A phase Ⅰ study of Hemay022, an irreversible dual EGFR/HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor in Chinese patients with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer

Objective: Hemay022 is a novel small-molecule and an irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor with the target of epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2), which demonstrated anti-tumor activity in preclinical studies. This first-in-human study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics,tolerability and preliminary anti-tumor activity of Hemay022 in HER2-positive advanced breast cancer patients.Methods: Heavily pretreated patients with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer were assigned to eight dose cohorts in a 3+3 dose-escalation pattern at doses of 50-600 mg QD and 300 mg BID. Eligible patients were given a single dose of Hemay022 on d 1 in week 0, followed by once daily continuous doses for four weeks in 28-day cycles.Pharmacokinetic samples were obtained on d 1 and d 28. Clinical responses were assessed every eight weeks.Results: Twenty-eight patients with advanced breast cancer were treated with Hemay022. The most frequently reported drug-related adverse events were diarrhoea(85.7%), vomiting(28.6%), nausea(25.0%) and decreased appetite(17.9%). No grade 4 drug-related adverse events were reported. At 50-600 mg doses, steady state areas under the concentration-time curve and peak concentrations increased with doses. One patient achieved complete response(CR), and three achieved partial response(PR). The objective response rate(ORR) and disease control rate(DCR) were 14.3% and 46.4% in 28 patients, respectively. The median progression-free survival(PFS) was3.98 months.Conclusions: Hemay022 at the dose of 500 mg once daily was well tolerated. The pharmacokinetic properties and encouraging anti-tumor activities of Hemay022 in advanced breast cancer patients warranted further evaluation of Hemay022 for treating breast cancer patients in the current phase Ⅲ trial(No. NCT05122494).

Clinical benefit and safety profile of cross-line therapy with CDK4/6 inhibitors:a retrospective study of HR+/HER2–advanced breast cancer

Objective:CDK4/6 inhibitors(CDK4/6is)in combination with endocrine therapy have secured a central role in the treatment of hormone receptor(HR)-positive advanced breast cancer(ABC)and have transformed the therapeutic landscape.Cross-line CDK4/6i therapy in which another CDK4/6i is continued after progression on a prior CDK4/6i may still offer advantageous therapeutic effects.Cross-line CDK4/6i therapy is an area of active investigation in the ongoing pursuit to improve outcomes for patients with HR+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2)–ABC.Methods:This retrospective study enrolled 82 patients with HR+/HER2–ABC who were treated with cross-line CDK4/6is(abemaciclib,palbociclib,ribociclib,and dalpiciclib)after progression with another CDK4/6i.The primary endpoint was progression-free survival(PFS)according to version 1.1 of the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors.Secondary endpoints included toxicity,objective response rate,disease control rate,and overall survival.Adverse events(AEs)were graded according to version 5.0 of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events,as promulgated by the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services.Results:Eighty-two HR+/HER2–ABC patients who received cross-line CDK4/6i therapy from January 2022 to February 2024 were enrolled.The median age of the patients was 60 years.The median PFS of all patients was 7.6 months(95%CI,5.9-9.2).Cox regression analysis identified lung metastasis and a switch to endocrine therapy following prior CDK4/6i therapy as independent predictive factors for PFS.Notably,patients who previously received abemaciclib and switched to palbociclib upon disease progression had a median PFS of 10.7 months.The strategy of transitioning to chemotherapy after progression on a prior CDK4/6i,then to a subsequent CDK4/6i merits further investigation.Hematologic toxicity was the most common grade≥3 AEs.No instances of fatal safety events were observed.Conclusions:Cross-line CDK4/6i therapy is associated with significant clinical benefits and manageable safety profiles in patients with HR+/HER2–ABC,which underscores cross-line CDK4/6i therapy potential as an effective treatment strategy.

