Project description:ObjectiveOvarian suppression is recommended to complement endocrine therapy in premenopausal women with breast cancer and high-risk features. It can be achieved by either medical ovarian suppression or therapeutic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Our objective was to evaluate characteristics of patients with stage I-III hormone receptor positive primary breast cancer who underwent bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy at our institution.Materials and methodsPremenopausal women with stage I-III hormone receptor positive primary breast cancer diagnosed between January 2010 and December 2014 were identified from a database. Patients with confirmed BRCA1/2 mutations were excluded. Distribution of characteristics between treatment groups was assessed using χ2 test and univariate logistic regression. A multivariate model was based on factors significant on univariate analysis.ResultsOf 2740 women identified, 2018 (74%) received endocrine treatment without ovarian ablation, 516 (19%) received endocrine treatment plus ovarian ablation, and 206 (7.5%) did not receive endocrine treatment. Among patients undergoing ovarian ablation 282/516 (55%) received medical ovarian suppression, while 234 (45%) underwent bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. By univariate logistic analyses, predictors for ovarian ablation were younger age (OR 0.97), histology (other vs ductal: OR 0.23), lymph node involvement (OR 1.89), higher International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage (stage II vs I: OR 1.48; stage III vs I: OR 2.86), higher grade (grade 3 vs 1: OR 3.41; grade 2 vs 1: OR 2.99), chemotherapy (OR 1.52), and more recent year of diagnosis (2014 vs 2010; OR 1.713). Only year of diagnosis, stage, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) treatment remained significant in the multivariate model. Within the cohort undergoing ovarian ablation, older age (OR 1.05) was associated with therapeutic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Of 234 undergoing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, 12 (5%) mild to moderate adverse surgical events were recorded.ConclusionsBilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is used frequently as an endocrine ablation strategy. Older age was associated with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Perioperative morbidity was acceptable. Evaluation of long-term effects and quality of life associated with endocrine ablation will help guide patient/provider decision-making.
Project description:BackgroundOvarian function suppressor (OFS) plus either tamoxifen (TAM) or aromatase inhibitor (AI) could improve the survival outcome for premenopausal hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer. However, the optimal OFS-based regimen and medication duration remain uncertain. This article aims to systematically evaluate the OFS-based adjuvant endocrine therapy for premenopausal breast cancer.MethodsWe searched several public databases from January 1980 to November 2020. A random model was adopted in this meta-analysis. We used the hazard ratio (HR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) for the statistical analysis of efficacy. The primary outcome measures included overall survival and disease-free survival.ResultsA total of 32 articles with 37,224 cases were included in this network meta-analysis. OFS+TAM improved 5-year disease-free survival (HR -0.09, 95% CI -0.16 to -0.01) and 5-year overall survival (HR -0.18, 95% CI -0.33 to -0.03) compared with TAM monotherapy. For OFS+AI, although the 5-year disease-free survival was improved (HR -0.18, 95% CI -0.29 to -0.08), the 5-year overall survival was not improved (HR -0.13, 95% CI -0.43 to 0.18). In subgroup analysis, both OFS+AI and OFS+TAM showed a protective effect in stage I-III patients compared with stage I-II patients. For the course of therapy, OFS+TAM for 2-years could achieve clinical benefit and the best course of therapy of OFS+AI still waits for further study.ConclusionsOFS+TAM might be a better option than OFS+AI for premenopausal intensive adjuvant endocrine therapy. Stage III patients are more suitable for the OFS-based therapy. For the medication duration, the 2-years course of OFS+TAM could be effective. This analysis provides helpful information for selecting therapeutic regimen in intensive adjuvant endocrine therapy and identifying the target population.
Project description:Despite meaningful, incremental improvements in detection, local treatment and adjuvant systemic treatments for breast cancer, there remains a significant risk of late relapse in hormone receptor (HR)-positive disease. 5 years of tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor for all patients with HR-positive early breast cancer is considered standard; however, there are now data to support an extended approach using up to 10 years of treatment. This review will provide some historical background on endocrine therapy and summarize the key clinical trials that demonstrate the small absolute benefit of extended adjuvant therapy. We provide suggested treatment algorithms for both premenopausal and postmenopausal patients and an overview of ongoing adjuvant trials.
