Paolo Tarantino1, Sara Gandini2, Dario Trapani2, Carmen Criscitiello1, Giuseppe Curigliano3. 1. Division of New Drugs and Early Drug Development, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy; Departement of Hematology and Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. 2. Division of New Drugs and Early Drug Development, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy. 3. Division of New Drugs and Early Drug Development, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy; Departement of Hematology and Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: Giuseppe.curigliano@ieo.it.
Abstract
IMPORTANCE: Several randomized trials of neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy in early triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) have been recently reported, showing conflicting results. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase and key oncological meetings for trials of neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy in TNBC. The primary endpoint was pCR, with sub-analyses based on PD-L1 expression and risk of relapse. RESULTS: Five randomized trials enrolling 1496 TNBC patients were included. We observed a statistically significant association between PD1/PD-L1 blockade addition and pCR (SOR = 1.72, 95 %CI: 1.22-2.42). The benefit was significant in the PD-L1 positive subgroup (SOR = 1.65; 95 %CI: 1.06-2.57). pCR was also significantly increased in the high-risk subgroup (SOR = 2.39; 95 %CI: 1.09-5.22), when restricting to patients receiving an anthracycline-based NACT. We found no significant association between immunotherapy addition and toxicity, and no evidence of publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of PD1/PD-L1 blockade to NACT significantly improves pCR rates in TNBC patients, particularly in patients at high-risk of relapse.
IMPORTANCE: Several randomized trials of neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy in early triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) have been recently reported, showing conflicting results. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase and key oncological meetings for trials of neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy in TNBC. The primary endpoint was pCR, with sub-analyses based on PD-L1 expression and risk of relapse. RESULTS: Five randomized trials enrolling 1496 TNBC patients were included. We observed a statistically significant association between PD1/PD-L1 blockade addition and pCR (SOR = 1.72, 95 %CI: 1.22-2.42). The benefit was significant in the PD-L1 positive subgroup (SOR = 1.65; 95 %CI: 1.06-2.57). pCR was also significantly increased in the high-risk subgroup (SOR = 2.39; 95 %CI: 1.09-5.22), when restricting to patients receiving an anthracycline-based NACT. We found no significant association between immunotherapy addition and toxicity, and no evidence of publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of PD1/PD-L1 blockade to NACT significantly improves pCR rates in TNBC patients, particularly in patients at high-risk of relapse.
Authors: Paolo Tarantino; Chiara Corti; Peter Schmid; Javier Cortes; Elizabeth A Mittendorf; Hope Rugo; Sara M Tolaney; Giampaolo Bianchini; Fabrice Andrè; Giuseppe Curigliano Journal: NPJ Breast Cancer Date: 2022-02-18