Clinical Edge Journal Scan

Key clinical point: Capecitabine-based chemotherapy improved prognostic outcomes in patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Major finding: Capecitabine-based chemotherapy vs capecitabine-free regimens improved disease-free survival (DFS; hazard ratio [HR] 0.81; P < .001) and overall survival (HR 0.75; P < .001) outcomes. DFS benefits were particularly observed in the adjuvant setting (HR 0.79; P < .001) and in the subgroup of patients with lymph node-negative TNBC (HR 0.68; P  =  .006) and in those who received capecitabine for ≥ 6 cycles (HR 0.71; P < .001).

Study details: Findings are from a meta-analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials including 5390 patients with TNBC who were treated with capecitabine-based chemotherapy or capecitabine-free regimens.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Bai J et al. Capecitabine-based chemotherapy in early-stage triple-negative breast cancer: A meta-analysis. Front Oncol. 2023;13:1245650 (Oct 25). doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1245650

Key clinical point: Capecitabine-based chemotherapy improved prognostic outcomes in patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Major finding: Capecitabine-based chemotherapy vs capecitabine-free regimens improved disease-free survival (DFS; hazard ratio [HR] 0.81; P < .001) and overall survival (HR 0.75; P < .001) outcomes. DFS benefits were particularly observed in the adjuvant setting (HR 0.79; P < .001) and in the subgroup of patients with lymph node-negative TNBC (HR 0.68; P  =  .006) and in those who received capecitabine for ≥ 6 cycles (HR 0.71; P < .001).

Study details: Findings are from a meta-analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials including 5390 patients with TNBC who were treated with capecitabine-based chemotherapy or capecitabine-free regimens.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Bai J et al. Capecitabine-based chemotherapy in early-stage triple-negative breast cancer: A meta-analysis. Front Oncol. 2023;13:1245650 (Oct 25). doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1245650

Key clinical point: Capecitabine-based chemotherapy improved prognostic outcomes in patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Major finding: Capecitabine-based chemotherapy vs capecitabine-free regimens improved disease-free survival (DFS; hazard ratio [HR] 0.81; P < .001) and overall survival (HR 0.75; P < .001) outcomes. DFS benefits were particularly observed in the adjuvant setting (HR 0.79; P < .001) and in the subgroup of patients with lymph node-negative TNBC (HR 0.68; P  =  .006) and in those who received capecitabine for ≥ 6 cycles (HR 0.71; P < .001).

Study details: Findings are from a meta-analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials including 5390 patients with TNBC who were treated with capecitabine-based chemotherapy or capecitabine-free regimens.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Bai J et al. Capecitabine-based chemotherapy in early-stage triple-negative breast cancer: A meta-analysis. Front Oncol. 2023;13:1245650 (Oct 25). doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1245650

Key clinical point: Patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer (BC) who received docetaxel/carboplatin/trastuzumab/pertuzumab (TCHP)-based preoperative systemic therapy experienced no extra clinical benefits with postoperative regional nodal irradiation (RNI).

Major finding: Patients who did vs did not receive RNI had comparable locoregional recurrence frequency (2.6% vs 1.0%; P  =  .651) and disease-free survival outcomes (hazard ratio 0.72; P  =  .638); however, pathological complete response was achieved by a significantly higher proportion of patients in the no-RNI vs RNI group (72.5% vs 44.4%; P < .001).

Study details: This retrospective study included 255 patients with HER2+ BC who received six cycles of TCHP, of which 60% of patients received RNI.

Disclosures: This study did not declare the source of funding or conflicts of interest.

Source: Kim N, Kim J-Y, et al. Benefit of postoperative regional nodal irradiation in patients receiving preoperative systemic therapy with docetaxel/carboplatin/trastuzumab/pertuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer. Breast. 2023;72:103594 (Oct 30). doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2023.103594

Key clinical point: Patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer (BC) who received docetaxel/carboplatin/trastuzumab/pertuzumab (TCHP)-based preoperative systemic therapy experienced no extra clinical benefits with postoperative regional nodal irradiation (RNI).

