Does RSClin provide additional information over classic clinico-pathologic scores (PREDICT 2.1, INFLUENCE 2.0, CTS5)?

Few studies have compared the performance of gene-expression profiling tests (e.g. Oncotype-Dx) to clinico-pathologic risk calculators (e.g. PREDICT 2.1, INFLUENCE 2.0, and CTS5) or tools that combine both (e.g. RSClin) in patients with early breast cancer (EBC). A large trial dataset was used to evaluate the prognostic performance of different tests based on patient outcomes.

The TEAM pathology cohort accrued samples from 4736 postmenopausal hormone positive women with EBC, treated with either exemestane or tamoxifen followed by exemestane. Oncotype-Dx-trained risk scores were previously generated by gene-expression profiling. Patient data was used to calculate various recurrence scores. Analysis was restricted to the N0/N1 population and prognostic ability of selected risk tools was assessed using Cox regression analysis and Harrell's C-statistic.

Results were available for 2065 patients. There was low correlation between PREDICT 2.1 (r = -0.12), INFLUENCE 2.0 (r = 0.20), CTS5 (r = 0.16) with Oncotype-Dx-trained results. In N0 patients, RSClin had improved prognostic ability (C-statistic = 0.66) on DMFS compared to PREDICT 2.1 (0.60), INFLUENCE 2.0 (0.57), CTS-5 (0.62), and Oncotype-Dx (0.63).

Combining molecular and clinico-pathologic factors enhances prognostic information. However, the impact of this on actual patient management requires further prospective validation. The trial is registered with clinicaltrials.gov NCT00279448 and NCT00032136; with Netherlands Trial Register, number NTR 267; and the Ethics Commission Trial, number 27/2001.