Predictors of Complete Pathological Response with Chemoimmunotherapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Background: Multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have investigated the impact of adding checkpoint inhibitors to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. However, there is a lack of biomarkers that can help identify patients who would benefit from combinati...

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Main Authors: Arya Mariam Roy, Supritha Chintamaneni, Sabah Alaklabi, Hassan Awada, Kristopher Attwood, Shipra Gandhi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-12-01
Series:Onco
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7523/4/1/1
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author Arya Mariam Roy
Supritha Chintamaneni
Sabah Alaklabi
Hassan Awada
Kristopher Attwood
Shipra Gandhi
author_facet Arya Mariam Roy
Supritha Chintamaneni
Sabah Alaklabi
Hassan Awada
Kristopher Attwood
Shipra Gandhi
author_sort Arya Mariam Roy
collection DOAJ
description Background: Multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have investigated the impact of adding checkpoint inhibitors to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. However, there is a lack of biomarkers that can help identify patients who would benefit from combination therapy. Our research identifies response predictors and assesses the effectiveness of adding immunotherapy to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for TNBC patients. Methods: We identified eligible RCTs by searching PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, and oncological meetings. For this meta-analysis, we obtained odds ratios using the standard random effects model. To assess the heterogeneity of the study outcomes, the I2 statistic was obtained. Potential bias was assessed using a funnel plot and the corresponding Egger’s test. Results: In total, 1637 patients with TNBC were included from five RCTs. Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy significantly improved pCR when compared to neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone. In the subgroup analysis, neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy showed higher pCR rates in both Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive and PD-L1-negative TNBC patients. An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score (PS) of 0 correlated with increased pCRs (OR = 1.9, <i>p</i> < 0.001) in neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy vs. neoadjuvant chemotherapy, but no benefit was observed for patients with ECOG PS 1. Nodal positivity was significantly associated with pCR (OR = 2.52, <i>p</i> < 0.001), while neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy did not benefit patients with negative lymph nodes. Conclusions: Checkpoint inhibition and neoadjuvant chemotherapy significantly increased pCRs in TNBC patients, regardless of their PDL-1 status. Additional checkpoint inhibitors improved pCR rates, mainly for patients with ECOG PS 0 and lymph node-positive disease.
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spelling doaj.art-17dd182b34984260a3ce10fa4995246d2024-03-27T13:58:30ZengMDPI AGOnco2673-75232023-12-014111410.3390/onco4010001Predictors of Complete Pathological Response with Chemoimmunotherapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Meta-AnalysisArya Mariam Roy0Supritha Chintamaneni1Sabah Alaklabi2Hassan Awada3Kristopher Attwood4Shipra Gandhi5Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14203, USADepartment of General Medicine, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Medical College, Mysore 570015, IndiaDivision of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center of Excellence, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11211, Saudi ArabiaDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14203, USADepartment of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14203, USADivision of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14203, USABackground: Multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have investigated the impact of adding checkpoint inhibitors to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. However, there is a lack of biomarkers that can help identify patients who would benefit from combination therapy. Our research identifies response predictors and assesses the effectiveness of adding immunotherapy to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for TNBC patients. Methods: We identified eligible RCTs by searching PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, and oncological meetings. For this meta-analysis, we obtained odds ratios using the standard random effects model. To assess the heterogeneity of the study outcomes, the I2 statistic was obtained. Potential bias was assessed using a funnel plot and the corresponding Egger’s test. Results: In total, 1637 patients with TNBC were included from five RCTs. Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy significantly improved pCR when compared to neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone. In the subgroup analysis, neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy showed higher pCR rates in both Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive and PD-L1-negative TNBC patients. An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score (PS) of 0 correlated with increased pCRs (OR = 1.9, <i>p</i> < 0.001) in neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy vs. neoadjuvant chemotherapy, but no benefit was observed for patients with ECOG PS 1. Nodal positivity was significantly associated with pCR (OR = 2.52, <i>p</i> < 0.001), while neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy did not benefit patients with negative lymph nodes. Conclusions: Checkpoint inhibition and neoadjuvant chemotherapy significantly increased pCRs in TNBC patients, regardless of their PDL-1 status. Additional checkpoint inhibitors improved pCR rates, mainly for patients with ECOG PS 0 and lymph node-positive disease.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7523/4/1/1breast cancerneoadjuvant chemotherapyimmunotherapytriple-negative breast cancercheckpoint inhibitors
spellingShingle Arya Mariam Roy
Supritha Chintamaneni
Sabah Alaklabi
Hassan Awada
Kristopher Attwood
Shipra Gandhi
Predictors of Complete Pathological Response with Chemoimmunotherapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis
Onco
breast cancer
neoadjuvant chemotherapy
immunotherapy
triple-negative breast cancer
checkpoint inhibitors
title Predictors of Complete Pathological Response with Chemoimmunotherapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis
title_full Predictors of Complete Pathological Response with Chemoimmunotherapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis
title_fullStr Predictors of Complete Pathological Response with Chemoimmunotherapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Predictors of Complete Pathological Response with Chemoimmunotherapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis
title_short Predictors of Complete Pathological Response with Chemoimmunotherapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis
title_sort predictors of complete pathological response with chemoimmunotherapy in triple negative breast cancer a meta analysis
topic breast cancer
neoadjuvant chemotherapy
immunotherapy
triple-negative breast cancer
checkpoint inhibitors
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7523/4/1/1
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