The impact of geriatric characteristics and comorbidities on distant metastases and other cause mortality in older women with non-metastatic breast cancer treated with primary endocrine therapy

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, primary surgical treatment of older women with non-metastatic breast cancer has decreased in favor of primary endocrine therapy (PET). PET can be considered in women with a remaining life expectancy of less than five years. The aim of this study was to (1) assess the risk of distant metastases and other cause mortality over ten years in women aged 65 and older with stage I-III breast cancer treated with PET, (2) whether this was associated with geriatric characteristics and comorbidities and to (3) describe the reasons on which the choice for PET was made.

METHODS

Women were included from the retrospective FOCUS cohort, which comprises all incident women diagnosed with breast cancer aged 65 or older between January 1997 and December 2004 in the Comprehensive Cancer Center Region West in the Netherlands. We selected women (N = 257) with stage I-III breast cancer and treated with PET from this cohort. Patient characteristics (including comorbidity, polypharmacy, walking, cognitive and sensory impairment), treatment and tumor characteristics were retrospectively extracted from charts. Outcomes were distant metastasis and other cause mortality. Cumulative incidences were calculated using the Cumulative Incidence for Competing Risks method (CICR); and subdistribution hazard ratios (SHR) were tested between groups based on age, geriatric characteristics and comorbidity with the Fine and Gray model.

RESULTS

Women treated with PET were on average 84 years old and 41% had one or more geriatric characteristics. Other cause mortality exceeded the cumulative incidence of distant metastasis over ten years (83 versus 5.6%). The risk of dying from another cause further increased in women with geriatric characteristics (SHR 2.06, p < 0.001) or two or more comorbidities (SHR 1.72, p < 0.001). Often the reason for omitting surgery was not recorded (52.9%), but if recorded surgery was omitted mainly at the patient's request (18.7%).

DISCUSSION

This study shows that the cumulative incidence of distant metastasis is much lower than other cause mortality in older women with breast cancer treated with PET, especially in the presence of geriatric characteristics or comorbidities. This confirms the importance of assessment of geriatric characteristics to aid counseling of older women.

Gene expression signatures in older patients with breast cancer: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Gene expression signatures have emerged to predict prognosis and guide the use of adjuvant therapy in patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the prognostic and predictive value of commercially available gene expression signatures as a tool in adjuvant treatment decision-making in older patients with breast cancer.

METHODS

PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Emcare were reviewed for relevant articles published before December 2021. Eligible studies were randomised trials and cohort studies that externally validated commercially available gene expression signatures in patients aged 65 years and older, including studies that presented subanalyses of this age group. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment was performed independently by two investigators.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies were included. Most studies investigated Oncotype DX, while results from other gene expression signatures were limited. Several studies underlined the prognostic performance of Oncotype DX and Prosigna Risk of Recurrence in older patients. Moreover, Oncotype DX was predictive for older patients with an intermediate-risk recurrence score; chemotherapy could be spared in both lymph node-positive and lymph node-negative disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Prognostic performance has been demonstrated in older patients for several gene expression signatures. However, additional validation in patients with high-risk tumours is needed before gene expression signatures can be implemented in clinical practice as a prediction tool for adjuvant chemotherapy decision-making in the older age group.

Validation of the 70-gene signature test (MammaPrint) to identify patients with breast cancer aged ≥ 70 years with ultralow risk of distant recurrence: A population-based cohort study

INTRODUCTION

When risk estimation in older patients with hormone receptor positive breast cancer (HR + BC) is based on the same factors as in younger patients, age-related factors regarding recurrence risk and other-cause mortality are not considered. Genomic risk assessment could help identify patients with ultralow risk BC who can forgo adjuvant treatment. However, assessment tools should be validated specifically for older patients. This study aims to determine whether the 70-gene signature test (MammaPrint) can identify patients with HR + BC aged ≥70 years with ultralow risk for distant recurrence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Inclusion criteria: ≥70 years; invasive HR + BC; T1-2N0-3M0.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

HER2 + BC; neoadjuvant therapy. MammaPrint assays were performed following standardized protocols. Clinical risk was determined with St. Gallen risk classification. Primary endpoint was 10-year cumulative incidence rate of distant recurrence in relation to genomic risk. Subdistribution hazard ratios (sHR) were estimated from Fine and Gray analyses. Multivariate analyses were adjusted for adjuvant endocrine therapy and clinical risk.

RESULTS

This study included 418 patients, median age 78 years (interquartile range [IQR] 73-83). Sixty percent of patients were treated with endocrine therapy. MammaPrint classified 50 patients as MammaPrint-ultralow, 224 patients as MammaPrint-low, and 144 patients as MammaPrint-high risk. Regarding clinical risk, 50 patients were classified low, 237 intermediate, and 131 high. Discordance was observed between clinical and genomic risk in 14 MammaPrint-ultralow risk patients who were high clinical risk, and 84 patients who were MammaPrint-high risk, but low or intermediate clinical risk. Median follow-up was 9.2 years (IQR 7.9-10.5). The 10-year distant recurrence rate was 17% (95% confidence interval [CI] 11-23) in MammaPrint-high risk patients, 8% (4-12) in MammaPrint-low (HR 0.46; 95%CI 0.25-0.84), and 2% (0-6) in MammaPrint-ultralow risk patients (HR 0.11; 95%CI 0.02-0.81). After adjustment for clinical risk and endocrine therapy, MammaPrint-high risk patients still had significantly higher 10-year distant recurrence rate than MammaPrint-low (sHR 0.49; 95%CI 0.26-0.90) and MammaPrint-ultralow patients (sHR 0.12; 95%CI 0.02-0.85). Of the 14 MammaPrint-ultralow, high clinical risk patients none developed a distant recurrence.

DISCUSSION

These data add to the evidence validating MammaPrint's ultralow risk threshold. Even in high clinical risk patients, MammaPrint-ultralow risk patients remained recurrence-free ten years after diagnosis. These findings justify future studies into using MammaPrint to individualize adjuvant treatment in older patients.

Effect of omission of surgery on survival in patients aged 80 years and older with early-stage hormone receptor-positive breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Surgery is increasingly being omitted in older patients with operable breast cancer in the Netherlands. Although omission of surgery can be considered in frail older patients, it may lead to inferior outcomes in non-frail patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of omission of surgery on relative and overall survival in older patients with operable breast cancer.

METHODS

Patients aged 80 years or older diagnosed with stage I-II hormone receptor-positive breast cancer between 2003 and 2009 were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. An instrumental variable approach was applied to minimize confounding, using hospital variation in rate of primary surgery. Relative and overall survival was compared between patients treated in hospitals with different rates of surgery.

RESULTS

Overall, 6464 patients were included. Relative survival was lower for patients treated in hospitals with lower compared with higher surgical rates (90·2 versus 92·4 per cent respectively after 5 years; 71·6 versus 88·2 per cent after 10 years). The relative excess risk for patients treated in hospitals with lower surgical rates was 2·00 (95 per cent c.i. 1·17 to 3·40). Overall survival rates were also lower among patients treated in hospitals with lower compared with higher surgical rates (48·3 versus 51·3 per cent after 5 years; 15·0 versus 19·7 per cent after 10 years respectively; adjusted hazard ratio 1·07, 95 per cent c.i. 1·00 to 1·14).

CONCLUSION

Omission of surgery is associated with worse relative and overall survival in patients aged 80 years or more with stage I-II hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Future research should focus on the effect on quality of life and physical functioning.

Sexual Health Needs: How Do Breast Cancer Patients and Their Partners Want Information?

It is well known that breast cancer treatment can affect sexuality. This survey evaluated the needs of breast cancer patients and partners regarding sexual care. The majority of patients (80.4%) and partners (73.7%) did not receive any information regarding sexuality. Although only a quarter of all respondents reported a direct need for information regarding sexuality, most valued an opportunity to discuss sexuality. The nurse practitioner was the most preferable care provider to provide information about sexuality, supported by a brochure or website. Patients considered during treatment as most suitable timing of discussing sexuality, and partners before the start of treatment.

Higher ER load is not associated with better outcome in stage 1-3 breast cancer: a descriptive overview of quantitative HR analysis in operable breast cancer

Purpose

In breast cancer, hormone receptor (HR) status is generally a qualitative measure; positive or negative. Quantitatively measured oestrogen and progesterone receptors (ER and PR) are frequently proposed prognostic and predictive markers, some guidelines even provide different treatment options for patients with strong versus weak expression.

Aim

To evaluate quantitative HR load assessed by immunohistochemistry as a prognostic and predictive measure in stage 1–3 breast cancer.

Methods

We reviewed all the available literature on quantitatively measured HRs using immunohistochemistry.

Results

All included studies (n = 19) comprised a cohort of 30,754 patients. Only 2 out of 17 studies found a clear correlation between higher quantitative ER and better disease outcome. Only one trial examined quantitative ER both as prognostic and predictive marker and found no association between ER% and survival. Ten studies examined quantitative PR load, only two of those found a significant correlation between higher PR load and better disease outcome. Two trials examined quantitative PR both as prognostic and predictive marker, neither found any association between PR% and disease outcome.

Conclusions

There is no clear evidence for using quantitatively assessed ER and PR as prognostic nor predictive marker in patients with stage 1–3 breast cancer. We recommend only using a qualitative HR status in future guidelines and treatment considerations.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s10549-019-05233-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Time trends of short-term mortality for octogenarians undergoing a colorectal resection in North Europe

BACKGROUND

Decreased cancer specific survival in older colorectal patients is mainly due to mortality in the first year, emphasizing the importance of the first postoperative year. This study aims to gain an overview and time trends of short-term mortality in octogenarians (≥80 years) with colorectal cancer across four North European countries.

