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Prognostic Factors in Hormone Receptor-Positive/Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Negative (HR+/HER2-) Advanced Breast Cancer: A Systematic Literature Review.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Advanced breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with several well-defined subtypes, among which, hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) is most prevalent. Determination of HR and HER2 status influences prognosis and, thus, disease management. Although literature on these prognostic factors exist, especially in the early breast cancer setting, it remains unclear to what extent these factors can guide clinical decision-making in the advanced disease setting. Therefore, we sought to identify the strength and consistency of evidence for prognostic factors in patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer.

Methods

A systematic literature review (SLR) of the major electronic databases was conducted in November 2018 for primary research studies published since 2010. Endpoints of interest were tumor response, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS).

Results

Seventy-nine studies were included wherein all patients were diagnosed with advanced breast cancer and ≥50% of the population were HR+/HER2-. OS was the most commonly assessed endpoint (n=67) followed by PFS (n=33), BCSS (n=5) and tumor response (n=3). The prognostic factors with strongest evidence of association with worse OS were negative progesterone receptor status, higher tumor grade, higher circulating tumor cell (CTC) count and higher Ki67 level, number of metastatic sites (eg multiple vs single) and sites of metastases (eg presence of liver metastases vs absence), shorter time to recurrence or progression to advanced breast cancer, poor performance status, prior therapy attributes in the early or metastatic setting (type of therapy, treatment line, response of prior therapy), and race (black vs white). The prognostic factors that had strongest evidence of association with PFS included CTC count, number and sites of metastases, and absence of prior therapy or higher lines of therapy in the early or metastatic setting. The directionality of association was consistent for all prognostic factors except between lymph node and OS, and de novo metastatic breast cancer and PFS.

Conclusion

Multiple disease, treatment, and patient-related prognostic factors impact survival, particularly OS, in patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer. Treatment outcomes can vary considerably due to these factors. Understanding poorer prognostic factors for patients can result in improved clinical decision-making.

SUBMITTER: Cuyun Carter G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8384149 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Background Poor outcomes have been widely reported for younger vs. older breast cancer patients, but whether this is due to age itself or the enrichment of aggressive clinical features remains controversial. We have evaluated the clinicopathologic characteristics and genomic profiles of real-world hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/HER2-negative (HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients to examine the determinants of outcome for younger vs. older patients in a single clinical subtype undergoing treatment in the same clinic. Patients and methods This study included patients presenting at the Peking University Cancer Hospital with primary stage IV or first-line metastatic HR+/HER2- breast cancer who consented to an additional blood draw for genomic profiling prior to treatment. Plasma samples were analyzed with a targeted 152-gene NGS panel to assess somatic circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) alterations. Genomic DNA (gDNA) extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells was analyzed for germline variants using a targeted 600-gene NGS panel. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to analyze disease free survival (DFS), progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in association with clinicopathologic and genomic variables. Results Sixty-three patients presenting with HR+/HER2- MBC were enrolled in this study. Fourteen patients were < 40 years, 19 were 40-50 years, and 30 were > 50 years at the time of primary cancer diagnosis. No significant associations were observed between age and DFS, PFS or OS. Shorter OS was associated with de novo Stage IV disease (p = 0.002), Luminal B subtype (p = 0.006), high Ki67 index (p = 0.036), resistance to adjuvant endocrine therapy (p = 0.0001) and clinical stage (p = 0.015). Reduced OS was also observed in association with somatic alterations in FGFR1 (p = 0.008), CCND2 (p = 0.012), RB1 (p = 0.029) or TP53 (p = 0.029) genes, but not in association with germline variants. Conclusion In this group of real-world HR+/HER2- MBC breast cancer patients younger age was not associated with poor outcomes. While current guidelines recommend treatment decisions based on tumor biology rather than age, young HR+ breast cancer patients are more likely to receive chemotherapy. Our findings support the development of biomarker-driven treatment strategies for these patients.

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