Are There Breast Cancer Patients with Node-Negative Small Tumours, Who Do Not Benefit from Adjuvant Systemic Therapy?

Oncology. 2017;92(6):317-324. doi: 10.1159/000455050. Epub 2017 Mar 24.

Abstract

Objective: To identify subgroups of patients with pT1 pN0 breast cancer (BC) who might not profit from adjuvant systemic therapy (AST).

Methods: Data of 3,774 pT1 pN0 BC patients from 17 certified BC centres within the BRENDA study group were collected between 1992 and 2008 and retrospectively analysed. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox regression models.

Results: 279 (7.4%) of the pT1 pN0 BC patients were T1a, 944 (25.0%) were T1b and 2,551 (67.6%) were T1c. There was no significant difference (p > 0.1) in recurrence-free survival (RFS)/overall survival (OAS) between patients with pT1a, pT1b, and T1c. Patients receiving any type of AST had a better outcome compared to women without AST after adjusting for age, tumour size, and intrinsic subtypes (RFS: p < 0.001; OAS: p < 0.001). AST was the most important prognostic parameter for RFS followed by intrinsic subtypes and age.

Conclusion: Patients with pT1 pN0 BC profit from AST independently of molecular subtypes, tumour size, age or comorbidity, with 5-year RFS of more than 95%. The correct definition of subgroups of patients who do not need AST is still an open question.

Keywords: Adjuvant systemic therapy; Breast cancer; Outcome; Tumour size.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant* / adverse effects
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Female
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Receptor, ErbB-2