Biomarkers for Adjuvant Radiation Therapy in Early Breast Cancer

Radiation therapy was associated with longer overall survival in patients with circulating tumor cells.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been studied as a prognostic biomarker for disease recurrence in patients with early-stage breast cancer as well as evidence of early progression in those with advanced disease.

To determine whether CTC status might also predict local recurrence or survival benefit of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) in patients with early stage breast cancer, investigators used datasets from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) and a German phase III clinical trial comparing two different chemotherapy regimens in early-stage breast cancer (SUCCESS; J Natl Cancer Inst 2014; 106:dju066). CTCs were identified in 23.5% of 1697 patients from the NCDB and in 19.4% of the 1516 patients from SUCCESS.

Results were as follows:

In the N…

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)