Heterogeneity of HER2 expression in circulating tumor cells of patients with breast cancer brain metastases and impact on brain disease control.
Authors: Castro Douglas Guedes , Pellizzon Antonio Cassio Assis , Braun Alexcia Camila , Chen Michael Jenwei , Silva Maria Leticia Gobo , Fogaroli Ricardo , Gondim Guilherme Rocha Melo , Ramos Henderson , Neto Elson Santos , Abrahao Carolina Humeres , Yu Liao Shin , Abdallah Emne Ali , Calsavara Vinicius Fernando , Chinen Ludmilla T.D. 
Published: June 2021

2029

Background: The HER2 expression switching in circulating tumor cells (CTC) of breast cancer is dynamic and may have prognostic and predictive clinical implications. This study aims to analyse the association between expression of HER2 in CTC of patients with breast cancer brain metastases (BCBM) and brain disease control. Methods: Exploratory analysis of a prospective assessment (NCT02941536) of CTC before (CTC1) and 4–5 weeks after (CTC2) stereotactic radiotherapy/radiosurgery (SRT). CTC were isolated and quantified by a method of isolation by size of tumors and analyzed by immunocytochemistry to evaluate the expression of HER2. Distant brain failure-free survival (DBFFS), the primary endpoint, and overall survival (OS) were estimated by Kaplan-Meier estimator. Log-rank tests were applied in order to compare the survival curves. For multivariate analysis of prognostic factors that affected DBFFS and OS, the Cox proportional model was adjusted. Results: The median age at SRT was 54 (34-70), the diagnosis-specific graded prognostic assessment (DS-GPA) was 1–2 in 17.5% and 2.5–4 in 82.5% and the primary immunophenotype (PIP) was HER2-enriched in 51%, luminal B (LB) in 31% and triple negative (TN) in 18% of the total of 39 patients. CTC were detected in all 39 patients before SRT and the median CTC1 was 2 CTC/mL. After SRT, CTC were detected in 34 of 35 patients (4 deaths between CTC1 and CTC2) and the median CTC2 was 2.33 CTC/mL. HER2 was expressed in CTC1 and/or CTC2 in 9 patients, of which only 2 patients had PIP HER2-enriched. After a median follow-up of 16.6 months, there were 15 patients with distant brain failure and 16 deaths. The median DBFFS and OS were 15.3 and 19.5 months, respectively. Median DBFFS was 7 months in patients with PIP TN and was not reached in PIP LB and HER2-enriched (p = 0.036); 14 months in patients with DS-GPA 1-2 and 7 months with DS-GPA 2.5-4 (p = 0.017); 10 months in patients without HER2 expressed in CTC and not reached in patients with HER2 expressed in CTC (p = 0.012). Median OS was 4.8 months in patients with PIP TN and was not reached in PIP LB and HER2-enriched (p = 0.0026); 19.54 months in patients with DS-GPA 1-2 and 7.6 months with DS-GPA 2.5-4 (p = 0.00088); 17 months in patients without HER2 expressed in CTC and not reached in patients with HER2 expressed in CTC (p = 0.104). On multivariate analysis, DBFFS was superior in patients with PIP HER2-enriched (HR 0.128, 95% CI 0.025–0.534; p = 0.013) and OS was superior in patients with PIP HER2-enriched (HR 0.073, 95% CI 0.018-0.288; p < 0.0001) and LB (HR 0.224, 95% CI 0.062–0.816; p = 0.023). The status of expression of HER2 in CTC was not included in Cox model for DBFFS due to lack of events in patients with HER2 expressed in CTC. Conclusions: The expression of HER2 in CTC was associated with a longer DBFFS and the switching of HER2 expression between PIP and CTC may have impact on prognosis and treatment selection of BCBM.