Smith, Karen L.

Several new systemic therapy options have become available for patients with metastatic breast cancer, which have led to improvements in survival. In addition to patient and clinical factors, the treatment selection primarily depends on the tumor biology (hormone-receptor status and HER2-status). The NCCN Guidelines specific to the workup and treatment of patients with recurrent/stage IV breast cancer are discussed in this article.

Members of the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium conducted an expert‐driven literature review to identify a list of domains and to evaluate potential measures of these domains for inclusion in a list of preferred measures. Measures were included if they were easily available, free of charge, and had acceptable psychometrics based on published peer‐reviewed analyses. A total of 22 domains and 52 measures were identified during the selection process. Taken together, these measures form a reliable and validated list of measurement tools that are easily available and used in multiple cancer trials to assess patient‐reported outcomes in relevant patients.

PURPOSE Evidence-based treatments for metastatic, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–positive breast cancer to the CNS are limited. We previously reported modest activity of neratinib monotherapy for HER2-positive breast cancer brain metastases. Here we report the results from additional study cohorts. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with measurable, progressive, HER2-positive brain metastases (92% after receiving CNS surgery and/or radiotherapy) received neratinib 240 mg orally once per day plus capecitabine 750 mg/m 2 twice per day for 14 days, then 7 days off. Lapatinib-naïve (cohort 3A) and lapatinib-treated (cohort 3B) patients were enrolled. If nine or more of 35 (cohort 3A) or three or more of 25 (cohort 3B) had CNS objective response rates (ORR), the drug combination would be deemed promising. The primary end point was composite CNS ORR in each cohort separately, requiring a reduction of 50% or more in the sum of target CNS lesion volumes without progression of nontarget lesions, new lesions, escalating steroids, progressive neurologic signs or symptoms, or non-CNS progression. RESULTS Forty-nine patients enrolled in cohorts 3A (n = 37) and 3B (n = 12; cohort closed for slow accrual). In cohort 3A, the composite CNS ORR = 49% (95% CI, 32% to 66%), and the CNS ORR in cohort 3B = 33% (95% CI, 10% to 65%). Median progression-free survival was 5.5 and 3.1 months in cohorts 3A and 3B, respectively; median survival was 13.3 and 15.1 months. Diarrhea was the most common grade 3 toxicity (29% in cohorts 3A and 3B). Neratinib plus capecitabine is active against refractory, HER2-positive breast cancer brain metastases, adding additional evidence that the efficacy of HER2-directed therapy in the brain is enhanced by chemotherapy. For optimal tolerance, efforts to minimize diarrhea are warranted.

These NCCN Guidelines Insights highlight the updated recommendations for use of multigene assays to guide decisions on adjuvant systemic chemotherapy therapy for women with hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative early-stage invasive breast cancer. This report summarizes these updates and discusses the rationale behind them.

202 Background: Fractional CO2 laser therapy is an emerging treatment for GSM. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of fractional CO2 laser therapy in BC survivors. Methods: This was a single arm feasibility study of BC survivors with dyspareunia and/or vaginal dryness. Participants received three treatments with office-based fractional CO2 laser on at least 30 day intervals and returned for a one-month follow-up. Feasibility was defined as treatment completion without serious adverse events (SAE) in a minimum of 80% of patients. Primary efficacy was evaluated using the mean change (∆) in the score on the Vaginal Assessment Scale (VAS). Secondary efficacy endpoints included mean ∆ in scores on the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI). Descriptive statistics (means and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for continuous variables and proportions for categorical variables) were used. Results: The study is ongoing with 65 patients enrolled. To date, 37 patients have completed all study treatments and follow-up. Median age for those who have completed treatment was 57 years (range 34-72). Most were ER/PR positive (78%) and Her 2 negative (81%) with stage I (43%) or II (41%) BC. Ninety-five percent were receiving endocrine therapy, most commonly aromatase inhibitors (73%). No SAEs were reported in the 37 patients who have completed study treatments and their outcomes are as follows. Based on the VAS, 78% reported moderate-severe dyspareunia and 89% reported moderate-severe vaginal dryness at baseline. At follow up, 28% reported moderate-severe dyspareunia and 28% reported moderate-severe vaginal dryness. The VAS score improved from baseline to follow up (mean ∆ 4.1; 95% CI [3.1, 5.1]). Similarly, the FSFI score improved (mean ∆ -10.0; 95% CI [-13.2, -6.9]) and the UDI score improved (mean ∆ -5.7; 95% CI [-10.1, -1.3]). Final efficacy analysis will be reported once all patients have completed all time points. Conclusions: Fractional CO2 laser treatment is feasible and tolerable in BC survivors and may reduce symptom burden from GSM. A randomized controlled trial with sham laser is currently in development. Clinical trial information: NCT03307044.