METHODS

Patients of 80 years or older, operated for colorectal cancer (stage I-III) between 2005 and 2014, were included. Population-based cohorts from Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden were collected. Separately for colon- and rectal cancer, 30-day, 90-day, one-year, and excess one-year mortality were calculated. Also, short-term mortality over three time periods (2005-2008, 2009-2011, 2012-2014) was analyzed.

RESULTS

In total, 35,158 colon cancer patients and 10,144 rectal cancer patients were included. For colon cancer, 90-day mortality rate was highest in Denmark (15%) and lowest in Sweden (8%). For rectal cancer, 90-day mortality rate was highest in Belgium (11%) and lowest in Sweden (7%). One-year excess mortality rate of colon cancer patients decreased from 2005 to 2008 to 2012-2014 for all countries (Belgium: 17%-11%, Denmark: 21%-15%, the Netherlands: 18%-10%, and Sweden: 10%-8%). For rectal cancer, from 2005 to 2008 to 2012-2014 one-year excess mortality rate decreased in the Netherlands from 16% to 7% and Sweden: 8%-2%).

CONCLUSIONS

Short-term mortality rates were high in octogenarians operated for colorectal cancer. Short-term mortality rates differ across four North European countries, but decreased over time for both colon and rectal cancer patients in all countries.

National cohort study on postoperative risks after surgery for submucosal invasive colorectal cancer

Background

The decision to perform surgery for patients with T1 colorectal cancer hinges on the estimated risk of lymph node metastasis, residual tumour and risks of surgery. The aim of this observational study was to compare surgical outcomes for T1 colorectal cancer with those for more advanced colorectal cancer.

Methods

This was a population‐based cohort study of patients treated surgically for pT1–3 colorectal cancer between 2009 and 2016, using data from the Dutch ColoRectal Audit. Postoperative complications (overall, surgical, severe complications and mortality) were compared using multivariable logistic regression. A risk stratification table was developed based on factors independently associated with severe complications (reintervention and/or mortality) after elective surgery.

Results

Of 39 813 patients, 5170 had pT1 colorectal cancer. No statistically significant differences were observed between patients with pT1 and pT2–3 disease in the rate of severe complications (8·3 versus 9·5 per cent respectively; odds ratio (OR) 0·89, 95 per cent c.i. 0·80 to 1·01, P = 0·061), surgical complications (12·6 versus 13·5 per cent; OR 0·93, 0·84 to 1·02, P = 0·119) or mortality (1·7 versus 2·5 per cent; OR 0·94, 0·74 to 1·19, P = 0·604). Male sex, higher ASA grade, previous abdominal surgery, open approach and type of procedure were associated with a higher severe complication rate in patients with pT1 colorectal cancer.

Conclusion

Elective bowel resection was associated with similar morbidity and mortality rates in patients with pT1 and those with pT2–3 colorectal carcinoma.

Introduction of a colorectal cancer screening programme: results from a single-centre study

AIM

In 2014, a national colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programme was launched in the Netherlands. It is difficult to assess for the individual patients with CRC whether the oncological benefits of surgery will outweigh the morbidity of the procedure, especially in early lesions. This study compares patient and tumour characteristics between screen-detected and nonscreen-detected patients. Also, we present an overview of treatment options and clinical dilemmas when treating patients with early-stage colorectal disease.

METHOD

Between January 2014 and December 2016, all patients with nonmalignant polyps or CRC who were referred to the Department of Surgery of the Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands were included. Baseline characteristics, type of treatment and short-term outcomes of patients with screen-detected and nonscreen-detected colorectal tumours were compared.

RESULTS

A total of 426 patients were included, of whom 240 (56.3%) were identified by screening. Nonscreen-detected patients more often had comorbidity (P = 0.03), the primary tumour was more often located in the rectum (P = 0.001) and there was a higher rate of metastatic disease (P < 0.001). Of 354 surgically treated patients, postoperative adverse events did not significantly differ between the two groups (P = 0.38). Of 46 patients with T1 CRC in the endoscopic resection specimen, 23 underwent surgical resection of whom only 30.4% had residual invasive disease at colectomy.

CONCLUSION

Despite differences in comorbidity, stage and surgical outcome of patients with screen-detected tumours compared to nonscreen-detected tumours were not significantly different. Considering its limited oncological benefits as well as the rate of adverse events, surgery for nonmalignant polyps and T1 CRC should be considered carefully.

Decrease in 30-day and one-year mortality over time in patients aged ≥75 years with stage I-III colon cancer: A population-based study

BACKGROUND

Monitoring time trends of cancer mortality is essential. Thirty-day mortality is an important surgical outcome measure, though postoperative mortality exceeds to one year after surgery in patients with colorectal cancer. The aim of this nationwide observational study was to assess changes over time in 30-day and one-year mortality in patients with stage I-III colorectal cancer.

METHODS

All surgically treated patients with stage I-III colorectal cancer, diagnosed between 2009 and 2013 were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Changes in 30-day and one-year mortality were assessed using logistic regression by tumour localisation (colon, rectum) and age group (<75 years, ≥75 years).

RESULTS

Overall, 41,186 patients were included. Among patients with colon cancer ≥75 years, 30-day mortality decreased from 8.3% in 2009 to 6.2% in 2013 (p-value for trend = 0.011), and one-year mortality from 18.5% in 2009 to 15.0% in 2013 (p-value for trend = 0.007). No significant differences in mortality over time were observed for patients <75 years with colon cancer and for patients with rectal cancer.

CONCLUSION

Thirty-day and one-year mortality decreased over time in patients ≥75 years with stage I-III colon cancer, though the absolute decrease is small. However, 30-day mortality and in particular the one-year mortality are both still high in older patients with colorectal cancer and will need to be focused on to further improve outcomes for these patient subgroups.

Prognostic value of tumor-stroma ratio combined with the immune status of tumors in invasive breast carcinoma

PURPOSE

Complex interactions occur between cancer cells and cells in the tumor microenvironment. In this study, the prognostic value of the interplay between tumor-stroma ratio (TSR) and the immune status of tumors in breast cancer patients was evaluated.

METHODS

A cohort of 574 breast cancer patients was analyzed. The percentage of tumor stroma was visually estimated on Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stained histological tumor tissue sections. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I, HLA-E, HLA-G, markers for regulatory T (Treg) cells, natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs).

RESULTS

TSR (P < .001) and immune status of tumors (P < .001) were both statistically significant for recurrence free period (RFP) and both independent prognosticators (P < .001) in which tumors with a high stromal content behave more aggressively as well as tumors with a low immune status. Ten years RFP for patients with a stroma-low tumor and high immune status profile was 87% compared to 17% of patients with a stroma-high tumor combined with low immune status profile (P < .001). Classical HLA class I is the most prominent immune marker in the immune status profiles.

CONCLUSIONS

Determination of TSR is a simple, fast and cheap method. The effect on RFP of TSR when combined with immune status of tumors or expression of classical HLA class I is even stronger. Both are promising for further prediction and achievement of tailored treatment for breast cancer patients.

Systematic review of the clinical and economic value of gene expression profiles for invasive early breast cancer available in Europe

Gene expression profiles with prognostic capacities have shown good performance in multiple clinical trials. However, with multiple assays available and numerous types of validation studies performed, the added value for daily clinical practice is still unclear. In Europe, the MammaPrint, OncotypeDX, PAM50/Prosigna and Endopredict assays are commercially available. In this systematic review, we aim to assess these assays on four important criteria: Assay development and methodology, clinical validation, clinical utility and economic value. We performed a literature search covering PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane, for studies related to one or more of the four selected assays. We identified 147 papers for inclusion in this review. MammaPrint and OncotypeDX both have evidence available, including level IA clinical trial results for both assays. Both assays provide prognostic information. Predictive value has only been shown for OncotypeDX. In the clinical utility studies, a higher reduction in chemotherapy was achieved by OncotypeDX, although the number of available studies differ considerably between tests. On average, economic evaluations estimate that genomic testing results in a moderate increase in total costs, but that these costs are acceptable in relation to the expected improved patient outcome. PAM50/prosigna and EndoPredict showed comparable prognostic capacities, but with less economical and clinical utility studies. Furthermore, for these assays no level IA trial data are available yet. In summary, all assays have shown excellent prognostic capacities. The differences in the quantity and quality of evidence are discussed. Future studies shall focus on the selection of appropriate subgroups for testing and long-term outcome of validation trials, in order to determine the place of these assays in daily clinical practice.

Administration of adjuvant chemotherapy in older patients with Stage III colon cancer: an observational study

AIM

According to established guidelines, patients with Stage III colon cancer should receive adjuvant chemotherapy. However, a significant proportion do not. This study assessed factors associated with the administration of adjuvant chemotherapy and causes of death.

METHODS

Patients with Stage III colon cancer who underwent surgery between 2000 and 2009 were selected from two hospitals in the Netherlands. Patient characteristics including comorbidities and treatment preferences, tumour characteristics and follow-up were extracted from the medical records. The patient and tumour characteristics of patients who did receive chemotherapy were compared with those who did not using chi-squared analysis. Differences between the groups in causes of death were recorded together with the duration of follow-up.

RESULTS

A total of 348 patients were included. The median age was 73 years (range 33-93). Over half of the patients received adjuvant chemotherapy (50.6%). Patients who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy were significantly older (P < 0.001), had more comorbidities (P < 0.001) and were more often living alone (P < 0.001). Patients who received no adjuvant chemotherapy had a reduced overall survival, and the cause of death was more often attributed to other causes (60%) than colon cancer (40%). For patients who received chemotherapy, the cause of death was usually attributed to colon cancer (71%).

CONCLUSION

Patients who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy had a worse overall survival and the majority died due to other causes than colon cancer. In our aging society it will become even more important to develop tools to estimate remaining life expectancy in order to improve the selection of older patients for adjuvant treatments.

