Effect of melatonin cream on acute radiation dermatitis in patients with primary breast cancer: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

AIM

This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study investigating whether melatonin can protect against radiation dermatitis in women receiving radiation therapy for primary breast cancer.

METHODS

Patients were included prior to radiation therapy and followed once weekly throughout treatment with a three-week follow-up. Patients applied 1 g of cream to the irradiated skin twice daily, consisting of either 25 mg/g melatonin and 150 mg/g dimethyl sulfoxide, or placebo. Our outcomes were the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group's (RTOG) acute radiation morbidity scoring criteria for skin, a pixel analysis of erythema in clinical photographs, and patients' use of corticosteroid cream. Outcomes were evaluated once weekly throughout the trial. The primary outcomes were RTOG-score and pixel analysis at two weeks follow-up. Secondary outcomes were use of corticosteroid cream and analyses of RTOG-scores and pixel analyses throughout the trial.

RESULTS

Sixty-five patients were included, 17 dropped out, totaling 26 and 22 patients randomized to melatonin and placebo, respectively. RTOG-scores and pixel analyses at two weeks follow-up showed no difference ((p = 0.441) and (p = 0.890), respectively). There was no difference in the use of corticosteroid cream (p = 0.055). Using logistic regression, the melatonin group had a higher likelihood of having a low RTOG-score (p = 0.0016). The logistic regression showed no difference between the groups for the pixel analyses.

CONCLUSION

Our primary outcome showed no difference in RTOG-scores at two weeks follow-up, however, the RTOG-score over the entire duration of the study demonstrated a protective effect of melatonin. Further studies are warranted investigating higher doses of melatonin, and whether corticosteroids may influence the effect of melatonin cream against radiation dermatitis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Quality-of-life outcomes following topical melatonin application against acute radiation dermatitis in patients with early breast cancer: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

The aim of this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study was to investigate whether topical melatonin administered during radiation therapy could increase the quality of life in patients with primary breast cancer. Patients were followed from the first radiation fraction until 3 weeks after the last. The patients applied 1 g of cream to the irradiated area of the skin twice daily, consisting of either 25 mg/g melatonin and 150 mg/g dimethyl sulfoxide, or a placebo cream. Outcomes were the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer's quality-of-life questionnaires for breast cancer (QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23) on the last day of radiation therapy. As a secondary outcome, we evaluated the breast symptom (BS) scores over the entire duration of the trial in a repeated measures linear model. We included 65 patients and had 17 drop-outs, thus totaling 26 and 22 patients in the melatonin and placebo groups, respectively. BS scores on the last day of radiation did not differ between groups (p = .333). However, the linear model analyzing BS for the entire duration showed that melatonin significantly decreased the symptoms (p = .001). There was no difference in the BS score on the last day of radiation, however, we found that the patients in the melatonin group had significantly lower BS scores over the entire duration of the trial.

Radiation-Induced Toxicity Risks in Photon Versus Proton Therapy for Synchronous Bilateral Breast Cancer

Purpose

This study compares photon and proton therapy plans for patients with synchronous bilateral early breast cancer and estimates risks of early and late radiation-induced toxicities.

Materials and Methods

Twenty-four patients with synchronous bilateral early breast cancer receiving adjuvant radiation therapy using photons, 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy or volumetric modulated arc therapy, were included and competing pencil beam scanning proton therapy plans were created. Risks of dermatitis, pneumonitis, acute esophageal toxicity, lung and breast fibrosis, hypothyroidism, secondary lung and esophageal cancer and coronary artery events were estimated using published dose-response relationships and normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) models.

Results

The primary clinical target volume V95% and/or nodal clinical target volume V90% were less than 95% in 17 photon therapy plans and none of the proton plans. Median NTCP of radiation dermatitis ≥ grade 2 was 18.3% (range, 5.4-41.7) with photon therapy and 58.4% (range, 31.4-69.7) with proton therapy. Median excess absolute risk (EAR) of secondary lung cancer at age 80 for current and former smokers was 4.8% (range, 0.0-17.0) using photons and 2.7% (range, 0.0-13.6) using protons. Median EAR of coronary event at age 80, assuming all patients have preexisting cardiac risk factors, was 1.0% (range, 0.0-5.6) with photons and 0.2% (range, 0.0-1.3) with protons.

Conclusion

Proton therapy plans improved target coverage and reduced risk of coronary artery event and secondary lung cancer while increasing the risk of radiation dermatitis.

[Treatment of metastatic spinal cord compression]

Metastatic spinal cord compression is an oncologic emergency, and the most frequent initial symptom is radicular backpain. Urgent diagnostics with acute MRI and early treatment is essential to prevent permanent neurologic damage. Treatment is mainly palliative. For patients who have a good prognosis, the treatment of choice is decompressive surgery followed by radiotherapy, but only few patients are candidates to surgery due to significant comorbidities and poor performance status. Optimal therapy is required to maintain high quality of life at an acceptable risk, as argued in this review.

Continuous versus intermittent extended adjuvant letrozole for breast cancer: final results of randomized phase III SOLE (Study of Letrozole Extension) and SOLE Estrogen Substudy

BACKGROUND

Late recurrences in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancers remain an important challenge. Avoidance or delayed development of resistance represents the main objective in extended endocrine therapy (ET). In animal models, resistance was reversed with restoration of circulating estrogen levels during interruption of letrozole treatment. This phase III, randomized, open-label Study of Letrozole Extension (SOLE) studied the effect of extended intermittent letrozole treatment in comparison with continuous letrozole. In parallel, the SOLE estrogen substudy (SOLE-EST) analyzed the levels of estrogen during the interruption of treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

SOLE enrolled 4884 postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive, lymph node-positive, operable breast cancer between December 2007 and October 2012 and among them, 104 patients were enrolled in SOLE-EST. They must have undergone local treatment and have completed 4-6 years of adjuvant ET. Patients were randomized between continuous letrozole (2.5 mg/day orally for 5 years) and intermittent letrozole treatment (2.5 mg/day for 9 months followed by a 3-month interruption in years 1-4 and then 2.5 mg/day during all of year 5).

