Abstract PD4-04: Impact of Polygenic Risk Scores on Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Clinical Decision Making in Carriers of Germline Pathogenic Variants in ATM, BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, and PALB2: Results from the Prospective Multisite GENRE-2 Clinical Trial
Abstract Background: Incorporation of Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS) can refine traditional breast cancer (BC) risk assessment models to provide precise estimates of BC risk. However, the impact of such an integrated model on BC risk estimates and clinical decision-making related to BC screening and preventive strategies in germline pathogenic variant (PV) carriers is not fully understood. Methods: The GENRE-2 is a prospective single-arm multisite clinical trial (NCT04474834) incorporating 313-PRS into standard BC risk assessment models to determine the impact of PRS on risk estimates and clinical decisions on prevention and screening. All women received pre- and post-PRS BC risk estimates and completed surveys on their screening and cancer prevention decisions before and after integrating PRS estimates. Herein, we report on the impact of integrating PRS into CanRisk-based BC risk estimates among women enrolled in GENRE-2 due to PVs in ATM, BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, or PALB2. Women were categorized into average risk (<20%), moderate risk (20-40%), or high risk (>40%) for BC based on clinically relevant lifetime risk thresholds for supplemental MRI screening and risk-reducing bilateral mastectomies. Changes in categories of lifetime BC risk estimates were then evaluated before and after integration of PRS. Impact of PRS on patient decisions to undertake screening or preventive action (medication or prophylactic mastectomy) was evaluated based on pre- and post-PRS surveys. Results: Between 2020 and 2025, 933 women were enrolled, 633 received PRS results and completed a survey to date. Of those who received PRS results, 214 (33.8%) were PV carriers (ATM: 24, BRCA1: 54, BRCA2: 73, CHEK2: 54 and PALB2: 9). Among PV carriers, the CanRisk-based median 10-year and lifetime pre-PRS risk estimates were 6.0% and 23.9% for ATM, 22.5% and 77.5% for BRCA1, 17.9% and 77.6% for BRCA2, 7.1% and 26.6% for CHEK2, and 16.6% and 42.4% for PALB2, respectively. A total of 7 (29.2%) ATM PV carriers had a shift in lifetime BC risk categories after integration of PRS, with 1 (4.2%) shifting from average to moderate-risk, 3 (12.5%) shifting from moderate to average-risk category, and 3 (12.5%) shifting from moderate to high-risk category. Among CHEK2 PV carriers, 9 (16.7%) had a shift in lifetime risk categories, with 4 (7.4%) shifting from moderate to average-risk, 2 (3.7%) shifting from moderate to high-risk, and 3 (5.6%) shifting from high to moderate-risk. None of the BRCA1 and 4.1% of BRCA2 PV carriers had a shift in lifetime risk categories after PRS integration. Only 1 (11.1%) PALB2 PV carrier had a change in lifetime risk category after integration of PRS, although this was limited by a small sample. A significantly higher proportion of PV carriers with a high lifetime risk intended to take preventative action compared to the PV carriers with average lifetime risk (41.4% vs. 20.0%, p=0.007). Conclusions: Integration of PRS into BC lifetime risk estimates led to a clinically meaningful change in risk categories in 29.2% of ATM PV carriers and 16.7% of CHEK2 PV carriers, but in <5% of BRCA1 or BRCA2 PV carriers. These findings suggest that PRS may be helpful for BC risk stratification in moderate-risk genes such as ATM and CHEK2 but may have limited clinical utility in high-risk genes such as BRCA1 or BRCA2. Citation Format: S. Yadav, C. Klassen, D. Stan, J. Fraker, S. Sahni, S. A. Khan, L. Khatri, C. Vachon, D. Schaid, J. P. Sinnwell, E. Carlson, L. Hasadsri, F. J. Couch, S. Pruthi. Impact of Polygenic Risk Scores on Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Clinical Decision Making in Carriers of Germline Pathogenic Variants in ATM, BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, and PALB2: Results from the Prospective Multisite GENRE-2 Clinical Trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2025; 2025 Dec 9-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2026;32(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD4-04.
