Yasuo Hozumi

Adjuvant tamoxifen and exemestane in early breast cancer (TEAM): a randomised phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND Aromatase inhibitors improved disease-free survival compared with tamoxifen when given as an initial adjuvant treatment or after 2-3 years of tamoxifen to postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. We therefore compared the long-term effects of exemestane monotherapy with sequential treatment (tamoxifen followed by exemestane). METHODS The Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) phase 3 trial was conducted in hospitals in nine countries. Postmenopausal women (median age 64 years, range 35-96) with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to open-label exemestane (25 mg once a day, orally) alone or following tamoxifen (20 mg once a day, orally) for 5 years. Randomisation was by use of a computer-generated random permuted block method. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS) at 5 years. Main analyses were by intention to treat. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00279448, NCT00032136, and NCT00036270; NTR 267; Ethics Commission Trial27/2001; and UMIN, C000000057. FINDINGS 9779 patients were assigned to sequential treatment (n=4875) or exemestane alone (n=4904), and 4868 and 4898 were analysed by intention to treat, respectively. 4154 (85%) patients in the sequential group and 4186 (86%) in the exemestane alone group were disease free at 5 years (hazard ratio 0·97, 95% CI 0·88-1·08; p=0·60). In the safety analysis, sequential treatment was associated with a higher incidence of gynaecological symptoms (942 [20%] of 4814 vs 523 [11%] of 4852), venous thrombosis (99 [2%] vs 47 [1%]), and endometrial abnormalities (191 [4%] vs 19 [<1%]) than was exemestane alone. Musculoskeletal adverse events (2448 [50%] vs 2133 [44%]), hypertension (303 [6%] vs 219 [5%]), and hyperlipidaemia (230 [5%] vs 136 [3%]) were reported more frequently with exemestane alone. INTERPRETATION Treatment regimens of exemestane alone or after tamoxifen might be judged to be appropriate options for postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive early breast cancer. FUNDING Pfizer.

Results of the first planned analysis of the TEAM (tamoxifen exemestane adjuvant multinational) prospective randomized phase III trial in hormone sensitive postmenopausal early breast cancer.

CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2008 Abstracts Abstract #15 Background : Exemestane (E) is a steroidal aromatase inactivator, which has been demonstrated to be more effective than tamoxifen (T) in metastatic breast cancer (BC). The role of E in adjuvant therapy has been established after 2 to 3 years of T compared to 5 years of T in the Intergroup Exemestane Study (Lancet 2007; 369: 599-70). One objective of the TEAM study was to evaluate E compared to T as initial adjuvant endocrine therapy. Methods : Using common criteria, eligible postmenopausal patients in 9 countries with invasive ER+ and/or PR+ early BC, were prospectively randomized to either open-label E 25 mg/day or T 20 mg/day. All patients had completed primary therapy of surgery and chemotherapy if indicated. All data were collected and analyzed by the Central Data Center in Leiden, The Netherlands. The trial was initiated in 2001 with a primary endpoint of DFS between T and E. In 2004, based on results of the IES, TEAM was modified such that all patients on T were switched to E at 2.5-3 years. The modified design includes 2 primary endpoints: DFS of T versus E followed up to 2.75 years, and DFS of E for 5 years versus T switched to E treated for a total of 5 years. The present analysis focuses on the first primary endpoint: DFS for T compared to E at 2.75 years with censoring of events after 2.75 years. Log rank test with a 2-sided significance level of 2.98% stratified by country and factors nested in protocols will be utilized. Results : Between January 2001 and January 2006, 9775 women were randomized to T or E of which 9300 will be followed for 2.75 years by October 2008: 99% were ER and/or /PgR+, 50% were node negative, 44% underwent mastectomy, 68% received radiotherapy, and 36% chemotherapy. There have been 693 DFS events (locoregional or distant recurrence, second breast cancers, or death without recurrence) by April 2008 within 2.75 years of randomization. In accordance with the statistical analysis plan, the first planned analysis will be based on 723 events or 9300 patients with at least 2.75 years follow-up. We will present a detailed analysis of the first primary endpoint of DFS between T and E at 2.75 years at the 2008 SABCS. The TEAM study represents the largest of the 3 major trials to compare efficacy of an aromatase inhibitor/inactivator versus tamoxifen as initial endocrine therapy. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 15.

