Prognostic impact of recurrence score, endocrine response and clinical-pathological factors in high-risk luminal breast cancer: Results from the WSG-ADAPT HR+/HER2- chemotherapy trial.
Authors: Gluz Oleg , Nitz Ulrike , Christgen Matthias , Braun Michael , Luedtke-Heckenkamp Kerstin , Darsow Maren , Forstbauer Helmut , Potenberg Jochem , Uleer Christoph , Grischke Eva-Maria , Aktas Bahriye , Schumacher Claudia , zu Eulenburg Christine , Jozwiak Katarzyna , Kates Ronald E. , Graeser Monika , Wuerstlein Rachel , Kreipe Hans Heinrich , Kuemmel Sherko , Harbeck Nadia ,   West German Study Group
Published: June 2021

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Background: In HR+/HER2- N0-1 early BC, postmenopausal patients (pts) with RS™ > 25 and a substantial proportion of premenopausal pts seem to benefit from addition of adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) to endocrine therapy (ET). However, the magnitude of absolute benefit from this treatment intensification seems to depend on clinical-pathological and biological prognostic factors. For the first time, we present outcome from the CT part of the prospective phase III WSG-ADAPT HR+/HER- trial combining both static (RS in baseline core biopsy (CB) and dynamic (Ki67 response) biomarkers to optimize adjuvant therapy in luminal EBC. Methods: Pts with clinically high-risk HR+/HER2- EBC (cT2-4 OR clinically N+ OR G3 OR Ki67>15%) were initially treated by 3 (+/-1) weeks of standard ET (postmenopausal: mostly AI; premenopausal: TAM) before surgery or sequential CB. Pts with cN2-3 or G3/Ki67>40% were randomized directly to the CT trial. pN0-1 pts with RS0-11 OR RS12-25/ET-response (central Ki67postendocrine<10%) received ET alone; the remaining high-risk cohort was randomized to the CT trial: (neo)adjuvant dose-dense CT (4xPaclitaxelà4xEC q2w vs. 8xNab-Paclitaxel q1wà4xEC q2w) followed by ET. Primary endpoint is efficacy comparison of CT schedules for survival; secondary endpoints reported here involve impacts of key prognostic factors on survival. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate survival curves and hazard ratios. For this analysis, subgroups free of selection bias by RS/ET-response were defined. Results: 5625 pts were screened and 4621 (ITT) entered the trial. After 4.9y median follow-up, higher baseline and post-endocrine Ki-67 levels were associated with poorer iDFS (both p < 0.001). In the CT cohort (n = 2331), higher RS, nodal status, and tumor size were generally associated with poorer iDFS. However, iDFS differed between N1 and N0 status only among younger pts (<50 years). In pts with >4 positive LN (n = 390), lower RS was associated with improved iDFS (RS0-11 vs RS > 25: plog-rank= 0.016, 5y-iDFS 90% vs. 64%). In pts with RS > 25 (n = 965), low Ki67postendocrine, N0 status, and c/pT1 status were associated with improved iDFS. In particular, ET-responders had higher 5y-iDFS (84%) than ET-non-responders (77%; plog-rank= 0.040). Younger patients (<50 years old) with N0-1 RS 12-25/ ET-non-responders treated by CT had non-significantly poorer 5-year iDFS (89%) compared to those with ET-response treated by ET only (92%) (plog-rank= 0.249). Conclusion: First results from the prospective high risk cohort from a large prospective phase III ADAPT trial provide evidence for good prognosis in some pts with >4 positive LN and e.g. low RS. Moreover combination of lower post-endocrine Ki-67 and limited tumor burden may be a promising criterion for CT de-escalation strategies even in patients with high RS. Clinical trial information: NCT01779206.