Article

Key clinical point: In patients with stage II/III estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer (BC), neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) with aromatase inhibitors downstaged a fair proportion of tumors to allow breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and resulted in low local-regional recurrence rates.

Major finding: After receiving neoadjuvant ET, local-regional recurrence rates were low (1.53%) and 50.4% of the 226 patients who were thought to require a mastectomy or have an inoperable BC underwent BCS.

Study details: Findings are from an analysis of the phase 2, American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z1031 trial including 509 postmenopausal women with invasive, stage II/III, ER+ BC who received exemestane, anastrozole, or letrozole for 16-18 weeks.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the US National Institutes of Health. The authors declared serving as employees, consultants, or advisors or receiving research funding from various sources.

Source: Hunt KK et al. Local-regional recurrence after neoadjuvant endocrine therapy: Data from ACOSOG Z1031 (Alliance), a randomized phase 2 neoadjuvant comparison between letrozole, anastrozole, and exemestane for postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive clinical stage 2 or 3 breast cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 (Jan 18). Doi: 10.1245/s10434-022-12972-5

Key clinical point: In patients with stage II/III estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer (BC), neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) with aromatase inhibitors downstaged a fair proportion of tumors to allow breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and resulted in low local-regional recurrence rates.

Major finding: After receiving neoadjuvant ET, local-regional recurrence rates were low (1.53%) and 50.4% of the 226 patients who were thought to require a mastectomy or have an inoperable BC underwent BCS.

Study details: Findings are from an analysis of the phase 2, American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z1031 trial including 509 postmenopausal women with invasive, stage II/III, ER+ BC who received exemestane, anastrozole, or letrozole for 16-18 weeks.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the US National Institutes of Health. The authors declared serving as employees, consultants, or advisors or receiving research funding from various sources.

Source: Hunt KK et al. Local-regional recurrence after neoadjuvant endocrine therapy: Data from ACOSOG Z1031 (Alliance), a randomized phase 2 neoadjuvant comparison between letrozole, anastrozole, and exemestane for postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive clinical stage 2 or 3 breast cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 (Jan 18). Doi: 10.1245/s10434-022-12972-5

Key clinical point: In patients with stage II/III estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer (BC), neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) with aromatase inhibitors downstaged a fair proportion of tumors to allow breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and resulted in low local-regional recurrence rates.

Major finding: After receiving neoadjuvant ET, local-regional recurrence rates were low (1.53%) and 50.4% of the 226 patients who were thought to require a mastectomy or have an inoperable BC underwent BCS.

Study details: Findings are from an analysis of the phase 2, American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z1031 trial including 509 postmenopausal women with invasive, stage II/III, ER+ BC who received exemestane, anastrozole, or letrozole for 16-18 weeks.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the US National Institutes of Health. The authors declared serving as employees, consultants, or advisors or receiving research funding from various sources.

Source: Hunt KK et al. Local-regional recurrence after neoadjuvant endocrine therapy: Data from ACOSOG Z1031 (Alliance), a randomized phase 2 neoadjuvant comparison between letrozole, anastrozole, and exemestane for postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive clinical stage 2 or 3 breast cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 (Jan 18). Doi: 10.1245/s10434-022-12972-5

Key clinical point: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) with nab-paclitaxel plus pembrolizumab followed by epirubicin/cyclophosphamide demonstrated encouraging pathological complete response (pCR) rates and an acceptable safety profile in patients with early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Major finding: The pCR rate was 66.0% in patients who received nab-paclitaxel containing NACT+ pembrolizumab, and high pCR rates were observed in both groups of patients who did (59.6%) and did not (73.9%) receive prechemotherapy single dose of pembrolizumab. Neutropenia (26.4%), fever (11.3%), and other blood and lymphatic system disorders (9.4%) were the most common grade 3/4 adverse events.

