Efficacy of Endocrine Therapy Plus Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab vs De-escalated Chemotherapy in Patients with Hormone Receptor-Positive/ERBB2-Positive Early Breast Cancer: The Neoadjuvant WSG-TP-II Randomized Clinical Trial

A study on the impact of neoadjuvant therapy on molecular subtype conversion in breast cancer

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to examine molecular subtype conversions in patients who received neoadjuvant therapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A retrospective analysis was performed on 316 patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University between March 2017 and October 2024. The study included data from patients with confirmed pathological residual disease at the primary site post-surgery, alongside complete receptor status and detailed information on the neoadjuvant treatment regimen administered before and after therapy. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors influencing molecular subtype heterogeneity before and after neoadjuvant therapy.

RESULTS

Of the 316 patients who received neoadjuvant therapy and underwent repeated pathological biopsies, 84 (26.6%) achieved a pathological complete response (pCR). Among the remaining 232 patients with confirmed pathological residual disease after surgery, 85 (36.6%) exhibited conversion of molecular subtypes, with 45 cases (19.3%) leading to alterations in the treatment plan. In breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), particularly those with HR-positive tumors prior to NAC, those demonstrating favorable treatment responses on imaging, and those undergoing breast-conserving surgery, molecular subtype heterogeneity before and after NAC was more commonly observed.

CONCLUSION

Neoadjuvant therapy can induce molecular subtype heterogeneity in patients with invasive breast cancer. The identification of factors contributing to this heterogeneity may be associated with variations in biological markers of residual disease post-NAC, sampling discrepancies between core needle biopsy (CNB) and surgical specimens, or the selective mutagenic pressure exerted by chemotherapeutic agents.

Role of imaging based response assesment for adapting neoadjuvant systemic therapy for breast cancer: A systematic review

PURPOSE

The objective of this systematic review is to investigate the role of imaging in response monitoring during neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) for breast cancer and assess whether treatment modifications based on imaging response are implemented in clinical practice.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted, analyzing five clinical practice guidelines and 147 clinical trial publications involving NST for breast cancer. The snowballing technique was employed, using a "start set" of clinical guidelines to trace relevant trials. Additionally, a PubMed search was conducted to identify trials published between 2023-2024. The review analyzed the use of imaging modalities, timing, and response criteria, and whether escalation, de-escalation, or change of treatment occurred based on imaging response.

RESULTS

Imaging was utilized in 81 % (119/147) of the trials, with ultrasound, MRI, and mammography being the most frequently employed modalities. Mid-treatment imaging was applied in 56 % (83/147) of the trials. However, only 15 % (22/147) of the trials implemented treatment modifications based on imaging response, highlighting the limited application of imaging response-guided therapy. No standardized imaging protocols or consistent response-guided treatment strategies were identified across the trials or clinical practice guidelines, with considerable variability in imaging methods, timing, and response criteria.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review underscores the critical need for standardized imaging protocols, response assessment criteria and image-guided treatment decisions. It is therefore evident that imaging for response monitoring during treatment should preferably be performed within clinical trials.

Predictors of Recurrence and Overall Survival in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Surgery: A Comprehensive Statistical Analysis

Background/Objectives: This study evaluates the impact of clinical, pathological, and treatment-related factors on breast cancer recurrence and overall survival following neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery. Patients and Method: A total of 298 patients treated at Diakoneo Diak Klinikum, Schwäbisch Hall, Germany (2010-2021) were analyzed. Key variables included hormone receptor status, molecular subtypes, tumor grade, treatment protocols, and metastatic disease at diagnosis. Results: Recurrence was strongly associated with metastatic disease (p < 0.001) but not with hormone receptor status or molecular subtypes. Platinum/taxane-based chemotherapy was linked to a lower recurrence risk (p = 0.05) compared to anthracycline-based regimens. Patients with recurrence had significantly lower overall survival (27.91% vs. 8.24%, p < 0.001). Logistic regression suggested a trend toward increased recurrence in ER-positive and PR-negative patients, though not statistically significant. These findings emphasize the importance of personalized treatment strategies and highlight the need for future studies incorporating genomic data and residual disease analysis to refine recurrence risk prediction and therapy selection.