RESULTS

Intention-to-treat population included 4851 women in SOLE (n = 2425 in the intermittent and n = 2426 in the continuous letrozole groups) and 103 women in SOLE-EST (n = 78 in the intermittent and n = 25 in the continuous letrozole groups). After a median follow-up of 84 months, 7-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 81.4% in the intermittent group and 81.5% in the continuous group (hazard ratio: 1.03, 95% confidence interval: 0.91-1.17). Reported adverse events were similar in both groups. Circulating estrogen recovery was demonstrated within 6 weeks after the stop of letrozole treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Extended adjuvant ET by intermittent administration of letrozole did not improve DFS compared with continuous use, despite the recovery of circulating estrogen levels. The similar DFS coupled with previously reported quality-of-life advantages suggest intermittent extended treatment is a valid option for patients who require or prefer a treatment interruption.

Abstract P5-12-01: SOLE (study of letrozole extension), a phase 3 randomized clinical trial of continuous vs intermittent letrozole in postmenopausal women who have received 4-6 years of adjuvant endocrine therapy for lymph node-positive, early breast cancer (BC): Final analysis and sole estrogen substudy (SOLE-EST)

Background: In animal models of hormone receptor positive (HR+) breast cancer, acquired resistance to continued letrozole was shown to be reversed by estrogen-induced apoptosis. We hypothesized that the rise in estrogen levels during short treatment interruptions would resensitize breast cancer cells to letrozole and improve treatment outcome. SOLE tested the hypothesis that 3 mos treatment-free intervals during extended adjuvant therapy will improve disease-free survival (DFS). We previously reported the primary endpoint after 60 mos median follow-up: extended intermittent letrozole did not improve DFS vs extended continuous letrozole. However, only 9% of pts had breast cancer events, justifying updating the analysis with longer follow-up. The dynamic of recovery of estrogen levels after stopping letrozole therapy has not been previously reported.

Methods: SOLE enrolled 4884 postmenopausal women with HR+ lymph node-positive BC who had completed 4-6 yrs of adjuvant endocrine therapy (19% SERM, 43% AI, 38% both; stratification factor). Pts were randomized to an additional 5 yrs continuous letrozole (2.5 mg daily; n=2441) vs 5 yrs intermittent letrozole (taken for the first 9 mos of yrs 1-4, and 12 mos in yr 5; n=2443). We report the final analysis of the SOLE trial after 84 mos median follow-up. In SOLE-EST, levels of estradiol (E2), estrone (E1) and estrone sulphate (E1S) at 0, 9, 10.5 and 12 mos after randomization were determined using a highly sensitive assay in a subgroup of 90 evaluable patients (21 in the continuous and 69 in the intermittent group).

Results: There were 923 DFS events. 7 yr DFS was 81.5% in both groups. More pts had distant metastases in the continuous group (8.7% vs 7.5%) while second (non-breast) malignancies were more frequent in the intermittent group (5.5% vs 4.7%). Similar outcomes were observed for breast cancer-free interval (BCFI) (88.6% vs 88.0%), distant recurrence-free interval (DRFI) (91.6% vs 90.4%), and overall survival (OS) (90.6% vs 89.6%) for pts assigned intermittent vs continuous letrozole. In the intermittent group, median E2, E1 and E1S levels more than doubled compared with levels at 9 mos after randomization in the first 6 weeks after stopping letrozole during the treatment free interval while levels were stable for the 21 pts tested in the continuous group.

Conclusions: Among postmenopausal women with HR+ BC, extended intermittent letrozole did not improve DFS vs continuous letrozole. Similar outcome was consistently observed for BCFI, DRFI and OS. The SOLE-EST substudy indicates an important increase in estrogen levels as soon as 6 weeks after stopping letrozole therapy in the intermittent group. Further investigation of prior exposure to aromatase inhibitors in relation with outcome and with E2, E1 and E1S levels in SOLE-EST are underway.

Citation Format: Guy Jerusalem, Subrina Farah, Jacquie Chirgwin, Stefan Aebi, Per Karlsson, Patrick Neven, Erika Hitre, Marie-Pascale Graas, Edda Simoncini, Claus Kamby, Alastair Thompson, Sibylle Loibl, Joaquín Gavilá, Katsumasa Kuroi, Christian Marth, Bettina Müller, Seamus O'Reilly, Andrea Gombos, Thomas Ruhstaller, Harold Burstein, Manuela Rabaglio, Barbara Ruepp, Giuseppe Viale, Richard D Gelber, Alan S Coates, Angelo Di Leo, Aron Goldhirsch, Meredith Regan, Marco Colleoni. SOLE (study of letrozole extension), a phase 3 randomized clinical trial of continuous vs intermittent letrozole in postmenopausal women who have received 4-6 years of adjuvant endocrine therapy for lymph node-positive, early breast cancer (BC): Final analysis and sole estrogen substudy (SOLE-EST) [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 P5-12-01.

Are previous episodes of bacterial vaginosis a predictor for vaginal symptoms in breast cancer patients treated with aromatase inhibitors?

