The Association between Early-Onset Diagnosis and Clinical Outcomes in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Early-onset diagnosis, defined by age <40 years, has historically been associated with inferior outcomes in breast cancer. Recent evidence suggests that this association is modified by molecular subtype. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to synthesize evidence on the association between early-onset diagnosis and clinical outcomes in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Studies comparing the risk of clinical outcomes in non-metastatic TNBC between early-onset patients and later-onset patients (≥40 years) were queried in Medline and EMBASE from inception to February 2023. Separate meta-analyses were performed for breast cancer specific survival (BCSS), overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS), locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS), distant recurrence-free survival (DRFS), and pathological complete response (pCR). In total, 7581 unique records were identified, and 36 studies satisfied inclusion criteria. The pooled risk of any recurrence was significantly greater in early-onset patients compared to later-onset patients. Better BCSS and OS were observed in early-onset patients relative to later-onset patients aged >60 years. The pooled odds of achieving pCR were significantly higher in early-onset patients. Future studies should evaluate the role of locoregional management of TNBC and the implementation of novel therapies such as PARP inhibitors in real-world settings, and whether they improve outcomes.

Patients with metastatic breast cancer using bevacizumab as a treatment: is there still a role for it?

OPINION STATEMENT

Over the last few decades, the angiogenesis mechanism has increasingly been studied and implicated in cancer pathophysiology. At present, it is known that angiogenesis plays a relevant role in tumor growth, and more importantly many new molecules exists can potentially interfere with this process. Bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) now commonly used in the treatment of colorectal, renal cell, and brain cancer, is the first anti-angiogenesis drug delivered in combination with chemotherapy that has consistently shown clinical efficacy in the treatment of breast cancer. Since the ECOG 2100 trial has shown that bevacizumab added to paclitaxel as a first-line treatment for advanced breast cancer nearly doubled the time to progression and tumor response rate, its approval was granted almost worldwide. However, other phase III trials revealed a smaller absolute improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) and response rates, and no trials yet have demonstrated survival enhancement which led to a great controversy and debate over the use of bevacizumab. The discrepancy between PFS and overall survival also raises the question of whether or not bevacizumab has been applied sub-optimally in some of the studies, if a predictive biomarker(s) exists to select the group of patients whom would receive the greatest benefit and what is the appropriate clinical end-point for approval and funding of new targeted agents. In this article we will review the bevacizumab mechanism of action and the clinical trials that assessed its benefit in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

Triple negative breast cancer: adjuvant chemotherapy effect on survival

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the overall survival of patients with triple negative breast cancer and the impact of different adjuvant chemotherapy regimens on survival.

MATERIAL/METHODS

The study group consisted of 99 breast cancer patients with immunohistochemically confirmed triple negative breast cancer. The impact of various factors as well as the impact of different chemotherapy regimens on survival was evaluated.

RESULTS

The overall survival of breast cancer patients was 97.0% (95% CI 90.9-99.0), 84.9% (95% CI 76.1-90.6) and 66.5% (95% CI 55.5-75.3) 10, 30 and 60 months after diagnosis, respectively. Univariate analysis demonstrated that the following were significant risk factors for breast cancer patients survival: patient's age, stage of disease, tumour size, lymph node status, type of surgery and chemotherapy. Better survival was related to younger patients' age, smaller tumour size, lower stage of disease, no lymph nodes involvement. Survival rates were higher among patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy and underwent quadrantectomy. In the multivariate statistical analysis the significant independent prognostic variables influencing survival were lymph node status and adjuvant chemotherapy. Survival rates of the patients, who received adjuvant anthracycline containing chemotherapy were higher, than those in non-anthracycline containing treatment group, but the difference was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Patients who had lymph node status N2-3 and those who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy showed worse prognosis and survival than other patients. The impact of chemotherapy type (anthracycline containing or non-anthracycline containing) on patients survival was not statistically significant.

Metastatic triple-negative breast cancer

The triple-negative class (oestrogen receptor-negative, progesterone receptor-negative and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 [HER2]-negative) comprises about 15% of breast cancer. It is associated with a poor prognosis compared with tumours that are positive for hormone receptors or HER2. Despite being sensitive to chemotherapy, many women with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) relapse quickly, and commonly develop visceral metastasis, including lung, liver and brain metastasis. TNBC has molecular features that overlap with breast cancer in BRCA1 germline mutation carriers and with those of the basal-like molecular class of tumours. Furthermore, tumours with the triple-negative phenotype have specific features and express markers that are potential therapeutic targets, for example an impaired DNA repair mechanism and increased expression of proliferation and basal-associated markers. The presence of these features has important implications for clinical practice and for the design of clinical trials looking at novel therapies. Targeted agents that are currently being investigated include poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors, epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors and anti-angiogenic compounds. Here we discuss the epidemiology, morphological and molecular spectrum of TNBC, the clinical significance of this important class of breast cancer and the current treatment options.

Triple negative breast cancer - prognostic factors and survival

Background

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is defined by a lack of expression of both estrogen (ER) and progesteron (PgR) receptors as well as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Our retrospective analysis addressed prognostic factors for short- and long-term outcomes of patients (pts) with TNBC pts treated in routine clinical practice.

Patient and methods.

Our retrospective study included 269 TNBC treated at Institute of Oncology Ljubljana between March 2000 and December 2006. The collected data included patients’, tumours’ and treatments’ characteristics. The survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The Cox proportional hazard model was used in the multivariate analysis.

