The International (Ludwig) Breast Cancer Study Group Trials I-IV: 15 years follow-up

Ovarian suppression for adjuvant treatment of hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Approximately 80% of breast cancers amongst premenopausal women are hormone receptor-positive. Adjuvant endocrine therapy is an integral component of care for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and in premenopausal women includes oestrogen receptor blockade with tamoxifen, temporary suppression of ovarian oestrogen synthesis by luteinising hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists, and permanent interruption of ovarian oestrogen synthesis with oophorectomy or radiotherapy. Recent international consensus statements recommend single-agent tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors with ovarian function suppression (OFS) as the current standard adjuvant endocrine therapy for premenopausal women (often preceded by chemotherapy). This review examined the role of adding OFS to another treatment (i.e. chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, or both) or comparing OFS to no further adjuvant treatment.

OBJECTIVES

To assess effects of OFS for treatment of premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer.

SEARCH METHODS

For this review update, we searched the Specialised Register of the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group, MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2019, Issue 8), the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), and ClinicalTrials.gov on 26 September 2019. We screened the reference lists of related articles, contacted trial authors, and applied no language restrictions.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included all randomised trials assessing any method of OFS, that is, oophorectomy, radiation-induced ovarian ablation, or LHRH agonists, as adjuvant treatment for premenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer. We included studies that compared (1) OFS versus observation, (2) OFS + chemotherapy versus chemotherapy, (3) OFS + tamoxifen versus tamoxifen, and (4) OFS + chemotherapy + tamoxifen versus chemotherapy + tamoxifen.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias and certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach. Hazard ratios (HRs) were derived for time-to-event outcomes, and meta-analysis was performed using a fixed-effect model. The primary outcome measures were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Toxicity, contralateral breast cancer, and second malignancy were represented as risk ratios (RRs), and quality of life data were extracted when provided.

MAIN RESULTS

This review update included 15 studies involving 11,538 premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer; these studies were conducted from 1978 to 2014. Some of these treatments are not current standard of care, and early studies did not assess HER2 receptor status. Studies tested OFS versus observation (one study), OFS plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy (six studies), OFS plus tamoxifen versus tamoxifen (six studies), and OFS plus chemotherapy and tamoxifen versus chemotherapy and tamoxifen (two studies). Of those studies that reported the chemotherapy regimen, an estimated 72% of women received an anthracycline. The results described below relate to the overall comparison of OFS versus no OFS. High-certainty evidence shows that adding OFS to treatment resulted in a reduction in mortality (hazard ratio (HR) 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.78 to 0.94; 11 studies; 10,374 women; 1933 reported events). This treatment effect was seen when OFS was added to observation, to tamoxifen, or to chemotherapy and tamoxifen. The effect on mortality was not observed when OFS was added to chemotherapy without tamoxifen therapy (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.09; 5 studies; 3087 women; median follow-up: range 7.7 to 12.1 years). The addition of OFS resulted in improved DFS (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.90; 10 studies; 8899 women; 2757 reported events; high-certainty evidence). The DFS treatment effect persisted when OFS was added to observation, to tamoxifen, and to chemotherapy and tamoxifen. The effect on DFS was reduced when OFS was added to chemotherapy without tamoxifen therapy (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.01; 5 studies; 2450 women). Heterogeneity was low to moderate across studies for DFS and OS (respectively). Evidence suggests that adding OFS slightly increases the incidence of hot flushes (grade 3/4 or any grade; risk ratio (RR) 1.60, 95% CI 1.41 to 1.82; 6 studies; 5581 women; low-certainty evidence, as this may have been under-reported in these studies). Two other studies that could not be included in the meta-analysis reported a higher number of hot flushes in the OFS group than in the no-OFS group. Seven studies involving 5354 women collected information related to mood; however this information was reported as grade 3 or 4 depression, anxiety, or neuropsychiatric symptoms, or symptoms were reported without the grade. Two studies reported an increase in depression, anxiety, and neuropsychiatric symptoms in the OFS group compared to the no-OFS group, and five studies indicated an increase in anxiety in both treatment groups (but no difference between groups) or no difference overall in symptoms over time or between treatment groups. A single study reported bone health as osteoporosis (defined as T score < -2.5); this limited evidence suggests that OFS increases the risk of osteoporosis compared to no-OFS at median follow-up of 5.6 years (RR 1.16, 95% CI 1.10 to 28.82; 2011 women; low-certainty evidence). Adding OFS to treatment likely reduces the risk of contralateral breast cancer (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.97; 9 studies; 9138 women; moderate-certainty evidence). Quality of life was assessed in five studies; four studies used validated tools, and the fifth study provided no information on how data were collected. Two studies reported worse quality of life indicators (i.e. vaginal dryness, day and night sweats) for women receiving OFS compared to those in the no-OFS group. The other two studies indicated worsening of symptoms (e.g. vasomotor, gynaecological, vaginal dryness, decline in sexual interest, bone and joint pain, weight gain); however these side effects were reported in both OFS and no-OFS groups. The study that did not use a validated quality of life tool described no considerable differences between groups.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

This review found evidence that supports adding OFS for premenopausal women with early, hormone receptor-positive breast cancers. The benefit of OFS persisted when compared to observation, and when added to endocrine therapy (tamoxifen) or chemotherapy and endocrine therapy (tamoxifen). The decision to use OFS may depend on the overall risk assessment based on tumour and patient characteristics, and may follow consideration of all side effects that occur with the addition of OFS.

Safety and efficacy study of metronomic vinorelbine, cyclophosphamide plus capecitabine in metastatic breast cancer: A phase II trial

In a phase II study we assessed the safety and efficacy of metronomic oral chemotherapy with vinorelbine, cyclophosphamide capecitabine in patients with metastatic breast cancer, either as first-line (naïve group) or second-line or greater therapy (pre-treated group). Eligible patients had histologically or cytologically proven, hormone-receptor positive metastatic breast cancer. The primary end point was median time to progression (TTP). A total of 43 patients in the naïve group and 65 in the pre-treated group were enrolled. The median TTP was 25.1 months in the naïve group and 11.2 months in the pre-treated group. The most frequently reported grade 2 treatment-related adverse events were leukopenia and hand and foot syndrome. Metronomic combination of cyclophosphamide, capecitabine and vinorelbine showed significant activity and good tolerability in patients hormonal receptor positive, metastatic breast cancer patients.

Low-Dose Oral Cyclophosphamide and Methotrexate Maintenance for Hormone Receptor-Negative Early Breast Cancer: International Breast Cancer Study Group Trial 22-00

PURPOSE

To evaluate the benefit of low-dose cyclophosphamide and methotrexate (CM) maintenance, which previously demonstrated antitumor activity and few adverse effects in advanced breast cancer, in early breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG) Trial 22-00, a randomized phase III clinical trial, enrolled 1,086 women (1,081 intent-to-treat) from November 2000 to December 2012. Women with estrogen receptor- and progesterone receptor-negative (< 10% positive cells by immunohistochemistry) early breast cancer any nodal and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status, were randomly assigned anytime between primary surgery and 56 days after the first day of last course of adjuvant chemotherapy to CM maintenance (cyclophosphamide 50 mg/day orally continuously and methotrexate 2.5 mg twice/day orally on days 1 and 2 of every week for 1 year) or to no CM. The primary end point was disease-free survival (DFS), which included invasive recurrences, second (breast and nonbreast) malignancies, and deaths.

RESULTS

After a median of 6.9 years of follow-up, DFS was not significantly better for patients assigned to CM maintenance compared with patients assigned to no CM, both overall (hazard ratio [HR], 0.84; 95% CI, 0.66 to 1.06;P = .14) and in triple-negative (TN) disease (n = 814; HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.60 to 1.06). Patients with TN, node-positive disease had a nonstatistically significant reduced HR (n = 340; HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.49 to 1.05). Seventy-one (13%) of 542 patients assigned to CM maintenance did not start CM. Of 473 patients who received at least one CM maintenance dose (including two patients assigned to no CM), 64 (14%) experienced a grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse event; elevated serum transaminases was the most frequently reported (7%), followed by leukopenia (2%).

