Targeted gene next-generation sequencing reveals genomic profile in a cohort of 46 Chinese patients with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to explore the genomic profile in a cohort of Chinese patients with breast cancer (BC), as well as provide potential strategies for clinic treatment in specific subset of BC patients. METHODS: Paired samples from 46 BC patients were subjected to DNA extraction and 537 gene targeted next-generation sequencing. RESULTS: In total, 742 somatic mutations were detected in these patients, which involved 303 genes. TP53 and PIK3CA were the most frequently mutated genes, with a mutation rate of 45.65% and 26.09%. C>T, T>C and C>A comprised the main single nucleotide base variation for this Chinese cohort. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) group had more TP53-mutated patients than the Non-TNBC group (p = 0.0229). In addition, the cohort was also divided into 'Young' and 'Old' groups based on the age of onset. Compared with the 'Young' group, the 'Old' group had more frameshift mutations (p = 0.0190), less missense mutations (p = 0.0269) and more HOXA11-mutated patients (p = 0.0197). Additionally, the HOXA11mt (HOXA11 gene mutated) group had more frameshift mutations than the HOXA11wt (HOXA11 gene without mutation) group (p < 0.0001). In KEGG (i.e. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analysis, the HOXA11wt group had more gene mutations involved in the T cell receptor signaling pathway (p = 0.0197), Jak-STAT signaling pathway (p = 0.0380) and the HIF-1 signaling pathway (p = 0.0489) than the HOXA11mt group. In the present study, the heterogeneity of somatic mutations was revealed between different tumor subgroups, including TNBC/Non-TNBC, age of onset (Young/Old) and HOXA11 mutation (HOXA11mt /HOXA11wt ). CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed the heterogeneity of gene mutation and clinical variables among BC subtypes and might provide guidance for developing a potential target for clinical treatment.

[Effects of polysomy 17 on HER-2 gene and protein expression and its clinicopathologic significance in breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of polysomy 17 on human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) testing and study its clinicopathologic significance. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the HER-2 status by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and HER-2 protein expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in a cohort of 619 patients with invasive breast cancer. The relationship between polysomy 17 and various clinicopathologic parameters was assessed. RESULTS: Polysomy 17 was observed in 31.8% of cases, but more frequently in the IHC(3+) (41.9%) than in the IHC(2+)(27.7%) and IHC(1+/0) (11.1%) subgroup (P = 0.001). There was no significant correlation between the frequency of polysomy 17 and HER-2 status in each IHC subgroup (P > 0.05). Among the cases without gene amplification by FISH, 9 of 15 IHC(3+) cases showed polysomy 17. As compared with the amplified group, un-amplified polysomy 17 patients were associated with such good prognostic indicators as greater hormone receptor positivity (P < 0.001) and lower Ki-67 index (P = 0.003) with a trend towards those with neither amplification or polysomy. CONCLUSION: The frequency of polysomy 17 is partially correlated with HER-2 protein expression but not HER-2 amplification. And polysomy 17 is a major factor in strong HER-2 protein overexpression in 3+ non amplified cases. Tumors displaying un-amplified polysomy 17 resemble more HER-2-negative than HER-2-positive counterparts.

Unfavorable pathological complete response rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy epirubicin plus taxanes for locally advanced triple-negative breast cancer.

Anthracycline-Taxane chemotherapy is widely used in neoadjuvant treatment for breast cancers. However, there is limited data reported in patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Here, we evaluated the pathologic responses and survival of neoadjuvant epirubicin and taxanes chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced TNBC to provide some useful information for clinical practice. A total of 43 patients with locally advanced TNBC were enrolled in this study. Patients were administered with epirubicin 75 mg/m(2) plus paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) or docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks for at least 2 cycles. The primary endpoint was pathologic complete response (pCR), which was defined as no residual invasive cancer, or only carcinoma in situ in both the excised breast and axillary lymph node, while relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were secondary endpoints. Thirty-nine (90.7%) patients were at clinical stages IIB-IIIC. Thirty-seven (86%) completed 4-6 cycles of preoperative chemotherapy, and objective response rate (ORR) was 81.4% (35/43). Forty-two patients underwent radical surgery subsequently. The pCR rate was 14.3% (6/42). The most common adverse events in neoadjuvant chemotherapy were nausea/vomiting (88.4%, 38/43) and neutropenia (88.4%). After a median follow-up period of 34.0 months, 3-year RFS and OS rate was 53.6% and 80.1%, respectively. All events of recurrence and death occurred in non-pCR patients, in whom the 3-year RFS and OS rates were 44.3% and 76.6%, respectively. This study suggest that neoadjuvant chemotherapy with epirubicin plus taxanes has a relatively low pCR rate and high early recurrence risk in locally advanced TNBC, which indicates the necessity for more efficacious treatment. Further study is needed to validate these results.

[Clinical analysis of 34 patients with adrenal metastasis from breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of adrenal metastasis from breast cancer, and to explore methods to improve prognosis. METHODS: Thirty-four breast cancer patients with adrenal metastasis were diagnosed and treated in our hospital from Jan. 1999 to Dec. 2010. SPSS 17.0 was used for survival analysis. RESULTS: During the Jan. 1999 to Dec. 2010 period, 13 595 patients with breast cancer were treated in our hospital. Among them, 34 cases had adrenal metastasis from breast cancer, with an incidence of 0.25%. The median time to progression (TTP) and overall survival of the 34 patients was 6.2 months (95%CI 3.1-9.3 months) and 21.4 months (95%CI 0-44.0 months), respectively. Eleven patients (34.4%) achieved partial response among 32 patients who received chemotherapy, and 10 (31.2%) achieved stable disease. Patients who achieved best response of PR or SD were superior in TTP and OS than patients with disease progression after chemotherapy (TTP: 18.1 months vs. 2.3 months, P < 0.001; OS: 35.2 months vs. 10.3 months, P = 0.003). Patients who received 1st or 2nd line chemotherapy were superior in TTP than patients who received over 2nd line chemotherapy (TTP: 15.7 months vs. 4.2 months, P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of adrenal metastasis from breast cancer is low. Chemotherapy-based systemic therapy should be recommended to improve the prognosis for these patients.

[Endobronchial metastases from breast cancer: a clinicopathological and survival analysis].

OBJECTIVE: Endobronchial metastases (EBM) secondary to extrapulmonary solid malignant tumors are rare but may occur. The most common extrathoracic malignancies associated with EBM are colorectal, renal and breast cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological aspects of EBM from breast cancer and the prognosis of the patients. METHODS: Clinicopathological data of 11 cases diagnosed as EBM from breast cancer treated in our hospital from 2003 to 2010 were re-evaluated. Their symptoms, recurrence interval, radiological features, histopathological properties, and prognosis were assessed. RESULTS: Eleven cases were diagnosed by bronchoscopic bronchial biopsy. The median interval from diagnosis of breast cancer was 57 months (range: 11 - 189 mo). All patients had other proven metastases when the EBM was diagnosed. The most frequently observed symptoms were cough (8 cases). Interestingly, two patients were asymptomatic. Hilar mass (5 cases) was a common radiological finding. No disaccordance between the hormone receptor status in the primary and metastatic lesions in these patients was found. The median survival after EBM diagnosis was 21 months (range: 6 - 36) with four patients still alive and one of these four patients was surviving more than 7 years. CONCLUSIONS: On average, EBM is diagnosed about 5 years after the diagnosis of breast cancer, which is a relatively long lead time, but the median survival time is short, as 21 months in our group. The treatment plan must be individualized, because in some cases, long-term survival can be expected.

