age 40: a different approach. Curr Treat Options Oncol 2015; 16:16. [PMID: 25796377 DOI: 10.1007/s11864-015-0334-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) under age 40 is a complex disease to manage due to the additionally fertility-related factors to be taken in consideration. More than 90% of young patients with BC are symptomatic. Women<40 years are more likely to develop BC with worse clinicopathological features and more aggressive subtype. This has been frequently associated with inferior outcomes. Recently, the prognostic significance of age<40 has been shown to differ according to the BC subtype, being associated with worst recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) for luminal BC. The biology of BC<40 has also been explored through analysis of large genomic data set, and specific pathways overexpressed in these tumors have been identified which can lead to the development of targeted therapy in the future. A multidisciplinary tumor board should determine the optimal locoregional and systemic management strategies for every individual patient with BC before the start of any therapy including surgery. This applies to both early (early breast cancer (EBC)) and advanced (advanced breast cancer (ABC)) disease, before the start of any therapy. Mastectomy even in young patients confers no overall survival advantage when compared to breast-conserving treatment (BCT), followed by radiotherapy. Regarding axillary approach, indications are identical to other age groups. Young age is one of the most important risk factors for local recurrence after both breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and mastectomy, associated with a higher risk of distant metastasis and death. Radiation after BCS reduces local recurrence from 19.5 to 10.2% in BC patients 40 years and younger. The indications for and the choice of systemic treatment for invasive BC (both early and advanced disease) should not be based on age alone but driven by the biological characteristics of the individual tumor (including hormone receptor status, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) status, grade, and proliferative activity), disease stage, and patient's comorbidities. Recommendations regarding the use of genomic profiles such as MammaPrint, Oncotype Dx, and Genomic grade index in young women are similar to the general BC population. Especially in the metastatic setting, patient preferences should always be taken into account, as the disease is incurable. The best strategy for these patients is the inclusion into well-designed, independent, prospective randomized clinical trials. Metastatic disease should always be biopsied whenever feasible for histological confirmation and reassessment of biology. Endocrine therapy is the preferred option for hormone receptor-positive disease (HR+ve), even in presence of visceral metastases, unless there is concern or proof of endocrine resistance or there is a need for rapid disease response and/or symptom control. Recommendations for chemotherapy (CT) should not differ from those for older patients with the same characteristics of the metastatic disease and its extent. Young age by itself should not be an indication to prescribe more intensive and combination CT regimens over the sequential use of monotherapy. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARP inhibitors) represent an important group of promising drugs in managing patients with breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA)-1- or BRCA-2-associated BC. Specific age-related side effects of systemic treatment (e.g., menopausal symptoms, change in body image, bone morbidity, cognitive function impairment, fertility damage, sexual dysfunction) and the social impact of diagnosis and treatment (job discrimination, taking care for children) should also be carefully addressed when planning systemic long-lasting therapy, such as endocrine therapy. Survivorship concerns for young women are different compared to older women, including issues of fertility, preservation, and pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Ribnikar
- Medical Oncology Department, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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22
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Di Lascio S, Pagani O. New insights into endocrine therapy for young women with breast cancer. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 11:343-54. [PMID: 26102472 DOI: 10.2217/whe.15.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Managing estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer in young women (<40 years) requires a multidisciplinary/personalized approach, covering both clinical and psychosocial aspects. Five years of tamoxifen has been the standard adjuvant endocrine therapy for many years. Recent data from the adjuvant randomized trials TEXT-SOFT show that the aromatase inhibitor exemestane plus ovarian suppression significantly reduces recurrences as compared with tamoxifen plus ovarian suppression. The ATLAS and aTToM trials represent the first evidence of a beneficial effect of extended endocrine therapy with tamoxifen in premenopausal women. Outside of a clinical trial, no data support neoadjuvant endocrine therapy in young women. In the metastatic setting, tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors, both with ovarian suppression/ablation, should be the preferred choice, unless rapid tumor shrinkage is needed. No data are available with fulvestrant in young patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Di Lascio
- Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), Bellinzona, Switzerland.,Breast Unit of Southern Switzerland (CSSI), Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Olivia Pagani
- Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), Bellinzona, Switzerland.,Breast Unit of Southern Switzerland (CSSI), Bellinzona, Switzerland
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23
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Iwase H, Yamamoto Y. Clinical benefit of sequential use of endocrine therapies for metastatic breast cancer. Int J Clin Oncol 2015; 20:253-61. [DOI: 10.1007/s10147-015-0793-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2014] [Accepted: 01/23/2015] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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24
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Histopathological characterization of ulcerated breast cancer and comparison to their non-ulcerated counterparts. Tumour Biol 2014; 36:3423-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s13277-014-2977-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
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25
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Abstract
Around 70% of all breast cancers are estrogen receptor alpha positive and hence their development is highly dependent on estradiol. While the invention of endocrine therapies has revolusioned the treatment of the disease, resistance to therapy eventually occurs in a large number of patients. This paper seeks to illustrate and discuss the complexity and heterogeneity of the mechanisms which underlie resistance and the approaches proposed to combat them. It will also focus on the use and development of methods for predicting which patients are likely to develop resistance.