CONCLUSION

CM maintenance did not produce a significant reduction in DFS events in hormone receptor-negative early breast cancer. The trend toward benefit observed in the TN, node-positive subgroup supports additional exploration of this strategy in the TN, higher-risk population.

Annual Hazard Rates of Recurrence for Breast Cancer During 24 Years of Follow-Up: Results From the International Breast Cancer Study Group Trials I to V

PURPOSE

Predicting the pattern of recurrence can aid in the development of targeted surveillance and treatment strategies. We identified patient populations that remain at risk for an event at a median follow-up of 24 years from the diagnosis of operable breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

International Breast Cancer Study Group clinical trials I to V randomly assigned 4,105 patients between 1978 and 1985. Annualized hazards were estimated for breast cancer-free interval (primary end point), disease-free survival, and overall survival.

RESULTS

For the entire group, the annualized hazard of recurrence was highest during the first 5 years (10.4%), with a peak between years 1 and 2 (15.2%). During the first 5 years, patients with estrogen receptor (ER)--positive disease had a lower annualized hazard compared with those with ER-negative disease (9.9% v 11.5%; P = .01). However, beyond 5 years, patients with ER-positive disease had higher hazards (5 to 10 years: 5.4% v 3.3%; 10 to 15 years: 2.9% v 1.3%; 15 to 20 years: 2.8% v 1.2%; and 20 to 25 years: 1.3% v 1.4%; P < .001). Among patients with ER-positive disease, annualized hazards of recurrence remained elevated and fairly stable beyond 10 years, even for those with no axillary involvement (2.0%, 2.1%, and 1.1% for years 10 to 15, 15 to 20, and 20 to 25, respectively) and for those with one to three positive nodes (3.0%, 3.5%, and 1.5%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Patients with ER-positive breast cancer maintain a significant recurrence rate during extended follow up. Strategies for follow up and treatments to prevent recurrences may be most efficiently applied and studied in patients with ER-positive disease followed for a long period of time.

Personalized adjuvant therapies: lessons from the past: the opening address by the St. Gallen 2013 award recipient

For several decades, personalized adjuvant therapies have been prescribed based on features that predict response to specific types of treatment. In this summary four specific issues regarding adjuvant therapies are described. Each one developed using information from past experience and is ready to be challenged by future findings from clinical trials and maturation of follow-up data. 1) Accuracy of determination of steroid hormone receptors and of HER2-status was the key feature in International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG) and Breast International Group (BIG) trials. 2) Investigations on ovarian function suppression in IBCSG clinical trials led to the design of two trials (SOFT and TEXT), which are likely to lead to improved adjuvant therapy for premenopausal women with breast cancer. 3) Data from the BIG 1-98 trial of letrozole vs tamoxifen for postmenopausal patients with endocrine-responsive breast cancer provided information on which patients might obtain increased benefit from aromatase inhibitors and which might achieve similar treatment outcome with tamoxifen alone. 4) Finally, low-dose, frequently administered cytotoxics (metronomic chemotherapy) were tested in advanced disease with surprisingly favorable disease control and very low incidence of side effects. Personalized treatments are likely to improve substantially with increasingly accurate determination of their targets and by using risk- and toxicity-modulated therapies.

Patterns and risk factors for locoregional failures after mastectomy for breast cancer: an International Breast Cancer Study Group report

BACKGROUND

Rates and risk factors of local, axillary and supraclavicular recurrences can guide patient selection and target for postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Local, axillary and supraclavicular recurrences were evaluated in 8106 patients enrolled in 13 randomized trials. Patients received chemotherapy and/or endocrine therapy and mastectomy without radiotherapy. Median follow-up was 15.2 years.

RESULTS

Ten-year cumulative incidence for chest wall recurrence of >15% was seen in patients aged <40 years (16.1%), with ≥4 positive nodes (16.5%) or 0-7 uninvolved nodes (15.1%); for supraclavicular failures >10%: ≥4 positive nodes (10.2%); for axillary failures of >5%: aged <40 years (5.1%), unknown primary tumor size (5.2%), 0-7 uninvolved nodes (5.2%). In patients with 1-3 positive nodes, 10-year cumulative incidence for chest wall recurrence of >15% were age <40, peritumoral vessel invasion or 0-7 uninvolved nodes. Age, number of positive nodes and number of uninvolved nodes were significant parameters for each locoregional relapse site.

CONCLUSION

PMRT to the chest wall and supraclavicular fossa is supported in patients with ≥4 positive nodes. With 1-3 positive nodes, chest wall PMRT may be considered in patients aged <40 years, with 0-7 uninvolved nodes or with vascular invasion. The findings do not support PMRT to the dissected axilla.

Patterns of recurrence of early breast cancer according to estrogen receptor status: a therapeutic target for a quarter of a century

The current therapeutic strategy in breast cancer is to identify a target, such as estrogen receptor (ER) status, for tailoring treatments. We investigated the patterns of recurrence with respect to ER status for patients treated in two randomized trials with 25 years' median follow-up. In the ER-negative subpopulations most breast cancer events occurred within the first 5-7 years after randomization, while in the ER-positive subpopulations breast cancer events were spread through 10 years. In the ER-positive subpopulation, 1 year endocrine treatment alone significantly prolonged disease-free survival (DFS) with no additional benefit observed by adding 1 year of chemotherapy. In the small ER-negative subpopulation chemo-endocrine therapy had a significantly better DFS than endocrine alone or no treatment. Despite small numbers of patients, "old-fashioned" treatments, and competing causes of treatment failure, the value of ER status as a target for response to adjuvant treatment is evident through prolonged follow-up.

ACR appropriateness criteria on postmastectomy radiotherapy expert panel on radiation oncology-breast

This summary focuses on the role of postoperative radiation therapy in patients treated with modified radical mastectomy for invasive breast cancer, particularly in patients receiving systemic therapy.

Distinct clinical and prognostic features of infiltrating lobular carcinoma of the breast: combined results of 15 International Breast Cancer Study Group clinical trials

PURPOSE

To determine how patients with infiltrating lobular carcinoma (ILC) differ from patients with the more common infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) with regard to patient and tumor factors, local treatment, and patterns of recurrence.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twelve thousand two hundred six breast cancer patients entered onto 15 International Breast Cancer Study Group trials between 1978 and 2002 were categorized as having ILC, IDC, or other/mixed types.

RESULTS

Seven hundred sixty-seven tumors (6.2%) were classified as ILC, 8,607 (70.5%) were classified as IDC, and 2,832 (23.2%) were classified as other. The analysis is limited to the 9,374 patients categorized as either pure IDC or ILC. The median follow-up time was 13 years. Compared with IDC, ILC was associated with older age; larger, better differentiated, and estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumors; and less vessel invasion. Mastectomy was used more frequently for ILC (P < .01). There was a significant (P < .01) early advantage in disease-free survival and overall survival for the ILC cohort followed by a significant (P < .01) late advantage for the IDC cohort after 6 and 10 years, respectively. Similar patterns were observed in cohorts defined by ER status. ILC was associated with an increased incidence of bone events but a decrease in regional and lung events (all P < .01).

CONCLUSION

ILC is more than a histologic variant of breast cancer. The diagnosis of ILC carries distinct prognostic and biologic implications.

Improvements in breast cancer survival over time, related to adjuvant treatment and node status

BACKGROUND

There has been an increase in the use and effectiveness of adjuvant treatment for operable breast cancer and the aim of this study was to examine whether this has resulted in improved survival for all prognostic groups.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 1517 patients with invasive breast cancer treated between 1980 and 2002 was carried out. The use of adjuvant treatment was compared between two time periods in patients based on nodal status, and survival was calculated by Kaplan-Meier life table analysis. Independent predictors for recurrence-free survival (RFS) were determined by Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

The use of adjuvant therapy increased for all prognostic groups. On multivariate analysis the use of radiotherapy and endocrine therapy was positively associated with RFS which was significant in the second time period. Outcome in node positive patients improved: five-year RFS from 59% to 76%, p<0.01 and breast cancer specific survival (BCSS) from 70% to 83%, p<0.01. However, there was no survival improvement in the larger group of node negative patients; BCSS 93% versus 95%, p=0.99. Within the node negative group, patients with tumours >or= 2 cm had an improved RFS from 80% to 88%, p=0.02.

