Comprehensive characterization of immune landscape of Indian and Western triple negative breast cancers

PURPOSE

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous disease with a significant challenge to effectively manage in the clinic worldwide. Immunotherapy may be beneficial to TNBC patients if responders can be effectively identified. Here we sought to elucidate the immune landscape of TNBCs by stratifying patients into immune-specific subtypes (immunotypes) to decipher the molecular and cellular presentations and signaling events of this heterogeneous disease and associating them with their clinical outcomes and potential treatment options.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We profiled 730 immune genes in 88 retrospective Indian TNBC samples using the NanoString platform, established immunotypes using non-negative matrix factorization-based machine learning approach, and validated them using Western TNBCs (n=422; public datasets). Immunotype-specific gene signatures were associated with clinicopathological features, immune cell types, biological pathways, acute/chronic inflammatory responses, and immunogenic cell death processes. Responses to different immunotherapies associated with TNBC immunotypes were assessed using cross-cancer comparison to melanoma (n=504). Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and pan-macrophage spatial marker expression were evaluated.

RESULTS

We identified three robust transcriptome-based immunotypes in both Indian and Western TNBCs in similar proportions. Immunotype-1 tumors, mainly representing well-known claudin-low and immunomodulatory subgroups, harbored dense TIL infiltrates and T-helper-1 (Th1) response profiles associated with smaller tumors, pre-menopausal status, and a better prognosis. They displayed a cascade of events, including acute inflammation, damage-associated molecular patterns, T-cell receptor-related and chemokine-specific signaling, antigen presentation, and viral-mimicry pathways. On the other hand, immunotype-2 was enriched for Th2/Th17 responses, CD4⁺ regulatory cells, basal-like/mesenchymal immunotypes, and an intermediate prognosis. In contrast to the two T-cell enriched immunotypes, immunotype-3 patients expressed innate immune genes/proteins, including those representing myeloid infiltrations (validated by spatial immunohistochemistry), and had poor survival. Remarkably, a cross-cancer comparison analysis revealed the association of immunotype-1 with responses to anti-PD-L1 and MAGEA3 immunotherapies.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the TNBC immunotypes identified in TNBCs reveal different prognoses, immune infiltrations, signaling, acute/chronic inflammation leading to immunogenic cell death of cancer cells, and potentially distinct responses to immunotherapies. The overlap in immune characteristics in Indian and Western TNBCs suggests similar efficiency of immunotherapy in both populations if strategies to select patients according to immunotypes can be further optimized and implemented.

Abstract P5-06-14: A novel combination of a 2 gene score & TIL as a predictive Biomarker for responders to novel therapies in Indian TNBC - A population with greater proportion of TNBCs

