Background Trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (TROP2) is related to tumor proliferation enhancement and poor prognosis. An antibody targeting TROP2 was developed to treat metastatic triple-negative ...breast cancer (TNBC) which has a limited treatment modality. To characterize the TROP2 expressing tumors in TNBC, we analyzed TROP2 expression in three cohorts; (1) primary tumor without neoadjuvant chemotherapy, (2) primary tumor with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and (3) metastatic tumor. Methods A total of 807 TNBC cases were evaluated for TROP2 immunohistochemical expression. We evaluated the TROP2 H-score distribution in the three cohorts. Tumors were divided into two groups based on TROP2 expression (high vs. low). We analyzed the relationship between clinicopathologic features and markers, including epidermal growth factor receptor, cytokeratin 5/6, p53, and Ki-67, and prognostic significance at high vs. low TROP2 expression. Results There was no difference in TROP2 H-score distribution between the three cohorts. Moderate-to-strong membranous expression of TROP2 in at least 10% of tumor cells was present in 662 cases (82.0%) in Cohort 1, 59 cases (89.4%) in Cohort 2, and 23 cases (88.5%) in Cohort 3. There was no significant difference in clinicopathologic features between high vs. low TROP2 in all cohorts. TROP2 H-score was an independent poor prognostic factor for overall survival in Cohort 3. Conclusions TNBC showed similar TROP2 expression regardless of neoadjuvant treatment or primary tumor/metastasis. Although the prognostic significance of TROP2 expression in metastatic TNBC has been revealed, further evaluation of the predictive value of TROP2 expression for targeted therapy is needed. Keywords: TROP2, Triple-negative breast cancer, Overall survival
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The level of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and presence of tertiary lymphoid structures are significant prognostic and predictive factors in primary breast cancer. However, the understanding about ...differences in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and tertiary lymphoid structures at various metastatic sites or between primary breast tumors and metastatic sites is limited. A total of 335 cases of metastatic breast cancer from four metastatic sites (lung, liver, brain, and ovary) were included. We analyzed the percentages of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and presence of tertiary lymphoid structures in the primary and metastatic sites. The mean level of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in the lung metastases was higher than in the liver, brain, ovary, and matched primary tumors, while metastatic tumors of the liver and brain showed lower levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes than primary tumors. Tertiary lymphoid structures were only found in the lung and liver, and in cases of brain metastases the change of tertiary lymphoid structures from present to absent significantly affected the level of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in metastases compared with that in matched primary tumors. Patients with a lower histological grade, hormone receptor positivity in primary tumors and metastases, a lower level of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and absence of tertiary lymphoid structures in primary tumors, a higher level of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and presence of tertiary lymphoid structures in metastases, and lung metastases showed significantly better overall survival. Our results showed that metastatic breast tumors in the lung had more tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes than did tumors at other sites and matched primary tumors. In addition, the presence of tertiary lymphoid structures in metastatic sites is a critical factor for the level of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have been known for their strong prognostic and predictive significance in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Several mechanisms for TIL influx in TNBC have ...been elucidated. Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) is an essential component of the adaptive immune system and is generally restricted to the surface of antigen-presenting cells. However, it has been reported that interferon-gamma signaling may induce MHC-II in almost all cell types, including those derived from cancer. We aimed to examine the relationship between MHC-II expression in tumor cells and the amount of TILs in 681 patients with TNBC. Further, the prognostic significance of MHC-II and the association of MHC-II with a couple of molecules involved in the interferon signaling pathway were investigated using immunohistochemical staining. Higher MHC-II expression in tumor cells was associated with the absence of lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.042); larger amounts of TILs (p < 0.001); frequent formations of tertiary lymphoid structures (p < 0.001); higher expression of myxovirus resistance gene A, one of the main mediators of the interferon signaling pathway (p < 0.001); and higher expression of double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase, which can be induced by interferons (p = 0.008). Moreover, tumors that showed high MHC class I expression and any positivity for MHC-II had larger amounts of CD4- and CD8-positive T lymphocytes (p < 0.001). Positive MHC-II expression in tumor cells was associated with better disease-free survival in patients who had lymph node metastasis (p = 0.009). In conclusion, MHC-II expression in tumor cells was closely associated with an increase in TIL number and interferon signaling in TNBC. Further studies are warranted to improve our understanding regarding TIL influx, as well as patients' responses to immunotherapy.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract
We examined whether
18
F-fluorodeoxyglucose metabolism is associated with distant relapse-free survival (DRFS) and overall survival (OS) in women with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, ...HER2-negative breast cancer. This was a cohort study examining the risk factors for survival that had occurred at the start of the study. A cohort from Asan Medical Center, Korea, recruited between November 2007 and December 2014, was included. Patients received anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) of
18
F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) was measured. The analysis included 466 women. The median (interquartile range) follow-up period without distant metastasis or death was 6.2 (5.3–7.6) years. Multivariable analysis of hazard ratio (95% confidence interval CI) showed that the middle and high tertiles of SUV were prognostic for DRFS (2.93, 95% CI 1.62–5.30;
P
< 0.001) and OS (4.87, 95% CI 1.94–12.26;
P
< 0.001). The 8-year DRFS rates were 90.7% (95% CI 85.5–96.1%) for those in the low tertile of maximum SUV vs. 73.7% (95% CI 68.0–79.8%) for those in the middle and high tertiles of maximum SUV.