Study details: Findings are from the phase 2, NeoImmunoboost trial including 50 patients with primary nonmetastatic TNBC who received nab-paclitaxel+pembrolizumab followed by epirubicin/cyclophosphamide+pembrolizumab.

Disclosures: This study was partially funded by Merck Sharp & Dohme and other sources. Some authors declared participating on advisory boards for or receiving honoraria, research grants, or travel support from several sources.

Source: Fasching PA, Hein A, et al. Pembrolizumab in combination with nab-paclitaxel for the treatment of patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer – A single-arm phase II trial (NeoImmunoboost, AGO-B-041). Eur J Cancer. 2023 (Jan 24). Doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2023.01.001

Key clinical point: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) with nab-paclitaxel plus pembrolizumab followed by epirubicin/cyclophosphamide demonstrated encouraging pathological complete response (pCR) rates and an acceptable safety profile in patients with early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Major finding: The pCR rate was 66.0% in patients who received nab-paclitaxel containing NACT+ pembrolizumab, and high pCR rates were observed in both groups of patients who did (59.6%) and did not (73.9%) receive prechemotherapy single dose of pembrolizumab. Neutropenia (26.4%), fever (11.3%), and other blood and lymphatic system disorders (9.4%) were the most common grade 3/4 adverse events.

Study details: Findings are from the phase 2, NeoImmunoboost trial including 50 patients with primary nonmetastatic TNBC who received nab-paclitaxel+pembrolizumab followed by epirubicin/cyclophosphamide+pembrolizumab.

Disclosures: This study was partially funded by Merck Sharp & Dohme and other sources. Some authors declared participating on advisory boards for or receiving honoraria, research grants, or travel support from several sources.

Source: Fasching PA, Hein A, et al. Pembrolizumab in combination with nab-paclitaxel for the treatment of patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer – A single-arm phase II trial (NeoImmunoboost, AGO-B-041). Eur J Cancer. 2023 (Jan 24). Doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2023.01.001

Key clinical point: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) with nab-paclitaxel plus pembrolizumab followed by epirubicin/cyclophosphamide demonstrated encouraging pathological complete response (pCR) rates and an acceptable safety profile in patients with early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Major finding: The pCR rate was 66.0% in patients who received nab-paclitaxel containing NACT+ pembrolizumab, and high pCR rates were observed in both groups of patients who did (59.6%) and did not (73.9%) receive prechemotherapy single dose of pembrolizumab. Neutropenia (26.4%), fever (11.3%), and other blood and lymphatic system disorders (9.4%) were the most common grade 3/4 adverse events.

Study details: Findings are from the phase 2, NeoImmunoboost trial including 50 patients with primary nonmetastatic TNBC who received nab-paclitaxel+pembrolizumab followed by epirubicin/cyclophosphamide+pembrolizumab.

Disclosures: This study was partially funded by Merck Sharp & Dohme and other sources. Some authors declared participating on advisory boards for or receiving honoraria, research grants, or travel support from several sources.

Source: Fasching PA, Hein A, et al. Pembrolizumab in combination with nab-paclitaxel for the treatment of patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer – A single-arm phase II trial (NeoImmunoboost, AGO-B-041). Eur J Cancer. 2023 (Jan 24). Doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2023.01.001

Key clinical point: Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) using multicatheter brachytherapy after breast-conserving surgery is as effective as and safer than whole breast irradiation (WBI) and can be an excellent alternative to WBI in patients with early breast cancer (BC).

Major finding: The 10-year local recurrence rate was similar in the WBI (1.58%) and APBI (3.51%) groups (P = .074), and the incidence of treatment-related late side-effects worse than grade 2 was significantly lower in the APBI vs WBI group (P = .021).

Study details: Findings are from the phase 3, GEC-ESTRO trial including 1328 women with early invasive BC who were randomly assigned to receive WBI or APBI.

Disclosures: This study was funded by German Cancer Aid, Germany. Some authors declared receiving grants, consulting fees, financial support, or payment from several sources.