Introduction: Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) comprises approximately 30% of all breast cancers in Indian women. Given their aggressive nature, TNBCs have high rates of systemic metastasis and mortality with only chemotherapy available for treatment. Compelling evidence has demonstrated the prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), in many cancers especially in Breast Cancer and play a critical role in tumour progression, response to therapeutics and prognosis. They are typically measured by H&E staining and immunohistochemistry for research purpose and degree of infiltrate is also known to differ among subtypes. Nonetheless, the literature regarding the types of immune cells characterizing TILs and their prognostic utility in TNBC has been conflicting for lack of accurate “functional” TIL assessments. Herein we have used a combination signature of TILs and a 2 gene immune function expression based signature to develop an unique classifier, to identify a subgroup within TNBC that has better clinical outcome, such as survival and response to treatment. Our findings also suggest a possible use of the score as a predictive biomarker for response to immune checkpoint therapy Patients and Methods: Surgically excised TNBC tumor specimens from 44 women from a single treating hospital in Bangalore, India were accessed under IERB approved protocols and assayed on nCounter® PanCancer Immune Profiling Panel which comprised of 740 genes and characterises 14 different immune cell types. Analysis using Non-negative Matrix factorization (NMF) based unsupervised clustering was done to arrive at stable subtypes characterized by different tumor microenvironments within TNBC. SSGSEA analysis was done to identify immune cell types. TILs were characterised by a pathologist on H&E sections according to guidelines from TIL working group. The Immune classifier was validated on Breast Cancer data sets from TCGA. Results: NMF followed by SAM and PAM analysis yielded 2 stable subtypes (ST1 and ST2) of proportions 59% and 41% respectively. TIL groups also were divided into Dense and Mild groups which were 52% and 48% respectively. Despite similar distributions of the groups, ST1 and ST2 had distinct survival with ST2 having poorer outcome (p=0.023) while the dense and mild TIL groups did not separate as distinct groups. On a closer examination using SSGSEA analysis with Rooney et al signature, ST1 was enriched with T-cells, Dendritic cells, MHC-class 1 and very significantly high cytolytic score (CYT), which was defined by Granzyme A and Perforin expressions, proteins secreted by cytotoxic T cells (p=0.0074). The CYT Score ranged from -35 to 170 and cutoff was based on 75th percentile. We next hypothesized that a combined score of TIL and CYT would represent a functional TIL group with high immune activity. We arrived at a CYT+TIL score based on 75th percentile cut off of CYT and 2 groups of TIL. Of the resultant four groups, TIL High-CYT high that constituted about 20% of all TNBCs indicated an elevated immune response because of their microenvironment constitution and this can be identified using our simple immune classifier. On the other hand, in the TIL-high and CYT-low group, despite lymphocyte migration, outcome was not favorable. The classifier was applied to TNBC from TCGA (n=96) and similar results seen, with ST1 and ST2 which had distinctly separate survival and had similar patterns on CYT high groups. Conclusion: We developed a simple immune classifier with 2 gene signature c and H&E slide TIL assessment for identifying a group with TNBC that can be better targeted with therapies. Our signature is predictive for selecting TNBCs which are potential responders to Immune therapies and has the potential for quick clinical adoption though it requires validation on a larger set.

Citation Format: Aruna Korlimarla, Hari PS, Jyothi S Prabhu, Chantirika Ragulan, Ravi B Diwakar, Sandhya Apachu, Maggie Cheang, Rekha V Kumar, BS Srinath, TS Sridhar, Savitha Rajarajan, Annie Alexander, Anguraj Sadanandam. A novel combination of a 2 gene score & TIL as a predictive Biomarker for responders to novel therapies in Indian TNBC - A population with greater proportion of TNBCs [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-06-14.

Effects of Yoga in Managing Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background:

Cancer-related fatigue is widely prevalent in cancer patients and affects quality of life in advanced cancer patients. Fatigue is caused due to both psychologic distress and physiological sequel following cancer progression and its treatment. In this study, we evaluate the effects of yogic intervention in managing fatigue in metastatic breast cancer patients.

Methods:

Ninety-one patients with metastatic breast cancer were randomized to receive integrated yoga program (n = 46) or supportive therapy and education (n = 45) over a 3-month period. Assessments such as perceived stress, fatigue symptom inventory, diurnal salivary cortisol, and natural killer cell counts were carried out before and after intervention. Analysis was done using an intention-to-treat approach. Postmeasures for the above outcomes were assessed using ANCOVA with respective baseline measure as a covariate.

Results:

The results suggest that yoga reduces perceived stress (P = 0.001), fatigue frequency (P < 0.001), fatigue severity (P < 0.001), interference (P < 0.001), and diurnal variation (P < 0.001) when compared to supportive therapy. There was a positive correlation of change in fatigue severity with 9 a.m. salivary cortisol levels.

Conclusion:

The results suggest that yoga reduces fatigue in advanced breast cancer patients.

Effect of Yoga on Sleep Quality and Neuroendocrine Immune Response in Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients

Background:

Studies have shown that distress and accompanying neuroendocrine stress responses as important predictor of survival in advanced breast cancer patients. Some psychotherapeutic intervention studies have shown have modulation of neuroendocrine-immune responses in advanced breast cancer patients. In this study, we evaluate the effects of yoga on perceived stress, sleep, diurnal cortisol, and natural killer (NK) cell counts in patients with metastatic cancer.