CONCLUSION

The increased use of adjuvant therapy was associated with an improved outcome in node positive patients. For node negative patients with good prognostic features the evidence of benefit was marginal.

High-dose chemotherapy: how resistant is breast cancer?

This report reviews clinical experience with high-dose chemotherapy with stem-cell support in breast cancer and attempts to integrate clinical and molecular biological observations into a model of drug resistance. Despite the remarkable initial chemosensitivity of breast cancer, the majority of patients with advanced breast cancer die of their disease. In trials to date, high-dose chemotherapy has not been able to overcome primary drug resistance and patients with disease progression during induction therapy benefit little from further high-dose therapy. On the other hand, high-dose chemotherapy produces improved objective response rates compared with standard-dose chemotherapy due to converting some partial responses achieved by standard-dose induction therapy to complete response. This suggests that high-dose chemotherapy may overcome partial clinical drug resistance and may result in a more complete elimination of chemosensitive cells. Whether increased complete response rates will translate into higher cure rates and increased overall survival remains to be unequivocally demonstrated. There are multiple clinical patterns of drug failure including continued growth during chemotherapy, partial response followed by a period of stable disease, initial complete response with subsequent recurrence within a few months or after several years. Different mechanisms of drug resistance may operate at different stages of the disease and predispose patients to different clinical patterns of failure. A model of clonal progression of cancer is proposed that could explain several intriguing features of clinical drug resistance. We hypothesize that drug-sensitivity is an acquired characteristic of neoplastic cells and that a 'physiological drug-resistant' state may precede drug sensitivity at early stages of neoplastic transformation. Some recurrences may, in this context, represent progression of physiologically drug-resistant clones to sensitivity and subsequently to 'pathologic resistance' to chemotherapy. Optimal therapy to delay or prevent recurrence may differ depending on the stage and biology of the tumor and may include combinations of cytotoxic drugs and chemopreventive agents to arrest progression of early physiologically drug-resistant neoplastic stem cells.

The role of the number of uninvolved lymph nodes in predicting locoregional recurrence in breast cancer

PURPOSE

To identify groups of early breast cancer patients with substantial risk (10-year risk > 20%) for locoregional failure (LRF) who might benefit from postmastectomy radiotherapy (RT).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Prognostic factors for LRF were evaluated among 6,660 patients (2,588 node-negative patients, 4,072 node-positive patients) in International Breast Cancer Study Group Trials I to IX treated with chemotherapy and/or endocrine therapy, and observed for a median of 14 years. In total, 1,251 LRFs were detected. All patients were treated with mastectomy without RT.

RESULTS

No group with 10-year LRF risk exceeding 20% was found among patients with node-negative disease. Among patients with node-positive breast cancer, increasing numbers of uninvolved nodes were significantly associated with decreased risk of LRF, even after adjustment for other prognostic factors. The highest quartile of uninvolved nodes was compared with the lowest quartile. Among premenopausal patients, LRF risk was decreased by 35% (P = .0010); among postmenopausal patients, LRF risk was decreased by 46% (P < .0001). The 10-year cumulative incidence of LRF was 20% among patients with one to three involved lymph nodes and fewer than 10 uninvolved nodes. Age younger than 40 years and vessel invasion were also associated significantly with increased risk. Among patients with node-positive disease, overall survival was significantly greater in those with higher numbers of uninvolved nodes examined (P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

Patients with one to three involved nodes and a low number of uninvolved nodes, vessel invasion, or young age have an increased risk of LRF and may be candidates for a similar treatment as those with at least four lymph node metastases.

Identifying breast cancer patients at risk for Central Nervous System (CNS) metastases in trials of the International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG)

BACKGROUND

We sought to determine whether a high-risk group could be defined among patients with operable breast cancer in whom a search of occult central nervous system (CNS) metastases was justified.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We evaluated data from 9524 women with early breast cancer (42% node-negative) who were randomized in International Breast Cancer Study Group clinical trials between 1978 and 1999, and treated without anthracyclines, taxanes, or trastuzumab. We identified patients whose site of first event was CNS and those who had a CNS event at any time.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 13 years. The 10-year incidence (10-yr) of CNS relapse was 5.2% (1.3% as first recurrence). Factors predictive of CNS as first recurrence included: node-positive disease (10-yr = 2.2% for > 3 N+), estrogen receptor-negative (2.3%), tumor size > 2 cm (1.7%), tumor grade 3 (2.0%), < 35 years old (2.2%), HER2-positive (2.7%), and estrogen receptor-negative and node-positive (2.6%). The risk of subsequent CNS recurrence was elevated in patients experiencing lung metastases (10-yr = 16.4%).

CONCLUSION

Based on this large cohort we were able to define risk factors for CNS metastases, but could not define a group at sufficient risk to justify routine screening for occult CNS metastases.

Breast Cancer: Achievements in Adjuvant Systemic Therapies in the Pre‐Genomic Era

In recent decades, the use of adjuvant systemic therapies for early breast cancer has increased extensively and has most likely contributed to the decline in breast cancer mortality observed in the U.S. and in some European countries. The last few years have witnessed accelerated progress in the treatment of early breast cancer, with the introduction of taxanes and aromatase inhibitors and, most impressively, trastuzumab to the adjuvant portfolio. When compared with anthracycline-based regimens, the addition of taxanes to treatments for patients with node-positive breast cancer has shown benefits in disease-free survival and, in some trials, in overall survival; however, these drugs are not yet universally accepted as standard treatment. Significant improvements in endocrine therapy in both pre- and postmenopausal patients with endocrine-responsive disease have been made. In the postmenopausal setting, aromatase inhibitors have shown superiority over tamoxifen in a direct comparison upfront or when given in sequence after 2-5 years of tamoxifen, but the optimal modality of administration remains unclear. For premenopausal women, ovarian function suppression with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogues combined with tamoxifen has generated similar results to cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil (CMF)-based regimens. Recently, trastuzumab has had a dramatic impact on the evolution of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)-positive early breast cancer treated with standard adjuvant modalities; specifically, relapses, including distant relapses, have been halved. In this review, we summarize these main achievements, discuss the currently available adjuvant treatment options for breast cancer patients, and emphasize the need for more efficient translational research to improve individual treatment tailoring.

Metastatic breast cancer with liver metastases: a registry analysis of clinicopathologic, management and outcome characteristics of 500 women

INTRODUCTION

Breast cancer patients developing liver metastases have traditionally been considered to make up a poor prognosis group with median survival rates of less than 6 months. We retrospectively analysed clinicopathologic characteristics of 500 women with metastatic breast cancer and liver deposits upon administration of first-line chemotherapy in the 90s. We sought to examine the epidemiology, clinical course, outcome and prognostic factors of this cohort with the hope to identify changing patterns, facilitate cost-effective follow-up and rationalize therapy of these patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Among 1,426 metastatic breast cancer patients enrolled with the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group (HeCOG) chemotherapy registry from 1988 to 2004, 500 (35%) had liver deposits when first-line chemotherapy was administered and were the subject of this retrospective analysis. These patients had been treated with single-agent or combination chemotherapy either in the context of clinical trials or outside trials according to standard HeCOG protocols.

