Effectiveness of Adding Anti-HER2 Therapy to Neoadjuvant Endocrine Therapy in Breast Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): de Bruijn Anne, Schipper Robert-Jan, Voogd Adri C., Pullens Marleen J. J., Bloemen Johanne G., de Munck Linda, van Riet Yvonne E., Siesling Sabine, Vriens Birgit E. P., Nieuwenhuijzen Grard A. P.
Primary Institution: Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organization (IKNL)
Hypothesis
Does adding anti-HER2 therapy to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy improve outcomes in hormone receptor and HER2 positive breast cancer patients unfit for chemotherapy?
Conclusion
Adding anti-HER2 therapy to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy significantly increases the rates of ypT0 and ypN0 in patients unfit for chemotherapy.
Supporting Evidence
- The ypT0 rate was significantly higher after NET+anti-HER2, with 10.0% versus 1.3% following NET.
- The ypN0 rate was significantly higher after NET+anti-HER2 in both cN+ and cN- patients.
- Patients with clinically node-positive disease were more likely to receive NET+anti-HER2 treatment.
Takeaway
This study found that giving a special medicine called anti-HER2 along with hormone treatment helps more older women with a certain type of breast cancer get better compared to just hormone treatment alone.
Methodology
A nationwide population-based cohort study analyzing data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry for women diagnosed with HR+/HER2+ breast cancer between 2008 and 2019.
Potential Biases
Potential confounding by indication due to missing data on patient fitness for treatment.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and missing data on performance status and cardiac function, which may have led to confounding.
Participant Demographics
Median age of participants was 77 years, with 95.8% being post-menopausal.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.019 for ypT0 and p = 0.020 for ypN0 rates.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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