Proliferation of tumor-related regulatory T cells in circulation dictates efficacy of chemoimmunotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer.

Purpose: PD-1/PD-L1 blockade modulates the responses of T cells including regulatory T (TREG) cells. Understanding the changes of TREG cells upon PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in cancer patients and their association with therapeutic response will provide clues regarding the mechanisms underlying resistance to treatment.

Experimental Design: Peripheral blood samples were acquired before and at 1-week post-treatment from 65 patients (triple-negative [TN], n = 35; luminal, n = 30) enrolled in KORNELIA phase 2 trial, which evaluated the efficacy of chemoimmunotherapy combining nivolumab and eribulin in HER2 negative breast cancer (BC) patients.

Randomized, phase II trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of atezolizumab plus capecitabine adjuvant therapy compared to capecitabine monotherapy for triple receptor-negative breast cancer with residual invasive cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (MIRINAE trial, KCSG-BR18-21).

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype with poor prognosis, especially in patients with residual disease post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This phase II MIRINAE trial (KCSG-BR18-21) evaluates the efficacy and safety of atezolizumab combined with capecitabine versus capecitabine monotherapy as adjuvant treatment in TNBC patients with residual invasive cancer. The primary endpoint is the 5-year invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) rate.

Individual patient data meta-analysis of NEPA versus aprepitant-based antiemetic regimens for preventing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Aim: Because no conclusive data demonstrate superiority among NK receptor antagonists (RA), existing antiemetic guidelines regard them as interchangeable. This individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis compared the efficacy of NEPA (netupitant/fosnetupitant) and aprepitant/fosaprepitant-based regimens in preventing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).

Materials & Methods: Head-to-head comparative studies published between 2003 and 2022 that evaluated antiemetic prophylaxis of aprepitant or fosaprepitant versus oral or intravenous (IV) NEPA in patients with various cancers receiving highly (HEC) or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC) were identified through a literature search.

Virtual reconstruction of a provisional obturator using a mirroring technique in a patient with limited mouth opening.

Capturing impressions for maxillary defect patients with trismus is challenging due to limited mouth opening and defect complexity. This study introduces an innovative digital technique that highlights virtual reconstruction through the integration of intraoral scanning and a mirroring approach. Using the intact maxillary arch as a reference, the defect area is digitally reconstructed to design a provisional obturator with a streamlined workflow.

Prevalence of germline pathogenic variants in unselected Korean patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer: a nationwide prospective study (KCSG BR19-10).

Background: Assessment of germline (g) status is recommended for all patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC) to identify candidates for poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor therapy, which is not always possible in clinical practice due to limited testing resources. In this study, we investigate the cross-sectional prevalence of g pathogenic variant (PV) carriers in unselected Korean patients with HER2-negative MBC.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with HER2-negative metastatic BC receiving palliative systemic treatment were eligible for inclusion in the study.

Prognostic value of FDG PET/CT in de novo stage IV breast cancer patients treated with cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors.

Background: De novo stage IV breast cancer presents a significant challenge due to its advanced nature and poor prognosis. Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) combined with endocrine therapy have emerged as effective treatments for hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative breast cancers. However, predicting patient responses remains difficult.

Impact of High Lymph Node Burden on Brain Metastases in Patients Who Achieved Pathological Complete Response after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and predictors of brain metastases in HER2-positive advanced breast cancer patients who achieved pathological complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). This research seeks to inform surveillance strategies and optimize management for high-risk subgroups.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of 1,757 patients (2008-2022) classified them into pCR (n=914) and non-pCR (n=843) groups post-NAC.

Part II: consensus statements and expert recommendations for BRCA-associated breast cancer in the Asia-Pacific region: clinical management.

Introduction: Existing guidelines have practical gaps in decision and treatment sequencing for BRCA germline pathogenic variant breast cancers. This paper aims to develop clinical-practice consensus guidelines to address these gaps in the clinical management of BRCA germline pathogenic variants-associated breast cancer in the Asia-Pacific region.

Methods: An expert panel of 16 medical oncologists, geneticists, and breast cancer surgeons from the Asia-Pacific region arrived at 25 statements.

