Breast Cancer

Key clinical point: In premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer (BC), treatment with ovarian function suppression (OFS) plus tamoxifen or OFS plus an aromatase inhibitor did not reduce the risk for recurrence compared with only tamoxifen therapy.

Major finding: Compared with tamoxifen alone, aromatase inhibitor + OFS (hazard ratio  0.76; 95% CI 0.38-1.33) or tamoxifen  + OFS (hazard ratio 0.87; 95% CI 0.50-1.45) did not significantly reduce the 5-year recurrence risk. However, the 5-year recurrence risk was reduced by 31% in patients who received tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitor combined with OFS for 2 years or more vs less than 2 years (hazard ratio 0.69; 95% CI 0.54-0.90).

Study details: Findings are from a population-based, retrospective cohort study including 2647 premenopausal women with resected HR+ BC who initiated tamoxifen alone (n = 2260), tamoxifen + OFS (n = 232), or aromatase inhibitor + OFS (n = 155).

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Carole May Yates Memorial Endowment for Cancer Research. The authors did not declare any conflicts of interest.

Source: Basmadjian RB, Lupichuk S, Xu Y, Quan ML, Cheung WY, Brenner DR. Adjuvant ovarian function suppression in premenopausal hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(3):e242082 (Mar 13). doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.2082 Source

Key clinical point: In premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer (BC), treatment with ovarian function suppression (OFS) plus tamoxifen or OFS plus an aromatase inhibitor did not reduce the risk for recurrence compared with only tamoxifen therapy.

Major finding: Compared with tamoxifen alone, aromatase inhibitor + OFS (hazard ratio  0.76; 95% CI 0.38-1.33) or tamoxifen  + OFS (hazard ratio 0.87; 95% CI 0.50-1.45) did not significantly reduce the 5-year recurrence risk. However, the 5-year recurrence risk was reduced by 31% in patients who received tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitor combined with OFS for 2 years or more vs less than 2 years (hazard ratio 0.69; 95% CI 0.54-0.90).

Study details: Findings are from a population-based, retrospective cohort study including 2647 premenopausal women with resected HR+ BC who initiated tamoxifen alone (n = 2260), tamoxifen + OFS (n = 232), or aromatase inhibitor + OFS (n = 155).

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Carole May Yates Memorial Endowment for Cancer Research. The authors did not declare any conflicts of interest.

Source: Basmadjian RB, Lupichuk S, Xu Y, Quan ML, Cheung WY, Brenner DR. Adjuvant ovarian function suppression in premenopausal hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(3):e242082 (Mar 13). doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.2082 Source

Key clinical point: In premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer (BC), treatment with ovarian function suppression (OFS) plus tamoxifen or OFS plus an aromatase inhibitor did not reduce the risk for recurrence compared with only tamoxifen therapy.

Major finding: Compared with tamoxifen alone, aromatase inhibitor + OFS (hazard ratio  0.76; 95% CI 0.38-1.33) or tamoxifen  + OFS (hazard ratio 0.87; 95% CI 0.50-1.45) did not significantly reduce the 5-year recurrence risk. However, the 5-year recurrence risk was reduced by 31% in patients who received tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitor combined with OFS for 2 years or more vs less than 2 years (hazard ratio 0.69; 95% CI 0.54-0.90).

Study details: Findings are from a population-based, retrospective cohort study including 2647 premenopausal women with resected HR+ BC who initiated tamoxifen alone (n = 2260), tamoxifen + OFS (n = 232), or aromatase inhibitor + OFS (n = 155).

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Carole May Yates Memorial Endowment for Cancer Research. The authors did not declare any conflicts of interest.

Source: Basmadjian RB, Lupichuk S, Xu Y, Quan ML, Cheung WY, Brenner DR. Adjuvant ovarian function suppression in premenopausal hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(3):e242082 (Mar 13). doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.2082 Source

Key clinical point: Among patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−) breast cancer (BC), adjuvant chemotherapy failed to improve survival outcomes in older women (age ≥ 80 years) but improved prognosis in women age 65-79 years.

Major finding: Adjuvant chemotherapy did not significantly improve overall survival (OS; P = .79) and cancer-specific survival (CSS; P = .091) outcomes in patients age 80 years and older. However, in patients age 65-79 years, adjuvant chemotherapy was effective in improving OS (P < .001) but not CSS (P = .092).

Study details: This retrospective cohort study included 45,762 women with HR+/HER2− BC, age 65-79 years (n = 38,128) or 80 years and older (n = 7634) from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, of whom 20.7% and 3.8%, respectively, received adjuvant chemotherapy.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Project '100 Foreign Experts Plan of Hebei Province,' China. The authors did not declare any conflicts of interest.

Source: Ma X, Wu S, Zhang X, et al. Adjuvant chemotherapy and survival outcomes in older women with HR+/HER2- breast cancer: A propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study using the SEER database. BMJ Open. 2024;14:e078782. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-078782 Source

Key clinical point: Among patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−) breast cancer (BC), adjuvant chemotherapy failed to improve survival outcomes in older women (age ≥ 80 years) but improved prognosis in women age 65-79 years.

