Using a quality of life (QoL)-monitor: preliminary results of a randomized trial in Dutch patients with early breast cancer.

PURPOSE: The diagnosis and treatment of cancer negatively affect patients' physical, functional and psychological wellbeing. Patients' needs for care cannot be addressed unless they are recognized by healthcare providers (HCPs). The use of quality of life (QoL) assessments with feedback to HCPs might facilitate the identification and discussion of QoL-topics. METHODS: 113 patients with stage I-IIIB breast cancer treated with chemotherapy were included in this randomized controlled trial. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either usual care, or usual care with an intervention consisting of a QoL-monitor assessing QoL, distress and care needs before every chemotherapy cycle visit. Patients completed questionnaires regarding QoL, illness perceptions, self-efficacy, and satisfaction with communication. From the 2nd visit onwards, patients in the intervention arm and their HCPs received a copy of the QoL overview and results were shown in patients' medical files. Audio-recordings and patients' self-reports were used to investigate effects on communication, patient management and patient-wellbeing. A composite score for communication was calculated by summing the number of QoL-topics discussed during each consultation. RESULTS: Use of the QoL-monitor resulted in a higher communication score (0.7 topics increase per visit, p = 0.04), especially regarding the disease-specific and psychosocial issues (p < 0.01). There were no differences in patient management, QoL, illness perceptions or distress. Patients in the experimental arm (n = 60) had higher scores on satisfaction with communication (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Use of a QoL-monitor during chemotherapy in patients with early breast cancer might result in a more frequent discussion of QoL-topics, associated with high levels of patients' satisfaction.

Strong CD8+ lymphocyte infiltration in combination with expression of HLA class I is associated with better tumor control in breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are associated with pathological complete response (pCR) and survival after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with early breast cancer. We investigated the prognostic and predictive role of TILs, macrophages, and HLA class 1 expression after NAC with or without the potentially immune modulating compound zoledronic acid (ZA). METHODS: Baseline tumor biopsies from 196 patients in the NEOZOTAC trial were analyzed for CD8 (cytotoxic T-cells), FoxP3 (regulatory T-cells), CD68 (macrophages), and HLA class I (HCA2/HC10) expression by immunohistochemistry and subsequently related to pCR and disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: A strong intratumoral CD8+ infiltration or expression of HLA class 1 by cancer cells was associated with a higher pCR rate (p < 0.05). Clinical benefit of high CD8+ T-cell infiltration was found when cancer cells expressed HLA class 1 (pCR: 21.8% vs. 6.7%, p = 0.04) but not when HLA class 1 expression was lost or downregulated (pCR: 5.9% vs. 0%, p = 0.38). Interaction analyses revealed survival benefit between HLA class 1 expression and strong CD8+ T-cell infiltration, whereas in the absence or downregulation of HLA class 1 expression, high levels of CD8+ T-cells were associated with survival disadvantage (p for interaction 0.01; hazard ratio 0.41, 95% CI 0.15-1.10, p = 0.08 and hazard ratio 7.67, 95% CI 0.88-66.4, p = 0.07, respectively). Baseline immune markers were not related to ZA treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Strong baseline tumor infiltration with CD8+ T-cells in the presence of tumoral HLA class 1 expression in patients with HER2-negative breast cancer is related to a higher pCR rate and a better DFS after NAC.

Impact of age on breast cancer mortality and competing causes of death at 10 years follow-up in the adjuvant TEAM trial.