Methods:

In this study, 91 patients with metastatic breast cancer who satisfied selection criteria and consented to participate were recruited and randomized to receive “integrated yoga based stress reduction program” (n = 45) or standard “education and supportive therapy sessions” (n = 46) over a 3 month period. Psychometric assessments for sleep quality were done before and after intervention. Blood draws for NK cell counts were collected before and after the intervention. Saliva samples were collected for three consecutive days before and after intervention. Data were analyzed using the analysis of covariance on postmeasures using respective baseline measure as a covariate.

Results:

There was a significant decrease in scales of symptom distress (P < 0.001), sleep parameters (P = 0.02), and improvement in quality of sleep (P = 0.001) and Insomnia Rating Scale sleep score (P = 0.001) following intervention. There was a decrease in morning waking cortisol in yoga group (P = 0.003) alone following intervention. There was a significant improvement in NK cell percent (P = 0.03) following intervention in yoga group compared to control group.

Conclusion:

The results suggest modulation of neuroendocrine responses and improvement in sleep in patients with advanced breast cancer following yoga intervention.

Effects of a Yoga Program on Mood States, Quality of Life, and Toxicity in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Conventional Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Aims:

The aim of this study is to compare the effects of yoga program with supportive therapy counseling on mood states, treatment-related symptoms, toxicity, and quality of life in Stage II and III breast cancer patients on conventional treatment.

Methods:

Ninety-eight Stage II and III breast cancer patients underwent surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) or chemotherapy (CT) or both at a cancer center were randomly assigned to receive yoga (n = 45) and supportive therapy counseling (n = 53) over a 24-week period. Intervention consisted of 60-min yoga sessions, daily while the control group was imparted supportive therapy during their hospital visits. Assessments included state-trait anxiety inventory, Beck's depression inventory, symptom checklist, common toxicity criteria, and functional living index-cancer. Assessments were done at baseline, after surgery, before, during, and after RT and six cycles of CT.

Results:

Both groups had similar baseline scores. There were 29 dropouts 12 (yoga) and 17 (controls) following surgery. Sixty-nine participants contributed data to the current analysis (33 in yoga, and 36 in controls). An ANCOVA, adjusting for baseline differences, showed a significant decrease for the yoga intervention as compared to the control group during RT (first result) and CT (second result), in (i) anxiety state by 4.72 and 7.7 points, (ii) depression by 5.74 and 7.25 points, (iii) treatment-related symptoms by 2.34 and 2.97 points, (iv) severity of symptoms by 6.43 and 8.83 points, (v) distress by 7.19 and 13.11 points, and (vi) and improved overall quality of life by 23.9 and 31.2 points as compared to controls. Toxicity was significantly less in the yoga group (P = 0.01) during CT.

Conclusion:

The results suggest a possible use for yoga as a psychotherapeutic intervention in breast cancer patients undergoing conventional treatment.

Prevalence of KRAS mutations in metastatic colorectal cancer: A retrospective observational study from India

BACKGROUND

One of the genetic alterations implicated in tumor progression in colorectal cancers (CRCs) are abnormalities in Kristen Rat Sarcoma (KRAS) gene. Evaluation of KRAS mutation status is an important prognostic factor and has predictive value in deciding first line therapy based on monoclonal antibodies such as Cetuximab and Panitumumab in metastatic CRCs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, we analyzed 7 different somatic mutations in Exon 2 of KRAS gene in 299 unselected incidental CRC patients who visited the hospital for clinical management during the period 2009-2013. Most of the tumors were primarily originating from colon and rectum; nevertheless, there were a few from rectosigmoid, sigmoid, ceacum and anal canal in the study group. Genomic DNA extracted from paraffin embedded tumor tissues was screened for 7 point mutations located in Codons 12 and 13 of KRAS gene, using Scorpions amplified refractory mutation system real time polymerase chain reaction technology. Statistical analysis was performed to assess bivariate relationship between different variables that includes: mutation status, mutation type, tumor location, tumor morphology, age and sex.

