The efficacy and safety of hypofractionated radiotherapy with concurrent anti-HER-2 therapy following breast-conserving therapy for breast cancer

Breast J. 2019 Nov;25(6):1097-1103. doi: 10.1111/tbj.13421. Epub 2019 Jun 28.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to report rates and severities of radiation-related toxicities and analyze disease-control outcomes in patients who have received hypofractionated whole breast radiation (HF) with concurrent trastuzumab with or without pertuzumab. We conducted a retrospective cohort study including women with stage I-III HER2-positive breast cancer who received HF at the University of Pennsylvania between 1/2005 and 5/2018 with concurrent trastuzumab with or without pertuzumab. Fractionation was 266 cGy daily to a total dose of 4256 cGy with or without a sequential tumor bed boost. Eighty patients were included in the cohort with a median follow-up time of 21.44 months. There was one grade 3 acute toxicity (fatigue) and no grade 3 late toxicities. 91% and 25% of patients experienced grade 1-2 acute and late skin reactions, respectively. An excellent-good cosmetic outcome was reported by 74% and 95% of patients and physicians, respectively. No patients experienced tumor recurrences, and the only death was due to a secondary cause. These results suggest that hypofractionated whole breast radiation administered concurrently with anti-HER-2 therapies is efficacious and has acceptable toxicity in early-stage breast cancer patients treated with lumpectomy. Continued follow-up is warranted to evaluate long-term outcomes.

Keywords: breast cancer; human epidermal growth factor receptor 2; hypofractionation; radiation therapy.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / adverse effects
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / radiotherapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mastectomy, Segmental / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Radiation Dose Hypofractionation*
  • Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / adverse effects
  • Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / methods
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Trastuzumab / administration & dosage
  • Trastuzumab / adverse effects

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • pertuzumab
  • Trastuzumab