Abstract P4-10-29: Identifying novel molecular markers of response to trastuzumab in metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Jerzak Katarzyna Joanna , Desautels Danielle N , Blanchette Phillip S , Bayani Jane , Nofech-Mozes Sharon , Yaffe Martin J , Pond Gregory , Pritchard Kathleen I , Bartlett John MS 
Published: March 2020

Background: The survival of women with HER2+ metastatic breast cancer (MBC) has improved with the introduction of the anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab, but responses vary greatly among individuals. A predictive signature of response (and lack thereof) to trastuzumab may help personalize therapy for women with HER2+ MBC and enable the discovery of new “druggable” targets. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 256 patients with HER2+ MBC at the Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre were identified sequentially from January 1999 to December 2013 using the Cancer Care Ontario Registry. In total, 53 patients (21%) had archived metastatic tissue available for analysis, 29 (55%) of whom had samples obtained &lt;3 years prior to the initiation of trastuzumab. Nanostring molecular testing was used to measure the expression of commonly known oncogenes and gene signatures using the Nanostring technologies nCounter Analysis System TM (Seattle, Washington, USA). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patient results and prognostic scores. Patients were categorized into short-term survivors (died within 12 months) and long-term survivors (survived &gt;30 months after starting trastuzumab). Results were compared between these two groups of patients using a Fisher’s exact test (dichotomous groups) and Wilcoxon rank sum tests (continuous scores). Univariable Cox regression models were evaluated using all patients, to evaluate if risk scores were prognostic of overall survival (OS). Statistical significance was set at the p=0.05 level and all tests were two-sided. Results: The median patient age was 60 years (interquartile range 53-65 years), 24% (n=7) had de-novo MBC and the majority of patients (52%) had ER or PR positive tumors. Among 29 included patients, the median OS was 23.4 months (95%CI 10.3-34.3 months); 10 patients died within 12 months and 10 patients survived &gt;30 months after starting trastuzumab-based therapy. A median of 155 days (range 4-812) elapsed between metastatic biopsy and initiation of trastuzumab. The distribution of the Prosigna ROR Score, Basal Cor, HER2 Cor, Luminal A Cor, Luminal B Cor, Mammaprint Subtype/Risk Group, Oncotype Risk Score/Risk Group, IHC4 mRNA Risk Group and GGI Risk Score/Risk Group did not differ between the short- and long-term survivors. However, the Mammaprint Predictor Score was significantly higher [mean 0.34 (std 5.50) versus -4.95 (std 5.24), p=0.033] and the IHC4 Risk Score was significantly lower among long-term as compared to short-term survivors [mean 99.3 (std 67.1) versus 160.3 (std 40.9), p=0.044]. The association between molecular gene signatures and OS are described in Table 1. Conclusion: Several gene signatures were associated with OS in this exploratory analysis of women with HER2+ MBC who received trastuzumab-based therapy. The Mammaprint Predictor and the IHC4 Risk Scores differed among short- versus long-term survivors, warranting validation in an independent dataset.

Table 1. Univariable Survival Results (n=29)ComparatorHR (95% CI)p-valueProsigna ROR Score/ 10 units1.23 (0.92, 1.65)0.17ProsignaHER2 vs Other1.25 (0.50, 3.13)0.64Basal Cor/ unit3.61 (1.10, 11.78)0.034Her2 Cor/ unit0.99 (0.15, 6.40)0.99Luminal A Cor/ unit0.22 (0.05, 0.95)0.042Luminal B Cor/ unit0.26 (0.06, 1.06)0.060Mammaprint Predictor Score/ unit1.10 (1.02, 1.19)0.015Mammaprint SubtypeHER2 vs Other0.85 (0.37, 2.00)0.72Mammaprint RiskHigh vs Low4.20 (1.37, 12.86)0.012Oncotype Risk Score/ 10 units1.27 (0.95, 1.70)0.11Oncotype Risk GroupHigh vs Intermediate4.83 (0.60, 39.07)0.14IHC4 Risk Score/ 10 units1.09 (1.00, 1.18)0.046IHC4 mRNA Risk GroupHigh vs Intermediate4.83 (0.60, 39.07)0.14GGI Risk Score/ 10 units1.63 (1.02, 2.61)0.043GGI Risk GroupHigh vs Low5.14 (1.13, 23.51)0.035

Citation Format: Katarzyna Joanna Jerzak, Danielle N Desautels, Phillip S Blanchette, Jane Bayani, Sharon Nofech-Mozes, Martin J Yaffe, Gregory Pond, Kathleen I Pritchard, John MS Bartlett. Identifying novel molecular markers of response to trastuzumab in metastatic breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-10-29.