Major finding: Patients who did vs did not receive RNI had comparable locoregional recurrence frequency (2.6% vs 1.0%; P  =  .651) and disease-free survival outcomes (hazard ratio 0.72; P  =  .638); however, pathological complete response was achieved by a significantly higher proportion of patients in the no-RNI vs RNI group (72.5% vs 44.4%; P < .001).

Study details: This retrospective study included 255 patients with HER2+ BC who received six cycles of TCHP, of which 60% of patients received RNI.

Disclosures: This study did not declare the source of funding or conflicts of interest.

Source: Kim N, Kim J-Y, et al. Benefit of postoperative regional nodal irradiation in patients receiving preoperative systemic therapy with docetaxel/carboplatin/trastuzumab/pertuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer. Breast. 2023;72:103594 (Oct 30). doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2023.103594

Key clinical point: Patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer (BC) who received docetaxel/carboplatin/trastuzumab/pertuzumab (TCHP)-based preoperative systemic therapy experienced no extra clinical benefits with postoperative regional nodal irradiation (RNI).

Major finding: Patients who did vs did not receive RNI had comparable locoregional recurrence frequency (2.6% vs 1.0%; P  =  .651) and disease-free survival outcomes (hazard ratio 0.72; P  =  .638); however, pathological complete response was achieved by a significantly higher proportion of patients in the no-RNI vs RNI group (72.5% vs 44.4%; P < .001).

Study details: This retrospective study included 255 patients with HER2+ BC who received six cycles of TCHP, of which 60% of patients received RNI.

Disclosures: This study did not declare the source of funding or conflicts of interest.

Source: Kim N, Kim J-Y, et al. Benefit of postoperative regional nodal irradiation in patients receiving preoperative systemic therapy with docetaxel/carboplatin/trastuzumab/pertuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer. Breast. 2023;72:103594 (Oct 30). doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2023.103594

Key clinical point: First-line treatment with taxanes followed by pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) was associated with improved prognostic outcomes in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−) metastatic breast cancer (BC) than with PLD followed by taxanes.

Major finding: First-line taxane followed by PLD vs first-line PLD followed by taxane significantly improved time to next chemotherapy (9.9 vs 4.9 months; P  =  .006) and progression-free survival outcomes (9.0 vs 4.4 months; P  =  .005).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study including 42 patients with HER2− metastatic BC who received first-line PLD and later taxane (n = 23) or first-line taxane and later PLD (n = 19).

Disclosures: This study did not receive any specific grants. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Wallrabenstein T et al. Upfront taxane could be superior to pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD): A retrospective real-world analysis of treatment sequence taxane-PLD versus PLD-taxane in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Cancers (Basel). 2023;15(20):4953 (Oct 12). doi: 10.3390/cancers15204953

Key clinical point: First-line treatment with taxanes followed by pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) was associated with improved prognostic outcomes in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−) metastatic breast cancer (BC) than with PLD followed by taxanes.

Major finding: First-line taxane followed by PLD vs first-line PLD followed by taxane significantly improved time to next chemotherapy (9.9 vs 4.9 months; P  =  .006) and progression-free survival outcomes (9.0 vs 4.4 months; P  =  .005).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study including 42 patients with HER2− metastatic BC who received first-line PLD and later taxane (n = 23) or first-line taxane and later PLD (n = 19).

Disclosures: This study did not receive any specific grants. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Wallrabenstein T et al. Upfront taxane could be superior to pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD): A retrospective real-world analysis of treatment sequence taxane-PLD versus PLD-taxane in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Cancers (Basel). 2023;15(20):4953 (Oct 12). doi: 10.3390/cancers15204953

Key clinical point: First-line treatment with taxanes followed by pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) was associated with improved prognostic outcomes in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−) metastatic breast cancer (BC) than with PLD followed by taxanes.

Major finding: First-line taxane followed by PLD vs first-line PLD followed by taxane significantly improved time to next chemotherapy (9.9 vs 4.9 months; P  =  .006) and progression-free survival outcomes (9.0 vs 4.4 months; P  =  .005).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study including 42 patients with HER2− metastatic BC who received first-line PLD and later taxane (n = 23) or first-line taxane and later PLD (n = 19).