Project description:There are divergent opinions regarding the use of ovarian function suppression or ablation (hereafter, OFS) in hormone receptor positive early breast cancer patients. In order to clarify the survival benefit of OFS, a meta-analysis was performed. The result is that use of OFS was more effective than no OFS on DFS (the pooled relative risk (pRR)?=?0.86; 95% CI: 0.75-0.96) and on OS (pRR?=?0.79; 95% CI: 0.70-0.89). In subgroup analysis, we found that increased DFS was positively associated with patients who had received chemotherapy (pRR?=?0.85; 95% CI: 0.74-0.96), who were lymph node negative (pRR?=?0.74; 95% CI: 0.61-0.91) and were less than 40 years old (pRR?=?0.71; 95% CI: 0.59-0.83). There was a significant difference in OS between the groups receiving chemotherapy (pRR?=?0.73; 95% CI: 0.58-0.89) or for patients less than 40 years old (pRR?=?0.52; 95% CI: 0.18-0.87). The use of OFS also produces statistical differences in the occurrence of the side-effects; severe hot flashes (pRR?=?2.32; 95% CI: 1.36-3.97), and hypertension (pRR?=?1.54; 95% CI: 1.12-2.12). In general, OFS should be considered as one treatment for hormone receptor positive premenopausal early breast cancer patients who have received chemotherapy and are less than 40 years old. We also should pay attention to the side-effects and weigh the advantages and disadvantages before deciding on using OFS.
Project description:Ovarian function suppression (OFS) benefits young women with hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer but they are at risk for ovarian function breakthrough. We assessed endocrine effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) treatment in a prospective cohort of patients aged ≤ 40 years with HR-positive breast cancer. Plasma estradiol (E2), estrone, and follicule-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were measured from blood samples drawn 1 and 4 years after diagnosis. Patient characteristics, invasive breast cancer-free survival (iBCFS), and overall survival (OS) were compared between those with and without E2 > 2.72 pg/mL during GnRHa treatment. Among eligible patients, 54.7% (46/84) and 60% (15/25) had E2 > 2.72 pg/mL at 1 and 4 years, respectively. Factors associated with E2 > 2.72 pg/mL at 1 year were no prior chemotherapy (P = 0.045) and tamoxifen use (P = 0.009). After a median follow-up of 7 years, among patients with stage I-III breast cancer (N = 74), iBCFS events were seen in 6 (8.1%) with E2 > 2.72 pg/mL and 5 (6.8%) with E2 ≤ 2.72 pg/mL (P = 0.893). Among patients with de novo metastatic breast cancer (N = 12), 6 (50%) with E2 > 2.72 pg/mL and 3 (25%) with E2 ≤ 2.72 pg/mL died during follow-up (P = 0.052). Larger studies exploring the clinical implications of incomplete E2 suppression by GnRHa are needed to ensure optimal OFS treatment strategies are being employed for this population.
