Adjuvant endocrine therapy for women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer: american society of clinical oncology clinical practice guideline focused update

Oral minoxidil for late alopecia in cancer survivors

PURPOSE

Late alopecia, defined as incomplete hair regrowth > 6 months following cytotoxic chemotherapy or > 6 months from initiation of endocrine therapy, negatively impacts quality of life and may affect dose intensity of adjuvant therapy. This study investigates the effect of oral minoxidil in women with chemotherapy and/or endocrine therapy-induced late alopecia.

METHODS

The rate of clinical response was assessed by standardized photography and quantitated with trichoscopy.

RESULTS

Two hundred and sixteen patients (mean age 57.8 ± 13.7) were included. The most common cancer diagnosis was breast, in 170 patients (79.1%). Alopecia developed after chemotherapy in 31 (14.4%) patients, endocrine monotherapy in 65 (30.1%) patients, and chemotherapy followed by endocrine therapy in 120 (55.6%) patients. In 119 patients, standardized photography assessments were used to determine clinical change in alopecia after a median of 105 (IQR = 70) days on oral minoxidil and revealed improvement in 88 (74%) patients. Forty-two patients received quantitative trichoscopic assessments at baseline and at follow-up after a median of 91 (IQR = 126) days on oral minoxidil. Patients had clinically and statistically significant increases in frontal hair shaft density (from 124.2 hairs/cm2 at initial to 153.2 hairs/cm2 at follow-up assessment, p = 0.008) and occipital shaft density (from 100.3 hairs/cm2 at initial to 123.5 hairs/cm2 at follow-up assessment. p = 0.004). No patients discontinued oral minoxidil due to adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, oral minoxidil was well tolerated by patients and may benefit both frontal and occipital late alopecia in cancer survivors treated with cytotoxic and/or endocrine therapy by increasing hair shaft and follicle density.

CYP2D6 activity in patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with single agent tamoxifen: results from ECOG-ACRIN E3108

PURPOSE

In tamoxifen-treated individuals, reduced-function genetic variants in the CYP2D6 gene or inhibition of the enzyme result in low circulating endoxifen concentrations. We assessed the impact of reduced CYP2D6 activity and circulating endoxifen concentrations on breast cancer outcomes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with locally advanced or stage IV hormone receptor-positive breast cancer were enrolled in this single arm phase II trial and received open label tamoxifen 20 mg PO daily. The primary objective was to assess CYP2D6 poor metabolizer (PM) vs intermediate and normal metabolizer status (IM + NM) with progression-free survival (PFS). CYP2D6 phenotype was determined from whole blood samples (Roche Amplichip), and secondary endpoint evaluated endoxifen concentrations determined from 3 month post registration plasma samples (Quest Diagnostics).

RESULTS

From September 2010 to June 2013, 113 of planned 204 patients were registered to the trial and began protocol treatment. Accrual to the trial closed early due to lower-than-expected rate of CYP2D6 poor metabolizers. Median age was 62, 86% (97/113) were white, 33% (30/113) Hispanic, 83% (92/113) postmenopausal. Samples were evaluable for CYP2D6 in 75% (85/113) of patients (2/85 PM, 27/85 IM, and 56/85 NM). Median PFS for PM and IM + NM was 12.9 months and 6.9 months, respectively. Median PFS was 11.1 and 13.8 months respectively for patients with low (≤ 15.5) and high (> 15.5) endoxifen concentrations (ng/ml).

CONCLUSION

We did not observe significant associations between CYP2D6 metabolizer status or endoxifen with PFS. Small sample sizes and barriers to adequate samples in this trial prohibited determination of relationship between these markers and PFS.

TRIAL ID

NCT01124695 (registered May 14, 2010).

Adjuvant endocrine therapy and risk of contralateral breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

PURPOSE

Randomized clinical trials support reductions in contralateral breast cancer (CBC) risk with use of adjuvant endocrine therapy, however, real-world treatment effects, particularly for subgroups of breast cancer survivors, remain inconclusive. To address this, population-based observational studies of adjuvant endocrine therapy and CBC were synthesized and meta-analyzed.

METHODS

PubMed and Embase databases were systematically searched for observational studies of endocrine therapy use and CBC risk. Random effects meta-analyses estimated summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between endocrine therapy (ever use of tamoxifen and/or aromatase inhibitors (AIs)) and CBC risk. Heterogeneity across studies was assessed using the I2 test. Subgroup analyses were conducted by study design, menopausal status, and CBC estrogen receptor (ER)-status.

RESULTS

Seventeen eligible observational studies (n = 287,576 breast cancer survivors) published between 1995 and 2019 were included. Endocrine therapy use was associated with reduced CBC risk (RR:0.62, 95% CI:0.53, 0.73, I2 = 84.8%, p < 0.0001). No heterogeneity was observed by study design (phet = 0.9). Similar reductions were observed in analyses restricted to tamoxifen use. As only two studies assessed AI use, estimates could not be meta-analyzed. In subgroup analyses, there were no differences in CBC risk reduction by menopausal status (phet = 0.22). Endocrine therapy reduced risk of ER-positive (RR:0.55, 95% CI:0.43, 0.70) but not ER-negative CBC (RR:1.26, 95% CI:0.95, 1.66) (phet < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis of observational studies supports a reduction in CBC risk with endocrine therapy among breast cancer survivors, in concert with evidence synthesized from randomized clinical trials, and highlights differences in endocrine therapy effectiveness by ER-status of CBC.

Crosstalk of methylation and tamoxifen in breast cancer (Review)

Tamoxifen is a widely used anti‑estrogen drug in the endocrine therapy of breast cancer (BC). It blocks estrogen signaling by competitively binding to estrogen receptor α (ERα), thereby inhibiting the growth of BC cells. However, with the long‑term application of tamoxifen, a subset of patients with BC have shown resistance to tamoxifen, which leads to low overall survival and progression‑free survival. The molecular mechanism of resistance is mainly due to downregulation of ERα expression and abnormal activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Moreover, the downregulation of targeted gene expression mediated by DNA methylation is an important regulatory mode to control protein expression. In the present review, methylation and tamoxifen are briefly introduced, followed by a focus on the effect of methylation on tamoxifen resistance and sensitivity. Finally, the clinical application of methylation for tamoxifen is described, including its use as a prognostic indicator. Finally, it is hypothesized that when methylation is used in combination with tamoxifen, it could recover the resistance of tamoxifen.

Prevalence and risk factors of thyroid nodules in breast cancer women with different clinicopathological characteristics: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Association between breast cancer (BC) and thyroid nodules (TNs) is still unclear. This research was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of TN in Chinese BC women at initial diagnosis.

METHODS

1731 Chinese early-stage BC women at initial diagnosis underwent thyroid ultrasound and 1:1 age-matched Chinese healthy women underwent health examination in corresponding period were enrolled for analysis.

RESULTS

Prevalence of TN and TI-RADS ≥ 4 TN in BC patients (56.27% and 9.76%) were higher than healthy people (46.04% and 5.49%), respectively, P < 0.001. Among BC patients, prevalence of TN and TI-RADS ≥ 4 TN in hormone receptor (HR)-positive patients (59.57% and 11.81%) were higher than HR-negative patients (48.77% and 5.10%), respectively, P < 0.001, while without difference between HR-negative patients and healthy people. After adjusting for age and BMI, HR-positive patients had higher risk of TN (OR = 1.546, 95%CI 1.251-1.910, P < 0.001) and TI-RADS ≥ 4 TN (OR = 3.024, 95%CI 1.943-4.708, P < 0.001) than HR-negative patients. Furthermore, the risk of TI-RADS ≥ 4 TN was higher in patients with estrogen receptor (ER) positive (OR = 2.933, 95%CI 1.902-4.524), progesterone receptor (PR) positive (OR = 1.973, 95%CI 1.378-2.826), Ki-67 < 20% (OR = 1.797, 95%CI 1.280-2.522), and tumor size < 2 cm (OR = 1.804, 95%CI 1.276-2.552), respectively, P < 0.001.

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence of TN, especially TI-RADS ≥ 4 TN, in Chinese early-stage BC women was higher than healthy people. HR-positive patients had higher prevalence and risk of TN, while without difference between HR-negative patients and healthy people. The increased risk of TN was correlated with ER-positive, PR-positive, lower Ki-67 expression, and smaller tumor size.