18
F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT may assess the risk of distant metastasis and death in ER-positive, HER2-negative patients.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
To facilitate precise tumor resection at the time of breast-conserving surgery (BCS), we developed and implemented a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based three-dimensional-printed (3DP) breast ...surgical guide (BSG). This prospective cohort study was conducted at a single institution from July 2017 to February 2019 on women with breast cancer who underwent partial breast resection using patient-specific 3DP BSGs. Eighty-eight patients with invasive cancer were enrolled, of whom 1 patient had bilateral breast cancer. The mean size of the tumor long-axis on MRI before surgery was 2.8 ± 0.9 cm, and multiple tumors were observed in 34 patients. In 16 cases (18.0%), the resection margin was tumor-positive according to intraoperative frozen biopsy; all of these tumors were ductal carcinoma in situ and were re-excised intraoperatively. In 93.3% of the cases, the resection margin was tumor-free in the permanent pathology. The mean pathological tumor size was 1.7 ± 1.0 cm, and the mean distance from the tumor to the border was 1.5 ± 1.0 cm. This exploratory study showed that the tumor area on the MRI could be directly displayed on the breast when using a 3DP BSG for BCS, thereby allowing precise surgery and safe tumor removal.Trial Registration Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) Identifier (No. KCT0002375, KCT0003043).
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models serve as a valuable tool for the preclinical evaluation of novel therapies. They closely replicate the genetic, phenotypic, and histopathological ...characteristics of primary breast tumors. Despite their promise, the rate of successful PDX engraftment is various in the literature. This study aimed to identify the key factors associated with successful PDX engraftment of primary breast cancer.
We integrated clinicopathological data with morphological attributes quantified using a trained artificial intelligence (AI) model to identify the principal factors affecting PDX engraftment.
Multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that several factors, including a high Ki-67 labeling index (Ki-67LI) (p < 0.001), younger age at diagnosis (p = 0.032), post neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) (p = 0.006), higher histologic grade (p = 0.039), larger tumor size (p = 0.029), and AI-assessed higher intratumoral necrosis (p = 0.027) and intratumoral invasive carcinoma (p = 0.040) proportions, were significant factors for successful PDX engraftment (area under the curve AUC 0.905). In the NAC group, a higher Ki-67LI (p < 0.001), lower Miller-Payne grade (p < 0.001), and reduced proportion of intratumoral normal breast glands as assessed by AI (p = 0.06) collectively provided excellent prediction accuracy for successful PDX engraftment (AUC 0.89).
We found that high Ki-67LI, younger age, post-NAC status, higher histologic grade, larger tumor size, and specific morphological attributes were significant factors for predicting successful PDX engraftment of primary breast cancer.
We used 3D printed-breast surgical guides (3DP-BSG) to designate the original tumor area from the pre-treatment magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during breast-conserving surgery (BCS) in breast ...cancer patients who received neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST). Targeting the original tumor area in such patients using conventional localization techniques is difficult. For precise BCS, a method that marks the tumor area found on MRI directly to the breast is needed. In this prospective study, patients were enrolled for BCS after receiving NST. Partial resection was performed using a prone/supine MRI-based 3DP-BSG. Frozen biopsies were analyzed to confirm clear tumor margins. The tumor characteristics, pathologic results, resection margins, and the distance between the tumor and margin were analyzed. Thirty-nine patients were enrolled with 3DP-BSG for BCS. The median nearest distance between the tumor and the resection margin was 3.9 cm (range 1.2-7.8 cm). Frozen sections showed positive margins in 4/39 (10.3%) patients. Three had invasive cancers, and one had carcinoma in situ; all underwent additional resection. Final pathology revealed clear margins. After 3-year surveillance, 3/39 patients had recurrent breast cancer. With 3DP-BSG for BCS in breast cancer patients receiving NST, the original tumor area can be identified and marked directly on the breast, which is useful for surgery. Trial Registration: Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) Identifier Number: KCT0002272. First registration number and date: No. 1 (27/04/2016).
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background
A short tumor-to-nipple distance (TND) is reported as a strong predictor of nipple-areola complex (NAC) involvement. Eligibility for nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) remains controversial, ...especially regarding TND. In this study, we compared long-term oncologic outcomes after NSM between patients with a TND ≤ 1 cm and those with a TND > 1 cm.