Disclosures: This study did not receive any specific grants. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Wallrabenstein T et al. Upfront taxane could be superior to pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD): A retrospective real-world analysis of treatment sequence taxane-PLD versus PLD-taxane in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Cancers (Basel). 2023;15(20):4953 (Oct 12). doi: 10.3390/cancers15204953

Key clinical point: A 3-week vs 4-week nab-paclitaxel schedule showed more effective anti-tumor activity and a more manageable safety profile in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−) metastatic breast cancer (BC).

Major finding: Compared with a 4-week paclitaxel regimen, a 3-week regimen led to a 56% improvement in progression-free survival outcomes (hazard ratio 0.44; P  =  .029) and was associated with a lower rate of grade ≥ 3 adverse events (14.9% vs 42.6%).

Study details: Findings are from a phase 2 study including 94 patients with HER2− metastatic BC who were randomly assigned to receive nab-paclitaxel for either a 3-week or 4-week schedule.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by CSPC Ouyi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Liu Y et al. Three-week versus 4-week schedule of nab-paclitaxel in patients with metastatic breast cancer: A randomized phase II study. Oncologist. 2023 (Oct 26). doi: 10.1093/oncolo/oyad288

Key clinical point: A 3-week vs 4-week nab-paclitaxel schedule showed more effective anti-tumor activity and a more manageable safety profile in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−) metastatic breast cancer (BC).

Major finding: Compared with a 4-week paclitaxel regimen, a 3-week regimen led to a 56% improvement in progression-free survival outcomes (hazard ratio 0.44; P  =  .029) and was associated with a lower rate of grade ≥ 3 adverse events (14.9% vs 42.6%).

Study details: Findings are from a phase 2 study including 94 patients with HER2− metastatic BC who were randomly assigned to receive nab-paclitaxel for either a 3-week or 4-week schedule.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by CSPC Ouyi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Liu Y et al. Three-week versus 4-week schedule of nab-paclitaxel in patients with metastatic breast cancer: A randomized phase II study. Oncologist. 2023 (Oct 26). doi: 10.1093/oncolo/oyad288

Key clinical point: A 3-week vs 4-week nab-paclitaxel schedule showed more effective anti-tumor activity and a more manageable safety profile in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−) metastatic breast cancer (BC).

Major finding: Compared with a 4-week paclitaxel regimen, a 3-week regimen led to a 56% improvement in progression-free survival outcomes (hazard ratio 0.44; P  =  .029) and was associated with a lower rate of grade ≥ 3 adverse events (14.9% vs 42.6%).

Study details: Findings are from a phase 2 study including 94 patients with HER2− metastatic BC who were randomly assigned to receive nab-paclitaxel for either a 3-week or 4-week schedule.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by CSPC Ouyi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Liu Y et al. Three-week versus 4-week schedule of nab-paclitaxel in patients with metastatic breast cancer: A randomized phase II study. Oncologist. 2023 (Oct 26). doi: 10.1093/oncolo/oyad288

Key clinical point: In women with dense breasts, who are generally at an intermediate risk for breast cancer (BC), screening with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) alone or with mammography increased the rates of screen-detected early-stage cancer and false-positive recalls compared with mammography alone.

Major finding: The rate of screen-detected early-stage cancer in women with dense breasts was higher with MRI alone vs MRI + mammography (difference 11.7/1000 examinations; 95% CI 4.6-18.8/1000 examinations) and MR + mammography vs mammography alone (difference 4.0/1000 examinations; 95% CI 1.4-6.7/1000 examinations); however, false-positive recall rates were higher with MRI + mammography vs mammography alone (difference 149.8/1000 examinations; 95% CI 135.7-163.9/1000 examinations) and comparable with both MRI and MRI + mammography.

Study details: This cohort study analyzed the data of women aged 40-79 years who had undergone screening with MRI (2611 screenings), MRI + mammography (6518 screenings), or mammography (65,180 screenings) from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium registry.

Disclosures: This study was funded by the US Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute award and other sources. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Kerlikowske K et al. Supplemental magnetic resonance imaging plus mammography compared with magnetic resonance imaging or mammography by extent of breast density. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2023 (Oct 27). doi: 10.1093/jnci/djad201

Key clinical point: In women with dense breasts, who are generally at an intermediate risk for breast cancer (BC), screening with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) alone or with mammography increased the rates of screen-detected early-stage cancer and false-positive recalls compared with mammography alone.