An update on existing therapeutic options and status of novel anti-metastatic agents in breast cancer: Elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the pleiotropic action of Withania somnifera (Indian ginseng) in breast cancer attenuation

Major significant advancements in pharmacology and drug technology have been made to heighten the impact of cancer therapies, improving the life expectancy of subjects diagnosed with malignancy. Statistically, 99% of breast cancers occur in women while 0.5-1% occur in men, the female gender being the strongest breast cancer risk factor. Despite several breakthroughs, breast cancer continues to have a worldwide impact and is one of the leading causes of mortality. Additionally, resistance to therapy is a crucial factor enabling cancer cell persistence and resurgence. As a result, the search and discovery of novel modulatory agents and effective therapies capable of controlling tumor progression and cancer cell proliferation is critical. Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (WS), commonly known as Indian ginseng, has long been used traditionally for the treatment of several ailments in the Indian context. Recently, WS and its phytoconstituents have shown promising anti-breast cancer properties and, as such, can be employed as prophylactic as well as therapeutic adjuncts to the main line of breast cancer treatment. The present review is an attempt to explore and provide experimental evidences in support of the prophylactic and therapeutic potential of WS in breast cancer, along with a deeper insight into the multiple molecular mechanisms and novel targets through which it acts against breast and other hormonally-induced cancers viz. ovarian, uterine and cervical. This exploration might prove crucial in providing better understanding of breast cancer progression and metastasis and its use as an adjunct in improving disease prognosis and therapeutic outcome.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Secreted Exosomes and Soluble Signals Regulate Breast Cancer Metastatic Dormancy: Current Progress and Future Outlook

Breast cancer is most common in women, and in most cases there is no evidence of spread and the primary tumor is removed, resulting in a 'cure'. However, in 10% to 30% of these women, distant metastases recur after years to decades. This is due to breast cancer cells disseminating to distant organs and lying quiescent. This is called metastatic dormancy. Dormant cells are generally resistant to chemotherapy, hormone therapy and immunotherapy as they are non-cycling and receive survival signals from their microenvironment. In this state, they are clinically irrelevant. However, risk factors, including aging and inflammation can awaken dormant cells and cause breast cancer recurrences, which may happen even more than ten years after the primary tumor removal. How these breast cancer cells remain in dormancy is being unraveled. A key element appears to be the mesenchymal stem cells in the bone marrow that have been shown to promote breast cancer metastatic dormancy in recent studies. Indirect co-culture, direct co-culture and exosome extraction were conducted to investigate the modes of signal operation. Multiple signaling molecules act in this process including both protein factors and microRNAs. We integrate these studies to summarize current findings and gaps in the field and suggest future research directions for this field.

Association between trajectories of adherence to endocrine therapy and risk of treated breast cancer recurrence among US nonmetastatic breast cancer survivors

BACKGROUND

Endocrine therapy is the mainstay treatment for breast cancer (BC) to reduce BC recurrence risk. During the first year of endocrine therapy use, nearly 30% of BC survivors are nonadherent, which may increase BC recurrence risk. This study is to examine the association between endocrine therapy adherence trajectories and BC recurrence risk in nonmetastatic BC survivors.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included Medicare beneficiaries in the United States (US) with incident nonmetastatic BC followed by endocrine therapy initiation in 2010-2019 US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results linked Medicare data. We calculated monthly fill-based proportion of days covered in the first year of endocrine therapy. We applied group-based trajectory models to identify distinct endocrine therapy adherence patterns. After the end of the first-year endocrine therapy trajectory measurement period, we estimated the risk of time to first treated BC recurrence within 4 years using Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

We identified 5 trajectories of adherence to endocrine therapy in BC Stages 0-I subgroup (n = 28,042) and in Stages II-III subgroup (n = 7781). A trajectory of discontinuation before 6 months accounted for 7.0% in Stages 0-I and 5.8% in Stages II-III subgroups, and this trajectory was associated with an increased treated BC recurrence risk compared to nearly perfect adherence (Stages 0-I: adjusted hazard [aHR] = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.46-2.33; Stages II-III: aHR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.07-1.77).

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly 7% of BC survivors who discontinued before completing 6 months of treatment was associated with an increased treated BC recurrence risk compared to those with nearly perfect adherence among Medicare nonmetastatic BC survivors.

Assessment of sexual function in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors

Background

Breast cancer (BC) is considered a risk factor for sexual dysfunction, which may be associated with the diagnosis itself or with oncological treatments. However, sexual dysfunction often remains underdiagnosed and unaddressed among BC survivors.

Aim

The study sought to evaluate the sexual function of postmenopausal BC survivors compared with postmenopausal women without BC.

Methods

This case-control study included 178 postmenopausal BC survivors (stages I-III), 45 to 70 years of age, with amenorrhea for ≥12 months and sexually active. They were compared with 178 women without BC, matched (±2 years) for age and time since menopause in a 1:1 ratio. Sexual function was evaluated using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), which consists of 6 domains (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain), with a total score ≤26.5 indicating risk of sexual dysfunction. Statistical analysis included Student's t test, chi-square test, and logistic regression (odds ratio [OR]).

Outcomes

Evaluation of sexual function in postmenopausal women treated for BC.

Results

Postmenopausal BC survivors showed poorer sexual function in the desire domain (P = .002). No significant differences were observed between groups in the other FSFI domains and total score (P > .05). Postmenopausal BC survivors had a higher prevalence of risk of sexual dysfunction (64.6% with a total score ≤26.5) compared with the control group (51.6%) (P = .010). Adjusted risk analysis for age and time since menopause revealed a higher risk of sexual dysfunction in BC survivors compared with women without cancer (OR, 1.98; 95% confidence interval, 1.29-2.96; P = .007). Among BC survivors, the use of hormone therapy was associated with a higher risk of sexual dysfunction (OR, 3.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.59-7.51; P = .002).

Clinical Implications

Postmenopausal BC survivors should be regularly assessed before and throughout treatment to enable the early detection and diagnosis of sexual dysfunction.

Strength and Limitations

The main strength is that this study might contribute to a better understanding of sexual function in postmenopausal BC survivors compared with women without BC. The main limitation is that while the FSFI is a valid and reliable tool for the evaluation of female sexual function, it does not allow a comprehensive diagnosis of sexual dysfunction, as it is not applicable to partners.

Conclusion

Compared with postmenopausal women without BC, postmenopausal BC survivors face a higher risk of sexual dysfunction, especially when treated with adjuvant hormone therapy.

Letrozole delays acquisition of water maze task in female BALB/c mice: Possible involvement of anxiety

Letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor preventing estrogen synthesis from testosterone, is used as an adjuvant therapy in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer patients. However, like other aromatase inhibitors, it induces many side effects, including impaired cognition. Despite its negative effect in humans, results from animal models are inconsistent and suggest that letrozole can either impair or improve cognition. Here, we studied the effects of chronic letrozole treatment on cognitive behavior of adult female BALB/c mice, a relevant animal model for breast cancer studies, to develop an appropriate animal model aimed at testing therapies to mitigate side effects of letrozole. In Morris water maze, letrozole 0.1 mg/kg impaired reference learning and memory. Interestingly, most of the letrozole 0.1 mg/kg-treated mice were able to learn the new platform position in reversal training and performed similar to control mice in a reversal probe test. Results of the reversal test suggest that letrozole did not completely disrupt spatial navigation, but rather delayed acquisition of spatial information. The delay might be related to increased anxiety as suggested by increased thigmotactic behavior during the reference memory training. The learning impairment was water maze-specific since we did not observe impairment in other spatial tasks such as in Y-maze or object location test. In contrast, the dose of 0.3 mg/kg did not have effect on water maze learning and facilitated locomotor habituation and recognition in novel object recognition test. The current study shows that letrozole dose-dependently modulates behavioral response and that its effects are task-dependent.

The correlation study between TOP2A gene expression in circulating tumor cells and chemotherapeutic drug resistance of patients with breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Patients with breast cancer (BC) at advanced stages have poor outcomes because of high rate of recurrence and metastasis. Biomarkers for predicting prognosis remain to be explored. This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and outcomes of BC patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 50 female were enrolled in this study. Their diagnoses were determined by clinical characteristics, image data, and clinical pathology. CTC subtypes and TOP2A gene expression on CTCs were detected by CanPatrol™ technology and triple color in situ RNA hybridization (RNA-ISH), which divided into epithelial CTCs (eCTCs), mesenchymal CTCs (MCTCs), and hybrid CTCs (HCTCs) based on their surface markers. Hormone receptor, including estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) expression, was measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC) method before treatment. The risk factors for predicting recurrence and metastasis were calculated by COX risk regression model. The progression-free survival (PFS) of patients was determined using Kaplan-Meier survival curve.

RESULTS

The patients with a large tumor size (≥ 3 cm) and advanced tumor node metastasis (TNM) stages had high total CTCs (TCTCs) (P < 0.05). These patients also had high TOP2A expression level. COX risk regression analysis indicated that TOP2A expression levels in TCTCs, ER + , HER-2 + , and TNM stages were critical risk factors for recurrence and metastasis of patients (P < 0.05). The PFS of patients with ≥ 5 TCTCs, ≥ 3 HCTCs, and positive TOP2A expression in ≥ 3 TCTCs was significantly longer than that in patient with < 5 TCTCs, < 3 HCTCs, and TOP2A expression in < 3 TCTCs (P < 0.05). In contrast, the PFS of patients with positive hormone receptors (ER + , PR + , HER-2 +) also was dramatically lived longer than that in patients with negative hormone receptor expression.