Objective To estimate the prevalence of vaginal symptoms in postmenopausal women with breast cancer exposed to aromatase inhibitors, and to investigate if the risk of vaginal symptoms is associated with previous episodes of bacterial vaginosis. Methods Patients from Rigshospitalet and Herlev University Hospital, Denmark, were identified through the register of Danish Breast Cancer Cooperation Group and 78 patients participated in the study. Semiquantitave questionnaires and telephone interview were used to assess the prevalence of vaginal symptoms and previous episode(s) of bacterial vaginosis. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association between vaginal symptoms and previous episodes of bacterial vaginosis. Results Moderate to severe symptoms due to vaginal itching/irritation were experienced by 6.4% (95% CI: 2.8-14.1%), vaginal dryness by 28.4% (95% CI: 19.4-39.5%), and dyspareunia by 23.1% (95% CI: 11.0-42.1%). Patients with earlier episodes of bacterial vaginosis had an increased risk of vaginal dryness when exposed to a treatment with an aromatase inhibitor, adjusted OR 5.5 (95% CI 1.3-21.6). Conclusion A considerable number of patients exposed to aromatase inhibitor have vaginal symptoms and the risk is highest among patients with earlier episodes of bacterial vaginosis.

SOLE (Study of Letrozole Extension): A phase III randomized clinical trial of continuous vs intermittent letrozole in postmenopausal women who have received 4-6 years of adjuvant endocrine therapy for lymph node-positive, early breast cancer (BC)

503

Background: In animal models of hormone receptor positive (HR+) breast cancer, acquired resistance to continued letrozole was shown to be reversed by estrogen-induced apoptosis. Sensitization to reintroduction of estrogen withdrawal by letrozole was hypothesized to improve treatment outcome. SOLE tested the hypothesis that 3 mos treatment-free intervals during extended adjuvant therapy will improve disease-free survival (DFS). Methods: SOLE enrolled 4884 postmenopausal women with HR+ lymph node-positive BC who had completed 4-6 yrs of adjuvant endocrine therapy (19% SERM, 43% AI, 38% both; stratification factor). Pts were randomly assigned to an additional 5 yrs continuous letrozole (2.5 mg daily; n = 2441) vs 5 yrs intermittent letrozole (taken for the first 9 mos of yrs 1-4, and 12 mos in yr 5; n = 2443). The primary endpoint was DFS (randomization until invasive local, regional, distant recurrence or contralateral BC; 2nd malignancy; death). Final analysis was at 665 DFS events, after 2 interim analyses. SOLE required 4800 pts for 80% power to detect a 20% DFS hazard reduction with 2-sided α = 0.05 using a stratified log rank test. Analysis is by intention-to-treat. Results: At 60 mos median follow-up, 5 yr DFS from randomization was 85.8% vs 87.5% for patients assigned intermittent vs continuous letrozole (HR = 1.08; 95% CI 0.93-1.26; P = 0.31). Similar outcome was observed for breast cancer-free interval (HR = 0.98; 95% CI 0.81-1.19), distant recurrence-free interval (HR = 0.88; 95% CI 0.71-1.09), and overall survival (HR = 0.85; 95% CI 0.68-1.07). AEs of grade > 3 were reported for 43.5% vs 41.6% of pts assigned intermittent vs continuous letrozole. Overall 24% pts discontinued letrozole early in both groups. Conclusions: Among postmenopausal women with HR+ BC, extended intermittent letrozole did not improve DFS vs continuous letrozole. The similar observed outcomes and incidence of AEs provides clinically relevant information on the intermittent administration of extended letrozole for patients who could benefit from temporary treatment breaks. Clinical trial information: NCT00553410.

Dosimetric assessment of an Atlas based automated segmentation for loco-regional radiation therapy of early breast cancer in the Skagen Trial 1: A multi-institutional study

•

40 dose plans from the Skagen Trial 1 collected from Denmark, Belgium and Norway.

•

Atlas-based automated segmentation of each CT scan was obtained using MIM Maestro™.

•

DSC and difference in volume with manual segmentation were collected.

•

HI, V95 and V90% measured on the two different segmentations were compared.

•

Inter-observer variability was low and dose parameters were comparable.

The effect of Atlas-based automated segmentation (ABAS) on dose volume histogram (DVH) parameters compared to manual segmentation (MS) in loco-regional radiotherapy (RT) of early breast cancer was investigated in patients included in the Skagen Trial 1.

This analysis supports implementation of ABAS in clinical practice and multi-institutional trials.

[Adjuvant medical treatment for patients with locoregional recurrence of breast cancer]

There is 10-30% risk of developing isolated locoregional recurrence (ILRR) after mastectomy for primary breast cancer. Currently, there is no standard treatment for ILRR and therefore patients with ILRR cause an oncological task. This review investigates existing literature concerning relevant randomized trials of adjuvant medical treatment with chemotherapy, anti-hormonal and anti HER2 treatments for patients radically treated for ILRR. Certain groups of patients may benefit from adjuvant systemic treatment. However larger randomized trials are needed.

[Prevention of skeletal related events in patients with bone metastases from solid tumours]

This article is based on a systematic literature search and meta-analyses of clinical data regarding effects of bisphosphonates (BP) and denosumab (DS) on preventing skeletal related events (SRE) in patients with bone metastases from solid tumours. Although there are pharmacological differences between the different types of BP no major differences were observed between BP in preventing SRE or in adverse events. Treatment with DS has in three randomised trials showed a greater effect than BP in preventing SRE. The optimal choice of bone-anti-resorptive agent should depend on the patient's general condition, renal function and treatment logistics.

The functional and psychosocial status of patients with disseminated bladder cancer

This study describes self-reported functional and psychological status of patients using The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and relates this to the prognosis. Patients with incurable locally advanced or metastatic transitional cell cancer of the urothelial tract were prospectively included in a study of self-reported functional and psychosocial status. The study included 25 patients; 19 patients completed one or more Quality of Life Questionnaires. The median survival was 5.2 months, and there was a significant relation between functional, emotional, and social status and survival. The self-assessment of functional status was a better prognostic factor for survival than performance status evaluated by the clinician. The value of the global quality of life scale did not relate to survival after recurrence. Functional, emotional, and quality of life scales declined during the progression of the disease. The study suggests that evaluation with self-reporting questionnaires may provide the physician with useful information, and it may aid in making treatment decisions in patients with metastatic bladder cancer.