Factors associated with sleep disturbance in breast cancer survivors over time
Abstract Background Breast cancer (BC) survivors frequently experience sleep disturbances, which may persist for many years after treatment. This study aimed to describe trends in sleep-related symptoms over time and identify factors that may be associated with sleep disturbances in BC survivors. Patients and Methods Adult patients from the Mayo Clinic Breast Disease Registry were surveyed annually for up to 7 years post-diagnosis. Sleep disturbance severity was assessed using numeric rating scales for difficulty falling and staying asleep. Data from 3354 unique patients were analyzed, excluding those with metastatic disease or recurrence. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed at the 1-year survey timepoint to evaluate disease and patient-related factors that were associated with increased sleep-related symptoms, and these factors were also assessed in relationship to sleep-related symptoms over time. Results In multivariable analyses, more trouble falling asleep was associated with financial insecurity, higher clinical stage, more cigarettes smoked per day, and less weekly exercise. More trouble staying asleep was associated with older age, race, advanced education, financial insecurity, and higher clinical stage. Over time, there was a nonsignificant trend toward increased trouble falling asleep and fluctuations in trouble staying asleep. Higher clinical stage and receipt of radiotherapy were associated with decreased severity in trouble falling asleep over time, while more cigarettes smoked per day was linked to increased severity in trouble staying asleep. Conclusions These findings highlight the complex interplay of clinical, lifestyle, and demographic factors in sleep disturbances among BC survivors, underscoring the need for tailored sleep management strategies.
Association between alcohol intake and health-related quality of life in breast cancer survivors.
11114 Background: Advances in early detection and treatment of breast cancer (BC) have significantly improved survival outcomes. In this growing survivor population, addressing modifiable lifestyle factors such as alcohol intake (AI), a known risk factor for BC and BC recurrence, is critical to improving prognosis and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study examines AI patterns and their associations with mental and physical HRQoL in early BC survivorship. Methods: Adult patients newly diagnosed (≤1 year) with stage I–III BC at Mayo Clinic Rochester were invited to enroll in the Mayo Clinic Breast Disease Registry. Of the 3252 patients who consented, 1997 completed surveys approximately one-year post-diagnosis, capturing weekly AI, demographic factors, and PROMIS-10 scores. PROMIS-10 (a 10-item measure of health, well-being, and distress) physical and mental health T-scores (mean = 50, SD = 10) are standardized to the U.S. population. Weekly AI was categorized as minimal/none (<1 drink), mild (1–4 drinks), moderate (5–14 drinks), or high (≥15 drinks). Univariate analyses were performed with Monte Carlo-based Fisher exact tests. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression models using a glogit link function assessed AI as the outcome and PROMIS-10 scores as independent variables, adjusting for financial status, smoking, chemotherapy, and moderate exercise because those were associated with AI at year 1 in prior analyses. Results: Univariate analyses revealed statistically significant associations between AI and PROMIS-10 scores (Table 1). Adjusted multivariate analyses identified that patients with better physical health were more likely to drink 1–4 or 5–14 drinks/week and less likely to abstain (<1 drink/week) than those with poorer physical health (p=0.027). There was no statistically significant association between AI and mental health QoL after adjustment for covariates. Conclusions: Better physical HRQoL during early survivorship was associated with higher AI, suggesting that patients who are feeling physically unwell may be less likely to drink alcohol. Additional public health messaging about the relationship between AI and breast cancer risk and recurrence may be needed, especially for those who are feeling well enough to consume alcohol. Univariate analyses of year 1 PROMIS-10 scores with year 1 alcohol consumption using Monte Carlo-based Fisher exact test. Alcoholic drinks per week at year 1 < 1(N=1204) 1-4(N=600) 5-14(N=175) 15+(N=18) Total(N=1997) P-value PROMIS global mental health T score, Year 1, n (%) 0.008 < 50 466 (63.8%) 200 (27.4%) 54 (7.4%) 10 (1.4%) 730 (37.1%) 50+ 718 (57.9%) 394 (31.8%) 120 (9.7%) 7 (0.6%) 1239 (62.9%) Missing 20 6 1 1 28 PROMIS global physical health T score, Year 1, n (%) <0.001 < 50 440 (66.5%) 165 (24.9%) 50 (7.6%) 7 (1.1%) 662 (33.6%) 50+ 740 (56.7%) 432 (33.1%) 124 (9.5%) 10 (0.8%) 1306 (66.4%) Missing 24 3 1 1 29
Clinical impact of integrating polygenic risk scores with breast cancer risk assessment models: Results from the prospective multisite GENRE-2 clinical trial.