CONCLUSIONS

High TCTC, HCTCs, and positive TOP2A gene expression on CTCs were critical biomarkers for predicting outcomes of BC patients. Positive hormone receptor expression in BC patients has significant favor PFS.

Design and methods of the mobile assessment of cognition, environment, and sleep (MACES) feasibility study in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients

Endocrine therapy (ET) for breast cancer treatment is associated with cognitive complaints, but their etiology is poorly understood. To address this, we developed and implemented an ambulatory assessment protocol consisting of wearable activity monitors, brief surveys of affect, context, and perceived impairments, and ultra-brief performance-based measures of cognition. Newly diagnosed, ER/PR+, stage 0-III, female breast cancer patients, were recruited. Ambulatory assessments were conducted on smart phones and wearable activity monitors were used to monitor sleep and physical activity. Participants were asked to complete five 7-day measurement bursts (one before starting ET and one each month for 4 consecutive months while on ET). We observed a consent rate of 36%, 27 women completed the study. Of the women that withdrew, 91% dropped prior to the midpoint of follow up. There were no significant differences in demographics, clinical breast cancer characteristics, sleep or physical activity patterns, or measures of cognition between women who completed versus withdrew. Women who did not complete the study provided fewer valid days of baseline data. In conclusion, while some women may be overwhelmed with their cancer diagnosis, we did not identify any predictive characteristics of women whom did not complete the study. This novel method enables the prospective study of psychological changes associated with cancer treatment, capturing a wide array of information about behavior, experience, and cognition, thus providing a picture of the lived experiences of cancer patients before and during exposure to ET.

A computed tomography radiomics-based model for predicting osteoporosis after breast cancer treatment

Many treatments against breast cancer decrease the level of estrogen in blood, resulting in bone loss, osteoporosis and fragility fractures in breast cancer patients. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate a novel opportunistic screening for cancer treatment-induced bone loss (CTIBL) in breast cancer patients using CT radiomics. Between 2011 and 2021, a total of 412 female breast cancer patients who received treatment and were followed up in our institution, had post-treatment dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) examination of the lumbar vertebrae and had post-treatment chest CT scan that encompassed the L1 vertebra, were included in this study. Results indicated that the T-score of L1 vertebra had a strongly positive correlation with the average T-score of L1-L4 vertebrae derived from DXA (r = 0.91, p < 0.05). On multivariable analysis, four clinical variables (age, body weight, menopause status, aromatase inhibitor exposure duration) and three radiomic features extracted from the region of interest of L1 vertebra (original_firstorder_RootMeanSquared, wavelet.HH_glcm_InverseVariance, and wavelet.LL_glcm_MCC) were selected for building predictive models of L1 T-score and bone health. The predictive model combining clinical and radiomic features showed the greatest adjusted R2 value (0.557), sensitivity (83.6%), specificity (74.2%) and total accuracy (79.4%) compared to models that relied solely on clinical data, radiomic features, or Hounsfield units. In conclusion, the clinical-radiomic predictive model may be used as an opportunistic screening tool for early identification of breast cancer survivors at high risk of CTIBL based on non-contrast CT images of the L1 vertebra, thereby facilitating early intervention for osteoporosis.

Suboptimal use of ovarian function suppression in very young women with early breast cancer: a real-world data study

PURPOSE

The incidence of breast cancer in young women (BCYW) has increased in recent decades. Malignant disease in this subset is characterized by its aggressiveness and poor prognosis. Ovarian function suppression (OFS) in these patients improves survival especially in hormone receptor-positive (HR +) cases. The Regan Composite Risk (RCR) is a prognostic tool to identify high-risk HR + BC candidates for OFS. Our study sought to characterize a Chilean cohort of early HR + BCYW assessing the use of OFS and its related prognosis and the utility of RCR in our patients.

METHODS

This was a retrospective population cohort study that included ≤ 35-year-old early HR + /human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 -negative (HER2-) BC patients treated between 2001 and 2021. Analysis included clinical-pathological characteristics, treatment strategies, and survival. Also, we evaluated the association between RCR and survival.

RESULTS

A total of 143 patients were included into our study, representing 2.9% of all early BC cases in our registry. Median age was 31 years old (range: 19-35). Most patients (93%) received endocrine therapy (ET). Of these, 18% received OFS. No survival differences were observed among treatment strategies. Median RCR score for patients treated with CT plus ET was significantly higher vs. ET alone (2.95 vs. 1.91; p = 0.0001). Conversely, patients treated with tamoxifen alone had significantly lower RCR scores vs. OFS (2.72 vs. 3.14; p = 0.04). Higher RCR scores were associated with poorer overall survival.

CONCLUSION

Less than 20% of very young women with early HR + /HER2-BC in our cohort received OFS, in most cases, this involved surgical oophorectomy. RCR score was higher in patients that underwent CT and OFS and was associated with survival, regardless of treatment. We confirm the RCR score as a valuable prognostic tool to identify high-risk BC patients who could benefit from OFS.

Managing Symptom Distress: Key Factors for Patients on Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy for Breast Cancer

CONTEXT

Patients with breast cancer taking adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) experience significant symptoms impacting mood, quality of life (QOL), and AET adherence and satisfaction.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to examine the extent to which coping ability and self-efficacy for symptom management moderate the relationships between patients' symptom distress and their mood, QOL, and AET adherence and satisfaction.

METHODS

As part of a randomized controlled trial, participants completed baseline measures including: sociodemographics, symptom distress (breast cancer prevention trial symptom checklist), coping skills (measure of current status), self-efficacy (self-efficacy for managing symptoms), anxiety and depression (hospital anxiety and depression scale), QOL (functional assessment of cancer therapy - general), AET adherence (medication adherence report scale), and AET satisfaction (cancer therapy satisfaction questionnaire). We conducted moderated regression analyses to examine whether coping and self-efficacy moderated the associations of symptom distress with baseline measures.

RESULTS

Coping skills moderated the associations of symptom distress with depression and QOL. Among those with lower coping, higher symptom distress was associated with worse depression symptoms (p=.04) and worse QOL (p < 0.001). Self-efficacy moderated the associations of symptom distress with depression symptoms and AET adherence and satisfaction. Among those with higher self-efficacy, higher symptom distress was associated with worse depression symptoms (p < 0.001), worse AET adherence (p < 0.001), and less AET satisfaction (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Coping skills may buffer the effect of AET symptom distress. Findings indicate the relationship between symptom distress and self-efficacy is more nuanced and requires further research to better understand.

Quantitative Assessment of PALB2 and BRIP1 Genes Expression in the Breast Cancer Cell Line under the Influence of Tamoxifen

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is considered one of the leading causes of mortality in the world. Cancer incidence and consequently, drug consumption can strongly influence gene expressions at the transcriptome level. Therefore, the assessment of the candidate biomarkers' gene expression can accelerate the diagnosis process and increase the chance of treatment and remission. In this regard, the quantitative assessment of Partner and localizer of BRCA2 (PALB2) and BRCA1 Interacting Helicase 1 (BRIP1) genes expression in the breast cancer cell line under the treatment of Tamoxifen (TAM) was executed in this study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MCF7 cells were cultured as TAM-treated and control groups. RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis were performed based on the instructions of provided kits. qPCR Hi-ROX Master Mix kit was applied to the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR). The outputs of Q-PCR were analyzed by REST statistical software.

RESULTS

Outcomes derived from data analysis of BRIP1 gene expression did not show any significant difference between the gene expression of control and TAM-treated groups. The expression of PALB2 was significantly higher in the TAM-treated group compared to the control group (P0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our findings showed a significant alteration between PALB2 gene expression in the TAM-treated breast cancer cell line and the control cell line. The quantitative assessment of mentioned genes as possible markers could be considered a non-invasive method for breast cancer in the processes of prognostic evaluations, screening, and treatment monitoring.

Aromatase inhibitors: the journey from the state of the art to clinical open questions

Breast cancer is a major cause of death among females. Great advances have been made in treating this disease, and aromatase inhibitors (AIs) have been recognized as the cornerstone. They are characterized by high efficacy and low toxicity. The authors reviewed the available literature and defined state-of-the-art AI management. This study was designed to assist clinicians in addressing the need to equally weigh patients' needs and disease control rates in their everyday clinical practice. Today, AIs play a central role in the treatment of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. In this study, an expert panel reviewed the literature on the use of AIs, discussing the evolution of their use in various aspects of breast cancer, from pre- and postmenopausal early breast cancer to metastatic breast cancer, along with their management regarding efficacy and toxicity. Given the brilliant results that have been achieved in improving survival in everyday clinical practice, clinicians need to address their concerns about therapy duration and the adverse effects they exert on bone health, the cardiovascular system, and metabolism. Currently, in addition to cancer treatment, patient engagement is crucial for improving adherence to therapy and supporting patients' quality of life, especially in a selected subset of patients, such as those receiving an extended adjuvant or combination with targeted therapies. A description of modern technologies that contribute to this important goal is provided.