Abstract PD2-07: 10-year follow-up and biomarker discovery for adjuvant endocrine therapy; results of the TEAM trial

Optimal endocrine therapy for postmenopausal, hormone-receptor positive (HR+) early breast cancer remains a point of discussion. The Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) phase III trial showed no significant differences for disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) at 5 years between exemestane monotherapy and sequential treatment (tamoxifen followed by exemestane). We now report disease related outcomes at 10 years of follow-up (FU), and an explorative analysis to assess the predictive value of clinicopathological and immune-related biomarkers.

In the TEAM trial, postmenopausal women with HR+ positive early breast cancer were randomly assigned to exemestane alone or sequential therapy. For this analysis, TEAM patients from countries that completed 10 years of FU were included. The primary endpoint was DFS at ten years, analyzed by intention to treat. Secondary outcomes were OS and cumulative incidence of relapse. An explorative per protocol analysis for relapse free survival (RFS) was performed to identify predictive pathological and immunological biomarkers, including centrally determined ER (ER-poor 0-6 vs ER-rich 7-8) and PR (0-4 vs 5-8) Allred scores, and the immunological markers CD8, FoxP3, classical HLA class 1 and HLA-G which were described earlier (Engels et al, Breast Cancer Treat Res, 2015).

In total, 6120 patients were eligible for the current analysis, 3075 patients with exemestane monotherapy and 3045 patients randomized to sequential treatment. Median follow up was 9.83 years. DFS was 66.8% in the exemestane group and 66.8% in the sequential group (hazard ratio (HR) 0.96, 95% CI 0.88-1.05, p=0.389). OS was 74% in the exemestane, and 73% in the sequential group, respectively (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.89-1.09, p=0.737). The cumulative incidence of relapse was 20% and 22% in the exemestane and sequential groups, respectively (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.79-0.99, p=0.031).

In the explorative per protocol analysis (n=4041), Allred score were available for 2996 patients; immunological markers for 1754 patients. Patients with above median numbers of FoxP3-positive T-cells showed a benefit of exemestane monotherapy for RFS (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.42-0.75, p&lt;0.001) in contrast to patients with low numbers of FoxP3-positive cells (HR 1.0, 95% CI 0.77-1.32, p=0.97, p-value for interaction 0.004). A high tumor differentiation grade was associated with more benefit for exemestane monotherapy (grade 1/2 HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.65-0.94, p=0.01, grade 3/4 HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.49-0.75, p&lt;0.001), with a borderline significant interaction (p=0.07). ER Allred score showed a borderline significant treatment by marker effect interaction (ER-rich HR 0.69 (95% CI 0.58-0.81, p&lt;0.001); ER-poor HR 0.94 (95% CI 0.65-1.34, p=0.71, p for interaction 0.12).

After ten years of follow up, both exemestane monotherapy and sequential therapy remain appropriate options for postmenopausal HR+ early breast cancer patients. Interestingly, the number of regulatory T-cells was a predictive factor for the benefit of exemestane monotherapy, which implies a role of the local immune system in endocrine therapy. Furthermore, data suggested that patients with a higher differentiation grade or ER-rich tumor derive more benefit from exemestane monotherapy.

Citation Format: Blok EJ, Derks MGM, Kuppen PJK, Meershoek-Klein Kranenbarg EM, Engels CC, Liefers G-J, Putter H, Seynaeve CM, Kroep JR, Nortier JWR, Rea DW, Hasenburg A, Markopoulos CJ, Paridaens R, Bartlett JMS, van de Velde CJH. 10-year follow-up and biomarker discovery for adjuvant endocrine therapy; results of the TEAM trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD2-07.

Effect of low-dose aspirin use on survival of patients with gastrointestinal malignancies; an observational study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies suggested a relationship between aspirin use and mortality reduction. The mechanism for the effect of aspirin on cancer outcomes remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate aspirin use and survival in patients with gastrointestinal tract cancer.

METHODS

Patients with gastrointestinal tract cancer diagnosed between 1998 and 2011 were included. The population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry was linked to drug-dispensing data from the PHARMO Database Network. The association between aspirin use after diagnosis and overall survival was analysed using Cox regression models.

RESULTS

In total, 13 715 patients were diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancer. A total of 1008 patients were identified as aspirin users, and 8278 patients were identified as nonusers. The adjusted hazard ratio for aspirin users vs nonusers was 0.52 (95% CI 0.44-0.63). A significant association between aspirin use and survival was observed for patients with oesophageal, hepatobiliary and colorectal cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Post-diagnosis use of aspirin in patients with gastrointestinal tract malignancies is associated with increased survival in cancers with different sites of origin and biology. This adds weight to the hypothesis that the anti-cancer effects of aspirin are not tumour-site specific and may be modulated through the tumour micro-environment.

Adjuvant chemotherapy and relative survival of patients with stage II colon cancer - A EURECCA international comparison between the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, England, Ireland, Belgium, and Lithuania

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present EURECCA international comparison is to compare adjuvant chemotherapy and relative survival of patients with stage II colon cancer between European countries.

METHODS

Population-based national cohort data (2004-2009) from the Netherlands (NL), Denmark (DK), Sweden (SE), England (ENG), Ireland (IE), and Belgium (BE) were obtained, as well as single-centre data from Lithuania. All surgically treated patients with stage II colon cancer were included. The proportion of patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy was calculated and compared between countries. Besides, relative survival was calculated and compared between countries.

RESULTS

Overall, 59,154 patients were included. The proportion of patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy ranged from 7.1% to 29.0% (p < 0.001). Compared with NL, a better adjusted relative survival was observed in SE (stage II: relative excess risks (RER) 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.44-0.64; p < 0.001), and BE (stage II: RER 0.84, 95% CI 0.76-0.92; p < 0.001), and in IE for patients with stage IIA disease (RER 0.80, 95% CI 0.65-0.98; p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

The proportion of patients with stage II colon cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy varied largely between seven European countries. No clear linear pattern between adjuvant chemotherapy and adjusted relative survival was observed. Compared with NL, SE and BE showed an improved adjusted relative survival for stage II disease, and IE for patients with stage IIA disease only. Further research into selection criteria for adjuvant chemotherapy could eventually lead to individually tailored, optimal treatment of patients with stage II colon cancer.

Validity of the online PREDICT tool in older patients with breast cancer: a population-based study

Background:

Predicting breast cancer outcome in older patients is challenging, as it has been shown that the available tools are not accurate in older patients. The PREDICT tool may serve as an alternative tool, as it was developed in a cohort that included almost 1800 women aged 65 years or over. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of the online PREDICT tool in a population-based cohort of unselected older patients with breast cancer.

Methods:

Patients were included from the population-based FOCUS-cohort. Observed 5- and 10-year overall survival were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method, and compared with predicted outcomes. Calibration was tested by composing calibration plots and Poisson Regression. Discriminatory accuracy was assessed by composing receiver-operator-curves and corresponding c-indices.

Results:

In all 2012 included patients, observed and predicted overall survival differed by 1.7%, 95% confidence interval (CI)=−0.3–3.7, for 5-year overall survival, and 4.5%, 95% CI=2.3–6.6, for 10-year overall survival. Poisson regression showed that 5-year overall survival did not significantly differ from the ideal line (standardised mortality ratio (SMR)=1.07, 95% CI=0.98–1.16, P=0.133), but 10-year overall survival was significantly different from the perfect calibration (SMR=1.12, 95% CI=1.05–1.20, P=0.0004). The c-index for 5-year overall survival was 0.73, 95% CI=0.70–0.75, and 0.74, 95% CI=0.72–0.76, for 10-year overall survival.

Conclusions:

PREDICT can accurately predict 5-year overall survival in older patients with breast cancer. Ten-year predicted overall survival was, however, slightly overestimated.

Effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with or without zoledronic acid on pathological response: A meta-analysis of randomised trials

Purpose

The addition of bisphosphonates to adjuvant therapy improves survival in postmenopausal breast cancer (BC) patients. We report a meta-analysis of four randomised trials of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CT) +/− zoledronic acid (ZA) in stage II/III BC to investigate the potential for enhancing the pathological response.

Methods

Individual patient data from four prospective randomised clinical trials reporting the effect of the addition of ZA on the pathological response after neoadjuvant CT were pooled. Primary outcomes were pathological complete response in the breast (pCRb) and in the breast and lymph nodes (pCR). Trial-level and individual patient data meta-analyses were done. Predefined subgroup-analyses were performed for postmenopausal women and patients with triple-negative BC.

Results

pCRb and pCR data were available in 735 and 552 patients respectively. In the total study population ZA addition to neoadjuvant CT did not increase pCRb or pCR rates. However, in postmenopausal patients, the addition of ZA resulted in a significant, near doubling of the pCRb rate (10.8% for CT only versus 17.7% with CT+ZA; odds ratio [OR] 2.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–4.55) and a non-significant benefit of the pCR rate (7.8% for CT only versus 14.6% with CT+ZA; OR 2.62, 95% CI 0.90–7.62). In patients with triple-negative BC a trend was observed favouring CT+ZA.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis shows no impact from the addition of ZA to neoadjuvant CT on pCR. However, as has been seen in the adjuvant setting, the addition of ZA to neoadjuvant CT may augment the effects of CT in postmenopausal patients with BC.

The clinical prognostic value of molecular intrinsic tumor subtypes in older breast cancer patients: A FOCUS study analysis

INTRODUCTION

It was recently proposed that the molecular breast tumor subtypes are differently distributed in the elderly breast cancer patients, and also lack prognostic value. Given the limited number of elderly patients in previous studies, the aim of this study was to determine the prognostic effect of the molecular intrinsic subtypes in a large older breast cancer population.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Older breast cancer patients with invasive, non-metastatic breast cancer with tumor material available for immunohistochemical determination of Ki67, EGFR, CK5/6 and HER-2 were included. ER and PR expression was retrieved from the pathology report. Molecular subtypes were: Luminal A, Luminal B, ERBB2, Basal-like and Unclassified. Primary endpoint was Relapse Free Period (RFP), taking into account the competing risk of mortality, and adjusted for the most important patient, tumor and treatment characteristics. Secondary endpoint was Relative Survival (RS).

