Citations

Abstract Background Women with a pathogenic variant in BRCA1 or BRCA2 are at high risk of developing ovarian cancer, and it is often recommended that they undergo bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy at an early age, resulting in surgical menopause. Menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is an effective way to mitigate the adverse outcomes of early menopause; however, the safety of menopausal HRT on breast cancer risk in this population has not been established. Methods We conducted a prospective matched analysis of HRT use following menopause and breast cancer risk in BRCA carriers. Women who initiated HRT were matched one-to-one with women who had not initiated menopausal HRT by gene, year of birth, and age at menopause, resulting in 676 matched pairs. Menopausal HRT use collected by questionnaire included formulation and mode of administration. Results After a mean of 5.6 years, there were 87 (12.9%) incident breast cancer cases in the 676 exposed women and 128 (18.9%) cases in the 676 unexposed women (P = .002). Compared with unexposed matched control individuals, women who used estrogen alone experienced a statistically significantly decreased risk of breast cancer (hazard ratio = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.24 to 0.57). No protective or adverse effect was associated with the use of estrogen plus progestogen (hazard ratio = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.54 to 1.63). Conclusions Our findings suggest no substantial increase in the risk of breast cancer in BRCA carriers with the use of HRT and that estrogen alone might be protective.

Abstract INTRODUCTION New methods estimate amyloid positivity onset age (EAOA) from amyloid positron emission tomography (PET). We explore the genetics of EAOA to identify molecular factors underlying the earliest Alzheimer's disease (AD) changes. METHODS Harmonized amyloid PET data from 4216 participants were used in genome‐wide survival, tissue‐specific gene expression, and genetic covariance analyses of EAOA. RESULTS Variants in apolipoprotein E ( APOE ), ABCA7 , and RASGEF1C associated with earlier EAOA. APOE ε4/ε4 and ε3/ε4 converted 6.3 and 5 years earlier than ε3/ε3, respectively. ε2 was protective against earlier EAOA. rs4147929, an expression quantitative trait locus for ABCA7 , associated with a 4 year earlier EAOA. This variant was associated with lower brain expression of ABCA7 , which was associated with increased amyloid pathology at autopsy. Multiple immune‐related diseases shared genetic covariance with EAOA. DISCUSSION APOE , ABCA7 , and RASGEF1C associated with earlier EAOA, with supporting evidence from tissue‐specific expression analyses, offering insights into intervenable targets at early stages of AD. Highlights Novel methods estimate how long ago a patient converted to amyloid positivity. Estimating this amyloid clock allows us to determine the onset of the earliest Alzheimer's disease changes. We evaluated what genes influence when someone converts to amyloid positivity. Apolipoprotein E ( APOE ) , ABCA7 , and RASGEF1C associated with earlier age of amyloid positivity. Genetic results were supported by tissue‐specific expression analyses.

PURPOSE Low-grade serous carcinoma (LGSOC) of the ovary, fallopian tube, or peritoneum is a hormonally driven, relatively chemoresistant malignancy with limited treatment options in the recurrent setting. Given frequent estrogen receptor (ER) expression and dysregulation of the cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6)–p16–Rb pathway, features shared with hormone receptor–positive breast cancer, dual endocrine, and CDK4/6 inhibition is a biologically rational strategy. This phase II trial evaluated ribociclib plus letrozole in recurrent LGSOC. METHODS This open-label, single-arm, multicenter phase II study enrolled women with measurable, recurrent LGSOC. Patients received ribociclib (600 mg orally, once daily, days 1-21 of a 28-day cycle) and letrozole (2.5 mg orally, once daily). The primary end point was investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR) per RECIST 1.1. Secondary end points included clinical benefit rate (CBR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. RESULTS Of 74 patients screened, 51 were enrolled and 49 treated. The confirmed ORR was 30.6% (90% CI, 19.9 to 43.2), including one complete and 14 partial responses. Among responders, the median duration of response was 21.2 months. The CBR was 84% (90% CI, 72.5 to 91.6). The median PFS was 14.5 months (90% CI, 10.1 to 28.8), and the median OS was 44.5 months (90% CI, 31.8 to not reached). The most common grade ≥3 adverse event (AE) was neutropenia (47%), managed with dose modifications. Three grade 5 events (6%) occurred but were unrelated to treatment. Treatment discontinuation because of AEs occurred in 4%. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed. CONCLUSION Ribociclib plus letrozole met the primary end point, achieving meaningful response rates and durable disease control in recurrent LGSOC. The safety profile was consistent with prior CDK4/6 inhibitor studies. This combination represents a therapeutic option in this rare and genomically distinct subtype.