RESULTS

Median age at diagnosis was 54.5 years, with the majority of women being fit (Performance Status PS 0-1 76%), postmenopausal (53%) harbouring hormone-receptor positive (54%) invasive ductal, lobular or mixed carcinomas (76%). High-grade tumours were present in 35% of patients, while the extent of systemic relapse was confined to the liver plus none or one additional organ site in 59% of women. Half of the patients had received adjuvant chemotherapy and two-thirds relapsed later than 12 months from initial diagnosis of localized disease. First-line palliative chemotherapy included an anthracycline and/or a taxane in 88% of cases with an objective response rate of 34% (95% Confidence Interval CI: 29.1-37.5), while 79% of patients were able to proceed to second-line chemotherapy based mostly on non-anthracycline non-taxane containing regimens with objective responses seen in 16% of them (95% CI: 11.6-21.9). At a median follow-up of 47.5 months, disease progression occurred solely in the liver in one-third of patients and median overall survival was 16.3 months, with projected 5-year survival of 8.5%. Type of palliative chemotherapy was not a predictive factor for response, though non-anthracycline non-taxane regimens were associated with lower tumour regression rates. Positive hormonal receptor status of the primary, low histological grade, malignant relapse in the liver only or liver plus one organ site and good performance status were significant prognostic factors for improved outcome in univariate analysis, the latter two retaining significance in multivariate analysis as well.

CONCLUSIONS

In comparison to historical series, adjuvant therapy, stricter follow up and imaging technology advances result in earlier diagnosis of fitter breast cancer patients with low-volume hepatic and systemic relapse. Cost-effectiveness of close monitoring for early diagnosis of relapse should be further studied. With availability of effective modern chemotherapy, prolonged survival is feasible and aggressive multidisciplinary management of selected patients may be warranted.

What extent of radiation therapy is standard?

This review will address: (1) 'what are the current indications for radiation therapy (RT), following both mastectomy and breast-conserving surgery?' and (2) 'if RT is indicated, what are the appropriate volumes or 'targets' to be treated?' Given the complexity of these questions, this review will focus on selected topics considered of greatest current interest. In addition, this review will primarily focus on results obtained from randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Finally, we acknowledge an American point of view in our discussion.

Site of primary tumor has a prognostic role in operable breast cancer: the international breast cancer study group experience

PURPOSE

Cancer presenting at the medial site of the breast may have a worse prognosis compared with tumors located in external quadrants. For medial tumors, axillary lymph node staging may not accurately reflect the metastatic potential of the disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eight-thousand four-hundred twenty-two patients randomly assigned to International Breast Cancer Study Group clinical trials between 1978 and 1999 were classified as medial site (1,622; 19%) or lateral, central, and other sites (6,800; 81%). Median follow-up was 11 years.

RESULTS

A statistically significant difference was observed for patients with medial tumors versus those with nonmedial tumors in disease-free survival (DFS; 10-year DFS, 46% v 48%; HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.18; P = .01) and overall survival (10-year OS 59% v 61%; HR, 1.09; 1.01 to 1.19; P = .04). This difference increased after adjustment for other prognostic factors (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.32 for DFS; and HR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.35 for OS; both P = .0001). The risk of relapse for patients with medial presentation was largest for the node-negative cohort and for patients with tumors larger than 2 cm. In the subgroup of 2,931 patients with negative axillary lymph nodes, 10-year DFS was 61% v 67%, and OS was 73% v 80% for medial versus nonmedial sites, respectively (HR 1.33; 95% CI, 1.15 to 1.54; P = .0001 for DFS; and HR 1.40; 95% CI, 1.17 to 1.67; P = .0003 for OS).

CONCLUSION

Tumor site has a significant prognostic utility, especially for axillary lymph node-negative disease, that should be considered in therapeutic algorithms. New staging procedures such as biopsy of the sentinel internal mammary nodes or novel imaging methods should be further studied in patients with medial tumors.

Value of axillary lymphoscintigraphy in patients with operated breast carcinoma

PURPOSE

To evaluate axillary dissection with axillary lymphoscintigraphy (ALS) in postoperative patients with breast carcinoma and its role in adjuvant radiotherapy (RT). Additionally, to define axillary dissection as complete and incomplete with ALS and to correlate it with the number of removed lymph nodes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In the last two years, 121 women were studied four weeks after operation. Bilateral second interdigital subcutaneous injections were performed for ALS. Complete and incomplete axillary dissection were interpreted according to the number of surgically removed lymph nodes. ALS was interpreted as complete if no accumulation was shown.

RESULTS

There was a good correlation between the number of surgically removed lymph nodes and complete and incomplete interpretation on ALS (p < 0.004). The number of removed lymph nodes was equal to or greater than 15 in 72% patients with complete dissection according to ALS. Of 48 patients with surgically incomplete axillary dissection, 18 (38%) showed no accumulation in the axillary region, while 25 of 68 (37%) patients with surgically complete dissection showed accumulation in the axillary region and were interpreted as incomplete according to ALS. Indication of RT was changed after ALS in patients with 1 to 3 involved lymph nodes. While RT was not considered in 12 of these patients before ALS, they were included in RT planning. On the other hand, 17 patients, considered for RT previously, were excluded from RT planning after ALS.

CONCLUSION

Evaluation of axillary dissection with ALS especially in suspicious patients with 1 to 3 lymph node metastases might prevent unnecessary morbidity and can be useful in selecting patients who truly need axillary irradiation.

What Is the Role of Ovarian Ablation in the Management of Primary and Metastatic Breast Cancer Today?

Ovarian ablation has been used for more than a century in the treatment of breast cancer. Methods of irreversible ovarian ablation include surgical oophorectomy and ovarian irradiation. Potentially reversible castration can be accomplished medically using luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) analogues. In addition, cytotoxic chemotherapy unpredictably produces amenorrhea and primary ovarian failure in 10%-95% of premenopausal women as a function of patient age, cumulative dose, and the specific agents used. In the metastatic setting, ovarian ablation and tamoxifen monotherapies produce comparable outcomes and may be more effective when used together. While many early adjuvant trials of ovarian ablation were methodologically flawed, a more recent meta-analysis by the Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group of 12 properly designed randomized trials found significantly greater disease-free and overall survival rates for women under the age of 50, regardless of nodal status, receiving ovarian ablation as a single adjuvant therapy. Several important issues regarding the role of ovarian ablation in the treatment of breast cancer remain unresolved. Data suggest that ovarian ablation followed by some years of tamoxifen produces similar results to those seen with adjuvant chemotherapy in women with hormone-receptor positive breast cancer; however, the value of combining these modalities is still unclear. Other areas of ongoing investigation include the appropriate duration of therapy with LHRH analogues in the adjuvant setting, the long-term sequelae of ovarian suppression among young breast cancer survivors, and refinement of the population most likely to benefit from ovarian ablation or suppression.

Adjuvant Therapy in Elderly Patients with Breast Cancer

The elderly population has been neglected by the traditional approach to clinical breast cancer research. Elderly women have been underrepresented in breast cancer clinical trials, with the majority of studies being restricted to patients aged < 70 years. Elderly patients frequently have comorbidities and/or impaired organ function. These facts may often lead to death from causes other than cancer, thus nullifying any possible benefit of adjuvant treatment; furthermore, they render extrapolation of standard treatment recommendations to the elderly potentially hazardous, particularly with respect to chemotherapy. Therefore, specific clinical trials are needed to investigate adjuvant treatments tailored for the heterogeneous older population.

Body mass index as a prognostic feature in operable breast cancer: the International Breast Cancer Study Group experience

BACKGROUND

Current information on the prognostic importance of body mass index (BMI) for patients with early breast cancer is based on a variety of equivocal reports. Few have data on BMI in relationship to systemic treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients (6792) were randomized to International Breast Cancer Study Group trials from 1978 to 1993, studying chemotherapy and endocrine therapy. BMI was evaluated with eight other factors: menopausal status, nodal status, estrogen receptor status, progesterone receptor status, tumor size, vessel invasion, tumor grade and treatment. BMI was categorized as normal (< or =24.9), intermediate (25.0-29.9) or obese (> or =30.0).

RESULTS

Patients with normal BMI had significantly longer overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) than patients with intermediate or obese BMI in pairwise comparisons adjusted for other factors. Subset analyses showed the same effect in pre- and perimenopausal patients and in those receiving chemotherapy alone. When assessed globally and adjusted for other factors, BMI significantly influenced OS (P = 0.03) but not DFS (P = 0.12).