The experiences of adjuvant endocrine therapy for women breast cancer survivors: A literature review

INTRODUCTION

Adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) is commonly recommended for non-metastatic breast cancer survivors. However, the side-effects associated with AET can have a negative impact on survivors' functional status and quality of life. Understanding the factors influencing adherence to AET is crucial in improving its utilization among female breast cancer survivors.

CONCLUSIONS

This literature review critically evaluated 15 articles to explore the experiences of female breast cancer survivors in adhering to and persisting with AET. The findings highlight that while AET can cause drug side-effects, the involvement of healthcare professionals (HCP) plays a significant role in facilitating better use of AET. Unfortunately, many HCP fail to discuss vital information related to AET or provide guidance on managing side-effects and daily medication. Consequently, survivors often lack guidance in these areas. Despite experiencing discomfort, survivors maintain a positive attitude towards using AET and employ self-management strategies and social networks to overcome barriers. The impact of HCP on AET adherence among female breast cancer survivors is substantial. Future research should focus on understanding perspectives that promote HCP involvement, which will inform practical intervention strategies in clinical practice.

Long-term locoregional recurrence in patients treated for breast cancer

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Locoregional control in breast cancer is a fundamental part of treatment and determinant for survival outcomes. It has been reported that most locoregional recurrence (LRR) events occur in the first 5 years after treatment. However, LRR continue to occur after this timeline, with unclear risk factors and unknown survival impact.

METHODS

Retrospective singe-centered cohort of patients treated for primary breast cancer, between January 2002 and December 2004. Primary outcome was LRR; secondary outcomes were overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and predictive factors for LRR.

RESULTS

This analysis included 1001 patients, of which 959 (95%) had invasive carcinoma. A mastectomy was performed in 501 (50%) and 500 (50%) had breast conservative surgery (BCS). Median follow-up time was 197 [Inter-quartile range (IQR) 96-211] months. Global LRR rate was 7.6%, with median time to recurrence of 45 [IQR 21-91] months. There was no difference in LRR rate after mastectomy vs BCS, adjusted to tumor stage (p > 0.05). The 10-year OS and DFS rates were 68.4 and 77.8%, respectively. Factors associated with LRR were metastatic axillary lymph nodes and high histologic grade (p < 0.05). Estrogen-negative (ER) tumors had higher LRR rates than ER-positive tumors in the first 5 years (p < 0.05); but no difference was observed with longer follow-up (p > 0.05). LRR was associated with OS (p < 0.05).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Global LRR in this cohort was 7.6% (with over 16 years of follow-up). LRR associates with decreased OS. Time to LRR varies significantly with tumor biology, supporting differentiation of follow-up regimens.

Endogenous Enzyme-Powered DNA Nanomotor Operating in Living Cells for microRNA Imaging

Accurate and specific imaging of low-abundance microRNA (miRNA) in living cells is extremely important for disease diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression. DNA nanomotors have shown great potential for imaging molecules of interest in living cells. However, inappropriate driving forces and complex design and operation procedures have hindered their further application. Here, we proposed an endogenous enzyme-powered DNA nanomotor (EEPDN), which employs an endogenous APE1 enzyme as fuel to execute repetitive cycles of motion for miRNA imaging in living cells. The whole motor system is constructed based on gold nanoparticles without other auxiliary additives. Due to the high efficiency of APE1, this EEPDN system has achieved highly sensitive miRNA imaging in living cells within 1.5 h. This strategy was also successfully used to differentiate the expression of specific miRNA between tumor cells and normal cells, demonstrating a high tumor cell selectivity. This strategy can promote the development of novel nanomotors and is expected to be a perfect intracellular molecular imaging tool for biological and medical applications.

Insights adjusting for non-adherence in randomized clinical trials: a reanalysis of an adjuvant trial of tamoxifen duration in early breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Several randomized clinical trials provide evidence of the survival benefit of extended adjuvant tamoxifen in women with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive early breast cancer (BC). However, non-adherence may lead to underestimate treatment effects using intention to treat (ITT) methods. We reanalyzed a randomized trial using contemporary statistical methods adjusting for non-adherence.

METHODS

The TAM01 study was a phase 3 trial including women with early BC, who had completed 2-3 years of adjuvant tamoxifen between 1986 and 1995. Participants were randomly assigned to continue tamoxifen up to 10 years or to discontinue the treatment at randomization. Invasive disease-free survival (iDFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using marginal structural models (MSM) and rank preserving structural failure time model (RPSFTM).

RESULTS

Of 3830 patients enrolled, 2485 were randomized to extended tamoxifen, and 1345 to treatment discontinuation. The 10-year non-adherence rate in the extended group was 27.2%. Among women with ER-positive BC (n = 2402), extended tamoxifen was associated with a 45% and 21% relative improvement in iDFS by MSM and RPSFTM, respectively (Hazard Ratio (HR), 0.55; 95% Confidence Interval (CI), 0.48-0.64 and HR, 0.79; 95%CI, 0.67-0.95, respectively), a considerable greater benefit than in the ITT analysis (HR, 0.90; 95%CI, 0.81-0.99). The OS reanalysis revealed a substantial benefit of extended tamoxifen (MSM: HR, 0.70; 95%CI, 0.59-0.83; RPSFTM: HR, 0.85; 95%CI, 0.67-1.04), compared to the ITT analyses (HR, 0.94; 95%CI, 0.84-1.07).

CONCLUSION

This analysis emphasizes both the importance of adherence to hormonotherapy in hormone-receptor positive early BC and the usefulness of more complex statistical analyses.

Hormone receptors in breast cancer: An update on the uncommon subtypes

Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women and is the second leading cause of cancer death among US women. Estrogen receptor (ER) signaling plays a crucial role in mammary gland development and carcinogenesis. Near 80 % of invasive breast cancers are ER-positive (ER+). Endocrine therapies targeting ER have significantly improved the prognostic outcomes in the patients with ER+ breast cancer, and the therapeutic effects are strongly correlated with the levels of the ER expression in tumor cells. Despite being an ER-dependent gene product, PR is not always overexpressed in ER+ tumors, and a small subset of breast cancers demonstrates an ER+/PR- phenotype, and a rare ER-/PR+ subtype also exists. There have been controversies on the biology of these tumor types and the predictive and prognostic power of PR status. Compelling data have shown the distinct biologic characteristics of ER+/PR- and ER-/PR+ tumors. Despite that ER-low breast cancers demonstrate more similarity to ER- tumors, at least a subset of ER-low carcinomas may have a functional ER signaling. Thus, adequate PR expression is essential as its absence indicates impaired ER pathway. Assessment of PR status may not only distinguish the ER+/PR- subset from the ER+ and ER-low tumors, but also differentiate the ER-/PR+ phenotype from the ER- carcinomas, both with therapeutic implications. This article was aimed to provide an up-to-date review focusing on the clinicopathologic characteristics of uncommon subtypes of breast cancer, including ER+/PR-, ER-/PR+, and ER-low breast cancers.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Interventions to Promote Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy Adherence Among Breast Cancer Survivors

PURPOSE

Adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) adherence among breast cancer survivors is often suboptimal, leading to higher cancer recurrence and mortality. Intervention studies to promote AET adherence have burgeoned, more than doubling in number since this literature was last reviewed. The current aim is to provide an up-to-date systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions to enhance AET adherence and to identify strengths and limitations of existing interventions to inform future research and clinical care.

METHODS

Systematic searches were conducted in three electronic databases. Studies were included in the systematic review if they examined an intervention for promoting AET adherence among breast cancer survivors. Studies were further included in the meta-analyses if they examined a measure of AET adherence (defined as compliance or persistence beyond initiation) and reported (or provided upon request) sufficient information to calculate an effect size.

RESULTS

Of 5,045 unique records, 33 unique studies representing 375,951 women met inclusion criteria for the systematic review. Interventions that educated patients about how to manage side effects generally failed to improve AET adherence, whereas policy changes that lowered AET costs consistently improved adherence. Medication reminders, communication, and psychological/coping strategies showed varied efficacy. Of the 33 studies that met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review, 25 studies representing 367,873 women met inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed statistically significant effects of the adherence interventions overall relative to study-specified control conditions (number of studies [k] = 25; odds ratio, 1.412; 95% CI, 1.183 to 1.682; P = .0001). Subgroup analyses showed that there were no statistically significant differences in effect sizes by study design (randomized controlled trial v other), publication year, directionality of the intervention (unidirectional v bidirectional contact), or intervention type.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first known meta-analysis to demonstrate a significant effect for interventions to promote AET adherence. The systematic review revealed that lowering medication costs and a subgroup of psychosocial and reminder interventions showed the most promise, informing future research, policy, and clinical directions.