Major finding: Adjuvant chemotherapy did not significantly improve overall survival (OS; P = .79) and cancer-specific survival (CSS; P = .091) outcomes in patients age 80 years and older. However, in patients age 65-79 years, adjuvant chemotherapy was effective in improving OS (P < .001) but not CSS (P = .092).

Study details: This retrospective cohort study included 45,762 women with HR+/HER2− BC, age 65-79 years (n = 38,128) or 80 years and older (n = 7634) from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, of whom 20.7% and 3.8%, respectively, received adjuvant chemotherapy.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Project '100 Foreign Experts Plan of Hebei Province,' China. The authors did not declare any conflicts of interest.

Source: Ma X, Wu S, Zhang X, et al. Adjuvant chemotherapy and survival outcomes in older women with HR+/HER2- breast cancer: A propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study using the SEER database. BMJ Open. 2024;14:e078782. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-078782 Source

Key clinical point: Among patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−) breast cancer (BC), adjuvant chemotherapy failed to improve survival outcomes in older women (age ≥ 80 years) but improved prognosis in women age 65-79 years.

Major finding: Adjuvant chemotherapy did not significantly improve overall survival (OS; P = .79) and cancer-specific survival (CSS; P = .091) outcomes in patients age 80 years and older. However, in patients age 65-79 years, adjuvant chemotherapy was effective in improving OS (P < .001) but not CSS (P = .092).

Study details: This retrospective cohort study included 45,762 women with HR+/HER2− BC, age 65-79 years (n = 38,128) or 80 years and older (n = 7634) from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, of whom 20.7% and 3.8%, respectively, received adjuvant chemotherapy.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Project '100 Foreign Experts Plan of Hebei Province,' China. The authors did not declare any conflicts of interest.

Source: Ma X, Wu S, Zhang X, et al. Adjuvant chemotherapy and survival outcomes in older women with HR+/HER2- breast cancer: A propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study using the SEER database. BMJ Open. 2024;14:e078782. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-078782 Source

Key clinical point: Exposure to antibiotics during neoadjuvant pembrolizumab treatment was associated with a high residual cancer burden (RCB) in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−), stage II or III breast cancer (BC).

Major finding: During pembrolizumab treatment, antibiotic use was significantly correlated with RCB index (RCB index-coefficient 0.86; P = .01) and was associated with a higher mean RCB index compared with no use of antibiotics (1.80 vs 1.08).

Study details: This secondary analysis of the phase 2 I-SPY2 trial included 66 patients with HER2− stage II or III BC treated with pembrolizumab plus paclitaxel followed by doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide, of which 27% of patients concurrently used antibiotics.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any funding. Amit A. Kulkarni declared receiving institutional research funding and serving on advisory boards for various sources. The other authors declared no competing interests.

Source: Kulkarni AA, Jain A, Jewett PI, et al, and the ISPY2 Consortium. Association of antibiotic exposure with residual cancer burden in HER2-negative early stage breast cancer. NPJ Breast Cancer. 2024;10:24 (Mar 26). doi: 10.1038/s41523-024-00630-w  Source

Key clinical point: Exposure to antibiotics during neoadjuvant pembrolizumab treatment was associated with a high residual cancer burden (RCB) in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−), stage II or III breast cancer (BC).

Major finding: During pembrolizumab treatment, antibiotic use was significantly correlated with RCB index (RCB index-coefficient 0.86; P = .01) and was associated with a higher mean RCB index compared with no use of antibiotics (1.80 vs 1.08).

Study details: This secondary analysis of the phase 2 I-SPY2 trial included 66 patients with HER2− stage II or III BC treated with pembrolizumab plus paclitaxel followed by doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide, of which 27% of patients concurrently used antibiotics.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any funding. Amit A. Kulkarni declared receiving institutional research funding and serving on advisory boards for various sources. The other authors declared no competing interests.

Source: Kulkarni AA, Jain A, Jewett PI, et al, and the ISPY2 Consortium. Association of antibiotic exposure with residual cancer burden in HER2-negative early stage breast cancer. NPJ Breast Cancer. 2024;10:24 (Mar 26). doi: 10.1038/s41523-024-00630-w  Source

Key clinical point: Exposure to antibiotics during neoadjuvant pembrolizumab treatment was associated with a high residual cancer burden (RCB) in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−), stage II or III breast cancer (BC).

Major finding: During pembrolizumab treatment, antibiotic use was significantly correlated with RCB index (RCB index-coefficient 0.86; P = .01) and was associated with a higher mean RCB index compared with no use of antibiotics (1.80 vs 1.08).

Study details: This secondary analysis of the phase 2 I-SPY2 trial included 66 patients with HER2− stage II or III BC treated with pembrolizumab plus paclitaxel followed by doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide, of which 27% of patients concurrently used antibiotics.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any funding. Amit A. Kulkarni declared receiving institutional research funding and serving on advisory boards for various sources. The other authors declared no competing interests.