Part I: consensus statements and expert recommendations for -negative early breast cancer in the Asia-Pacific region: diagnosis and risk assessment.

Introduction: In the Asia-Pacific region, there is increasing contention on the practical challenges involved in managing human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative early breast cancer (eBC). This modified Delphi consensus explores gaps in genetic counselling (GC) and genetic testing (GT), and clinical risk assessment for -negative eBC.

Methods: An expert panel of 16 Asia-Pacific medical oncologists, geneticists, and breast cancer surgeons arrived at 33 statements.

Spatial and genomic profiling of residual breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy unveil divergent fates for each breast cancer subtype.

Residual cancer burden (RCB) is a strong prognostic marker after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer (BC), yet some BCs defy their predicted outcomes. Using single-cell spatial transcriptomics and genomic profiling, we investigate mechanisms underlying divergent fates of BCs with high RCB across subtypes. In triple-negative BC (TNBC), CXCL9+ macrophage-CD8 T cell interactions via chemokines and interferon-gamma signaling promote favorable outcomes, while SPP1+ macrophage-cancer cell interactions driven by hypoxia signaling correlate with poor prognosis.

First-Line Camizestrant for Emerging -Mutated Advanced Breast Cancer.

Background: Mutations in are the most common mechanism of acquired resistance to treatment with an aromatase inhibitor plus a cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitor for advanced breast cancer. Camizestrant, a next-generation selective estrogen-receptor (ER) degrader and complete ER antagonist, has shown antitumor activity in ER-positive advanced breast cancer.

Methods: We tested patients with advanced breast cancer with ER-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative tumors for mutations in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) once every 2 to 3 months.

Combined Biomarkers for Prediction of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Response in Patients With Triple-negative Breast Cancer.

Background/aim: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive malignancy with few available targeted therapies. In this study, we examined the predictive power of several biomarkers, comprising the IMmunotherapy Against GastrIc Cancer (IMAGiC) model, PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS), intra-tumoral tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (iTILs), and stromal TILs (sTILs), in an Asian population of patients with metastatic TNBC treated with immunotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-one metastatic TNBC patients receiving immunotherapy were analyzed.

Nationwide real-world practice pattern and clinical data of palbociclib in HR (+), HER2 (-) metastatic breast cancer patients in Korea (KCSG BR21-15).

Background: Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors have remarkably improved the survival outcome in hormone-receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor-2-negative (HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (mBC). Although PALOMA-2 has met its primary outcome, overall survival (OS) was relatively shorter compared to ribociclib and abemaciclib. In Korea, use of palbociclib + aromatase inhibitor (AI) + gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) in premenopausal women is limited, and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) is necessary before treatment.

Patient-reported outcomes from DESTINY-Breast04: trastuzumab deruxtecan versus physician's choice of chemotherapy in patients with HER2-low mBC.

Background: The phase 3 DESTINY-Breast04 trial demonstrated superior efficacy and acceptable safety with trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) vs physician's choice of chemotherapy in previously treated patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-low metastatic breast cancer (mBC). We report the patient-reported outcomes (PROs), focusing on the hormone receptor-positive cohort.

Patients And Methods: Patients were randomized 2:1 to T-DXd (5.

Surveillance Outcomes by Imaging Methods in the First 5 Years After Breast Cancer Surgery.

Objective: To compare the outcomes of imaging methods (mammography alone, ultrasound [US] alone, mammography combined with US, and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]-based examination) for surveillance during the first 5 years after breast cancer surgery.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed the medical records of patients who underwent breast cancer surgery at a single institution between January 2011 and December 2015. Imaging surveillance was performed at 6-month or 1-year intervals during the first 5 years.

Real-world evidence of the efficacy of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab in triple-negative breast cancer: A surgeon's point of view.

Purpose: Neoadjuvant pembrolizumab has shown efficacy in improving pathologic complete response (pCR) rates and survival outcomes in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, real-world data on its clinical efficacy, safety, and surgical outcomes remain limited.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective observational study included 331 TNBC patients treated at a single institution from July 2022 to December 2023.

Nausea and vomiting in an evolving anticancer treatment landscape: long-delayed and emetogenic antibody-drug conjugates.

