Abstract P1-09-13: A RB-1 loss-of-function gene-signature (RBsig) predicts resistance to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in HER2+/ER+ breast cancer patients
Authors: Risi E , Grilli A , Migliaccio I , Biagioni C , Guarducci C , Bonechi M , Hart CD , Biganzoli L , Bicciato S , Di Leo A , Malorni L 
Published: March 2017

Background: HER2+ breast cancers (BC) are clinically and biologically heterogeneous, with approximately half being ER+. Compared to other BC subtypes, HER2+ ER+ tumors display among the lowest rates of pathological complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) +/− anti-HER2 agents (anti-HER2). Yet in spite of this, HER2+/ER+ patients (pts) are typically treated with NACT plus anti-HER2, with the subsequent related toxicity. Currently there is a lack of predictive biomarkers that identify which subgroups of pts will not respond to such therapy. Inactivation of the Retinoblastoma (Rb) signalling pathway is a frequent event in BC. Previously developed gene-signatures of Rb loss-of-function have shown strong prognostic value and prediction of response to NACT. However, none has been extensively studied in the context of HER2+/ER+ BC. We have recently developed a gene-signature of RB-1 loss-of-function (RBsig) that is prognostic in luminal A-like and luminal B-like BC. Here we report the results of a retrospective in-silico study aimed to determine whether low expression of the RBsig in HER2+/ER+ BC correlates with a low pCR rate following NACT +/− anti-HER2.

Methods: We performed a PubMed search for clinical trials of NACT +/− anti-HER2 (trastuzumab, lapatinib, or both) in HER2+ BC pts, and selected studies which had available gene expression data, hormone receptors status and pCR information. In-silico analyses of correlation between RBsig expression and pCR were performed using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Fisher exact test to assess the prediction performance of the signature score. The threshold RBsig score was set at the 50th percentile of the score distribution.

Results: Out of 16 identified studies, 10 fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis (514 pts). Overall, of the 211 HER2+/ER+ BC pts, 49 achieved pCR (23%); the pCR rate following NACT +/− anti-HER2 of pts with RBsig low expression was significantly lower compared to pts with RBsig high expression (16% vs 30%, respectively; Fisher exact test p=0.0098).The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.62 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.54-0.7, p=0.005). Results were similar for pts receiving NACT alone (94 pts; pCR rate 13% vs 28% in RBsig low vs RBsig high, respectively; Fisher exact test p=0,06; AUC 0.62, 95% CI 0.5-0.74, p=0.043) or combined with anti-HER2 (117 pts; pCR rate 18% vs 33% in RBsig low vs RBsig high, respectively; Fisher exact test p=0,049; AUC 0.61, 95% CI 0.5-0.72, p=0.041). In 303 HER2+/ ER− pts treated with NACT +/− anti-HER2, the pCR rate was 42%. No correlation was found between RBsig expression score and pCR rate in this group (pCR rate 42% vs 43% in RBsig low vs RBsig high, respectively; Fisher exact test p=0.53; AUC 0.5, 95% CI 0.43-0.56, p=0.973).

Conclusions: RBsig identifies a subset of HER2+/ER+ pts with a low pCR rate following NACT +/− anti-HER2. We hypothesize that this signature has the potential to identify pts for whom chemotherapy could be avoided in favour of combinations of endocrine therapy and target therapies. Further refinement and validation in an independent dataset is warranted.

Citation Format: Risi E, Grilli A, Migliaccio I, Biagioni C, Guarducci C, Bonechi M, Hart CD, Biganzoli L, Bicciato S, Di Leo A, Malorni L. A RB-1 loss-of-function gene-signature (RBsig) predicts resistance to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in HER2+/ER+ breast cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-09-13.