Updated Bayesian Network MetaAnalysis of Adjuvant Targeted Treatment Regimens for Early Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2 Positive Breast Cancer
- Author:
Xinyan LI
1
;
Litong YAO
;
Mozhi WANG
;
Mengshen WANG
;
Xiang LI
;
Xueting YU
;
Jingyi GUO
;
Haoran DONG
;
Xiangyu SUN
;
Yingying XU
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Journal of Breast Cancer 2020;23(4):410-429
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Purpose:Combining targeted agents with adjuvant chemotherapy prolongs survival in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer patients, but also increases the risk of adverse effects. The updated results of 3 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were reported in 2019. Given the lack of adequate head-to-head pairwise assessment for anti-HER2 agents, network meta-analysis facilitates obtaining more precise inference for evidence-based therapy.
Methods:RCTs comparing at least 2 anti-HER2 regimens in an adjuvant setting for HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer (EBC) were included. Hazard ratios for overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS), with respective 95% confidence intervals were pooled for assessment of efficacy. A Bayesian statistical model was used, and odds ratios (ORs) for adverse events (AEs) were used to pool effect sizes.
Results:We demonstrated that 1-year trastuzumab plus chemotherapy had increased efficacy compared to shorter or longer treatment duration. The OR of cardiac events gradually increased from 6 months to 1 and 2-year trastuzumab arms, relative to chemotherapy only.Compared to trastuzumab plus chemotherapy, dual HER2-targeting therapies increased DFS, especially for hormone receptor negative patients. Dual anti-HER2 blockade regimens revealed an increased probability of gastrointestinal reactions. As a second agent, pertuzumab showed significantly higher DFS and OS.
Conclusion:We conclude that 1-year adjuvant trastuzumab should remain as the standard treatment for HER2-positive EBC patients, as it has greater efficacy and a manageable proportion of AEs. Clinical efficacy can be increased for hormone receptor-negative tumors by including a second HER2-targeted agent to the treatment regimen. For hormone receptorpositive cases with basal disease, it is acceptable to reduce the risk of cardiotoxicity by shortening the duration of trastuzumab.