AIM: Due to increasing life expectancy, patients with breast cancer remain at risk of dying due to breast cancer over a long time. This study aims to assess the impact of age on breast cancer mortality and other cause mortality 10 years after diagnosis. METHODS: Postmenopausal patients with hormone-receptor positive breast cancer were included in the Tamoxifen and Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) trial between 2001 and 2006. Age at diagnosis was categorised as <65 years (n = 3369), 65-74 years (n = 1896) and ≥75 years (n = 854). Breast cancer mortality was assessed considering other cause mortality as competing event using competing risk analysis. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 9.8 years (interquartile range 8.0-10.3), cumulative incidence of breast cancer mortality increased with increasing age (age <65 years, 11.7% [95% confidence interval {CI}: 10.2-13.2]; 65-74 years, 12.7% (11.2-14.2) and ≥75 years, 15.6% (13.1-18.0)). Univariate subdistribution hazard ratio (sHR) increased with increasing age (age: 65-74 years, sHR: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.92-1.27 and ≥75 years sHR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.06-1.58, P = 0.013). Multivariable sHR adjusted for tumour and treatment characteristics increased with age but did not reach significance (age 65-74 years, sHR: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.94-1.31; ≥75 years, sHR: 1.18, 95% CI: 0.94-1.48, P = 0.055). CONCLUSION: Ten years after diagnosis, older age at diagnosis is associated with increasing breast cancer mortality in univariate analysis, but it did not reach significance in multivariable analysis. This is not outweighed by a substantially higher other cause mortality with older age. This underlines the need to improve the balance between undertreatment and overtreatment in older patients with breast cancer. The trial was registered in International Trial Databases (ClinicalTrials.govNCT00279448, NCT00032136, and NCT00036270; the Netherlands Trial Registry NTR267).

Cross-cultural comparison of breast cancer patients' Quality of Life in the Netherlands and Japan.

PURPOSE: Cultural differences are hypothesized to influence patients' Quality of Life (QoL) reports. However, there is a lack of empirical cross-cultural studies comparing QoL of patients with cancer. This study aims to compare QoL of women with breast cancer in the Netherlands and Japan, and to investigate the association of QoL with sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological variables (illness perceptions). METHODS: Dutch (n = 116) and Japanese (n = 148) women with early breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire immediately before their second cycle of chemotherapy. RESULTS: Dutch women reported poorer Physical, Role, Emotional, and Cognitive functioning than Japanese women. Additionally, illness perceptions were significantly different in Japan and the Netherlands, but these did not vary across treatment type. In Japan, QoL of women receiving AC-chemotherapy was better than that of women receiving FEC-chemotherapy, whereas in the Netherlands, QoL did not vary as a function of chemotherapy. Illness perceptions about symptom severity, adverse consequences, and emotional representations were negatively related to most domains of patients' QoL in both countries. Adding illness perceptions as covariates to the ANOVA analyses rendered the effects of country and treatment type on QoL non-significant. CONCLUSIONS: Comparing Dutch and Japanese women with early breast cancer revealed important differences in treatment modalities and illness perceptions which both appear to influence QoL. Perceptions about cancer have been found to vary across cultures, and our study suggests that these perceptions should be considered when performing cross-cultural studies focusing on patient-reported outcomes.

Specific adverse events are associated with response to exemestane therapy in postmenopausal breast cancer patients: Results from the TEAMIIA study (BOOG2006-04).

PURPOSE: In the adjuvant setting, specific adverse events (AEs) such as vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and musculoskeletal AEs are associated with relapse-free survival in aromatase inhibitor (AI)-treated patients. In the neoadjuvant setting, specific AEs may be associated with tumor response to AIs as well. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2012, 107 patients participated in the prospective TEAMIIA trial, a prospective, phase II trial investigating 6 months of neoadjuvant exemestane in patients with strongly ER-positive breast cancer. Radiological response (≥30% decrease in tumor size) was studied in relation to VMSs and MSAEs. Pearson's Chi-Square tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate of statistical significance (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Out of 102 patients 26 patients (25.4%) experienced at least one episode of VMS and 27 patients (26.4%) experienced MSAE. Out of 240 reported adverse events, 71 were specific AEs (40 MSAEs, 31 VMSs). Radiological response was greater in patients who reported VMSs compared to patients who did not (70.8% vs. 49.3%, multivariate OR 2.91, 95% C.I. 1.03-8.26, P = 0.045). No significant advantage towards better response was observed in patients who experienced MSAEs (60.0% vs. 53.3%, univariate OR 1.33, 95% C.I. 0.53-3.38, P = 0.545). CONCLUSION: VMSs are associated with tumor response to neoadjuvant exemestane and may be useful for predicting treatment outcomes of AI treatment at an early stage in patients treated with neoadjuvant AIs.

Results of scalp cooling during anthracycline containing chemotherapy depend on scalp skin temperature.

OBJECTIVES: The success of scalp cooling in preventing or reducing chemotherapy induced alopecia (CIA) is highly variable between patients undergoing similar chemotherapy regimens. A decrease of the scalp skin temperature seems to be an important factor, but data on the optimum temperature reached by scalp cooling to prevent CIA are lacking. This study investigated the relation between scalp skin temperature and its efficacy to prevent CIA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this explorative study, scalp skin temperature was measured during scalp cooling in 62 breast cancer patients undergoing up to six cycles of anthracycline containing chemotherapy. Scalp skin temperature was measured by using two thermocouples at both temporal sides of the head. The primary end-point was the need for a wig or other head covering. RESULTS: Maximal cooling was reached after 45 min and was continued for 90 min after chemotherapy infusion. The scalp skin temperature after 45 min cooling varied from 10 °C to 31 °C, resulting in a mean scalp skin temperature of 19 °C (SEM: 0,4). Intrapersonal scalp skin temperatures during cooling were consistent for each chemotherapy cycle (ANOVA: P = 0,855). Thirteen out of 62 patients (21%) did not require a wig or other head covering. They appeared to have a significantly lower mean scalp skin temperature (18 °C; SEM: 0,7) compared to patients with alopecia (20 °C; SEM: 0,5) (P = 0,01). CONCLUSION: The efficacy of scalp cooling during chemotherapy is temperature dependent. A precise cut-off point could not be detected, but the best results seem to be obtained when the scalp temperature decreases below 18 °C. TRIALREGISTER. NL NTR NUMBER: 3082.

Effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with or without zoledronic acid on pathological response: A meta-analysis of randomised trials.

PURPOSE: The addition of bisphosphonates to adjuvant therapy improves survival in postmenopausal breast cancer (BC) patients. We report a meta-analysis of four randomised trials of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CT) +/- zoledronic acid (ZA) in stage II/III BC to investigate the potential for enhancing the pathological response. METHODS: Individual patient data from four prospective randomised clinical trials reporting the effect of the addition of ZA on the pathological response after neoadjuvant CT were pooled. Primary outcomes were pathological complete response in the breast (pCRb) and in the breast and lymph nodes (pCR). Trial-level and individual patient data meta-analyses were done. Predefined subgroup-analyses were performed for postmenopausal women and patients with triple-negative BC. RESULTS: pCRb and pCR data were available in 735 and 552 patients respectively. In the total study population ZA addition to neoadjuvant CT did not increase pCRb or pCR rates. However, in postmenopausal patients, the addition of ZA resulted in a significant, near doubling of the pCRb rate (10.8% for CT only versus 17.7% with CT+ZA; odds ratio [OR] 2.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-4.55) and a non-significant benefit of the pCR rate (7.8% for CT only versus 14.6% with CT+ZA; OR 2.62, 95% CI 0.90-7.62). In patients with triple-negative BC a trend was observed favouring CT+ZA. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis shows no impact from the addition of ZA to neoadjuvant CT on pCR. However, as has been seen in the adjuvant setting, the addition of ZA to neoadjuvant CT may augment the effects of CT in postmenopausal patients with BC.

Vitamin D (25-0H D3) status and pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in stage II/III breast cancer: Data from the NEOZOTAC trial (BOOG 10-01).

BACKGROUND: Serum levels of 25-OH vitamin D3 (vitamin D) have been shown to be prognostic for disease-free survival in patients with breast cancer. We investigated the predictive value of these levels for pathological response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer taking part in the NEOZOTAC phase-III trial. Additionally, the effect of chemotherapy on vitamin D levels was studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum vitamin D was measured at baseline and before the last cycle of chemotherapy. The relationship between these measurements and clinical outcome, as defined by pathological complete response in breast and lymph nodes (pCR) was examined. RESULTS: Baseline and end of treatment vitamin D data were available in 169 and 91 patients, respectively. Median baseline vitamin D values were 58.0 nmol/L. In patients treated with chemotherapy only, serum vitamin D levels decreased during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (median decrease of 16 nmol/L, P = 0.003). The prevalence of vitamin D levels < 50 nmol/L increased from 38.3% at baseline to 55.9% after chemotherapy. In the total population, baseline and end of therapy vitamin D levels were not related to pathological response. No associations were found between pCR and vitamin D level changes. CONCLUSION: The significant decrease in vitamin D post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy suggests that vitamin D levels should be monitored and in case of decrease of vitamin D levels, correction may be beneficial for skeletal health and possibly breast cancer outcome.

CYP2D6 genotype- and endoxifen-guided tamoxifen dose escalation increases endoxifen serum concentrations without increasing side effects.

Breast cancer patients with absent or reduced CYP2D6 activity and consequently low endoxifen levels may benefit less from tamoxifen treatment. CYP2D6 poor and intermediate metabolizers may need a personalized increased tamoxifen dose to achieve effective endoxifen serum concentrations, without increasing toxicity. From a prospective study population of early breast cancer patients using tamoxifen (CYPTAM: NTR1509), 12 CYP2D6 poor and 12 intermediate metabolizers were selected and included in a one-step tamoxifen dose escalation study during 2 months. The escalated dose was calculated by multiplying the individual's endoxifen level at baseline relative to the average endoxifen concentration observed in CYP2D6 extensive metabolizers by 20 mg (120 mg maximum). Endoxifen levels and tamoxifen toxicity were determined at baseline and after 2 months, just before patients returned to the standard dose of 20 mg. Tamoxifen dose escalation in CYP2D6 poor and intermediate metabolizers significantly increased endoxifen concentrations (p < 0.001; p = 0.002, respectively) without increasing side effects. In intermediate metabolizers, dose escalation increased endoxifen to levels comparable with those observed in extensive metabolizers. In poor metabolizers, the mean endoxifen level increased from 24 to 81 % of the mean concentration in extensive metabolizers. In all patients, the endoxifen threshold of 5.97 ng/ml (=16.0 nM) reported by Madlensky et al. was reached following dose escalation. CYP2D6 genotype- and endoxifen-guided tamoxifen dose escalation increased endoxifen concentrations without increasing short-term side effects. Whether such tamoxifen dose escalation is effective and safe in view of long-term toxic effects is uncertain and needs to be explored.

Exploratory analysis of candidate germline gene polymorphisms in breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant anthracycline-containing chemotherapy and associations with febrile neutropenia.

AIM: SNPs may be associated with (side) effects of chemotherapy and may be useful as biomarkers to predict febrile neutropenia. PATIENTS & METHODS: 187 DNA samples extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue from patients with stage II/III HER2-negative breast cancer were genotyped. RESULTS: Candidate SNPs were selected and explored for association with febrile neutropenia and/or pathological complete response. TT genotype of 388 C>T in FGFR4 (rs351855) had a tendency toward higher incidence of febrile neutropenia during neoadjuvant chemotherapy, compared with the CT (p = 0.383) genotype and compared with the CC genotype (p = 0.068). CONCLUSION: The TT genotype of 388 C>T FGFR4 may be related to incidence of febrile neutropenia during neoadjuvant TAC (docetaxel, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide) chemotherapy and is possibly useful as a patient-related risk factor when assessing febrile neutropenia risk. Original submitted 23 January 2015; Revision submitted 26 May 2015.

Dynamic prediction in breast cancer: proving feasibility in clinical practice using the TEAM trial.

BACKGROUND: Predictive models are an integral part of current clinical practice and help determine optimal treatment strategies for individual patients. A drawback is that covariates are assumed to have constant effects on overall survival (OS), when in fact, these effects may change during follow-up (FU). Furthermore, breast cancer (BC) patients may experience events that alter their prognosis from that time onwards. We investigated the 'dynamic' effects of different covariates on OS and developed a nomogram to calculate 5-year dynamic OS (DOS) probability at different prediction timepoints (tP) during FU. METHODS: Dutch and Belgian postmenopausal, endocrine-sensitive, early BC patients enrolled in the TEAM trial were included. We assessed time-varying effects of specific covariates and obtained 5-year DOS predictions using a proportional baselines landmark supermodel. Covariates included age, histological grade, hormone receptor and HER2 status, T- and N-stage, locoregional recurrence (LRR), distant recurrence, and treatment compliance. A nomogram was designed to calculate 5-year DOS based on individual characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 2602 patients were included (mean FU 6.2 years). N-stage, LRR, and HER2 status demonstrated time-varying effects on 5-year DOS. Hazard ratio (HR) functions for LRR, high-risk N-stage (N2/3), and HER2 positivity were HR = (8.427 × 0.583[Formula: see text], HR = (3.621 × 0.816[Formula: see text], and HR = (1.235 × 0.851[Formula: see text], respectively. Treatment discontinuation was associated with a higher mortality risk, but without a time-varying effect [HR 1.263 (0.867-1.841)]. All other covariates were time-constant. DISCUSSION: The current nomogram accounts for elapsed time since starting adjuvant endocrine treatment and optimizes prediction of individual 5-year DOS during FU for postmenopausal, endocrine-sensitive BC patients. The nomogram can facilitate in determining whether further therapy will benefit an individual patient, although validation in an independent dataset is still needed.

Disorganised stroma determined on pre-treatment breast cancer biopsies is associated with poor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy: Results from the NEOZOTAC trial.

INTRODUCTION: The tumor-associated stroma is of importance for tumor progression and is generally accepted to have a significant influence on patient prognosis. However, little is known regarding specific features of tumor-associated stromal tissues and response to (neoadjuvant) chemotherapy. This study investigated the predictive value of extracellular matrix organization on response to chemotherapy in patients treated in the NEOZOTAC trial. METHODS: Stromal organisation was analyzed via a simple method using image analysis software on hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained slides from primary tumor biopsies collected as part of the NEOZOTAC trial. Heidenhain's AZAN trichrome-stained slides were also analyzed for comparison of collagen evaluation. Sections were stained for phospho-Smad2 (pS2) in order to determine the relationship of TGF-ß signaling with stromal organization. RESULTS: A statistically significant relationship was observed between stroma consisting of organised collagen and pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (Odds Ratio 0.276, 95%CI 0.124-0.614, P = 0.002). This parameter was also related to ER-status (P = 0.003), clinical tumor -status (P = 0.041), nodal status (P = 0.029) and pS2 status (P = 0.025). Correlation between stromal organisation determined on H&E-stained and AZAN-stained tissue sections was high (Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.806). CONCLUSION: Intratumoral stromal organisation determined using pre-treatment breast cancer biopsies was related to pathological response to chemotherapy. This parameter might play a role in the management of breast cancer for identifying those patients that are likely to benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Long term effects of extended adjuvant endocrine therapy on quality of life in breast cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES: The standard treatment for hormone-receptor positive, postmenopausal early breast cancer patients is 5 years of adjuvant endocrine therapy. Previous studies demonstrate that prolonging adjuvant endocrine therapy may improve disease-free survival. However, endocrine therapy is known for its adverse events, which may negatively affect Quality of Life (QoL). The aim of this study is to assess the impact of extended adjuvant endocrine therapy on long-term QoL outcomes. METHODS: 471 patients selected from the IDEAL trial were invited to complete a questionnaire 1-1.5 years after starting with extended therapy. The questionnaire consisted of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 questionnaires. Mean QoL outcomes were compared with EORTC reference values for stage I and II breast cancer patients and the general population. Furthermore, QoL outcomes were compared between different treatment regimens. A difference of eight points was considered clinically relevant. RESULTS: IDEAL patients receiving extended adjuvant endocrine therapy have significantly and clinically relevant better global QoL compared with reference values for stage I and II breast cancer patients (79.6 versus 64.6; p < 0.01) and the general population (79.6 versus 71.2; p < 0.01). Similar results were found for emotional function, pain, appetite loss, diarrhea and financial problems. Between treatment regimens prior to extended adjuvant endocrine therapy, differences were only found on specific QoL domains (e.g. arm symptoms). CONCLUSION: Breast cancer patients on extended adjuvant endocrine therapy have significantly and clinically relevant better global QoL compared with other stage I-II breast cancer patients and the general population, 6-8.5 years after diagnosis.

Thyroid function alters during neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients: results from the NEOZOTAC trial (BOOG 2010-01).

This side study investigated the effect of chemotherapy on thyroid function and the extent to which it can predict pathological complete response (pCR) in patients with early breast cancer taking part in NEOZOTAC phase III trial, randomizing between neoadjuvant chemotherapy with or without additional zoledronic acid. Moreover, we examined the impact of thyroid function on toxicity. Serum samples of 38 patients were available for analyses. Free thyroxin (fT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were compared between baseline and before the 6th cycle and between subjects with and without pCR. The relation between toxicity and the variation in fT4 and TSH levels during chemotherapy was tested. Samples at baseline and before the 6th cycle were available for 31 and 21 patients, respectively. The mean baseline fT4 level was 16.0 pmol/L and TSH level 1.11 mU/L, and these did not differ between both arms at each time point. During six cycles of chemotherapy, fT4 levels decreased (p = 0.0001), and TSH levels increased significantly (p = 0.019). Interestingly, the decrease of fT4 was significantly greater in patients without nausea, vomiting, or neuropathy, than in patients with those side effects (p = 0.037, p = 0.043, and p = 0.050, respectively). Baseline TSH levels tended to be higher in patients with pCR (p = 0.035 univariate analysis and p = 0.074 multivariate analysis). Chemotherapy blunts thyroid function, which was associated with less side effects. These data urge further evaluation of the effects of thyroid function on toxicity and outcome of breast cancer therapy.

Healthcare utilisation in patients with breast cancer or non-Hodgkin lymphoma who experienced febrile neutropenia in the Netherlands: a retrospective matched control study using the PHARMO database.

Few data have been published on healthcare resource utilisation associated with chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia (FN) in Europe. Using the PHARMO record linkage system, we identified incident adult patients with a primary hospital discharge diagnosis of breast cancer (BC) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) from 1998 to 2008. Patients who experienced FN were matched 1:2 non-FN reference patients. Of 1033 BC patients, 80 (8%) had FN and were matched with 160 reference patients; and of 486 NHL patients, 95 (20%) had FN and 89 were matched with 178 reference patients. Significantly more FN patients were hospitalised for any cause than reference patients: BC, 81% vs. 24% (OR 12.6; 95% CI 5.7-27.8); NHL, 82% vs. 44% (OR 6.7; 95% CI 3.3-13.9). Median length of all-cause hospitalisation stay was higher for FN patients: BC, 4.0 vs. 1.0 days; NHL, 8.5 vs. 1.8 days. The median (interquartile range) number of medication treatments was higher for FN patients: BC, 5.5 (4.0-7.5) vs. 2.0 (2.0-4.0); NHL, 8.0 (5.0-11.0) vs. 3.0 (2.0-4.0). In conclusion, FN in patients with BC or NHL had increased healthcare utilisation compared with non-FN patients; thus, efforts to reduce FN are warranted to reduce cost and improve outcomes.

Accuracy of MRI for treatment response assessment after taxane- and anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in HER2-negative breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Studies suggest that MRI is an accurate means for assessing tumor size after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). However, accuracy might be dependent on the receptor status of tumors. MRI accuracy for response assessment after homogenous NAC in a relative large group of patients with stage II/III HER2-negative breast cancer has not been reported before. METHODS: 250 patients from 26 hospitals received NAC (docetaxel, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide) in the context of the NEOZOTAC trial. MRI was done after 3 cycles and post-NAC. Imaging (RECIST 1.1) and pathological (Miller and Payne) responses were recorded. Accuracy measures were calculated and MRI and pathologically assessed tumor sizes were correlated. Tumor size over- and underestimation were quantified. RESULTS: Accuracy of MRI for determining pathological complete response (pCR) was 76%. The ROC-curve of MRI response and pCR had an area under the curve value of 0.63 (95% C.I. 0.52-0.74). The correlation coefficient of MRI and histopathological tumor measurements was 0.46 (p < 0.001). Correlations were different for ER-positive (r = 0.40, p < 0.001) and ER-negative (r = 0.76, p < 0.001) breast tumors. MRI under- and overestimated the tumor size in 47% and 40% of all patients. In cases of substantial tumor size underestimation (>2 cm), surgical margins were more often tumor positive compared to the rest of the patients (33% vs.12%, p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: MRI measurements correlated moderately with tumor size on the surgical specimen. Only in ER-negative breast tumors, MRI tumor sizes correlated sufficiently with residual tumor size on the pathological specimen. Therefore, post-NAC MRI should be interpreted with caution.

Isolated hepatic perfusion with oxaliplatin combined with 100 mg melphalan in patients with metastases confined to the liver: A phase I study.

AIM: To improve isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP), we performed a phase I dose-escalation study to determine the optimal oxaliplatin dose in combination with a fixed melphalan dose. METHODS: Between June 2007 and July 2008, 11 patients, comprising of 8 colorectal cancer and 3 uveal melanoma patients and all with isolated liver metastases, were treated with a one hour IHP with escalating doses of oxaliplatin combined with 100 mg melphalan. Samples of blood and perfusate were taken during IHP treatment for pharmacokinetic analysis of both drugs and patients were monitored for toxicity, response and survival. RESULTS: Dose limiting sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) occurred at 150 mg oxaliplatin. The areas under the concentration-time curves (AUC) of oxaliplatin at the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of 100 mg oxaliplatin ranged from 11.9 mg/L h to 16.5 mg/L h. All 4 patients treated at the MTD showed progressive disease 3 months after IHP. CONCLUSIONS: In view of similar and even higher doses of oxaliplatin applied in both systemic treatment and hepatic artery infusion (HAI), applying this dose in IHP is not expected to improve treatment results in patients with isolated hepatic metastases.

Immunological subtypes in breast cancer are prognostic for invasive ductal but not for invasive lobular breast carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Classical patient and tumour characteristics are the benchmark of personalised breast cancer (BC) management. Recent evidence has demonstrated that immune and molecular profiling of BC may also play an important role. Despite evidence of differences between invasive ductal (IDC) and lobular (ILC) BC, they are infrequently accounted for when making treatment decisions for individual patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relevance of the tumour immune response in the major histological subtypes of BC. We also assessed the relationship between immune responses and molecular subtypes and their prognostic potential. METHODS: Immunostains were done for HLA-I, HLA-E, HLA-G, Tregs, NK cells and CTLs for the composition of the immune profiles and Ki67, EGFR, CK5/6, ER, PR and HER2 for molecular profiles in 714 breast cancer patients who underwent primary surgery. RESULTS: No significant association was found between IDC (90.6%) and ILC (9.4%) and tumour immune subtypes (P=0.4) and molecular subtypes (P=0.4). However, for the relapse-free period (RFP) tumour immune subtyping was prognostic (P=0.002) in IDC, but not ILC. Contrary to ILC, IDC patients frequently expressed higher cleaved caspase-3 and Ki67, which was prognostic. Intermediate immune-susceptible IDC expressing high cleaved caspase-3 or Ki67 showed worse RFP than those with low expression (caspase-3: P=0.004; Ki67: P=0.002); this was not seen for ILC or in high or low immune-susceptible tumour types for either IDC or ILC. CONCLUSIONS: Tumour immune characteristics and host immune responses are prognostic in IDC, but not ILC. In addition, tumour immune profiles are only prognostic in Luminal A tumours.