Purpose Despite the need for advanced hemodynamic monitoring, the role of the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) in cardiogenic shock (CS) remains controversial due to conflicting evidence from previous studies. Material and Methods This single-center retrospective study utilized the MIMIC-IV database to assess the impact of PAC use on 30-day in-hospital mortality and clinical outcomes in CS patients admitted between 2008 and 2019. Propensity score matching (PS) and inverse propensity treatment weighting (IPTW) were employed to adjust for baseline differences. The primary outcome was 30-day in-hospital mortality; secondary outcomes included hospital and ICU length of stay and complications. Cox proportional hazard ratio analyses were performed to evaluate the association between PAC use and mortality outcomes. Results The final cohort consisted of 1940 adult CS patients, with 134 receiving PAC and 1806 not. PAC use significantly reduced 30-day in-hospital mortality (PS-matched HR 0.57, 95% CI: 0.39-0.83; IPTW HR 0.58, 95% CI: 0.35-0.96) but was associated with longer hospital stays (16.47 vs 12.37 days) and ICU stays (9.26 vs 7.52 days). Conclusion PAC use in CS patients was associated with improved short-term survival but also with longer hospitalization and potential complications, underscoring the need for careful patient selection and further research.

Importance Breast cancer treatment is associated with cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). However, the association of endocrine therapy (ET) vs chemotherapy plus endocrine therapy (CET) with CRCI is poorly understood. Objective To compare patient-reported CRCI between women with breast cancer treated with ET vs CET and to consider whether menopausal status may be associated. Design, Settings, and Participants This was a prespecified secondary analysis of RxPONDER (SWOG S1007), a multinational phase 3 randomized clinical trial of more than 5000 women with hormone receptor−positive ERBB2 -negative (formerly HER2 -negative) breast cancer with 1 to 3 involved lymph nodes and Oncotype DX (21-gene recurrence score) of 25 or less. Participants were enrolled from February 2011 to September 2017, with results first reported in December 2020. Participants were randomly assigned to CET or ET, with ongoing follow-up. This secondary analysis assessed cognitive function using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Perceived Cognitive Function Concerns (PCF) questionnaire at baseline, 6, 12, and 36 months. Data were analyzed from July 2022 to August 2025. Intervention Random assignment to CET or ET. Main Outcomes and Measures Mean PCF standardized (T) scores by menopausal status over time using generalized estimating equations analysis for continuous outcomes. Results Of the 568 patients who completed the baseline questionnaire and were included in the analysis, 139 (24%) were premenopausal (median [range] age, 47.8 [28.0-56.3] years) and 429 (76%) were postmenopausal (median [range] age, 62.3 [37.3-87.6] years). Among the 274 (48%) who received CET and the 294 (52%) who received ET alone, CET was determined to have a greater negative association with patient-reported CRCI in both the pre- and postmenopausal participants during the 36-month follow-up. In the ET alone group, PCF scores for premenopausal participants decreased from baseline to 6 and 12 months (53.53, 51.51, and 51.72, respectively) but recovered to baseline (54.36) at 36 months. For postmenopausal participants, mean PCF scores were essentially stable (51.72, 51.13, 51.11, and 51.70, respectively); however, in the CET group, PCF scores for both pre- and postmenopausal participants decreased from baseline to 6 and 12 months (premenopausal, 52.84, 49.27, 48.04; postmenopausal, 50.65, 48.39, 47.13, respectively) and did not return to baseline at 36 months (premenopausal, 49.25; postmenopausal, 48.44). The difference in longitudinal mean PCF scores over time between CET and ET groups was −3.02 (95% CI, −5.33 to −0.72; P = .01) for premenopausal and −2.37 (95% CI, −3.92 to −0.82; P = .003) for postmenopausal participants. Conclusions and Relevance This secondary analysis of the RxPONDER found that CET had a greater negative association with patient-reported CRCI compared to ET alone in both pre- and postmenopausal participants over a 36-month follow-up period. Interventions to prevent or treat CRCI are needed to improve the long-term quality of life of these patients treated with chemotherapy. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01272037