Evaluation of the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for intermediate and advanced breast cancer by 3.0T MR and ultrasound combined with tumour markers

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for intermediate and advanced breast cancer using 3.0T MR and ultrasound in combination with tumour markers(CEA,CA-153,CA125),and to provide therapeutic references for the clinicians,so as to better satisfy the needs of treatment for intermediate and advanced breast cancer patients.Methods:The team collected 30 patients who were diagnosed with intermediate and advanced breast cancer by biopsy and received neoadjuvant chemotherapy,and divided them into sensitive and insensitive groups according to the MP grading of postoperative pathological results.The team retrospectively analysed the changes in the values of serum CEA,CA-153,and CA 125 before and after the neoadjuvant chemotherapy,the changes in the average ADC of the lesions before and after the observation by MRI,and the changes in the volume and size of lesions before and after the observation by ultrasonography to assess the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy individually,and the results of neoadjuvant chemotherapy were evaluated individually.The effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy was assessed independently.Each of the above was evaluated independently,and the accuracy of each item was calculated by comparing the evaluation results with the pathological examination results,and the accuracy of the single item was compared with the accuracy of the three combined tests to determine whether the combined evaluation was more consistent.Results:All three examination and testing methods can achieve high accuracy,and the combined evaluation of the three is more accurate than the evaluation of the single way,and the difference is statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion:In neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer patients,the combined assessment of MR,CDFI and tumour markers can more comprehensively and accurately assess the effect of ADC,and more accurately guide the clinical treatment and determine the prognosis.

Inavolisib-Based Therapy in PIK3CA-Mutated Advanced Breast Cancer

Background:Inavolisib is a highly potent and selective inhibitor of the alpha isoform of the p110 catalytic subunit of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex(encoded by PIK3CA)that also promotes the degradation of mutated p110α.Inavolisib plus palbociclib-fulvestrant has shown synergistic activity in preclinical models and promising antitumor activity in early-phase trials.

Combined chemo-endocrine therapy as a potential new option for HR+/HER2−advanced breast cancer:a prospective study of fulvestrant plus oral vinorelbine

Objective:Endocrine therapy with fulvestrant has shown synergistic antitumor effects with some chemotherapy drugs in vitro.This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of fulvestrant with vinorelbine in patients with hormone receptor positive(HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-negative(HER2−)recurrent or metastatic breast cancer.Methods:Patients were intramuscularly administered fulvestrant 500 mg(day 1 per cycle for 28 days)and oral vinorelbine(60 mg/m2 on days 1,8,and 15 of each cycle).The primary endpoint was progression-free survival(PFS).Secondary endpoints included overall survival,objective response rate,disease control rate,duration of response,and safety.Results:A total of 38 patients with HR+/HER2−advanced breast cancer included in the study were followed up for a median time of 25.1 months.The overall median PFS was 9.86 months[95%confidence interval(CI)7.2-23.13],and the median PFS of the first-line and the second-line treatment population was 20.73 months(95%CI 9.82 to NR)and 4.27 months(95%CI 3.68 to NR),respectively.Most adverse events reported were of grade 1/2,and none were of grade 4/5.Conclusions:This is the first exploratory study of a fulvestrant and oral vinorelbine regimen in the treatment of HR+/HER2−recurrent and metastatic breast cancer.The combination chemo-endocrine therapy was efficacious,safe,and promising for patients with HR+/HER2−advanced breast cancer.

Senescent mesenchymal stem/stromal cells in pre-metastatic bone marrow of untreated advanced breast cancer patients

