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01-02-2021 | Breast Cancer | Original Article

Dynamic changes of CTCs in patients with metastatic HR(+)/HER2(−) breast cancer receiving salvage treatment with everolimus/exemestane

Authors: Maria Spiliotaki, Galatea Kallergi, Christos Nikolaou, Nikolaos Xenidis, Eleni Politaki, Stella Apostolaki, Nefeli Georgoulia, Filippos Koinis, Nikolaos Tsoukalas, Dora Hatzidaki, Athanasios Kotsakis, Vassilis Georgoulias

Published in: Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology | Issue 2/2021

Abstract

Purpose

Detection of CTCs represents a poor prognostic factor in patients with early and metastatic breast cancer (mBC) and treatment with everolimus–exemestane (E/E) is an established effective treatment in hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative mBC patients. The effect of E/E on CTCs in mBC patients was prospectively investigated.

Methods

CTCs from 50 pre-treated patients with mBC receiving E/E were analyzed using the CellSearch (CS) platform and triple immunofluorescence (IF) staining for cytokeratin, M30 and Ki67 expression to assess their proliferative and apoptotic status.

Results

CTCs (by CS) were detected in 64% of patients before treatment and E/E administration resulted in their decreased prevalence [(n = 18; 36%, p = 0.004) and (n = 7; 19.4%, p = 0.019) post-1st and post-3rd treatment cycle, respectively] whereas it was significantly increased at disease progression (PD: 61%) compared to post-1st and post-3rd cycle (p = 0.049 and p = 0.021, respectively). Ki67-positive CTCs were detected in 60%, 60%, 17% and 50% of patients before treatment, post-1st, post-3rd cycle and at PD, respectively, while the opposite was observed for M30-positive CTCs (0% at baseline, 10% after the 1st cycle, 50% after the 3rd cycle and 0% at PD). The detection of even ≥ 1 CTC/5 ml after one cycle was associated with decreased PFS (3.3 vs 9.0 months, p = 0.025) whereas the detection of even ≥ 2 CTCs at PD was associated with decreased OS (32.4 vs 19.5 months; p = 0.009).

Conclusions

The combination of E/E resulted in early elimination of proliferating CTCs in mBC patients and this effect was associated with a favorable clinical outcome.

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Title: Dynamic changes of CTCs in patients with metastatic HR(+)/HER2(−) breast cancer receiving salvage treatment with everolimus/exemestane
Authors: Maria Spiliotaki
Galatea Kallergi
Christos Nikolaou
Nikolaos Xenidis
Eleni Politaki
Stella Apostolaki
Nefeli Georgoulia
Filippos Koinis
Nikolaos Tsoukalas
Dora Hatzidaki
Athanasios Kotsakis
Vassilis Georgoulias
Publication date: 01-02-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer
Exemestane
Everolimus
Published in: Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology / Issue 2/2021
Print ISSN: 0344-5704
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0843
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-020-04227-5

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