The European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer (eortc) Breast Cancer Group

Practice-changing radiation therapy trials for the treatment of cancer: where are we 150 years after the birth of Marie Curie?

As we mark 150 years since the birth of Marie Curie, we reflect on the global advances made in radiation oncology and the current status of radiation therapy (RT) research. Large-scale international RT clinical trials have been fundamental in driving evidence-based change and have served to improve cancer management and to reduce side effects. Radiation therapy trials have also improved practice by increasing quality assurance and consistency in treatment protocols across multiple centres. This review summarises some of the key RT practice-changing clinical trials over the last two decades, in four common cancer sites for which RT is a crucial component of curative treatment: breast, lung, urological and lower gastro-intestinal cancer. We highlight the global inequality in access to RT, and the work of international organisations, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the European SocieTy for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), and the United Kingdom National Cancer Research Institute Clinical and Translational Radiotherapy Research Working Group (CTRad), that aim to improve access to RT and facilitate radiation research. We discuss some emerging RT technologies including proton beam therapy and magnetic resonance linear accelerators and predict likely future directions in clinical RT research.

Radiotherapy or surgery of the axilla after a positive sentinel node in breast cancer (EORTC 10981-22023 AMAROS): a randomised, multicentre, open-label, phase 3 non-inferiority trial

BACKGROUND

If treatment of the axilla is indicated in patients with breast cancer who have a positive sentinel node, axillary lymph node dissection is the present standard. Although axillary lymph node dissection provides excellent regional control, it is associated with harmful side-effects. We aimed to assess whether axillary radiotherapy provides comparable regional control with fewer side-effects.

METHODS

Patients with T1-2 primary breast cancer and no palpable lymphadenopathy were enrolled in the randomised, multicentre, open-label, phase 3 non-inferiority EORTC 10981-22023 AMAROS trial. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) by a computer-generated allocation schedule to receive either axillary lymph node dissection or axillary radiotherapy in case of a positive sentinel node, stratified by institution. The primary endpoint was non-inferiority of 5-year axillary recurrence, considered to be not more than 4% for the axillary radiotherapy group compared with an expected 2% in the axillary lymph node dissection group. Analyses were by intention to treat and per protocol. The AMAROS trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00014612.

FINDINGS

Between Feb 19, 2001, and April 29, 2010, 4823 patients were enrolled at 34 centres from nine European countries, of whom 4806 were eligible for randomisation. 2402 patients were randomly assigned to receive axillary lymph node dissection and 2404 to receive axillary radiotherapy. Of the 1425 patients with a positive sentinel node, 744 had been randomly assigned to axillary lymph node dissection and 681 to axillary radiotherapy; these patients constituted the intention-to-treat population. Median follow-up was 6·1 years (IQR 4·1-8·0) for the patients with positive sentinel lymph nodes. In the axillary lymph node dissection group, 220 (33%) of 672 patients who underwent axillary lymph node dissection had additional positive nodes. Axillary recurrence occurred in four of 744 patients in the axillary lymph node dissection group and seven of 681 in the axillary radiotherapy group. 5-year axillary recurrence was 0·43% (95% CI 0·00-0·92) after axillary lymph node dissection versus 1·19% (0·31-2·08) after axillary radiotherapy. The planned non-inferiority test was underpowered because of the low number of events. The one-sided 95% CI for the underpowered non-inferiority test on the hazard ratio was 0·00-5·27, with a non-inferiority margin of 2. Lymphoedema in the ipsilateral arm was noted significantly more often after axillary lymph node dissection than after axillary radiotherapy at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years.

INTERPRETATION

Axillary lymph node dissection and axillary radiotherapy after a positive sentinel node provide excellent and comparable axillary control for patients with T1-2 primary breast cancer and no palpable lymphadenopathy. Axillary radiotherapy results in significantly less morbidity.

FUNDING

EORTC Charitable Trust.

Comparison of the sentinel node procedure between patients with multifocal and unifocal breast cancer in the EORTC 10981-22023 AMAROS Trial: identification rate and nodal outcome

INTRODUCTION

Multifocal breast cancer is associated with a higher risk of nodal involvement compared to unifocal breast cancer and the drainage pattern from multifocal localisations may be different. For this reason, the value of the sentinel node biopsy (SNB) procedure for this indication is debated. The aim of the current analysis was to evaluate the sentinel node identification rate and nodal involvement in patients with a multifocal tumour in the EORTC 10981-22023 AMAROS trial.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From the first 4000 registered patients, 342 were identified with a multifocal tumour on histological examination and compared to a randomly selected control group of 684 patients with a unifocal tumour. The outcome of the SNB was assessed.

RESULTS

The sentinel node was identified in 96% of the patients with a multifocal tumour and in 98% of those with unifocal disease. In the multifocal group, 51% had a metastasis in the sentinel node compared to 28% in the unifocal group; and further nodal involvement after a positive sentinel node was found in 40% (38/95) and 39% (39/101) respectively.