Source: Kulkarni AA, Jain A, Jewett PI, et al, and the ISPY2 Consortium. Association of antibiotic exposure with residual cancer burden in HER2-negative early stage breast cancer. NPJ Breast Cancer. 2024;10:24 (Mar 26). doi: 10.1038/s41523-024-00630-w  Source

Key clinical point: Patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer (BC) who underwent radiation therapy were at a significantly higher risk of developing nonkeratinocyte skin cancers, particularly melanoma and hemangiosarcoma.

Major finding: Compared with the general population, the risk for nonkeratinocyte skin cancer in the skin of the breast or trunk was 57% higher (standardized incidence ratio [SIR] 1.57; 95% CI 1.45-1.7) after BC treatment with radiation therapy, with a 1.37-fold higher risk for melanoma (SIR 1.37; 95% CI 1.25-1.49) and 27.11-fold higher risk for hemangiosarcoma (SIR 27.11; 95% CI 21.6-33.61).

Study details: This population-based cohort study included 875,880 patients with newly diagnosed BC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database of which 50.3% of patients received radiation therapy.

Disclosures: This study did not declare any specific funding. Shawheen J. Rezaei declared being supported by Stanford University School of Medicine. Bernice Y. Kwong declared receiving personal fees from Novocure, Genentech, and Novartis. No other conflicts of interest were reported.

Source: Rezaei SJ, Eid E, Tang JY, et al. Incidence of nonkeratinocyte skin cancer after breast cancer radiation therapy. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(3):e241632 (Mar 8). doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.1632 Source

Key clinical point: Patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer (BC) who underwent radiation therapy were at a significantly higher risk of developing nonkeratinocyte skin cancers, particularly melanoma and hemangiosarcoma.

Major finding: Compared with the general population, the risk for nonkeratinocyte skin cancer in the skin of the breast or trunk was 57% higher (standardized incidence ratio [SIR] 1.57; 95% CI 1.45-1.7) after BC treatment with radiation therapy, with a 1.37-fold higher risk for melanoma (SIR 1.37; 95% CI 1.25-1.49) and 27.11-fold higher risk for hemangiosarcoma (SIR 27.11; 95% CI 21.6-33.61).

Study details: This population-based cohort study included 875,880 patients with newly diagnosed BC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database of which 50.3% of patients received radiation therapy.

Disclosures: This study did not declare any specific funding. Shawheen J. Rezaei declared being supported by Stanford University School of Medicine. Bernice Y. Kwong declared receiving personal fees from Novocure, Genentech, and Novartis. No other conflicts of interest were reported.

Source: Rezaei SJ, Eid E, Tang JY, et al. Incidence of nonkeratinocyte skin cancer after breast cancer radiation therapy. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(3):e241632 (Mar 8). doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.1632 Source

Key clinical point: Patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer (BC) who underwent radiation therapy were at a significantly higher risk of developing nonkeratinocyte skin cancers, particularly melanoma and hemangiosarcoma.

Major finding: Compared with the general population, the risk for nonkeratinocyte skin cancer in the skin of the breast or trunk was 57% higher (standardized incidence ratio [SIR] 1.57; 95% CI 1.45-1.7) after BC treatment with radiation therapy, with a 1.37-fold higher risk for melanoma (SIR 1.37; 95% CI 1.25-1.49) and 27.11-fold higher risk for hemangiosarcoma (SIR 27.11; 95% CI 21.6-33.61).

Study details: This population-based cohort study included 875,880 patients with newly diagnosed BC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database of which 50.3% of patients received radiation therapy.

Disclosures: This study did not declare any specific funding. Shawheen J. Rezaei declared being supported by Stanford University School of Medicine. Bernice Y. Kwong declared receiving personal fees from Novocure, Genentech, and Novartis. No other conflicts of interest were reported.

Source: Rezaei SJ, Eid E, Tang JY, et al. Incidence of nonkeratinocyte skin cancer after breast cancer radiation therapy. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(3):e241632 (Mar 8). doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.1632 Source

Key clinical point: MRI response can be used to identify patients with hormone receptor-negative (HR−), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer (BC) who may only require three cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy to achieve pathological complete response (pCR).

Major finding: After one to three cycles of chemotherapy, nearly one third of patients with HR−/HER2+ BC achieved radiological complete response (36%; 95% CI 30%-43%), of whom the majority of patients achieved pCR (88%; 95% CI 79%-94%). No treatment-related deaths were reported.

Study details: This phase 2 TRAIN-3 trial included 235 and 232 patients with stages II-III HR−/HER2+ and HR+/HER2+ BC, respectively, who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy once every 3 weeks for up to nine cycles and whose response was monitored using breast MRI after every three cycles and lymph node biopsy.

Disclosures: This study received unrestricted financial support from Roche Netherlands. Two authors declared receiving institutional research funding from or having other ties with various sources, including Roche.