FGF1 supports glycolytic metabolism through the estrogen receptor in endocrine-resistant and obesity-associated breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Obesity increases breast cancer risk and breast cancer-specific mortality, particularly for people with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumors. Body mass index (BMI) is used to define obesity, but it may not be the best predictor of breast cancer risk or prognosis on an individual level. Adult weight gain is an independent indicator of breast cancer risk. Our previous work described a murine model of obesity, ER-positive breast cancer, and weight gain and identified fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) as a potential driver of tumor progression. During adipose tissue expansion, the FGF1 ligand is produced by hypertrophic adipocytes as a stimulus to stromal preadipocytes that proliferate and differentiate to provide additional lipid storage capacity. In breast adipose tissue, FGF1 production may stimulate cancer cell proliferation and tumor progression.

METHODS

We explored the effects of FGF1 on ER-positive endocrine-sensitive and resistant breast cancer and compared that to the effects of the canonical ER ligand, estradiol. We used untargeted proteomics, specific immunoblot assays, gene expression profiling, and functional metabolic assessments of breast cancer cells. The results were validated in tumors from obese mice and breast cancer datasets from women with obesity.

RESULTS

FGF1 stimulated ER phosphorylation independently of estradiol in cells that grow in obese female mice after estrogen deprivation treatment. Phospho- and total proteomic, genomic, and functional analyses of endocrine-sensitive and resistant breast cancer cells show that FGF1 promoted a cellular phenotype characterized by glycolytic metabolism. In endocrine-sensitive but not endocrine-resistant breast cancer cells, mitochondrial metabolism was also regulated by FGF1. Comparison of gene expression profiles indicated that tumors from women with obesity shared hallmarks with endocrine-resistant breast cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our data suggest that one mechanism by which obesity and weight gain promote breast cancer progression is through estrogen-independent ER activation and cancer cell metabolic reprogramming, partly driven by FGF/FGFR. The first-line treatment for many patients with ER-positive breast cancer is inhibition of estrogen synthesis using aromatase inhibitors. In women with obesity who are experiencing weight gain, locally produced FGF1 may activate ER to promote cancer cell metabolic reprogramming and tumor progression independently of estrogen.

Natural-Product-Derived Adjunctive Treatments to Conventional Therapy and Their Immunoregulatory Activities in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an invasive and persistent subtype of breast cancer that is likely to be resistant to conventional treatments. The rise in immunotherapy has created new modalities to treat cancer, but due to high costs and unreliable efficacy, adjunctive and complementary treatments have sparked interest in enhancing the efficacy of currently available treatments. Natural products, which are bioactive compounds derived from natural sources, have historically been used to treat or ameliorate inflammatory diseases and symptoms. As TNBC patients have shown little to no response to immunotherapy, the potential of natural products as candidates for adjuvant immunotherapy is being explored, as well as their immunomodulatory effects on cancer. Due to the complexity of TNBC and the ever-changing tumor microenvironment, there are challenges in determining the feasibility of using natural products to enhance the efficacy or counteract the toxicity of conventional treatments. In view of technological advances in molecular docking, pharmaceutical networking, and new drug delivery systems, natural products show promise as potential candidates in adjunctive therapy. In this article, we summarize the mechanisms of action of selected natural-product-based bioactive compounds and analyze their roles and applications in combination treatments and immune regulation.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of indole-modified tamoxifen relatives as potent anticancer agents

Modulation of existing drugs is an attractive strategy to achieve improved activity in cancer therapy by lowering their effective dose. Preparation of relatives has been suggested and explored to improve the therapeutic effect of anticancer agents. In the current study, we attempted to modulate tamoxifen (TMX) by replacing the C-phenyl ring in its backbone with an indole or oxindole. In addition, it was possible to convert indole-modified tamoxifens to the corresponding 3,3'-bis(indolyl)methanes (BIMs) via an electrophilic substitution reaction with various benzaldehydes. We analyzed the anticancer potential of these indole-modified tamoxifens against various breast cancer cell lines and identified certain tamoxifen relatives with the potential to treat estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancers, based on preliminary results of cell viability and caspase activity assays. The indole-modified tamoxifen BIM-Z,Z-35b, BIM-Z,Z-35f, and E-33 selectively reduced the viability of receptor-sensitive breast cancer cells more effectively than tamoxifen and suppressed the expression of ER-regulated genes. Moreover, Caspase-8 activity showed a specific increase in MCF-7 cells treated with these compounds. Our results indicate that these compounds may be an alternative to tamoxifen for the treatment of breast cancer.

CITED1 as a marker of favourable outcome in anti-endocrine treated, estrogen-receptor positive, lymph-node negative breast cancer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate CITED1 as a potential biomarker of anti-endocrine response and breast cancer recurrence, given its previously determined role in mediating estrogen-dependant transcription. The study is a continuation of earlier work establishing the role of CITED1 in mammary gland development.

RESULTS

CITED1 mRNA is associated with estrogen-receptor positivity and selectively expressed in the GOBO dataset of cell lines and tumours representing the luminal-molecular subtype. In patients treated with tamoxifen, higher CITED1 correlated with better outcome, suggesting a role in anti-estrogen response. The effect was particularly evident in the subset of estrogen-receptor positive, lymph-node negative (ER+/LN-) patients although noticeable divergence of the groups was apparent only after five years. Tissue microarray (TMA) analysis further validated the association of CITED1 protein, by immunohistochemistry, with favourable outcome in ER+, tamoxifen-treated patients. Although we also found a favourable response to anti-endocrine treatment in a larger TCGA dataset, the tamoxifen-specific effect was not replicated. Finally, MCF7 cells overexpressing CITED1 showed selective amplification of AREG but not TGFα suggesting that maintenance of specific ERα-CITED1 mediated transcription is important for the long-term response to anti-endocrine therapy. These findings together confirm the proposed mechanism of action of CITED1 and support its potential use as a prognostic biomarker.

Advanced treatment strategies in breast cancer: A comprehensive mechanistic review

Breast cancer is a destructive lump type that affects women globally. Despite the availability of multi-directional therapeutic strategies, advanced stages of breast cancer are difficult to treat and impose major healthcare burdens. This situation reinforces the need to identify new potential therapeutic compounds with better clinical features. In this context, different treatment methods were included such as Endocrine therapy, chemotherapy, Radiation therapy, antimicrobial peptide-dependent growth inhibitor, liposome-based drug delivery, antibiotics used as a co-medication, photothermal, immunotherapy, and nano drug delivery systems such as Bombyx mori natural protein sericin and its mediated nanoparticles are promising biomedical agents. They have been tested as an anticancer agent against various malignancies in pre-clinical settings. The biocompatible and restricted breakdown properties of silk sericin and sericin-conjugated nanoparticles made them perfect contenders for a nanoscale drug-delivery system.

Enhancing Targeted Therapy in Breast Cancer by Ultrasound-Responsive Nanocarriers

Currently, the response to cancer treatments is highly variable, and severe side effects and toxicity are experienced by patients receiving high doses of chemotherapy, such as those diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. The main goal of researchers and clinicians is to develop new effective treatments that will be able to specifically target and kill tumor cells by employing the minimum doses of drugs exerting a therapeutic effect. Despite the development of new formulations that overall can increase the drugs’ pharmacokinetics, and that are specifically designed to bind overexpressed molecules on cancer cells and achieve active targeting of the tumor, the desired clinical outcome has not been reached yet. In this review, we will discuss the current classification and standard of care for breast cancer, the application of nanomedicine, and ultrasound-responsive biocompatible carriers (micro/nanobubbles, liposomes, micelles, polymeric nanoparticles, and nanodroplets/nanoemulsions) employed in preclinical studies to target and enhance the delivery of drugs and genes to breast cancer.

Severe hyperlipidemia pancreatitis induced by taking tamoxifen after breast cancer surgery—Case report

Introduction

The research investigates the mechanism, diagnosis, treatment, and subsequent endocrine therapy of severe pancreatitis induced by tamoxifen treatment in patients who have undergone breast cancer surgery.

Case presentation

We studied two cases of breast cancer in whom severe acute pancreatitis developed after taking tamoxifen for endocrine therapy in our hospital. A brief literature review was provided to analyze the causes, clinical manifestations, treatment process, and prognosis of severe acute pancreatitis. Both cases involved patients with severe hyperlipidemic pancreatitis. After conservative treatment, none of them died. Pancreatitis did not recur after changing endocrine therapy drugs.

Discussion/conclusion

Endocrine therapy with tamoxifen in breast cancer patients can induce hyperlipidemia, which can subsequently cause severe pancreatitis. The treatment of severe pancreatitis should strengthen the regulation of blood lipids. The application of low-molecular-weight heparin combined with insulin therapy can rapidly lower blood lipids. Involved treatments, including acid suppression, enzyme suppression, and peritoneal dialysis, can accelerate the recovery of pancreatitis and reduce the occurrence of serious complications. Patients with severe pancreatitis should not continue to use tamoxifen for endocrine therapy. To complete follow-up endocrine therapy, switching to a steroidal aromatase inhibitor is better if the situation allows it.