Source: Strnad V, Polgár C, et al, on behalf of Groupe Européen de Curiethérapie and European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology. Accelerated partial breast irradiation using sole interstitial multicatheter brachytherapy compared with whole-breast irradiation with boost for early breast cancer: 10-year results of a GEC-ESTRO randomised, phase 3, non-inferiority trial. Lancet Oncol. 2023 (Feb 1). Doi: 10.1016S1470-2045(23)00018-9

Key clinical point: Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) using multicatheter brachytherapy after breast-conserving surgery is as effective as and safer than whole breast irradiation (WBI) and can be an excellent alternative to WBI in patients with early breast cancer (BC).

Major finding: The 10-year local recurrence rate was similar in the WBI (1.58%) and APBI (3.51%) groups (P = .074), and the incidence of treatment-related late side-effects worse than grade 2 was significantly lower in the APBI vs WBI group (P = .021).

Study details: Findings are from the phase 3, GEC-ESTRO trial including 1328 women with early invasive BC who were randomly assigned to receive WBI or APBI.

Disclosures: This study was funded by German Cancer Aid, Germany. Some authors declared receiving grants, consulting fees, financial support, or payment from several sources.

Source: Strnad V, Polgár C, et al, on behalf of Groupe Européen de Curiethérapie and European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology. Accelerated partial breast irradiation using sole interstitial multicatheter brachytherapy compared with whole-breast irradiation with boost for early breast cancer: 10-year results of a GEC-ESTRO randomised, phase 3, non-inferiority trial. Lancet Oncol. 2023 (Feb 1). Doi: 10.1016S1470-2045(23)00018-9

Key clinical point: Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) using multicatheter brachytherapy after breast-conserving surgery is as effective as and safer than whole breast irradiation (WBI) and can be an excellent alternative to WBI in patients with early breast cancer (BC).

Major finding: The 10-year local recurrence rate was similar in the WBI (1.58%) and APBI (3.51%) groups (P = .074), and the incidence of treatment-related late side-effects worse than grade 2 was significantly lower in the APBI vs WBI group (P = .021).

Study details: Findings are from the phase 3, GEC-ESTRO trial including 1328 women with early invasive BC who were randomly assigned to receive WBI or APBI.

Disclosures: This study was funded by German Cancer Aid, Germany. Some authors declared receiving grants, consulting fees, financial support, or payment from several sources.

Source: Strnad V, Polgár C, et al, on behalf of Groupe Européen de Curiethérapie and European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology. Accelerated partial breast irradiation using sole interstitial multicatheter brachytherapy compared with whole-breast irradiation with boost for early breast cancer: 10-year results of a GEC-ESTRO randomised, phase 3, non-inferiority trial. Lancet Oncol. 2023 (Feb 1). Doi: 10.1016S1470-2045(23)00018-9

Key clinical point: Exposure to ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions (proximity range 10 km) may increase the risk for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast.

Major finding: The presence of EtO-emitting facilities within 10 km was associated with a significant increase in the risk for DCIS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.13; 95% CI 1.01-1.27); however, there was no increase in the risk for invasive breast cancers (HR 1.03; 95% CI 0.97-1.09).

Study details: This study evaluated the data of the US National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study cohort including 12,222 cases of breast cancer diagnosed in 173,648 postmenopausal women over a median follow-up of 16 years.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Cancer Institute. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Jones RR et al. Ethylene oxide emissions and incident breast cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in a U.S. cohort. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2023 (Jan 12). Doi: 10.1093/jnci/djad004

Key clinical point: Exposure to ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions (proximity range 10 km) may increase the risk for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast.

Major finding: The presence of EtO-emitting facilities within 10 km was associated with a significant increase in the risk for DCIS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.13; 95% CI 1.01-1.27); however, there was no increase in the risk for invasive breast cancers (HR 1.03; 95% CI 0.97-1.09).