Background To compare the effectiveness of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP‐1 RAs) versus bariatric surgery on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction and obesity. Methods Using the TriNetX research network, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of adults (aged ≥18 years) with HF with preserved ejection fraction and obesity (body mass index >30 kg/m 2 ) from 2017 to 2022. Patients were categorized into 2 cohorts: those receiving GLP‐1 RAs (semaglutide or tirzepatide) and those who underwent bariatric surgery. Propensity score matching (1:1) was used to balance baseline characteristics. Primary outcomes included acute HF events and all‐cause hospitalizations. Secondary outcomes included all‐cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and follow‐up body mass index. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs). Results A total of 2747 patients were included per cohort (mean age, 68 years). GLP‐1 RA therapy was associated with lower incidence of acute HF events (38.9% versus 44.6%; HR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.72–0.85]), all‐cause death (11.1% versus 14.8%; HR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.61–0.82]), and all‐cause hospitalizations (66.4% versus 77.3%; HR, 0.62 [95% CI, 0.58–0.66]). Rates of myocardial infarction (13.8% versus 13.4%; HR 0.99 [0.86–1.14]) and stroke (9.7% versus 10.7%; HR, 0.87 [0.74–1.02]) were similar between groups. Mean body mass index at follow‐up was 38.0 in the GLP‐1 RA cohort versus 37.7 after bariatric surgery ( P =0.34). Hemoglobin A 1c at follow‐up was higher in the GLP‐1 RA group (7.4 versus 6.8; P <0.001). Conclusions In patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction and obesity, GLP‐1 RA therapy was associated with improved outcomes compared with bariatric surgery, supporting the need for prospective trials to evaluate GLP‐1 RAs as a therapeutic alternative.

Abstract Detection of germline pathogenic Variants (PVs) in BRCA1, BRCA2, and other genes that significantly elevate lifetime breast cancer (BC) risk are indications for early initiation of intensive screening. BRCA1/2 PVs guidelines recommend that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) screening begin at age 25 and mammography screening at age 30. However, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and the postpartum period may complicate adherence due to patient concerns about MRI contrast, radiation exposure, logistical barriers, and limited guidance on timing. The incidence of BC peaks approximately 5 years postpartum, especially among women with a positive family history, and early-onset cancers are frequently aggressive, exacerbating the effects of delayed detection. We assessed screening and counseling practices during reproductive periods among women with or at risk for PVs to identify knowledge gaps and opportunities to improve surveillance. We conducted an anonymous survey from March 2023 through January 2025 distributed by Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE) and social media platforms. Data were collected through a secure REDCap instrument and summarized with descriptive statistics and logistic regression. The Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board deemed the study exempt. Among the 537 respondents (median age 43 years; 88.5% U.S. residents; 87.5% White), 66.2% were parous and 61.8% knew their family history of BC during pregnancy. Most women reported receiving counseling on screening breast examination, mammography, and MRI; however, 74-77% received no specific guidance about screening before, during, or after pregnancy and weaning. At the time of the survey, 89.9% had undergone BC screening, including 66.2% with annual mammography and 53.1% with annual MRI. Yet during pregnancy and breastfeeding, 69% reported not being screened. Parous women were more likely than nulliparous women to report screening (96.9% vs 85.6%,p&lt;0.0001) and regular mammography (76.4% vs 57.2%,p&lt;0.0001). Screening during pregnancy and breastfeeding was more common among the BRCA1/2 carriers than among carriers of other PVs. Breastfeeding affected screening behavior in 32% of the BRCA1/2 carriers versus 10.9% of other PV carriers, yet only 5.1% of PV carriers stopped breastfeeding to undergo imaging. After their last birth, many women postponed screenings for more than 3 years and only 20.5% received a mammogram within a year of their delivery. Overall, 28.8% of participants reported a history of cancer, of which 66.2% was BC. Approximately 20% of breast cancers reported were diagnosed within 3 years postpartum, with 8.6% occurring during lactation. Despite high rates of BC screening, most high-risk women received little counseling about imaging during pregnancy and breastfeeding, potentially contributing to delayed surveillance at a time of heightened BC risk. These findings highlight the need for targeted counseling, scheduling strategies to support MRI or other imaging during and after pregnancy, and development of novel early-detection tools such as blood or breastmilk biomarkers. Citation Format: Laura M. Pacheco-Spann, Sue Friedman, Diane Rose, William D. Foulkes, Zhihui Fang, Lauren E. Haydu, Mark E. Sherman. Breast Cancer Screening During Reproductive Years in Women with Germline Pathogenic Variants: Gaps in Counseling and Practice [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: The Rise in Early-Onset Cancers—Knowledge Gaps and Research Opportunities; 2025 Dec 10-13; Montreal, QC, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2025;31(23_Suppl):Abstract nr A029.