Abstract PS5-22: Mutational profile from circulating tumor DNA in triple negative breast cancer: Results from the prospective registry of unresectable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer GEICAM/2014-03 (RegistEM)

Background: The RegistEM is a non-interventional cohort study enrolling 1,867 patients (pts) (males or females) with advanced breast cancer diagnosed from January 2016 to December 2019, either after recurrence or as first diagnosis, in 38 Spanish sites. Triple negative BC (TNBC) is clinically defined based on lack of expression of both estrogen and progesterone receptors, and HER2 overexpression, and constitutes approximately 16% of BC cases. It is a particularly proliferative and aggressive BC subtype characterized by higher rates of relapse, greater metastatic potential, and shorter overall survival compared with other BC subtypes. Recent studies have shown hormone receptor status can change from the primary (P) to the recurrence tumor (M) in a proportion of cases, inducing a switch to TNBC in the recurrence, while other remains TNBC both in the P and M setting. This feature might impact survival and treatment options. Methods: We selected TNBC pts from the RegistEM study with ctDNA plasma samples available from the relapse. TNBC pts were classified into 2 groups according to clinical subtype (CS): 1) CS-converted (CS-C), with a discordant phenotype (TN subtype in M but not in P); and 2) CS-non-converted (CS-NC), with TN phenotype in P and M. To compare the mutation profiles of the 2 groups, next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed using the AVENIO Expanded ctDNA Analysis Kit (Roche Sequencing Solutions, Inc; 77 genes; SNPs, indels, fusions and CNVs). Genomics alterations at individual level and grouped by pathway were explored for pathogenic and probably pathogenics variants. Genomics findings were correlated with clinicopathological data and outcomes, in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) and response to first line chemotherapy treatment. Kaplan-Meier estimator and Cox regression model were used to analyze PFS, and Fisher’s test to analyze contingency tables. Bonferroni correction was used for multiple testing. Results: NGS data was available from 32 (17%) TNBC pts; 22 (69%) pts CS-NC and 10 (31%) CS-C. The time from diagnosis to relapse was 29.2 months (m) for CS-NC and 60.2m for CS-C (HR=4.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.59-14.59), p=0.0055; adjusted for confounders: menopausal status, grade, stage). In the metastatic setting, CS-NC had similar PFS than CS-C (8.3m CS-C vs 5.3m CS-NC; HR=1.63, 95% CI (0.71-3.72), p=0.2442). A median of 3 genomic alterations were found, similar in both groups. The most frequent somatic alterations were TP53 (50%), MAP2K1 (25%) and APC (25%). CS-C were enriched for MAP2K1 (60% vs. 9% in CS-NC; p=0.0243). No single genomic alteration was associated with outcome. Forty-percent of tumors harbored at least 1 mutation in PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway (PIK3CA, PIK3R1, AKT1, AKT2, PTEN or MTOR genes), with similar incidence between CS-NC and CS-C. Pts with an altered PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway had poor PFS (3.9m mutant vs 6.7m wild-type (WT); HR=3.02, 95% CI (1.4-6.56), p=0.0033) and a trend to worse response (complete or parcial response and stable disease: 23% mutant vs 77% WT, p=0.1581). CS-C tumors presented an altered MAPK-ERK pathway (mutations in KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, MAP2K1 or RAF1 genes) more frequently in comparison to CS-NC (60% vs 23%, p=0.0557), with no differences in response or PFS. Finally tumors with a high mutation allele frequency (≥mean) showed poor PFS (HR=3.64, 95% CI (1.52-8.75), p=0.0038). Conclusion: Analysis of ctDNA reveals diverse mutational spectrum in metastatic TNBC, suggesting that the presence of PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway alterations associates with worse outcome and poor response to standard therapies. The clinical subtype conversions from luminal primary tumor are enriched in MAPK-ERK pathway alterations.

Citation Format: Angel Guerrero-Zotano, Carlos Jara, Sara López-Tarruella, César A Rodríguez, Encarna Adrover, Catalina Falo, Purificación Martínez, Silvia Antolín, Mireia Margeli, Josefina Cruz, Alvaro Rodríguez-Lescure, Vega Iranzo, César Gómez-Raposo, Jose Juan Illarramendi, Diego Malón, Jose Luis Alonso, Antonio Antón, Raquel Andrés, Jesús Herranz, Susana Bezares, Rosalía Caballero, Isabel Álvarez, Federico Rojo. Mutational profile from circulating tumor DNA in triple negative breast cancer: Results from the prospective registry of unresectable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer GEICAM/2014-03 (RegistEM) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Virtual Symposium; 2020 Dec 8-11; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS5-22.

