Major advances have been achieved in the characterization of early breast cancer (eBC) genomic profiles. Metastatic breast cancer (mBC) is associated with poor outcomes, yet limited information is ...available on the genomic profile of this disease. This study aims to decipher mutational profiles of mBC using next-generation sequencing.
Whole-exome sequencing was performed on 216 tumor-blood pairs from mBC patients who underwent a biopsy in the context of the SAFIR01, SAFIR02, SHIVA, or Molecular Screening for Cancer Treatment Optimization (MOSCATO) prospective trials. Mutational profiles from 772 primary breast tumors from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were used as a reference for comparing primary and mBC mutational profiles. Twelve genes (TP53, PIK3CA, GATA3, ESR1, MAP3K1, CDH1, AKT1, MAP2K4, RB1, PTEN, CBFB, and CDKN2A) were identified as significantly mutated in mBC (false discovery rate FDR < 0.1). Eight genes (ESR1, FSIP2, FRAS1, OSBPL3, EDC4, PALB2, IGFN1, and AGRN) were more frequently mutated in mBC as compared to eBC (FDR < 0.01). ESR1 was identified both as a driver and as a metastatic gene (n = 22, odds ratio = 29, 95% CI 9-155, p = 1.2e-12) and also presented with focal amplification (n = 9) for a total of 31 mBCs with either ESR1 mutation or amplification, including 27 hormone receptor positive (HR+) and HER2 negative (HER2-) mBCs (19%). HR+/HER2- mBC presented a high prevalence of mutations on genes located on the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway (TSC1 and TSC2) as compared to HR+/HER2- eBC (respectively 6% and 0.7%, p = 0.0004). Other actionable genes were more frequently mutated in HR+ mBC, including ERBB4 (n = 8), NOTCH3 (n = 7), and ALK (n = 7). Analysis of mutational signatures revealed a significant increase in APOBEC-mediated mutagenesis in HR+/HER2- metastatic tumors as compared to primary TCGA samples (p < 2e-16). The main limitations of this study include the absence of bone metastases and the size of the cohort, which might not have allowed the identification of rare mutations and their effect on survival.
This work reports the results of the analysis of the first large-scale study on mutation profiles of mBC. This study revealed genomic alterations and mutational signatures involved in the resistance to therapies, including actionable mutations.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract
With the approval of new therapies targeting the PI3K pathway, the detection of PIK3CA mutations has become a key factor in treatment management for HR+/HER2− metastatic breast cancer (MBC). ...We developed multiplex digital PCR (dPCR) assays to detect and quantify PIK3CA mutations. A first screening assay allows the detection of 21 mutations, with a drop-off system targeting the 542–546 hotspot mutations combined with the simultaneous detection of N345K, C420R, H1047L and H1047R mutations. In the case of a positive result, a sequential strategy based on other assays that we have developped allows for precise mutation identification. Clinical validity was determined by analyzing plasma circulating free DNA (cfDNA) from 213 HR+/HER2− MBC samples, as well as DNA extracted from 97 available matched tumors from 89 patients. Our assays have shown reliable specificity, accuracy and reproducibility, with limits of blank of three and four droplets for the screening assay. Sixty-eight patients (32%) had at least one PIK3CA mutation detectable in their plasma, and we obtained 83.1% agreement between the cfDNA analysis and the corresponding tumors. The high sensitivity and robustness of these new dPCR assays make them well-suited for rapid and cost-effective detection of PIK3CA mutations in the plasma of MBC patients.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Significant research has been conducted to better understand the extensive, heterogeneous molecular features of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We reviewed published TNBC molecular ...classifications to identify major groupings that have potential for clinical trial development. With the ultimate aim to streamline translational medicine, we linked these categories of TNBC according to their gene-expression signatures, biological function, and clinical outcome. To this end, we define five potential clinically actionable groupings of TNBC: 1) basal-like TNBC with DNA-repair deficiency or growth factor pathways; 2) mesenchymal-like TNBC with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cell features; 3) immune-associated TNBC; 4) luminal/apocrine TNBC with androgen-receptor overexpression; and 5) HER2-enriched TNBC. For each defined subtype, we highlight the major biological pathways and discuss potential targeted therapies in TNBC that might abrogate disease progression. However, many of these potential targets need clinical validation by clinical trials. We have yet to know how we can enrich the targets by molecular classifications.
Abstract
Background
Although adjuvant cancer treatments increase cure rates, they may induce clonal selection and tumor resistance. Information still lacks as whether (neo)adjuvant anti-HER2 ...treatments impact the patterns of recurrence and outcomes of HER2-positive (HER2+) metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We aimed to assess this in the large multicenter ESME real-world database.
