Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2007 ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings (Post-Meeting Edition).
Vol 25, No 18S (June 20 Supplement), 2007: 11014
© 2007 American Society of Clinical Oncology

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Abstract

Pathological characteristics and clinical outcome in triple-negative breast cancer (BC) patients (PTS): Results from the NORA study

Treviglio Hospital, Treviglio, Italy; University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy; Isituto Tumori, Genova, Italy; Ospedale Careggi, Firenze, Italy; Istituto Pascale, Napoli, Italy; Ospedale degli Infermi, Rimini, Italy; Ospedale Civile Umberto I, Frosinone, Italy; Az Osp S Maria, Terni, Italy; Osp Calvi, Noale, Italy; Istituto Mario Negri, Milano, Italy

11014

Background: Different studies have recently focused the attention on the so-called triple-negative pts, defined as ER-/PR- /HER2-. Although triple-negative tumours have been reported to be more aggressive, there are limited long-term data evaluating outcome as a function of this classification. Methods: NORA is an observational study aimed at investigating treatment modalities and clinical outcome of 3515 patients (pts) with early breast cancer (EBC) treated in 77 Oncological Centres in Italy from to 2000 to 2003, whose overall results have been already published. We now compare pathological characteristics and clinical outcome of pts for whom ER and PR andHER2 tests are negative with remaining pts (OTH). Results: 123 (4.1%) of 2968 evaluable pts resulted triple-negative. Out of these 123, 76 pts (61.7% vs 63.2% of OTH) were treated with conservative surgery (CS). Pathological T stage was T1 in55.3% pts (OTH: 59.6%), 47.9% were pN+ (OTH: 45.3%), 63.2 had G3 tumours (OTH: 34.1%). Chemotherapy alone was administered in 89.4% pts, mainly anthracycline-based (54.1%). At a median follow up of 27 months, all triple-negative pts were alive, 11 (8.9%) with relapse. No difference has been observed between two groups both in DFS (HR=0.74; 95%CI: 0.39–1.40; p=0.35) and OS (HR not estimated, p=0.99). Conclusions: Our results suggest that triple-negative pts have pathological characteristics similar to what observed in the other pts, receive CS in the same percentage of the cases, but have a 3-fold increase of undifferentiated tumours. On the contrary to what observed by other Authors, our data show that triple- negative pts do not have worse prognosis. Longer follow up is required to confirm these data.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.