Abstract P1-10-09: The MHCII immune activation assay is prognostic for disease free survival in basal-like TNBC breast cancer patients in the GEICAM/9906 clinical trial

Background: Approximately 40% of patients with stage I-III triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) recur after standard treatment, while the remaining 60% experience long-term disease-free survival (DFS). There are currently no clinical tests to assess the risk of recurrence in TNBC patients. We previously developed and validated an MHCII Immune Activation assay, which measures a gene expression signature that includes the major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) pathway genes and markers of activated tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. The MHCII Immune Activation assay was recently shown to accurately assess the risk of recurrence in Basal-like TNBC patients using FFPE tissues from an institutional cohort. A limitation of the previous study is that the patients’ treatment regimens in the institutional cohort were heterogeneous. The goal of this study was to determine if the MHCII Immune Activation assay can accurately assess the DFS in Basal-like TNBC patients who received uniform chemotherapy regimens in the context of a randomized clinical trial. Methods: The MHCII Immune Activation assay was applied to RNA isolated from 60 Basal-like TNBC FFPE specimens from the GEICAM/9906 clinical trial, a multicenter randomized phase III study evaluating adjuvant chemotherapy in node-positive operable BC patients. Thirty nine (65%) of the patients were treated with fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC), and 21 (35%) patients received FEC followed by paclitaxel (FEC-P) (median follow-up 9.7 years). The MHCII Immune Activation Score was calculated from the assay using methods described previously, and patients were categorized into a High Risk of Recurrence (High ROR) group using pre-specified thresholds. The association between the MHCII Immune Activation Score and DFS was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and cox proportional hazards models. Results: Across both arms, 32/60 (53.3%) patients were classified into the High ROR group based on their Low MHCII Immune Activation Scores. Patients in the High ROR group had significantly shorter DFS (Hazard Ratio (HR)=2.9 (CI95%:1.27-6.66), p-value=0.0081). Cox proportional hazard regression of the log10 transformed MHCII Immune Activation Score confirmed that MHCII Immune Activation Score is significantly associated with DFS (Wald Test p=0.0127). In the FEC arm, there were 22/39 (56.41%) patients classified into the High ROR group (Low MHCII Immune Activation Score). Patients in the High ROR group in the FEC arm showed a trend toward shorter DFS (HR=1.99 (CI95%:0.74-5.31)), but it was not significant (p-value=0.1595). In the FEC-P arm, there were 10/21 (47.62%) patients classified into the High ROR group (Low MHCII Immune Activation Score). Patients in the High ROR group in the FEC-P arm had significantly shorter DFS (HR=6.28 (CI95%:1.28-30.73), p-value=0.0111). Larger cohorts will be needed to confirm if the association between DFS and MHCII Immune Activation Score is stronger when patients are treated with chemotherapy regimens that include paclitaxel. Conclusions: The MHCII Immune Activation assay can be applied to RNA from FFPE tumor specimens to assess risk of recurrence in TNBC patients. The MHCII Immune Activation Score is associated with risk of recurrence in TNBC patients treated with uniform adjuvant chemotherapy regimens.

Citation Format: Miguel Martín, Katherine L Updike, Alvaro Rodríguez-Lescure, Lourdes Calvo, Jesús Herranz, Nuria Martín, Philip S Bernard, Katherine E Varley. The MHCII immune activation assay is prognostic for disease free survival in basal-like TNBC breast cancer patients in the GEICAM/9906 clinical trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-10-09.

Prediction of chemotherapy benefit by EndoPredict in patients with breast cancer who received adjuvant endocrine therapy plus chemotherapy or endocrine therapy alone

Purpose

EndoPredict (EPclin) is a prognostic test validated to inform decisions on adjuvant chemotherapy to endocrine therapy alone for patients with oestrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. Here, we determine the performance of EPclin for estimating 10-year distant recurrence-free interval (DRFI) rates for those who received adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) alone compared to those with chemotherapy plus endocrine therapy (ET + C).

Methods

A total of 3746 women were included in this joint analysis. 2630 patients received 5 years of ET alone (ABCSG-6/8, TransATAC) and 1116 patients received ET + C (GEICAM 2003-02/9906). The primary objective was to evaluate the ability of EPclin to provide an estimate of the 10-year DR rate as a continuous function of EPclin separately for ET alone and ET + C. Cox proportional hazard models were used for these analyses.

