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. 2016 Jun;19(2):176-84.
doi: 10.4048/jbc.2016.19.2.176. Epub 2016 Jun 24.

Predictive Value of Molecular Subtyping for Locoregional Recurrence in Early-Stage Breast Cancer with N1 without Postmastectomy Radiotherapy

Ge Wen  1 , Jin-Shan Zhang  2 , Yu-Jing Zhang  3 , Yu-Jia Zhu  3 , Xiao-Bo Huang  3 , Xun-Xing Guan  3
Affiliations

Predictive Value of Molecular Subtyping for Locoregional Recurrence in Early-Stage Breast Cancer with N1 without Postmastectomy Radiotherapy

Ge Wen et al. J Breast Cancer. 2016 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the relationship between molecular subtype and locoregional recurrence (LRR) in patients with early-stage breast cancer with 1-3 positive axillary lymph nodes (ALNs) and improve the individualized indications for postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT).

Methods: The records of 701 patients with pT1-2N1M0 breast cancer who did not undergo PMRT were retrospectively analyzed. Tumors were subclassified as follows: luminal A, luminal B, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-enriched, and basal-like subtypes. Multivariate Cox analysis was used to determine the risk of LRR associated with the different subtypes and to adjust for clinicopathologic factors.

Results: Luminal A, luminal B, HER2-enriched, and basal-like subtypes accounted for 51.2%, 28.0%, 8.1%, and 12.7% of cases, respectively. The median follow-up duration was 67 months (range, 9-156 months). Univariate analysis revealed that, compared with the luminal A subtype, the HER2-enriched and basal-like subtypes were associated with significantly higher 5-year LRR rates (5.6% vs. 21.6% and vs.15.7% respectively; p=0.002 each), lower 5-year LRR-free survival (LRFS) rates (90.6% vs. 73.8% and 78.5%, respectively; p=0.001 each), and poorer 5-year breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) rates (93.7% vs. 82.2% [p=0.002] and 84.9% [p=0.001], respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that the HER2-enriched and basal-like subtypes, age ≤35 years, a medial tumor, and pT2 stage were poor prognostic factors for LRR and LRFS; furthermore, 2 to 3 positive ALNs represented an independent prognostic factor affecting LRR. The 10-year LRR rates of patients with 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 risk factors were 1.0%, 6.9%, 14.3%, 30.4%, and 54.3%, respectively (p<0.001); the 10-year BCSS rates were 86.6%, 88.5%, 84.4%, 79.7%, and 38.8%, respectively (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Molecular subtyping allows for individualized evaluation of LRR risk in patients with pT1-2N1M0 breast cancer. PMRT should be recommended for patients with ≥3 LRR risk factors.

Keywords: Breast neoplasms; Local neoplasm recurrence; Molecular typing; Prognosis; Radiotherapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Kaplan-Meier estimates (log-rank test) for locoregional recurrence (A), locoregional recurrence-free survival (B), and breast cancer-specific survival (C), according to molecular subtypes.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Kaplan-Meier estimates (log-rank test) for locoregional recurrence (A), locoregional recurrence-free survival (B), and breast cancer-specific survival (C), according to risk groups.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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