10544 Background: Incorporation of Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS) can refine traditional breast cancer risk assessment models to provide precise estimates of breast cancer risk. However, the impact of such an integrated model on clinical decision-making related to breast cancer surveillance and preventive strategies is not fully understood. Methods: The GENRE-2 is a prospective single-arm multisite clinical trial (NCT04474834) incorporating PRS into standard breast cancer risk assessment models to determine the impact of PRS on clinical decisions on breast cancer prevention and surveillance. Women at high risk of breast cancer due to NCI-BCRAT 5-year risk of ≥ 3%, or IBIS (Tyrer-Cuzik) 10-year breast cancer risk of ≥5%, biopsy-proven high-risk breast lesion, or a pathogenic variant (PV) in ATM , BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2 or PALB2 , were enrolled from five sites in the United States. All women were invited to complete surveys on their breast surveillance and cancer prevention decisions based on pre-PRS standard risk models and post-PRS risk estimation, and further annual surveys are planned for 10 years. Results: Among 902 women enrolled in the study, 605 (median age: 52 years) received PRS results and completed a survey to date. Of those who received PRS results,195 (32.2%) were PV carriers. Among non-carriers, the median 10-year and lifetime pre-PRS IBIS-based risk was 10.0% and 28.7%, respectively. Among PV carriers, the CanRisk-based 10-year and lifetime pre-PRS risk estimates were 6.3% and 25.2% for ATM , 22.3% and 77.6% for BRCA1 , 18.5% and 77.7% for BRCA2 , 7.1% and 25.7% for CHEK2 , and 16.8% and 38.0% for PALB2 PV carriers, respectively. After the incorporation of PRS, the lifetime risk of breast cancer increased by at least 10% in 31% of non-carriers and 7.7% of PV carriers and decreased by at least 10% in 10.7% of non-carriers and 7.7% of PV carriers. The proportion of non-carriers with lifetime risk < 20% or > 40% changed from 17.3% and 22.0%, respectively, in the pre-PRS evaluation to 24.4% and 32.9%, in the post-PRS evaluation. A higher lifetime post-PRS score was associated with intent to take preventive action (surgery or endocrine agents). In non-carriers, the proportion of women with a lifetime risk < 20% with intent to take preventive action was 11%, compared to 36.8% of those with a lifetime risk > 40% (p < 0.001). Similarly, in PV carriers, the proportion of women with lifetime risk < 20% with intent to take preventive action was 20.8% compared to 41.1% of those with lifetime risk > 40% (p = 0.015). Conclusions: The GENRE-2 trial demonstrates that the incorporation of PRS into breast cancer risk assessment models in high-risk women is feasible and leads to clinically meaningful changes in breast cancer risk estimates and decision-making regarding preventive strategies. Evaluation of the implementation of breast cancer risk management strategies in study participants is ongoing and will be reported. Clinical trial information: NCT04474834 .