Results

EPclin was highly prognostic for DR in women who received ET alone (HR 2.79 (2.49–3.13), P < 0.0001) as well as in those who received ET + C (HR 2.27 (1.99–2.59), P < 0.0001). Women who received ET + C had significantly smaller increases in 10-year DR rates with the increasing EPclin score than those receiving ET alone (EPclin = 5; 12% ET + C vs. 20% ET alone). We observed a significant positive interaction between EPclin and treatment groups (P-_interaction = 0.022).

Conclusions

In this comparative non-randomised analysis, the rate of increase in DR with EPclin score was significantly reduced in women who received ET + C versus ET alone. Our indirect comparisons suggest that a high EPclin score can predict chemotherapy benefit in women with ER-positive, HER2-negative disease.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s10549-019-05226-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Abstract GS2-04: Efficacy results from CIBOMA/2004-01_GEICAM/2003-11 study: A randomized phase III trial assessing adjuvant capecitabine after standard chemotherapy for patients with early triple negative breast cancer

Background: Triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) have a greater risk of relapse than non-TNBC. New therapeutic approaches are needed for these patients (pts). CIBOMA/2004-01_GEICAM/2003-11 is a multinational, randomized phase III trial exploring adjuvant capecitabine (X) after completion of standard treatment in early TNBC pts.

Materials and Methods: Patients with operable, node-positive (or node-negative with tumor size ≥ 1 cm), centrally confirmed hormone receptor-negative, HER2-negative early BC, who had received 6–8 cycles (cy) of standard anthracycline and/or taxane-containing chemotherapy or 4 cy of doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide (for node-negative disease) in the (neo)adjuvant setting, were eligible. Patients were randomized to either 8 cy of X (1,000 mg/m2 bid, days 1–14, every 3 weeks) or observation. Stratification factors included center, prior taxane-based therapy, number of involved axillary lymph nodes and phenotype (basal vs non-basal, according to cytokeratins 5/6 and/or EGFR positivity). The primary objective was to compare the disease-free survival (DFS) between both treatment arms, and secondary objectives included the comparison in terms of 5-year DFS, overall survival (OS) and safety. Assuming a 30% risk reduction in DFS rate at 5 years (from 64.7% to 73.7%, hazard ratio 0.70) with 80% power and a two-tailed log-rank test at 0.05, 834 evaluable pts were needed. 876 pts had to be finally enrolled considering a drop-out rate of 5%.

Results: Recruitment of 876 pts from 8 countries was completed in September 2011. Median age was 49 years; 68.5% of pts were postmenopausal, 55.5% were lymph node negative, 71.7% had a basal phenotype, 67.5% received chemotherapy based on anthracyclines and taxanes. Median follow-up was 7.3 years (range 0.0 to 11.1). DFS was not significantly prolonged with X vs observation (hazard ratio (HR) 0.82; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.63 to 1.06; P=0.1353). Five-year DFS was 79.6% (95% CI, 75.8% to 83.4%) with X and 76.8% (95% CI, 72.7% to 80.9%) with observation. OS was not statistically different between treatment arms (HR 0.92; 95% CI, 0.66 to 1.28; P=0.6228). In subgroup analysis for DFS, we found no statistically significant interaction between X treatment and different subgroups, with the exception of basal vs non-basal phenotypes (basal HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.32, P=0.8620; non-basal HR 0.51, 95% CI, 0.31 to 0.86, P=0.0101; interaction P=0.0357). Similar results were found for OS (basal HR 1.20, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.77, P=0.3684; non-basal HR 0.48, 95% CI, 0.26 to 0.91, P=0.0205; interaction P=0.0155). 75.2% of pts completed 8 cy of X, with a median relative dose intensity of 86.3%. Grade (G) 3 or higher adverse events (AEs) were observed in 40.4% of pts in X arm. In 9.6% of pts the AEs were related with X. Hand-foot syndrome was the most common AE in X arm (G3 on 18.8% of pts).

Conclusions: In our study, the addition of adjuvant X after standard (neo) adjuvant anthracycline and/or taxane-containing chemotherapy was not associated with a statistically significant improvement of DFS or OS compared to observation in pts with early TNBC. However, in a subgroup analysis a significant DFS and OS improvement was observed with X in pts with non-basal phenotype.

Sponsor: CIBOMA.