Assessment of functional status in patients with invasive carcinoma of the urothelial tract

Performance status score is an important prognostic factor for response and survival for patients entering clinical trials. Evaluation of the functional status of the patients should be considered when retrospective studies on prognostic factors are performed. However, the methodologic problems of evaluating performance status retrospectively are unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of retrospective assessment of performance status based on information from patient records. The level of performance status was analyzed in relation to duration of survival after primary or recurrent carcinoma of the urinary tract. The records of 149 patients with primary urothelial carcinoma and 53 patients with recurrent disease were blindly scored twice by two investigators according to the World Health Organization (WHO) performance status scale. The median time of observation was 109 months (range 3-219); 13 patients were alive at the time of follow-up. When scores of the performance were compared for patients separated in two groups, good performance (WHO scores 0 and 1) versus poor performance status (score >1), the intraobserver overall agreement for the assessments varied from 82% to 89%, whereas the interobserver agreement varied from 76% to 86%. The range of the intra- and interobserver kappa coefficients (95% CI) were 63% to 72% (52% to 83%) and 49% to 68% (40% to 79%), respectively. All four assessments were significantly related to survival (p < 10(-4)). Multivariable proportional hazard regression analysis showed that gender, platelet count, level of liver enzymes, and each of the four assessments of performance status (analyzed in four separate statistical models) were significant prognostic factors. Retrospective scoring of performance status is a reproducible and reliable tool that provides additional prognostic information. Optimal retrospective evaluation of the simultaneous effect of multiple prognostic factors should therefore include an assessment of the functional status of the patient.

Electrochemotherapy for large cutaneous recurrence of breast cancer: a phase II clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Cutaneous recurrences of breast cancer may cause considerable discomfort due to ulceration, oozing, and pain and can also be difficult to treat. Electrochemotherapy is a localised anticancer treatment using electric pulses to make cell membranes permeable, augmenting uptake of chemotherapeutic drugs, and thus enabling highly efficient tumour cell kill. This is the first systematic investigation of electrochemotherapy for larger cutaneous recurrences of breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a phase II trial for patients with cutaneous recurrences where no further treatment options were available. Primary endpoint was objective response evaluated by clinical examination. Secondary endpoints included response evaluated by PET/CT, change in lung diffusion capacity, patient reported symptoms, and distress related to bodily appearance. Treatment consisted of bleomycin injection followed by application of electric pulses.

RESULTS

Seventeen heavily pre-treated patients received electrochemotherapy. Twelve patients were evaluable (follow-up > 8 weeks). CT showed four (33%) patients achieving over 50% tumour volume reduction, clinical examination showed one CR and one PR (OR 17%). Symptomatic relief included decreasing exudates, odour, and bleeding. Treatment was well tolerated; the main side effect was post-treatment pain.

CONCLUSION

This first phase II study indicates that electrochemotherapy is a promising treatment alternative for cutaneous recurrences of breast cancer.

Gemcitabine plus docetaxel versus docetaxel in patients with predominantly human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer: a randomized, phase III study by the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group

PURPOSE

The objective of this phase III study was to compare the efficacy of gemcitabine plus docetaxel (GD) versus docetaxel in patients with advanced breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Predominantly human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) -negative patients were randomly assigned to gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m(2)) on days 1 and 8 plus docetaxel (75 mg/m(2)) on day 8 or to docetaxel (100 mg/m(2)) on day 1, every 21 days. Patients were untreated or had prior (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy or a single anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimen for metastatic breast cancer. The primary end point was time to progression (TTP), and secondary end points were overall survival (OS), response rate (RR), and toxicity.

RESULTS

A total of 170 patients were allocated to GD, and 167 were allocated to docetaxel. Median TTP on GD was 10.3 months versus 8.3 months on docetaxel (hazard ratio [HR], 0.77; 95% CI, 0.59 to 1.01; log-rank P = .06). The adjusted Cox proportional model for TTP showed a significant difference favoring the combination (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.51 to 0.90; P = .007). However, RR was similar (GD, 36%; docetaxel, 34%), and OS was not different (P = .57). Grades 3 to 4 neutropenia was common (GD, 75%; docetaxel, 69%); infection was reported in 26% and 21% of patients in the GD and docetaxel groups, respectively. Grades 3 to 4 thrombocytopenia was more frequent with GD (GD, 16%; docetaxel, 0.6%), and peripheral neuropathy was higher with docetaxel (GD, 5%; docetaxel, 16%).

CONCLUSION

GD compared with docetaxel demonstrated increased TTP in metastatic breast cancer. However, RR and OS were similar. Thus, the addition of gemcitabine failed to demonstrate any clinically meaningful benefit when combined with docetaxel.

Antiangiogenic therapy for breast cancer

Angiogenesis is an important component of cancer growth, invasion and metastasis. Therefore, inhibition of angiogenesis is an attractive strategy for treatment of cancer. We describe existing clinical trials of antiangiogenic agents and the challenges facing the clinical development and optimal use of these agents for the treatment of breast cancer. Currently, the most promising approach has been the use of bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against the most potent pro-angiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Small molecular inhibitors of VEGF tyrosine kinase activity, such as sorafenib, appear promising. While, the role of sunitinib and inhibitors of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in breast cancer has to be defined. Several unanswered questions remain, such as choice of drug(s), optimal duration of therapy and patient selection criteria.

Cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil; oral cyclophosphamide; levamisole; or no adjuvant therapy for patients with high-risk, premenopausal breast cancer

BACKGROUND

The Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group (DBCG) 77B trial examined the relative efficacy of levamisole, single-agent oral cyclophosphamide, and the classic combination of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) against no adjuvant systemic therapy in high-risk breast cancer patients. The authors report the results from that trial after a potential follow-up of 25 years.