Trajectory of Global Mental Health and Global Physical Health in Breast Cancer Survivorship
Background: Breast cancer survivors face a risk of significant psychological distress, which can persist for years after their initial diagnosis. Although numerous guidelines and tools exist to help screen for and measure distress in patients with cancer, additional longitudinal studies are needed to better characterize the trajectory of distress over time. Patients and Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study to evaluate distress and health-related quality of life in patients with breast cancer. Annual assessments included global mental and physical health scores using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Global-10 (PROMIS-10), posttraumatic stress symptoms using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2). Eligible participants had stage 0–III breast cancer, with baseline surveys administered within 1 year of diagnosis. Annual follow-up surveys were conducted through year 4 after the baseline survey. Only patients who completed the baseline survey and at least one follow-up survey were included in this analysis. Individuals with stage IV or recurrent breast cancer were excluded. Results: A total of 2,140 individuals were included. Over time, global mental health scores declined slightly, with differences in T-scores from baseline ranging from 0.4 to 0.9. In contrast, global physical health scores improved, with differences in T-scores ranging from 0.3 to 0.6. Mean scores remained in the normative range. Depressive symptoms remained stable throughout the study period, while posttraumatic stress symptoms showed improvement over time. Conclusions: This study provides important longitudinal data on distress subtypes in breast cancer survivors with nonmetastatic disease. Although global mental health declined slightly, depression symptoms remained stable, and posttraumatic stress symptoms improved. Investigation of distress subtypes over time merits further study to advance detection of significant distress across the cancer continuum.
Double product derived from exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) or dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) in patients with a history of breast cancer and radiotherapy (RXT) exposure and MACE
Abstract Background Breast cancer survivorship has markedly improved in the last two decades due to improved therapies. Among these, adjuvant chest radiotherapy stands out as an integral part of the current treatment. Chest radiotherapy can trigger accelerated atherosclerosis, which, coupled with cardiovascular (CV) risk factors common to this population, can lead to increased rates of coronary artery disease (CAD). ESC 2022 guidelines have established both Exercise Stress Echocardiography (ESE) and Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography (DSE) as cost-efficient and reliable tools for screening this patient population. Recommendations include ESE or DSE 5 years after radiotherapy as a screening tool. Double product (DP), an index common to both tests, parallels myocardial oxygen consumption. It has been used to predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in other cohorts. Purpose We sought to evaluate if DP could be used as a prognostic indicator for MACE (myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiovascular death, and heart failure) in this population. Methods Breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant radiotherapy from 2000 to 2022 were included. ESE or DSE was done after a mean of 5.4 years (1Q-2.2, 3Q-7.5) post-radiotherapy. Uni and multivariable adjusted Cox regression models were performed to evaluate the association between DP quartiles achieved and the risk of MACE in DSE and ESE groups. MACE-free survival among different quartiles was plotted with the Kaplan Meier method. Results 696 patients were included, with a mean age of 65 (SD 10.0) and 72 (SD 9.4) in ESE and DSE respectively. 61% of patients had ESE. In ESE, we observed increased rates of MACE in the 1st quartile when compared to the other quartiles (Figure 1a). On the other hand, univariate and multivariate Cox models established that for every increase of 1000 units of DP achieved during ESE, there is a risk-reduction of 9% [HR=0.91 (0.86-0.95); p=<0.01] in the future incidence of MACE, thus establishing DP as a protective marker. Additionally, advanced age was shown to be a major risk factor as well [HR=4.58 (1.91-10.9); p=<0.01]. In the DSE cohort however, the development of MACE was equally distributed across DP quartiles even after adjusting for existing comorbidities (Figure 1b). Cox analysis did not establish DP as a prognostic tool in this cohort (Table 1). Conclusion DP is established as an excellent prognostic tool for the detection of MACE in patients who underwent ESE. Patients who achieve higher DP quartiles during these tests have lower future rates of MACE. Regarding DSE, DP is not a good prognostic tool. This could be explained by higher burden of cardiovascular risk factors in this patient population. ESE should be recommended when possible.