Adherence to Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy and Survival Among Older Women with Early-Stage Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Although improving adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapies (AETs) is critical to ensure better patient outcomes, the evidence is still lacking on differences in 5-year AET adherence trajectories. This study aimed to estimate the time trend of adherence by the type of individual AET and the association of adherence to AETs with overall survival among older women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

METHODS

This study used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database 2006-2016. We included women aged ≥ 65 years with newly diagnosed hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and who had initiated AET (anastrozole, letrozole, exemestane, or tamoxifen). Adherence to AETs was defined as the proportion of days covered that was calculated for the follow-up period (5 years). The overall survival time was defined as the time from the date of AET initiation to death. The linear mixed models with repeated measures were used to estimate the changes in adherence to AETs. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess the relationships (hazard ratio [HR] and 95% confidence interval [CI]) between adherence to AETs and death.

RESULTS

A total of 11,617 patients were included. Anastrozole was the most commonly used (n = 6,908), followed by letrozole (n = 2,586), tamoxifen (n = 1,750), and exemestane (n = 373). The mean (standard deviation) of proportion of days covered for 5 years was 57.4 (34.6), indicating the highest proportion of days covered in the anastrozole group [61.1 (34.1)] and the lowest proportion of days covered in the exemestane group [44.0 (35.1)]. Overall, adherence to AET decreased over the 5-year follow-up period in all AET groups, but the decrease in the tamoxifen group was steeper (42.3% decreased) compared with other AETs. Anastrozole, letrozole, and exemestane groups were associated with a lower risk of death compared with the tamoxifen group (HR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.71-0.89 for anastrozole; HR = 0.82, 95% CI 0.72-0.93 for letrozole; HR = 0.82, 95% CI 0.63-1.07 for exemestane).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who initiated with tamoxifen had a steeper decrease in adherence over the 5 years compared with anastrozole, letrozole, and exemestane groups. Furthermore, higher adherence was associated with a decreased risk of mortality. Physicians should be cognizant of decreasing adherence over time and choose effective treatment options with minimal side-effect profiles to better support adherence by patients with breast cancer.

Lycorine weakens tamoxifen resistance of breast cancer via abrogating HAGLR-mediated epigenetic suppression on VGLL4 by DNMT1

Much is known about the significance of lycorine, a natural alkaloid, in combating various types of cancer, including breast cancer (BC), but whether it participates in regulating tamoxifen (TAM) resistance and its underlying mechanism remain to be elucidated. Tamoxifen-resistant (TAMR) BC cells were first established by continuously exposed to increasing concentrations of TAM. Levels of targeted gene including HOXD antisense growth-associated lncRNA (HAGLR) and Vestigial like family member 4 (VGLL4) were analyzed by qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. Cell proliferation ability was assessed by MTT and EdU assays. Flow cytometry was carried out to evaluate the apoptosis. VGLL4 promoter methylation was examined using methylation specific PCR (MSP). The role of HAGLR acting on the expression of VGLL4 via DNA hypermethylation was confirmed by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP). Here, we reported that lycorine administration reduced the survival ratio of TAMR BC cells, decreased the IC₅₀ of TAM, and strengthened TAM-induced apoptosis. HAGLR, observed to be highly expressed in TAMR BC cells, was identified to be a downstream effector of lycorine, of which overexpression abolished lycorine-mediated TAMR inhibition. VGLL4 served as a target of HAGLR in regulating lycorine-mediated suppression on tamoxifen resistance of TAMR BC cells. Mechanistically, HAGLR epigenetically suppressed VGLL4 expression via DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1)-mediated DNA hypermethylation. Taken together, our data highlights the pivotal role of lycorine in TAM resistance of BC, which may provide a potential agent for improving the effectiveness and efficacy of BC resistance.

The impact of HIV on non-adherence for tamoxifen among women with breast cancer in South Africa

PURPOSE

Women living with HIV (WLWH) and breast cancer (BC) have worse overall survival than HIV-negative women with BC, and poor adherence to prescribed tamoxifen is known to contribute to poor survival. We therefore investigated the association of HIV infection with adherence to adjuvant tamoxifen among women with localized hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer in South Africa.

METHODS

Among 4,097 women diagnosed with breast cancer at six hospitals in the prospective South African Breast Cancer and HIV Outcomes (SABCHO) cohort study between July 2015 and December 2020, we focused on black women with stages I-III HR-positive breast cancer who were prescribed 20 mg of adjuvant tamoxifen daily. We collected venous blood once from each participant during a routine clinic visit, and analyzed concentrations of tamoxifen and its metabolites using a triple quadruple mass spectrometer. We defined non-adherence as a tamoxifen level < 60 ng/mL after 3 months of daily tamoxifen use. We compared tamoxifen-related side effects, and concurrent medication use among women with and without HIV and developed multivariable logistic regression models of tamoxifen non-adherence.

RESULTS

Among 369 subjects, 78 (21.1%) were WLWH and 291 (78.9%) were HIV-negative. After a median (interquartile range) time of 13.0 (6.2-25.2) months since tamoxifen initiation, the tamoxifen serum concentration ranged between 1.54 and 943.0 ng/mL and 208 (56.4%) women were non-adherent to tamoxifen. Women < 40 years of age were more likely to be non-adherent than women > 60 years (73.4% vs 52.6%, odds ratio (OR) = 2.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.26-4.94); likewise, WLWH (70.5% vs 52.6%, OR = 2.16, 95% CI = 1.26-3.70) than HIV-negative women. In an adjusted model WLWH had twice the odds of non-adherence to tamoxifen, compared to HIV-negative women (OR = 2.40, 95% CI = 1.11-5.20).

CONCLUSION

High rates of non-adherence to adjuvant tamoxifen may limit the overall survival of black South African women with HR-positive breast cancer, especially among WLWH.

Adherence to endocrine therapy in patients with hormone receptor-positive early-stage breast cancer: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

The persistence and adherence to endocrine therapy (ET) in hormone receptor-positive (HR +) breast cancer patients remain far less than optimal.

AIM

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate adherence to ET and to identify influencing factors in early-stage HR + breast cancer patients.

METHOD

A stratified random sampling method was used to select patients admitted for breast cancer surgery at a university hospital in Shanghai, China. Patients who received ET medications in the hospital information system (HIS) were included. The primary outcomes were early discontinuation of and adherence to ET. Potential factors influencing the discontinuation and adherence were assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

In total, 706 patients were included, and 161 (22.8%) discontinued ET in less than five years from the first prescription. The discontinuation rates from the one-year to the five-year treatment were 5.38, 16.70, 32.27, 51.52, and 50.00%, respectively (P < 0.001). The rates of adherence (defined as medication possession ratio ≥ 80%) from the first to the fifth year were 85.18, 82.25, 82.18, 72.92, and 73.68%, respectively (P = 0.18). Age, insurance, and surgery type impacted ET discontinuation and adherence. However, the type of medication only impacted the adherence to ET.

CONCLUSION

Persistence and adherence to ET in patients with breast cancer remain far from optimal and decrease over time. More attention should be paid to patients aged ≥ 70 years and those without insurance who tend to have early discontinuation of ET.

Prolonged endocrine therapy in the management of hormone receptor-positive early-stage breast cancer: What is the appropriate duration?

AIM

The clinical benefits associated with 5 years of endocrine therapy in the treatment of hormone receptor-positive, early-stage breast cancer (ESBC) have been well-substantiated. However, numerous studies have reported on the results of extended (i.e., >5 years) endocrine therapy to further effectuate a clinical benefit, with varying outcomes. Hence, the purpose of this study is to review these prolonged investigations and endeavor to clarify their corresponding treatment implications.

METHODS

We reviewed the study findings from several randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses, which incorporated clinical outcomes from pre-and postmenopausal, hormone receptor-positive, ESBC patients.

RESULTS

Hormone receptor-positive, ESBC patients treated with 5 years of endocrine therapy, who are node-negative with tumors <2 cm, will unlikely benefit from five additional years of treatment. Conversely, in women with larger tumors and node-positive disease, 7-8 total years of endocrine therapy may be indicated. Ultimately, clinicians should also consider the attendant side effects from endocrine therapy, namely bone fractures, namely cardiovascular symptoms, and vasomotor symptoms, when considering the appropriate treatment regimen.

CONCLUSIONS

While increased duration of endocrine therapy may selectively accord significant clinical benefits, prior to determining the patient's treatment interval, physicians should also assess the cumulative side effects from endocrine therapy when endeavoring to maintain treatment compliance and bolster quality of life.