Citation Format: Martín M, Barrios CH, Torrecillas L, Ruiz-Borrego M, Bines J, Segalla J, Ruiz A, García-Sáenz JA, Torres R, de la Haba J, García E, Gómez HL, Llombart A, Rodríguez de la Borbolla M, Baena JM, Barnadas A, Calvo L, Pérez-Michel L, Ramos M, Castellanos J, Rodríguez-Lescure A, Cárdenas J, Vinholes J, Martínez de Dueñas E, Godes MJ, Seguí MA, Antón A, López-Álvarez P, Moncayo J, Amorim G, Villar E, Reyes S, Sampaio C, Cardemil B, Escudero MJ, Bezares S, Carrasco E, Lluch A. Efficacy results from CIBOMA/2004-01_GEICAM/2003-11 study: A randomized phase III trial assessing adjuvant capecitabine after standard chemotherapy for patients with early triple negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr GS2-04.

Fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FAC) versus FAC followed by weekly paclitaxel as adjuvant therapy for high-risk, node-negative breast cancer: results from the GEICAM/2003-02 study

PURPOSE

Adding taxanes to anthracycline-based adjuvant therapy improves survival outcomes of patients with node-positive breast cancer (BC). Currently, however, most patients with BC are node negative at diagnosis. The only pure node-negative study (Spanish Breast Cancer Research Group 9805) reported so far showed a docetaxel benefit but significant toxicity. Here we tested the efficacy and safety of weekly paclitaxel (wP) in node-negative patients, which is yet to be established.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with BC having T1-T3/N0 tumors and at least one high-risk factor for recurrence (according to St. Gallen 1998 criteria) were eligible. After primary surgery, 1,925 patients were randomly assigned to receive fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FAC) × 6 or FAC × 4 followed by wP × 8 (FAC-wP). The primary end point was disease-free survival (DFS) after a median follow-up of 5 years. Secondary end points included toxicity and overall survival.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 63.3 months, 93% and 90.3% of patients receiving FAC-wP or FAC regimens, respectively, remained disease free (hazard ratio [HR], 0.73; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.99; log-rank P = .04). Thirty-one patients receiving FAC-wP versus 40 patients receiving FAC died (one and seven from cardiovascular diseases, respectively; HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.49 to 1.26; log-rank P = .31). The most relevant grade 3 and 4 adverse events in the FAC-wP versus the FAC arm were febrile neutropenia (2.7% v 3.6%), fatigue (7.9% v 3.4%), and sensory neuropathy (5.5% v 0%).

CONCLUSION

For patients with high-risk node-negative BC, the adjuvant FAC-wP regimen was associated with a small but significant improvement in DFS compared with FAC therapy, in addition to manageable toxicity, especially regarding long-term cardiac effects.

PAM50 proliferation score as a predictor of weekly paclitaxel benefit in breast cancer

To identify a group of patients who might benefit from the addition of weekly paclitaxel to conventional anthracycline-containing chemotherapy as adjuvant therapy of node-positive operable breast cancer. The predictive value of PAM50 subtypes and the 11-gene proliferation score contained within the PAM50 assay were evaluated in 820 patients from the GEICAM/9906 randomized phase III trial comparing adjuvant FEC to FEC followed by weekly paclitaxel (FEC-P). Multivariable Cox regression analyses of the secondary endpoint of overall survival (OS) were performed to determine the significance of the interaction between treatment and the (1) PAM50 subtypes, (2) PAM50 proliferation score, and (3) clinical and pathological variables. Similar OS analyses were performed in 222 patients treated with weekly paclitaxel versus paclitaxel every 3 weeks in the CALGB/9342 and 9840 metastatic clinical trials. In GEICAM/9906, with a median follow up of 8.7 years, OS of the FEC-P arm was significantly superior compared to the FEC arm (unadjusted HR = 0.693, p = 0.013). A benefit from paclitaxel was only observed in the group of patients with a low PAM50 proliferation score (unadjusted HR = 0.23, p < 0.001; and interaction test, p = 0.006). No significant interactions between treatment and the PAM50 subtypes or the various clinical–pathological variables, including Ki-67 and histologic grade, were identified. Finally, similar OS results were obtained in the CALGB data set, although the interaction test did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.109). The PAM50 proliferation score identifies a subset of patients with a low proliferation status that may derive a larger benefit from weekly paclitaxel.

Adjuvant docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide in node-positive breast cancer: 10-year follow-up of the phase 3 randomised BCIRG 001 trial

BACKGROUND

We compared standard adjuvant anthracycline chemotherapy with anthracycline-taxane combination chemotherapy in women with operable node-positive breast cancer. Here we report the final, 10-year follow-up analysis of disease-free survival, overall survival, and long-term safety.