[Phase II clinical trial of neoadjuvant therapy with carboplatin plus paclitaxel for locally advanced triple-negative breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy, safety and survival of combination of carboplatin plus paclitaxel as neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for patients with locally advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), and explore an optimal regimen for TNBC. METHODS: Patients with core needle biopsy confirmed pathological diagnosis of IIA ∼ IIIC invasive breast cancer, negative for estrogen and progesterone receptors and HER2 by immunohistochemistry, and with indication for NACT were eligible in this study. The biopsy tumor tissues were tested for CK5/6, CK14, EGFR and Ki67. The patients received paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) on day 1, carboplatin at an area under the curve 5 mg×min/ml on day 2 of every 21 days. The clinical response was evaluated every 2 cycles according to Standard RECIST 1.0 criteria and surgery was done after four to six cycles. Pathological complete remission (pCR) was defined if absence of invasive tumor in the breast and axillary lymph nodes samples or residual carcinoma in situ only. RESULTS: Overall, thirty-one patients were enrolled from January 2008 to November 2010. The median age was 51 years and 83.9% of the patients were diagnosed as stage IIB to IIIC diseases. 30 Patients completed chemotherapy as planed while one patient changed regimen due to paclitaxel allergy. Twenty-eight patients could be evaluated for clinical efficacy, of which CR, PR, SD, PD were achieved in 4, 20, 3 and 1 women, respectively. The objective response rate was 85.7%. The expression rate of CK5/6, CK14 and EGFR were 88.9% (24/27), 59.3% (16/27) and 63% (17/27), respectively. Among 27 patients who received modified radical mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery, 11 patients obtained pCR, with a pCR rate of 40.7% (95%CI 22.2% - 59.3%). Five of six CK5/6- and CK14-positive patients achieved pCR. All the 31 patients could be evaluated for toxicity according to the NCI-CTC v3.0 criteria. The major toxicities were neutropenia (93.5%), vomiting (45.2%) and ALT/AST increase (32.3%), and grade 3-4 toxicities accounted for 74.2%, 3.2%, 0, respectively. Until December 2011, at a median follow-up of 28.9 months (range 5 - 47.9), eight patients developed recurrence including 5 patients died. Among 11 patients with pCR, one suffered from lung metastasis at 45 months after diagnosis and survived with tumor until now. The other ten were alive and disease free. The 3-year DFS and OS were 62% and 74.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: As a neoadjuvant treatment for triple-negative breast cancer, carboplatin plus paclitaxel regimen achieves notable higher objective response rate and pCR rate compared with the anthracycline plus paclitaxel regimen reported in the literature, and is well tolerable. It is an optimized regimen for TNBC.

[Effects of anastrozole on lipid metabolism in Chinese postmenopausal women with breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of anastrozole, a new generation aromatase inhibitor, on the lipid metabolism in postmenopausal Chinese women with early breast cancer, and observe the adverse reactions as well. METHODS: Postmenopausal women with early breast cancer patients took anastrozole 1 mg per day. The lipid profiles of total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, and high density lipoprotein were assessed before taking the drug, 3 months, 6 months after taking medication, and later once a year, until the end of medication or follow-up. Patients taking lipid-lowering drugs were excluded. The adverse reactions during the process of taking medication was followed-up by telephone. RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty-five postmenopausal breast cancer patients took part in the trial from Jan. 2003 to Jun. 2009. All patients had completed primary surgery and demonstrated a postmenopausal status. ER or PR positivity was confirmed by histopathology. Taking the medication from a minimum of one year to a maximum of 5 years, with a median time of 3.61 years. During the medication time, anastrozole significantly increased the levels of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol after 6 months of treatment, continuing to 5 years, from (3.08 ± 0.90) mmol/L to (3.59 ± 0.59) mmol/L, with a maximal increase of 18.2% higher than that before medication. Anastrozole significantly increased the levels of total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol after 1 years of treatment. Anastrozole significantly reduced the levels of triglycerides after 1 years of treatment. Anastrozole showed no significant effect on serum lipids in the patients with pre-existing hyperlipidemia. A more significant effect on blood lipids was observed in patients aged ≥ 60-years than that in patients less than 60 years of age. The rate of other adverse events were similar to that reported in foreign patients. CONCLUSIONS: For the postmenopausal patients with breast cancer, taking anastrozole may lead to an abnormal lipid metabolism. Anastrozole significantly increases the levels of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and significantly reduces the level of triglycerides. The rate of other adverse events were similar to that reported in foreign patients. it is suggested that the blood lipid levels should be regularly assessed in patients with long-term anastrozole treatment. The rate of other adverse events similar to that reported with foreign patients, and patients tolerate this treatment well.

Long-term outcomes of gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients with recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a phase II trial.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer is the sixth most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Prior studies had demonstrated potential synergistic antitumor activity of gemcitabine in combination with cisplatin. Therefore, we studied the efficacy and tolerability of such combination for esophageal cancer. METHODS: Between October 2003 and October 2006, thirty-eight patients with metastatic or recurrent advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus were enrolled. The median number of treatment cycles per patient was 4 (range 1 - 7). Gemcitabine was given at 1000 mg/m(2) over 30 minutes on days 1, 8 and cisplatin 40 mg/m2 was given on days 1, 2 in an every 21-day cycle. RESULTS: The median follow-up for all 38 patients was 76 months (range 11 - 88 months). The overall response rate was 42.1% (95%CI, 25.5% - 56.5%). Median progression-free survival and median survival for all patients were 4.1 months (95%CI, 3.0 - 5.7 months) and 10 months (95%CI, 7 - 12 months), respectively. Patients with a response had significantly longer median survival compared with the patients without a response (11 months vs. 7.5 months, P = 0.0069). Overall survival at 1 year was 36.8%, at 2 years was 10.5%, and at 5 years was 5.3%. The most common grade 3 - 4 toxicity for all patients was leucopenia (44.7%). CONCLUSIONS: This cisplatin-gemcitabine regimen was manageable and had significant efficacy in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Patients with a response had improved survival time. Furthermore, a small number of the patients with metastatic esophageal cancer were still alive in 5 years with this regimen.