RESULTS

Overall, 1362 patients were included. Patients with a Luminal A subtype had the lowest risk of recurrence (11% at 5 yrs). Patients with a Basal (24% at 5yrs) or ERBB2 (34% at 5yrs) molecular breast tumor subtype had the highest risk of recurrence. The ERBB2 subtype had the worst prognosis in terms of RFP (SHR 2.07, 95% CI 1.35-3.20; p = 0.001). The worst RS was again observed for the ERBB2 subtype (48% at 10 yrs). In multivariable analyses, the relative excess risk of death for all molecular subtypes was significantly worse compared to the Luminal A subtype.

CONCLUSION

Molecular intrinsic breast tumor subtypes have significant prognostic value in the elderly population, even after taking competing mortality into account.

Abstract P3-06-50: Thyroid function is associated with the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients: Results from the NEOZOTAC trial on behalf of the Dutch Breast Cancer Research Group (BOOG 2010-01)

Background: Thyroid hormones, regulators of metabolism and development in healthy tissue, stimulate tumor growth in vitro and are associated with breast cancer risk. We investigated the effect of chemotherapy on thyroid function and the extent to which it can predict the pathological response in patients with HER2 negative stage II/III breast cancer taking part in the NEOZOTAC phase III trial, randomizing between 6 cycles of neoadjuvant TAC chemotherapy with or without additional zoledronic acid. Moreover, we examined the impact of thyroid function on chemotherapy toxicity.

Methods: Serum samples of 38 of the 105 patients who participated in the side study of the NEOZOTAC trial were available for analyses. Serum free thyroxin (fT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were measured at baseline and compared with fT4 and TSH levels before the 2nd and 6th chemotherapy cycle. FT4 and TSH levels were also compared between subjects with and without pathological complete response (pCR). The relation between toxicity, per side effect of any CTC grade, and the variation in fT4 and TSH levels during chemotherapy was tested.

Results: Serum samples at baseline, before the 2nd chemotherapy cycle and at end of treatment were available for 31, 30 and 21 patients, respectively. In the total population, the mean baseline fT4 level was 16,0pmol/L and the mean TSH level 1,11mU/L. There were no differences between subjects solely treated with TAC chemotherapy and subjects treated with zoledronic acid as an adjunct to TAC with respect to the mean fT4 and TSH at each time point. Baseline TSH levels tended to be higher in patients who achieved pCR (p=0.035 univariate analysis and p=0.074 multivariate analysis) (Table 1). During 6 cycles of chemotherapy, fT4 levels decreased (p&lt;0.000) and TSH levels increased significantly (p=0.019). Interestingly, the decrease of fT4 was significantly greater in patients without nausea, vomiting or sensory neuropathy, than in patients with those side effects (p=0.037, p=0.043 and p=0.050 respectively).

CharacteristicUnivariate analysisMultivariate analysis OR95%CIP valueOR95%CIP valueN stage: N0 vs. N+0.330.03-3.640.368T stage: &lt;5cm vs. &gt;5cm0.330.03-3.630.333ER receptor: Pos vs. Neg2.560.20-33.10.473fT40.780.43-1.420.4170.660.33-1.290.581TSH3.241.09-9.700.03517.30.76-3910.074Table 1. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models of baseline characteristics and TSH and fT4 predictive of pCR.

Conclusion: TSH levels at baseline were higher in breast cancer patients with pCR. Chemotherapy blunts thyroid function, and a large decline of fT4 was associated with less side effects. These data suggest that thyroid hormones may interact with chemotherapy to modulate treatment (side-) effects in patients with breast cancer.

Citation Format: S de Groot, A Charehbili, L GM Janssen, E M Dijkgraaf, V THBM Smit, L W Kessels, A van Bochove, H WM van Laarhoven, E Meershoek-Klein Kranenbarg, A E van Leeuwen-Stok, G J Liefers, C JH van de Velde, J WR Nortier, J JM van der Hoeven, H Pijl, J R Kroep. Thyroid function is associated with the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients: Results from the NEOZOTAC trial on behalf of the Dutch Breast Cancer Research Group (BOOG 2010-01) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-06-50.

Survival of older patients with metastasised breast cancer lags behind despite evolving treatment strategies--a population-based study

BACKGROUND

Older women are more likely to be diagnosed with primary metastasised breast cancer than their younger counterparts. Evolving treatment strategies of metastasised breast cancer have resulted in improved survival in younger patients, but it remains unclear if this improvement has occurred in older patients as well. The aim of this study was to assess changes in treatment strategies over time in relation to overall and relative survival of older patients compared to younger patients with primary metastasised breast cancer.

METHODS

All patients with a breast cancer diagnosis and distant metastases at first presentation (stage IV), between 1990 and 2012, were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Changes in treatment over time per age-group (<65 years, 65-75 years and >75 years) were assessed using logistic regression. Overall survival over time was calculated using Cox Regression Models and relative survival was assessed using the Ederer II method.

RESULTS

Overall, 14,310 patients were included. Treatment strategies have strongly changed in the past twenty years; especially the use of chemotherapy has increased (P<0.001 in all age-groups). Overall survival of patients <65 has significantly improved (Hazard Ratio (HR) per year 0.98, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.98-0.99, P<0.001), but the survival of older patients has not improved (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.99-1.01, P=0.86 for patients aged 65-75 and HR 1.00, 95% CI 1.00-1.01, P=0.46 for patients aged >75). Similarly, relative survival has improved in patients <65 but not in women aged 65-75 and >75.

CONCLUSION

Overall and relative survival of older patients with metastasised breast cancer at first presentation have not improved in recent years in contrast with the survival of younger patients, despite increased treatment with chemotherapy for women of all ages. Future studies should focus on stratification models that can be used to predict which patients may benefit from specific treatment options.

Accuracy of MRI for treatment response assessment after taxane- and anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in HER2-negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Studies suggest that MRI is an accurate means for assessing tumor size after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). However, accuracy might be dependent on the receptor status of tumors. MRI accuracy for response assessment after homogenous NAC in a relative large group of patients with stage II/III HER2-negative breast cancer has not been reported before.

METHODS

250 patients from 26 hospitals received NAC (docetaxel, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide) in the context of the NEOZOTAC trial. MRI was done after 3 cycles and post-NAC. Imaging (RECIST 1.1) and pathological (Miller and Payne) responses were recorded. Accuracy measures were calculated and MRI and pathologically assessed tumor sizes were correlated. Tumor size over- and underestimation were quantified.

RESULTS

Accuracy of MRI for determining pathological complete response (pCR) was 76%. The ROC-curve of MRI response and pCR had an area under the curve value of 0.63 (95% C.I. 0.52-0.74). The correlation coefficient of MRI and histopathological tumor measurements was 0.46 (p < 0.001). Correlations were different for ER-positive (r = 0.40, p < 0.001) and ER-negative (r = 0.76, p < 0.001) breast tumors. MRI under- and overestimated the tumor size in 47% and 40% of all patients. In cases of substantial tumor size underestimation (>2 cm), surgical margins were more often tumor positive compared to the rest of the patients (33% vs.12%, p = 0.005).

CONCLUSION

MRI measurements correlated moderately with tumor size on the surgical specimen. Only in ER-negative breast tumors, MRI tumor sizes correlated sufficiently with residual tumor size on the pathological specimen. Therefore, post-NAC MRI should be interpreted with caution.

Impact of omission of surgery on survival of older patients with breast cancer

Background

Older patients with breast cancer are often not treated in accordance with guidelines. With the emergence of endocrine therapy, omission of surgery can be considered in some patients. The aim of this population-based study was to investigate time trends in surgical treatment between 1995 and 2011, and to evaluate the effects of omitting surgery on overall and relative survival in older patients with resectable breast cancer.

Methods

Patients aged 75 years and older with stage I–III breast cancer diagnosed between 1995 and 2011 were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Time trends of all treatment modalities were evaluated using linear regression models. Changes in overall survival were calculated by Cox regression. Relative survival was calculated using the Ederer II method.

Results

Overall, 26 292 patients were included. The proportion of patients receiving surgical treatment decreased significantly, from 90·8 per cent in 1995 to 69·9 per cent in 2011 (P &lt; 0·001). Multivariable analysis showed that overall survival did not change over time (hazard ratio 1·00 (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 0·99 to 1·00) per year); nor did relative survival (relative excess risk 1·00 (0·98 to 1·02) per year).

Conclusion

Omission of surgery has become more common in older patients with breast cancer during the past 15 years in the Netherlands, but this has not altered overall or relative survival.

Cause of death the first year after curative colorectal cancer surgery; a prolonged impact of the surgery in elderly colorectal cancer patients

BACKGROUND

The 1-year mortality after colorectal cancer surgery is high and explains age related differences in colorectal cancer survival. To gain better insight in its etiology, cause of death for these patients was studied.

METHODS

All 1924 patients who had a resection for stage I-III colorectal cancer from 2006 to 2008 in the Western region of the Netherlands were identified. Data were merged with cause of death data from the Central Bureau of Statistics Netherlands. To calculate excess mortality as compared to the general population, national data were used.

RESULTS

Overall 13.2% of patients died within the first postoperative year. One-year mortality increased with age. It was as high as 43% in elderly patients that underwent emergency surgery. In 75% of patients, death was attributed to the colorectal cancer. In 25% of all patients, registered deaths were attributed to postoperative complications. Elderly patients with comorbidity more frequently died due to complications (p < 0.01). Death of other causes was similar to background mortality according to age group.