METHODS

BCIRG 001 was an open label, phase 3, multicentre trial in which 1491 patients aged 18-70 years with node-positive, early breast cancer and a Karnofsky score of 80% or more were randomly assigned to adjuvant treatment with docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (TAC) or fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FAC) every 3 weeks for six cycles. Randomisation was stratified according to institution and number of involved axillary lymph nodes per patient (one to three vs four or more). Disease-free survival was the primary endpoint and was defined as the interval between randomisation and breast cancer relapse, second primary cancer, or death, whichever occurred first. Efficacy analyses were based on the intention-to-treat principle. BCIRG 001 is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00688740.

FINDINGS

Enrolement took place between June 11, 1997 and June 3, 1999; 745 patients were assigned to receive TAC and 746 patients were assigned to receive FAC. After a median follow-up of 124 months (IQR 90-126), disease-free survival was 62% (95% CI 58-65) for patients in the TAC group and 55% (51-59) for patients in the FAC group (hazard ratio [HR] 0·80, 95% CI 0·68-0·93; log-rank p=0·0043). 10-year overall survival was 76% (95% CI 72-79) for patients in the TAC group and 69% (65-72) for patients in the FAC group (HR 0·74, 0·61-0·90; log-rank p=0·0020). TAC improved disease-free survival relative to FAC irrespective of nodal, hormone receptor, and HER2 status, although not all differences were significant in these subgroup analyses. Grade 3-4 heart failure occurred in 26 (3%) patients in the TAC group and 17 (2%) patients in the FAC group, and caused death in two patients in the TAC group and four patients in the FAC group. A substantial decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (defined as a relative decrease from baseline of 20% or more) was seen in 58 (17%) patients who received TAC and 41 (15%) patients who received FAC. Six patients who received TAC developed leukaemia or myelodysplasia, as did three patients who received FAC.

INTERPRETATION

Our results provide evidence that the initial therapeutic outcomes seen at the 5-year follow-up with a docetaxel-containing adjuvant regimen are maintained at 10 years. However, a substantial percentage of patients had a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction, probably caused by anthracycline therapy, which warrants further investigation.

FUNDING

Sanofi.

Pilot study on workload estimate in breast cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer in a Medical Oncology Service at Valme hospital

New advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and the increased incidence and prevalence of this disease have led to an increase in the number and duration of visits in Medical Oncology in the last few years. Based on the functions of a medical oncologist and the time recommended for each work activity established by the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), we carried out a pilot study on the three most frequent neoplasias in our country [breast cancer (BC), lung cancer (LC) and colorectal cancer (CRC)], in order to determine the real time each patient requires from a physician and thus establish a recommendation on the number of medical oncologists necessary. Using the actual itinerary of the first 20 patients of 2009 in each of the three neoplasias seen at the Medical Oncology Service of the Virgen de Valme University Hospital, we measured the number of visits, the antineoplastic treatments received, the number of hospital admissions and average length of stay. During the years following the study, these data were estimated based on the natural history of each neoplasia. During the first year, the average time spent by the medical oncologist was 235, 390 and 265 min on each outpatient with BC, LC and CRC, respectively. In hospitalisation, the average oncologist/patient minutes were 40, 360 and 118 for BC, LC and CRC, respectively. Finally, the time spent on each visit or day of hospitalisation was that recommended by the SEOM, achieving an ultimate ratio of 1 oncologist for every 83 first visits.

Adjuvant docetaxel for high-risk, node-negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND

A regimen of docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (TAC) is superior to a regimen of fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FAC) when used as adjuvant therapy in women with node-positive breast cancer. The value of taxanes in the treatment of node-negative disease has not been determined.

METHODS

We randomly assigned 1060 women with axillary-node-negative breast cancer and at least one high-risk factor for recurrence (according to the 1998 St. Gallen criteria) to treatment with TAC or FAC every 3 weeks for six cycles after surgery. The primary end point was disease-free survival after at least 5 years of follow-up. Secondary end points included overall survival and toxicity.

