Clinical outcomes after 1 versus 2-3 lines of neoadjuvant therapy in stage III inflammatory breast cancer

Faina Nakhlis, Samuel M. Niman, Naoto T. Ueno, Elizabeth Troll, Sean Ryan, Eren Yeh, Laura Warren, Jennifer Bellon, Beth Harrison, Toshiaki Iwase, H. T. Carisa Le-Petross, Sadia Saleem, Mediget Teshome, Gary J. Whitman, Wendy A. Woodward, Beth Overmoyer, Sara M. Tolaney, Meredith Regan, Filipa Lynce, Rachel M. Layman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: Many stage III inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) patients experience a sufficient response to first-line (1L) neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) to allow surgery, while some require additional NAC. We evaluated the pathologic complete response (pCR), breast cancer-free survival (BCFS) and overall survival (OS) among patients requiring 1 vs. 2-3 lines (L) of NAC prior to surgery. Methods: Stage III IBC patients from 2 institutions who received 1L or 2-3L of NAC prior to surgery were identified. Hormone receptor and HER2 status, grade, and pCR were evaluated. BCFS and OS were evaluated by the Kaplan–Meier method. Multivariable Cox models were utilized to estimate the hazard ratio (HR). Results: 808 eligible patients (1997–2020) were identified (median age 51 years, median follow-up 69 months). 733 (91%) had 1L and 75 (9%) had 2-3L of NAC. Grade III, triple-negative and HER2-positive disease were more prevalent in 2-3L patients. 178 (24%) 1L and 14 (19%) 2-3L patients had pCR. 376 1L patients and 41 2-3L patients had recurrences. The 5-year BCFS was worse for the 2-3L group (33 vs. 46%, HR = 1.37; 95% CI 0.99–1.91). However, in 192 patients with a pCR, BCFS was similar (76 vs. 83% in 1L vs. 2-3L, respectively). There were 308 deaths (276 among 1L and 32 among 2-3L patients). The 5-year OS in 1L vs. 2-3L was 60 vs. 53% (HR = 1.32, 95% CI 0.91–1.93). Conclusions: Among stage III IBC patients, pCR rates were similar, irrespective of the NAC lines number, and BCFS and OS were comparable with pCR after 1L and 2-3L.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)289-297
Number of pages9
JournalBreast Cancer Research and Treatment
Volume204
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2024

Keywords

  • Inflammatory breast cancer
  • Neoadjuvant chemotherapy
  • Pathologic complete response
  • Resectability

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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