RESULTS

Prevalence of mutation in Codons 12 and 13 was 42.8% in the study group. Well-differentiated tumors had significantly more mutation positivity than moderately and poorly differentiated tumors (P = 0.001). 92% of the mutations were from Codon 12 and 8% in Codon 13. Glycine to Arginine was relatively more common in rectosigmoid followed by ceacum, while Glycine to Alanine mutation was relatively more prevalent in sigmoid, followed by rectum and rectosigmoid.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest a prevalence of KRAS mutation at 42.8% in Indian population indicating that this testing is very crucial for targeted therapy management in metastatic CRC in India. Further analysis on mutation status of other homologues such as NRAS and downstream partner, v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1, would add value to understanding the role of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor therapy in CRC management.

Effects of an integrated Yoga Program on Self-reported Depression Scores in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Conventional Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Aim:

To compare the effects of yoga program with supportive therapy on self-reported symptoms of depression in breast cancer patients undergoing conventional treatment.

Patients and Methods:

Ninety-eight breast cancer patients with stage II and III disease from a cancer center were randomly assigned to receive yoga (n = 45) and supportive therapy (n = 53) over a 24-week period during which they underwent surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) or chemotherapy (CT) or both. The study stoppage criteria was progressive disease rendering the patient bedridden or any physical musculoskeletal injury resulting from intervention or less than 60% attendance to yoga intervention. Subjects underwent yoga intervention for 60 min daily with control group undergoing supportive therapy during their hospital visits. Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) and symptom checklist were assessed at baseline, after surgery, before, during, and after RT and six cycles of CT. We used analysis of covariance (intent-to-treat) to study the effects of intervention on depression scores and Pearson correlation analyses to evaluate the bivariate relationships.

Results:

A total of 69 participants contributed data to the current analysis (yoga, n = 33, and controls, n = 36). There was 29% attrition in this study. The results suggest an overall decrease in self-reported depression with time in both the groups. There was a significant decrease in depression scores in the yoga group as compared to controls following surgery, RT, and CT (P < 0.01). There was a positive correlation (P < 0.001) between depression scores with symptom severity and distress during surgery, RT, and CT.

Conclusion:

The results suggest possible antidepressant effects with yoga intervention in breast cancer patients undergoing conventional treatment.

Nimotuzumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a multicenter, randomized, open-label Phase II study

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of nimotuzumab in combination with chemotherapy (docetaxel and carboplatin) versus chemotherapy alone in patients with stage IIIB/IV non-small-cell lung cancer.

Methods

This multicenter, open-label, Phase II study randomized 110 patients to receive nimotuzumab plus chemotherapy (nimotuzumab group) or chemotherapy alone (control group), and comprised concomitant, maintenance, and follow-up phases. Nimotuzumab 200 mg was administered once weekly for 13 weeks during the first two phases with four cycles of chemotherapy and docetaxel 75 mg/m² and carboplatin (area under the curve 5 mg/mL*min) every 3 weeks for a maximum of four cycles during the concomitant phase. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (sum of complete response and partial response). Secondary endpoints, ie, overall survival and progression-free survival, were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Efficacy was evaluated on the intent-to-treat and efficacy-evaluable sets. Safety was assessed from adverse event and serious adverse event data.

Results

The objective response rate was significantly higher in the nimotuzumab group than in the control group in the intent-to-treat population (54% versus 34.5%; P=0.04). A complete response and partial response were achieved in 3.6% and 50% of patients, respectively, in the nimotuzumab group, and in 4% and 30.9% of patients, respectively, in the control group. No significant differences in median progression-free survival and overall survival were observed. Safety profiles were comparable between the two groups.