Adapting an Evidence-Based Exercise and Education Program for Older Breast Cancer Survivors for the REJOIN Trial

Physical activity (PA) promotes survival and mitigates symptoms in older breast cancer survivors (BCS), especially to reduce joint pain associated with adjuvant hormonal treatment. The purpose is to describe the adaptation process for an evidence-based exercise and education curriculum (i.e., Fit & Strong!) to support older BCS participating in the Using Exercise to Relieve Joint Pain and Improve Aromatase Inhibitor Adherence in Older Breast Cancer Survivors trial. We reviewed all educational materials with scientific/clinical experts to identify necessary content changes. Next, we conducted semistructured phone interviews with BCS to review all educational materials and conducted a real-time pretest for the trial. Overall, BCS found the adapted materials and experience acceptable (mean score of 9.2/10 for satisfaction). Content changes included simplifying exercise instructions, prioritizing content related to the trial goals, and updating photographs. Because of COVID, the pretest was conducted via Zoom. Our multistep adaptation process provided an acceptable intervention to meet the needs of older BCS. Lessons learned will be applied to the forthcoming pilot trial.

Mechanism-Driven and Clinically Focused Development of Botanical Foods as Multitarget Anticancer Medicine: Collective Perspectives and Insights from Preclinical Studies, IND Applications and Early-Phase Clinical Trials

Cancer progression and mortality remain challenging because of current obstacles and limitations in cancer treatment. Continuous efforts are being made to explore complementary and alternative approaches to alleviate the suffering of cancer patients. Epidemiological and nutritional studies have indicated that consuming botanical foods is linked to a lower risk of cancer incidence and/or improved cancer prognosis after diagnosis. From these observations, a variety of preclinical and clinical studies have been carried out to evaluate the potential of botanical food products as anticancer medicines. Unfortunately, many investigations have been poorly designed, and encouraging preclinical results have not been translated into clinical success. Botanical products contain a wide variety of chemicals, making them more difficult to study than traditional drugs. In this review, with the consideration of the regulatory framework of the USFDA, we share our collective experiences and lessons learned from 20 years of defining anticancer foods, focusing on the critical aspects of preclinical studies that are required for an IND application, as well as the checkpoints needed for early-phase clinical trials. We recommend a developmental pipeline that is based on mechanisms and clinical considerations.

Side Effects and Its Management in Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy for Breast Cancer: A Matter of Communication and Counseling

Objective

Women with a newly diagnosed hormone receptor-positive breast cancer are offered adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET). Although the treatment reduces the risk of relapse and death not all women are adherent to it. Many factors, including the therapy's menopausal side effects, can adversely affect adherence to the treatment. This study explores the extent to which women treated with AET perceived that health care providers addressed their side effects.

Methods

Ten focus groups were set up, containing between four to nine women. In total, 58 women participated in the study-45 from the Stockholm metropolitan region and 13 from the scarcely populated Norrbotten region. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach.

Results

The women were usually satisfied with the care they received from the health care providers. However, their experiences were more complex when it came to their satisfaction with the care in terms of the menopausal side effects of therapy, sexuality in particular. The participants reported that their healthcare providers rarely asked about sex life-related side effects of the treatment.

Conclusions

Health care providers need to communicate and consult about issues related to their patients' sex lives following their breast cancer diagnosis and during their treatment.

Impact of Physical Rehabilitation on Bone Biomarkers in Non-Metastatic Breast Cancer Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Rehabilitation might improve bone health in breast cancer (BC) patients, but the effects on bone biomarkers are still debated. Thus, this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aims at characterizing the impact of rehabilitation on bone health biomarkers in BC survivors. On 2 May 2022, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, and PEDro were systematically searched for RCTs assessing bone biomarker modifications induced by physical exercise in BC survivors. The quality assessment was performed with the Jadad scale and the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoBv.2). Trial registration number: CRD42022329766. Ten studies were included for a total of 873 patients. The meta-analysis showed overall significant mean difference percentage decrease in collagen type 1 cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTX) serum level [ES: -11.65 (-21.13, -2.17), p = 0.02)] and an increase in bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) levels [ES: +6.09 (1.56, 10.62). According to the Jadad scale, eight RCTs were considered high-quality studies. Four studies showed a low overall risk of bias, according to RoBv.2. The significant effects of rehabilitation on bone biomarkers suggested a possible implication for a precision medicine approach targeting bone remodeling. Future research might clarify the role of bone biomarkers monitoring in rehabilitation management of cancer treatment induced bone-loss.

Breast adipose metabolites mediates the association of tetrabromobisphenol a with breast cancer: A case-control study in Chinese population

Studies exploring the association of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) with breast cancer and related mechanisms are limited. To investigate the relationship between TBBPA levels in breast adipose and breast cancer, we carried out case-control research. As well as further examine the mediating role of adipose metabolites between TBBPA and breast cancer using the metabolomics approach. In this study, the concentration of TBBPA was determined utilizing ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) after a solid phase extraction (SPE) pretreatment. High-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was employed to analyze adipose metabolomics. Evaluation of metabolites linked to TBBPA exposure and breast cancer was performed utilizing mediation analysis. With an estimated OR (95%CI) of 1.153 (1.023, 1.299), TBBPA was firmly linked with breast cancer. We also used propensity score matching analysis and sensitivity analysis to reduce the effect of confounding factors on the results. Metabolomics of adipose suggested significant perturbation in the linoleic acid metabolism pathway. In addition, for PC (16:0/16:0) as phospholipids, a mediation effect on the associations of TBBPA exposure with breast cancer risks was observed (estimated mediation percentage: 56.58%). Understanding the relationship between TBBPA exposure and the risk of breast cancer may be facilitated by the findings, which point to potential mediation metabolites.

Acute pancreatitis secondary to tamoxifen-associated hypertriglyceridemia: A clinical update

INTRODUCTION

Drug-induced pancreatitis has been increasingly recognized, but it is frequently encountered as an inconspicuous etiology. The underlying mechanisms of injury vary with different drugs. Tamoxifen is a frequently used anticancer drug that acts by selective modulation of the estrogen receptor in patients with breast cancer. Tamoxifen-induced hypertriglyceridemia is a relatively rare etiological factor for acute pancreatitis. However, acute pancreatitis secondary to this adverse effect remains an exceedingly important clinicopathologic entity.

CASE REPORT

We hereby delineate a rare case of acute pancreatitis secondary to hypertriglyceridemia in a patient who was on tamoxifen treatment for the past 3 years. Her serum lipase and triglyceride levels were markedly elevated at 14,285 IU/L and 20,344 mg/dL, respectively. The diagnosis was considered based on the findings of a standard diagnostic workup and exclusion of alternative causes of acute pancreatitis.

MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME

The patient was instituted prompt treatment with intravenous insulin infusion and gemfibrozil. The clinical outcome was favorable with no complications. Tamoxifen was permanently discontinued and was replaced with letrozole.

DISCUSSION

This article illustrates that acute pancreatitis should be considered in the differential diagnoses of abdominal pain and elevated pancreatic enzymes in patients undergoing tamoxifen treatment. It also underscores the importance of pre- and post-tamoxifen lipid screening, especially in patients with a history of dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus. It will facilitate an expedient detection of hypertriglyceridemia, potentially saving patients from associated morbidity and mortality.

Expression profiles of small non-coding RNAs in breast cancer tumors characterize clinicopathological features and show prognostic and predictive potential

Precision medicine approaches are required for more effective therapies for cancer. As small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) have recently been suggested as intriguing candidates for cancer biomarkers and have shown potential also as novel therapeutic targets, we aimed at profiling the non-miRNA sncRNAs in a large sample set to evaluate their role in invasive breast cancer (BC). We used small RNA sequencing and 195 fresh-frozen invasive BC and 22 benign breast tissue samples to identify significant associations of small nucleolar RNAs, small nuclear RNAs, and miscellaneous RNAs with the clinicopathological features and patient outcome of BC. Ninety-six and five sncRNAs significantly distinguished (Padj < 0.01) invasive local BC from benign breast tissue and metastasized BC from invasive local BC, respectively. Furthermore, 69 sncRNAs significantly associated (Padj < 0.01) with the tumor grade, hormone receptor status, subtype, and/or tumor histology. Additionally, 42 sncRNAs were observed as candidates for prognostic markers and 29 for predictive markers for radiotherapy and/or tamoxifen response (P < 0.05). We discovered the clinical relevance of sncRNAs from each studied RNA type. By introducing new sncRNA biomarker candidates for invasive BC and validating the potential of previously described ones, we have guided the way for further research that is warranted for providing novel insights into BC biology.

Adjuvant aromatase inhibitor treatment worsens depressive symptoms and sleep quality in postmenopausal women with localized breast cancer: A one-year follow-up study

First-line treatment in postmenopausal women with estrogen- and/or progesterone-positive breast cancer consists of aromatase inhibitors (AROi). The ability of AROi to promote or worsen cognitive function, depressive symptoms, sleep quality and performance in basic activities of daily life as primary and concomitant outcomes in long longitudinal studies in post-menopausal women has been seldom investigated. This study is a cohort trial which aimed to determine if there were differences in cognitive function assessment, depressive symptoms, and sleep quality after 1 year under AROi treatment and to determine the interrelations between these symptoms.