The optimal neoadjuvant treatment strategy for HR+/HER2 + breast cancer: a network meta-analysis

The efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy varies significantly with hormone receptor (HR) status for patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive breast cancer (BC). Despite extensive research on HER2 + BC, the optimal neoadjuvant strategy for HR+/HER2 + BC remains inconclusive. This study aimed to identify the optimal neoadjuvant regimen for HR+/HER2 + BC treatment. We conducted a systematic search for trials comparing neoadjuvant regimens for HR+/HER2 + BC and a network meta-analysis. Odds ratios for pathological complete response (pCR) and hazard ratios for event-free survival (EFS) were calculated. Treatment regimens were ranked using the surface under the cumulative ranking curve. 20 trials with 2809 patients were included. In pCR analysis, three neoadjuvant regimens sequentially ranked at the top, namely those comprising T-DM1, pertuzumab with trastuzumab, and tyrosine kinase inhibitor with trastuzumab, demonstrating significantly higher pCR rates than monotherapies. In EFS analysis, pertuzumab with trastuzumab ranked the first while T-DM1 containing regimen ranked the last. Anthracycline-free regimens showed a marginally higher pCR rate than anthracycline-containing regimens, while carboplatin-containing regimens demonstrated a numerically higher pCR rate than carboplatin-free regimens. Significant heterogeneity was observed in endocrine therapy analysis, which may be caused by different strategies for incorporating endocrine therapy. In conclusion, trastuzumab plus pertuzumab stands out as the optimal neoadjuvant HER2-targeting regimen for HR+/HER2 + BC Furthermore, anthracycline-free carboplatin-containing chemotherapy emerges as a promising combination treatment. Further investigation is required to clarify the role of endocrine therapy in HR+/HER2 + BC to guide its clinical application.

Neoadjuvant atezolizumab in combination with dual HER2 blockade plus epirubicin in women with early HER2-positive breast cancer: the randomized phase 2 ABCSG-52/ATHENE trial

The role of anthracyclines in the treatment of early breast cancer (EBC) is increasingly being challenged, especially in de-escalation strategies. However, owing to their immunogenic effects, anthracyclines are promising combination partners with immunotherapies. In the randomized phase 2 trial ABCSG-52 (EudraCT no. 2019-002364-27), we investigated epirubicin plus immunotherapy in women with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive EBC. A total of 58 patients were randomized 1:1 to two cycles of a chemotherapy-free induction phase (part 1) of dual HER2 blockade with trastuzumab and pertuzumab (TP) plus the anti-programmed death ligand 1 antibody atezolizumab (TP-A) or TP alone. Thereafter, all patients received four cycles of TP-A in combination with epirubicin (part 2). The primary endpoint, pathological complete response (pCR), was met in 35 patients (60.3%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 47.5% to 71.9%), 19 patients (65.5%) in the TP-A group and 16 patients (55.2%) in the TP group. The residual cancer burden 0/I rate and objective response rate (secondary endpoints) in all patients with evaluable data were 80.0% (n = 44/55; 95% CI 67.6% to 88.4%) and 89.3% (n = 50/56; 95% CI 78.5% to 95.0%), respectively. Grade ≥3 adverse events were reported in 17 patients (29.3%). Based on our findings, we conclude that a neoadjuvant chemotherapy de-escalation immunotherapy regimen with trastuzumab, pertuzumab, atezolizumab and epirubicin is effective and safe in patients with HER2-positive EBC.

De-escalated neoadjuvant weekly nab-paclitaxel with trastuzumab and pertuzumab versus docetaxel, carboplatin, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab in patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer (HELEN-006): a multicentre, randomised, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND

A previous phase 2 trial showed promising outcomes for patients with HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer using neoadjuvant de-escalation chemotherapy with paclitaxel, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of weekly nab-paclitaxel compared with the standard regimen of docetaxel plus carboplatin, both with trastuzumab and pertuzumab, as neoadjuvant therapies for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.

METHODS

HELEN-006 was a multicentre, randomised, phase 3 trial done at six hospitals in China. We enrolled patients aged 18-70 years with untreated, histologically confirmed stage II-III invasive HER2-positive breast cancer and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1. Using an interactive response system, patients were randomly assigned (1:1) under a permuted block randomisation scheme (block size of four), stratified by tumour stage, nodal status, and hormone receptor status. Patients received either intravenous nab-paclitaxel (125 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15) for six 3-week cycles, or intravenous docetaxel (75 mg/m2 on day 1) plus intravenous carboplatin (area under the concentration-time curve 6 mg/mL per min on day 1) for six 3-week cycles. Both groups also received concurrent intravenous trastuzumab, with an initial loading dose of 8 mg/kg and a maintenance dose of 6 mg/kg on day 1, as well as intravenous pertuzumab with a loading dose of 840 mg and a maintenance dose of 420 mg on day 1. This report is the final analysis of the primary endpoint, pathological complete response (ypT0/is ypN0), analysed in all patients who started treatment (modified intention to treat). The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04547907, and follow-up of the adjuvant phase is ongoing.