SENTINEL NODE DETECTION METHOD USING CONTRAST-ENHANCED ULTRASONOGRAPHY WITH SONAZOID IN BREAST CANCER: PRELIMINARY CLINICAL STUDY

This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection in breast cancer using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) with subareolar Sonazoid injection. The subjects were 20 breast cancer patients. General anesthesia was induced and 2 mL of Sonazoid was injected subareolarly. After massage of the injection site, the axillary area was observed transdermally using coded phase inversion harmonic ultrasonography with mechanical indices of 0.15 to 0.19. When contrast-enhanced lymph nodes (LNs) were seen, they were defined as CE-SLN. Two other SLN detection methods, the gamma-probe-guided and dye-guided methods, were performed together. We evaluated the SLNs detected by each method to determine if they corresponded with each other and calculated the SLN detection rate. After the SLNs were resected, pathologic examinations were done. The SLN detection rate of the CEUS-guided method, the dye-guided method and the gamma-probe-guided method were 70%, 75% and 100%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in these rates between the CEUS-guided and dye-guided methods (p = 0.99) but the CEUS-guided method showed a significantly lower rate than the gamma-probe-guided method (p = 0.020), and dye-guided method also showed a significantly lower rate than the gamma-probe-guided method (p = 0.047). The number of CE-SLNs was 1 or 2 (average 1.1) and each took 2 to 20 (average 5.3) min to detect. The CE-SLNs corresponded grossly with SLNs detected by the gamma-probe-guided and dye-guided methods. The pathologic results indicated no metastasis from the resected SLNs in 15 of 20 cases. However, the CEUS-guided method detected 12 cases of these 15 and CE-SLNs were detected in two of the remaining five metastasis cases. In summary, in breast cancer patients, after subareolar injection of Sonazoid, contrast-enhanced LNs were observed in real time with ultrasonography. In an initial clinical study of 20 cases, the detection rate of the CEUS-guided method was less than that of the gamma-probe-guided method. It is suggested that the CEUS-guided method using Sonazoid may, with some improvements, be a useful new modality for sentinel node identification.

Specific Adverse Events Predict Survival Benefit in Patients Treated With Tamoxifen or Aromatase Inhibitors: An International Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational Trial Analysis

PURPOSE Specific adverse events (AEs) associated with endocrine therapy and related to depletion or blocking of circulating estrogens may be related to treatment efficacy. We investigated the relationship between survival outcomes and specific AEs including vasomotor symptoms (VMSs), musculoskeletal adverse events (MSAEs), and vulvovaginal symptoms (VVSs) in postmenopausal patients with breast cancer participating in the international Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS Primary efficacy end points were disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and distant metastases (DM). VMSs, MSAEs, and VVSs arising in the first year of endocrine treatment were considered. Patients who did not start or who discontinued their allocated therapy and/or had an event (recurrence/death) within 1 year after randomization were excluded. Landmark analyses and time-dependent multivariate Cox proportional hazards models assessed survival differences up to 5 years from the start of treatment. RESULTS A total of 9,325 patients were included. Patients with specific AEs (v nonspecific or no AEs) had better DFS and OS (multivariate hazard ratio [HR] for DFS: VMSs, 0.731 [95% CI, 0.618 to 0.866]; MSAEs, 0.826 [95% CI, 0.694 to 0.982]; VVSs, 0.769 [95% CI, 0.585 to 1.01]; multivariate HR for OS: VMSs, 0.583 [95% CI, 0.424 to 0.803]; MSAEs, 0.811 [95% CI, 0.654 to 1.005]; VVSs, 0.570 [95% CI, 0.391 to 0.831]) and fewer DM (VMSs, 0.813 [95% CI, 0.664 to 0.996]; MSAEs, 0.749 [95% CI, 0.601 to 0.934]; VVSs, 0.687 [95% CI, 0.436 to 1.085]) than patients not reporting these symptoms. Increasing numbers of specific AEs were also associated with better survival outcomes. Outcomes were unrelated to treatment allocation. CONCLUSION Certain specific AEs are associated with superior survival outcomes and may therefore be useful in predicting treatment responses in patients with breast cancer treated with endocrine therapy.

Five Years of Exemestane as Initial Therapy Compared to 5 Years of Tamoxifen Followed by Exemestane: The TEAM Trial, a Prospective, Randomized, Phase III Trial in Postmenopausal Women with Hormone-Sensitive Early Breast Cancer.