CONCLUSIONS

BMI is an independent prognostic factor for OS in patients with breast cancer, especially among pre-/perimenopausal patients treated with chemotherapy without endocrine therapy.

Current status of endocrine therapy for breast cancer

Endocrine therapy is usually indicated prior to chemotherapy as the first line therapy for metastatic breast cancer patients because of its milder toxicity. Patients who respond to a first-line endocrine therapy have a high chance of responding to a second-line endocrine therapy, and thus the responders to a first-line endocrine therapy would better be treated with second or third-line endocrine therapy. In the adjuvant setting, tamoxifen (antiestrogen) has been proven to improve the prognosis of both pre- and postmenopausal estrogen receptor positive breast cancer patients, and goserelin (LH-RH agonist) has been proven to improve prognosis in premenopausal women comparable to chemotherapy (CMF). Very recently, preliminary results have indicated that anastrozole (aromatase inhibitor) is superior to tamoxifen as adjuvant treatment for estrogen receptor positive postmenopausal breast cancer patients. In addition, the recent success of tamoxifen in a chemoprevention trial seems to have ushered in a new era wherein prevention of breast cancer is much more emphasized than treatment of established breast cancer.

Metronomic therapy with cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone for prostate carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The current study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the continuous oral administration of a combination of cyclophosphamide (50 mg/day given in the morning) and dexamethasone (1 mg/day given in the evening) in patients with prostate specific antigen (PSA) progression despite single or multiagent hormone therapy and antiandrogen withdrawal.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively evaluated the medical records of all patients with prostate carcinoma who were treated with dexamethasone and cyclophosphamide and who were unable to participate in Phase II drug trials or had failed previous chemotherapy regimens.

RESULTS

Using clinical response guidelines set forth by the Prostate Specific Antigen Working Group, 29% of patients were found to have a > or = 80% reduction in PSA, 39% were found to have a 50-79% reduction in PSA, 6% were found to have a < 50% decrease in PSA, and 26% experienced disease progression while receiving treatment. The duration of response was 8 months (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 4-10 months). The duration of treatment was 9 months (95% CI, 6-14 months). The treatment was reported to be well tolerated with side effects being primarily bruising, Cushingoid facies, and gastrointestinal distress.

CONCLUSIONS

In the current study, low-dose dexamethasone and cyclophosphamide demonstrated efficacy as salvage therapy in the treatment of patients with hormone-refractory prostate carcinoma.

Natural history of more than 20 years of node-positive primary breast carcinoma treated with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy: a study by the Cancer and Leukemia Group B

PURPOSE

Breast cancer heterogeneity dictates lengthy follow-up to assess outcomes. Efficacy differences for three regimens that are based on adjuvant cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF) are presented in this article, but cancer recurrence sites, time of relapse, subsequent primary cancers, and causes of death in the natural history of node-positive breast cancer are emphasized.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Beginning in 1975, 905 patients with node-positive cancer were randomly assigned to receive CMF or two regimens of CMF plus other agents. Median follow-up is 22.6 years. The natural-history analysis was performed on a subset of 814 patients.

RESULTS

Eighty percent of the 599 women known to have died, died of metastatic breast cancer. Only 8.5% of the deceased women died of a cause other than breast cancer, a second or third cancer, or adjuvant chemotherapy toxicity. One hundred five women (12.8%) developed other primary cancers, with 49 (46.6%) occurring in the contralateral breast. Therapeutic efficacy differences of the CMF regimens reported earlier have been maintained more than 20 years later. For certain subsets, the five-drug regimen had advantages over CMF. Bone was the most common recurrence site. The longest interval to relapse has been 23.5 years, and 18% of those who relapsed did so more than 10 years later.

CONCLUSION

Despite adjuvant chemotherapy, a large majority (80%) of women with node-positive breast cancer die of the disease, and many recurrences develop more than 10 years later. CMF plus vincristine and prednisone provides a benefit compared with CMF, but the magnitude varies with the number of involved nodes. Outcome trends in earlier analyses of this study were maintained even years later.

Risk factors for locoregional recurrence among breast cancer patients: results from International Breast Cancer Study Group Trials I through VII

PURPOSE

To explore prognostic factors for locoregional failures (LRF) among women treated for invasive breast cancer within clinical trials of adjuvant therapies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study population consisted of 5,352 women who were treated with a modified radical mastectomy and enrolled in one of seven International Breast Cancer Study Group randomized trials. A total of 1,275 women with node-negative disease received either no adjuvant therapy or a single cycle of perioperative chemotherapy, and 4,077 women with node-positive disease received adjuvant chemotherapy of at least 3 months' duration and/or tamoxifen. Median follow-up is 12 to 15.5 years.

RESULTS

In women with node-negative disease, factors associated with increased risk of LRF were vascular invasion (VI) and tumor size greater than 2 cm for premenopausal and VI for postmenopausal patients. Of the 1,275 patients, 345 (27%) met criteria for the highest risk groups, and the 10-year cumulative incidences of LRF with or without distant metastases were 16% for premenopausal and 19% for postmenopausal women. For the node-positive cohort, number of nodes and tumor grade were factors for both menopausal groups, with additional prediction provided by VI for premenopausal and tumor size for postmenopausal patients. Of the 4,077 patients, 815 (20%) met criteria for the highest risk groups, and 10-year cumulative incidences were 35% for premenopausal and 34% for postmenopausal women.

CONCLUSION

LRFs are a significant problem after mastectomy alone even for some patients with node-negative breast cancer, as well as after mastectomy and adjuvant treatment for some subgroups of patients with node-positive disease. In addition to number of positive lymph nodes, predictors of LRF include tumor-related factors, such as vascular invasion, higher grade, and larger size.

Breast-conserving therapy (BCT) for early-stage breast cancer

Several patient and tumor factors go into the decision process to determine whether a breast cancer patient is a good candidate for breast-conserving therapy. The patient must be seen by all disciplines before any therapeutic intervention. When used appropriately, breast-conserving therapy produces maximal disease control and improves quality of life in patients with early-stage breast cancer.

Tamoxifen ("Nolvadex"): a review

Tamoxifen has been used in the management of breast cancer for over 30 years. Since its introduction for the treatment of advanced breast cancer, its indications have increased to include the treatment of early breast cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ, and more recently for breast cancer chemoprevention. Tamoxifen has a good tolerability profile and moreover, unlike many other endocrine therapies, it is efficacious in both pre- and postmenopausal women. It is the combination of efficacy and tolerability that allows tamoxifen to maintain its position as the hormonal treatment of choice for most patients with oestrogen-receptor positive breast cancer. Ongoing studies will provide further information about the optimal duration of tamoxifen therapy and how it compares with the newer aromatase inhibitors.

Tamoxifen plus chemotherapy versus tamoxifen alone as adjuvant therapies for node-positive postmenopausal women with early breast cancer: a stochastic economic evaluation

BACKGROUND

There remains uncertainty around the appropriate choice of adjuvant therapies to offer postmenopausal women with node-positive early breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE AND STUDY DESIGN

To present the results derived from a discrete event simulation (DES) model that compared tamoxifen plus chemotherapy versus tamoxifen alone in node-positive postmenopausal women diagnosed with early breast cancer.

METHODS

The data populating the model were mainly derived from the existing literature, which was analysed to specify probability distributions describing the uncertainty around the true value of each input parameter. The specified probability distributions facilitated the stochastic analysis of the decision model, whereby distributions of the model's outputs [aggregate costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs)] were estimated.

RESULTS

The baseline results show that the addition of chemotherapy to tamoxifen in this patient group is relatively cost effective (under pound 4000 per additional QALY), but the distribution of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio shows a wide range, including 10% of observations in which tamoxifen dominates tamoxifen plus chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The results demonstrate the intuitive nature of stochastic evaluations of healthcare technologies, which may ease decision-makers' interpretation of cost-effectiveness results.