FINDINGS

Between Sept 20, 2020, and March 1, 2023, 789 patients were screened for eligibility, 689 of whom were randomly assigned (343 to the nab-paclitaxel group and 346 to the docetaxel plus carboplatin group). All 689 patients were Asian women. 669 patients received at least one dose of the study treatment and were included in the full analysis set (332 in the nab-paclitaxel group and 337 in the docetaxel plus carboplatin group). Median age of the patients was 50 years (IQR 43-55). Median follow-up time was 26 months (IQR 19-32). 220 (66·3% [95% CI 61·2-71·4]) patients in the nab-paclitaxel group had a pathological complete response, compared with 194 (57·6% [52·3-62·9]) in the docetaxel plus carboplatin group (combined odds ratio 1·54 [95% CI 1·10-2·14]; stratified p=0·011). 100 (30%) patients in the nab-paclitaxel group and 128 (38%) in the docetaxel plus carboplatin group had grade 3-4 adverse events. The most common grade 3-4 adverse events were nausea (22 [7%] in the nab-paclitaxel group vs 76 [23%] in the docetaxel plus carboplatin group), diarrhoea (25 [8%] vs 55 [16%]), and neuropathy (43 [13%] vs eight [2%]). Serious drug-related adverse events were reported in three (1%) patients in the nab-paclitaxel group and five (2%) in the docetaxel plus carboplatin group. No treatment-related deaths were reported in either group.

INTERPRETATION

These findings might suggest a potential advantage of nab-paclitaxel combined with trastuzumab and pertuzumab compared with the standard regimen in neoadjuvant therapy for patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer, suggesting that this new combination might establish a new standard for neoadjuvant treatment in this patient population.

FUNDING

National Natural Science Foundation of China, and Science and Technology Research Projects of Henan Province, China.

TRANSLATION

For the Chinese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Diffusion-weighted imaging in addition to contrast-enhanced MRI in identifying complete response in HER2-positive breast cancer

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to investigate the added value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to dynamic-contrast enhanced (DCE)-MRI to identify a pathological complete response (pCR) in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer and radiological complete response (rCR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a single-center observational study of 102 patients with stage I-III HER2-positive breast cancer and real-world documented rCR on DCE-MRI. Patients were treated between 2015 and 2019. Both 1.5 T/3.0 T single-shot diffusion-weighted echo-planar sequence were used. Post neoadjuvant systemic treatment (NST) diffusion-weighted images were reviewed by two readers for visual evaluation and ADCmean. Discordant cases were resolved in a consensus meeting. pCR of the breast (ypT0/is) was used to calculate the negative predictive value (NPV). Breast pCR-percentages were tested with Fisher's exact test. ADCmean and ∆ADCmean(%) for patients with and without pCR were compared using a Mann-Whitney U-test.

RESULTS

The NPV for DWI added to DCE is 86% compared to 87% for DCE alone in hormone receptor (HR)-/HER2-positive and 67% compared to 64% in HR-positive/HER2-positive breast cancer. Twenty-seven of 39 non-rCR DWI cases were false positives. In HR-positive/HER2-positive breast cancer the NPV for DCE MRI differs between MRI field strength (1.5 T: 50% vs. 3 T: 81% [p = 0.02]). ADCmean at baseline, post-NST, and ∆ADCmean were similar between patients with and without pCR.

CONCLUSION

DWI has no clinically relevant effect on the NPV of DCE alone to identify a pCR in early HER2-positive breast cancer. The added value of DWI in HR-positive/HER2-positive breast cancer should be further investigated taken MRI field strength into account.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT

The residual signal on DWI after neoadjuvant systemic therapy in cases with early HER2-positive breast cancer and no residual pathologic enhancement on DCE-MRI breast should not (yet) be considered in assessing a complete radiologic response.

KEY POINTS

Radiologic complete response is associated with a pathologic complete response (pCR) in HER2+ breast cancer but further improvement is warranted. No relevant increase in negative predictive value was observed when DWI was added to DCE. Residual signal on DW-images without pathologic enhancement on DCE-MRI, does not indicate a lower chance of pCR.