Breast cancer is the predominant form of carcinoma among women worldwide,with 70%of advanced patients developing bone metastases,with a high mortality rate.In this sense,the bone marrow(BM)mesenchymal stem/stromal cells(MSCs)are critical for BM/bone homeostasis,and failures in their functionality,transform the BM into a premetastatic niche(PMN).We previously found that BM-MSCs from advanced breast cancer patients(BCPs,infiltrative ductal carcinoma,stage III-B)have an abnormal profile.This work aims to study some of the metabolic and molecular mechanisms underlying MSCs shift from a normal to an abnormal profile in this group of patients.A comparative analysis was undertaken,which included self-renewal capacity,morphology,proliferation capacity,cell cycle,reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels,and senescence-associatedβ‑galactosidase(SA‑β‑gal)staining of BMderived MSCs isolated from 14 BCPs and 9 healthy volunteers(HVs).Additionally,the expression and activity of the telomerase subunit TERT,as well as telomere length,were measured.Expression levels of pluripotency,osteogenic,and osteoclastogenic genes(OCT-4,SOX-2,M-CAM,RUNX-2,BMP-2,CCL-2,M-CSF,and IL-6)were also determined.The results showed that MSCs from BCPs had reduced,self-renewal and proliferation capacity.These cells also exhibited inhibited cell cycle progression and phenotypic changes,such as an enlarged and flattened appearance.Additionally,there was an increase in ROS and senescence levels and a decrease in the functional capacity of TERT to preserve telomere length.We also found an increase in pro-inflammatory/pro-osteoclastogenic gene expression and a decrease in pluripotency gene expression.We conclude that these changes could be responsible for the abnormal functional profile that MSCs show in this group of patients.

Comparison of Letrozole and Aminoglutethimide in Treatment of 113 Cases of Postmenopausal Women with Advanced Breast Cancer

Objective: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of letrozole with aminoglutethimide (AG) in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer. Methods: The multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in 113 patients. They randomly received letrozole 2.5 mg once daily (letrozole group) or AG 250 mg 4 times daily (AG group) with hydrocortisone. Results: The OR in letrozole group was 23.73% (2 cases of CR and 12 cases of PR, ITT OR was 21.88%), which was higher than in AG group (the OR 11.11%, 1 CASE of CR and 5 cases of PR, ITT 10.17%), but there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). Adverse events (AE) and the treatment related AE (RAE) in letrozole group (n=59) was 18.54% and 13.56% respectively, significantly lower than those (42.11% and 33.33% respectively) in AG group (n=57, P=0.002). Conclusion: The OR of letrozole in the treatment of postmenopausal advanced breast cancer positive or unknown for hormonal receptor is 23.73%, showing no significant difference to that of AG. The AE of letrozole are significantly less than AG.

Efficacy and safety of trastuzumab combined with chemotherapy for first-line treatment and beyond progression of HER2-overexpressing advanced breast cancer

Objective： To observe the efficacy and safety of trastuzumab combined with chemotherapy in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 （HER2）-overexpressing advanced breast cancer. Methods： A total of 90 patients with HER2-overexpressing advanced breast cancer were enrolled in this study. All patients were diagnosed with ductal invasive breast cancer by pathological analysis, and were aged between 31-73 years with a median of 51 years. HER2-positivity was defined as 3（＋） staining in immunochemistry or amplification of fluorescence in situ hybridization （FISH, ratio ≥2.0）. Trastuzumab was administered in combination with chemotherapy as first-line treatment and beyond progression as a second- line, third-line, and above treatment in 90, 34, 14, and 6 patients, respectively. The chemotherapy regimen was given according to normal clinical practice. The response rate was evaluated every two cycles, and the primary endpoints were progression-free survival （PFS） and overall survival （OS）. Survival curves were estimated by using Kaplan-Meier graphs and were compared by using log-rank test statistics. Multivariate analysis was done using Cox＇s proportional hazards regression model, and the level of significance was P〈0.05. Results： All 90 patients received at least one dose of trastuzumab, and efficacy could be evaluated in 85 patients. The median follow-up was 50 months. In total, 72 （80.00%） patients had visceral metastasis, and 43 （47.78%） patients had progressed after one or more extensive chemotherapy regimens for metastatic diseases. The median PFS for first-line trastuzumab was 10 months （range, 2-59 months）, and the median OS after metastasis or initially local advanced disease was 22 months （range, 2-1 16 months）. Conclusions： Trastuzumab combined with chemotherapy was active and well-tolerated as a first-line treatment and even beyond progression in HER2-overexpressing advanced breast cancer as a second-line or third-line treatment. However, its efficacy is certainly less beyond this point.