Meta-analysis of adjuvant cyclophosphamide/methotrexate/5-fluorouracil chemotherapy in postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive, node-positive breast cancer

Conflicting results have been published regarding the efficacy of adjuvant cyclophosphamide/methotrexate/5-fluorouracil (CMF)-type chemotherapy in postmenopausal, estrogen receptor (ER)-positive women. The Oxford overview suggests real but limited benefit of any chemotherapy in this group of patients but avoids analyzing smaller subsets. We wished to better quantitate the benefit of adding CMF to tamoxifen in postmenopausal ER-positive women with tumor involvement of axillary lymph nodes. Six randomized studies comparing CMF plus tamoxifen to tomoxifen alone in postmenopausal, ER-positive, node-positive women have been published since 1992. They include 2368 patients. We performed a meta-analysis of 6 endpoints: survival, disease-free survival, locoregional recurrence, distant recurrence, contralateral breast recurrence, and thromboembolic complications. There was a statistically significant increase in disease-free survival from the addition of CMF-type chemotherapy to tamoxifen in this population; the absolute risk of relapse was reduced by 5.5% at 5 years. Effects of locoregional recurrence were greater than those on overall recurrence. No significant survival benefit was observed.

BREAST-CONSERVING THERAPY FOR EARLY-STAGE BREAST CANCER

In most other organs (extremities, bladder, rectum, larynx, or eye), the acceptance of organ-conserving therapy into standard oncologic practice has required only the demonstration of feasibility and efficacy--not equivalency with the radical surgical alternative. BCT was not generally accepted as standard oncologic practice until the maturation of numerous prospective randomized trials that universally demonstrated equivalence in disease control outcomes and survival with mastectomy. In fact, the acceptance of BCT as standard therapy in many parts of the United States actually lagged more than a decade behind sentinel publications documenting proof of equivalency with mastectomy. Even today, investigators continue to search for a subset of breast cancer patients who will have better disease control with radical surgery. BCT stands as not only the best-studied example of organ-conserving therapy but one of the most rigorously tested therapies in all of medicine. Breast-conserving therapy requires a multidisciplinary approach with close coordination among team members from diagnosis through surveillance following treatment. The surgeon must be willing to assess and re-excise margins, to mark the tumor bed with clips, and to use sentinel node biopsy in appropriate patients. The radiation oncologist must be willing to use CT planning, paying close attention not only to coverage of target tissues but to avoidance of critical normal tissues. The medical oncologist must work closely with the surgeon and radiation oncologist to determine the optimal sequencing of therapies and selection of systemic agents. All must recognize special circumstances where genetic counselling may be beneficial, psychosocial support may be needed, or BCT may not be the best choice for patients. When used appropriately, BCT produces maximal disease control and quality of life while minimizing iatrogenic functional, cosmetic, and psychologic sequelae in patients with early-stage breast cancer. BCT serves as a model for the optimal combination of surgery and radiation in organ-preserving cancer therapy.

Identifying breast cancer patients at high risk for bone metastases

PURPOSE

To identify patient populations at high risk for bone metastases at any time after diagnosis of operable breast cancer, because these patients are potential beneficiaries of treatment with bisphosphonates.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We evaluated data from 6,792 patients who were randomized in International Breast Cancer Study Group clinical trials between 1978 and 1993. Median follow-up was 10. 7 years. A total of 1,275 patients (18.7%) presented with node-negative disease, whereas 3,354 patients (49.4%) had one to three and 2,163 patients (31.9%) had four or more involved axillary lymph nodes. We also assessed the incidence of subsequent bone metastases in the cohort of 1,220 patients who had a first event in local or regional sites or soft tissue alone. Median follow-up for this cohort was 7.7 years from first recurrence.

RESULTS

For the entire population with operable disease, the cumulative incidence of bone metastases at any time was 8.2% at 2 years from randomization and 27.3% at 10 years. The highest cumulative incidences of bone metastases at any time were among patients who had four or more involved axillary nodes at the time of diagnosis (14.9% at 2 years and 40.8% at 10 years) and among patients who had as their first event a local or regional recurrence or a recurrence in soft tissue, without any other overt metastases (21.1% at 2 years from first recurrence and 36.7% at 10 years).

CONCLUSION

Treatments to prevent bone metastases may have a major impact on the course of breast cancer and may be most efficiently studied in populations with several involved axillary nodes at the time of presentation and in populations with local or regional recurrence or recurrence in soft tissue.

Vinorelbine combined with paclitaxel infused over 96 hours (VI-TA-96) for patients with metastatic breast carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Vinorelbine (VI) and paclitaxel (TA) are among the most active single agents in the treatment of patients with breast carcinoma, and both have microtubules as their cytotoxic target. This Phase I-II study combined these 2 agents and used a 96-hour intravenous (i.v.) infusion of paclitaxel to maximize their cytotoxic activities.

METHODS

Patients with metastatic breast carcinoma who were previously treated with chemotherapy were administered increasing doses of a 96-hour paclitaxel i.v. infusion from Days 1 to 5, with a first fixed dose of vinorelbine (12.5 mg/m(2) on Days 1 and 5) every 3 weeks. The dose of paclitaxel was then decreased starting from the previously established tolerated dose, and a second fixed dose of vinorelbine (15 mg/m(2) on Days 1 and 5) was given. This identified 2 acceptable doses of paclitaxel (110 mg/m(2) with VI 12.5 mg/m(2) and 90 mg/m(2) with VI 15 mg/m(2)). The latter was used in the subsequent Phase II study.

RESULTS

For the 50 patients treated with any dose, the complete response (CR) and the CR plus partial response (PR) rates were, respectively, 14% and 48% (95% confidence interval [CI], 34-67%). When only the 27 patients treated with the Phase II dose were considered, the figures were, respectively, 11% and 52% (95% CI, 42-62%). The median time to progression was 26 weeks, and the median survival 51 weeks. The dose-limiting toxicity was febrile neutropenia.

CONCLUSIONS

At the dose schedule identified for the Phase II study, the VI-TA-96 combination has considerable antitumor activity; pharmacoeconomic interest (it requires about half the doses of the agents administered singly); no major toxicity, except G4 neutropenia; and no need for premedication. This combination may be recommended as one of the most effective therapeutic options for patients with metastatic breast carcinoma who were pretreated mainly with anthracycline-containing chemotherapy.

Is chemotherapy alone adequate for young women with oestrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer?

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of breast cancer in very young women is generally considered to be unfavourable. Therefore, the outcome of adjuvant therapy was analysed in a population of young (<35 years) premenopausal patients treated in four randomised controlled trials.

METHODS

Between 1978 and 1993 the International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG) treated 3700 premenopausal and perimenopausal patients with various timing and duration of adjuvant cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF with or without low-dose prednisone and oophorectomy). 314 of these women were less than 35 years old at randomisation.

FINDINGS

Relapse and death occurred earlier and more often in younger (<35 years) than in older (> or = 35) patients with a 10 year disease-free survival of 35% (SE 3) versus 47% (1) (hazard ratio 1.41 [95% CI 1.22-1.62], p<0.001) and overall survival of 49% (3) versus 62% (1) (1.50 [1.28-1.77], p<0.001). Younger patients with oestrogen-receptor positive tumours had a significantly worse disease-free survival than younger patients with oestrogen-receptor negative tumours. By contrast, among older patients the disease-free survival was similar irrespective of oestrogen-receptor status.

INTERPRETATION

Young premenopausal breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant CMF chemotherapy had higher risk of relapse and death than older premenopausal patients, especially if their tumours expressed oestrogen receptors. The endocrine effects of chemotherapy alone are insufficient for the younger age group and these patients should strongly consider additional endocrine therapies (tamoxifen or ovarian ablation) if their tumours express oestrogen receptors.