Study details: This study evaluated the data of the US National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study cohort including 12,222 cases of breast cancer diagnosed in 173,648 postmenopausal women over a median follow-up of 16 years.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Cancer Institute. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Jones RR et al. Ethylene oxide emissions and incident breast cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in a U.S. cohort. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2023 (Jan 12). Doi: 10.1093/jnci/djad004

Key clinical point: Exposure to ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions (proximity range 10 km) may increase the risk for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast.

Major finding: The presence of EtO-emitting facilities within 10 km was associated with a significant increase in the risk for DCIS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.13; 95% CI 1.01-1.27); however, there was no increase in the risk for invasive breast cancers (HR 1.03; 95% CI 0.97-1.09).

Study details: This study evaluated the data of the US National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study cohort including 12,222 cases of breast cancer diagnosed in 173,648 postmenopausal women over a median follow-up of 16 years.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Cancer Institute. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Jones RR et al. Ethylene oxide emissions and incident breast cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in a U.S. cohort. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2023 (Jan 12). Doi: 10.1093/jnci/djad004

Key clinical point: Improved pretreatment values of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), an indicator of nutritional immune status, was linked to better long-term survival outcomes in patients with breast cancer (BC).

Major finding: Although low pretreatment PNI did not have any effect on 1-year overall survival (OS) outcomes (odds ratio [OR] 1.55; P = .353), it was significantly associated with worse 3-year (OR 2.34; P < .001), 5-year (OR 3.18; P < .001), 8-year (OR 2.74; P = .001), and 10-year (OR 2.58; P = .021) OS.

Study details: Findings are from a meta-analysis of eight studies including 2322 patients with BC.

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

Source: Hu G et al. Low pretreatment prognostic nutritional index predicts poor survival in breast cancer patients: A meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2023;18(1):e0280669 (Jan 20). Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280669

Key clinical point: Improved pretreatment values of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), an indicator of nutritional immune status, was linked to better long-term survival outcomes in patients with breast cancer (BC).

Major finding: Although low pretreatment PNI did not have any effect on 1-year overall survival (OS) outcomes (odds ratio [OR] 1.55; P = .353), it was significantly associated with worse 3-year (OR 2.34; P < .001), 5-year (OR 3.18; P < .001), 8-year (OR 2.74; P = .001), and 10-year (OR 2.58; P = .021) OS.

Study details: Findings are from a meta-analysis of eight studies including 2322 patients with BC.

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

Source: Hu G et al. Low pretreatment prognostic nutritional index predicts poor survival in breast cancer patients: A meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2023;18(1):e0280669 (Jan 20). Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280669

Key clinical point: Improved pretreatment values of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), an indicator of nutritional immune status, was linked to better long-term survival outcomes in patients with breast cancer (BC).

Major finding: Although low pretreatment PNI did not have any effect on 1-year overall survival (OS) outcomes (odds ratio [OR] 1.55; P = .353), it was significantly associated with worse 3-year (OR 2.34; P < .001), 5-year (OR 3.18; P < .001), 8-year (OR 2.74; P = .001), and 10-year (OR 2.58; P = .021) OS.

Study details: Findings are from a meta-analysis of eight studies including 2322 patients with BC.

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

Source: Hu G et al. Low pretreatment prognostic nutritional index predicts poor survival in breast cancer patients: A meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2023;18(1):e0280669 (Jan 20). Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280669

Key clinical point: Interval breast cancers (BC) detected between annual mammograms have significantly worse prognostic characteristics than BC detected during mammographic screening.

Major finding: Breast density is significantly associated with the development of an interval cancer (adjusted odds ratio 2.17; P = .003). Interval vs screen-detected BC were more often primary tumor stage II or higher (43% vs 12%; P < .001), regional lymph node stage I or higher (22% vs 12%; P = .003), triple negative (21% vs 6%; P < .001) with high Ki67 proliferation indices (62% vs 38%; P = .002), and significantly more invasive (P = .007).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective cohort study including 1232 women diagnosed with BC within 1 year of screening, of which 1136 had screen-detected BC and 96 had interval BC.

Disclosures: This study did not report the source of funding. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Ambinder EB et al. Interval breast cancers versus screen detected breast cancers: A retrospective cohort study. Acad Radiol. 2023 (Feb 3). Doi: 10.1016/j.acra.2023.01.007

Key clinical point: Interval breast cancers (BC) detected between annual mammograms have significantly worse prognostic characteristics than BC detected during mammographic screening.

Major finding: Breast density is significantly associated with the development of an interval cancer (adjusted odds ratio 2.17; P = .003). Interval vs screen-detected BC were more often primary tumor stage II or higher (43% vs 12%; P < .001), regional lymph node stage I or higher (22% vs 12%; P = .003), triple negative (21% vs 6%; P < .001) with high Ki67 proliferation indices (62% vs 38%; P = .002), and significantly more invasive (P = .007).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective cohort study including 1232 women diagnosed with BC within 1 year of screening, of which 1136 had screen-detected BC and 96 had interval BC.

Disclosures: This study did not report the source of funding. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Ambinder EB et al. Interval breast cancers versus screen detected breast cancers: A retrospective cohort study. Acad Radiol. 2023 (Feb 3). Doi: 10.1016/j.acra.2023.01.007

Key clinical point: Interval breast cancers (BC) detected between annual mammograms have significantly worse prognostic characteristics than BC detected during mammographic screening.

Major finding: Breast density is significantly associated with the development of an interval cancer (adjusted odds ratio 2.17; P = .003). Interval vs screen-detected BC were more often primary tumor stage II or higher (43% vs 12%; P < .001), regional lymph node stage I or higher (22% vs 12%; P = .003), triple negative (21% vs 6%; P < .001) with high Ki67 proliferation indices (62% vs 38%; P = .002), and significantly more invasive (P = .007).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective cohort study including 1232 women diagnosed with BC within 1 year of screening, of which 1136 had screen-detected BC and 96 had interval BC.

Disclosures: This study did not report the source of funding. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Ambinder EB et al. Interval breast cancers versus screen detected breast cancers: A retrospective cohort study. Acad Radiol. 2023 (Feb 3). Doi: 10.1016/j.acra.2023.01.007

Key clinical point: Patients with microinvasive breast cancer (BC) had a significantly higher risk for local recurrence and comparable rates of distant recurrence and death compared with patients with T1a-2 BC.

Major finding: Although the 10-year local recurrence rate was significantly higher in patients with microinvasive vs T1a-2 BC (hazard ratio 3.73; P < .001), the 10-year distant recurrence risk (P = .36) and overall survival rates (P = .14) were similar between both patient populations.

Study details: Findings are from the Canadian Hypofractionation trial including 1234 patients with T1-2 N0 invasive BC who were randomly assigned to receive hypofractionated or conventional fractionated whole breast irradiation, of which 3% of patients had microinvasive BC.

Disclosures: Dr Whelan declared receiving support from the Canada Research Chair in Breast Cancer Research and research funding unrelated to this study.

Source: Goldberg M et al. Long-term outcomes and effects of hypofractionated radiotherapy in microinvasive breast cancer: Analysis from a randomized trial. Breast. 2023;68:189-193 (Feb 9). Doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2023.02.005

Key clinical point: Patients with microinvasive breast cancer (BC) had a significantly higher risk for local recurrence and comparable rates of distant recurrence and death compared with patients with T1a-2 BC.

Major finding: Although the 10-year local recurrence rate was significantly higher in patients with microinvasive vs T1a-2 BC (hazard ratio 3.73; P < .001), the 10-year distant recurrence risk (P = .36) and overall survival rates (P = .14) were similar between both patient populations.

