Evaluation of risk stratification using gene expression assays in patients with breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2021 Oct;189(3):737-745. doi: 10.1007/s10549-021-06269-6. Epub 2021 Sep 14.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the association of various gene expression assays with pathologic complete response (pCR) in the setting of neoadjuvant chemotherapy among patients with breast cancer METHODS: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for women diagnosed between 2010 and 2017 with stage I-III breast cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and either 21-gene recurrence score (RS) or 70-gene signature (GS). Logistic multivariable analysis (MVA) was performed to identify variables associated with pCR.

Results: A total of 3009 patients met our inclusion criteria. The median follow up was 48.0 months (interquartile range 32.2-66.7 months). On logistic MVA for all patients, those with a high risk from GS (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.49-8.13, p = 0.006) or with RS ≥ 31 (aOR 1.99, 95% CI 1.41-2.82, p < 0.001) were more likely to have pCR. When compared to RS ≥ 31, a high risk from GS was not associated with pCR (aOR 1.01, 95% CI 0.75-1.37, p = 0.94). However, among those with favorable hormone receptor status, similar findings were noted, except that those with a high risk group from GS were less likely to have pCR compared to those with RS ≥ 31 (aOR 0.65, 95% CI 0.43-0.96, p = 0.03). When analyses were repeated using a high risk group from RS defined as RS ≥ 26 among those with favorable hormone receptor status, RS ≥ 26 was not associated with pCR when compared to the high risk from GS (aOR 0.74, 0.50-1.07, p = 0.12).

Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the largest study using a nationwide oncology database suggesting that high recurrence risk groups in both assays were associated with pCR. Among those with favorable hormone receptor status, RS ≥ 31 may be a more selective prognostic marker for pCR.

Keywords: Mammaprint; NCDB; Oncotype Dx; Preoperative chemo; pCR.

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / genetics
  • Receptors, Estrogen / genetics
  • Risk Assessment

Substances

  • Receptors, Estrogen