Epirubicin plus tamoxifen versus tamoxifen alone in node-positive postmenopausal patients with breast cancer: A randomized trial of the International Collaborative Cancer Group

PURPOSE

To assess whether the addition of epirubicin (EPI) therapy to prolonged treatment with tamoxifen (TAM) improves relapse-free and overall survival in postmenopausal women with node-positive primary breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Six hundred four patients entered onto a randomized clinical trial were allocated to receive TAM 20 mg/d for 4 years or TAM 20 mg/d for 4 years plus EPI 50 mg/m(2) intravenously on days 1 and 8 every 4 weeks for six cycles. Analysis was performed according to allocated treatment, with all randomized patients included (intention to treat), irrespective of eligibility status.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up period of 5.7 years, an improvement in relapse-free survival (RFS) was observed for the TAM and EPI-treated patients, compared with those who received TAM alone. The unadjusted hazard ratio was 0.72 (95% confidence interval, 0.54 to 0.96), with a corresponding reduction in the odds of recurrence of 27.9% (SD, 12. 3), which was statistically significant (P =.023). Adjustment for prognostic and/or predictive factors did not materially affect the hazard ratio. No difference was observed in terms of overall survival (reduction in odds of death, 11.9% [SD, 16.3]; P =.46). Combined chemohormonal treatment was associated with a higher incidence of acute side effects but without a clear increase in long-term cardiotoxicity. Twelve nonbreast second malignancies, including five hematologic malignancies (two of which were cases of acute myelogenous leukemia), were observed.

CONCLUSION

The data show that combined chemohormonal treatment reduces the risk of relapse in postmenopausal patients with node-positive breast cancer. No evidence was found, however, for an improvement in overall survival. The size of benefit observed for both outcomes was consistent with that reported in the Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group overview. The trial presented here, however, provides the first report of an improvement in RFS associated with the provision of a single cytotoxic drug in addition to prolonged TAM.

Randomized trial of low-dose chemotherapy added to tamoxifen in patients with receptor-positive and lymph node-positive breast cancer

PURPOSE

To evaluate the outcome in patients with stage II hormone receptor-positive breast cancer treated or not treated with low-dose, short-term chemotherapy in addition to tamoxifen in terms of disease-free and overall survival.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 613 patients were randomized to receive either low-dose chemotherapy (doxorubicin 20 mg/m(2) and vincristine 1 mg/m(2) on day 1; cyclophosphamide 300 mg/m(2); methotrexate 25 mg/m(2); and fluorouracil 600 mg/m(2) on days 29 and 36 intravenously) or no chemotherapy in addition to 20 mg of tamoxifen orally for 2 years. A third group without any treatment (postmenopausal patients only) was terminated after the accrual of 79 patients due to ethical reasons.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up period of 7.5 years, the addition of chemotherapy did not improve the outcome in patients as compared with those treated with tamoxifen alone, neither with respect to disease-free nor overall survival. Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors for disease-free survival revealed menopausal status, in addition to nodal status, progesterone receptor, and histologic grade as significant. Both untreated postmenopausal and tamoxifen-treated premenopausal patients showed identical prognoses significantly inferior to the tamoxifen-treated postmenopausal cohort. Prognostic factors for overall survival in the multivariate analysis showed nodal and tumor stage, tumor grade, and hormone receptor level as significant.

CONCLUSION

Low-dose chemotherapy in addition to tamoxifen does not improve the prognosis of stage II breast cancer patients with hormone-responsive tumors. Tamoxifen-treated postmenopausal patients show a significantly better prognosis than premenopausal patients, favoring the hypothesis of a more pronounced effect of tamoxifen in the older age groups.

Staging of breast cancer: what standards should be used in research and clinical practice?

BACKGROUND

Bone scan (BS), chest X-rays (CXR), liver ultrasonography (LUS) and laboratory parameters (LP) are frequently used as routine staging procedures for breast cancer patients. These procedures are not always appropriate in either clinical or research settings, regardless of the stage. The aim of this study was to identify groups of patients with differing risks for metastases in order to select more precise standard staging procedures.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The staging data relating to 406 breast cancer patients consecutively referred to our institution between November 1989 and October 1996 were analysed including pathological TNN grading and biological parameters. All of the cases with a positive or suspicious pre-operatory staging and who proved to have metastatic disease before surgery or during the first six months of follow-up were considered true-positive; all of the other cases with a positive or suspicious initial staging but with no evidence of distant metastasis before surgery and with a disease-free survival longer then six months were considered false-positive. In the same way all cases with negative initial staging who relapsed during the first six months of follow-up were considered false-negative and those with negative initial staging and with a disease-free survival longer then six months were considered true-negative. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

BS, CXR and LUS, 388, 399 and 398 examinations respectively, were considered available, and 17 (4.38%), six (1.5%) and four (1%), respectively, proved to be true-positive. A statistically significant difference was observed when our cases were grouped according to T status (T4 vs. T1-T2-T3, P < 0.01) and nodal status (N0-N1 cases with less than three involved nodes and N1 with more than three positive lymph nodes N2 patients, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study suggests that breast cancer patients can be divided into three subgroups with different detection rates for distant metastases at staging (0.59%, 2.94% and 15.53%), and that the standard practice should be changed. In the first (T1N0 and T1N1 patients with < or = 3 positive lymph nodes--41.13% of the patients) and the second group (T2N0, T2N1 with < or = 3 positive lymph nodes, T3N0 and T3N1 patients with < or = 3 positive lymph nodes--33.49% of the patients) there is no need for a complete set of staging procedures, whereas full procedural staging is needed in the third group of patients (T4, N1 with > 3 lymph nodes and N2, 25.37% of the patients).

Dose and dose intensity as determinants of outcome in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. The Cancer and Leukemia Group B

BACKGROUND

Both total dose and dose intensity of adjuvant chemotherapy are postulated to be important variables in the outcome for patients with operable breast cancer. The Cancer and Leukemia Group B study 8541 examined the effects of adjuvant treatment using conventional-range dose and dose intensity in female patients with stage II (axillary lymph node-positive) breast cancer.

METHODS

Within 6 weeks of surgery (radical mastectomy, modified radical mastectomy, or lumpectomy), 1550 patients with unilateral breast cancer were randomly assigned to one of three treatment arms: high-, moderate-, or low-dose intensity. The patients received cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and 5-fluorouracil on day 1 of each chemotherapy cycle, with 5-fluorouracil administration repeated on day 8. The high-dose arm had twice the dose intensity and twice the drug dose as the low-dose arm. The moderate-dose arm had two thirds the dose intensity as the high-dose arm but the same total drug dose. Disease-free survival and overall survival were primary end points of the study.

RESULTS

At a median follow-up of 9 years, disease-free survival and overall survival for patients on the moderate- and high-dose arms are superior to the corresponding survival measures for patients on the low-dose arm (two-sided P<.0001 and two-sided P = .004, respectively), with no difference in disease-free or overall survival between the moderate- and the high-dose arms. At 5 years, overall survival (average +/- standard error) is 79% +/- 2% for patients on the high-dose arm, 77% +/- 2% for the patients on the moderate-dose arm, and 72% +/- 2% for patients on the low-dose arm; disease-free survival is 66% +/- 2%, 61% +/- 2%, and 56% +/- 2%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Within the conventional dose range for this chemotherapy regimen, a higher dose is associated with better disease-free survival and overall survival.

Adding adjuvant CMF chemotherapy to either radiotherapy or tamoxifen: are all CMFs alike? The International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG)

The first reported effective adjuvant combination regimen for patients with operable breast cancer comprised oral cyclophosphamide (C) days 1-14 with intravenous methotrexate (M) and fluorouracil (F) on days 1 and 8, repeated every 28 days ('classical' CMF). These drugs have since been extensively used with or without endocrine therapies and/or other cytotoxics, as well as with radiation therapy to the chest wall yielding conflicting results. Although doses and schedules have varied widely, the combination of these three drugs has been generically referred to as CMF. Evidence exists that reducing the dose and/or altering the schedule of CMF ('modified' CMF) have compromised its efficacy in metastatic breast cancer. Reduction below standard dose of a similar regimen also gave inferior results in the adjuvant setting. In fact, the recently reported improved outcome of adding radiation therapy to CMF was only demonstrated in comparisons with a 'modified' CMF. Furthermore, trials in women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, which did not demonstrate any significant benefit for the addition of adjuvant CMF to tamoxifen compared with tamoxifen alone, also used 'modified' CMF. Therefore, adherence to the 'classical' dose and schedule is recommended when CMF is used in adjuvant therapy.