CONCLUSION

In the presently studied cohort of patients that died within one year of surgery, cause of death was predominantly attributed to colorectal cancer. However, because it is not to be expected that in this cohort the number of deaths from recurrences is very high, the excess 1-year mortality indicates a prolonged impact of the surgery, especially in elderly patients. Therefore, in these patients we should focus on limiting the physiological impact of the surgery and be more involved in the post-hospital period.

Addition of zoledronic acid to neoadjuvant chemotherapy does not enhance tumor response in patients with HER2-negative stage II/III breast cancer: the NEOZOTAC trial (BOOG 2010-01)

BACKGROUND

The role of zoledronic acid (ZA) when added to the neoadjuvant treatment of breast cancer (BC) in enhancing the clinical and pathological response of tumors is unclear. The effect of ZA on the antitumor effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy has not prospectively been studied before.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

NEOZOTAC is a national, multicenter, randomized study comparing the efficacy of TAC (docetaxel, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide i.v.) followed by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on day 2 with or without ZA 4 mg i.v. q 3 weeks inpatients withstage II/III, HER2-negative BC. We present data on the pathological complete response (pCR in breast and axilla), on clinical response using MRI, and toxicity. Post hoc subgroup analyses were undertaken to address the predictive value of menopausal status.

RESULTS

Addition of ZA to chemotherapy did not improve pCR rates (13.2% for TAC+ZA versus 13.3% for TAC). Postmenopausal women (N = 96) had a numerical benefit from ZA treatment (pCR 14.0% for TAC+ZA versus 8.7% for TAC, P = 0.42). Clinical objective response did not differ between treatment arms (72.9% versus 73.7%). There was no difference in grade III/IV toxicity between treatment arms.

CONCLUSIONS

Addition of ZA to neoadjuvant chemotherapy did not improve pathological or clinical response to chemotherapy. Further investigations are warranted in postmenopausal women with BC, since this subgroup might benefit from ZA treatment.

Real-time intraoperative detection of breast cancer using near-infrared fluorescence imaging and Methylene Blue

BACKGROUND

Despite recent developments in preoperative breast cancer imaging, intraoperative localization of tumor tissue can be challenging, resulting in tumor-positive resection margins during breast conserving surgery. Based on certain physicochemical similarities between Technetium((99m)Tc)-sestamibi (MIBI), an SPECT radiodiagnostic with a sensitivity of 83-90% to detect breast cancer preoperatively, and the near-infrared (NIR) fluorophore Methylene Blue (MB), we hypothesized that MB might detect breast cancer intraoperatively using NIR fluorescence imaging.

METHODS

Twenty-four patients with breast cancer, planned for surgical resection, were included. Patients were divided in 2 administration groups, which differed with respect to the timing of MB administration. N = 12 patients per group were administered 1.0 mg/kg MB intravenously either immediately or 3 h before surgery. The mini-FLARE imaging system was used to identify the NIR fluorescent signal during surgery and on post-resected specimens transferred to the pathology department. Results were confirmed by NIR fluorescence microscopy.

RESULTS

20/24 (83%) of breast tumors (carcinoma in N = 21 and ductal carcinoma in situ in N = 3) were identified in the resected specimen using NIR fluorescence imaging. Patients with non-detectable tumors were significantly older. No significant relation to receptor status or tumor grade was seen. Overall tumor-to-background ratio (TBR) was 2.4 ± 0.8. There was no significant difference between TBR and background signal between administration groups. In 2/4 patients with positive resection margins, breast cancer tissue identified in the wound bed during surgery would have changed surgical management. Histology confirmed the concordance of fluorescence signal and tumor tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

This feasibility study demonstrated an overall breast cancer identification rate using MB of 83%, with real-time intraoperative guidance having the potential to alter patient management.

Combined analysis of HLA class I, HLA-E and HLA-G predicts prognosis in colon cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Evasion of immune surveillance and suppression of the immune system are important hallmarks of tumour development in colon cancer. The goal of this study was to establish a tumour profile based on biomarkers that reflect a tumour's immune susceptibility status and to determine their relation to patient outcome.

METHODS

The study population consisted of 285 stage I-IV colon cancer patients of which a tissue micro array (TMA) was available. Sections were immunohistochemically stained for the presence of Foxp3+ cells and tumour expression of HLA Class I (HLA-A, -B, -C) and non-classical HLA-E and HLA-G. All markers were combined for further analyses, resulting in three tumour immune phenotypes: strong immune system tumour recognition, intermediate immune system tumour recognition and poor immune system tumour recognition.

RESULTS

Loss of HLA class I expression was significantly related to a better OS (P-value 0.005) and DFS (P-value 0.008). Patients with tumours who showed neither HLA class I nor HLA-E or -G expression (phenotype a) had a significant better OS and DFS (P-value <0.001 and 0.001, respectively) compared with phenotype b (OS HR: 4.7, 95% CI: 1.2-19.0, P=0.001) or c (OS HR: 8.2, 95% CI: 2.0-34.2, P=0.0001). Further, the tumour immune phenotype was an independent predictor for OS and DFS (P-value 0.009 and 0.013, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Tumours showing absence of HLA class I, HLA-E and HLA-G expressions were related to a better OS and DFS. By combining the expression status of several immune-related biomarkers, three tumour immune phenotypes were created that related to patient outcome. These immune phenotypes represented significant, independent, clinical prognostic profiles in colon cancer.

Abstract P1-08-19: Changes in circulating vitamin D levels as a predictor for pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer (BC): A Dutch breast cancer trialists group (BOOG) side-study

Background:

Vitamin D (vit D) status is suggested to be of prognostic value for treatment outcome in women with breast cancer. However, there are no data of the predictive value of vit D status and changes of vit D levels for response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Methods:

A subset of patients (pts) from the NEOZOTAC trial in whom vit D data were available was evaluated. NEOZOTAC is a randomized phase III study comparing the efficacy of NCT with or without zoledronic acid (ZA) in pts with stage II/III, measurable, HER2-negative BC. Vit D deficiency and severe deficiency were defined as vit D levels of ≤ 50 and ≤25 nmol/L, respectively. Baseline vit D levels were available for correlation to pathological response of 165 pts (83 ZA-arm), while 67 pts (35 ZA arm) could be evaluated for changes in vit D levels between baseline and cycle 6. Pts who were allocated to the ZA arm should by protocol receive daily supplements of calcium/vit D 500/400 IU. Pathological response was assessed using the Miller and Payne scoring system; pathological complete response (pCR) was defined as absence of tumor cells in the tumor bed and good response was defined as ≥90% decrease of tumor cellularity.

Results:

Vit D was measured in 168 pts and was done in 75% of pre/perimenopausal pts and 51.3% of postmenopausal pts. There was no significant relation between baseline vit D deficiency (&lt; 50 nmol/L) and pCR (pCR 25.8% for deficient pts vs. 14.1% for non-deficient pts, P = 0.06). Pts with severe vit D deficiency (&lt;25 nmol/L) tended to respond less (pCR 10.5 vs 19.9%, p = 0.53). At the end of chemotherapy, good pathological responders seemed to have a slight increase in vit D levels compared to non-responders who rather showed a decrease (mean 1.11 vs. -9.71, P = 0.08). After multivariate analysis correcting for menopausal status and treatment arm, this result was significant (P = 0.03, 95% C.I. 1.004-1.055). When pts in the ZA arm were analyzed separately, again, good response was rather associated with an increase than a decrease (mean = 9.8 vs. -1.6, P = 0.12). From 17 out of 35 ZA treated pts who were vit D deficient at baseline, only 5 (29.4%) reached levels &gt;50 nmol/L at the end of treatment.

Conclusions:

Baseline vit D status was not predictive for pCR. However, increase in vit D levels during therapy tended to be associated with better pathological response. Therefore, achieving higher vit D levels can be important. Daily suppletion with calcium/ vitamin D 500/400 might be inadequate for achieving sufficient levels after NAC.

Contact information:

Dr. J.R. Kroep, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Medical Oncology, email:j.r.kroep@lumc.nl or A. Charehbili, BSc. Department of Surgery and Medical Oncology, email: a.charehbili@lumc.nl or LUMC datacenter, Department of Surgery, phone +31(0)71-5263500, fax +31(0)71-5266744, email: datacenter@lumc.nl, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P1-08-19.

Abstract P1-06-04: The predictive value of tumor-stroma ratio for radiological and pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer (BC): A Dutch breast cancer trialists’ group (BOOG) side-study

Background

Intra-tumoral stroma interacts with tumor cells and has a profound effect on tumor behavior. The tumor-stroma ratio (TSR) is of prognostic value in BC and other types of solid tumors. However, the predictive value of this parameter for achieving pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is unknown.

Methods

We evaluated the relation between TSR and neoadjuvant treatment response in a retrospective cohort of 69 patients (pts) treated with various regimens of neoadjuvant chemotherapy at our institution who were diagnosed with BC between 1991 and 2007 and of whom radiological response was recorded. The percentage of intra-tumoral stroma was visually estimated on diagnostic sections from primary tumor tissue by two observers. The cut-off point between stroma-rich and stroma-poor tumors was set to 50% (as determined in previous investigations). These results were validated in a cohort from the NEOZOTAC trial: a national, multicenter, randomized study comparing the efficacy of TAC (docetaxel, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide i.v. day 1) chemotherapy with or without zoledronic acid 4 mg i.v., q 3 weeks, 6 times in 250 pts with stage II/III, measurable, HER2-negative BC. Radiological response (complete or partial) was evaluated following RECIST 1.1 criteria. pCR was centrally revised and defined as absence of residual tumor cells in the original tumor bed.