Background: Exemestane (E) is a steroidal aromatase inhibitor (AI) with an established role in early breast cancer after 2–3 years of tamoxifen (T). Additionally, AIs have shown superiority to T as initial adjuvant therapy. The Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) study has been prospectively designed to compare the role of E as initial adjuvant therapy with a sequential approach of T followed by E (T→E).Methods: Postmenopausal patients with hormone receptor–positive early breast cancer were randomized to open-label E 25 mg/d or T 20 mg/d. All patients completed surgery and chemotherapy, if indicated. Data were collected and analyzed by the Central Data Center in Leiden, The Netherlands. The trial was initiated in 2001 with the primary objective being a comparison of disease-free survival (DFS) with T vs E. In 2004, TEAM was modified in response to new data; all those initially receiving T were switched to E after 2.5–3 years. An additional 2500 patients were recruited and randomized at diagnosis to E or T→E for 5 years. The modified study design includes 2 coprimary endpoints: (1) DFS of T vs E that was previously reported at 2.75 years median follow-up (Jones S et al, abstract #15 presented at SABCS 2008); and (2) DFS at 5 years of E vs T→E that will be the focus of results presented here.Results: Between 2001 and January 2006, 9775 women were randomized to TEAM. In total, 99% of patients were ER+ and/or PgR+, 50% were node-negative, 44% underwent mastectomy, 68% received radiotherapy, and 36% received chemotherapy. In September 2009, median follow-up will be 5.5 years and the protocol-specified 1285 overall DFS events (locoregional or distant recurrence, second breast cancers, or death without recurrence) will have occurred, allowing for analysis of the second coprimary endpoint. We will present a detailed analysis of the 5-year results from theTEAM trial, the only prospectively powered randomized trial to compare 5 years of an initial AI vs T→AI, 2 commonly received adjuvant therapies for women with hormone receptor–positive early breast cancer. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 11.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with breast cancer using superparamagnetic iron oxide and a magnetometer

BackgroundSome hospitals lack facilities for radioisotopes in sentinel node biopsy. A novel method is used with a superparamagnetic tracer and a magnetometer instead of a radioisotope.MethodsThirty patients were included in the study after obtaining IRB approval. Superparamagnetic iron oxide and patent blue dye were injected in the subareolar breast tissue. Following a few minutes of massage to promote migration of the iron tracer and blue dye throughout the lymphatic vessels, the axillary lymph nodes were detected transdermally using a handheld magnetometer and followed by standard axillary dissection in all patients.ResultsOf 30 patients evaluated, sentinel lymph nodes were identified in 90% (27/30) using both blue dye and magnetic tracer. Sentinel lymph nodes were identified using the magnetic method in 23/30 (77%) and blue dye in 24/30 (80%). There was one false-negative sentinel node, resulting in an overall sensitivity of 6/7 (86%).ConclusionsThis is the first study to use a magnetic tracer to identify sentinel lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer. This new technique may alter the role of radioisotopes with further refinement and experience.

Immunotherapy for experimental rat autoimmune thyroiditis using a novel immunosuppressant, FTY720

While autoimmune disease needs to be continuously treated via long term, administration of immunosuppressants conventional immunotherapy using drugs such as cyclosporin and tacrolimus may cause adverse effects. Recently, a novel agent, FTY720, which was structurally modified from a natural product, has been shown to have a moderate and different immunosuppressive effect from conventional drugs. In this study, we examined the effect of FTY720 on experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT), which was induced in rats by neonatal thymectomy, followed by subsequent sublethal irradiation. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was measured before and at the end of drug therapy. Histological and hematological examinations were performed using the samples from sacrificed animals. High TSH levels in the animals returned to the normal range following treatment with FTY720. The severity of the thyroiditis was lower in the FTY720 group than in the control group. FTY720 markedly decreased the number of circulatory lymphocytes, and no infections episodes were observed under this treatment. Thus, FTY720 treatment might be preferred for continuous immunotherapy for autoimmune disease without adverse effects.