RESULTS

At a median follow-up of 77 months, the proportion of patients alive and disease-free was higher among the 539 women in the TAC group (87.8%) than among the 521 women in the FAC group (81.8%), representing a 32% reduction in the risk of recurrence with TAC (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49 to 0.93; P=0.01 by the log-rank test). This benefit was consistent, regardless of hormone-receptor status, menopausal status, or number of high-risk factors. The difference in survival rates (TAC, 95.2%; FAC, 93.5%) was not significant (hazard ratio, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.45 to 1.26); however, the number of events was small (TAC, 26; FAC, 34). Rates of grade 3 or 4 adverse events were 28.2% with TAC and 17.0% with FAC (P<0.001). Toxicity associated with TAC was diminished when primary prophylaxis with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was provided.

CONCLUSIONS

As compared with adjuvant FAC, adjuvant TAC improved the rate of disease-free survival among women with high-risk, node-negative breast cancer. (Funded by GEICAM and Sanofi-Aventis; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00121992.).

Molecular predictors of efficacy of adjuvant weekly paclitaxel in early breast cancer

Treatment with fluororacil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide followed by weekly paclitaxel (FEC-P) yielded superior disease-free survival than FEC in the adjuvant breast cancer trial GEICAM 9906. We evaluate molecular subtypes predictive of prognosis and paclitaxel response in this trial. Two molecular subtype classifications based on conventional immunohistochemical and fluorescent in situ hybridization determinations were used: #1: Four groups segregated according to the combination of hormone receptor (HR) and HER2 status; #2: Intrinsic subtype classification (Triple Negative (TN), HER2, Luminal B and Luminal A).

RESULTS

Both subtype classifications yielded prognostic and predictive information. HR +/HER2- patients (and Luminal A patients) had a significantly better outcome than the other subgroups of patients. The superiority of FEC-P over FEC was clearly more marked in HR-/HER2- patients (TN patients), particularly in the subset with basal phenotype (TN and either EGFR+ or cytokeratins 5/6+). The Luminal A subtype also achieved a significant benefit with FEC-P. The molecular-defined subgroup of TN was clearly predictive of better response to treatment with FEC-P. Luminal A patients had the best prognosis and also have a better outcome with weekly paclitaxel.

Randomized phase 3 trial of fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide alone or followed by Paclitaxel for early breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Taxanes are among the most active drugs for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, and, as a consequence, they have also been studied in the adjuvant setting.

METHODS

After breast cancer surgery, women with lymph node-positive disease were randomly assigned to treatment with fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC) or with FEC followed by weekly paclitaxel (FEC-P). The primary endpoint of study-5-year disease-free survival (DFS)-was assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Secondary endpoints included overall survival and analysis of the prognostic and predictive value of clinical and molecular (hormone receptors by immunohistochemistry and HER2 by fluorescence in situ hybridization) markers. Associations and interactions were assessed with a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model for DFS for the following covariates: age, menopausal status, tumor size, lymph node status, type of chemotherapy, tumor size, positive lymph nodes, HER2 status, and hormone receptor status. All statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTS

Among the 1246 eligible patients, estimated rates of DFS at 5 years were 78.5% in the FEC-P arm and 72.1% in the FEC arm (difference = 6.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6% to 11.2%; P = .006). FEC-P treatment was associated with a 23% reduction in the risk of relapse compared with FEC treatment (146 relapses in the 614 patients in the FEC-P arm vs 193 relapses in the 632 patients in the FEC arm, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.62 to 0.95; P = .022) and a 22% reduction in the risk of death (73 and 95 deaths, respectively, HR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.57 to 1.06; P = .110). Among the 928 patients for whom tumor samples were centrally analyzed, type of chemotherapy (FEC vs FEC-P) (P = .017), number of involved axillary lymph nodes (P < .001), tumor size (P = .020), hormone receptor status (P = .004), and HER2 status (P = .006) were all associated with DFS. We found no statistically significant interaction between HER2 status and paclitaxel treatment or between hormone receptor status and paclitaxel treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with operable breast cancer, FEC-P treatment statistically significantly reduced the risk of relapse compared with FEC as adjuvant therapy.

Evidence-based use of taxanes in the adjuvant setting of breast cancer. A review of randomized phase III trials

Six major randomized clinical trials evaluating the role of taxanes in the adjuvant setting of breast cancer have demonstrated significant improvements in terms of efficacy in favour of the taxane treatment arm. In all cases, different anthracycline-based regimens were used as the control arm. Nevertheless, many clinicians are still not sufficiently convinced to incorporate the routine use of taxanes in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. There are two main objections, first the possible lack of effectiveness of chemotherapy in hormone-receptor positive tumors and second, some of the anthracycline-based control arms used in these trials were not the optimal ones. In this review, we have searched and analyzed all randomized studies that evaluated the role of taxanes in the adjuvant setting of breast cancer patients and have reported results in terms of efficacy or tolerance. The suitability of the control arm, the prospective definition of patient's subgroups and the statistical methodology were taking into account. The objective of this review was to analyze if, at this point in time, there is sufficient evidence to support the routine use of taxanes in the adjuvant setting of breast cancer, and if it is valid for all subgroups including hormone-receptor and Her2/neu positive breast cancer patients. Other objectives of this review were to define the optimal regimen for administration of taxanes, how the tolerability of taxanes may be improved and also, to investigate any potential differences in efficacy or tolerability between docetaxel and paclitaxel.