Breast Cancer Polygenic-Risk Score Influence on Risk-Reducing Endocrine Therapy Use: Genetic Risk Estimate (GENRE) Trial 1-Year and 2-Year Follow-Up
Abstract Refinement of breast cancer risk estimates with a polygenic-risk score (PRS) may improve uptake of risk-reducing endocrine therapy (ET). A previous clinical trial assessed the influence of adding a PRS to traditional risk estimates on ET use. We stratified participants according to PRS-refined breast cancer risk and evaluated ET use and ET-related quality of life (QOL) at 1-year (previously reported) and 2-year follow-ups. Of 151 participants, 58 (38.4%) initiated ET, and 22 (14.6%) discontinued ET by 2 years; 42 (27.8%) and 36 (23.8%) participants were using ET at 1- and 2-year follow-ups, respectively. At the 2-year follow-up, 39% of participants with a lifetime breast cancer risk of 40.1% to 100.0%, 18% with a 20.1% to 40.0% risk, and 16% with a 0.0% to 20.0% risk were taking ET (overall P = 0.01). Moreover, 40% of participants whose breast cancer risk increased by 10% or greater with addition of the PRS to a traditional breast cancer-risk model were taking ET versus 0% whose risk decreased by 10% or greater (P = 0.004). QOL was similar for participants taking or not taking ET at 1- and 2-year follow-ups, although most who discontinued ET did so because of adverse effects. However, these QOL results may have been skewed by the long interval between QOL surveys and lack of baseline QOL data. PRS-informed breast cancer prevention counseling has a lasting, but waning, effect over time. Additional follow-up studies are needed to address the effect of PRS on ET adherence, ET-related QOL, supplemental breast cancer screening, and other risk-reducing behaviors. Prevention Relevance: Risk-reducing medications for breast cancer are considerably underused. Informing women at risk with precise and individualized risk assessment tools may substantially affect the incidence of breast cancer. In our study, a risk assessment tool (IBIS-polygenic-risk score) yielded promising results, with 39% of women at highest risk starting preventive medication.
Is dobutamine stress echocardiography a good screening tool for coronary artery disease in breast cancer patients that underwent treatment with radiotherapy?
Abstract INTRODUCTION Accelerated atherosclerosis has been described in breast cancer patients receiving cardiac exposure from adjuvant radiotherapy (RT). As a result of multidisciplinary care, breast cancer cure rates have improved in recent decades. Therefore, evaluating radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD), especially coronary artery disease (CAD), is essential. The 2022 cardio-oncology European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines recommend screening patients 5 to 10 years after RT for CAD according to cardiovascular risk factors. This screening is generally recommended with exercise stress echocardiography since it can assess the physiological functional performance. Until now, it is unknown if dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is an equal screening tool and if it can predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiac death, revascularization). PURPOSE Evaluate if DSE is an adequate tool to stratify and predict MACE in post-radiotherapy patients. Methods A retrospective, descriptive cohort study was conducted. Patients who had chest RT for breast cancer and underwent DSE from 2000 to 2022 were included. A bivariate analysis, including Kruskal Wallis and Pearson Chi-Squared test, was done to identify variables associated with a positive DSE. A multivariable Cox Model for MACE and a time-to-event curve for MACE were also performed. Results We identified 163 patients that underwent DSE after a median time of 5.8 years from the end of RT. The median age was 74 years, 98.2% were female, 50% had left and 45% right breast cancer, 81% had hypertension, 41% diabetes mellitus, 71% dyslipidemia, 34% were smokers, and 19% had a prior myocardial infarction. The average dose of photon RT to the chest was 55Gy in the cohort, and 40% received chemotherapy before RT. Patients were divided into two groups: positive and negative DSE. A positive DSE was seen in 19.6%. The median (Q1, Q3) regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA) of patients with a positive DSE was 1 (1, 1.015) at baseline and 1.280 (1.190, 1.520) at peak stress, and for a negative DSE, was 1 (1, 1) at baseline and peak stress. 88.2% of negative DSE and 87.5% of positive DSE achieved the target heart rate of 85%. HTN, dyslipidemia, and prior MI were significantly associated with a positive DSE (p <0.023). The cumulative incidence of MACE was higher in the group of positive DSE (p<0.001), even after adjusting for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, smoking, and prior myocardial infarction, with a hazard ratio of 2.500 (1.51 – 4.13) and a p< 0.001. Similar results were observed regardless of RT laterality. Conclusions In breast cancer survivors that received adjuvant radiotherapy as part of multidisciplinary care, a positive DSE was an independent predictor of MACE compared to a negative result. These results support the usefulness of dobutamine stress echocardiography as a screening tool in breast cancer survivors.Kaplan-Meier Curve for MACE