Source: van der Voort A, Louis FM, van Ramshorst MS, et al, on behalf of the Dutch Breast Cancer Research Group. MRI-guided optimisation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy duration in stage II–III HER2-positive breast cancer (TRAIN-3): A multicentre, single-arm, phase 2 study. Lancet Oncol. 2024 (Apr 5). doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00104-9 Source

Key clinical point: MRI response can be used to identify patients with hormone receptor-negative (HR−), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer (BC) who may only require three cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy to achieve pathological complete response (pCR).

Major finding: After one to three cycles of chemotherapy, nearly one third of patients with HR−/HER2+ BC achieved radiological complete response (36%; 95% CI 30%-43%), of whom the majority of patients achieved pCR (88%; 95% CI 79%-94%). No treatment-related deaths were reported.

Study details: This phase 2 TRAIN-3 trial included 235 and 232 patients with stages II-III HR−/HER2+ and HR+/HER2+ BC, respectively, who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy once every 3 weeks for up to nine cycles and whose response was monitored using breast MRI after every three cycles and lymph node biopsy.

Disclosures: This study received unrestricted financial support from Roche Netherlands. Two authors declared receiving institutional research funding from or having other ties with various sources, including Roche.

Source: van der Voort A, Louis FM, van Ramshorst MS, et al, on behalf of the Dutch Breast Cancer Research Group. MRI-guided optimisation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy duration in stage II–III HER2-positive breast cancer (TRAIN-3): A multicentre, single-arm, phase 2 study. Lancet Oncol. 2024 (Apr 5). doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00104-9 Source

Key clinical point: MRI response can be used to identify patients with hormone receptor-negative (HR−), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer (BC) who may only require three cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy to achieve pathological complete response (pCR).

Major finding: After one to three cycles of chemotherapy, nearly one third of patients with HR−/HER2+ BC achieved radiological complete response (36%; 95% CI 30%-43%), of whom the majority of patients achieved pCR (88%; 95% CI 79%-94%). No treatment-related deaths were reported.

Study details: This phase 2 TRAIN-3 trial included 235 and 232 patients with stages II-III HR−/HER2+ and HR+/HER2+ BC, respectively, who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy once every 3 weeks for up to nine cycles and whose response was monitored using breast MRI after every three cycles and lymph node biopsy.

Disclosures: This study received unrestricted financial support from Roche Netherlands. Two authors declared receiving institutional research funding from or having other ties with various sources, including Roche.

Source: van der Voort A, Louis FM, van Ramshorst MS, et al, on behalf of the Dutch Breast Cancer Research Group. MRI-guided optimisation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy duration in stage II–III HER2-positive breast cancer (TRAIN-3): A multicentre, single-arm, phase 2 study. Lancet Oncol. 2024 (Apr 5). doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00104-9 Source

Key clinical point: In patients with breast cancer (BC), premastectomy radiotherapy (PreMRT) followed by mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction (IMBR) is feasible, safe, and shortens the time required for breast reconstruction.

Major finding: At a median follow-up of 29.7 months, there were no complete flap losses, locoregional recurrences, distant metastases, or deaths in the 48 patients who completed mastectomy with IMBR. Patients could undergo mastectomy with IMBR as early as 3 weeks (median 23 days) after completing radiotherapy. No grade 3-4 radiotherapy-related toxic effect or discontinuation of radiotherapy was reported.

Study details: The study enrolled 49 patients with T0-T3, N0-N3b, M0 BC from the phase 2 SAPHIRE trial who received PreMRT and were randomly assigned to receive hypofractionated or conventionally fractionated regional nodal irradiation, followed by mastectomy and IMBR.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the US National Institutes of Health and others. Five authors declared receiving grants from or having other ties with various sources.

Source: Schaverien MV, Singh P, Smith BD, et al. Premastectomy radiotherapy and immediate breast reconstruction: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(4):e245217 (Apr 5). doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.5217 Source

Key clinical point: In patients with breast cancer (BC), premastectomy radiotherapy (PreMRT) followed by mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction (IMBR) is feasible, safe, and shortens the time required for breast reconstruction.

Major finding: At a median follow-up of 29.7 months, there were no complete flap losses, locoregional recurrences, distant metastases, or deaths in the 48 patients who completed mastectomy with IMBR. Patients could undergo mastectomy with IMBR as early as 3 weeks (median 23 days) after completing radiotherapy. No grade 3-4 radiotherapy-related toxic effect or discontinuation of radiotherapy was reported.

Study details: The study enrolled 49 patients with T0-T3, N0-N3b, M0 BC from the phase 2 SAPHIRE trial who received PreMRT and were randomly assigned to receive hypofractionated or conventionally fractionated regional nodal irradiation, followed by mastectomy and IMBR.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the US National Institutes of Health and others. Five authors declared receiving grants from or having other ties with various sources.

Source: Schaverien MV, Singh P, Smith BD, et al. Premastectomy radiotherapy and immediate breast reconstruction: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(4):e245217 (Apr 5). doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.5217 Source

Key clinical point: In patients with breast cancer (BC), premastectomy radiotherapy (PreMRT) followed by mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction (IMBR) is feasible, safe, and shortens the time required for breast reconstruction.