Results

In the retrospective cohort (n = 69) 62.3% of the specimens were classified as stroma-rich. In univariate analysis TSR was significantly associated with radiological response (76.0% stroma-poor vs. 48.8% stroma-rich, P = 0.03). This finding persisted after multivariate analysis for T-status, N-status and ER-status (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.17, 95% C.I.: 0.04-0.78). In the validation set, in which 47.9% of the specimens were stroma-rich (211 cases evaluated), TSR did not predict for radiological response (79.5% stroma-poor vs. 79.2%, P = 0.96). However, when validation data were split on basis of ER-status, TSR was a significant and independent predictor for radiological response in ER-negative pts. (89.5% vs. 50%, P = 0.048, 95% C.I.: 0.01 - 0.98). In the validation set, TSR predicted for pCR with greater pCR rates in stroma-poor tumors (P = 0.03, 22.7% vs 10.3%). Final response results of the pilot and the enlarged sample size of all 250 pts of the validation set will be presented.

Conclusions

TSR might be a marker for radiological and pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, especially for the ER- tumor subgroup. Considering the simplicity and low cost of TSR assessment, it should be further evaluated and will be prospectively studied in the next neoadjuvant chemotherapy trial of the BOOG.

Contact information:

Dr. J.R. Kroep, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Medical Oncology, email:j.r.kroep@lumc.nl or T.J.A. Dekker, MSc. Department of Surgery and Medical Oncology, email: t.j.a.dekker@lumc.nl or LUMC datacenter, Department of Surgery, phone +31(0)71-5263500, fax +31(0)71-5266744, email: datacenter@lumc.nl, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P1-06-04.

Abstract OT3-1-03: DIRECT: A phase II/III randomized trial with dietary restriction as an adjunct to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for HER2-negative breast cancer

Background:

Preclinical evidence shows that short-term fasting protects normal cells, while cancer cells are sensitized to chemotherapy. Furthermore, a specifically designed very low calorie, low amino acid substitution diet (“Fasting Mimicking Diet”, FMD) has similar effects on chemotherapy as short-term fasting. This trial evaluates the impact of FMD on tolerance to and efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in women with HER2-negative early breast cancer.

Trial design:

DIRECT is a Dutch, randomized, open-label multicenter phase II/III trial. Women receiving neoadjuvant TAC courses (docetaxel/adriamycin/cyclophosphamide; day 1, q 3 weeks with G-CSF support at day 2) will be randomized with or without FMD for 3 days prior to and the day of chemotherapy and 3 days prior to surgery.

Eligibility criteria:

Eligible women are WHO 0-2, age ≥18 years, HER2-negative, stage II or III breast cancer and adequate bone marrow, liver and renal function, BMI &gt; 19kg/m2 and absence of diabetes mellitus.

Study endpoints:

The primary endpoints are grade III/IV toxicity (phase II) and the pathologic complete response rate (pCR) (phase III). Secondary endpoints are grade I/II toxicity, metabolic and inflammatory response to chemotherapy, DNA damage, apoptosis, immunology and nutrient sensing pathways in the tumor, biomarkers as single nucleotide polymorphisms, Ki67 and tumor stroma/ratio, patient's quality of life and (disease free) survival. Optional side studies include chemotherapy-induced DNA damage and nutrient sensing pathways in leukocytes and proteomics.

Statistical Methods:

Using a 5% significance level based on the two-sided Fisher's exact test with a power of 80%, 128 patients (64/arm) will be enrolled to show a 50% decrease of grade III/IV adverse events in the experimental arm (phase II) and 250 patients (125/arm) are needed to show an improvement of the pCR rate from 18% to 36% (phase III).

Target accrual:

Recruitment will start in September 2013. The expected end of accrual of 250 patients from multiple centers in the Netherlands will be the last quarter of 2015.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr OT3-1-03.

Diabetes in relation to breast cancer relapse and all-cause mortality in elderly breast cancer patients: a FOCUS study analysis

BACKGROUND

In developed countries, 40% of breast cancer patients are >65 years of age at diagnosis, of whom 16% additionally suffer from diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of diabetes on relapse-free period (RFP) and overall mortality in elderly breast cancer patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients were selected from the retrospective FOCUS cohort, which contains detailed information of elderly breast cancer patients. RFP was calculated using Fine and Gray competing risk regression models for patients with diabetes versus patients without diabetes. Overall survival was calculated by Cox regression models, in which patients were divided into four groups: no comorbidity, diabetes only, diabetes and other comorbidity or other comorbidity without diabetes.

RESULTS

Overall, 3124 patients with non-metastasized breast cancer were included. RFP was better for patients with diabetes compared with patients without diabetes (multivariable HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.59-1.01), irrespective of other comorbidity and most evident in patients aged ≥75 years (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.45-0.98). The overall survival was similar for patients with diabetes only compared with patients without comorbidity (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.45-0.98), while patients with diabetes and additional comorbidity had the worst overall survival (HR 1.70, 95% CI 1.44-2.01).

CONCLUSION

When taking competing mortality into account, RFP was better in elderly breast cancer patients with diabetes compared with patients without diabetes. Moreover, patients with diabetes without other comorbidity had a similar overall survival as patients without any comorbidity. Possibly, unfavourable effects of (complications of) diabetes on overall survival are counterbalanced by beneficial effects of metformin on the occurrence of breast cancer recurrences.

Clinical trial of combined radio- and fluorescence-guided sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Combining radioactive colloids and a near-infrared (NIR) fluorophore permits preoperative planning and intraoperative localization of deeply located sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) with direct optical guidance by a single lymphatic tracer. The aim of this clinical trial was to evaluate and optimize a hybrid NIR fluorescence and radioactive tracer for SLN detection in patients with breast cancer.

METHODS

Patients with breast cancer undergoing SLN biopsy were enrolled. The day before surgery, a periareolar injection of indocyanine green (ICG)-99mTc-radiolabelled nanocolloid was administered and a lymphoscintigram acquired. Blue dye was injected immediately before surgery. Intraoperative SLN localization was performed using a γ probe and the Mini-FLARE™ NIR fluorescence imaging system. Patients were divided into two dose groups, with one group receiving twice the particle density of ICG and nanocolloid, but the same dose of radioactive 99mTc.

RESULTS

Thirty-two patients were enrolled in the trial. At least one SLN was identified before and during operation. All 48 axillary SLNs could be detected by γ tracing and NIR fluorescence imaging, but only 42 of them stained blue. NIR fluorescence imaging permitted detection of lymphatic vessels draining to the SLN up to 29 h after injection. Doubling the particle density did not yield a difference in fluorescence intensity (median 255 (range 98-542) versus 284 (90-921) arbitrary units; P = 0.590) or signal-to-background ratio (median 5·4 (range 3·0-15·4) versus 4·9 (3·5-16·3); P = 1·000) of the SLN.

CONCLUSION

The hybrid NIR fluorescence and radioactive tracer permitted accurate preoperative and intraoperative detection of the SLNs in patients with breast cancer.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

NTR3685 (Netherlands Trial Register; http://www.trialregister.nl).

Age and the effect of physical activity on breast cancer survival: A systematic review

The effect of physical activity (PA) on cancer survival is still the topic of debate in oncology research focusing on survivorship, and has been investigated retrospectively in several large clinical trials. PA has been shown to improve quality of life, fitness and strength, and to reduce depression and fatigue. At present, there is a growing body of evidence on the effects of PA interventions for cancer survivors on health outcomes. PA and functional limitations are interrelated in the elderly. However the relationship between breast cancer survival and PA in older breast cancer patients has not yet been fully investigated. Our systematic review of the existing literature on this topic yielded seventeen studies. Most reports demonstrated an improved overall and breast cancer-specific survival. Furthermore, in studies that compared younger women with older or postmenopausal women, it was suggested that the beneficial effect of PA may be even greater in older women. Understanding the interaction between physical functioning and cancer survival in older breast cancer patients is key, and may contribute to successful treatment and survival. In this population of cancer survivors it is therefore imperative to embark on research focused on improving physical functioning in the context of comorbidities and functional limitations.

Dose optimization for near-infrared fluorescence sentinel lymph node mapping in patients with melanoma

BACKGROUND

Regional lymph node involvement is the most important prognostic factor in cutaneous melanoma. As only 20% of patients with melanoma have occult nodal disease and would benefit from a regional lymphadenectomy, the sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy was introduced. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence has been hypothesized to improve SLN mapping.

OBJECTIVES

  To assess the potential of intraoperative NIR fluorescence imaging to improve SLN mapping in patients with melanoma and to examine the optimal dose of indocyanine green adsorbed to human serum albumin (ICG:HSA).

METHODS

  Fifteen consecutive patients with cutaneous melanoma underwent the standard SLN procedure using (99m) technetium-nancolloid and patent blue. In addition, intraoperative NIR fluorescence imaging was performed after injection of 1·6 mL of 600, 800, 1000 or 1200 μmolL(-1) of ICG: HSA in four quadrants around the primary excision scar.

RESULTS

  NIR fluorescence SLN mapping was successful in 93% of patients. In one patient, no SLN could be identified using either conventional methods or NIR fluorescence. A total of 30 SLNs (average 2·0, range 1-7) were detected, 30 radioactive (100%), 27 blue (73%) and 30 NIR fluorescent (100%). With regard to the effect of concentration on signal-to-background ratios a trend (P=0·066) was found favouring the 600, 800 and 1000 μmol L(-1) groups over the 1200 μmol L(-1) group.

CONCLUSION

 This study demonstrates feasibility and accuracy of SLN mapping using ICG: HSA. Considering safety, cost and pharmacological characteristics, an ICG: HSA concentration of 600 μmolL(-1) appears optimal for SLN mapping in cutaneous melanoma, although lower doses need to be assessed.

Expression of cell adhesion molecules and prognosis in breast cancer

Background

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) play an important role in the process of metastasis. The prognostic value of tumour expression of N-cadherin, E-cadherin, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and epithelial CAM (Ep-CAM) was evaluated in patients with breast cancer.