Recurrent pericardial effusion as initial manifestation of primary diffuse pericardial malignant mesothelioma

The case of a 61-year-old woman who presented a recurrent symptomatic pericardial effusion and a malignant cardiac tamponade six months prior to the detection of a mediastinal anterior mass is described. Diffuse malignant pericardial mesothelioma was diagnosed after mediastinal mass biopsy. The patient underwent further oncological evaluation followed by chemotherapy.

Toxicity and health-related quality of life in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant docetaxel, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide (TAC) or 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (FAC): impact of adding primary prophylactic granulocyte-colony stimulating factor to the TAC regimen

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to analyse the toxicity and health related quality of life (HRQoL) of breast cancer patients treated with FAC (5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide) and TAC (docetaxel, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide) with and without primary prophylactic G-CSF (PPG).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a phase III study to compare FAC and TAC as adjuvant treatment of high-risk node-negative breast cancer patients. After the entry of the first 237 patients, the protocol was amended to include PPG in the TAC arm due to the high incidence of febrile neutropenia. A total of 1047 evaluable patients from 49 centres in Spain, two in Poland and four in Germany were included in the trial. Side-effects and the scores of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ BR-23 questionnaires were compared in the three groups (FAC, TAC pre-amendment and TAC post-amendment).

RESULTS

The addition of PPG to TAC significantly reduced the incidence of neutropenic fever, grade 2-4 anaemia, asthenia, anorexia, nail disorders, stomatitis, myalgia and dysgeusia. Patient QoL decreased during chemotherapy, more with TAC than FAC, but returned to baseline values afterwards. The addition of PPG to TAC significantly reduced the percentage of patients with clinically relevant Global Health Status deterioration (10 or more points over baseline value) at the end of chemotherapy (64% versus 46%, P<0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of PPG significantly reduces the incidence of neutropenic fever associated with TAC chemotherapy as well as that of some TAC-induced haematological and extrahaematological side-effects. The HRQoL of patients treated with TAC is worse than that of those treated with FAC but improves with the addition of PPG, particularly in the final part of chemotherapy treatment.

[Application of the EUSOMA criteria in breast units in countries of the European Union]

All the countries of the European Union face similar challenges when providing adequate and high quality treatment in oncology. A working party was established to consider what should comprise a specialist service and the Requirements of a Breast Unit, published in 2000, represent the opinion of the European Society of Mastology (EUSOMA) on the standards required for creating high quality Breast Cancer Units across Europe. We studied the application of the mandatory requisites and general recommendations of EUSOMA: critical mass, or minimum number of patients, core team (composition and specific training), quality assurance, and application of diagnostic and treatment protocols. A thorough literature search was performed and was completed with information from search tools, the web pages of scientific societies, national associations for the fight against cancer, and health ministries of the countries belonging to the European Union. We also analyzed the latest reports of the European Parliamentary Committee for breast cancer. Distinct approaches to the multidisciplinary management of breast disease can be found in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, France and Spain. A common European standard would be useful to improve the care provided to patients.

N-acetyltransferase 2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms and risk of gastric carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To explore whether an association exists between the NAT2 genotype and the risk of developing gastric cancer.METHODS. Ninety-nine patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and 258 healthy subjects were analysed for single-nucleotide polymorphisms at the NAT2 gene locus, which give rise to gene variants known to be associated with slow-acetylation status.

RESULTS

The functional NAT2*4 (wild-type) allele is over-represented among patients (40.4% of all allelic variants) compared with control subjects [25.8%, odds ratio (OR) 1.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36, 2.8]. According to the NAT2 genotype, 69 patients (69.9%) and 119 healthy subjects (46%) were classified as rapid acetylators (OR 2.69, 95% CI 1.6, 4.54).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results, which need independent confirmation, suggest that individuals with NAT2 genotypes leading to high levels of NAT2 enzyme activity are at increased risk of developing gastric carcinoma.