Major finding: At a median follow-up of 29.7 months, there were no complete flap losses, locoregional recurrences, distant metastases, or deaths in the 48 patients who completed mastectomy with IMBR. Patients could undergo mastectomy with IMBR as early as 3 weeks (median 23 days) after completing radiotherapy. No grade 3-4 radiotherapy-related toxic effect or discontinuation of radiotherapy was reported.

Study details: The study enrolled 49 patients with T0-T3, N0-N3b, M0 BC from the phase 2 SAPHIRE trial who received PreMRT and were randomly assigned to receive hypofractionated or conventionally fractionated regional nodal irradiation, followed by mastectomy and IMBR.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the US National Institutes of Health and others. Five authors declared receiving grants from or having other ties with various sources.

Source: Schaverien MV, Singh P, Smith BD, et al. Premastectomy radiotherapy and immediate breast reconstruction: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(4):e245217 (Apr 5). doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.5217 Source

Key clinical point: Higher levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in breast cancer tissue was associated with improved survival outcomes in patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who received locoregional therapy but no adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Major finding: At a median follow-up of 18 years, each 10% increase in TIL levels was associated with significantly improved invasive disease-free survival (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.92; 95% CI 0.89-0.94), overall survival (aHR 0.88; 95% CI 0.85-0.91), and recurrence-free survival outcomes (aHR 0.90; 95% CI 0.87-0.92).

Study details: This retrospective pooled analysis included 1966 patients with early-stage TNBC (stage I TNBC, 55%) who underwent surgery with or without radiotherapy but no adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Disclosures: This study was partly supported by grants from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and others. Several authors declared ties with various sources.

Source: Leon-Ferre RA, Jonas SF, Salgado R, et al, for the International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in triple-negative breast cancer. JAMA. 2024;331:1135-1144 (Apr 2). doi: 10.1001/jama.2024.3056 Source

Key clinical point: Higher levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in breast cancer tissue was associated with improved survival outcomes in patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who received locoregional therapy but no adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Major finding: At a median follow-up of 18 years, each 10% increase in TIL levels was associated with significantly improved invasive disease-free survival (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.92; 95% CI 0.89-0.94), overall survival (aHR 0.88; 95% CI 0.85-0.91), and recurrence-free survival outcomes (aHR 0.90; 95% CI 0.87-0.92).

Study details: This retrospective pooled analysis included 1966 patients with early-stage TNBC (stage I TNBC, 55%) who underwent surgery with or without radiotherapy but no adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Disclosures: This study was partly supported by grants from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and others. Several authors declared ties with various sources.

Source: Leon-Ferre RA, Jonas SF, Salgado R, et al, for the International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in triple-negative breast cancer. JAMA. 2024;331:1135-1144 (Apr 2). doi: 10.1001/jama.2024.3056 Source

Key clinical point: Higher levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in breast cancer tissue was associated with improved survival outcomes in patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who received locoregional therapy but no adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Major finding: At a median follow-up of 18 years, each 10% increase in TIL levels was associated with significantly improved invasive disease-free survival (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.92; 95% CI 0.89-0.94), overall survival (aHR 0.88; 95% CI 0.85-0.91), and recurrence-free survival outcomes (aHR 0.90; 95% CI 0.87-0.92).

Study details: This retrospective pooled analysis included 1966 patients with early-stage TNBC (stage I TNBC, 55%) who underwent surgery with or without radiotherapy but no adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Disclosures: This study was partly supported by grants from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and others. Several authors declared ties with various sources.

Source: Leon-Ferre RA, Jonas SF, Salgado R, et al, for the International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in triple-negative breast cancer. JAMA. 2024;331:1135-1144 (Apr 2). doi: 10.1001/jama.2024.3056 Source

Key clinical point: Ribociclib plus a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor (NSAI) vs NSAI alone for 3 years significantly improved invasive disease-free survival in patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−) early breast cancer (BC).

Major finding: At 3 years, ribociclib + NSAI vs NSAI alone led to a 25.2% lower risk for invasive disease, recurrence, or death (hazard ratio 0.75; two-sided P = .003), with an absolute invasive disease-free survival benefit of 3.3% (90.4% vs 87.1%). No new safety signals were reported.

Study details: This prespecified interim analysis of the phase 3 NATALEE trial included 5101 patients with HR+/HER2− stage II or III early BC who were randomly assigned to receive ribociclib (dosage 400 mg/day for 21 consecutive days followed by 7 days off; duration 36 months) in combination with an NSAI or NSAI alone.

Disclosures: The trial was funded by Novartis. Six authors declared being employees of or holding stocks in Novartis. Several authors declared ties with various sources, including Novartis.

