Real-world treatment patterns and effectiveness outcomes in patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer

Lay abstract This study included 450 patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer treated in the USA at community oncology practices. Patients were female, 18 years or older, diagnosed with stage II, IIIA or IIIB breast cancer between March 2008 and March 2016, and the breast cancer was determined to be triple negative (i.e., negative for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and excess HER2 protein). The study looked at the treatments received, whether those treatments worked and the response to treatment at the time of surgery. The study findings align with findings from other studies that complete response in tissue samples is associated with improved clinical outcomes. Triple-negative breast cancer remains challenging to treat, and there is a clear need for innovation in treatment options. Intervening in the early stages of triple-negative breast cancer is critical to improving outcomes. Background: This retrospective, observational study examined real-world treatment patterns and effectiveness outcomes in 450 patients with stage II-IIIB early-stage triple-negative breast cancer treated in the community oncology setting. Methods: Kaplan-Meier methods were used to evaluate event-free survival (EFS), time to recurrence and overall survival (OS). Cox regression models were used to evaluate predictors of EFS and OS by pathological complete response (pCR) status. Results: Among patients receiving neoadjuvant systemic therapy only, pCR was a predictor of EFS and OS. Conclusion: These results highlight the unmet need for therapies that improve outcomes for patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer including increasing rates of pCR among patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy.