Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes and HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Higher stromal TIL values are associated with improved overall survival.

Prior findings suggest that high levels of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) may confer improved prognosis and predict response to therapy in patients with breast cancer. To evaluate the anti-tumor effects of TILs in patients with HER2-positive, metastatic disease, investigators have now conducted an industry-funded, retrospective analysis of the CLEOPATRA study (N Engl J Med 2015 Feb 19; 372:724), which demonstrated a survival benefit of adding pertuzumab to trastuzumab and docetaxel in 808 women with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

Fresh tumor and archival samples were available from 678 patients to assess the association of stromal TILs with progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and clinicopathologic factors;…

Reviewing Author

William J. Gradishar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardLilly; AstraZeneca; Gilead

Grant/Research SupportBreast Cancer Research Foundation

Editorial BoardsClinical Breast Cancer; Oncology; Annals of Surgery; Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNational Comprehensive Cancer Network (Chair, Breast Cancer Panel); American Board of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology Board)