Study details: Findings are from the Canadian Hypofractionation trial including 1234 patients with T1-2 N0 invasive BC who were randomly assigned to receive hypofractionated or conventional fractionated whole breast irradiation, of which 3% of patients had microinvasive BC.

Disclosures: Dr Whelan declared receiving support from the Canada Research Chair in Breast Cancer Research and research funding unrelated to this study.

Source: Goldberg M et al. Long-term outcomes and effects of hypofractionated radiotherapy in microinvasive breast cancer: Analysis from a randomized trial. Breast. 2023;68:189-193 (Feb 9). Doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2023.02.005

Key clinical point: Patients with microinvasive breast cancer (BC) had a significantly higher risk for local recurrence and comparable rates of distant recurrence and death compared with patients with T1a-2 BC.

Major finding: Although the 10-year local recurrence rate was significantly higher in patients with microinvasive vs T1a-2 BC (hazard ratio 3.73; P < .001), the 10-year distant recurrence risk (P = .36) and overall survival rates (P = .14) were similar between both patient populations.

Study details: Findings are from the Canadian Hypofractionation trial including 1234 patients with T1-2 N0 invasive BC who were randomly assigned to receive hypofractionated or conventional fractionated whole breast irradiation, of which 3% of patients had microinvasive BC.

Disclosures: Dr Whelan declared receiving support from the Canada Research Chair in Breast Cancer Research and research funding unrelated to this study.

Source: Goldberg M et al. Long-term outcomes and effects of hypofractionated radiotherapy in microinvasive breast cancer: Analysis from a randomized trial. Breast. 2023;68:189-193 (Feb 9). Doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2023.02.005

Key clinical point: Programmed cell death-1 ligand-2 (PD-L2) protein levels were high in approximately one-third of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer (BC) tumors and were associated with greater odds of disease recurrence.

Major finding: High levels of PD-L2 protein were present in 33% of ER+ tumors and were associated with shorter progression-free survival in the entire cohort of patients with ER+ BC (hazard ratio [HR] 2.0; P < .001) and in the subgroup of patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy (HR 3.4; P < .001).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study including patients with ER+ BC who were categorized into the main study cohort (n = 684) and the external validation cohort (n = 273).

Disclosures: This study was supported by grants from Susan G. Komen, US National Institutes of Health, and other sources. The authors declared serving in leadership, employment, or consulting or advisory roles or receiving funding, honoraria, or travel and accommodation expenses from several sources.

Source: Chervoneva I et al. High PD-L2 predicts early recurrence of ER-positive breast cancer. JCO Precis Oncol. 2023;7:e2100498 (Jan 18). Doi: 10.1200/PO.21.00498

Key clinical point: Programmed cell death-1 ligand-2 (PD-L2) protein levels were high in approximately one-third of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer (BC) tumors and were associated with greater odds of disease recurrence.

Major finding: High levels of PD-L2 protein were present in 33% of ER+ tumors and were associated with shorter progression-free survival in the entire cohort of patients with ER+ BC (hazard ratio [HR] 2.0; P < .001) and in the subgroup of patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy (HR 3.4; P < .001).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study including patients with ER+ BC who were categorized into the main study cohort (n = 684) and the external validation cohort (n = 273).

Disclosures: This study was supported by grants from Susan G. Komen, US National Institutes of Health, and other sources. The authors declared serving in leadership, employment, or consulting or advisory roles or receiving funding, honoraria, or travel and accommodation expenses from several sources.

Source: Chervoneva I et al. High PD-L2 predicts early recurrence of ER-positive breast cancer. JCO Precis Oncol. 2023;7:e2100498 (Jan 18). Doi: 10.1200/PO.21.00498

Key clinical point: Programmed cell death-1 ligand-2 (PD-L2) protein levels were high in approximately one-third of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer (BC) tumors and were associated with greater odds of disease recurrence.