Methods
Overall, 1369 patients with primary breast cancer who underwent NSM with immediate reconstruction from March 2003 to December 2015 were included for analysis. After propensity score matching, 495 patients with a TND ≤ 1 cm (group A) and 495 patients with a TND > 1 cm (group B) on imaging were selected to compare long-term oncologic outcomes.
Results
After matching, the median follow-up periods for surviving patients were 109 months and 112 months for groups A and B, respectively. There were no significant differences between groups with respect to the 5-year cumulative local recurrence (8.1% vs. 6.3%;
p
= 0.268), NAC recurrence (5.1% vs. 2.8%;
p
= 0.072), regional recurrence (2.0% vs. 3.6%;
p
= 0.125), or distant recurrence (5.9% vs. 4.8%;
p
= 0.480) rates. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed between the groups with respect to the 10-year local recurrence-free survival (87.1% vs. 90.7%;
p
= 0.164) or disease-free survival (77.9% vs. 81.6%;
p
= 0.222) rates.
Conclusions
A preoperative TND ≤ 1 cm on imaging should not be contraindicated to NSM as long as there is no involvement of NAC clinically or on imaging and if retroareolar margins are confirmed to be negative for tumor cells.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Background:
Despite the introduction of trastuzumab, pathologic complete response (pCR) is not attained in approximately 30–40% of Human epithelial growth factor receptor-2-positive breast cancer. ...Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) have been suggested as a predictive marker of treatment response, albeit not always effective. We investigated the relationship between trastuzumab, docetaxel, carboplatin, and pertuzumab (TCHP) treatment and immune repertoire as a treatment response predictor.
Design:
In all, 35 cases were divided into two experimental groups: 10 and 25 cases in the preliminary and main experiments, respectively. In the preliminary experiment, the biopsy tissues before TCHP treatment and the surgical tissues after TCHP treatment were compared. In the main experiment, the biopsy tissues before TCHP treatment were compared according to the TCHP treatment response.
Methods:
The T-cell repertoire for TRA, TRB, TRG, and TRD, and B-cell repertoire for immunoglobulin heavy, immunoglobulin kappa, and immunoglobulin lambda were evaluated. Whole transcriptome sequencing was also performed.
Results:
In the preliminary experiment, the density and richness of the T-cell receptor (TCR) and B-cell receptor (BCR) repertoires decreased after treatment, regardless of TCHP response. In the main experiment, the Shannon’s entropy index, density, and length of CDR3 of the TCR and BCR repertoires did not differ significantly in patients who did and did not achieve pCR. The pCR and non-pCR subgroups according to the level of TILs revealed that the non-pCR/lowTIL group had a higher proportion of low-frequency clones than the pCR/lowTIL group in TRA (non-pCR/lowTIL versus pCR/lowTIL, 0.01–0.1%, 63% versus 45.3%; <0.01%, 32.9% versus 51.8%, p < 0.001) and TRB (non-pCR/lowTIL versus pCR/lowTIL, 0.01–0.1%, 26.5% versus 14.7%; <0.01%, 72.0% versus 84.1%, p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
The role of the diversity, richness, and density of the TCR and BCR repertoires as predictive markers for TCHP response was not identified. Compositions of low-frequency clones could be candidates for predictive factors of TCHP response; however, validation studies and further research are necessary.
The prognostic significance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and immune signals has been described previously in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Furthermore, recent studies have shown that ...immunologic parameters are relevant for the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer as well as for outcomes after adjuvant chemotherapy. However, immune signals are variable, and which signals are important is largely unknown. We, therefore, evaluated the expression of immune-related genes in TNBC treated with NAC. We retrospectively evaluated biopsy tissue from 55 patients with primary TNBC treated with NAC (anthracycline, cyclophosphamide, and docetaxel) against the NanoString nCounter GX Human Immunology Panel (579 immune-related genes). Higher expression of cytotoxic molecules, T cell receptor signaling pathway components, cytokines related to T helper cell type 1 (Th1), and B cell markers was associated with a pathologic complete response (pCR). Higher expression of
NFKB1, MAPK1, TRAF1, CXCL13, GZMK,
and
IL7R
was significantly associated with pCR, higher Miller-Payne grade, and lower residual cancer burden class. Expression of
NFKB1, TRAF1,
and
CXCL13
genes, in particular, was significantly correlated with a longer disease-free survival rate. Conversely, patients those who failed to achieve a pCR showed increased expression of genes related to neutrophils. Higher expression of cytotoxic molecules, T cell receptor signaling pathway components, Th1-related cytokines, and B cell markers is correlated with pCR and survival in TNBC patients treated with NAC. Our results suggest that the activation status of neutrophils may provide additional predictive information for TNBC patients treated with NAC.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