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First international consensus guidelines for breast cancer in young women (BCY1). Breast 2014; 23:209-20. [PMID: 24767882 DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2014.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2014] [Revised: 03/25/2014] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The 1st International Consensus Conference for Breast Cancer in Young Women (BCY1) took place in November 2012, in Dublin, Ireland organized by the European School of Oncology (ESO). Consensus recommendations for management of breast cancer in young women were developed and areas of research priorities were identified. This manuscript summarizes these international consensus recommendations, which are also endorsed by the European Society of Breast Specialists (EUSOMA).
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Senkus E, Cardoso F, Pagani O. Time for more optimism in metastatic breast cancer? Cancer Treat Rev 2014; 40:220-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2013.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2013] [Revised: 09/21/2013] [Accepted: 09/24/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Tanaka K, Tokunaga E, Yamashita N, Taketani K, Akiyoshi S, Morita M, Maehara Y. Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist plus an aromatase inhibitor as second-line endocrine therapy in premenopausal females with hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer. Surg Today 2013; 44:1678-84. [PMID: 24218007 DOI: 10.1007/s00595-013-0765-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2013] [Accepted: 08/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of the current study was to explore the efficacy and safety of combination therapy using a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist plus an aromatase inhibitor (AI) as second-line therapy in premenopausal females with hormone receptor (HR)-positive recurrent or metastatic breast cancer (MBC). METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted in patients registered in the breast cancer database of our institution between January 2001 and December 2012. The breast cancer database identified 14 premenopausal patients who had been treated with an LHRH agonist plus AI for HR-positive recurrent or MBC. RESULTS Fourteen patients with recurrent breast cancer (N = 10) or metastatic disease at primary diagnosis (N = 4) were included in the present study. All patients had previously been treated with an LHRH agonist plus tamoxifen. The clinical benefit rate was 71.4% and the median TTP was 11 months (95% confidence interval 1.7-20.3 months). One patient discontinued treatment because of liver dysfunction (grade 3). CONCLUSIONS The combination of an LHRH agonist plus an AI is a treatment option for premenopausal females with HR-positive MBC that can prolong the chemotherapy-free interval and yield effective disease stabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimihiro Tanaka
- Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 811-1395, Japan,
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Heublein S, Mayr D, Vrekoussis T, Friese K, Hofmann SS, Jeschke U, Lenhard M. The G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER/GPR30) is a gonadotropin receptor dependent positive prognosticator in ovarian carcinoma patients. PLoS One 2013; 8:e71791. [PMID: 23951246 PMCID: PMC3739730 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2013] [Accepted: 07/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and luteinizing hormone receptor (LHCGR) were demonstrated to impact upon survival of patients suffering from epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Though structure wise the G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER/GPR30) is related to FSHR/LHCGR, its prognostic impact in EOC remains controversial. We recently found that FSHR negative patients represent a specific EOC subgroup that may behave differently in respect to both treatment response and prognosis. Hence, the current study aimed to analyze how GPER may interact with the FSHR/LHCGR system in EOC and whether the prognostic significance of GPER in EOC cases (n = 151) may be dependent on the FSHR/LHCGR immunophenotype of the tumor. Ovarian cancer cell lines were used to study how FSH and LH regulate GPER and whether GPER activation differentially affects in vitro cell proliferation in presence/absence of activated FSHR/LHCGR. In EOC tissue, GPER correlated with FSHR/LHCGR and was related to prolonged overall survival only in FSHR/LHCGR negative patients. Although GPER was found to be specifically induced by LH/FSH, GPER agonists (4-Hydroxy-Tamoxifen, G1) reduced EOC cell proliferation only in case of LH/FSH unstimulated pathways. To the same direction, only patients characterized as LHCGR/FSHR negative seem to gain from GPER in terms of survival. Our combined tissue and in vitro results support thus the hypothesis that GPER activation could be of therapeutic benefit in LHCGR/FSHR negative EOC patients. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of GPER activation on a clinical scheme.