Major finding: High levels of PD-L2 protein were present in 33% of ER+ tumors and were associated with shorter progression-free survival in the entire cohort of patients with ER+ BC (hazard ratio [HR] 2.0; P < .001) and in the subgroup of patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy (HR 3.4; P < .001).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study including patients with ER+ BC who were categorized into the main study cohort (n = 684) and the external validation cohort (n = 273).

Disclosures: This study was supported by grants from Susan G. Komen, US National Institutes of Health, and other sources. The authors declared serving in leadership, employment, or consulting or advisory roles or receiving funding, honoraria, or travel and accommodation expenses from several sources.

Source: Chervoneva I et al. High PD-L2 predicts early recurrence of ER-positive breast cancer. JCO Precis Oncol. 2023;7:e2100498 (Jan 18). Doi: 10.1200/PO.21.00498

Key clinical point: The addition of abemaciclib to endocrine therapy (ET) demonstrated robust treatment benefits regardless of menopausal status in women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−), high-risk early breast cancer (BC).

Major finding: Abemaciclib+ET significantly improved invasive disease-free survival (iDFS; hazard ratio 0.785; nominal P = .0268) in postmenopausal women with HR+/HER2− BC and led to even greater iDFS improvement (hazard ratio 0.578; P < .0001) in premenopausal women. No new safety events were reported.

Study details: Findings are from an exploratory analysis of the monarchE trial including 5637 patients with HR+/HER2−, node-positive, high-risk early BC who were randomly assigned to receive standard of care ET with/without adjuvant abemaciclib, of which 43.5% and 56.4% of patients were premenopausal and postmenopausal, respectively.

Disclosures: This study was funded by Eli Lilly and Company. Four authors declared being employees and shareholders of Eli Lilly. The other authors reported ties with several sources, including Eli Lilly.

Source: Paluch-Shimon S et al, on behalf of the monarchE investigators. Efficacy and safety results by menopausal status in monarchE: adjuvant abemaciclib combined with endocrine therapy in patients with HR+, HER2−, node-positive, high-risk early breast cancer. Ther Adv Med Oncol. 2023 (Feb 3). Doi: 10.1177/17588359231151840

Key clinical point: The addition of abemaciclib to endocrine therapy (ET) demonstrated robust treatment benefits regardless of menopausal status in women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−), high-risk early breast cancer (BC).

Major finding: Abemaciclib+ET significantly improved invasive disease-free survival (iDFS; hazard ratio 0.785; nominal P = .0268) in postmenopausal women with HR+/HER2− BC and led to even greater iDFS improvement (hazard ratio 0.578; P < .0001) in premenopausal women. No new safety events were reported.

Study details: Findings are from an exploratory analysis of the monarchE trial including 5637 patients with HR+/HER2−, node-positive, high-risk early BC who were randomly assigned to receive standard of care ET with/without adjuvant abemaciclib, of which 43.5% and 56.4% of patients were premenopausal and postmenopausal, respectively.

Disclosures: This study was funded by Eli Lilly and Company. Four authors declared being employees and shareholders of Eli Lilly. The other authors reported ties with several sources, including Eli Lilly.

Source: Paluch-Shimon S et al, on behalf of the monarchE investigators. Efficacy and safety results by menopausal status in monarchE: adjuvant abemaciclib combined with endocrine therapy in patients with HR+, HER2−, node-positive, high-risk early breast cancer. Ther Adv Med Oncol. 2023 (Feb 3). Doi: 10.1177/17588359231151840

Key clinical point: The addition of abemaciclib to endocrine therapy (ET) demonstrated robust treatment benefits regardless of menopausal status in women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−), high-risk early breast cancer (BC).

Major finding: Abemaciclib+ET significantly improved invasive disease-free survival (iDFS; hazard ratio 0.785; nominal P = .0268) in postmenopausal women with HR+/HER2− BC and led to even greater iDFS improvement (hazard ratio 0.578; P < .0001) in premenopausal women. No new safety events were reported.