Source: Slamon D, Lipatov O, Nowecki Z, et al. Ribociclib plus endocrine therapy in early breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2024;390:1080-1091 (Mar 20). doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2305488 Source

Key clinical point: Ribociclib plus a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor (NSAI) vs NSAI alone for 3 years significantly improved invasive disease-free survival in patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−) early breast cancer (BC).

Major finding: At 3 years, ribociclib + NSAI vs NSAI alone led to a 25.2% lower risk for invasive disease, recurrence, or death (hazard ratio 0.75; two-sided P = .003), with an absolute invasive disease-free survival benefit of 3.3% (90.4% vs 87.1%). No new safety signals were reported.

Study details: This prespecified interim analysis of the phase 3 NATALEE trial included 5101 patients with HR+/HER2− stage II or III early BC who were randomly assigned to receive ribociclib (dosage 400 mg/day for 21 consecutive days followed by 7 days off; duration 36 months) in combination with an NSAI or NSAI alone.

Disclosures: The trial was funded by Novartis. Six authors declared being employees of or holding stocks in Novartis. Several authors declared ties with various sources, including Novartis.

Source: Slamon D, Lipatov O, Nowecki Z, et al. Ribociclib plus endocrine therapy in early breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2024;390:1080-1091 (Mar 20). doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2305488 Source

Key clinical point: Ribociclib plus a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor (NSAI) vs NSAI alone for 3 years significantly improved invasive disease-free survival in patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−) early breast cancer (BC).

Major finding: At 3 years, ribociclib + NSAI vs NSAI alone led to a 25.2% lower risk for invasive disease, recurrence, or death (hazard ratio 0.75; two-sided P = .003), with an absolute invasive disease-free survival benefit of 3.3% (90.4% vs 87.1%). No new safety signals were reported.

Study details: This prespecified interim analysis of the phase 3 NATALEE trial included 5101 patients with HR+/HER2− stage II or III early BC who were randomly assigned to receive ribociclib (dosage 400 mg/day for 21 consecutive days followed by 7 days off; duration 36 months) in combination with an NSAI or NSAI alone.

Disclosures: The trial was funded by Novartis. Six authors declared being employees of or holding stocks in Novartis. Several authors declared ties with various sources, including Novartis.

Source: Slamon D, Lipatov O, Nowecki Z, et al. Ribociclib plus endocrine therapy in early breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2024;390:1080-1091 (Mar 20). doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2305488 Source

Key clinical point: Recurrence-free survival after sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) yielded noninferior outcomes compared to complete axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer (BC) and one or two sentinel-node macrometastases.

Major finding: The estimated 5-year recurrence-free survival was comparable in the SLNB alone vs completion ALND group (89.7% [95% CI 87.5%-91.9%] vs 88.7% [95% CI 86.3%-91.1%]), with the hazard ratio for recurrence or death being significantly below the noninferiority margin (0.89; P < .001 for non-inferiority).

Study details: Findings are from the noninferiority trial, SENOMAC, which included 2540 patients with clinically node-negative primary T1 to T3 BC with one or two sentinel lymph-node macrometastases who were randomly assigned to undergo SLNB alone (n = 1335) or completion ALND (n = 1205).

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Swedish Research Council and others. Oreste D. Gentilini declared serving as a consultant for various sources. The other authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: de Boniface J, Tvedskov TF, Rydén L, et al, for the SENOMAC Trialists’ Group. Omitting axillary dissection in breast cancer with sentinel-node metastases. N Engl J Med. 2024;390:1163-1175 (Apr 3). doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2313487 Source

Key clinical point: Recurrence-free survival after sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) yielded noninferior outcomes compared to complete axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer (BC) and one or two sentinel-node macrometastases.

Major finding: The estimated 5-year recurrence-free survival was comparable in the SLNB alone vs completion ALND group (89.7% [95% CI 87.5%-91.9%] vs 88.7% [95% CI 86.3%-91.1%]), with the hazard ratio for recurrence or death being significantly below the noninferiority margin (0.89; P < .001 for non-inferiority).

Study details: Findings are from the noninferiority trial, SENOMAC, which included 2540 patients with clinically node-negative primary T1 to T3 BC with one or two sentinel lymph-node macrometastases who were randomly assigned to undergo SLNB alone (n = 1335) or completion ALND (n = 1205).

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Swedish Research Council and others. Oreste D. Gentilini declared serving as a consultant for various sources. The other authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: de Boniface J, Tvedskov TF, Rydén L, et al, for the SENOMAC Trialists’ Group. Omitting axillary dissection in breast cancer with sentinel-node metastases. N Engl J Med. 2024;390:1163-1175 (Apr 3). doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2313487 Source

Key clinical point: Recurrence-free survival after sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) yielded noninferior outcomes compared to complete axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer (BC) and one or two sentinel-node macrometastases.

Major finding: The estimated 5-year recurrence-free survival was comparable in the SLNB alone vs completion ALND group (89.7% [95% CI 87.5%-91.9%] vs 88.7% [95% CI 86.3%-91.1%]), with the hazard ratio for recurrence or death being significantly below the noninferiority margin (0.89; P < .001 for non-inferiority).