METHODS

Between 1977 and 1983, 1146 premenopausal patients who had tumors >5 cm or positive axillary lymph nodes were assigned randomly to 1 of 4 options: no systemic therapy, levamisole 5 mg weekly for 48 weeks (the levamisole arm), oral cyclophosphamide 130 mg/m(2) on Days 1 through 14 every 4 weeks for 12 cycles (the C arm), or oral cyclophosphamide 80 mg/m(2) on Days 1 through 14 plus methotrexate 30 mg/m(2) and fluorouracil 500 mg/m(2) intravenously on Days 1 and 8 every 4 weeks for 12 cycles (the CMF arm).

RESULTS

The 10-year invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) rate was 38.6% in the control arm compared with 55.5% in the C arm, 48.8% in the CMF arm, and 35.2% in the levamisole arm. Compared with the control arm, the hazard ratio for an IDFS event was 0.62 in the C arm (P = .001) and 0.70 in the CMF arm (P = .01). The hazard ratio for death was 0.70 in both the C arm (P = .02) and the CMF arm (P = .02) at 10 years, and the overall survival (OS) benefit was maintained during 25 years of follow-up. No significant differences were observed in IDFS or OS between the C arm and the CMF arm or between the levamisole arm and the control arm.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with controls, both cyclophosphamide and CMF significantly improved disease-free survival and OS, and the benefits persisted for at least 25 years in premenopausal patients who had high-risk breast cancer.

Cost-Effectiveness of Adding Zoledronic Acid to Endocrine Therapy in Premenopausal Women with Hormone-Responsive Early Breast Cancer in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland, Based on the ABCSG-12 Study

Background: The ABCSG-12 trial demonstrated that adding zoledronic acid 4 mg IV q 6 months (ZOL) to endocrine therapy with goserelin 3.6 mg sc q 28 days plus tamoxifen 20 mg oral qd or anastrozole 1mg oral qd (ET) in premenopausal women with hormone receptor positive (HR+) early breast cancer (EBC) improves disease free survival versus ET alone. The objective of this study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of ZOL in this setting from the perspectives of the healthcare systems in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland.Material and Methods: A Markov model was used to project lifetime outcomes and costs of breast cancer care for premenopausal women with HR+ EBC receiving 3 yrs of ET or 3 yrs of ET plus ZOL. Cost-effectiveness was measured as the incremental cost per quality adjusted life year (QALY) gained. Probabilities of breast cancer recurrence were based on ABCSG-12 (median [maximum] follow-up 48 [84] months). Probabilities and costs were from the published literature. Results were generated under 2 scenarios: (1) benefits of ZOL persist to the maximum follow-up in ABCSG-12 (trial benefits); (2) benefits persist until recurrence or death (lifetime benefits). Local currencies were converted to Euros to facilitate cross-country comparisons.Results: Expected costs of 3 yrs of ZOL q6m (medication and administration) were €1,869 for Sweden, €1,947 for Norway, €2,647 for Finland, and €2,824 for Denmark. Under the trial benefits scenario, these costs were partially offset by savings in the expected lifetime costs of treatment of breast cancer recurrence of €1,105 for Sweden, €1,422 for Norway, €1,400 for Finland, and €1,585 for Denmark. ZOL was therefore projected to increase total costs by €800 for Sweden, €559 for Norway, €1,247 for Finland, and €1,293 for Denmark. QALYs gained with ZOL were 0.37 in all settings. Cost per QALY gained was therefore €2,162 for Sweden, €1,510 for Norway, €3,369 for Finland, and €3,494 for Denmark. Assuming lifetime benefits, savings from preventing breast cancer exceeded additional costs of ZOL for all four countries, with net savings of €3,364 for Sweden, €4,736 for Norway, €3,753 for Finland, and €4,644 for Denmark. QALYs gained with ZOL were similar across countries, ranging from 1.22 to 1.24. ZOL was therefore a “dominant” strategy (more effective and less costly) in all settings under this assumption.Conclusion: Adding ZOL to ET in premenopausal women with HR+ EBC may be highly cost-effective (&lt;€50,000 per QALY gained) from the healthcare system perspectives of Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark even under conservative assumptions of the duration of ZOL benefit. Adding ZOL to ET leads to cost savings in all four Nordic countries if benefits observed in ABCSG-12 are assumed to persist until disease progression or death.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 4088.

Acute and Late Toxicity Following Adjuvant High-Dose Chemotherapy for High-Risk Primary Operable Breast Cancer A Quality Assessment Study

From 1996 to 2000, high-dose chemotherapy with haematopoietic stem-cell support was used as an adjuvant treatment strategy for management of primary high-risk breast cancer patients with more than five positive nodes. This single institution study included 52 women aged &#104 56 years with primary operable breast cancer and &#83 6 tumour-positive axillary lymph nodes. The treatment regimen consisted of at least three initial courses of FEC (5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide) followed by high-dose chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, thiotepa, carboplatin) supported by autologous peripheral blood stem-cell reinfusion. This study focuses on quality control including evaluation of toxicity, supportive therapy and assessment of the stem-cell products. Cytokeratin 19 positive cells were found in the stem-cell product from 3/37 patients. Data regarding organ toxicity were used for evaluation of short- and long-term side effects. Substantial acute toxicity and frequent catheter-related infections were found. Long-term toxicities included reduced lung diffusion capacity (n=36), fatigue (n=14), arthralgia/myalgia (n=10), neurotoxicity (n=9) and memory loss (n=4). However, most toxicities were grade 1-2 and reversible within two years. No treatment-related death occurred. Within a median follow-up of 30 months (range, 11-57), 25% of the patients had relapsed. Recurrence-free survival was 75% and overall survival was 88% three years after the start of treatment. Overall, high-dose chemotherapy was relatively well tolerated, with manageable toxicity and an acceptable requirement of supportive therapy. Until now, high-dose chemotherapy has not proven superior to conventional-dose adjuvant chemotherapy, therefore it is necessary in the future to focus on well-designed randomized studies.