Major finding: The rate of screen-detected early-stage cancer in women with dense breasts was higher with MRI alone vs MRI + mammography (difference 11.7/1000 examinations; 95% CI 4.6-18.8/1000 examinations) and MR + mammography vs mammography alone (difference 4.0/1000 examinations; 95% CI 1.4-6.7/1000 examinations); however, false-positive recall rates were higher with MRI + mammography vs mammography alone (difference 149.8/1000 examinations; 95% CI 135.7-163.9/1000 examinations) and comparable with both MRI and MRI + mammography.

Study details: This cohort study analyzed the data of women aged 40-79 years who had undergone screening with MRI (2611 screenings), MRI + mammography (6518 screenings), or mammography (65,180 screenings) from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium registry.

Disclosures: This study was funded by the US Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute award and other sources. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Kerlikowske K et al. Supplemental magnetic resonance imaging plus mammography compared with magnetic resonance imaging or mammography by extent of breast density. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2023 (Oct 27). doi: 10.1093/jnci/djad201

Key clinical point: In women with dense breasts, who are generally at an intermediate risk for breast cancer (BC), screening with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) alone or with mammography increased the rates of screen-detected early-stage cancer and false-positive recalls compared with mammography alone.

Major finding: The rate of screen-detected early-stage cancer in women with dense breasts was higher with MRI alone vs MRI + mammography (difference 11.7/1000 examinations; 95% CI 4.6-18.8/1000 examinations) and MR + mammography vs mammography alone (difference 4.0/1000 examinations; 95% CI 1.4-6.7/1000 examinations); however, false-positive recall rates were higher with MRI + mammography vs mammography alone (difference 149.8/1000 examinations; 95% CI 135.7-163.9/1000 examinations) and comparable with both MRI and MRI + mammography.

Study details: This cohort study analyzed the data of women aged 40-79 years who had undergone screening with MRI (2611 screenings), MRI + mammography (6518 screenings), or mammography (65,180 screenings) from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium registry.

Disclosures: This study was funded by the US Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute award and other sources. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Kerlikowske K et al. Supplemental magnetic resonance imaging plus mammography compared with magnetic resonance imaging or mammography by extent of breast density. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2023 (Oct 27). doi: 10.1093/jnci/djad201

Key clinical point: Despite treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), patients with locally advanced inflammatory breast cancer (BC) showed poorer survival outcomes than those with noninflammatory BC.

Major finding: Patients with inflammatory vs noninflammatory locally advanced BC who received NAC had significantly lower rates of 5-year overall survival (58.9% vs 86.7%; P  =  .00005), relapse-free survival (53.0% vs 80.3%; P  =  .0001), and distant relapse-free survival (53.3% vs 80.9%; P  =  .0001).

Study details: This retrospective analysis included 84 patients with stage III inflammatory BC and 81 matched-control individuals with stage III noninflammatory BC, all of whom received neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any specific funding. KU Park declared being a consultant with Bayer LLC. The other authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Johnson KCC et al. Survival outcomes seen with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the management of locally advanced inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) versus matched controls. Breast. 2023;72:103591 (Oct 13). doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2023.103591

Key clinical point: Despite treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), patients with locally advanced inflammatory breast cancer (BC) showed poorer survival outcomes than those with noninflammatory BC.

Major finding: Patients with inflammatory vs noninflammatory locally advanced BC who received NAC had significantly lower rates of 5-year overall survival (58.9% vs 86.7%; P  =  .00005), relapse-free survival (53.0% vs 80.3%; P  =  .0001), and distant relapse-free survival (53.3% vs 80.9%; P  =  .0001).

Study details: This retrospective analysis included 84 patients with stage III inflammatory BC and 81 matched-control individuals with stage III noninflammatory BC, all of whom received neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any specific funding. KU Park declared being a consultant with Bayer LLC. The other authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Johnson KCC et al. Survival outcomes seen with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the management of locally advanced inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) versus matched controls. Breast. 2023;72:103591 (Oct 13). doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2023.103591

Key clinical point: Despite treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), patients with locally advanced inflammatory breast cancer (BC) showed poorer survival outcomes than those with noninflammatory BC.