[Choroidal metastases in breast and lung cancer. Prevalence and clinical features. A prospective study]

PURPOSE

To analyze the prevalence of choroidal metastases in patients with breast and lung cancer and report their clinical, ophtalmological and angiographic features.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

88 patients who in 1997 had been diagnosed of breast cancer (60 cases) and lung cancer (28) by the oncology unit in the University Hospital of Elche, underwent a thorough ophtalmological examination in search for choroidal metastases. Eighty six patients were newly diagnosed of cancer; the remaining two patients, in a complete remission status, relapsed during this period.

RESULTS

Total prevalence of choroidal metastases in the sample was 4.54% (4 cases). Prevalence in lung cancer was 7.14% (2 cases) compared to 3.33% (2 cases) in breast cancer. Choroidal involvement was found in the following stages: 2 out of 7 patients (28.5%) in stage IV with disseminated breast cancer and 2 out of 9 patients (22.22%) in stage IV with disseminated lung cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately one fourth of the patients showing disseminated breast and lung cancer (stage IV) showed metastases in the choroid. It appears from this study, that younger patients suffering from lung cancer are at greater risk of choroidal involvement (Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol 2002; 77: 23-28).

Weekly continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil with oral leucovorin in metastatic breast cancer patients with primary resistance to doxorubicin

Doxorubicin-resistant metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is a very poor prognosis scenario, where only taxanes have shown activity, often at the expense of severe toxicity that compromises palliation. This study was undertaken to test the antitumor activity and tolerability of infusional 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) modulated with low-dose oral leucovorin (LV), in heavily pretreated patients with stringent criteria of primary resistance to doxorubicin, visceral involvement, and suboptimal performance status. Twenty-six patients with measurable MBC and primary resistance to anthracyclines received a weekly outpatient 48-hour infusion of high-dose 5-FU with low dose oral leucovorin. All patients were assessable for response and toxicity. Eight partial responses were seen (30% response rate) in soft tissue and visceral sites, with a median response duration of eight months (5 + to 12). 98% of the cycles were minimally toxic or non-toxic. Toxicities included mucositis, diarrhea, and plantar-palmar-syndrome. Our results suggest that this schedule of LV-modulated infusional 5-FU can produce a substantial number of long-lasting responses and meaningful palliation to this very poor prognosis population.

RsaI polymorphism at the cytochrome P4502E1 locus and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

CYP2E1, the coding gene for the ethanol inducible cytochrome P4502E1, is polymorphic at the RsaI restriction site in the 5' flanking region. The mutant allele c2 has a higher transcriptional activity than the wild-type gene c1. P4502E1 catalyses the activation of several environmental carcinogens at a rate that is increased, if only moderately, by longterm ethanol intake.

AIMS

To establish the distribution of CYP2E1 RsaI polymorphism in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and to evaluate its possible role in the multifactorial pathogenesis of this tumour.

SUBJECTS

101 (84 males) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and 178 (128 males) healthy controls of the same ethnic (white) and Spanish origin.

METHODS

After extraction of DNA from white blood cells, alleles c1 and c2 of CYP2E1 were identified by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) with endonuclease RsaI.

RESULTS

Homozygous c1c1: 90 patients and 169 controls; heterozygous c1c2: 11 and 9; homozygous c2c2: none (non-significant difference). C2 allele frequencies: 0.055 in patients, 0.025 in controls (non-significant difference) and 0.108 in the 37 patients who had drunk more than 50 g of ethanol/day (p = 0.0035, odds ratio versus controls: 4.67; 95% confidence limits 1.57 to 13.81).

CONCLUSION

The carrier state of one copy of the c2 CYP2E1 gene increases the risk of hepatoma in previously regular ethanol users with chronic liver disease.

CYP2D6 genes and risk of liver cancer

We have studied by use of PCR and XbaI and EcoRI restriction-fragment-length polymorphism whether mutations at the polymorphic CYP2D6 (debrisoquine hydroxylase) gene locus are associated with liver cancer. The frequency of CYP2D6 genes containing inactivating mutations was lower among 75 liver cancer patients than 200 healthy controls, and 40 cirrhotic subjects that did not develop liver cancer (frequency for carriers of two or more functional genes was 95% vs 74% vs 78%, respectively). Subjects who were homozygous for functional CYP2D6 genes appear to be at higher risk of developing primary liver cancer (odds ratio 6.40 [95% Cl] 2.4-17.5).