Patients and Methods
We examined the characteristics and outcomes (overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival under first-line treatment (PFS1)) of HER2+ patients with MBC from the French ESME program with recurrent disease, as a function of the previous receipt of adjuvant trastuzumab. Multivariable analyses used Cox models adjusted for baseline demographic, prognostic factors, adjuvant treatment received, and disease-free interval.
Results
Two thousand one hundred and forty-three patients who entered the ESME cohort between 2008 and 2017 had a recurrent HER2+ MBC. Among them, 56% had received (neo)adjuvant trastuzumab and 2.5% another anti-HER2 in this setting. Patients pre-exposed to trastuzumab were younger, had a lower disease-free interval, more HR-negative disease and more metastatic sites. While the crude median OS appeared inferior in patients exposed to adjuvant trastuzumab, as compared to those who did not (37.2 (95%CI 34.4-40.3) versus 53.5 months (95% CI: 47.6-60.1)), this difference disappeared in the multivariable model (HR = 1.05, 95%CI 0.91-1.22). The same figures were observed for PFS1.
Conclusions
Among patients with relapsed HER2+ MBC, the receipt of adjuvant trastuzumab did not independently predict for worse outcomes when adjusted to other prognostic factors.
There is limited real-world information on the impact of adjuvant and neoadjuvant anti-HER2-targeted treatments on patterns of recurrence and outcomes of patients with HER2+ metastatic breast cancer. This article reports on how anti-HER2 targeted treatment in the early setting impacts overall and progression-free survival under first-line treatment of patients with metastatic HER2+ breast cancer.
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common human malignancy. In most cases, BCC has slow progression and can be definitively cured by surgery or radiotherapy. However, in rare cases, it can become ...locally advanced or, even more rarely, metastatic. The alternative recommended treatments are Sonic Hedgehog pathway inhibitors; however, the response is often short-lived.
This was a phase 2 basket study (NCT03012581) evaluating the efficacy and safety of nivolumab in a cohort of 32 advanced BCC patients, enrolled after failure of Sonic Hedgehog inhibitors, including 29 laBCC (91%) and 3 mBCC (9%).
Compared to previously published studies, our population consisted of severe patients with a poor prognosis because they had already received multiple lines of treatment: all patients received previous Sonic Hedgehog inhibitors, 53% of patients already had chemotherapy and 75% radiotherapy. At 12 weeks, we reported 3.1% of complete responses, 18.8% of partial responses, and 43.8% of stable diseases. The best response rate to nivolumab reached 12.5% of complete responses (four patients), 18.8% of partial responses (three patients), and 43.8% of stable diseases (14 patients). Adverse events (AE) were mostly grade 2 or 3, slightly different to the adverse events observed in the treatment of metastatic melanoma (higher rate of diabetes, no thyroid dysfunction).
Nivolumab is a relevant therapeutic option for patients with advanced relapsing/refractory BCC.
•Local treatments and even SHH inhibitors can be insufficient to treat advanced BCC.•We evaluate Nivolumab in monotherapy for advanced BCC as an alternative.•Nivolumab seem to be a relevant option when there is no other treatment available.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•Sensitive and robust multiplex dPCR assays for the simultaneous detection of 11 ESR1mutations.•At least one mutation for 28.4% of the 109 HR+/HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer patients ...tested.•Cross-validation with the multiplex dPCR assay used for the PADA-1 study, with 91% concordance.•ESR1mutation detection is significantly associated with liver metastases (p = 0.0091).•Very suited for ESR1mutations monitoring in the plasma of Metastatic Breast Cancer patients.
Early detection of ESR1 mutations is a key element for better personalization of the management of patients with HR+/HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC). Analysis of circulating tumor DNA from liquid biopsies is a particularly well-suited strategy for longitudinal monitoring of such patients.
Using the naica® three-color digital PCR platform, we developed a screening assay allowing the detection of 11 ESR1 mutations and designed a sequential strategy for precise mutation identification. We then applied this strategy in the analysis of plasma circulating cell-free DNA from 109 HR+/HER2- MBC patients and performed a double-blind comparison study on a subset of patients with the multiplex assay used at the Institut Curie (IC) for the PADA-1 study.
Thirty-one patients (28.4%) harboured at least one ESR1 mutation, with the following frequencies: D538G (41.03%), Y537S (25.64%), E380Q (10.26%), Y537N (10.26%), “(536–540)” (7.69%), Y537C (2.56%), and L536R (2.56%). The presence of ESR1 mutation(s) was significantly associated with liver metastases (p = 0.0091). A very good agreement (91%) was observed with the IC assay.
Our assays have proven to be robust and highly sensitive and are very well-suited for monitoring ESR1 mutations in the plasma of MBC patients.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Purpose
Radioembolization (RE) is a promising treatment option for biliary tract cancers (BTC). We report here the largest series to date using this treatment modality.