Major finding: Patients with inflammatory vs noninflammatory locally advanced BC who received NAC had significantly lower rates of 5-year overall survival (58.9% vs 86.7%; P  =  .00005), relapse-free survival (53.0% vs 80.3%; P  =  .0001), and distant relapse-free survival (53.3% vs 80.9%; P  =  .0001).

Study details: This retrospective analysis included 84 patients with stage III inflammatory BC and 81 matched-control individuals with stage III noninflammatory BC, all of whom received neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any specific funding. KU Park declared being a consultant with Bayer LLC. The other authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Johnson KCC et al. Survival outcomes seen with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the management of locally advanced inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) versus matched controls. Breast. 2023;72:103591 (Oct 13). doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2023.103591

Key clinical point: Oral selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERD) improved the progression-free survival (PFS) outcomes in patients with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−) metastatic breast cancer (BC), particularly in those with ESR1 mutations.

Major finding: Compared with endocrine therapies (ET) of the physician’s choice, oral SERD led to a greater improvement in PFS outcomes in the overall population (hazard ratio [HR] 0.783; P < .001) and in the subgroup of patients with ESR1 mutations (HR 0.557; P < .001); however, no PFS benefit was observed in the ESR1 wild-type subgroup (P  =  .543).

Study details: Findings are from a meta-analysis of individual patient data from four randomized clinical trials including 1290 patients with ER+/HER2− metastatic BC who received oral SERD or ET of physician’s choice.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any specific funding. Some authors declared receiving honoraria, research funding, or travel grants from or serving in advisory or consulting roles for various sources.

Source: Wong NZH et al. Efficacy of oral SERDs in the treatment of ER+, HER2 - metastatic breast cancer, a stratified analysis of the ESR1 wild type and mutant subgroups. Ann Oncol. 2023 (Oct 21). doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2023.10.122

Key clinical point: Oral selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERD) improved the progression-free survival (PFS) outcomes in patients with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−) metastatic breast cancer (BC), particularly in those with ESR1 mutations.

Major finding: Compared with endocrine therapies (ET) of the physician’s choice, oral SERD led to a greater improvement in PFS outcomes in the overall population (hazard ratio [HR] 0.783; P < .001) and in the subgroup of patients with ESR1 mutations (HR 0.557; P < .001); however, no PFS benefit was observed in the ESR1 wild-type subgroup (P  =  .543).

Study details: Findings are from a meta-analysis of individual patient data from four randomized clinical trials including 1290 patients with ER+/HER2− metastatic BC who received oral SERD or ET of physician’s choice.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any specific funding. Some authors declared receiving honoraria, research funding, or travel grants from or serving in advisory or consulting roles for various sources.

Source: Wong NZH et al. Efficacy of oral SERDs in the treatment of ER+, HER2 - metastatic breast cancer, a stratified analysis of the ESR1 wild type and mutant subgroups. Ann Oncol. 2023 (Oct 21). doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2023.10.122

Key clinical point: Oral selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERD) improved the progression-free survival (PFS) outcomes in patients with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−) metastatic breast cancer (BC), particularly in those with ESR1 mutations.

Major finding: Compared with endocrine therapies (ET) of the physician’s choice, oral SERD led to a greater improvement in PFS outcomes in the overall population (hazard ratio [HR] 0.783; P < .001) and in the subgroup of patients with ESR1 mutations (HR 0.557; P < .001); however, no PFS benefit was observed in the ESR1 wild-type subgroup (P  =  .543).

Study details: Findings are from a meta-analysis of individual patient data from four randomized clinical trials including 1290 patients with ER+/HER2− metastatic BC who received oral SERD or ET of physician’s choice.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any specific funding. Some authors declared receiving honoraria, research funding, or travel grants from or serving in advisory or consulting roles for various sources.

