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Published on: August 1, 2018
Clinicopathological Characteristics of Breast Cancer Patients with HER-2 Low Expression Receiving Neoadjuvant Therapy
Shiyuan Zhang1, Xiao Yu2, Yuting Xiu2
1Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China, hmu_zsy@163.com.
Introduction:
Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) low expression breast malignant tumors have become a research hotspot in recent years, but it is still unclear whether HER-2 low expression represents a special subtype of breast cancer. However, this molecular type requires more effective treatment regimens in the neoadjuvant therapy stage.
Methods:
This study enrolled breast cancer patients who were treated at Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital with neoadjuvant treatment between October 2011 and May 2019 and was a single-center retrospective study.
Results:
A total of 1,053 breast cancer patients who received preoperative therapy, including 279 (26%) HER-2 low expression patients, were included in this retrospective study. The HER-2 low expression group had a higher proportion of patients under 50 years old than the other two molecular subtype groups (p = 0.047, 62.0% vs. 57.2% and 52.5%), and the percentage of patients with Ki67 index above 15% was lower than that in HER-2-negative and HER-2-positive patients (p < 0.001, 50.2% vs. 63.6% and 71.5%). Most of the patients with HER-2 low expression were hormone receptor (HR) positive (p < 0.001, 85.7% vs. 60.4% and 36.0%), and their pathologic complete response (pCR) rate after neoadjuvant therapy was significantly lower than that of HER-2-negative and HER-2-positive patients (p < 0.001, 5.7% vs. 11.8% and 20.5%). The results of the subgroup analysis showed HR-positive patients with HER-2 low expression had a lower pCR rate (p < 0.001, 4.6% vs. 14.6%) and objective response rate (p = 0.001, 77.8% vs. 91.0%) than HER-2-positive patients and had no significant difference in these rates compared to HER-2-negative patients. There were no significant differences in overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) up to 67 months (the median follow-up time) among HER-2 low, HER-2-negative, and HER-2-positive patients. The results of Cox hazard proportional showed that the Ki67 index and T stage (T3) were independent influencing factors for DFS. In terms of OS, Ki67 index, P53, T stage, and objective response were independent influencing factors for OS in HER-2 low expression patients.
Conclusions:
In general, further studies are needed to confirm that HER-2 low expression is a special breast cancer molecular subtype. The efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy in patients with HER-2 low expression is relatively poor, and the efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy can predict the prognosis of patients with HER-2 low expression.
Insights
Neoadjuvant therapy is less effective for HER-2 low expression breast cancer, which often presents as hormone receptor-positive. Further research is needed to confirm if HER-2 low expression is a distinct subtype, as its response to treatment impacts prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) low expression breast cancer is a growing area of research.
- The classification and optimal treatment strategies for HER-2 low expression breast cancer, particularly in the neoadjuvant setting, remain unclear.
- This study investigates the characteristics and treatment response of HER-2 low expression breast cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical characteristics and response to neoadjuvant therapy in patients with HER-2 low expression breast cancer.
- To compare the efficacy of neoadjuvant treatment between HER-2 low, HER-2 negative, and HER-2 positive breast cancer subtypes.
- To identify prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in HER-2 low expression breast cancer.
Main Methods:
- A single-center retrospective study of 1,053 breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant therapy between October 2011 and May 2019.
- Patients were categorized into HER-2 low, HER-2 negative, and HER-2 positive groups.
- Demographic data, clinical characteristics, pathologic complete response (pCR) rates, objective response rates (ORR), OS, and DFS were analyzed.
Main Results:
- HER-2 low expression breast cancer patients were younger and more frequently hormone receptor (HR) positive compared to other subtypes.
- The pCR rate was significantly lower in the HER-2 low expression group (5.7%) compared to HER-2 negative (11.8%) and HER-2 positive (20.5%) groups.
- While no significant differences in OS or DFS were observed among the groups up to 67 months, Ki67 index and T stage were independent predictors of DFS, and Ki67 index, P53, T stage, and objective response were independent predictors of OS in HER-2 low expression patients.
Conclusions:
- Neoadjuvant therapy efficacy appears relatively poor in HER-2 low expression breast cancer.
- The response to neoadjuvant therapy may serve as a predictive indicator for the prognosis of patients with HER-2 low expression breast cancer.
- Further research is warranted to confirm HER-2 low expression as a distinct breast cancer subtype.
