Amy P. Sing

Randomized phase III trial of capecitabine compared with bevacizumab plus capecitabine in patients with previously treated metastatic breast cancer

PURPOSE This randomized phase III trial compared the efficacy and safety of capecitabine with or without bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody to vascular endothelial growth factor, in patients with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with an anthracycline and a taxane. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients were randomly assigned to receive capecitabine (2,500 mg/m2/d) twice daily on day 1 through 14 every 3 weeks, alone or in combination with bevacizumab (15 mg/kg) on day 1. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS), as determined by an independent review facility. RESULTS From November 2000 to March 2002, 462 patients were enrolled. Treatment arms were balanced. No significant differences were found in the incidence of diarrhea, hand-foot syndrome, thromboembolic events, or serious bleeding episodes between treatment groups. Of other grade 3 or 4 adverse events, only hypertension requiring treatment (17.9% v 0.5%) was more frequent in patients receiving bevacizumab. Combination therapy significantly increased the response rates (19.8% v 9.1%; P = .001); however, this did not result in a longer PFS (4.86 v 4.17 months; hazard ratio = 0.98). Overall survival (15.1 v 14.5 months) and time to deterioration in quality of life as measured by the Functional Assessment Of Cancer Treatment--Breast were comparable in both treatment groups. CONCLUSION Bevacizumab was well tolerated in this heavily pretreated patient population. Although the addition of bevacizumab to capecitabine produced a significant increase in response rates, this did not translate into improved PFS or overall survival.

Prognostic Impact of the Combination of Recurrence Score and Quantitative Estrogen Receptor Expression (ESR1) on Predicting Late Distant Recurrence Risk in Estrogen Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer After 5 Years of Tamoxifen: Results From NRG Oncology/National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project B-28 and B-14

PURPOSE We determined the utility of the 21-Gene Recurrence Score (RS) in predicting late (> 5 years) distant recurrence (LDR) in stage I and II breast cancer within high and low-ESR1-expressing groups. PATIENTS AND METHODS RS was assessed in chemotherapy/tamoxifen-treated, estrogen receptor (ER) -positive, node-positive National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project B-28 patients and tamoxifen-treated, ER-positive, node-negative B-14 patients. The association of the RS with risk of distant recurrence (DR) 0 to 5 years and those at risk > 5 years was assessed. An ESR1 expression cut point was optimized in B-28 and tested in B-14. RESULTS Median follow-up was 11.2 years for B-28 and 13.9 years for B-14. Of 1,065 B-28 patients, 36% had low (< 18), 34% intermediate (18 to 30), and 30% high (≥ 31) RS. Of 668 B-14 patients, 51% had low, 22% intermediate, and 27% high RS. Median ESR1 expression by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was: B-28, 9.7 normalized expression cycle threshold units (CT) and B-14, 10.7 CT. In B-28, RS was associated with DR 0 to 5 years (log-rank P < .001) and > 5 to 10 years (log-rank P = .02) regardless of ESR1 expression. An ESR1 expression cut point of 9.1 CT was identified in B-28. It was validated in B-14 patients for whom the RS was associated with DR in years 5 to 15: 6.8% (95% CI, 4.4% to 10.6%) versus 11.2% (95% CI, 6.2% to 19.9%) versus 16.4% (95% CI, 10.2% to 25.7%) for RS < 18, RS 18 to 30, and RS ≥ 31, respectively (log-rank P = .01). CONCLUSION For LDR, RS is strongly prognostic in patients with higher quantitative ESR1. Risk of LDR is relatively low for patients with low RS. These results suggest the value of extended tamoxifen therapy merits evaluation in patients with intermediate and high RS with higher ESR1 expression at initial diagnosis.