Source: Wong NZH et al. Efficacy of oral SERDs in the treatment of ER+, HER2 - metastatic breast cancer, a stratified analysis of the ESR1 wild type and mutant subgroups. Ann Oncol. 2023 (Oct 21). doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2023.10.122

Key clinical point: Neoadjuvant immunotherapy with camrelizumab plus chemotherapy with nab-paclitaxel and epirubicin showed promising anti-tumor activity and a manageable safety profile in patients with early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Major finding: The majority of patients achieved a pathological complete response rate (64.1%; 95% CI 47.2%-78.8%) and an objective response rate (89.7%; 95% CI 74.8%-96.7%). Decreased white blood cell (56.4%), neutropenia (41.0%), and anemia (20.5%) were the most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events, and no treatment-related deaths were reported.

Study details: This phase 2 trial included 39 treatment-naive patients with early TNBC who received neoadjuvant camrelizumab, nab-paclitaxel, and epirubicin every 3 weeks for 6 cycles.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Wang C et al. Neoadjuvant camrelizumab plus nab-paclitaxel and epirubicin in early triple-negative breast cancer: A single-arm phase II trial. Nat Commun. 2023;14:6654 (Oct 20). doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-42479-w

Key clinical point: Neoadjuvant immunotherapy with camrelizumab plus chemotherapy with nab-paclitaxel and epirubicin showed promising anti-tumor activity and a manageable safety profile in patients with early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Major finding: The majority of patients achieved a pathological complete response rate (64.1%; 95% CI 47.2%-78.8%) and an objective response rate (89.7%; 95% CI 74.8%-96.7%). Decreased white blood cell (56.4%), neutropenia (41.0%), and anemia (20.5%) were the most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events, and no treatment-related deaths were reported.

Study details: This phase 2 trial included 39 treatment-naive patients with early TNBC who received neoadjuvant camrelizumab, nab-paclitaxel, and epirubicin every 3 weeks for 6 cycles.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Wang C et al. Neoadjuvant camrelizumab plus nab-paclitaxel and epirubicin in early triple-negative breast cancer: A single-arm phase II trial. Nat Commun. 2023;14:6654 (Oct 20). doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-42479-w

Key clinical point: Neoadjuvant immunotherapy with camrelizumab plus chemotherapy with nab-paclitaxel and epirubicin showed promising anti-tumor activity and a manageable safety profile in patients with early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Major finding: The majority of patients achieved a pathological complete response rate (64.1%; 95% CI 47.2%-78.8%) and an objective response rate (89.7%; 95% CI 74.8%-96.7%). Decreased white blood cell (56.4%), neutropenia (41.0%), and anemia (20.5%) were the most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events, and no treatment-related deaths were reported.

Study details: This phase 2 trial included 39 treatment-naive patients with early TNBC who received neoadjuvant camrelizumab, nab-paclitaxel, and epirubicin every 3 weeks for 6 cycles.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Wang C et al. Neoadjuvant camrelizumab plus nab-paclitaxel and epirubicin in early triple-negative breast cancer: A single-arm phase II trial. Nat Commun. 2023;14:6654 (Oct 20). doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-42479-w

Key clinical point: Premenopausal women with invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) vs invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) had better breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) outcomes within 10 years after disease diagnosis, but the prognosis worsened in the long run.

Major finding: In the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, patients with ILC vs IDC showed improved BCSS outcomes during the first 10 years after diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR] 0.73; P < .001); however, after 10 years, the trend reversed and BCSS outcomes worsened by 80% in patients with ILC (HR 1.80; P < .001). ILC was also associated with worsened long-term prognosis in patients from the Korean Breast Cancer Registry and Asan Medical Center Research database.

Study details: This retrospective cohort study analyzed the data from three databases and included 225,938 premenopausal women (age < 50 years) with stages I-III ILC or IDC.

Disclosures: This study was supported by a grant from the Korea Health Technology R&D Project. O Metzger declared receiving grant funding and personal fees from various sources.

Source: Yoon TI et al. Survival outcomes in premenopausal patients with invasive lobular carcinoma. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(11):e2342270 (Nov 8). doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.42270

Key clinical point: Premenopausal women with invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) vs invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) had better breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) outcomes within 10 years after disease diagnosis, but the prognosis worsened in the long run.

