Endocrine Therapy Omission in Estrogen Receptor–Low (1%-10%) Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Author(s): Grace M. Choong, MD¹; Tanya L. Hoskin, MS²; Judy C. Boughey, MD³; James N. Ingle, MD¹; Matthew P. Goetz, MD¹;

Source: J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(16):1875-1885

Dr. Maen Hussein's Thoughts

DON’T omit, there is still a benefit, especially in 6-10% patients.

PURPOSE

Adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) improves overall survival (OS) in estrogen receptor (ER)–positive early-stage breast cancer (BC). However, the benefit of ET for those with ER-low BC (ER 1%-10%) is unclear.

METHODS

Using the National Cancer Database, we studied patients with high-risk stage I to III, ER-low BC (defined as immunohistochemistry 1%-10%) who received (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy and did or did not initiate ET. OS was analyzed with ET initiation as a time-dependent covariate using Cox proportional hazards regression.

RESULTS

Of 10,362 patients with stage I to III ER-low BC, 7,018 received chemotherapy and met inclusion criteria. ET omission was 42% at 12 months and more common in patients with tumors that were progesterone receptor–negative, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–negative, higher-grade (grade 2/3) and higher Ki-67 (≥20%; all P < .001) and those who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC; P < .001). With a median follow-up of 3 years, 586 deaths were observed. In a multivariable analysis, ET omission was associated with a higher risk of death (hazard ratio [HR], 1.23 [95% CI, 1.04 to 1.46]; P = .02), with a greater impact in those with higher ER levels: ER 1%-5% (HR, 1.15 [95% CI, 0.91 to 1.45]; P = .24) versus ER 6%-10% (HR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.00 to 2.02]; P = .048). Among patients treated with NAC (n = 4,377, 62%), ET omission was associated with worse OS in those with residual disease (RD; HR, 1.26 [95% CI, 1.00 to 1.57]; P = .046) but not in those who achieved a pathologic complete response (HR, 1.06 [95% CI, 0.62 to 1.80]; P = .84).

CONCLUSION

In ER-low, early-stage BC, ET omission is associated with significantly worse OS, especially in patients with RD after NAC and those with higher (6%-10%) ER levels. Until prospective data are available, patients with ER-low BC should be counseled regarding the potential benefit of ET.

Author Affiliations

¹Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; ²Division of Clinical Trials and Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; ³Division of Breast and Melanoma Surgical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN;

Low-Dose Tamoxifen in Noninvasive Breast Neoplasia: Long-Term Results From an Individual-Participant Data Pooled Analysis

Among 1,545 women included with a median follow-up of 9.4 years in postmenopausal women, breast cancer events occurred in 40 of 335 receiving low-dose tamoxifen versus 93 of 401 controls HR, 0.51, with a 10-year absolute reduction of 11.2%. Among premenopausal women, no significant reduction was observed dose was 5mg daily of 10mg every other day in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and high-risk pts. Less is as good.

Datopotamab deruxtecan in patients with untreated, advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TROPION-Breast02): a randomised, open-label, international, phase III trial

644 patients who are triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) not candidates for immunotherapy were randomly assigned to receive Dato-DXd (n = 323) or chemotherapy (n = 321). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 10.8 months with Dato-DXd and 5.6 months with chemotherapy. Median overall survival (OS) was 23.7 months and 18.7 months with Dato-DXd and chemotherapy, respectively HR 0.79; P = 0.029]. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) of grade ≥3 were reported in 105 (33%) and 89 (29%) patients who received Dato-DXd and chemotherapy, respectively, they were more treatment discontinuation in the chemotherapy arm secondary to treatment related adverse events in 14 (4%) and 23 (7%) patients. There were no treatment-related deaths in either arm. New standard of care? Recall this is on patients not eligible for immunotherapy.

Hypo- Versus Standard Fractionated Locoregional Radiotherapy of Patients With High-Risk Breast Cancer in the Randomized Phase III Trial: The Danish Breast Cancer Group Skagen Trial 1

Less radiation (40Gy vs 50 Gy) was non inferior in preventing locoregional recurrence and distant mets, also lymphedema rates were not worse. Would love feedback from our rad onc, but it seems less is as good.

HER2CLIMB-05: A Phase III Study of Tucatinib Versus Placebo in Combination With Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab as First-Line Maintenance Therapy for HER2+ Metastatic Breast Cancer

Progression-free survival (PFS) was statistically significantly improved with addition of tucatinib versus placebo 24.9 v 16.3 months regardless of the presence/absence of BM or hormone receptor status.

Role of neoadjuvant versus adjuvant chemotherapy, dose density, and treatment schedule in biologically high-risk HR+/HER2- breast cancer: A pooled analysis of the WSG ADAPT-HR+/HER2- and PlanB trials.

1467 pts with RS > 25 and 551 with clinically (neoadjuvant cohort in ADAPT-HR+/HER2-) or pathologically N2, (longer) docetaxel-based CTx showed better distant, invasive disease-free survival in N2-3 pts patients with RS ≤25, OS was also shown in pts with RS>25 anthracycline regimens did not show a significant survival difference in high-risk HR+/HER2 whether used in neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting. So may be no anthracycline for HR+ve pts who are high risk disease.