Exploratory clinical study of chidamide,an oral subtype-selective histone deacetylase inhibitor,in combination with exemestane in hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer

Objective: The recurrence or progression under endocrine therapy in hormone receptor-positive(HR+)advanced breast cancer(ABC) remained a critical clinical challenge.Chidamide is an oral subtype-selective histone deacetylase(HDAC) inhibitor with multiple functions in tumor growth inhibition and microenvironment modulation via epigenetic reprogramming.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety,pharmacokinetics(PK),and preliminary efficacy of chidamide in combination with exemestane in HR+ ABC patients.Methods: Eligible patients were postmenopausal women with HR+ ABC recurrent or progressed to at least one endocrine therapy.Blood samples were obtained in the run-in period and the first day of combination treatment for PK analysis.In combination treatment,patients were given exemestane 25mg daily and chidamide 30mg twice a week(BIW) until progression of disease or intolerable toxicities.A treatment cycle was defined as 4 weeks.Safety,PK parameters,and preliminary efficacy were evaluated.Results: A total of 20 patients were enrolled between July and December,2015.The median number of treatments cycle was 5.2(20.8 weeks) with 2 patients still on treatment at the data cut-off date of October,2017.The treatment-related adverse events(AE) ≥ grade 3 in more than 2 patients were neutropenia(35%),thrombocytopenia(30%),and leucopenia(20%).The plasma exposure of exemestane was consistent in the presence or absence of chidamide.A slight increase in chidamide exposure was noted in the presence of exemestane,probably due to the inter-and intra-patient variations.The best response in 16 evaluable patients was assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors(RECIST),including 4 patients with partial response,10 patients with stable disease.The median progression-free survival(PFS) was 7.6 months.Conclusions: The combination of chidamide with exemestane was generally well tolerated with promising preliminary efficacy in HR+ ABC patients.The overall results from this study encourage further pivotal trial in this patient population.

Atezolizumab and Nab-Paclitaxel in Advanced Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Background:Unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative(hormone-receptor-negative and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2[HER2]-negative)breast cancer is an aggressive disease with poor outcomes.Nanoparticle albumin-bound(nab)-paclitaxel may enhance the anticancer activity of atezolizumab.

Efficacy of platinum in advanced triple-negative breast cancer with germline BRCA mutation determined by next generation sequencing

Objective:To compare the efficacy of platinum-and non-platinum-based regimens as first-line treatment for advanced triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC)and analyze the relationship between their efficacy and BRCA gene status.Methods:Retrospectively analyze clinical data of 220 patients diagnosed pathologically with advanced TNBC and treated at the Department of Breast Oncology,Peking University Cancer Hospital from 2013 to 2018 and evaluate the efficacy of chemotherapy.A total of 114 patients had BRCA1/2 gene tested by next generation sequencing(NGS)using peripheral blood,and we analyzed the correlation between their efficacy and BRCA1/2 gene status.Results:Non-platinum-based chemotherapy(NPCT)was administered to 129 and platinum-based chemotherapy(PBCT)to 91 study patients.The clinical benefit rate(CBR)and median progression-free survival(PFS)were not statistically different between NPCT and PBCT groups.The median overall survival(OS)was 30.0 and 22.5 months for PBCT and NPCT group,respectively[P=0.090,hazard ratios(HR)=0.703].BRCA status was assessed in 114 patients,14 of whom had deleterious germline BRCA1/2(g BRCA)mutations(seven in each group).In PBCT group,the CBR was 85.7%and 35.1%for patients with and without deleterious g BRCA mutations,respectively(P=0.039).The median PFS were 14.9 and 5.3 months and median OS were 26.5 and 15.5 months for patients with and without deleterious g BRCA mutations,respectively(P=0.001,P=0.161,respectively).Patients in PBCT group had significantly greater rates of grade 3-4 anemia(5.5%vs.0%)and thrombocytopenia(8.8%vs.0%),whereas palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia(12.4%vs.0%)and peripheral neuropathy(8.6%vs.1.1%)occurred more frequently in NPCT group.Conclusions:Platinum-based regimens are more effective in patients with deleterious g BRCA mutations,but no difference in patients without BRCA gene mutations,so non-platinum is an option in patients without BRCA gene mutations considering the toxicity and side effect.And we recommend that patients with advanced TNBC should have BRCA gene test.

