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Rao, Ruta

0000-0003-3037-2318

Mayo Clinic

Rush University Cancer Center, Chicago, IL.

Citations 2

Breast Cancer Follow-Up and Surveillance After Primary Treatment: ASCO Guideline Update
Nahleh, Zeina , Alfano, Catherine M. , Somerfield, Mark R. , Lee, Janie M. , Hieken, Tina J. , Magnuson, Allison , Rao, Ruta , Chew, Helen K., Chia, Stephen , Harvey, Brittany , Landsberger, Ellen , Mwanzi, Sitna , Parsons, Heather A. , Patt, DA , Sung, Hyuna , Rao, Ruta , Chia, Stephen K L , Harvey, Brittany E , Lim, Bora , Mwanzi, Sitna Ali , Parsons, Heather A , Sukumar, Jasmine S , Sung, Hyuna , Werutsky, Gustavo , Lustberg, Maryam , Hieken, Tina J , Alfano, Catherine M , Chew, Helen K. , Lim, Bora , Lustberg, Maryam B.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | July 16, 2026 | Volume: 44 | Issue: 30 | Pages: 2953-2971

10.1200/jco-26-01700 Get It

ASCO Guidelines provide recommendations with comprehensive review and analyses of the relevant literature for each recommendation, following the guideline development process as outlined in the https://www.asco.org/practice-patients/guidelines/guideline-methodology . ASCO Guidelines follow the https://www.asco.org/about-asco/legal/conflict-interest-coi . Clinical Practice Guidelines and other guidance (“Guidance”) provided by ASCO is not a comprehensive or definitive guide to treatment options. It is intended for voluntary use by clinicians and should be used in conjunction with independent professional judgment. Guidance may not be applicable to all patients, interventions, diseases or stages of diseases. Guidance is based on review and analysis of relevant literature, and is not intended as a statement of the standard of care. ASCO does not endorse third-party drugs, devices, services, or therapies and assumes no responsibility for any harm arising from or related to the use of this information. See complete disclaimer in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 (online only) for more . PURPOSE To offer clinicians recommendations concerning breast cancer follow-up and surveillance after primary treatment. METHODS ASCO convened an Expert Panel to develop recommendations based on a systematic review and a formal consensus process. RESULTS One randomized controlled trial (RCT) was identified and formed the evidentiary basis for the surveillance mammography guideline recommendation. No RCTs were identified that evaluated different follow-up approaches by risk of relapse in patients treated for early-stage breast cancer. Given the dearth of evidence identified in the systematic review of the literature, formal modified Delphi consensus-based recommendations were generated. RECOMMENDATIONS The guideline offers recommendations on the role of a risk-based approach to the frequency and intensity of follow-up among patients with breast cancer in the adjuvant setting. Regular history, physical examination, and mammography are recommended for breast cancer follow-up. Either virtual or in-person visits can be offered. Certain patients at a high risk of cancer recurrence warrant closer surveillance, such as those patients with locally advanced disease or residual disease following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Recommendations on the use of blood-based biomarkers and supplemental imaging are provided. Guideline recommendations will be updated once additional evidence-based tools become available to better individualize surveillance. Additional information is available at www.ascopubs.org/topics/asco-guidelines/breast-cancer .
Phase 2 trial of imprime and pembrolizumab immunotherapy in metastatic triple negative breast cancer patients who have progressed beyond first line chemotherapy
Stopeck, Alison , Abu‐Khalaf, Maysa , Chmielowski, Bartosz , Rao, Ruta , Xie, Bin , Dudek, Arkadiusz Z. , Mina, Lida A. , O’Shaughnessy, Joyce , Mattson, Paulette, Gargano, Michele , Cox, Joanna, Osterwalder, B , Drees, Jeremy, Chan, Anissa , Qiu, Xiaohong, Ottoson, Nadine, Bose, Nandita , Uhlik, Mark, Graff, J. J., Chmielowski, Bartosz , Rao, Ruta , Dudek, Arkadiusz Z , Gargano, Michele , Osterwalder, Bruno , Borges, Virginia F. , Xie, Bin, Chisamore, Michael Jon , Harrison, Ben, Ottoson, Nadine, Iglesias, José

The Journal of Immunology | May 8, 2025 | Volume: 214 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 1529-1538

10.1093/jimmun/vkaf079 Get It

Abstract The Phase 2 IMPRIME 1 study evaluated the combination of the pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) Imprime with the immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) pembrolizumab as second or later line of treatment (2 L+) for patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC). Eligible patients with mTNBC received weekly Imprime (4 mg/kg) intravenously in combination with pembrolizumab (200 mg every 3 weeks). Primary endpoints were overall response rate (ORR) and safety. Secondary endpoints included disease control rate (DCR), duration of response (DoR), progression free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Exploratory endpoints included correlations between immune cell activation markers in tumor tissues and blood and response to therapy. Of the 42 evaluable patients, six had a response (one complete, five partial), with an ORR of 14.3% by RECIST v1.1. Median PFS was 2.7 months, median OS was 16.4 months, and DCR was 54.8%, with responders achieving a median DoR of 15.2 months. Therapy was generally well tolerated and resulted in an increase of immune activation markers, with higher levels of activation in peripheral blood associated with response and improved survival. The combination of Imprime and pembrolizumab was safe and demonstrated immune activation in tumor tissues and peripheral blood in patients with TNBC. Improved response rates were observed compared to historical studies of ICI monotherapy in similar patient populations. Study number (ClinicalTrials.gov trial registration): NCT02981303.