The effect of exemestane, anastrozole, and tamoxifen on lipid profiles in Japanese postmenopausal early breast cancer patients: final results of National Surgical Adjuvant Study BC 04, the TEAM Japan sub-study

BACKGROUND In this Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational Japan sub-study, we evaluated the time course of changes in serum lipids in postmenopausal women with hormone-sensitive early breast cancer treated with exemestane, anastrozole, or tamoxifen for postoperative adjuvant therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 154 breast cancer patients were assigned to receive exemestane, anastrozole, or tamoxifen in this randomized open-label study. Serum lipid parameters including triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured during 1 year of treatment. RESULTS TC and LDL-C rapidly decreased in patients treated with tamoxifen at 3 months. Compared with anastrozole and exemestane patients, TC and LDL-C were significantly lower at all assessment time points in tamoxifen patients (P < 0.05). TG increased in tamoxifen patients; it was significantly higher compared with exemestane patients at all assessment time points (P < 0.05). HDL-C slightly decreased in exemestane patients; it was significantly lower compared with anastrozole patients at 3 months and 1 year (P = 0.0179 and 0.0013, respectively). CONCLUSION Changes of lipid profiles in Japanese postmenopausal women treated with tamoxifen were relatively favorable, while exemestane and anastrozole had no clinically significant effect on the serum lipids.

Taxanes versus S-1 as the first-line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer (SELECT BC): an open-label, non-inferiority, randomised phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND Oral fluoropyrimidines are used for the first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer to avoid severe adverse effects, although firm supporting evidence is lacking. We aimed to establish whether S-1 is non-inferior to taxanes in this setting. METHODS We did an open-label, non-inferiority, phase 3 trial at 154 hospitals in Japan. We enrolled individuals who had HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer who had received no chemotherapy for advanced disease, and who were resistant to endocrine treatment. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) either to taxane (docetaxel 60-75 mg/m(2) at intervals of 3-4 weeks; paclitaxel 80-100 mg/m(2) weekly for 3 of 4 weeks; or paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) at intervals of 3-4 weeks) or to S-1 (40-60 mg twice daily for 28 consecutive days, followed by a 14-day break). Randomisation was done centrally with the minimisation method, with stratification by institution, liver metastasis, oestrogen and progesterone receptor status, previous treatment with taxanes or oral fluorouracil, and time from surgery to recurrence. The primary endpoint was overall survival, with a prespecified non-inferiority margin of 1·333 for the hazard ratio (HR). The primary efficacy analysis was done in the full analysis set, which consisted of all patients who took at least one study treatment and who had all data after randomisation. This trial is registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network, Japan (protocol ID C000000416). FINDINGS Between Oct 27, 2006, and July 30, 2010, we enrolled 618 patients (309 assigned to taxane; 309 assigned to S-1). The full analysis set consisted of 286 patients in the taxane group and 306 in the S-1 group. Median follow-up was 34·6 months (IQR 17·9-44·4). Median overall survival was 35·0 months (95% CI 31·1-39·0) in the S-1 group and 37·2 months (33·0-40·1) in the taxane group (HR 1·05 [95% CI 0·86-1·27]; pnon-inferiority=0·015). The most common grade 3 or worse adverse events were neutropenia (20 [7%] of 307 patients in the S-1 group vs nine [3%] of 290 patients in the taxane group), fatigue (ten [3%] vs 12 [4%]), and oedema (one [<1%] vs 12 [4%]). Treatment-related deaths were reported in two patients in the taxane group. INTERPRETATION S-1 is non-inferior to taxane with respect to overall survival as a first-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer. S-1 should be considered a new option for first-line chemotherapy for patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. FUNDING Comprehensive Support Project for Oncology Research of the Public Health Research Foundation, Japan; Taiho.

Effects of exemestane, anastrozole and tamoxifen on bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in postmenopausal early breast cancer patients: results of N-SAS BC 04, the TEAM Japan substudy.

Background: Use of aromatase inhibitors in women with postmenopausal breast cancer accompanies risks of bone loss. We evaluated changes in bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers in patients treated with exemestane, anastrozole or tamoxifen for hormone-sensitive postmenopausal early breast cancer. Patients and Methods: Sixty-eight patients enrolled in the Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational Japan bone substudy were randomly assigned to receive tamoxifen, exemestane or anastrozole. During a 2-year study period, lumbar spine BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and urinary type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTX) and serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) were also measured. Results: BMD at 2 years of treatment was higher in tamoxifen patients compared with exemestane and anastrozole patients; however, the intergroup difference was not significant (p = 0.2521 and p = 0.0753, respectively). BMD was higher in exemestane patients compared with anastrozole patients; however, the intergroup difference was not significant (p = 0.7059 and p = 0.8134, respectively). NTX and BAP were significantly lower in tamoxifen patients compared with exemestane and anastrozole patients at 1 and 2 years of treatment (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Tamoxifen may provide better bone protection compared with exemestane or anastrozole. The effect of exemestane and anastrozole on bone loss may be comparable in Japanese postmenopausal women.