Symptom burden in advanced breast cancer patients and its association between death anxiety and psychological distress

Objective:Recent research has documented psychological distress in advanced breast cancer(ABC)patients,but few studies have examined how death anxiety is affected by the symptom burden.Therefore,this study aims to explore the association among symptom burden,death anxiety and psychological distress(depression and anxiety)in ABC patients.Methods:This cross-sectional study used the Death and Dying Anxiety Scale(DADDS),9-item Patient Health Questionnaire(PHQ-9),General Anxiety Disorder-7(GAD-7)and MD Anderson Symptom Inventory(MDASI)to assess death anxiety,depression,anxiety,and symptom burden,respectively.Bias-corrected bootstrapping methods were used to estimate indirect effects and 95%confidence intervals.Results:Two hundred ABC patients completed the questionnaires.All of the respondents were females,with a mean age of 50±10 years.Initial correlation analyses revealed significant associations of death anxiety with depression(r=0.57,P<0.001),anxiety(r=0.60,P<0.001)and symptom burden(r=0.43,P<0.001).Moreover,depression(r=0.53,P<0.001)and anxiety(r=0.45,P<0.001)were significantly correlated with symptom burden.An analysis using Hayes’PROCESS macro revealed the partial effecting role of death anxiety in the relationship between depression and symptom burden,and between anxiety and symptom burden(contributions to the total effect of 0.247 and 0.469,respectively).Conclusions:This study provides insight into the relationship between death anxiety and symptom burden.The results suggest that interventions addressing death anxiety may be more effective for alleviating the depression and anxiety experienced by ABC patients with a symptom burden.

Clinical observation of capecitabine monotherapy in elderly patients with advanced breast cancer

Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of capecitabine mono-chemotherapy in elderly patients with advanced breast cancer. Methods The data from 36 cases of capecitabine monotherapy in elderly patients with advanced breast cancer were retrospectively analyzed. Oral administration of capecitabine 2000 mg/m^2 twice daily （D1-14） for 21 days constituted a cycle. The effect of the disease and main adverse reactions were evaluated every 2 cycles. Results The data from 36 elderly patients were studied. The median number of chemotherapy cycles was 4. The total effective rate was 30.6% （11/36） and the disease control rate was 72.2% （26/36）. The number of patients with clinical comptete remission was 2, clinical partial response was 9, stable disease was 15, and progressive disease was 10. Where treatment was effective, the median time to progression was 6 months and the median overall survival was 9.5 months. The main adverse events were gastrointestinal reactions, bone marrow suppression, and oral mucositis; most of the reactions were grade 1 to 2. Grade 3 to 4 adverse reactions included granulocytopenia in 2 patients （12.5%） and hand-foot syndrome in 1 patient （6.7%）. Conclusion Capecitabine monotherapy was effective in controlling disease progression, and adverse reactions were tolerated by elderly patients with advanced breast cancer.

Gemcitabine Based Combination Regimens for Treatment of Refractory Advanced Breast Cancer

Objective： Anthracycline and taxane are the standard agents in combined chemotherapy of advanced breast cancer. However, when these agents based chemotherapy is failure, the selection of salvage regimen is still of problem. Gemcitabine, an active agent in both lung cancer and pancreas cancer, is demonstrated effective in breast caner. But there have been relatively less data of gemcitabine in anthracycline and/or taxane-resistant breast cancer. Therefore we employe this study to explore the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine based combination regimen in this population. Methods： From May 2002 to March 2006, 28 patients with measurable lesion of advanced metastatic breast cancer who were resistant to prior anthracycline and taxane based chemotherapy were enrolled. Patients were treated with gemcitabine based combination chemotherapy with a median cycles of 3 （range 2-6）. Results： The overall response rate was 28.6% （8/28）, with 1 CR （Complete response 3.5%） and 7 PRs （Partial response 25%）. Stable disease was seen in 8 patients （28.6%） while disease progressed in 12 patiens （42.8%）. The median time to progression was 4.5 m （range, 2-23 m）. The main toxicity included bone marrow depression, alopecia, mucositis and peripheral neurotoxicity. The grade 3 to 4 clinical adverse effect was leukopenia in 5 cases （17.9%） and thrombocytopenia in 8 cases （30%）. Conclusion： Gemcitabine based combination regimens is feasible in anthracycline and taxane-resistant advanced breast cancer. The clinical response and TTP is acceptable with limited toxicity pattern.