Post-mastectomy radiotherapy in Denmark: from 2D to 3D treatment planning guidelines of The Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group

This paper describes the procedure of changing from 2D to 3D treatment planning guidelines for post-mastectomy radiotherapy in Denmark. The aim of introducing 3D planning for post-mastectomy radiotherapy was to optimize the target coverage and minimize the dose to the normal tissues. Initially, it was investigated whether it was possible to find a treatment technique alternative to the one recommended by the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group (DBCG). A dosimetric comparison of a combined photon/electron 3-field technique (3F) and a partial wide tangent technique (PWT) was carried out on individual planning CT-scans from seven patients selected to represent a wide range of sizes and shapes of chest walls. The heart dose was lower for PWT than for 3F, however, for both techniques the dose was within the accepted constraints. The lung dose was higher but acceptable for six of the seven patients with PWT. The dose to the internal mammary nodes (IMN) was not satisfactory for five of the seven patients for 3F, whereas only two of the seven patients had a minimum dose lower than 95% of the prescribed dose with PWT. Finally, the dose to the contralateral breast was increased when using PWT compared to 3F. It was concluded that PWT was an appropriate choice of technique for future radiation treatment of post-mastectomy patients. A working group was formed and guidelines for 3D planning were developed during a series of workshops where radiation oncologists and physicists from all radiotherapy centres participated. This work also included a definition of the tissue structures needed to be outlined on the planning CT-scan. The work was initiated in 2003 and the guidelines were approved by the DBCG Radiotherapy Committee in 2006. The first of January 2007 the 3D guidelines had been fully implemented in five of the seven radiotherapy centres.

Bisphosphonate treatment in primary breast cancer: results from a randomised comparison of oral pamidronate versus no pamidronate in patients with primary breast cancer

PURPOSE AND PATIENTS

During the period from January 1990 to January 1996 a total of 953 patients with lymph node negative primary breast cancer were randomised to oral pamidronate (n=460) 150 mg twice daily for 4 years or no adjuvant pamidronate (n=493) in order to investigate whether oral pamidronate can prevent the occurrence of bone metastases and fractures. The patients received adjuvant chemotherapy, loco-regional radiation therapy, but no endocrine treatment.

RESULTS

During the follow-up period the number of patients with pure bone metastases was 35 in the control group and 31 in the pamidronate group. The number of patients with a combination of bone and other distant metastases were 22 in the control group and 20 in the pamidronate group. The hazard rate ratio for recurrence in bone in the pamidronate group compared to the control group was 1.03 (95% confidence interval 0.75-1.40) and p=0.86. No effect was observed on overall survival. In a small subgroup of 27 patients from the study, 12 of whom were treated with pamidronate a significant bone preserving effect was observed on bone mineral density in the lumbar spine, but not in the proximal femur.

CONCLUSION

The results from the trial do not support a beneficial effect of oral pamidronate on the occurrence of bone metastases or fractures in patients with primary breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.

Gemcitabine plus docetaxel versus docetaxel in patients (pts) with HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (MBC): A randomized phase III study

1015

Background: Gemcitabine (G), either as a single agent or in combination with taxanes, has demonstrated efficacy in MBC in phase II and III studies. We conducted a phase III study to compare time to progression (TTP) of G plus docetaxel (T) versus (vs.) T alone. The secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), and toxicity. Methods: Females with HER-2-negative locally advanced or MBC and a WHO performance status ≤ 2 were randomized to GT (G 1,000mg/m2 day 1 + 8; T 75mg/m2 day 1) or T (100mg/m2 day 1) every 21 days. Pts were previously untreated, had prior anthracycline-based (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy or had received a single prior anthracycline-bsed chemotherapy regimen for MBC. Time-to-event endpoints were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank test was applied for comparisons between regimens. The planned sample size was 254 evaluable pts with α I and β of 0.05 and 0.90, respectively. Results: A total of 336 pts were randomized (170 GT; 166 T), data from one centre are yet missing and the present evaluation is based on data from 306 pts (155 GT; 151 T). The pts had a median age of 58 years in both regimens; range 36–73 years and 30–74 years, respectively. The median TTP was 7.5 months for the GT regimen vs. 6.5 months for the T regimen. The GT arm demonstrated an ORR of 44% vs. 38% in the T arm with 4 and 3 % complete responses, respectively. The OS was 13.4 vs. 13.2 months in the GT and T arm, respectively. Hematologic toxicity was common, especially grade 3–4 neutropenia (GT = 69%; T = 61%); infection was reported in 22 and 20% of the pts, respectively (none of the pts received G-CSF). The most commonly reported non-hematologic toxicities of grade 3–4 included mucositis (GT = 2%; T = 5%), diarrhea (GT = 4%; T = 7 %), fatigue (GT = 6%; T = 11%), oedema (GT = 10%; T = 3%), and peripheral neuropathy (GT = 9%; T = 28%). Conclusions: Preliminary data of GT as first- or second-line chemotherapy demonstrates a TTP advantage among HER-2-negative pts with advanced breast cancer. Updated results and proper statistical analyses will be presented.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

HER2-targeted therapy in breast cancer. Monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors

There is strong clinical evidence that trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) two tyrosine kinase receptor, is an important component of first-line treatment of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. In particular the combination with taxanes and vinorelbine has been established. In the preoperative setting inclusion of trastuzumab has significantly increased the pathological complete response rate. Results from large phase III trials evaluating adjuvant therapy in HER2-positive early breast cancer indicate that the addition of trastuzumab to chemotherapy improves disease-free and overall survival. The use of lapatinib, a dual tyrosine kinase inhibitor of both HER1 and HER2, in combination with capecitabine in the second-line treatment of HER2-positive patients with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with trastuzumab has been established. There is modest, but still insufficient, support that the compound passes the blood-brain barrier. Several trials are ongoing both in the adjuvant and metastatic settings and we have to await the results of these to clarify the role of trastuzumab and lapatinib. The clinical problem of tumours developing resistance to HER2-directed therapy is becoming increasingly important. Several issues about optimal selection of patients, prevention of resistance and use of different treatment options are still unresolved. In this article, we summarise the current knowledge on clinical evidence of HER2-directed therapy and the potential mechanisms of underlying resistance, including the possible clinical implications and review new therapeutic options.