Abstract S1-10: Association between the 21-gene recurrence score (RS) and benefit from adjuvant paclitaxel (Pac) in node-positive (N+), ER-positive breast cancer patients (pts): Results from NSABP B-28

Background: The RS result predicts outcome in N- and N+, ER+ pts treated with adjuvant endocrine therapy. RS also predicts benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) and pts with a high RS result receive most of the benefit. We evaluated the association between RS and paclitaxel (Pac) benefit in N+, ER+ pts from NSABP B-28. Methods: B-28 compared 4 cycles of doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (AC) vs. AC followed by Pac × 4 (AC→Pac). Pts ≥50 yrs and those Results: Median follow-up time was 11.2 yrs. Of the 1065 pts, 386 (36%) had low RS ( Conclusions: RS significantly predicts risk for LRR, DR, DFS event, and death in N+, ER+ pts treated with AC or AC→Pac adjuvant CT. Pts with a low RS value have similar outcomes whether treated with AC or with AC→Pac and most of Pac benefit is evident in pts with intermediate/high RS. Although there was no significant interaction between RS and Pac benefit, these results support previous findings of lack of CT benefit in pts with a low RS result. Supported by: NCI grants U10-CA-12027, -69651, -37377, -69974, U24-CA-114732, and CA-75362; Susan G. Komen for the Cure® grants; and Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr S1-10.

Prognostic Impact of 21-Gene Recurrence Score in Patients With Stage IV Breast Cancer: TBCRC 013

PURPOSE The objective of this study was to determine whether the 21-gene Recurrence Score (RS) provides clinically meaningful information in patients with de novo stage IV breast cancer enrolled in the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium (TBCRC) 013. PATIENTS AND METHODS TBCRC 013 was a multicenter prospective registry that evaluated the role of surgery of the primary tumor in patients with de novo stage IV breast cancer. From July 2009 to April 2012, 127 patients from 14 sites were enrolled; 109 (86%) patients had pretreatment primary tumor samples suitable for 21-gene RS analysis. Clinical variables, time to first progression (TTP), and 2-year overall survival (OS) were correlated with the 21-gene RS by using log-rank, Kaplan-Meier, and Cox regression. RESULTS Median patient age was 52 years (21 to 79 years); the majority had hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative (72 [66%]) or hormone receptor-positive/HER2-positive (20 [18%]) breast cancer. At a median follow-up of 29 months, median TTP was 20 months (95% CI, 16 to 26 months), and median survival was 49 months (95% CI, 40 months to not reached). An RS was generated for 101 (93%) primary tumor samples: 22 (23%) low risk (< 18), 29 (28%) intermediate risk (18 to 30); and 50 (49%) high risk (≥ 31). For all patients, RS was associated with TTP (P = .01) and 2-year OS (P = .04). In multivariable Cox regression models among 69 patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive/HER2-negative cancer, RS was independently prognostic for TTP (hazard ratio, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.86; P = .02) and 2-year OS (hazard ratio, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.14 to 2.95; P = .013). CONCLUSION The 21-gene RS is independently prognostic for both TTP and 2-year OS in ER-positive/HER2-negative de novo stage IV breast cancer. Prospective validation is needed to determine the potential role for this assay in the clinical management of this patient subset.

Using the 21-gene assay from core needle biopsies to choose neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer: A multicenter trial

We hypothesized that the Oncotype Dx® 21‐gene Recurrence Score (RS) could guide neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) to facilitate breast conserving surgery (BCS) for hormone receptor positive (HR+) breast cancers.

A Retrospective Study of the Impact of 21-Gene Recurrence Score Assay on Treatment Choice in Node Positive Micrometastatic Breast Cancer

To assess clinical utility of the 21-gene assay (Oncotype DX® Recurrence Score®), we determined whether women with HER2(−)/ER+ pN1mi breast cancer with low (<18) Recurrence Scores results are given adjuvant chemotherapy in a lower proportion than those with high scores (≥31). This was a multicenter chart review of ≥18 year old women with pN1mi breast cancer, HER2(−)/ER+ tumors, ductal/lobular/mixed histology, with the assay ordered on or after 1 January 2007. One hundred and eighty one patients had a mean age of 60.7 years; 82.9% had ECOG performance status 0; 33.7% had hypertension, 22.7% had osteoporosis, 18.8% had osteoarthritis, and 8.8% had type-2 diabetes. Mean Recurrence Score was 17.8 (range: 0–50). 48.6% had a mastectomy; 55.8% had a lumpectomy. 19.8% of low-risk group patients were recommended chemotherapy vs. 57.9% in the intermediate-risk group and 100% in the high-risk group (p < 0.001). A total of 80.2% of the low-risk group were recommended endocrine therapy alone, while 77.8% of the high-risk group were recommended both endocrine and chemotherapy (p < 0.001). The Oncotype DX Recurrence Score result provides actionable information that can be incorporated into treatment planning for women with HER2(−)/ER+ pN1mi breast cancer. The Recurrence Score result has clinical utility in treatment planning for HER2(−)/ER+ pN1mi breast cancer patients.

