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Lefrère H, Moore K, Floris G, Sanders J, Seignette IM, Bismeijer T, Peters D, Broeks A, Hooijberg E, Van Calsteren K, Neven P, Warner E, Peccatori FA, Loibl S, Maggen C, Han SN, Jerzak KJ, Annibali D, Lambrechts D, de Visser KE, Wessels L, Lenaerts L, Amant F. Poor Outcome in Postpartum Breast Cancer Patients Is Associated with Distinct Molecular and Immunologic Features. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:3729-3743. [PMID: 37449970 PMCID: PMC10502474 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-3645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Patients with postpartum breast cancer diagnosed after cessation of breastfeeding (postweaning, PP-BCPW) have a particularly poor prognosis compared with patients diagnosed during lactation (PP-BCDL), or to pregnant (Pr-BC) and nulliparous (NP-BC) patients, regardless of standard prognostic characteristics. Animal studies point to a role of the involution process in stimulation of tumor growth in the mammary gland. However, in women, the molecular mechanisms that underlie this poor prognosis of patients with PP-BCPW remain vastly underexplored, due to of lack of adequate patient numbers and outcome data. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We explored whether distinct prognostic features, common to all breast cancer molecular subtypes, exist in postpartum tumor tissue. Using detailed breastfeeding data, we delineated the postweaning period in PP-BC as a surrogate for mammary gland involution and performed whole transcriptome sequencing, immunohistochemical, and (multiplex) immunofluorescent analyses on tumor tissue of patients with PP-BCPW, PP-BCDL, Pr-BC, and NP-BC. RESULTS We found that patients with PP-BCPW having a low expression level of an immunoglobulin gene signature, but high infiltration of plasma B cells, have an increased risk for metastasis and death. Although PP-BCPW tumor tissue was also characterized by an increase in CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and reduced distance among these cell types, these parameters were not associated with differential clinical outcomes among groups. CONCLUSIONS These data point to the importance of plasma B cells in the postweaning mammary tumor microenvironment regarding the poor prognosis of PP-BCPW patients. Future prospective and in-depth research needs to further explore the role of B-cell immunobiology in this specific group of young patients with breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanne Lefrère
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Gynaecological Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Gynaecology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kat Moore
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Giuseppe Floris
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, Unit of Translational Cell & Tissue Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Pathology, Unit of Translational Cell & Tissue Research, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Multidisciplinary Breast Centre, UZ-KU Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joyce Sanders
- Department of Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Iris M. Seignette
- Department of Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tycho Bismeijer
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis Peters
- Department of Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Annegien Broeks
- Core Facility Molecular Pathology and Biobanking, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erik Hooijberg
- Department of Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Kristel Van Calsteren
- Departement of Reproduction and regeneration, Division Women and Child, Feto-Maternal Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrick Neven
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Gynaecological Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Multidisciplinary Breast Centre, UZ-KU Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ellen Warner
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Fedro Alessandro Peccatori
- Division of Gynaecological Oncology, Department of Gynaecology, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Sibylle Loibl
- German Breast Group, Neu-Isenburg, Hessen, Germany
- Centre for Haematology and Oncology Bethanien, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Charlotte Maggen
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Gynaecological Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, University Hospital Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sileny N. Han
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Gynaecological Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katarzyna J. Jerzak
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniela Annibali
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Gynaecological Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Diether Lambrechts
- Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Karin E. de Visser
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Division of Tumour Biology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Lodewyk Wessels
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Faculty of EEMCS, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Liesbeth Lenaerts
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Gynaecological Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frédéric Amant
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Gynaecological Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Gynaecology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Vohra SN, Reeder-Hayes KE, Nichols HB, Emerson MA, Love MI, Olshan AF, Troester MA. Breast cancer treatment patterns by age and time since last pregnancy in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study Phase III. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2022; 192:435-445. [PMID: 35006482 PMCID: PMC8930462 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-022-06511-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To describe breast cancer treatment patterns among premenopausal women by age and time since last pregnancy. METHODS Data were analyzed from 1179 women diagnosed with premenopausal breast cancer in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study. Of these, 160 had a recent pregnancy (within 5 years of cancer diagnosis). Relative frequency differences (RFDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to compare cancer stage, treatment modality received, treatment initiation delay (> 30 days), and prolonged treatment duration (> 2 to > 8 months depending on the treatment received) by age and recency of pregnancy. RESULTS Recently postpartum women were significantly more likely to have stage III disease [RFD (95% CI) 12.2% (3.6%, 20.8%)] and to receive more aggressive treatment compared to nulliparous women. After adjustment for age, race and standard clinical tumor characteristics, recently postpartum women were significantly less likely to have delayed treatment initiation [RFD (95% CI) - 11.2% (- 21.4%, - 1.0%)] and prolonged treatment duration [RFD (95% CI) - 17.5% (- 28.0%, - 7.1%)] and were more likely to have mastectomy [RFD (95% CI) 14.9% (4.8%, 25.0%)] compared to nulliparous. Similarly, younger women (< 40 years of age) were significantly less likely to experience prolonged treatment duration [RFD (95% CI) - 5.6% (- 11.1%, - 0.0%)] and more likely to undergo mastectomy [RFD (95% CI) 10.6% (5.2%, 16.0%)] compared to the study population as a whole. CONCLUSION These results suggest that recently postpartum and younger women often received prompt and aggressive breast cancer treatment. Higher mortality and recurrence among recently pregnant women are unlikely to be related to undertreatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanah N Vohra
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Katherine E Reeder-Hayes
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Hazel B Nichols
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Marc A Emerson
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Michael I Love
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Andrew F Olshan
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Melissa A Troester
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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McDonald JA, Vilfranc CL, Terry MB. The Epidemiology of Pregnancy-Related Breast Cancers: Are We Ready to Deliver? Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022; 31:518-520. [PMID: 35253046 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-21-1445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The dual effect of pregnancy on breast cancer risk has long been recognized. The short-term increase in breast cancer after pregnancy, particularly cancers that are more aggressive, contrasts starkly with the longer-term decrease. It remains unclear how these opposing effects of pregnancy relate to molecular subtypes of breast cancer, which impacts translation. Several methodologic challenges remain related to the study and operationalization of key constructs, which remain complicated by the correlation between age at pregnancies, overall parity, and intervals between pregnancies and cancer diagnoses. In this issue of CEBP, Vohra and colleagues address some of these major gaps as well as present novel data on the breast tissue microenvironment. The increasing incidence of invasive breast cancer in women under age 50 years requires improved clinical translation and identification of higher risk women after pregnancy. Thus, it is crucial to address the gaps in our biological understanding of pregnancy-related breast cancers. See related article by Vohra et al., p. 561.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine A McDonald
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York.,Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Chrystelle L Vilfranc
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Mary Beth Terry
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York.,Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
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