CONCLUSION

In this prospective international multicentre study, the 96% detection rate indicates that the SNB procedure can be highly effective in patients with a multifocal tumour. Though the tumour-positive rate of the sentinel node was twice as high in the multifocal group compared to the unifocal group, further nodal involvement after a positive sentinel node was similar in both groups. This suggests that the SNB procedure is safe in patients with multifocal breast cancer.

Gynecologic Oncology Group quality assurance audits: analysis and initiatives for improvement

Background The Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) is a multi-institution, multi-discipline Cooperative Group funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to conduct clinical trials which investigate the treatment, prevention, control, quality of survivorship, and translational science of gynecologic malignancies. In 1982, the NCI initiated a program of on-site quality assurance audits of participating institutions. Each is required to be audited at least once every 3 years. In GOG, the audit mandate is the responsibility of the GOG Quality Assurance Audit Committee and it is centralized in the Statistical and Data Center (SDC). Each component (Regulatory, Investigational Drug Pharmacy, Patient Case Review) is classified as Acceptable, Acceptable, follow-up required, or Unacceptable.

Purpose To determine frequently occurring deviations and develop focused innovative solutions to address them.

Methods A database was created to examine the deviations noted at the most recent audit conducted at 57 GOG parent institutions during 2004—2007. Cumulatively, this involved 687 patients and 306 protocols.

Results The results documented commendable performance: Regulatory (39 Acceptable, 17 Acceptable, follow-up, 1 Unacceptable); Pharmacy (41 Acceptable, 3 Acceptable, follow-up, 1 Unacceptable, 12 N/A): Patient Case Review (31 Acceptable, 22 Acceptable, follow-up, 4 Unacceptable). The nature of major and lesser deviations was analyzed to create and enhance initiatives for improvement of the quality of clinical research. As a result, Group-wide proactive initiatives were undertaken, audit training sessions have emphasized recurring issues, and GOG Data Management Subcommittee agendas have provided targeted instruction and training.

Limitations The analysis was based upon parent institutions only; affiliate institutions and Community Clinical Oncology Program participants were not included, although it is assumed their areas of difficulty are similar.

Conclusions The coordination of the GOG Quality Assurance Audit program in the SDC has improved data quality by enhancing our ability to identify frequently occurring deviations and develop innovative solutions to avoid or minimize their occurrence in the future. Clinical Trials 2010; 7: 390—399. http://ctj.sagepub.com

Guidelines to assure quality in breast cancer surgery

The outcome of breast cancer surgery, with respect to cosmetic results, loco regional control and prognostic information from nodal staging, may vary substantially. Optimal breast cancer care starts with a proper surgical act, which can only be performed when optimal imaging and preoperative diagnosis are available. Next, on the basis of all peroperative findings, the right surgical procedure should be indicated after multidisciplinary consultation and discussion, keeping the objective of the final outcome in mind. The surgical act itself is best performed by an experienced surgeon who has maintained their experience after sufficient training. The outcome of the different procedures can be measured according to simple criteria and prospective registration. All possible surgical procedures, the indication-objectives, the training-objectives and outcome measures are described.

Clinical trials update of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Breast Cancer Group

The present clinical trial update consists of a review of two of eight current studies (the 10981-22023 AMAROS trial and the 10994 p53 trial) of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Breast Cancer Group, as well as a preview of the MIND-ACT trial. The AMAROS trial is designed to prove equivalent local/regional control for patients with proven axillary lymph node metastasis by sentinel node biopsy if treated with axillary radiotherapy instead of axillary lymph node dissection, with reduced morbidity. The p53 trial started to assess the potential predictive value of p53 using a functional assay in yeast in patients with locally advanced/inflammatory or large operable breast cancer prospectively randomised to a taxane regimen versus a nontaxane regimen.

European studies on breast lymphatic mapping

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is rapidly emerging as a minimally invasive alternative to standard axillary dissection for nodal staging in breast cancer. So far only data from case-control trials are available documenting SLN biopsy to be highly predictive of axillary node status, with a false-negative rate of less than 5%. The procedure has the potential to identify those patients most likely to be helped by axillary dissection (ie, those with positive nodes) and to spare node-negative patients, who cannot benefit, from the morbidity of an operation. No data exist from randomized trials focusing on the oncologic safety of the SLN biopsy alone or the expected reduced postoperative morbidity. Therefore, results from randomized trials validating SLN biopsy in breast cancer are required before accepting the procedure as the standard of care. This review discusses the European multicenter randomized trials addressing the pros and cons of SLN dissection, either as a surrogate for conventional axillary dissection or to examine aspects of the procedure itself. The trials identified are the ALMANAC trial (Axillary Lymphatic Mapping Against Nodal Axillary Clearance); the AMAROS-EORTC trial (After Mapping of the Axilla: Radiotherapy or Surgery); the KiSS study (German Clinical Interdisciplinary Sentinel Study); the Milan trial (European Institute of Oncology); the Fransenod study (French Randomised Sentinel Node Study); and the IBCSG 23-01 trial (International Breast Cancer Study Group Trial 23-01).