Abstract P5-17-03: The 12-gene DCIS score assay: Impact on radiation treatment (XRT) recommendations and clinical utility

Background: In the management of DCIS clinicians and patients (pts) must choose between the various options for breast conservation treatment based on an assessment of local recurrence (LR) risk. Traditional clinicopathologic (CP) factors such as age, size, grade, margin width or comedo necrosis, provide an average LR risk derived from clinical trials and population studies. The Oncotype DX® 12-gene assay for DCIS gives individual 10-yr LR risk estimates and has now been validated in two studies in a total of 893 pts. We report the 2nd study assessing the impact of the DCIS Score result on XRT recommendations. In addition, surveys assessing pt and physician confidence will provide insight into the overall clinical utility of the DCIS Score result. Baseline characteristics including the pre-assay LR risk and XRT recommendation are described here; final results on change in XRT recommendation from pre- to post-assay and distribution of the score across the CP factors will be presented. Methods: 13 U.S. sites enrolled pts with DCIS from 3/2014-5/2015. Pts with LCIS but no DCIS, invasive BC, or planned mastectomy were excluded. Data were prospectively collected on CP factors, physician estimates of LR risk, DCIS score, and pre/post XRT recommendation. Each pt had a surgeon and radiation oncologist complete study surveys. Pt surveys were also administered pre/post assay for decision conflict and the STAIT anxiety survey. The LR risk estimates and XRT recommendations were analyzed for all physicians as well as by specialty. Descriptive statistics summarized study variables. 95% Clopper-Pearson Exact CIs were calculated for percent change in XRT recommendation. McNemar9s test was used to determine if the proportion of pts had a significant change in XRT recommendation post assay. Paired t-tests were used to compare physician estimates of recurrence risk pre/post assay. Results: Of the 121 pts enrolled, median age was 61y (34-83) and 80.2% were postmenopausal. Median size was 8mm and 40% were Conclusions: The role of new molecular tools such as the DCIS Score assay that provide individual risk estimates for LR on treatment decisions is evolving. The DCIS pts enrolled in the study reveal inclusion of baseline features like higher nuclear grade (26%), comedo necrosis (55%) and margin width of 1-3mm (47%) that have historically been associated with XRT use. This represents a continued broadening of the assay use from the predominantly lower risk DCIS cohort in the 1st validation study (E5194). The impact on XRT decisions is critical to establishing the clinical utility of the assay. The decision impact analysis, differences in use of the assay among surgeons and radiation oncologists and the impact on overall confidence with the treatment decision will be presented. Citation Format: Manders JB, Kuerer HM, Smith BD, McCluskey C, Farrar WB, Frazier TG, Li L, Leonard CE, Carter DL, Chawla S, Medeiros LE, Guenther JM, Castellini LE, Buchholz DJ, Mamounas EP, Wapnir IL, Horst KC, Chagpar A, Evans SB, Riker AI, Vali FS, Solin LJ, Jablon L, Recht A, Sharma R, Lu R, Sing AP, Hwang ES, White J. The 12-gene DCIS score assay: Impact on radiation treatment (XRT) recommendations and clinical utility. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-17-03.

Re: Using the 21-gene assay from core needle biopsies to choose neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer: A multicenter trial. Journal of Surgical Oncology 2017;115(8):917-923.

1Virginia Commonwealth University and Massey, Cancer Center, Richmond, Virginia 2Centre Hospitalier de l’Universite de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada 3Cone Health Cancer Center, Greensboro, North Carolina 4Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina 5 Forsyth Regional Cancer Center, Winston Salem, North Carolina 6 Lynchburg Hematology Oncology Clinic, Lynchburg, Virginia 7Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas 8Genomic Health, Inc., Redwood City, California

Abstract P3-06-35: Association of estrogen receptor (ER) levels and prediction of antiproliferative effect of hormone therapy (HT) in lower ER-expressing tumors