Retreating recurrent breast cancer with the same CMF-containing regimen used as adjuvant therapy. The International Breast Cancer Study Group

Breast cancer metastases appearing soon after adjuvant chemotherapy (within 12 months of its completion) are usually resistant to retreatment with the same cytotoxic agents, while relapses occurring later (beyond 12 months) regress when rechallenged with the same agents, showing similar response rates observed in non-pretreated patients with advanced disease. The International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG) prospectively explored the efficacy of retreatment for patients upon relapse using the same therapy administered during the adjuvant programme. 87 patients previously treated with an adjuvant CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil) combination chemotherapy (with or without the addition of low-dose prednisone and tamoxifen), who had measurable first breast cancer relapse, usually after at least 6 months of completion of the adjuvant treatment, were treated with CMF. Pretreatment consisted of 1-3 CMF courses in 27 patients and 4 or more courses in 60 patients. 17 patients were retreated with additional tamoxifen or had tamoxifen stopped at relapse. The data of these patients are shown separately. 47 of the 86 fully evaluable patients (55%) had an objective response, which was complete in 25 (29%). The dominant metastatic type and the number of involved sites were the most important factors influencing response to retreatment. Patients with soft tissue metastases had a high response rate (36/52, 69%) compared with those who had visceral involvement (9/24, 38%) or those with bony disease (2/10, 20%) (P = 0.002). In conclusion, response rates to retreatment with CMF were similar to those expected in a non-pretreated population. The patterns of relapse and the number of metastatic sites were the most important factors predicting response to retreatment, while treatment-free interval (usually longer than 6 months due to the study design) did not influence response rates. This study supports the hypothetic effectiveness of late reintroduction of adjuvant cytotoxic therapy (prior to evidence of systemic relapse), upon which several current trials are based.

Liver metastases: can our understanding of their biology and prognostic value contribute to a strategy for optimum therapeutic management?

Breast cancer is most likely to recur in soft tissue, liver, lungs and bone. The development of visceral disease, in particular liver disease, carries a poorer prognosis than the development of soft tissue or bony disease. Traditionally, liver metastases were believed to respond more poorly to hormonal approaches than other metastatic sites; although many studies of hormonal agents document a response in liver metastases in at least a proportion of the patients treated. Chemotherapeutic agents are generally considered the first-line of approach for women who have developed liver metastases from breast cancer, however. No well designed randomised studies have yet been carried out to compare the effects of various chemotherapeutic approaches using response in liver as a specific outcome. Many practitioners believe, even if this belief is not well documented in studies, that anthracyclines are more likely to produce shrinkage of liver metastases than some of the more traditional regimens such as cyclophosphamide/methotrexate/5-fluorouracil. More recently, it has been suggested from phase II data that liver metastases may respond more rapidly and completely to some of the newer agents such as the taxoids. Even in the setting of very aggressive chemotherapy, however, liver metastases retain their poor prognosis. Both disease characteristics and systemic adjuvant therapy have been linked to the site of recurrence of disease and considerable research into the molecular mechanisms mediating the distribution of metastases has been carried out. Despite the poor prognosis for patients with liver metastases, many new avenues are currently being explored to better understand and control this situation and, perhaps, to lead to the development of new treatment strategies for patients with this disease.

An individual patient-based meta-analysis of tamoxifen versus ovarian ablation as first line endocrine therapy for premenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer

We performed a meta-analysis of randomized trials comparing tamoxifen to ovarian ablation carried out either by surgery or irradiation as first-line hormonal therapy for pre-menopausal women with metastatic breast cancer. Patients in all trials included were required to have measurable disease and to be currently menstruating or within 1 year of cessation of menses, and to have estrogen receptor (ER) positive or unknown disease (ER negative women were admitted to one of the studies). Individual patient data were obtained from the four studies identified and the results updated to June 1992. A total of 220 eligible patients were enrolled in the four trials. There was no difference in overall response rate between tamoxifen and oophorectomy across the four trials (p = 0.94, Mantel-Haenszel test). The odds reduction for progression was 14% +/- 12% and for mortality 6% +/- 13% in favour of tamoxifen, results which were not statistically significant (p = 0.32 and 0.72, respectively). Although the design of all four studies included a cross-over to the other therapy, only 54/111 patients receiving ovarian ablation and 34/109 patients receiving tamoxifen as primary therapy actually crossed over to the other arm at the time of disease progression. Response to initial treatment with tamoxifen was predictive of subsequent response to ovarian ablation (p < 0.05), and response to initial therapy with ovarian ablation was predictive of subsequent response to tamoxifen (p < 0.05). Support curves based on log-likelihood ratios revealed that this meta-analysis provides moderate evidence rejecting a 14% advantage for ovarian ablation compared to tamoxifen in terms of odds of disease progression. A 25% advantage for ovarian ablation with respect to odds of death is also rejected with moderate evidence. We conclude that the efficacy of tamoxifen appears to be similar to that of ovarian ablation by surgery or irradiation as first-line therapy for premenopausal, ER positive metastatic breast cancer, and is unlikely to be substantially inferior.

Long-term follow-up of axillary node-positive breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant systemic therapy alone: patterns of recurrence

PURPOSE

Prognostic factors for locoregional failure have been poorly documented. The purpose of this retrospective review is to examine the patterns of failure of 320 patients with Stage II or III axillary node-positive breast cancer who received adjuvant chemotherapy without locoregional radiation.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The records of 735 patients who were referred to the London Regional Cancer Centre between 1980 and 1989 with a diagnosis of Stage II or III breast cancer were reviewed. Three hundred and twenty patients were identified who underwent segmental mastectomy with axillary dissection or modified radical mastectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy without adjuvant locoregional radiation. Seventy-one percent of these patients had undergone a modified radical mastectomy, 40% had T1 tumors, 49% T2, and 11% T3. Resection margins were positive in 13 patients. The median number of axillary nodes removed was 11. Fifty-four percent had one to three positive axillary nodes, 27% had four to seven positive nodes, and 19% had in excess of seven positive nodes.

RESULTS

Median follow-up for the 320 patients was 77 months. One hundred and fourteen patients developed a locoregional recurrence as the site of first relapse (31 in the intact breast, 29 on the chest wall, 21 in the axilla, 22 in the supraclavicular fossa, 1 in the internal mammary chain, and 10 in multiple sites). Thirty-three percent of segmental mastectomy patients and 13% of modified radical mastectomy patients developed local recurrence. Seven percent of patients recurred in axillary or supraclavicular nodes each. Factors with regard to locoregional recurrence which on univariate analysis were significant included type of mastectomy (i.e., segmental vs. modified radical), size of primary tumor, positive resection margins, and percentage of ideal chemotherapy dose intensity (< 66% vs. > or = 66%). After multivariate analysis, only type of mastectomy, size of primary tumor, and percentage of ideal chemotherapy dose intensity retained significance. The number of positive axillary nodes was not a significant factor. Number of positive axillary nodes plus the above four clinical factors were analyzed in terms of regional recurrence specifically. By univariate and multivariate analysis, only size of primary tumor retained significance. Again, the number of positive axillary nodes was not a relevant factor.

CONCLUSION

Patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy who are at high risk of locoregional recurrence include those who undergo segmental mastectomy and those with larger tumors (> 5 cm in diameter). Breast or chest wall radiation is recommended for these groups. Supraclavicular radiation is recommended for patients with tumors larger than 5 cm in diameter. Axillary recurrences were relatively infrequent in patients who had undergone an adequate Level I and II axillary dissection, and therefore, axillary radiation was not recommended.