Study details: Findings are from the noninferiority trial, SENOMAC, which included 2540 patients with clinically node-negative primary T1 to T3 BC with one or two sentinel lymph-node macrometastases who were randomly assigned to undergo SLNB alone (n = 1335) or completion ALND (n = 1205).

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Swedish Research Council and others. Oreste D. Gentilini declared serving as a consultant for various sources. The other authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: de Boniface J, Tvedskov TF, Rydén L, et al, for the SENOMAC Trialists’ Group. Omitting axillary dissection in breast cancer with sentinel-node metastases. N Engl J Med. 2024;390:1163-1175 (Apr 3). doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2313487 Source

TOPLINE:

Omitting axillary lymph node dissection does not increase the risk for recurrence or compromise 5-year overall survival outcomes in patients with early-stage, node-negative breast cancer with sentinel-node metastases undergoing surgery and radiation therapy.

METHODOLOGY:

• A growing body of evidence has indicated that patients with one or two positive sentinel nodes undergoing breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy can skip axillary lymph node dissection and achieve similar outcomes compared with patients receiving axillary dissection.
• However, these earlier studies had notable limitations, such as limited statistical power, uncertain nodal radiotherapy target volumes, and minimal data on relevant clinical subgroups.
• To fill the gaps in the literature, the researchers conducted a trial with a large, inclusive cohort of patients with node-negative stage T1-T3 breast cancer who had one or two sentinel-node macrometastases and had undergone a mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery.
• The trial randomized 2540 patients to either completion axillary lymph node dissection (n = 1205) or sentinel-node biopsy only (n = 1335). Nearly 90% of patients received adjuvant radiation therapy, and the majority also received systematic therapy.
• Earlier recurrence-free survival findings and patient-reported outcomes were reported last December. The researchers now reported overall survival findings as well as secondary endpoints of breast cancer-specific survival.

TAKEAWAY:

• The researchers reported 191 recurrences or deaths over a median follow-up of 46.8 months; 62 patients (4.6%) in the sentinel-node biopsy–only group died, and 69 patients (5.7%) in the dissection group died.
• The biopsy-only group had an estimated 5-year overall survival of 92.9% compared with 92.0% in the dissection group and an estimated 5-year breast cancer-specific survival of 97.1% vs 96.6% in the dissection group.
• The estimated 5-year recurrence-free survival was 89.7% in the biopsy-only group vs 88.7% in the dissection group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.89; 95% CI, 0.66-1.19).
• This non-inferior difference held across all prespecified patient subgroups, except in patients with estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–positive disease, in which sentinel biopsy alone appeared to be better (HR, 0.26).

IN PRACTICE:

“This trial provides robust evidence that the omission of completion axillary-lymph-node dissection was safe in patients with clinically node-negative T1, T2, or T3 breast cancer and one or two sentinel-node macrometastases who received adjuvant systemic treatment and radiation therapy according to national guidelines,” the authors concluded.

“It is clear that the role of axillary dissection is rapidly disappearing,” Kandace P. McGuire, MD, of Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, wrote in an accompanying editorial. “However, axillary staging continues to be vital with regard to decisions about appropriate breast cancer therapy.”

SOURCE:

This work, led by Jana de Boniface, MD, PhD, from Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, was published online in The New England Journal of Medicine, alongside the accompanying editorial by Dr. McGuire.

LIMITATIONS:

The study limitations include unavailable radiation therapy details for comparison, low male recruitment hindering sex-based analysis, short follow-up for luminal subtype breast cancer, unmet enrollment targets, and higher withdrawal rates in the dissection group.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was supported by the Swedish Research Council, Swedish Cancer Society, Nordic Cancer Union, and Swedish Breast Cancer Association. One coauthor reported receiving consultancy fees from various pharmaceutical companies outside this work.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Omitting axillary lymph node dissection does not increase the risk for recurrence or compromise 5-year overall survival outcomes in patients with early-stage, node-negative breast cancer with sentinel-node metastases undergoing surgery and radiation therapy.

METHODOLOGY:

• A growing body of evidence has indicated that patients with one or two positive sentinel nodes undergoing breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy can skip axillary lymph node dissection and achieve similar outcomes compared with patients receiving axillary dissection.
• However, these earlier studies had notable limitations, such as limited statistical power, uncertain nodal radiotherapy target volumes, and minimal data on relevant clinical subgroups.
• To fill the gaps in the literature, the researchers conducted a trial with a large, inclusive cohort of patients with node-negative stage T1-T3 breast cancer who had one or two sentinel-node macrometastases and had undergone a mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery.
• The trial randomized 2540 patients to either completion axillary lymph node dissection (n = 1205) or sentinel-node biopsy only (n = 1335). Nearly 90% of patients received adjuvant radiation therapy, and the majority also received systematic therapy.
• Earlier recurrence-free survival findings and patient-reported outcomes were reported last December. The researchers now reported overall survival findings as well as secondary endpoints of breast cancer-specific survival.

