da Silva JL, Carvalho GDS, Zanetti de Albuquerque L, Rodrigues FR, Fernandes PV, Kischinhevsky D, de Melo AC. Exploring Real-World HER2-Low Data in Early-Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Insights and Implications.
BREAST CANCER (DOVE MEDICAL PRESS) 2023;
15:337-347. [PMID:
37188066 PMCID:
PMC10178312 DOI:
10.2147/bctt.s408743]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to compare the clinical behavior, clinicopathological and sociodemographic characteristics of patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who belong to the HER2-low and HER2-zero subgroups.
Patients and Methods
This study involved a thorough search in the internal database of a single Brazilian institution to identify women with TNBC who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by curative surgery within the period from January 2010 to December 2014. HER2 analysis through immunohistochemistry (IHC) and, if required, amplification by in situ hybridization, was conducted using core biopsy samples. The study assesses outcomes of residual cancer burden (RCB), event-free survival (EFS), and overall survival (OS).
Results
A total of 170 cases were analyzed, with a mean age of 51.4 years (standard deviation, SD 11.2). The HER2 status was categorized as IHC 0, 1+, or 2+ in 80 (47.1%), 73 (42.9%), and 17 (10%) patients, respectively. No significant differences were observed in the prevalence of clinical pathological characteristics among the subgroups. The absence of significant results for clinicopathological and demographic features hindered the multivariate analysis of HER2 subgroups. Similarly, no significant differences were found in the RCB, EFS, and OS outcomes between HER2 subgroups.
Conclusion
The findings of this study suggest that, in early-stage TNBC, the clinical behavior and survival outcomes of the HER2-low subgroup may not differ significantly from those of the HER2-zero subgroup.
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