DBCG trial 89B comparing adjuvant CMF and ovarian ablation: similar outcome for eligible but non-enrolled and randomized breast cancer patients

INTRODUCTION

A cohort of premenopausal patients with primary hormone receptor positive breast cancer was prospectively identified to be eligible for the DBCG 89B trial. We perform a long-term follow-up and evaluate the external validity of the trial.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Following registration in a population-based registry, patients were invited to be randomized to ovarian ablation (OA) versus nine courses of three-weekly cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (CMF). The same procedures were used in all patients, including report forms, central review, querying, and analysis of data. Multivariate analysis was used to adjust for differences in base-line characteristics.

RESULTS

Participation in the randomization varied according to center and time period. One thousand six hundred and twenty eight eligible patients were registered and 525 randomized in the DBCG 89B trial. Median estimated follow-up was 9.5 years for disease-free survival and 12.1 years for overall survival. Non-enrolled patients had a disease-free and overall survival similar to randomized patients. Within 5 years of surgery, results were similar following OA and CMF, but disease-free survival was significant inferior with OA more than five years after surgery, adjusted hazard ratio 1.38 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.85; p=0.03). This convened ten years after surgery to an inferior survival with OA, and the adjusted hazard ratio was 2.37 (95% CI 1.43 to 3.91; p<0.01).

DISCUSSION

This prospective cohort study indicates that eligible patients not participating in the DBCG 89B trial had a similar disease-free and overall survival as participants. Survival was similar after OA and CMF in the first ten years, but became inferior in the OA group 10 or more years after surgery.

Tamoxifen for one year versus two years versus 6 months of Tamoxifen and 6 months of megestrol acetate: a randomized comparison in postmenopausal patients with high-risk breast cancer (DBCG 89C)

From January 1, 1990 to December 31, 1994, DBCG conducted a randomised trial in 1 615 postmenopausal women with operable, high-risk, receptor-positive or -unknown breast cancer. The patients were after surgery randomised to Tamoxifen for 1 year (TAM1), Tamoxifen for 2 years (TAM 2) or Tamoxifen for 6 months followed by megestrol acetate for 6 months (TAM/MA). When the preplanned sample size of 1 500 patients was reached it was decided to continue randomisation to TAM1 or TAM2 and the study was finally closed December 31, 1996. With a median follow-up of more than 10 years, there was no difference in disease-free survival (DFS) or overall survival (OS) among the three treatment arms. Similar results were obtained in the original and extended comparisons of Tamoxifen for 1 versus 2 years. A multivariate analysis in the per-protocol treated patients did not show significant differences in hazard ratios for DFS or OS among the three arms. Side-effects were rare but more common in the TAM2 and TAM/MA arms.

[Bone metastases]

Bone metastases are a frequent condition leading to fractures, hypercalcaemia and spinal compression. The treatment will depend on the possibility to treat the cancer. Secondly local treatment should be considered. To relief pain radiotherapy, given as 1 fraction with 8 Gy, is an effective treatment. Radiotherapy can also be used to treat complications from the metastasis. The use of bisphosphonates is now established in the treatment of breast cancer with bone metastasis to prevent complications from bone metastasis. Surgery is a growing possibility both as treatment of manifest fractures and prophylactic. Selection of patients to surgery is important to keep complication rate low.

[Loco-regional recurrence of breast cancer]

The treatment of loco-regional recurrence (LRR) after breast cancer is based on the achievement of loco-regional control by radical surgery and adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy. Antiestrogens used as treatment in patients with steroid receptor positive LRR can increase disease free survival. Adjuvant chemotherapy is not applied to patients with LRR who have had radical loco-regional salvage treatment. Further studies are needed to elucidate this issue.

[Medical treatment of early breast cancer: chemotherapy]

In general, chemotherapy improves recurrence-free and overall survival in patients with early breast cancer, but the possible benefits should be weighted against toxicities and the socio-economic burden for the individual patient. The benefits appear to be less in patients with hormone receptor positive tumours aged 59 or older and endocrine therapy alone might be preferred in these patients. A regimen containing anthracyclines and taxanes, the most active drugs in primary breast cancer, is preferable if chemotherapy is to be used, e.g. epirubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel.

[Neoadjuvant antihormonal treatment of women with breast cancer]

The main goal of neoadjuvant treatment for large operable or locally-advanced breast cancer is downstaging tumors. It may allow breast-conserving surgery on tumors that are unsuitable at initial presentation or convert some inoperable breast cancers into tumors that are operable. Neoadjuvant antihormonal therapy for receptor positive tumors is an effective and safe alternative to chemotherapy in elderly postmenopausal women. This paper presents an updated overview of the results from early phase II studies of neoadjuvant endocrine therapy, randomized trials of tamoxifen as primary treatment versus primary operation, and randomized phase III trials which compare tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors.

[Primary inoperable breast cancer]

2-5% of breast cancers are locally advanced (LABC). The standard treatment is neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NC) with an anthracycline-based regimen followed by surgery and adjuvant therapy. Pathological complete response (pCR) to NC is correlated to survival. However, only a small percentage of patients achieve pCR and the prognosis is poor. Addition of paclitaxel or docetaxel increases clinical and pathologic response rates. In addition trastuzumab seems effective. Prediction of treatment response may be guided by novel biotechnological approaches.