Methods

A tissue microarray of the patient cohort was stained immunohistochemically for all markers and analysed by microscopy. Expression was classified into two categories, with the median score as cut-off level. For CEA, the above-median category was further subdivided in two subgroups based on staining intensity (low or high intensity).

Results

The cohort consisted of 574 patients with breast cancer with a median follow-up of 19 years. Below-median expression of E-cadherin (P = 0·015), and above-median expression of N-cadherin (P = 0·004), Ep-CAM (P = 0·046) and CEA (P = 0·001) all resulted in a shorter relapse-free period. Multivariable analysis revealed E-cadherin and CEA to be independent prognostic variables. Combined analysis of CEA and E-cadherin expression showed a 3·6 times higher risk of relapse for patients with high-intensity expression of CEA, regardless of E-cadherin expression, compared with patients with below-median CEA and above-median E-cadherin tumour expression (hazard ratio 3·60, 95 per cent confidence interval 2·12 to 6·11; P &lt; 0·001). An interaction was found between expression of these two CAMs (P &lt; 0·001), suggesting a biological association.

Conclusion

Combining E-cadherin and CEA tumour expression provides a prognostic parameter with high discriminative power that is a candidate tool for prediction of prognosis in breast cancer.

Adherence to treatment guidelines and survival in patients with early-stage breast cancer by age at diagnosis

Background

Elderly patients with breast cancer are under-represented in clinical studies. It is not known whether treatment guidelines, based on clinical trials, can be extrapolated to this population. The aim of this study was to assess adherence to treatment guidelines by age at diagnosis, and to examine age-specific survival in relation to adherence to guidelines.

Methods

Patients with early-stage breast cancer aged either less than 65 years, or 75 years or more, diagnosed between 2005 and 2008, were identified from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Adherence to treatment guidelines for breast and axillary surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and endocrine therapy was determined. Non-adherence to the guidelines was defined as overtreatment or undertreatment. The primary endpoint was overall survival, assessed by means of an instrumental variable, the comprehensive cancer centre region.

Results

Some 24 959 patients younger than 65 years and 6561 patients aged 75 years or more were included in the analysis. Median follow-up was 2·8 years. Compared with patients younger than 65 years, those aged at least 75 years were less frequently treated in concordance with guidelines: 62·0 per cent (15 487 patients) versus 55·6 per cent (3647 patients) (P &lt; 0·001). In both age groups, most patients received at least three of five treatment modalities in concordance with guidelines: 98·8 per cent (24 652 patients) and 93·8 per cent (6152 patients) respectively. Analysis of survival using the instrumental variable showed that adherence to guidelines was not associated with overall survival in patients younger than 65 years (P = 0·601) or those aged at least 75 years (P = 0·190).

Conclusion

Adherence to treatment guidelines was affected by age at diagnosis. However, adherence to the guidelines was not associated with overall survival in either age group.

OT1-01-04: NEO-ZOTAC: A Phase III Randomized Trial with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy (TAC) with or without Zoledronic Acid for Patients with HER2−Negative Large Resectable or Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

Background

The role of bisphosphonates (BPs) when added to the (neo) adjuvant treatment of breast cancer is still unknown. Adding the most potent BP zoledronic acid to neoadjuvant chemotherapy may lead to an improved clinical and pathological response in patients with breast cancer.

Trial design: After randomization, patients will be treated in arm A (experimental) or arm B (control group). Arm A: 6x TAC q 3 weeks with zoledronic acid; Doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 i.v. followed by Cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 i.v. and Docetaxel 75 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1, Pegylated G-CSF 6 mg once per cycle s.c on day 2, zoledronic acid 4 mg i.v in 15 minutes within 24 hours after infusion of chemotherapy. Arm B: 6x TAC q 3 weeks; Doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 i.v. followed by Cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 i.v. and Docetaxel 75 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1, Pegylated G-CSF 6 mg once per cycle s.c on day 2.

Eligibility criteria: Main inclusion criteria are large resectable or locally advanced breast cancer (T2,T3,T4, every N, M0), measurable disease, histological proven HER2−negative breast cancer, age ≥18 years, WHO 0–2, adequate bone marrow-, renal- and liver function, written informed consent. Main exclusion criteria are evidence of distant metastases (M1), history of breast cancer, prior breast surgery, prior chemotherapy or radiation therapy, previous malignancy within 5 years, prior bisphosphonate usage, peripheral neuropathy &gt; grade 2, current active dental problems.

Study endpoints: The primary endpoint of this study is the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate to neoadjuvant chemotherapy with or without zoledronic acid at surgery. Secondary endpoints are clinical response (RECIST 1.1), ER/PR and HER2 heterogeneity in core biopsy vs. operation specimen, toxicity, disease free survival and overall survival.

Optional side studies include fluorescent imaging (SoftScan®), changes in bone biochemical markers and the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) pathway, circulating tumor cells (CTC's) and circulating endothelial cells (CEC's), the false-negative rate of the sentinel node biopsy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and Ki-67, apoptotic index and IGF pathway in core biopsy and operation specimen.

Statistical Methods: This study is designed as a randomized, open-label, multi centre phase III trial. It is anticipated that using a 5% significance level based on the two-sided Fisher's exact test with a power of 80%, a total number of 250 patients (125 patients in each arm) are needed to show an improvement of the pCR rates from 17% in arm B to 34% in the experimental arm A. Randomization will be done according to the Pocock's minimization technique stratified by cT-classification, cN-classification and estrogen receptor status. The primary endpoint will be analyzed using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test.

An interim efficacy analysis (analyzing pCR) after 100 operated patients is planned.

Accrual: Patients are currently being included from 27 centers in the Netherlands. Presently (16th June 2011) a total number of 116 patients have been included since start of the study (July 2010). The expected end of accrual of 250 patients will be the last quarter of 2012.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr OT1-01-04.

Molecular alterations associated with liver metastases development in colorectal cancer patients

Background:

Understanding the molecular biology of colorectal cancer (CRC) provides opportunities for effective personalised patient management. We evaluated whether chromosomal aberrations, mutations in the PI(3)K signalling pathway and the CpG-island methylator phenotype (CIMP) in primary colorectal tumours can predict liver metastases.

Methods:

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded material from primary colorectal tumours of three different groups were investigated: patients with CRC without metastases (M0, n=39), patients who were treated with hyperthermal intraperitoneal chemotherapy for CRC metastases confined to the peritoneum (PM, n=46) and those who had isolated hepatic perfusion for CRC metastases confined to the liver (LM, n=48).

Results:

All samples were analysed for DNA copy number changes, PIK3CA, KRAS, BRAF mutations, CIMP and microsatellite instability. The primary CRCs of the LM group had significantly higher frequency of amplified chromosome 20q (P=0.003), significantly fewer mutations in the PI(3)K signalling pathway (P=0.003) and fewer CIMP high tumours (P=0.05). There was a strong inverse correlation between 20q and the PI(3)K pathway mutations.

Conclusion:

The development of CRC liver metastases is associated with amplification of chromosome 20q and not driven by mutations in the PI(3)K signalling pathway.

Importance of the first postoperative year in the prognosis of elderly colorectal cancer patients

Background

Elderly colorectal cancer patients have worse prognosis than younger patients. Age-related survival differences may be cancer or treatment related, but also due to death from other causes. This study aims to compare population-based survival data for young (<65 years), aged (65–74 years), and elderly (≥75 years) colorectal cancer patients.

Methods

All patients operated for stage I–III colorectal cancer between 1991 and 2005 in the western region of The Netherlands were included. Crude survival, relative survival, and conditional relative survival curves, under the condition of surviving 1 year, were made for colon and rectal cancer patients separately. Furthermore, 30-day, 1-year, and 1-year excess mortality data were compared.

Results

A total of 9,397 stage I–III colorectal cancer patients were included in this study. Crude survival curves showed clear survival differences between the age groups. These age-related differences were less prominent in relative survival and disappeared in conditional relative survival (CRS). Only in stage III disease did elderly patients have worse CRS than young patients. Furthermore, significant age-related differences in 30-day and 1-year excess mortality were found. Thirty-day mortality vastly underestimated 1-year mortality for all age groups.

Conclusions

Elderly colorectal cancer patients who survive the first year have the same cancer-related survival as younger patients. Therefore, decreased survival in the elderly is mainly due to differences in early mortality. Treatment of elderly colorectal cancer patients should focus on perioperative care and the first postoperative year.

Abstract P4-07-02: Expression of Cell Adhesion Molecules Predicts Prognosis in Early Breast Cancer Patients

Purpose: New prognostic and predictive factors are sought for improvement of tailored treatment in early breast cancer. We examined the clinical impact of cell adhesion molecules (CAM): E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Ep-CAM and CEA.

Patients and Methods: Our study population (n=574) consisted of all early breast cancer patients primarily treated with surgery in our center between 1985 and 1994. A tissue micro array (TMA) of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue was immunohistochemically stained for expression of mentioned CAM. The percentage of membranous stained cells was microscopically analyzed. Based on the median score, all CAM were classified in two groups: low expression versus high expression. For CEA, high expression was further subdivided based on the intensity of staining: high expression and highest expression. Results: High expression was seen for E-cadherin, N-cadherin and Ep-CAM in 49%, 46%, 27% of patients respectively. Low expression, high expression and highest expression were found in respectively 48%, 45% and 8% of cases for CEA. Low expression of E-cadherin (p=0.015) and higher expression levels of N-cadherin, Ep-CAM, CEA (p=0.004; 0.046; 0.001 respectively) all resulted in a worse relapse free period (RFP) of patients. Multivariate analysis revealed only E-cadherin and CEA to be independent prognostic variables. A combination variable was created with expression of both markers: (1) E-cadherin high expression, (2) E-cadherin low or CEA low or high expression (3) CEA highest expression. This variable revealed to be an independent prognostic parameter with high discriminative power for RFP (P&lt;0.001, E-cadherin low or CEA low or high expression versus E-cadherin high expression: Hazard Ratio (HR)= 1.9; CEA highest expression versus E-cadherin high expression: HR= 3.6). A statistically significant interaction was found between expression of both CAM (P&lt;0.001), suggesting a biological connection in their functioning.