Conclusion

Nimotuzumab plus chemotherapy significantly improved the objective response rate as compared with chemotherapy alone. The combination was safe and well tolerated in patients with stage IIIB/IV non-small-cell lung cancer.

I-131-lipiodol therapy in local disease control and survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: An observational study

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Background: In patients with Locally advanced/metastatic HCC, the median survival is 3 months. Most of these patients have altered liver functions which makes them unsuitable for any therapy. In this exploratory study we aim to test the effectiveness of I-131-lipiodol in prolonging survival in these patients. Methods: 15 patients with locally advanced HCC (unresectable) and metastatic HCC with altered liver functions (CHILDS B and C) were given I-131-lipiodol. Patients had received prior chemotherapy, prior TACE therapy, prior sorafenib and had treatment refractory progressive disease. We compared effects of I-131-Lipiodol in prolonging survival beyond three months in these patients. We performed a non parametric one sample kolmogorov Smirnov test comparing survival with I-131-lipiodol to an average 90 days survival reported in patients with advanced HCC. Results: Survival ranged from 46 to 417 days with a median survival of 144 days. However one sample test showed significant improvement in survival with I-131-lipiodol therapy compared to standard of care (z = 1.4, p = 0.04). Conclusions: I-131-lipiodol is a useful local therapy in management of patients with advanced HCC, randomized controlled trials are needed to validate its findings in adjuvant and palliative settings.

Disease-free survival pattern in breast cancer patients in India treated in a single institution

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Background: This study elucidates data from a 5 year retrospective study evaluating survival rates and prognostic factors in breast carcinoma patients in a private cancer set up in south India. Methods: 1046 patients who were treated between years 2003 to 2008 were analyzed. Clinical data including stage, histopathology type, age, node positivity, treatment plan, chemotherapy regimen, ER/ PR and Her2 Neu status, type of surgery etc were abstracted in a database. Five year disease free survival, local failure free survival and distant failure free survival was calculated using Kaplan Meier survival curves. Log rank mantel hazel tests were used to compare two survival curves. Results: Local recurrence was seen in 4% and distant metastases in 22% of the study sample. 62% of patients presented with early breast cancer (AJCC Stage I, II and IIIA). 85.6% of early and 73.1% of locally advanced breast cancers were disease free at 5 years (p<0.001).90.6% of early and 82.4% of locally advanced breast cancers had distant failure free survival at 5 years (p=0.001). Local failure free survival was 96.1% in both early and locally advanced breast disease at 5 years.94.9% of her 2 negative and 83.5% Her 2 positive were disease free at 5 years (p=0.001). 5 years progression free survival was 91.5% for breast conservation surgery vs 84.1% for mastectomy with axillary clearance (p=0.01). 75.4% with triple negative status and 80.8% non triple negative receptor status had 5 years DFS. Conclusion: This is a first report of survival patterns of breast cancer patients treated in a single centre in India. High early stage patient numbers and high median disease free survival times could be because of improvement in screening and treatment of breast cancer in a developing country like India.

Analysis of pretreatment nonpharmacologic, pharmacologic factors, and yoga intervention on CINV outcomes in breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy

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Background: Chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is affected by both pretreatment patient factors, chemotherapy and antiemetic regimen and psychological interventions. In this study we evaluated the effects of mind body intervention such as yoga in modulating CINV outcomes controlled for the above factors. Methods: Chemotherapy naïve breast cancer patients with stage II and III disease participating in a randomized controlled trial comparing yoga (n=45) vs. supportive therapy (n=53) were assessed for CINV outcomes during adjuvant chemotherapy. Morrows Assessment of nausea and emesis was used to asses CINV symptoms including their frequency, severity and anticipatory nature. We developed a multiple regression analyses to test the role of intervention on CINV beyond that explained by the independent prognostic factors [age (<50/≥50 years), stage of disease (II vs III), menopausal status (pre vs post), antiemetic regimen (5HT3 antagonists vs. antidopaminergics), administration of anxiolytics (yes/ no) and type of chemotherapy regimen (FAC vs. CMF)] that were included in model A. Model B includes these six variables plus intervention (yoga vs. supportive therapy) in predicting nausea and vomiting outcomes. Results: Intervention emerged as a primary predictor for nausea frequency (β= -0.38, p=0.002), intensity (β= -0.44, p=0.001 ), anticipatory nausea frequency (β=-0.26 , p= 0.04) and intensity (β=-0.38 , p=0.004 ). Age group emerged as a primary predictor for anticipatory vomiting frequency (β=-0.39 , p=0.01 ) and secondary predictor for nausea frequency (β=-0.41, p= 0.006). Administration of anxiolytics emerged as a primary predictor for vomiting intensity (β=-0.40, p= 0.001) and secondary predictor for anticipatory nausea frequency (β=-0.26 , p= 0.05). Conclusions: Yoga intervention influences CINV outcomes when controlled for pretreatment and pharmacological factors during chemotherapy in breast cancer patients poorly controlled for nausea and vomiting.

Adherence to yoga practice improves symptom control and quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing conventional treatment

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Background: Adherence plays an important role in success of mind body interventions such as yoga. In this study we evaluated the effects of adherence to yoga intervention on psychological and quality of life outcomes. Methods: Adherence to yoga program was assessed in a randomized controlled trial comparing yoga (n=45) vs. supportive therapy in breast cancer patients with stage II and III disease undergoing primary surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Subjects were assessed for self reported symptoms and affective states using symptom checklist, Spielberger’s State Trait Anxiety, Becks Depression Inventory and Functional Living Index in cancer for Quality of life following surgery and during radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Adherence was categorized based on number of sessions of yoga practiced at home per week [regular (>5 sessions), not so regular (3-5 sessions), occasionally (upto 2 sessions)].Multiple hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine the variance in the above outcomes explained by independent prognostic variables (age group, clinical stage of cancer, type of surgery, respective baseline psychological outcomes and regularity of practice) in yoga group alone. Model B includes these four variables plus regularity of practice. Results: Regularity of practice emerged as a secondary predictor for symptom severity following surgery (β= 0.38, p=0.007) and primary predictor for depression (β= 0.37, p=0.05) and severity of symptoms (β= 0.42, p=0.04) during radiotherapy and depression(β= 0.35, p=0.05), severity of symptoms (β= 0.45, p=0.03), anxiety trait(β= 0.40, p=0.03) and quality of life (β= -0.61, p=0.001) during chemotherapy. Conclusions: Adherence to mind body interventions such as yoga improves psychological and quality of life outcomes in breast cancer patients undergoing conventional cancer treatment.

Anxiolytic effects of a yoga program in early breast cancer patients undergoing conventional treatment: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

This study compares the anxiolytic effects of a yoga program and supportive therapy in breast cancer outpatients undergoing conventional treatment at a cancer centre.

METHODS

Ninety-eight stage II and III breast cancer outpatients were randomly assigned to receive yoga (n=45) or brief supportive therapy (n=53) prior to their primary treatment i.e., surgery. Only those subjects who received surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and six cycles of chemotherapy were chosen for analysis following intervention (yoga, n=18, control, n=20). Intervention consisted of yoga sessions lasting 60min daily while the control group was imparted supportive therapy during their hospital visits as a part of routine care. Assessments included Speilberger's State Trait Anxiety Inventory and symptom checklist. Assessments were done at baseline, after surgery, before, during, and after radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

RESULTS

A GLM-repeated measures ANOVA showed overall decrease in both self-reported state anxiety (p<0.001) and trait anxiety (p=0.005) in yoga group as compared to controls. There was a positive correlation between anxiety states and traits with symptom severity and distress during conventional treatment intervals.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that yoga can be used for managing treatment-related symptoms and anxiety in breast cancer outpatients.