Comparison of vinorelbine plus cisplatin with vinorelbine plus capecitabine in patients with anthracyclines- and taxanes-refractory advanced breast cancer

Objective: The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy and toxicities of vinorelbine plus cisplatin(NP) regimen with that of vinorelbine plus capecitabine(NX) regimen in the treatment of anthracycline- and taxane-refractory advanced breast cancer. Methods: Forty-six patients with anthracycline- and taxane-refractory advanced breast cancer were equally randomized into a NP group(n = 23) and a NX group(n = 23). Response rates and toxicities were evaluated after 2 cycles of chemotherapy. Results: The overall response rate were 48.0% in both groups. There were no significant differences in disease control rates(78.0% vs. 83%) or 1-year survival rates(54.6% vs. 55.9%). The main adverse events were bone marrow depression and gastrointestinal reaction, and no significant difference was found in toxicities between the groups. Conclusion: For anthracycline- and taxane-refractory advanced breast cancer, NP and NX regimens exerted similar curative effects with acceptable toxicity.

Bilateral oophorectomy combined with exemestane treating advanced refractory breast cancer

Objective： Taking tamoxifen orally is the main endocrine therapy of the premenopausal breast cancer with positive hormone receptor, but numerous patients developed to be advanced refractory breast cancer because of drug resistance. Our study investigated a role of the combination of bilateral oophorectomy and exemestane in the management of advanced refractory breast cancer. Methods： The bilateral oophorectomy was carried out in 17 patients. One week after the operation, exemestane was taken orally （25 mg/d）. The median time to progression （TTP）, the median survival time and the survival rate were calculated using Kaplan-Meier methods. Results： Seventeen patients age ranged from 26 to 44 years （median, 36 years） were treated with an overall response rate of 64.70%, TTP was 8 months and the median survival time was 31 months. The survival rate of 1-year, 3 years and 5 years was 88.24%, 64.71%, 29.41%, respectively. There have no grade Ⅲ/Ⅳ side effects appeared. Conclusion： Bilateral oophorectomy combined with exemestane is safe and effective for advanced refractory premenopausal breast cancer with positive hormone receptor and it is well-torerated.

Evaluation of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in monitoring early response of locally advanced breast cancer to neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Objective： The aim of our study was to assess the value of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging （DMRI） in predicting early response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy （NAC） in patients with locally advanced breast cancer （LABC） and to assess the accuracy of DMRI in evaluating residual disease after NAC. Methods： DMRI were per- formed in 43 women with LABC （44 lesions, all were invasive ductal carcinoma） before, after the first and final cycle of NAC. Tumour volume, early enhanced ratio （El）, maximum enhanced ratio （Emax）, and maximum enhanced time （Tmax）, dynamic signal intensity-time curve were obtained during treatment. Residual tumour volumes obtained using DMRI were compared with pathological findings to assess the accuracy of DMRI. Results： After 1st cycle of NAC, the mean volume of responders decreased insignificantly, P 〉 0.05, but after NAC, mean volume of residual tumor decreased significantly （P 〈 0.01）. Morphol- ogy change： 29 cases showed a concentric shrinkage pattern while 7 cases showed a dendritic shrinkage pattern. Significant differences were found in El, Emax and Tmax between responders and non-responders （P 〈 0.05）. After 1st cycle of NAC, El, Emax and Tmax of responders changed significantly （P 〈 0.001）; while there is no significant change in non-responders （P 〉 0.05）. After NAC, dynamic signal intensity-time types were changed in responders, and tended to be significantly flat- tening, while no significant change was found in non-responders. The residual tumour volume correlation coefficient between DMRI and pathology measurements was very high （r = 0.866, P = 0.000）. Conclusion： DMRI is useful to evaluate the early response to NAC in LABC. The presence and volume of residual disease in LABC patients treated with NAC could be ac- curately evaluated by DMRI.