Nausea and vomiting are common, distressing side effects associated with chemotherapeutic regimens, resulting in reduced quality of life and treatment adherence. Appropriate antiemetic prophylaxis strategies may reduce/prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). Historically, investigators assessed antiemetics up to 120 hours after chemotherapy.

Molecular determinants of response to neoadjuvant pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy in patients with high-risk, early-stage, triple-negative breast cancer: exploratory analysis of the open-label, multicohort phase 1b KEYNOTE-173 study.

Background: The multicohort, open-label, phase 1b KEYNOTE-173 study was conducted to investigate pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy as neoadjuvant therapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This exploratory analysis evaluated features of the tumor microenvironment that might be predictive of response.

Methods: Cell fractions from 20 paired samples collected at baseline and after one cycle of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab prior to chemotherapy initiation were analyzed by spatial localization (tumor compartment, stromal compartment, or sum of tumor and stromal compartments [total tumor]) using three six-plex immunohistochemistry panels with T-cell, myeloid cell, and natural killer cell components.

CAMBRIA-1 & CAMBRIA-2 phase III trials: camizestrant versus standard endocrine therapy in ER+/HER2- early breast cancer.

Novel selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs) are a promising therapeutic option under investigation for patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer. The efficacy of novel SERDs in the treatment of advanced disease has prompted investigation into their use in the early disease setting, to reduce breast cancer recurrence. Here, we describe the design and rationale of the phase III, randomized, open-label CAMBRIA-1 and CAMBRIA-2 studies.

Palbociclib plus endocrine therapy versus capecitabine in premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (Young-PEARL): overall survival analysis of a randomised, open-label, phase 2 study.

Background: The phase 2 randomised Young-PEARL study demonstrated that palbociclib plus exemestane with ovarian function suppression significantly prolonged progression-free survival compared with capecitabine in premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. Here, we report results of the protocol-specified secondary endpoint of overall survival.

Methods: Young-PEARL was a multicentre, randomised, open-label, phase 2 study conducted at 14 institutions in South Korea.

TROPION-Breast04: a randomized phase III study of neoadjuvant datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) plus durvalumab followed by adjuvant durvalumab versus standard of care in patients with treatment-naïve early-stage triple negative or HR-low/HER2- breast cancer.

Background: Despite treatment advances for patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and hormone receptor (HR)-low/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer, treatments that improve clinical outcomes while mitigating toxicity are needed. Datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd), a TROP2-directed antibody-drug conjugate consisting of a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody attached via a plasma-stable cleavable linker to a topoisomerase-I inhibitor payload, has shown efficacy alone or in combination with durvalumab, a selective, high-affinity anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 antibody, in early-phase clinical studies.

Objectives: The primary objective of TROPION-Breast04 is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant Dato-DXd plus durvalumab followed by adjuvant durvalumab with or without chemotherapy versus standard of care in patients with previously untreated early-stage TNBC or HR-low/HER2- breast cancer.

Effectiveness of Adjuvant Capecitabine in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Patients With Residual Disease After Neoadjuvant Treatment: A Real-World Evidence Study in Korea.

Background: Residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has important role in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). The CREATE-X study demonstrated a survival benefit from adjuvant capecitabine (adjC) in breast cancer patients, especially for TNBC populations. Because the landscape of early TNBC treatment has been changing rapidly, an optimal adjuvant strategy for real-world practice is needed.

Pembrolizumab and chemotherapy in high-risk, early-stage, ER/HER2 breast cancer: a randomized phase 3 trial.

Addition of pembrolizumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by adjuvant pembrolizumab improved outcomes in patients with high-risk, early-stage, triple-negative breast cancer. However, whether the addition of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab to chemotherapy would improve outcomes in high-risk, early-stage, estrogen receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (ER/HER2) breast cancer remains unclear. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study (KEYNOTE-756) in which patients with previously untreated ER/HER2 grade 3 high-risk invasive breast cancer (T1c-2 (≥2 cm), cN1-2 or T3-4, cN0-2) were randomly assigned (1:1) to neoadjuvant pembrolizumab 200 mg or placebo Q3W given with paclitaxel QW for 12 weeks, followed by four cycles of doxorubicin or epirubicin plus cyclophosphamide Q2W or Q3W.