Conclusion: We have demonstrated that E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Ep-CAM and CEA are of prognostic influence on outcome concerning RFP in breast cancer patients. A combined variable of E-cadherin and CEA expression revealed to have prognostic influence on RFP with high discriminative power and therefore is a candidate parameter for future outcome prediction of patients.

Socioeconomic differences in survival among breast cancer patients in the Netherlands not explained by tumor size

There seem to be socioeconomically differences in survival for females with breast cancer, usually associated with a higher stage of disease. However, differences within tumor size have not been studied. Aim of this study is to assess differences in survival according to socioeconomic status (SES), stratified for tumor size and stage at diagnosis, for females with breast cancer in the Netherlands. All females diagnosed with breast cancer (1995-2005) were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Patients were linked to a SES database according to postal code. A multivariable logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with SES. Overall survival (OS) and relative survival (RS) were calculated. Overall, 127,599 patients were included. Higher SES was associated with lower T-stage (P < 0.0001). A decreased survival (OS and RS) was found for patients with a lower SES. Also within different size groups, RS was different. Overall, 10-year OS for the high SES group was 65 and 58% for the low SES group (hazard ratio 1.1, P < 0.001) and RS was 79 versus 74% (relative excess risk, RER 1.2; P < 0.001). The socioeconomic differences remained statistically significant (P < 0.001) after adjustment for age, year of diagnosis, grade, TNM stage, and treatment. For the lowest SES group 777 deaths could be avoided. Socioeconomic differences in survival of breast cancer patients were observed in the Netherlands. Higher stage at diagnosis of patients with a lower SES only partly explains the decreased survival. Policies aimed at the reduction of socioeconomic health inequalities might be important to improve survival of breast cancer.

Breast cancer in elderly compared to younger patients in the Netherlands: stage at diagnosis, treatment and survival in 127,805 unselected patients

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in several parts of the world and the number of elderly patients is increasing. The aim of this study was to describe stage at diagnosis, treatment, and relative survival of elderly patients compared to younger patients in the Netherlands. Adult female patients with their first primary breast cancer diagnosed between 1995 and 2005 were selected. Stage, treatment, and relative survival were described for young and elderly (≥ 65 years) patients and within the cohort of elderly patients according to 5-year age groups. Overall, 127,805 patients were included. Elderly breast cancer patients were diagnosed with a higher stage of disease. Moreover, within the elderly differences in stage were observed. Elderly underwent less surgery (99.2-41.2%); elderly received hormonal treatment as monotherapy more frequently (0.8-47.3%); and less adjuvant systemic treatment (79-53%). Elderly breast cancer patients with breast cancer had a decreased relative survival. Although relative survival was lower in the elderly, the percentage of patients who die of their breast cancer less than 50% above age 75. In conclusion, the relative survival for the elderly is lower as compared to their younger counterparts while the percentage of deaths due to other causes increases with age. This could indicate that the patient selection is poor and fit patients could suffer from "under treatment". In the future, specific geriatric screening tools are necessary to identify fit elderly patients who could receive more "aggressive" treatment while best supportive care should be given to frail elderly patients.

Translational research in prognostic profiling in colorectal cancer

There is a widening gap between basic research and clinical practice, particularly for colorectal cancer. In recent years, many have expressed concerns regarding the disconnection between the promises of basic science and the delivery of better individual health. In this paper we describe some of our research in serum proteomics, microarrays and minimal residual disease dedicated to this field and discuss some of the roadblocks ahead in translational research. We conclude that translational medicine should be a collective effort for the medical community as a whole with adequate financial support and sound, measurable outcome. Since extensive validation of the above mentioned research fields is necessary, adequate funding is required. This may require some adjustments in the current funding policy because it involves non-innovative studies. Furthermore, the pool of researchers/clinicians capable of performing translational research must be increased. Additionally, there should be an enhanced participation of patients in clinical trials and an optimization of the efficiency of these trials using validated surrogate markers. Only when these conditions are fulfilled will the 'post-genomic; era of biomedical research have unprecedented opportunities to innovate and improve therapy for cancer.

Cancer genetics and their application to individualised medicine

One of the great challenges of basic research is to translate scientific discoveries into the improved treatment of patients. For colorectal cancer, our increased understanding of the molecular aetiology of the disease has not yet been paralleled by an improvement in patient care. However, several new approaches are on the verge of clinical implementation. Technical advances such as real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and microarray techniques coupled to insight in the molecular pathways in colorectal cancer makes it possible to develop new clinical tools for the diagnosis, classification and treatment of patients. The ultimate goal of the incorporation of cancer genetics into the clinical treatment of patients is individualised medicine; therapeutic strategies based on the molecular taxonomy of tumours and individually constructed for each patient.

Mechanisms of oncogenesis in colon versus rectal cancer

Observations support the theory that development of left- and right-sided colorectal cancers may involve different mechanisms. This study investigated different genes involved in oncogenesis of colon and rectal cancers and analysed their prognostic value. The study group comprised 35 colon and 42 rectal cancers. Rectal cancer patients had been treated with standardized surgery performed by an experienced rectal cancer surgeon. Mutation analysis was performed for p53 in eight colon cancers and for APC and p53 in 22 rectal cancers. MLH1, MSH2, Bcl-2, p53, E-cadherin and beta-catenin were investigated by immunohistochemistry in all colorectal tumours. APC mutation analysis of the MCR showed truncating mutations in 18 of 22 rectal tumours (82%), but the presence of an APC mutation was not related to nuclear beta-catenin expression (p=0.75). Rectal cancers showed significantly more nuclear beta-catenin than colon cancers (65% versus 40%, p=0.04). p53 mutation analysis corresponded well with p53 immunohistochemistry (p<0.001). Rectal cancers showed significantly more immunohistochemical expression of p53 than colon cancers (64% versus 29%, p=0.003). In rectal cancers, a significant correlation was found between positive p53 expression and worse disease-free survival (p=0.008), but not in colon cancers. Cox regression showed that p53-expression (p=0.03) was an independent predictor for disease-free survival in rectal cancers. This study concluded that rectal cancer may involve more nuclear beta-catenin in the APC/beta-catenin pathway than colon cancer and/or nuclear beta-catenin may have another role in rectal cancer independently of APC. The p53-pathway seems to be more important in rectal cancer, in which it also has independent prognostic value. When prognostic markers are investigated in larger series, differences in biological behaviour between colon and rectal cancer should be considered.

Genetic cancer syndromes and large-scale gene expression analysis: applications in surgical oncology

The last decade of the 20th century was characterized by an explosion in genetic discoveries. The Human Genome Project and technical advances have made it possible to unravel many genetic abnormalities underlying cancer. Many genes responsible for inherited cancer syndromes have been identified and diagnostic tests are readily available. The clinical implications of these tests are currently under debate. Large-scale gene expression analysis enables simultaneous monitoring of expression of thousands of genes, in vitro and in vivo. The identification of high risk patients and drug responsiveness, can be studied within the framework of complex molecular networks. This article will focus on the possibilities for surgical oncology.

Evaluation of 1p losses in primary carcinomas, local recurrences and peripheral metastases from colorectal cancer patients

Cytogenetic and molecular genetic analyses of colorectal adenomas and carcinomas have shown that loss of the distal part of chromosome arm 1p is common, particularly in tumors of the left colon. Because the importance of 1p loss in colorectal cancer metastases is unknown, we compared the frequency, exact site and extent of 1p deletions in primary carcinomas (n=28), local recurrences (n=19) and metastases (n=33) from 67 colorectal cancer patients using 14 markers in an allelic imbalance study. Loss of 1p was found in 50% of the primary carcinomas, 33% of the local recurrences, and 64% of the metastases, revealing a significant difference between the local recurrences and the metastases (P=.04). The smallest region of 1p deletion overlap (SRO) defined separately for each group of lesions had the region between markers D1S2647 and D1S2644, at 1p35-36, in common. The genes PLA2G2A (1p35.1-36) and TP73 (1p36.3) were shown to lie outside this consistently lost region, suggesting that neither of them are targets for the 1p loss. In the second part of the study, microdissected primary carcinomas and distant metastases from the same colorectal cancer patients (n=18) were analyzed, and the same 1p genotype was found in the majority of patients (12/18, 67%). The finding that primary carcinoma cells with metastatic ability usually contain 1p deletions, and that some cases lacking 1p alterations in the primary tumor acquire such changes during growth of a metastatic lesion, supports the notion that 1p loss may be important both early and late in colorectal carcinogenesis, with the apparent exception of local recurrences.

Absence of genetic alteration at codon 531 of the human c-src gene in 479 advanced colorectal cancers from Japanese and Caucasian patients

Activation of c-src, a cellular human gene homologous in sequence to the v-src gene of Rous sarcoma virus, had been thought to play an important role in the progression of several types of human cancers, without having undergone any genetic changes. However, recently truncating mutations at codon 531 of the c-src gene were reported in 12% of the advanced colon cancers, and it was also demonstrated that this change was activating, transforming, tumorigenic, and metastasis promoting. To investigate whether the codon 531-specific mutation could be involved in the carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer in the Japanese and Caucasian populations, we examined a total of 479 advanced colorectal cancers from 421 Japanese patients (46 of them with liver or lung metastases) and from 58 Caucasian patients (11 of them with liver metastases). Using the PCR-RFLP assay and additional single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis, we detected no genetic alteration in any of the advanced colorectal cancers. Our results suggest that the codon 531-specific mutational activation of c-src is unlikely to play a significant role in the malignant progression of colorectal cancers among most Japanese and Caucasian patients.