Major finding: In the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, patients with ILC vs IDC showed improved BCSS outcomes during the first 10 years after diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR] 0.73; P < .001); however, after 10 years, the trend reversed and BCSS outcomes worsened by 80% in patients with ILC (HR 1.80; P < .001). ILC was also associated with worsened long-term prognosis in patients from the Korean Breast Cancer Registry and Asan Medical Center Research database.

Study details: This retrospective cohort study analyzed the data from three databases and included 225,938 premenopausal women (age < 50 years) with stages I-III ILC or IDC.

Disclosures: This study was supported by a grant from the Korea Health Technology R&D Project. O Metzger declared receiving grant funding and personal fees from various sources.

Source: Yoon TI et al. Survival outcomes in premenopausal patients with invasive lobular carcinoma. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(11):e2342270 (Nov 8). doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.42270

Key clinical point: Premenopausal women with invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) vs invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) had better breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) outcomes within 10 years after disease diagnosis, but the prognosis worsened in the long run.

Major finding: In the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, patients with ILC vs IDC showed improved BCSS outcomes during the first 10 years after diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR] 0.73; P < .001); however, after 10 years, the trend reversed and BCSS outcomes worsened by 80% in patients with ILC (HR 1.80; P < .001). ILC was also associated with worsened long-term prognosis in patients from the Korean Breast Cancer Registry and Asan Medical Center Research database.

Study details: This retrospective cohort study analyzed the data from three databases and included 225,938 premenopausal women (age < 50 years) with stages I-III ILC or IDC.

Disclosures: This study was supported by a grant from the Korea Health Technology R&D Project. O Metzger declared receiving grant funding and personal fees from various sources.

Source: Yoon TI et al. Survival outcomes in premenopausal patients with invasive lobular carcinoma. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(11):e2342270 (Nov 8). doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.42270

Key clinical point: Vaginal estrogen therapy did not worsen mortality outcomes in patients with breast cancer (BC) and genitourinary symptoms and can be considered if nonhormonal treatments prove unsuccessful.

Major finding: BC-specific mortality was not worsened in patients with BC who received vaginal estrogen therapy vs no hormone replacement therapy (hazard ratio 0.77; 95% CI 0.63-0.94).

Study details: Findings are from an analysis of two large cohorts including 49,237 females with BC, of which 5% of females used vaginal estrogen therapy after BC diagnosis.

Disclosures: This study was supported by grants from Cancer Research UK. Some authors declared receiving grants, personal fees, or nonfinancial support from and having other ties with several sources.

Source: McVicker L et al. Vaginal estrogen therapy use and survival in females with breast cancer. JAMA Oncol. 2023 (Nov 2). doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.4508

Key clinical point: Vaginal estrogen therapy did not worsen mortality outcomes in patients with breast cancer (BC) and genitourinary symptoms and can be considered if nonhormonal treatments prove unsuccessful.

Major finding: BC-specific mortality was not worsened in patients with BC who received vaginal estrogen therapy vs no hormone replacement therapy (hazard ratio 0.77; 95% CI 0.63-0.94).

Study details: Findings are from an analysis of two large cohorts including 49,237 females with BC, of which 5% of females used vaginal estrogen therapy after BC diagnosis.

Disclosures: This study was supported by grants from Cancer Research UK. Some authors declared receiving grants, personal fees, or nonfinancial support from and having other ties with several sources.

Source: McVicker L et al. Vaginal estrogen therapy use and survival in females with breast cancer. JAMA Oncol. 2023 (Nov 2). doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.4508

Key clinical point: Vaginal estrogen therapy did not worsen mortality outcomes in patients with breast cancer (BC) and genitourinary symptoms and can be considered if nonhormonal treatments prove unsuccessful.

Major finding: BC-specific mortality was not worsened in patients with BC who received vaginal estrogen therapy vs no hormone replacement therapy (hazard ratio 0.77; 95% CI 0.63-0.94).

Study details: Findings are from an analysis of two large cohorts including 49,237 females with BC, of which 5% of females used vaginal estrogen therapy after BC diagnosis.

Disclosures: This study was supported by grants from Cancer Research UK. Some authors declared receiving grants, personal fees, or nonfinancial support from and having other ties with several sources.

Source: McVicker L et al. Vaginal estrogen therapy use and survival in females with breast cancer. JAMA Oncol. 2023 (Nov 2). doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.4508