TAKEAWAY:

• The researchers reported 191 recurrences or deaths over a median follow-up of 46.8 months; 62 patients (4.6%) in the sentinel-node biopsy–only group died, and 69 patients (5.7%) in the dissection group died.
• The biopsy-only group had an estimated 5-year overall survival of 92.9% compared with 92.0% in the dissection group and an estimated 5-year breast cancer-specific survival of 97.1% vs 96.6% in the dissection group.
• The estimated 5-year recurrence-free survival was 89.7% in the biopsy-only group vs 88.7% in the dissection group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.89; 95% CI, 0.66-1.19).
• This non-inferior difference held across all prespecified patient subgroups, except in patients with estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–positive disease, in which sentinel biopsy alone appeared to be better (HR, 0.26).

IN PRACTICE:

“This trial provides robust evidence that the omission of completion axillary-lymph-node dissection was safe in patients with clinically node-negative T1, T2, or T3 breast cancer and one or two sentinel-node macrometastases who received adjuvant systemic treatment and radiation therapy according to national guidelines,” the authors concluded.

“It is clear that the role of axillary dissection is rapidly disappearing,” Kandace P. McGuire, MD, of Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, wrote in an accompanying editorial. “However, axillary staging continues to be vital with regard to decisions about appropriate breast cancer therapy.”

SOURCE:

This work, led by Jana de Boniface, MD, PhD, from Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, was published online in The New England Journal of Medicine, alongside the accompanying editorial by Dr. McGuire.

LIMITATIONS:

The study limitations include unavailable radiation therapy details for comparison, low male recruitment hindering sex-based analysis, short follow-up for luminal subtype breast cancer, unmet enrollment targets, and higher withdrawal rates in the dissection group.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was supported by the Swedish Research Council, Swedish Cancer Society, Nordic Cancer Union, and Swedish Breast Cancer Association. One coauthor reported receiving consultancy fees from various pharmaceutical companies outside this work.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Omitting axillary lymph node dissection does not increase the risk for recurrence or compromise 5-year overall survival outcomes in patients with early-stage, node-negative breast cancer with sentinel-node metastases undergoing surgery and radiation therapy.

METHODOLOGY:

• A growing body of evidence has indicated that patients with one or two positive sentinel nodes undergoing breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy can skip axillary lymph node dissection and achieve similar outcomes compared with patients receiving axillary dissection.
• However, these earlier studies had notable limitations, such as limited statistical power, uncertain nodal radiotherapy target volumes, and minimal data on relevant clinical subgroups.
• To fill the gaps in the literature, the researchers conducted a trial with a large, inclusive cohort of patients with node-negative stage T1-T3 breast cancer who had one or two sentinel-node macrometastases and had undergone a mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery.
• The trial randomized 2540 patients to either completion axillary lymph node dissection (n = 1205) or sentinel-node biopsy only (n = 1335). Nearly 90% of patients received adjuvant radiation therapy, and the majority also received systematic therapy.
• Earlier recurrence-free survival findings and patient-reported outcomes were reported last December. The researchers now reported overall survival findings as well as secondary endpoints of breast cancer-specific survival.

TAKEAWAY:

• The researchers reported 191 recurrences or deaths over a median follow-up of 46.8 months; 62 patients (4.6%) in the sentinel-node biopsy–only group died, and 69 patients (5.7%) in the dissection group died.
• The biopsy-only group had an estimated 5-year overall survival of 92.9% compared with 92.0% in the dissection group and an estimated 5-year breast cancer-specific survival of 97.1% vs 96.6% in the dissection group.
• The estimated 5-year recurrence-free survival was 89.7% in the biopsy-only group vs 88.7% in the dissection group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.89; 95% CI, 0.66-1.19).
• This non-inferior difference held across all prespecified patient subgroups, except in patients with estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–positive disease, in which sentinel biopsy alone appeared to be better (HR, 0.26).

IN PRACTICE:

“This trial provides robust evidence that the omission of completion axillary-lymph-node dissection was safe in patients with clinically node-negative T1, T2, or T3 breast cancer and one or two sentinel-node macrometastases who received adjuvant systemic treatment and radiation therapy according to national guidelines,” the authors concluded.

“It is clear that the role of axillary dissection is rapidly disappearing,” Kandace P. McGuire, MD, of Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, wrote in an accompanying editorial. “However, axillary staging continues to be vital with regard to decisions about appropriate breast cancer therapy.”

SOURCE:

This work, led by Jana de Boniface, MD, PhD, from Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, was published online in The New England Journal of Medicine, alongside the accompanying editorial by Dr. McGuire.

LIMITATIONS:

The study limitations include unavailable radiation therapy details for comparison, low male recruitment hindering sex-based analysis, short follow-up for luminal subtype breast cancer, unmet enrollment targets, and higher withdrawal rates in the dissection group.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was supported by the Swedish Research Council, Swedish Cancer Society, Nordic Cancer Union, and Swedish Breast Cancer Association. One coauthor reported receiving consultancy fees from various pharmaceutical companies outside this work.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.