Dual HER2 inhibition: mechanisms of synergy, patient selection, and resistance

HER2-targeted therapies for patients with HER2+ breast cancer are rapidly evolving, offering a range of more complex and personalized treatment options. Currently, an array of anti-HER2 monoclonal antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors and antibody-drug conjugates are administered, sometimes alongside chemotherapy or endocrine therapy, both in curative and palliative contexts. However, the heterogeneous nature of HER2+ breast cancer demands a deeper understanding of disease biology and its role in responsiveness to novel HER2-targeted agents, as well as non-HER2-targeted therapies, in order to optimize patient outcomes. In this Review, we revisit the mechanisms of action of HER2-targeted agents, examine the evidence supporting the use of dual HER2 blockade in patients with HER2-amplified tumours, and explore the role of biomarkers in guiding future treatment strategies. We also discuss potential implications for the future treatment of patients with HER2+ breast cancer.

Tailoring Neoadjuvant Therapy in Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive Early Breast Cancer: Recent Advances and Strategies

Neoadjuvant HER2 Therapy: Beyond one-size-fits-all.

HER2+ Early Breast Cancer: From Escalation via Targeted and Post-Neoadjuvant Treatment to De-Escalation

Background

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2+, also referred to as ERBB2+) breast cancer is a subtype, historically associated with a particularly poor prognosis. Research into biological and molecular pathomechanisms of breast cancer has resulted in the development and adoption of several therapies targeting HER2. In parallel, various escalation/de-escalation strategies have been examined to further optimize patient outcomes and care.

Summary

In this review, we highlighted the landmark trials in the evolution of treatment and management of HER2+ early breast cancer (eBC).

Key Messages

Continuous research over the last two decades has gradually prolonged survival in patients with early HER2+ eBC. Incorporation of post-neoadjuvant setting into clinical practice improved long-term outcomes in high-risk patients with residual disease after neoadjuvant therapy. In parallel, use of modern anti-HER2 agents may potentially allow omission of chemotherapy without compromising the survival in a significant number of selected patients. Current research focused on exploring the molecular heterogeneity of HER2+ breast cancer resulted in identification of new prognostic and predictive biomarkers which could pave the way toward the development of truly personalized therapy.

Transaxillary Single-Port Endoscopic Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy with Immediate Implant-based Breast Reconstruction in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy or Not: A Comparative Study with Analysis of Surgical Complications and Patient-Reported Outcomes

BACKGROUND

In most cases, transaxillary single-port endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate implant-based breast reconstruction (E-NSM-IIBR) is conducted in patients with early-stage breast cancer, ensuring surgical safety while achieving improved breast aesthetics. However, whether E-NSM-IIBR is appropriate in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is still unclear. The aim of this study was to report the surgical safety and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of breast cancer patients who underwent E-NSM-IIBR with NAC in comparison to those who did not receive NAC.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients who underwent E-NSM-IIBR with or without NAC at a single center between January 2021 and July 2022. Patient demographics, postoperative complications, and PROs evaluated using the BREAST-Q version 2.0 questionnaire were compared between the two groups. Factors associated with PROs at 9 months after surgery were assessed with linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 92 patients who underwent E-NSM-IIBR were included in the study, with 27 patients receiving NAC and 65 patients not receiving NAC. There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups. The BREAST-Q version 2.0 questionnaire was completed by 24 out of 27 patients (88.9%) in the NAC group and 59 out of 65 patients (90.8%) in the non-NAC group at 9 months after surgery. The patient-reported outcomes in various domains of the BREAST-Q did not show a significant difference between the two cohorts. The results of the multiple linear regression analysis indicated that in the both groups age (β = - 0.985, 95% CI - 1.598 to - 0.371, p = 0.003 in the NAC group; β = - 0.510, - 1.011 to - 0.009, p = 0.046 in the non-NAC group) and rippling (β = - 21.862, - 36.768 to - 6.955, p = 0.006 in the NAC group; β = - 7.787, - 15.151 to - 0.423, p = 0.039 in the non-NAC group) significantly impacted the patients' satisfaction with breasts, and PMRT was negatively associated with patients' physical well-being of chest (β = - 13.813, - 26.962 to - 0.664, p = 0.040 in the NAC group; β = - 18.574, - 30.661 to - 6.487, p = 0.003 in the non-NAC group). Our findings revealed that patients with larger implant volumes had higher scores in psychosocial well-being (β = 0.082, 0.001 to 0.162, p = 0.047), whereas implant displacement (β = - 14.937, - 28.175 to - 1.700, p=0.028) had a negative impact on patients' psychological well-being in the non-NAC group. However, our results did not demonstrate any significant influencing factors on patients' psychosocial well-being within the NAC group.

CONCLUSION

Our preliminary experiences confirm that E-NSM-IIBR is a safe option for selected patients even after NAC, with favorable patient-reported outcomes comparable with those in the primary surgery setting. The postoperative long-term outcomes of patients who undergo radiation therapy after NAC merit further investigation in the future.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .