Impact of the 21-Gene Recurrence Score Assay on the Treatment of Estrogen Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative, Breast Cancer Patients With 1-3 Positive Nodes: A Prospective Clinical Utility Study

This prospective study investigated the impact of the Recurrence Score (RS) result on adjuvant treatment decisions in 82 N1mi/N1 ER+ HER2-negative breast cancer patients. Treatment changes were reported in 52% of patients and were consistent with the RS (omitting chemotherapy in lower RS patients, adding chemotherapy in higher RS patients). The net change was a 45% reduction in chemotherapy use. Purpose: The use of the 21-gene Recurrence Score (RS) assay is emerging in node-positive estrogen receptor (ER)+ HER2-negative breast cancer (BC), particularly as initial data from the RxPONDER trial are now available. We investigated the impact of the RS result on adjuvant treatment decisions in such patients. Patients and Methods: This prospective, multi-center study enrolled patients with ER+, HER2-negative BC and 1 to 3 positive nodes (microscopic [N1mi] or macroscopic [N1]). Treating oncologists documented treatment recommendations/plan before and after knowing the RS result. Sample size was determined assuming an overall treatment change rate (from chemohormonal therapy [CHT] to hormone therapy [HT] and vice-versa) of >= 30%. Results: The study included 84 patients across 5 regional cancer centers, of whom 82 underwent 21-gene testing (77%, N1 disease; 63% grade 2 tumors). Of the RS-tested patients, 60%, 33%, and 7% had RS 0 to 17, 18 to 30, and 31 to 100, respectively. In 43 patients (52%), treatment changed post-RS: 40 patients (49%) from CHT to HT and 3 patients (4%) from HT to CHT. The net change was a 45% reduction in chemotherapy use. Treatment recommendation changes were consistent with the RS result. In RS 0 to 17 patients, the only documented change was from CHT to HT (27 patients). In RS 18-30 patients, change was noted in both directions (CHT-to-HT, 13 patients; HT-to-CHT, 3 patients). No treatment change was reported for the RS 31 to 100 patients, all of whom were recommended CHT pre-testing. Conclusion: Our results support the clinical utility of the RS assay in ER+ HER2-negative BC with 1 to 3 positive nodes. (C) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study shows that the 21-gene Recurrence Score test has a significant impact on adjuvant treatment decisions for breast cancer patients, with 52% of patients experiencing treatment changes and a 45% reduction in chemotherapy use.