Project description:BackgroundSuppression of ovarian estrogen production reduces the recurrence of hormone-receptor-positive early breast cancer in premenopausal women, but its value when added to tamoxifen is uncertain.MethodsWe randomly assigned 3066 premenopausal women, stratified according to prior receipt or nonreceipt of chemotherapy, to receive 5 years of tamoxifen, tamoxifen plus ovarian suppression, or exemestane plus ovarian suppression. The primary analysis tested the hypothesis that tamoxifen plus ovarian suppression would improve disease-free survival, as compared with tamoxifen alone. In the primary analysis, 46.7% of the patients had not received chemotherapy previously, and 53.3% had received chemotherapy and remained premenopausal.ResultsAfter a median follow-up of 67 months, the estimated disease-free survival rate at 5 years was 86.6% in the tamoxifen-ovarian suppression group and 84.7% in the tamoxifen group (hazard ratio for disease recurrence, second invasive cancer, or death, 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 1.04; P=0.10). Multivariable allowance for prognostic factors suggested a greater treatment effect with tamoxifen plus ovarian suppression than with tamoxifen alone (hazard ratio, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.62 to 0.98). Most recurrences occurred in patients who had received prior chemotherapy, among whom the rate of freedom from breast cancer at 5 years was 82.5% in the tamoxifen-ovarian suppression group and 78.0% in the tamoxifen group (hazard ratio for recurrence, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.60 to 1.02). At 5 years, the rate of freedom from breast cancer was 85.7% in the exemestane-ovarian suppression group (hazard ratio for recurrence vs. tamoxifen, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.49 to 0.87).ConclusionsAdding ovarian suppression to tamoxifen did not provide a significant benefit in the overall study population. However, for women who were at sufficient risk for recurrence to warrant adjuvant chemotherapy and who remained premenopausal, the addition of ovarian suppression improved disease outcomes. Further improvement was seen with the use of exemestane plus ovarian suppression. (Funded by Pfizer and others; SOFT ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00066690.).
Project description:BackgroundThe combination of cyclin-dependent kinases 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6is) and endocrine therapy (ET) is standard of care for patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), HER2-negative (HER2-) advanced breast cancer (BC). However, studies evaluating adjuvant CDK4/6is provided contradictory results thus far.Materials and methodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess if the addition of CDK4/6is to adjuvant ET impacts on survival's outcomes and safety of patients with HR+/HER2- early BC (EBC). This study was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and was registered in the PROSPERO database (ID: CRD42020218597). A systematic review of PubMed, Cochrane and EMBASE databases and major conference proceedings was performed up to 15 December 2020. All randomized controlled trials including patients with HR+/HER2- EBC treated with CDK4/6is plus ET versus ET alone in the adjuvant setting were included. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) for survival and safety outcomes, respectively, were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) using random effect models.ResultsWith data available from three studies (N = 12 647), the addition of CDK4/6is to adjuvant ET showed a trend for a benefit in terms of invasive disease-free survival (IDFS; HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.71-1.01; P = 0.071). No significant improvement in distant relapse-free survival was observed (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.58-1.19; P = 0.311). The risk of all-grade toxicities and early treatment discontinuation increased significantly with the addition of CDK4/6is to ET (OR 9.36, 95% CI 3.46-25.33, P < 0.001, and OR 22.11, 95% CI 9.45-51.69, P < 0.001, respectively).ConclusionThe administration of adjuvant CDK4/6is to patients with HR+/HER2- EBC showed a trend for an IDFS benefit and an increase in the risk of toxicities and treatment discontinuation. The role of adjuvant CDK4/6is remains controversial and a longer follow-up of these randomized controlled trials is needed before supporting a straightforward change in clinical practice.
Project description:The third-generation aromatase inhibitors (AIS) are largely replacing tamoxifen in the adjuvant treatment of early-stage breast cancer in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive tumours. To date, multiple trials have been conducted comparing tamoxifen treatment with an AI, and all have demonstrated improved disease-free survival with AI treatment. Trials have included direct 5-year comparisons between tamoxifen and an AI, switching to an AI within 5 years after initial tamoxifen treatment, or extending treatment with an AI after 5 years of completed tamoxifen treatment. Some of these trials have been completed; others are ongoing; and head-to-head trial comparisons of individual AIS are also in progress. The present article summarizes the data obtained from various clinical trials of hormonal therapy for early breast cancer. It also reviews recent data so as to shed light on the current status of these therapies. The focus is on the efficacy of treatment with an AI. Toxicity is discussed in the second article in this supplement.