Study details: Findings are from an exploratory analysis of the monarchE trial including 5637 patients with HR+/HER2−, node-positive, high-risk early BC who were randomly assigned to receive standard of care ET with/without adjuvant abemaciclib, of which 43.5% and 56.4% of patients were premenopausal and postmenopausal, respectively.

Disclosures: This study was funded by Eli Lilly and Company. Four authors declared being employees and shareholders of Eli Lilly. The other authors reported ties with several sources, including Eli Lilly.

Source: Paluch-Shimon S et al, on behalf of the monarchE investigators. Efficacy and safety results by menopausal status in monarchE: adjuvant abemaciclib combined with endocrine therapy in patients with HR+, HER2−, node-positive, high-risk early breast cancer. Ther Adv Med Oncol. 2023 (Feb 3). Doi: 10.1177/17588359231151840

Key clinical point: In patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) metastatic breast cancer (BC), adding endocrine therapy (ET) to dual anti-HER2 targeted therapy after chemotherapy improved progression-free survival (PFS) without increasing the rate of adverse events.

Major finding: There was a significant improvement in 5-year PFS with vs without the addition of ET (hazard ratio 0.59; P = .031). Nausea and vomiting were more common in patients who did not vs did receive ET (21% vs 7%; P = .010).

Study details: This study analyzed the real-world data of 147 patients with HER2+/HR+ metastatic BC from a prospective registry who received first-line chemotherapy plus trastuzumab and pertuzumab with (n = 91) or without (n = 56) concurrent ET.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any funding. Some authors declared serving on the advisory board for or receiving research funding, speaker honoraria, or travel grants from several sources.

Source: Loft M et al. Addition of endocrine therapy to dual anti-HER2 targeted therapy in initial treatment of HER2 + /HR + metastatic breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2023;198:67-74 (Jan 9). Doi: 10.1007/s10549-022-06856-1

Key clinical point: In patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) metastatic breast cancer (BC), adding endocrine therapy (ET) to dual anti-HER2 targeted therapy after chemotherapy improved progression-free survival (PFS) without increasing the rate of adverse events.

Major finding: There was a significant improvement in 5-year PFS with vs without the addition of ET (hazard ratio 0.59; P = .031). Nausea and vomiting were more common in patients who did not vs did receive ET (21% vs 7%; P = .010).

Study details: This study analyzed the real-world data of 147 patients with HER2+/HR+ metastatic BC from a prospective registry who received first-line chemotherapy plus trastuzumab and pertuzumab with (n = 91) or without (n = 56) concurrent ET.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any funding. Some authors declared serving on the advisory board for or receiving research funding, speaker honoraria, or travel grants from several sources.

Source: Loft M et al. Addition of endocrine therapy to dual anti-HER2 targeted therapy in initial treatment of HER2 + /HR + metastatic breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2023;198:67-74 (Jan 9). Doi: 10.1007/s10549-022-06856-1

Key clinical point: In patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) metastatic breast cancer (BC), adding endocrine therapy (ET) to dual anti-HER2 targeted therapy after chemotherapy improved progression-free survival (PFS) without increasing the rate of adverse events.

Major finding: There was a significant improvement in 5-year PFS with vs without the addition of ET (hazard ratio 0.59; P = .031). Nausea and vomiting were more common in patients who did not vs did receive ET (21% vs 7%; P = .010).

Study details: This study analyzed the real-world data of 147 patients with HER2+/HR+ metastatic BC from a prospective registry who received first-line chemotherapy plus trastuzumab and pertuzumab with (n = 91) or without (n = 56) concurrent ET.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any funding. Some authors declared serving on the advisory board for or receiving research funding, speaker honoraria, or travel grants from several sources.

Source: Loft M et al. Addition of endocrine therapy to dual anti-HER2 targeted therapy in initial treatment of HER2 + /HR + metastatic breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2023;198:67-74 (Jan 9). Doi: 10.1007/s10549-022-06856-1