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MESH Headings
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Middle Aged
- Neoplasm Staging
- Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial/drug therapy
- Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial/genetics
- Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial/mortality
- Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial/pathology
- Ovarian Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics
- Ovarian Neoplasms/mortality
- Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology
- Prognosis
- Receptor Cross-Talk/drug effects
- Receptors, Estrogen/agonists
- Receptors, Estrogen/genetics
- Receptors, Estrogen/metabolism
- Receptors, FSH/genetics
- Receptors, FSH/metabolism
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/agonists
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/metabolism
- Receptors, LH/genetics
- Receptors, LH/metabolism
- Retrospective Studies
- Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators/pharmacology
- Signal Transduction
- Survival Analysis
- Tamoxifen/analogs & derivatives
- Tamoxifen/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Heublein
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Campus Innenstadt, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Doris Mayr
- Department of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Vrekoussis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Campus Innenstadt, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Klaus Friese
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Campus Innenstadt, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Simone S. Hofmann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Campus Innenstadt, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Udo Jeschke
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Campus Innenstadt, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Miriam Lenhard
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Campus Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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Christinat A, Di Lascio S, Pagani O. Hormonal therapies in young breast cancer patients: when, what and for how long? J Thorac Dis 2013; 5 Suppl 1:S36-46. [PMID: 23819026 DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2013.05.25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2013] [Accepted: 05/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer in young women (<40 years) is a rare and complex clinical and psychosocial condition, which deserves multidisciplinary and personalized approaches. In young women with hormone-receptor positive disease, 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen, with or without ovarian suppression/ablation, is considered the standard endocrine therapy. The definitive role of adjuvant aromatase inhibitors has still to be elucidated: the upcoming results of the Tamoxifen and EXemestane Trial (TEXT) and Suppression of Ovarian Function Trial (SOFT) trials will help understanding if we can widen our current endocrine therapeutic options. The optimal duration of adjuvant endocrine therapy in young women also remains an unresolved issue. The recently reported results of the ATLAS and aTToM trials represent the first evidence of a beneficial effect of extended endocrine therapy in premenopausal women and provide an important opportunity in high-risk young patients. In the metastatic setting, endocrine therapy should be the preferred choice for endocrine responsive disease, unless there is evidence of endocrine resistance or need for rapid disease and/or symptom control. Tamoxifen in combination with ovarian suppression/ablation remains the 1st-line endocrine therapy of choice. Aromatase inhibitors in combination with ovarian suppression/ablation can be considered after progression on tamoxifen and ovarian suppression/ablation. Fulvestrant has not yet been studied in pre-menopausal women. Specific age-related treatment side effects (i.e., menopausal symptoms, change in body image and weight gain, cognitive function impairment, fertility damage/preservation, long-term organ dysfunction, sexuality) and the social impact of diagnosis and treatment (i.e., job discrimination, family management) should be carefully addressed when planning long-lasting endocrine therapies in young women with hormone-receptor positive early and advanced breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Christinat
- Institute of Oncology of Southern Switzerland (IOSI) and Breast Unit of Southern Switzerland (CSSI), Bellinzona, Switzerland
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31
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Schiavon G, Smith IE. Endocrine therapy for advanced/metastatic breast cancer. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2013; 27:715-36, viii. [PMID: 23915741 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2013.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
First-line endocrine therapy by estrogen antagonism or suppression of estrogen achieves objective responses (ORs) and clinical benefit (CB) in around 30% and 50% of estrogen receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer patients, respectively. Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are the most effective treatment in previously untreated postmenopausal women. Tamoxifen is an effective alternative. The optimal endocrine therapy on relapse remains uncertain. Tamoxifen and fulvestrant achieve CB in around 50% of patients and ORs of 10%. CB of exemestane after nonsteroidal AIs is 30% to 50% but ORs are rare. Targeted agents (eg, everolimus) plus endocrine therapy are likely to become increasingly important in overcoming endocrine resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaia Schiavon
- Breast Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Fulham Road, London SW3 6JJ, UK.