Project description:BackgroundThe anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) monoclonal antibody trastuzumab improves outcomes in patients with node-positive HER2+ early breast cancer. Given trastuzumab's high cost, we aimed to estimate its cost-effectiveness by heterogeneity in age and estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) status, which has previously been unexplored, to assist prioritisation.Methods and findingsA cost-utility analysis was performed using a Markov macro-simulation model, with a lifetime horizon, comparing a 12-mo regimen of trastuzumab with chemotherapy alone using the latest (2014) effectiveness measures from landmark randomised trials. A New Zealand (NZ) health system perspective was adopted, employing high-quality national administrative data. Incremental quality-adjusted life-years for trastuzumab versus chemotherapy alone are two times higher (2.33 times for the age group 50-54 y; 95% CI 2.29-2.37) for the worst prognosis (ER-/PR-) subtype compared to the best prognosis (ER+/PR+) subtype, causing incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) for the former to be less than half those of the latter for the age groups from 25-29 to 90-94 y (0.44 times for the age group 50-54 y; 95% CI 0.43-0.45). If we were to strictly apply an arbitrary cost-effectiveness threshold equal to the NZ gross domestic product per capita (2011 purchasing power parity [PPP]-adjusted: US$30,300; €23,700; £21,200), our study suggests that trastuzumab (2011 PPP-adjusted US$45,400/€35,900/£21,900 for 1 y at formulary prices) may not be cost-effective for ER+ (which are 61% of all) node-positive HER2+ early breast cancer patients but cost-effective for ER-/PR- subtypes (37% of all cases) to age 69 y. Market entry of trastuzumab biosimilars will likely reduce the ICER to below this threshold for premenopausal ER+/PR- cancer but not for ER+/PR+ cancer. Sensitivity analysis using the best-case effectiveness measure for ER+ cancer had the same result. A key limitation was a lack of treatment-effect data by hormone receptor subtype. Heterogeneity was restricted to age and hormone receptor status; tumour size/grade heterogeneity could be explored in future work.ConclusionsThis study highlights how cost-effectiveness can vary greatly by heterogeneity in age and hormone receptor subtype. Resource allocation and licensing of subsidised therapies such as trastuzumab should consider demographic and clinical heterogeneity; there is currently a profound disconnect between how funding decisions are made (largely agnostic to heterogeneity) and the principles of personalised medicine.
Project description:BackgroundAdjuvant therapy with an aromatase inhibitor improves outcomes, as compared with tamoxifen, in postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer.MethodsIn two phase 3 trials, we randomly assigned premenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive early breast cancer to the aromatase inhibitor exemestane plus ovarian suppression or tamoxifen plus ovarian suppression for a period of 5 years. Suppression of ovarian estrogen production was achieved with the use of the gonadotropin-releasing-hormone agonist triptorelin, oophorectomy, or ovarian irradiation. The primary analysis combined data from 4690 patients in the two trials.ResultsAfter a median follow-up of 68 months, disease-free survival at 5 years was 91.1% in the exemestane-ovarian suppression group and 87.3% in the tamoxifen-ovarian suppression group (hazard ratio for disease recurrence, second invasive cancer, or death, 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.60 to 0.85; P<0.001). The rate of freedom from breast cancer at 5 years was 92.8% in the exemestane-ovarian suppression group, as compared with 88.8% in the tamoxifen-ovarian suppression group (hazard ratio for recurrence, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.55 to 0.80; P<0.001). With 194 deaths (4.1% of the patients), overall survival did not differ significantly between the two groups (hazard ratio for death in the exemestane-ovarian suppression group, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.86 to 1.51; P=0.37). Selected adverse events of grade 3 or 4 were reported for 30.6% of the patients in the exemestane-ovarian suppression group and 29.4% of those in the tamoxifen-ovarian suppression group, with profiles similar to those for postmenopausal women.ConclusionsIn premenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive early breast cancer, adjuvant treatment with exemestane plus ovarian suppression, as compared with tamoxifen plus ovarian suppression, significantly reduced recurrence. (Funded by Pfizer and others; TEXT and SOFT ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT00066703 and NCT00066690, respectively.).