Addition of zoledronic acid to neoadjuvant chemotherapy does not enhance tumor response in patients with HER2-negative stage II/III breast cancer: the NEOZOTAC trial (BOOG 2010-01).

BACKGROUND: The role of zoledronic acid (ZA) when added to the neoadjuvant treatment of breast cancer (BC) in enhancing the clinical and pathological response of tumors is unclear. The effect of ZA on the antitumor effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy has not prospectively been studied before. PATIENTS AND METHODS: NEOZOTAC is a national, multicenter, randomized study comparing the efficacy of TAC (docetaxel, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide i.v.) followed by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on day 2 with or without ZA 4 mg i.v. q 3 weeks inpatients withstage II/III, HER2-negative BC. We present data on the pathological complete response (pCR in breast and axilla), on clinical response using MRI, and toxicity. Post hoc subgroup analyses were undertaken to address the predictive value of menopausal status. RESULTS: Addition of ZA to chemotherapy did not improve pCR rates (13.2% for TAC+ZA versus 13.3% for TAC). Postmenopausal women (N = 96) had a numerical benefit from ZA treatment (pCR 14.0% for TAC+ZA versus 8.7% for TAC, P = 0.42). Clinical objective response did not differ between treatment arms (72.9% versus 73.7%). There was no difference in grade III/IV toxicity between treatment arms. CONCLUSIONS: Addition of ZA to neoadjuvant chemotherapy did not improve pathological or clinical response to chemotherapy. Further investigations are warranted in postmenopausal women with BC, since this subgroup might benefit from ZA treatment.

A randomized phase III study comparing pegylated liposomal doxorubicin with capecitabine as first-line chemotherapy in elderly patients with metastatic breast cancer: results of the OMEGA study of the Dutch Breast Cancer Research Group BOOG.

BACKGROUND: Prospective data on chemotherapy for elderly patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) remain scarce. We compared the efficacy and safety of first-line chemotherapy with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) versus capecitabine in MBC patients aged ≥65 years in a multicentre, phase III trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were randomized to six cycles of PLD (45 mg/m(2) every 4 weeks) or eight cycles of capecitabine (1000 mg/m(2) twice daily, day 1-14 every 3 weeks). RESULTS: The study enrolled 78 of the planned 154 patients and was closed prematurely due to slow accrual and supply problems of PLD. Many included patients were aged ≥75 years (54%) and vulnerable (≥1 geriatric condition: 71%). The median dose intensity was 85% for PLD and 84% for capecitabine, respectively. In both arms, the majority of patients completed at least 12 weeks of treatment (PLD 73%; capecitabine 74%). After a median follow-up of 39 months, 77 patients had progressed and 62 patients had died of MBC. Median progression-free survival was 5.6 versus 7.7 months (P = 0.11) for PLD and capecitabine, respectively. Median overall survival was 13.8 months for PLD and 16.8 months for capecitabine (P = 0.59). Both treatments were feasible, grade 3 toxicities consisting of fatigue (both arms: 13%), hand-foot syndrome (PLD: 10%; capecitabine: 16%), stomatitis (PLD: 10%; capecitabine: 3%), exanthema (PLD: 5%) and diarrhoea (PLD: 3%; capecitabine: 5%). Only 1 of 10 patients aged ≥80 years completed chemotherapy, while 3 and 6 patients discontinued treatment due to toxicity or progressive disease, respectively. CONCLUSION: Both PLD and capecitabine demonstrated comparable efficacy and acceptable tolerance as first-line single-agent chemotherapy in elderly patients with MBC, even in vulnerable patients or patients aged ≥75 years. However, patients aged ≥80 years were unlikely to complete chemotherapy successfully. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBERS: EudraCT 2006-002046-10; ISRCTN 11114726; CKTO 2006-09; BOOG 2006-02.