Purpose: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-low is a newly defined subgroup of HER2-negative breast cancer. It is unknown whether HER2-low status is associated with brain metastases (BrM) development. We aimed to determine the association between HER2-low status and the time to developing BrM.

Methods: HER2 status was determined in a cohort of 689 women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) who underwent treatment for BrM at Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre from 2008 to 2018. In patients with primary breast cancer (PBC) HER2 subclassification available (subgroup 1), we investigated time from PBC diagnosis to BrM diagnosis (PBC-time to brain metastases [TTBM]). In patients with HER2 subclassification available in any tissue (subgroup 2), we investigated time from MBC diagnosis to BrM diagnosis (MBC-TTBM).

Results: In subgroup 1 (n = 175), patients with HER2-low disease (n = 42) had a shorter PBC-TTBM compared with those with HER2-zero disease (n = 77; hazard ratio, 2.4; = .0003). When stratified by hormone receptor (HR) status, this observation held true in the HR+/HER2- population, but not in the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) population. In subgroup 2 (n = 279), patients with HER2-low disease (n = 53) had a shorter MBC-TTBM compared to those with HER2-zero disease (n = 44) in the HR+/HER2- population (hazard ratio, 1.55; = .036); however, this did not hold true in the TNBC population. Likelihood ratio test revealed significant interaction between HER2 and HR status in subgroup 2 ( = .016), but not subgroup 1 ( = .21).

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that among patients with HR+ breast cancer, HER2-low status was associated with shorter TTBM compared with HER2-zero status. In a subset of patients for whom HER2 status of the PBC was available, HER2-low status was associated with shorter PBC-TTBM, irrespective of HR status. This study suggests a previously unrecognized association between HER2-low status and timing of BrM development.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1200/PO-24-00641DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

breast cancer
24
her2-low status
20
status
12
brain metastases
12
status associated
12
her2 status
12
compared her2-zero
12
human epidermal
8
epidermal growth
8
growth factor
8

Similar Publications

Background: Tumor metastasis is one of the main causes of death in cancer patients; however, the mechanism controlling metastasis is unclear. The posttranscriptional regulation of metastasis-related genes mediated by AT-rich interactive domain-containing protein 4A (Arid4a), an RNA-binding protein (RBP), has not been elucidated.

Methods: Bioinformatic analysis, qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and immunoblotting were employed to determine the expression of Arid4a in breast tumor tissues and its association with the survival of cancer patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In recent years, tumor immunotherapy has made significant breakthroughs in the treatment of malignant tumors. However, individual differences in efficacy have been observed in clinical practice. There is increasing evidence that gut microbial metabolites influence the efficacy of distal tumor immunotherapy via the gut-liver axis, the gut-brain axis and the gut-breast axis, a process that may involve modulating the expression of immune cells and cytokines in the tumor microenvironment (TME).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

High tumour mutational burden (TMB-high), identified through comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP), is a biomarker that predicts the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. CGP testing is recommended for rare cancers with limited effective treatment options. Here, we provide the first report of a malignant phyllodes tumour of the breast demonstrating TMB-high status and effective treatment with pembrolizumab.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Advances in breast cancer treatment have not significantly improved outcomes for metastatic cases, which still lead to high mortality rates.
  • Physical activity has been linked to reduced breast cancer risk and improved treatment outcomes, prompting a study on its effects on metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).
  • Results show that increasing physical activity after surgical interventions can significantly enhance metastasis-free survival in mice, suggesting exercise may play a crucial role in delaying cancer progression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Unlabelled: Nasal polyp (NP) is a pathological benign mass that affects the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. This lesion is occasionally associated with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), which is named chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) indicates abnormal cell proliferation which may help assess the nasopharyngeal lesions and upper airway cancers.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!