Detection of metastases in sentinel lymph nodes of breast cancer patients by multiple mRNA markers

Disseminated breast tumour cells in sentinel lymph nodes (SNs) were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR and the sensitivity of this assay was compared to the routine histological analysis. First, several candidate marker genes were tested for their specificity in axillary lymph nodes (ALN) of 50 breast cancer patients and 43 women without breast cancer. The marker gene panel selected, designed to detect the mRNA of CK19, p1B, EGP2 and SBEM, was subsequently applied to detect metastases in 70 SNs that were free of metastases as determined by standard histological evaluation. Remarkably, seven negative SNs showed increased marker gene expression, suggesting the presence of (micro) metastases. Four of these seven SNs positive by real-time PCR proved to contain tumour deposits after careful review of the slides or further sectioning of the paraffin-embedded material. In three PCR positive SNs, however, no tumour cells were found by haematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E) and immunohistologically analysis. The quantitative real-time PCR assay with multiple mRNA markers for the detection of disseminated breast cancer cells in SNs thus resulted in an upstaging of SNs containing metastastic disease of 10% compared to the routine histological analysis. The application of this technique may be of clinical relevance, as it is suggested that micrometastatic disease in SNs are associated with further nodal non-SN metastases in breast cancer.

Impact of locoregional treatment on the early-stage breast cancer patients: a retrospective analysis

Although adequate locoregional treatment improves local and regional control in early-stage breast cancer, uncertainty still exists about the role of locoregional therapy with respect to survival. To study the impact of surgery and radiotherapy on locoregional control and survival, we combined the data of three European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Breast Cancer Group trials including early-stage breast cancer patients with long-term follow-up. Risk ratios (RR) were estimated for locoregional recurrence and overall survival using Cox regression models. All analyses were adjusted for tumour size, nodal status, age, adjuvant radiotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy and trial. The combined data-set consisted of 3648 patients. The median follow-up period was 11 years. 5.9% of the patients who underwent mastectomy and 10.8% of the patients who underwent breast-conserving therapy had a locoregional recurrence (P<0.0001). The risk of death after breast-conserving therapy was similar compared with mastectomy (RR 1.07, P=0.37). Adjuvant radiotherapy after mastectomy was associated with a lower risk for locoregional recurrence (RR 0.43, P<0.001) and death (RR 0.73, P=0.001). Patients with 1-3 positive nodes benefited the most from radiotherapy after mastectomy. Breast-conserving therapy was associated with an impaired locoregional control. However, breast-conserving therapy was not associated with a worse overall survival. Adjuvant radiotherapy in mastectomised patients was associated with both a significantly superior locoregional control and overall survival. The effect of adjuvant radiotherapy was most profound in patients who had 1-3 positive nodes.

Hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion in the management of extremity sarcoma

High local drug concentrations can be achieved in a limb with minimal systemic toxicity with the technique of hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion (HILP). The currently most successful drugs are still Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFalpha) and melphalan. With HILP, as an induction chemotherapy treatment of locally advanced primarily irresectable soft tissue sarcomas of a limb, a limb salvage rate of 71% can be achieved, with a minimal treatment related morbidity. For the HILP is no upper age limit. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome is currently seldom seen. The exact working mechanisms of TNFalpha are still unknown. Experimental work is now directed to the development of drugs sensitizing the tumor vasculature to the effects of TNFalpha. In the clinical HILP setting are currently lower doses of TNFalpha in combination with melphalan investigated. Although multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major issue in effectiveness of chemotherapy in human cancer treatment, HILPs with TNFalpha and melphalan did not induce MDR in sarcomas. The future research in HILP with TNFalpha is directed in increasing tumor sensitivity for TNF with lowering the dosage without decreasing tumor response.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer

The concept of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in breast cancer patients is simple, attractive and rapidly emerging as a new standard of care. Several aspects of the technique of lymphatic mapping, case selection, pathologic analysis and the finding of micrometastases, and the accuracy of the technique are important subjects of study and debate in the literature and will be discussed in this review. High identification rates can be attained by the use of both radioguided and blue dye lymphatic mapping. Intradermal injection of tracers has reported to be successful, suggesting that dermal and parenchymal lymphatics drain to the same SLN. Extra axillary drainage is only seen after peri- or intratumoural injection. SLN biopsy is most widely used for both palpable and non-palpable T1 and T2 tumours, and limited experience exists for other indications. Accuracy is high only in experienced hands. The impact of failure of the procedure on regional disease control and survival will be assessed in a trial of the NSABP (National Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project). The influence of a positive SLN biopsy with and without axillary dissection on survival and local control will be studied in trials of the BASO (British Association of Surgical Oncology), ACOSOG (American College of Surgeons Oncology Group) and EORTC (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer). These phase III trials and related studies on the importance of micrometastases in the SLN will give new insights in the safety of the SLN procedure and in the importance of treatment of regional lymph nodes in relation to local disease control and survival.