Results

The median age of our patients was 55.3 yrs (23–88.5) and the median follow-up was 5.9 yrs (0.3–9.6). Six (2%) pts experienced local only, 79 (92%) pts distal recurrence and 66 (24%) died. The predominant localisation of the first relapse was in visceral organs (70.4%). The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) for the entire group was 68.2% and the 5-year overall survival (OS) was 74.5%. We found a pattern of high recurrence rate in the first 3 years following the diagnosis and a clear decline in recurrence rate over the next 3 years. In the univariate analysis age, nodal status, size and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) were found to have a significant impact on DFS as well as on OS. In the multivariate analysis only age (HR=1.79; 95%CI=1.14–2.82; p=0.012) and nodal status (HR=2.71; 95%CI=1.64–4.46; p<0.001) retained their independent prognostic value for DFS and for OS only the nodal status (HR=2.96; 95%CI=1.51–5.82; p=0.002).

Conclusions

In our series of TNBC pts nodal status and age (older than 65 yrs) were found to be independent prognostic factors for DFS, whereas for OS only the nodal status. We found a pattern of a high recurrence rate in the first 3 years following the diagnosis and a decline in the recurrence rate over the next 3 yrs with higher rate of distal versus local recurrence and a predominant localization of distal metastases in visceral organs.

Triple-negative breast cancers: unique clinical presentations and outcomes

BACKGROUND

Triple-negative (TN) breast cancers lack estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2/neu amplification (HER2). Few studies have been dedicated to characterizing this subset of cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective review of a prospectively collected database of patients treated for invasive breast cancer at a single institution. Three tumor marker groups were compared: TN [ER-/PR-/HER2-], HER2+ [ERx/PRx/HER2+], and ER+ [ER+/PRx/HER2-].

RESULTS

Over 8 years, 123 TN, 210 HER2+, and 728 ER+ patients were identified. On average, TN patients were younger (mean age TN 59.7, HER2+ 62.0, ER+ 64.5 years, P = 0.0001). They were referred for genetic testing more frequently (17% TN, 10% HER2+, 10% ER+, P = 0.055) and were most likely to have a BRCA mutation identified if tested (24% TN, 10% HER2+, 4% ER+, P = 0.019). TN tumors were larger (mean size 2.1 cm TN, 2.0 cm HER2+, 1.8 cm ER+, P = 0.031) and most commonly detected by breast exam (54% TN, 43% HER2+, 42% ER+, P = 0.025). Lymph node involvement was least common with TN tumors (21% TN, 37% HER2+, 32% ER+, P = 0.013), and angiolymphatic invasion was less common for TN than HER2+ (18% TN, 24% HER2+, 15% ER+, P = 0.006). TN patients had significantly higher local or regional recurrence (5.7% TN, 2.9% HER2+, 1.0% ER+, P = 0.001), and the worst 5-year overall survival, although this did not reach statistical significance (85% ± 6% TN, 94% ± 2% HER2+, 91% ± 2% ER+).

CONCLUSIONS

TN breast cancers are associated with unique patient presentations, tumor characteristics, and clinical outcomes of which clinicians and investigators should be aware.

Neoadjuvant versus adjuvant chemotherapy for triple negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND

The study aim was to investigate factors that predict the use of neoadjuvant versus adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the overall survival in each group.

METHODS

We identified 493 patients with Stage I-III TNBC between 1998 and 2008. Patients were divided according to receipt of neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or none/unknown chemotherapy. Data were compared using chi(2) and Fisher's exact test. For more than two group comparisons and analyzing multiple dependent variables, MANOVA was used. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated.

RESULTS

Of 493 patients with TNBC, 154 (31%) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 251 (51%) received adjuvant chemotherapy, and 88 (18%) had no or unknown chemotherapy. Patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy were younger (mean 50, range 20-83) compared with those undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy (mean 53, range 25-83) or none/unknown chemotherapy (mean 62, range 29-86) (P < 0.0001). The three groups did not differ significantly by patient race, tumor histology, or tumor grade. Increased tumor size, nodal positivity, and advanced stage were more likely to be associated with use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (all comparisons P < 0.0001). After controlling for covariates associated with survival in unadjusted tests, patients undergoing adjuvant therapy were less likely to die compared with patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy or none/unknown therapy (overall aHR 0.476, 95% CI 0.295-0.770).

CONCLUSIONS

Women with TNBC who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy were 52% less likely to die overall compared with those who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy or none/unknown chemotherapy in this institutional series. Prospective studies are necessary to determine if this finding is durable.

Triple-negative breast cancer--current status and future directions

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is defined by a lack of expression of both estrogen and progesterone receptor as well as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. It is characterized by distinct molecular, histological and clinical features including a particularly unfavorable prognosis despite increased sensitivity to standard cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens. TNBC is highly though not completely concordant with various definitions of basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) defined by high-throughput gene expression analyses. The lack in complete concordance may in part be explained by both BLBC and TNBC comprising entities that in themselves are heterogeneous. Numerous efforts are currently being undertaken to improve prognosis for patients with TNBC. They comprise both optimization of choice and scheduling of common cytotoxic agents (i.e. addition of platinum salts or dose intensification strategies) and introduction of novel agents (i.e. poly-ADP-ribose-polymerase-1 inhibitors, agents targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor, multityrosine kinase inhibitors or antiangiogenic agents).