Evaluation of the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on tumor and axillary lymph nodes in locally advanced breast cancer: a study of 50 patients

Objective： The purpose of the study was to correlate between effect of pre-neoadjuvant chemotherapy （NACT） and post-NACT clinical, sonographic and pathologic features of the tumor and axillary lymph nodes （ALNs） and to raise the possibility of applying the concept of sentinel lymph node biopsy （SLNB） in patients with initially positive ALNs before NACT. Methods： A prospective study of 50 female patients with locally advanced breast cancer （LABC） with clinically palpable.and cytologically （under ultrasonographic guidance） positive ALNs. All patients received NACT and then referred for ultrasono- graphic assessment of the axilla regarding any detectable sonographic criteria of metastatic deposits in ALNs as well as the tumor size in relation to its prechemotherapy size, All patients were then subjected either to modified radical mastectomy or breast conserving surgery. The clinical, sonographic and pathological response of the tumor and the ALNs were documented, classified and correlated with each other. Results： Patients＇ mean age was 47.7±9.1 years. The mean clinical tumor size was 6.7 ± 1.4 cm; stage IliA that was presented in 32 patients （64%） and IIIB was presented in 18 patients （36%）. Chemotherapy was given for a median of 4 cycles, there was reduction of the mean clinical tumor size from 6.7 ± 1.4 cm to 4.3 ± 2.7 cm （P 〈 0.001）. Clinical response was complete in 5 （10%） tumors, complete pathological tumor response （post-neoadjuvant） was detected in 6 （16%） of patients. Complete clinical nodal response （post-neoadjuvant） in 23 （46%） axillae, on sonographic assessment of the axilla, response was complete in 17 （34%） axillae. Complete pathological nodal response occurred in 16 （32%） axillae. Out of 17 axillae that showed complete sonographic response 11 axillae showed complete pathological nodal response （P 〈 0.001）. Conclusion： Formal axillary lymph node dissection can be avoided and replaced by SLNB post NACT in patients with LABC with metastatic ALNs if there were complete clinical and sonographic criteria of nodal response as well as complete pathological tumor response.

Neoadjuvant Combination Chemotherapy with Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin and Vinorelbine for Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

OBJECTIVE In China, vinorelbine plus an anthracycline is a common neoadjuvant regimen for locally-advanced breast cancer （LABC）. Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin （PLD） is an alternate anthracycline formulation with a more favorable safety profile compared with conventional anthracyclines. METHODS In this open-label trial, 61 women with LABC received up to 6 cycles of PLD 30 mg/m2 on Day 1 and vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 on Days 1 and 8 every 21 days. Hormone receptor and/or HER2 status was not routinely available. RESULTS The overall clinical response rate （primary efficacy endpoint） was 80% （95% CI： 68%-89%）. Two patients achieved a pathological complete response （3%）, with 75% having their tumor down-staged, and 89% proceeding to tumor resection. The most frequent nonhematologic adverse events were stomatitis, fever, rash, and palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, with none considered serious. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 10% and 2% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSION PLD plus vinorelbine demonstrated comparable efficacy to conventional anthracyclines plus vinorelbine in the neoadjuvant treatment of LABC, but may offer safety advantages.

A narrative review on palbociclib for hormone receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 negative advanced breast cancer

As a specific cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor,palbociclibimproved the prognosis in patients with hormone receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 negative breast cancer.Emerging data showed that palbociclib shed a new therapeutic regimen forbreast cancers and playsan essentialmilestone in the development of anti-tumor drugs,especially for advanced breast cancer.In this minireview,we aimed to summarize the mechanism,clinical application,and side effectsof palbociclib.