[Antiestrogen treatment in postmenopausal patients with metastatic breast cancer]

This review discusses the evidence for endocrine treatment in postmenopausal patients with metastatic breast cancer. First line treatment with non-steroid aromatase inhibitors (AI) yields response rates of 30% and improves progression free survival, but not overall survival, compared to tamoxifen. With second line treatment using steroid AI, estrogen antagonists or selective estrogen receptor modulators prolonged disease stabilisation is achieved in 40% of patients. With third line treatment using steroid AI and estrogen antagonists disease stabilisation is achieved in up to 30% of patients.

Vaccination with p53 peptide-pulsed dendritic cells is associated with disease stabilization in patients with p53 expressing advanced breast cancer; monitoring of serum YKL-40 and IL-6 as response biomarkers

p53 Mutations are found in up to 30% of breast cancers and peptides derived from over-expressed p53 protein are presented by class I HLA molecules and may act as tumor-associated epitopes in cancer vaccines. A dendritic cell (DC) based p53 targeting vaccine was analyzed in HLA-A2+ patients with progressive advanced breast cancer. DCs were loaded with 3 wild-type and 3 P2 anchor modified HLA-A2 binding p53 peptides. Patients received up to 10 sc vaccinations with 5 x 10(6) p53-peptide loaded DC with 1-2 weeks interval. Concomitantly, 6 MIU/m(2) interleukine-2 was administered sc. Results from a phase II trial including 26 patients with verified progressive breast cancer are presented. Seven patients discontinued treatment after only 2-3 vaccination weeks due to rapid disease progression or death. Nineteen patients were available for first evaluation after 6 vaccinations; 8/19 evaluable patients attained stable disease (SD) or minor regression while 11/19 patients had progressive disease (PD), indicating an effect of p53-specific immune therapy. This was supported by: (1) a positive correlation between p53 expression of tumor and observed SD, (2) therapy induced p53 specific T cells in 4/7 patients with SD but only in 2/9 patients with PD, and (3) significant response associated changes in serum YKL-40 and IL-6 levels identifying these biomarkers as possible candidates for monitoring of response in connection with DC based cancer immunotherapy. In conclusion, a significant fraction of breast cancer patients obtained SD during p53-targeting DC therapy. Data encourage initiation of a randomized trial in p53 positive patients evaluating the impact on progression free survival.

[Medical, non-endocrine treatment of metastatic breast cancer--a status]

This review discusses the indications and purposes of treatment for metastatic breast cancer with chemotherapy and monoclonal antibody against the erbB-2 receptor(trastuzumab). There is no curative treatment for this condition, but first line chemotherapy with anthracyclines or taxanes improves the overall survival and offers palliation of disease-related symptoms. For patients with HER-2 positive tumour the combination of chemotherapy and trastuzumab can increase the response rates and survival. Palliation of symptoms is also achievable with second line chemotherapy. For patients with symptoms and good performance status, third line treatment should be considered, but there are no standard recommendations.

Improved outcome from substituting methotrexate with epirubicin: results from a randomised comparison of CMF versus CEF in patients with primary breast cancer

We compared the efficacy of CEF (cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, and fluorouracil) against CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil) in moderate or high risk breast cancer patients. We randomly assigned 1224 patients with completely resected unilateral breast cancer to receive nine cycles of three-weekly intravenous CMF or CEF. Patients were encouraged to take part in a parallel trial comparing oral pamidronate 150 mg twice daily for 4 years versus control (data not shown). Substitution of methotrexate with epirubicin significantly reduced the unadjusted hazard for disease-free survival (DFS) by 16% (hazard ratio 0.84; 95% CI; 0.71-0.99) and for overall survival by 21% (hazard ratio 0.79; 95% CI; 0.66-0.94). The risk of secondary leukaemia and congestive heart failure was similar in the two groups. Overall CEF was superior over CMF in terms of DFS and OS in patients with operable breast cancer without subsequent increase in late toxicities.

[Adjuvant antihormonal therapy for postmenopausal women with primary operable breast cancer]

Adjuvant hormonal therapy results in substantial improvements in disease-free and overall survival for women with operable breast cancer. Many randomised trials of adjuvant tamoxifen have been published, and an updated overview of their results is presented in this paper. The third-generation aromatase inhibitors have recently been compared with tamoxifen. These studies are also reviewed in this paper. The Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group recommends adjuvant hormonal therapy consisting of tamoxifen for 2.5 years followed by the aromatase inhibitor for 2.5 years, or 5 years of the aromatase inhibitor for women with contraindications to tamoxifen.

Similar efficacy for ovarian ablation compared with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil: from a randomized comparison of premenopausal patients with node-positive, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer

PURPOSE

To compare the efficacy of ovarian ablation versus chemotherapy in early breast cancer patients with hormone receptor-positive disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted an open, randomized, multicenter trial including premenopausal breast cancer patients with hormone receptor-positive tumors and either axillary lymph node metastases or tumors with a size of 5 cm or more. Patients were randomly assigned to ovarian ablation by irradiation or to nine courses of chemotherapy with intravenous cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF) administered every 3 weeks.

RESULTS

Between 1990 and May 1998, 762 patients were randomly assigned, and the present analysis is based on 358 first events. After a median follow-up time of 8.5 years, the unadjusted hazard ratio for disease-free survival in the ovarian ablation group compared with the CMF group was 0.99 (95% CI, 0.81 to 1.22). After a median follow-up time of 10.5 years, overall survival (OS) was similar in the two groups, with a hazard ratio of 1.11 (95% CI, 0.88 to 1.42) for the ovarian ablation group compared with the CMF group.

CONCLUSION

In this study, ablation of ovarian function in premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer had a similar effect to CMF on disease-free and OS. No significant interactions were demonstrated between treatment modality and hormone receptor content, age, or any of the well-known prognostic factors.