Therapy response and prognosis of patients with early breast cancer with low positivity for hormone receptors - An analysis of 2765 patients from neoadjuvant clinical trials - Publication

Publication

Therapy response and prognosis of patients with early breast cancer with low positivity for hormone receptors - An analysis of 2765 patients from neoadjuvant clinical trials

Journal Paper/Review - Mar 18, 2021

Villegas Sonia L, Huober Jens, Lederer Bianca, van Mackelenbergh Marion, Tesch Hans, Jackisch Christian, Rezai Mahdi, Sinn Peter, Sinn Bruno V, Hackmann John, Kiechle Marion, Schneeweiss Andreas, Weichert Wilko, Denkert Carsten, Schmitt Wolfgang D, Hanusch Claus, Nekljudova Valentina, Pfarr Nicole, Engel Jutta, Untch Michael, Schrodi Simone, Holms Frank, Ulmer Hans U, Fasching Peter A, Weber Karsten E, Albig Christian, Heinrichs Clemens, Marme Frederik, Hartmann Arndt, Loibl Sibylle

Citation

Villegas S, Huober J, Lederer B, van Mackelenbergh M, Tesch H, Jackisch C, Rezai M, Sinn P, Sinn B, Hackmann J, Kiechle M, Schneeweiss A, Weichert W, Denkert C, Schmitt W, Hanusch C, Nekljudova V, Pfarr N, Engel J, Untch M, Schrodi S, Holms F, Ulmer H, Fasching P, Weber K, Albig C, Heinrichs C, Marme F, Hartmann A, Loibl S. Therapy response and prognosis of patients with early breast cancer with low positivity for hormone receptors - An analysis of 2765 patients from neoadjuvant clinical trials. Eur J Cancer 2021; 148:159-170.

Type

Journal Paper/Review (English)

Journal

Eur J Cancer 2021; 148

Publication Date

Mar 18, 2021

Issn Electronic

1879-0852

Pages

159-170

Brief description/objective

AIM
To evaluate HER2-negative breast cancer (BC) with a low hormone receptor (HR) expression, with regard to pathological complete response (pCR) and survival, in comparison to triple-negative BC (TNBC) and strong HR-positive BC.

METHODS
We compared negative [oestrogen (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) <1%], low-positive (ER and/or PR 1-9%) and strong-positive (ER or PR 10-100%) HR-expression in neoadjuvant clinical trial cohorts (n = 2765) of BC patients. End-points were disease-free survival (DFS), distant-disease free survival (DDFS) and overall survival (OS). We performed RNA sequencing on available tumour tissue samples from patients with low-HR expression (n = 38).

RESULTS
Ninety-four (3.4%) patients had low HR-positive tumours, 1769 (64.0%) had strong HR-positive tumours, and 902 (32.6%) had TNBC. There were no significant differences in pCR rates between women with low HR-positive tumours (27.7%) and women with TNBC (35.5%). DFS and DDFS were also not different [for DFS, hazard ratio 1.26, 95%-CI (confidence interval) : 0.87-1.83, log-rank test p = 0.951; for DDFS, hazard ratio 1.17, 95%-CI: 0.78-1.76, log-rank test p = 0.774]. Patients with strong HR-positive tumours had a significantly lower pCR rate (pCR 9.4%; odds ratio 0.38, 95%-CI: 0.23-0.63), but better DFS (hazard ratio 0.48, 95%-CI: 0.33-0.70) and DDFS (hazard ratio 0.49, 95%-CI: 0.33-0.74) than patients with low HR-positive tumours. Molecular subtyping (RNA sequencing) of low HR-positive tumours classified these predominantly into a basal subtype (86.8%).

CONCLUSION
Low HR-positive, HER2-negative tumours have a similar clinical behaviour to TNBC showing high pCR rates and poor survival and also a basal-like gene expression signature. Patients with low HR-positive tumours should be regarded as candidates for therapy strategies targeting TNBC.