Methods
We retrospectively ...studied data from 64 patients treated outside prospective clinical trial at our institution. We studied baseline characteristics as potential prognostic factors. We studied dose delivered to the tumor as predictive factors of outcomes in patients not receiving concomitant chemotherapy.
Results
The Progression-Free Survival and Overall Survival (OS) were 7.6 months 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 4.6–10.6 and 16.4 months 95% CI: 7.8–25.0 in the whole cohort. The factors independently associated with OS in multivariable analysis were the primary localization of ICC (HR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.11–0.68,
p
= 0.005) and a PS > 0 (HR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.11–4.38,
p
= 0.024). During follow-up, 12 patients (19%) underwent surgery following downstaging, with a median OS of 51.9 months. In patients not treated with concomitant chemotherapy (
n
= 31), OS was significantly higher in patients with a dose delivered to the tumor 260Gy or higher than in patients with a dose delivered to the tumor lower than 260Gy (median 28.2 vs 11.4 months, log-rank
p
= 0.019).
Conclusion
Our results confirm that RE is a promising treatment modality in BTC. A high proportion of patients could be downstaged to surgery, with promising long-term survival. Dose delivered to the tumor correlated with clinical outcomes when chemotherapy was not used concomitantly.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
We conducted a double-randomised phase III trial to evaluate a concomitant taxane-anthracycline regimen in node-positive breast cancer and the efficacy of trastuzumab in the human epidermal growth ...factor receptor 2 (HER2)–positive subpopulation.
A total of 3010 patients with node-positive breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive 6 cycles of 500 mg/m2 of fluorouracil, 100 mg/m2 of epirubicin and 500 mg/m2 of cyclophosphamide (FEC) or 75 mg/m2 of epirubicin and 75 mg/m2 of docetaxel (ED). Patients with HER2-positive tumours were secondary randomly assigned to either trastuzumab or observation. The primary end-point was disease-free survival (DFS) in the two chemotherapy arms.
After a 115-month median follow-up, DFS was not significantly better in the ED arm (DFS: 70%, 95% confidence interval CI: 67–72) than in the FEC arm (DFS: 68%, 95% CI: 65–70; hazard ratio HR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.77–1.01; p = 0.064). The OS was not different between FEC (OS: 80%, 95% CI: 78–83) and ED (OS: 81%, 95% CI: 79–83); HR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.81–1.16; p = 0.729). ED appeared more toxic. In the 528 HER2-positive subset, there was trend for a higher DFS, in the intention-to-treat population, in the trastuzumab arm (DFS: 68%, 95% CI: 61–74) than in the observation arm (DFS: 60%, 95% CI: 54–66; HR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.57–1.03; p = 0.079). In the per-protocol population, DFS was significantly higher in the trastuzumab arm (DFS: 70%, 95% CI: 63–76) than in the observation arm (DFS: 59%, 95% CI: 53–65; HR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.51–0.94; p = 0.0156). The OS was not different between these 2 arms.
This study did not show superiority of the concomitant anthracycline-taxane arm which was more toxic in high-risk node-positive breast cancer patients. Long-term results of the HER2-positive subpopulation are in line with those of the other adjuvant trastuzumab trials but quantitatively less pronounced mostly because of lack of power.
•Long-term outcome was not different between the anthracycline and the concomitant taxane and anthracycline regimens.•In the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 population, long-term results are in line with those of the other adjuvant trials.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Purpose
A major question when treating HR+/HER2− metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is whether early introduction of chemotherapy (CT) increases endocrine resistance. We aimed to describe ...progression-free survival (PFS) under first endocrine therapy (ET) depending on whether given before or after CT in a large nationwide cohort, in the pre-CDK era.
Methods
The real-life retrospective ESME database includes all patients with MBC whose first-line treatment was initiated between 2008 and 2014 in one of the 18 French Comprehensive Cancer Centres. Our primary objective was to compare PFS from start of first ET in patients with HR+/HER2− MBC who received ET or CT first.
Results
We identified 6293 patients who received at least one ET line during their first two therapeutic lines for MBC. As first-line therapy, 3832 (60.9%) received ET alone (ET1 1st group), whilst 2461 (39.1%) received CT, including 2024 patients (32.2%) with maintenance ET after CT (ET1 after CT group). Median PFS under first ET was 12.4 months (95% CI 11.9–13.1) in ET 1st group vs. 12.6 months in ET1 after CT group (95% CI 12.1–13.4), HR 0.96 (95% CI 0.90–1.01,
P
= 0.1277).
Conclusions
PFS under first ET appears identical whether prescribed before or after chemotherapy. These data suggest chemotherapy does not promote endocrine resistance.
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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