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32
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Changing Concepts of Hormone Receptor–Positive Advanced Breast Cancer Therapy. Clin Breast Cancer 2013; 13:159-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clbc.2012.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2012] [Revised: 10/22/2012] [Accepted: 11/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Harbeck N, Scharl A, Thomssen C, Müller V. AGO Recommendations for Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients with Advanced and Metastatic Breast Cancer: Update 2013. Breast Care (Basel) 2013; 8:181-5. [PMID: 24415967 PMCID: PMC3728631 DOI: 10.1159/000353590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Harbeck
- Brustzentrum, Frauenklinik, Universität München, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Volkmar Müller
- Klinik für Gynäkologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Montemurro F, Rossi V, Geuna E, Valabrega G, Martinello R, Milani A, Aglietta M. Current status and future perspectives in the endocrine treatment of postmenopausal, hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2013; 13:2143-56. [PMID: 22984936 DOI: 10.1517/14656566.2012.725723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Endocrine therapy is a fundamental component of the therapeutic repertoire for treatment of metastatic, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Inevitably, however, tumors develop resistance to these compounds, and overcoming this phenomenon is a key motivator of research in this field. AREAS COVERED This review summarizes the current status of endocrine therapy for the treatment of metastatic disease, with a main focus on postmenopausal patients. Furthermore, strategies that could potentially sustain endocrine resistance and future perspectives in this direction are also to be described. Relevant references were identified by PubMed searches and from the abstract books of the annual meetings of The European Society of Clinical Oncology (ESMO), The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and from the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposia. EXPERT OPINION Combinations of endocrine therapy with HER2 targeting agents, as well as with compounds that can interfere with PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling, are two promising strategies for delaying or overcoming endocrine resistance, mediated by these relevant biological pathways. Due to increased costs and the burden of toxicity associated with these combination therapies, compared to endocrine therapy alone, it is imperative to concentrate efforts on establishing biomarkers that can predict efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Montemurro
- Institute for Cancer Research, Unit of Investigative Clinical Oncology (INCO), Candiolo, Italy.
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Wilson S, Chia SK. Treatment algorithms for hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer: applying the results from recent clinical trials into daily practice—insights, limitations, and moving forward. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 2013:0011300020. [PMID: 23714446 DOI: 10.14694/edbook_am.2013.33.e20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer is the most prevalent subtype of breast cancer in both early- and advanced-stage disease. Thus, the treatment of HR+ breast cancer has had the greatest global influence in improving clinical outcomes overall. Although the first-line metastatic breast cancer (MBC) trials comparing a third-generation aromatase inhibitor (AI) to tamoxifen have favored the AI, one of the challenges in translating these findings into clinical practice stems from the influence of prior adjuvant endocrine therapy, particularly the increasing use of adjuvant AIs today, on the choice of endocrine agent in the advanced setting because of the development of acquired resistance. Because the majority of patients enrolled into these studies were either endocrine-treatment naïve or exposed to tamoxifen only, the "real-life" applicability of the evidence is unclear. Because a superior dose of the selective estrogen receptor (ER) downregulator fulvestrant has now been established, its role as first-line therapy is being re-established. We are now starting to see the promise realized with blocking cross-talking growth factor pathways in addition to the ER pathway. The greatest efficacy is seen with the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor everolimus in combination with exemestane and, perhaps to a lesser extent, anti-HER2-directed therapy in combination with an AI. Future gains will likely involve a greater understanding of the redundancy and compensation induced by blocking these pathways, trials involving blocking multiple pathways in addition to hormonal agents, and the molecular interrogation of the individual's tumor in search of predictive biomarkers and "actionable" genomic aberrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheridan Wilson
- From the British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Liu X, Qu H, Cao W, Wang Y, Ma Z, Li F, Wang H. Efficacy of combined therapy of goserelin and letrozole on very young women with advanced breast cancer as first-line endocrine therapy. Endocr J 2013; 60:819-28. [PMID: 23714650 DOI: 10.1507/endocrj.ej12-0434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer in young women younger than 35 years old is rare, aggressive and associated with a poor prognosis. Endocrine therapy is a preferred treatment modality in hormone receptor-positive early stage and advanced breast cancer, combined therapy of goserelin and letrozole presents an option for premenopausal women. We reported the efficacy and safety of therapy of goserelin plus letrozole on very young women with advanced breast cancer as first-line endocrine therapy. Thirty-five patients with first diagnosed as advanced breast cancer, age younger than 35 years, were enrolled in the study. All patients received goserelin 3.6 mg by subcutaneous injection every 4 weeks along with letrozole 2.5mg daily by mouth as first-line endocrine therapy. The study endpoints were objective response rate (ORR), clinical benefit (CB), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and toxicity. The median duration of response to the therapy was 21 (range, 10-56) months, and median duration of follow-up was 44 (range, 5-79) months. The ORR was 25.7%, with one complete response (CR, 2.9%) and eight partial response (PR, 22.9%). Twenty-two patients had stable disease at 24 weeks, for a clinical benefit rate of 65.7%. The median PFS was 9.6 (range 5-58) months and median OS was 33 (range 6-72) months. During the therapy and follow-up, no serious toxicities were reported. Combined therapy of goserelin and letrozole appears to be an efficacious and well-tolerated therapy for very young women with advanced breast cancer. Further investigations involving more patients, combination of other therapies and longer follow-up are requisite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyi Liu
- Department of Galactophore, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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