[Goserelin plus anastrozole in the treatment of premenopausal patients with metastatic breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of goserelin plus anastrozole in advanced premenopausal breast cancer patients. METHODS: We summarized a single-centre experience with goserelin plus anastrozole in 32 premenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). All patients received goserelin 3.6 mg by subcutaneous injection every 4 weeks concurrently with anastrozole 1 mg daily. The median duration of treatment was 12 months. RESULTS: No patient achieved complete remission (CR) (0%), 6 partial remissions (PR) (18.8%), 21 stable diseases (SD) (65.6%) and 5 progressive diseases (PD) (15.6%). Objective response rate (ORR) was achieved in 18.8% and clinical benefit (CR + PR + SD > 6 months) in 68.8%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 12 (2 - 57) months. One-year overall survival rate (OS) was 87.4% and two-year OS 66.9%. The OS of patients without visceral metastasis was significantly longer than that of patients with visceral metastasis (P = 0.04). Hot flushes and nausea were predominant toxicities. CONCLUSION: The combination of goserelin and anastrozole appears to be an efficient and well-tolerated regimen in premenopausal MBC women.

[Safety of adjuvant dose-dense chemotherapy with paclitaxel and epirubicin for high-risk breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety and tolerance of adjuvant dose-dense chemotherapy with paclitaxel and epirubicin for high-risk breast cancer. METHODS: From January 2004 to December 2006, 101 patients with high-risk breast cancer after surgical resection were enrolled into this study. The patients were divided into two groups: dose-dense and regular groups. Each patient received 6 cycles of chemotherapy with intravenous administration of paclitaxel (175 mg/m2, on D3) and epirubicin (60 mg/m2, on Dl and D2). The dose-dense group had repeated treatment every two weeks, while the regular group repeated it every three weeks. G-CSF was used in a dose of 3 microg/kg on D5-D9 during each cycle in the dose-dense group. While in the regular group, it was used only under the condition that grade II neutropenia occurred. RESULTS: The toxicity could be evaluated in 101 patients. Major grade II-IV toxicities included: neutropenia, nausea, vomiting and alopecia. The incidence of grade III-IV neutropenia was 16.0% in the dose-dense group versus 54.9% in the regular group (P = 0.000); postponing of chemotherapy was 2.4% versus 6.0% (P = 0.027). Ninety-eight patients completed the chemotherapy as planed. After a median follow-up of 24 months, the median DFS and OS were not reached. The relapse-free rate and survival rate were 89.8% and 100% in the dose-dense group, which were 87.8% and 93.9% in the regular group. The relapse-free rate of the high-risk patients in the dose-dense group was 86.8% versus 81.3% in the regular group, and the corresponding survival rate was 100% versus 90.6%. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant dose-dense chemotherapy with paclitaxel and epirubicin is safe, tolerable and promising for high-risk breast cancer.

[Responses of advanced esophageal cancer to chemotherapy and prognostic factors: a report of 138 cases].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The prognosis of advanced esophageal cancer is poor. There are no definite prognostic factors and standard regimens for these patients. This study was to analyze the responses of advanced esophageal cancer to chemotherapy, and explore its probable prognostic factors. METHODS: Clinical data of 138 naïve patients with histologically or pathologically confirmed advanced esophageal cancer, treated from Dec. 1984 to Apr. 2006 in Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, were analyzed using Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier method, and log-rank test. Of the 138 patients, 68 were treated with taxol or gemcitabine or oxaliplatin (new drug group), including 64 (94.1%) treated with cisplatin; 70 were treated without taxol, gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (conventional drug group), including 48(68.6%) treated with cisplatin. RESULTS: The response rate of 138 patients was 47.8%. The median time to progression (TTP) was 4 months; the median survival time was 10 months. The response rate was significantly higher in new drug group than in conventional drug group (58.8% vs. 37.1%, P=0.011). Univariate analysis indicated that age, hemoglobin (HB) level before treatment, chemotherapy cycles, short-tem efficacy, TTP and therapeutic methods were significant prognostic factors. Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that TTP, therapeutic methods and HB level before treatment were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Taxol or gemcitabine combined cisplatin has certain effect on advanced esophageal cancer. TTP, therapeutic methods and HB level before treatment are independent prognostic factors of this disease.