Even the presence of minimal changes in regional wall motion abnormalities with exercise stress echocardiography predicts MACE and all-cause mortality in patients with previous chest radiotherapy
Abstract Background Exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) is a non-invasive, radiation-free, and widely available technique that has demonstrated a reliable accuracy for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD). Chest radiotherapy (RT) is associated with accelerated age-related atherosclerosis and fibrosis in a dose-dependent manner. ESE plays a role as a screening tool of RT induced heart disease, however, the prognostic value of changes in regional wall motion abnormalities in this population during ESE has not been evaluated. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of breast cancer survivors treated with adjuvant RT that underwent ESE from 2000-2020 after treatment completion. Outcomes evaluated were: major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, revascularization and stroke); and all-cause mortality. A univariate analysis was performed to characterize the population. Continuous variables were presented as means ± standard deviation (SD) or median with quartile 1 and 3 (Q1, Q3), and categorical variables as numbers and percentages. A Cox regression model adjusted by age and cardiovascular risk factors was used to evaluate variables associated with outcomes, and a time to first event approach was used. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results From 2000-2020, 507 patients, with a mean age 66 ± 10 years, underwent ESE at a median of 5.8 years after RT completion. The most prevalent comorbidities were dyslipidemia (59%), HTN (55%) and obesity (37%). 55% underwent RT for left-sided breast cancer and 45% for right-sided, and median RT dose was 6000 cGy. Baseline characteristics are presented in Table 1. Most patients underwent Bruce Protocol (92%). Patients exercised a mean time of 6.6 minutes achieving 7.3 METS and 109% of functional aerobic capacity (Table 2). At a median follow up of 7.8 years, 61 MACE events occurred. Predictors of MACE were double product, baseline and stress EF, baseline and peak regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA), development of new ischemic RWMA, inability to reach 85% of maximum HR, and an abnormal EF response with stress after adjusting for age, HTN, DM, smoking history, dyslipidemia, obesity, prior MI and cancer staging (Fig 1). Predictors of all-cause mortality were METS, LV mass index, baseline and peak RWMA, development of new ischemic RWMA and an abnormal EF change with stress even after adjusting for variables described previously (Fig 2). Conclusions The development of new or worsening RWMA of just 2 segments with stress, was a significant predictor of MACE and all-cause mortality in a large cohort of breast cancer survivors undergoing multidisciplinary management including adjuvant RT. Special emphasis on management of cardiovascular comorbidities and closer surveillance are recommended for these patients.
Changes in amount and intensity of physical activity over time in breast cancer survivors
Abstract Background Physical activity is associated with decreased breast cancer recurrence and mortality, as well as fewer treatment-related symptoms. Nevertheless, most breast cancer survivors do not meet physical activity guidelines. The purpose of this manuscript is to characterize physical activity trends over time in breast cancer survivors. Methods Mayo Clinic Breast Disease Registry participants received surveys at baseline and at 1 and 4 years after diagnosis; breast cancer recurrence and/or metastatic disease were exclusion criteria. Participants were considered to be meeting guidelines if they self-reported at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity (eg, fast walking) and/or strenuous (eg, jogging) physical activity per week. Statistical analyses include analysis of covariance methods, paired t tests, conditional logistic regression models, and McNemar tests of homogeneity. Results A total of 171 participants were included in the analysis. The amount of total physical activity decreased over time (P = .07). Mild-intensity physical activity (eg, easy walking) decreased most over time (P = .05). Among participants aged 18-49 years, mild-intensity (P = .05) and moderate-intensity (P = .02) physical activity decreased over time. Strenuous-intensity physical activity levels decreased over time among participants with a normal body mass index (P = .002) and with obesity (P = .01). Conclusions We found a trend-level decrease in total physical activity over time, driven mostly by a decrease in mild-intensity physical activity. Young breast cancer survivors are especially likely to reduce their physical activity over time. Further research on implementing physical activity guidelines in clinical practice is warranted.