Intro Accurate measurement of ER in early stage invasive breast cancer (EBC) is important to identify patients likely to benefit from HT. While immunohistochemistry (IHC) is the most common method to quantify ER, other methods can also accurately measure ER, such as RT-PCR. ER is one of the genes included in the RT-PCR based 21-gene Recurrence Score assay (Onco type DX ® , Genomic Health, Redwood City, CA) and is also reported separately as a single gene expression. Additionally, the association between ER expression by RT-PCR (ER-PCR) and tamoxifen benefit has been reported by Kim, et al (2011). A recent study reported that patients with ER levels Aim The study aims are: (1) To correlate quantification of ER in EBC as assessed by Allred Score (AS) and ER as measured by RT-PCR in the 21-gene assay; (2) To describe changes in ER, Recurrence Score, and measures of proliferation after 2wks of an aromatase inhibitor (AI); (3) To perform exploratory analyses of factors associated with changes in proliferation. Methods 55 postmenopausal EBC patients with lower ER (AS 2-7) were treated with 2wks of an AI followed by wide excision. All patients had a 21-gene assay on a pre-and post-treatment (Tx) sample. Proliferation was measured by both Ki67 by IHC (in 45 patients) and by the proliferation gene group score (PGS) in the RT-PCR based 21-gene assay (in all patients). Proliferation response was defined by a 20% relative decrease in Ki67 or a decrease in PGS. Changes in proliferation were correlated with AS, ER-PCR and Recurrence Score result. Results The Table shows the correlation of AS with ER-PCR measured in the pre-Tx (r=0.83) samples. 94% of AS (2-3) patients and 56% of AS (4-5) were ER(-) by RT-PCR There was a significant change (pre to post) in the average Ki67 level (18% to 11%; p Conclusions • Results confirm earlier reports showing substantial disagreement in ER measured by IHC vs RT-PCR in patients with lower ER-expressing tumors • The clinical implications are that a substantial number of patients with low ER by IHC may have little to no benefit from HT • The 21-gene assay may be useful in selecting patients likely to benefit from HT • Further studies in larger cohorts are required to confirm these findings. Citation Format: J Michael Dixon, Arran Turnbull, Lorna Renshaw, Megan P Rothney, Cynthia A Loman, Laura Arthur, Jeremy S Thomas, Oliver Young, Juliette Murray, Linda Williams, Amy P Sing, David Cameron. Association of estrogen receptor (ER) levels and prediction of antiproliferative effect of hormone therapy (HT) in lower ER-expressing tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-06-35.

21-gene Recurrence Score testing and subsequent treatment decisions in patients (pts) with estrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) early-stage breast cancer (ESBC).

30 Background: The utilization of the 21-gene Recurrence Score (Oncotype DX) in community settings is now well established for ER+, node negative (N-) pts with ESBC. The utility of the Recurrence Score result is to guide treatment decisions and spare exposure to chemotherapy (CT) in pts that have little likelihood of benefitting. To better understand physician behavior as it relates to OncotypeDX testing, we examined the characteristics of pts tested versus not tested, the Recurrence Score distribution and treatment patterns in approximately 160 pts with ESBC seen in 2010. In addition, provider utilization and treatment patterns were also assessed. METHODS Using data from 2010, the number of pts who were eligible to undergo OncotypeDX testing was compared to the number of pts who underwent testing. Pts were considered eligible for testing if they had node-negative, ER+, HER2-negative ESBC. We determined the number of pts with a Recurrence Score value in the low (RS <18), intermediate (int; RS 18-30), and high-risk (RS ≥31) groups along with the number of pts who subsequently received chemotherapy in each category. RESULTS Of the 233 pts identified with ESBC, 158 were eligible for OncotypeDX testing and 107 (67.7%) underwent testing. Fifty-five percent of pts were low, 37% int, and 7.7% high-risk, respectively. Nineteen percent of low, 56% of int, and 100% of high-risk pts received CT. In the 11 pts with a low Recurrence Score result that received CT, the reason cited was pt decision in 4 and young age in 3. CONCLUSIONS Oncotype DX use in the community is well established. Recurrence Score-guided use of CT in the low- and int-risk groups was as expected based on adjuvant chemotherapy guidelines; however, there were still some physicians treating low Recurrence Score pts with CT-mostly based on younger age or larger tumors. Data from 2011 and 2012 will be included in the final presentation allowing greater insight into pt groups less represented in the single year experience.