METHODS

A prospective 1-year longitudinal study was performed in a representative sample of tertiary hospital. Women with localized breast cancer newly treated with AROi therapy were evaluated for cognitive functions, depressive symptoms, sleep problems and ability to perform basic activities of the daily life at baseline and after 6 months and 12 months under adjuvant AROi treatment.

RESULTS

Analysis of cognitive functions by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores did not show significantly worsening under AROi treatment after 6 months and 12 months of treatment compared to the baseline. Analysis of depressive symptoms with the Geriatric Depression Scale and sleep quality with the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) scores showed significant (p < 0.05) changes after 6 and 12 months of treatment with AROi, with women describing more depressive symptoms and more sleep disturbances.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study found impairments in sleep quality and an increase in depressive symptoms, which has important implications for clinicians as they impair quality of life and adherence to treatment.

Association of hormone receptor status with cardiovascular disease mortality in 399,209 patients with stage I to III breast cancer: A population-based study

Adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) is known to reduce the risk of hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer (BC) recurrence and mortality rates, but its impact on cardiovascular disease (CVD) events is unclear. The primary objective of this study was to analyze the association of HR status with CVD mortality in patients with stage I to III BC. A retrospective study of patients with stage I to III BC was conducted using the 2004 to 2016 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, and patients were grouped according to their HR status. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to adjust for heterogeneity between the groups. The cumulative incidence rate of CVD mortality was evaluated via a cumulative incidence curve. Univariate and multivariate Fine and Gray's competing risk regression models were used to identify risk factors associated with CVD mortality. In total, 399,209 patients with BC were included in this study, and 329,958 patients (82.65%) were HR-positive. The cumulative incidence of CVD death was 8.28% in stage I to III BC patients. In the constituent ratio analysis, primary BC was the leading cause of death (45.29%, N = 31,465), followed by heart disease (16.07%, N = 11,166). Compared to the second year following BC diagnosis, the risk of CVD-specific death gradually increased. After PSM, 65,952 pairs of patients were matched, which led to the equilibrium of all variables between the HR-negative cohort and HR+ cohort. Multivariate analysis indicated that HR status was not significantly associated with the risk of CVD mortality, with a hazard ratio of 1.01 (P = .895). This study highlights the importance of understanding the associations between risk factors and CVD for BC patients. HR status was not associated with the risk of CVD mortality in this study.

Contribution of endocrine therapy in oestrogen receptor-positive pT1a-b breast cancer: Results of a retrospective study

INTRODUCTION

Few data have been reported regarding endocrine therapy (ET) in patients with small pT1a-b ER-postive breast cancer (BC). Thus, we conducted a study to detect possible survival improvements due to ET in such patients.

METHODS

Our retrospective observational study included 5545 patients with pT1a-b ER-positive BC treated in 15 French centres, excluding patients with HER2-positive status, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, ER-negative status, unknown pN status or in situ BC. We estimated disease-free survival (DFS), recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) via univariate analysis and multivariate Cox regression.

RESULTS

Most patients (80.3%: 4453) received ET and-when compared to those without ET-experienced increases of 2.5% and 3.3% in DFS and 1.9% and 4.3% in RFS after 5 and 7 years of follow-up, respectively, with little difference in OS. In Cox regression analysis, no ET was significantly associated with decreased DFS (hazard ratio, HR = 1.275, p = 0.047, 95% CI[1.003-1.620]) but not OS or RFS in all patients, while in 2363 patients with pT1a-b ER-positive grade 2-3 BC, no ET was significantly associated with decreased DFS (HR = 1.502, p = 0.049, 95% CI[1.001-2.252]), but not OS (HR = 1.361, p = 0.272). ET omission was not significantly associated with decreased survival in 3047 patients with pT1a-b ER-positive grade 1 BC.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that while ET provided a beneficial impact on survival to patients with pT1a-bN0 ER-positive BC-and especially in those with grade 2-3 tumours-no such impact was observed in grade 1 tumours. Consequently, ET should be discussed with these patients, particularly in those with pT1a grade 1 tumours.

Extended adjuvant endocrine treatment for premenopausal women: A Delphi approach to guide clinical practice

The use of an aromatase inhibitor (AI) in combination with ovarian function suppression (OFS) has become the mainstay of adjuvant endocrine therapy in high-risk premenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Although five years of such therapy effectively reduces recurrence rates, a substantial risk of late recurrence remains in this setting. Multiple trials have shown that extending AI treatment beyond five years could offer further protection. However, as these studies comprised only postmenopausal patients, no direct evidence currently exists to inform about the potential benefits and/or side effects of extended AI + OFS therapies in premenopausal women. Given these grey areas, we conducted a Delphi survey to report on the opinion of experts in breast cancer treatment and summarize a consensus on the discussed topics. A total of 44 items were identified, all centred around two main themes: 1) defining reliable prognostic factors to pinpoint premenopausal patients eligible for endocrine therapy extension; 2) designing how such therapy should optimally be administered in terms of treatment combinations and duration based on patients' menopausal status. Each item was separately discussed and anonymously voted by 12 experts representing oncological institutes spread across Italy. The consensus threshold was reached in 36 out of 44 items (82%). Herein, we discuss the levels of agreement/disagreement achieved by each item in relation to the current body of literature. In the absence of randomized trials to guide the tailoring of extended AI treatment in premenopausal women, conclusions from our study provide a framework to assist routine clinical practice.

A mixed-methods study of the technical feasibility and patient acceptability of a real-time adherence monitor in breast cancer survivors taking adjuvant endocrine therapy

PURPOSE

Oral anti-cancer medications are increasingly common and endocrine therapies represent the most common oral anti-cancer medications in breast cancer. Adjuvant endocrine therapies reduce the likelihood of recurrence and mortality in the approximately 80% of women diagnosed with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, thus rendering adherence essential. Real-time medication adherence monitors, such as the Wisepill electronic pillbox, transmit adherence data remotely, allowing for early intervention for non-adherence. However, their feasibility and acceptability have yet to be examined among breast cancer survivors taking endocrine therapies.

METHODS

This study presents quantitative patient-report and technical support data and qualitative patient acceptability data on Wisepill, a common real-time adherence monitor, among 88 breast cancer survivors prescribed adjuvant endocrine therapy.

RESULTS

This mixed-methods study of a common real-time adherence monitor, among the first in breast cancer survivors taking adjuvant endocrine therapy, demonstrates its technical feasibility and patient acceptability.

CONCLUSION

The use of wireless medication monitors that transmit real-time adherence data is uniquely promising for maximizing the benefits of adjuvant endocrine therapy by allowing for continuous tracking, ongoing communication with oncologic or research teams, and early intervention. This study demonstrates the feasibility and patient acceptability of one such real-time adherence monitor.

A telehealth intervention for symptom management, distress, and adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Patients taking adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) after breast cancer face adherence challenges and symptom-related distress. We conducted a randomized trial to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a telehealth intervention (Symptom-Targeted Randomized Intervention for Distress and Adherence to Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy [STRIDE]) for patients taking AET.

METHODS

From October 2019 to June 2021, 100 patients reporting difficulty with AET were randomly assigned to either STRIDE or a medication monitoring (MedMon) control group. STRIDE included six weekly small-group videoconferencing sessions and two individual calls. We defined feasibility as having >50% of eligible patients enroll, >70% complete the 12-week assessment, and > 70% of STRIDE patients complete ≥4/6 sessions. We monitored adherence with the Medication Event Monitoring System Caps (MEMS Caps). At baseline and 12- and 24-weeks after baseline, patients self-reported adherence (Medication Adherence Report Scale), AET satisfaction (Cancer Therapy Satisfaction Questionnaire), symptom distress (Breast Cancer Prevention Trial-Symptom Checklist), self-management of symptoms (Self-efficacy for Symptom Management-AET), coping (Measure of Current Status), quality of life (QOL; Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast), and mood (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). We used linear mixed effects models to assess the effect of STRIDE on longitudinal outcomes.

RESULTS

We enrolled 70.9% (100/141) of eligible patients; 92% completed the 12-week assessment, and 86% completed ≥4/6 STRIDE sessions. Compared with MedMon, STRIDE patients reported less symptom distress (B[difference] = -1.91; 95% CI, -3.29 to -0.52; p = .007) and better self-management of AET symptoms, coping, QOL, and mood. We did not observe significant differences in AET satisfaction or adherence.

CONCLUSIONS

STRIDE is feasible and acceptable, showing promise for improving outcomes in patients taking AET after breast cancer.

LAY SUMMARY

Patients taking adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) after breast cancer may face challenges while following their treatment regimen. In this randomized controlled trial of 100 patients taking AET, a brief, small-group virtual intervention (STRIDE) was well-received by patients and led to improvements in how upset patients were due to symptoms, how confident they were in managing symptoms, and how well they could cope with stress. Thus, STRIDE is a promising intervention and should be tested in future multi-site trials.