[10-hydroxy-camptothecin plus fluorouracil/leucovorin for the treatment of patients with advanced colorectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the maximum tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of 10-hydroxy-camptothecin (10-HCPT) in HFL regimen for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: 18 advanced CRC patients, 13 males and 3 females, aged 33 - 70, were randomly assigned to 6 groups to be treated with 10-HCPT 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, or 14 mg/m(2), and 5-fluoro-uracil (5-FU) 425 mg/m(2), and leucovorin (LV) 20 mg/m(2), all administered intravenously on days 1 - 5 with 4 weeks as one cycle. The efficacy and side-effect were evaluated. RESULTS: There were two patients with grade IV myelosuppression in the 10, 12, and 14 mg/m(2) groups each. The most dose-associated adverse reactions were myelosuppression and GI dysfunction. The DLT was myelosuppression, and the maximum tolerable dose of 10-HCPT is 10 mg/m(2) on days 1 - 5. CONCLUSION: HFL regimen is well tolerated in the patients with advanced CRC. The dosing regimen recommended in clinic trial is 8 mg/m(2).

[Phase II study of paclitaxel and cisplatin for advanced squamous-cell carcinoma of esophagus].

OBJECTIVE: Paclitaxel was used in a phase II trial in combination with cisplatin for esophageal cancer. The anti-tumor response, toxicity and survival of the treated patients were evaluated. METHODS: Thirty patients with advanced, unresectable, or complicated with metastasis were allotted, twenty-seven patients had no prior chemotherapy while 3 patients had received adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients were given paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) by 3-hour infusion on D1, and cisplatin 40 mg/m(2) daily on D2 and D3. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was not routinely administered unless the patient had neutropenia. Treatment was recycled every 21 days. RESULTS: Thirty patients (male/female, 28/2; median age 58) completed a median of 3 cycles and 27 patients were evaluable for response. Major objective responses were observed in 16 patients (59.3%; 95% confidence interval, 38.9% to 75.5%), including 5 complete responses (18.5%) and 11 partial responses (40.7%). The median time to tumor progression was 5.0 months (range, 1 to 23 months). The median actuarial survival was 9.7 months (range, 1 to 23 months). Twenty-eight patients were assessable for toxicity. The most common nonhematologic toxicity was alopecia. Grade 3 to 4 neutropenia was observed in 17.9% of the patients. Toxicity was manageable with dose attenuation and G-CSF support. CONCLUSION: The combination of paclitaxel and cisplatin can be considered as a main regimen in the treatment of advanced esophageal cancer.

[Long-term results of multimodality therapy of testicular germ cell tumor].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical characteristics, outcome, prognostic factors and survival of patients with testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs). METHODS: 107 TGCT patients received chemotherapy after orchiectomy. The median age of the patients was 32 years. 30.8% (33/107) patients had seminomas with 14 (42.4%) stage I lesions. Seventy-four patients had non-seminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCTT) with 21 (28.4%) stage I lesions. The response rate was analyzed with chi(2) test. The survival rate was calculated with Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Therapy including chemotherapy, radiation and necessary salvage operation were performed after orchiectomy. RESULTS: Clinical stage and pathological type were the main prognostic factors. The 3-, 5- and 10-year survival rates were 75.8%, 73.5%, 73.5% for all patients, 100%, 96.8%, 96.8% for seminoma and 63.5%, 61.7%, 61.7% for NSGCTTs, respectively. Sixty-four patients were evaluable for response. Seventeen (26.6%) patients achieved CR by chemotherapy alone and an additional 8 patients (12.5%) achieved CR by chemotherapy plus salvage operation or radiation. The 5-year survival rates were 91.7% and 26.2% for patients who achieved CR or not. CONCLUSION: The long-term outcome for stage I germ cell tumors is excellent. The treatment outcome and survival in patients with metastatic TGCTs can be greatly improved by adopting multi-modality therapy with combined chemotherapy as the chief means.