ObjectiveTo compare the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of young early breast cancer patients with different human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression levels, and to analyze the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of young early breast cancer patients with low HER2 expression. MethodsA total of 1 723 breast cancer patients who were treated in the Department of Breast Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University between June 2016 and June 2018 were collected and divided into three groups: HER2-negative, low-expression, and high-expression. The clinicopathological characteristics of the three groups were compared, and the relationship between HER2 expression and patients’ prognosis was analyzed. ResultsThere were 512 HER2-negative patients, 748 HER2-low expression patients, and 463 HER2-high expression patients. The results of the clinical pathological characteristics analysis of the three groups of patients showed that there were no statistical differences in marital status, menopausal status, family history, single T stage (tumor size), single M stage (distant metastasis), affected side, vascular tumor thrombus, and radiotherapy in the three groups of breast cancer patients with different HER2 expression levels (P>0.05). However, there were statistical differences in age, Ki-67 expression level, N stage, TNM stage, surgical method, estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor status, histological type, histological grade, whether to receive neoadjuvant therapy and adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients with different HER2 expression levels (P<0.05). The results of survival analysis showed that the prognosis of early breast cancer patients may not be significantly correlated with the HER2 expression level, and the prognosis of young early breast cancer patients may also not be statistically correlated with the HER2 expression status. ConclusionsBreast cancer patients with different HER2 expression levels differ in multiple clinicopathological characteristics, but these differences do not significantly affect the prognosis of the patients. Especially for early-stage breast cancer, HER2 expression levels do not seem to have a significant impact on prognosis. This suggests that HER2 status may not be a decisive factor in treatment and prognosis assessment, and other pathological characteristics and treatment methods need to be considered comprehensively. The prognosis of young breast cancer patients in early stage may also not be statistically correlated with HER2 expression status.
Adjuvant therapy for hormone receptor (HR)-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative early breast cancer is shifting from experience-based practice to precision risk stratification. Multigene assays increasingly guide chemotherapy de-escalation, endocrine intensification and extension, and decisions on adjuvant radiotherapy. In high-risk populations, cyclin-dependent kinases 4/6 inhibitors (abemaciclib, ribociclib, dalpiciclib) have established an evidence base for adjuvant use. Key evidence from long-term ovarian function suppression follow-up in premenopausal women and extended therapy in postmenopausal women provides a crucial basis for tailored treatment duration. Neoadjuvant immunotherapy can improve the pathological complete response rate in a subset of biologically enriched HR-positive early breast cancer. The advancement of antibody-drug conjugates into earlier lines of therapy for the HER2-low expression population shows promising potential, possibly replacing some conventional chemotherapy.
The progress of new therapies for solid tumors usually gradually transitions from late stage to early stage. Early treatment of Luminal breast cancer has entered the era of “endocrine therapy +”, with the strengthening of treatment duration and intensity, combined with targeted therapy and multi-gene detection, which still coexist with clinical parameters. For HER2-positive early breast cancer, neoadjuvant therapy has changed the treatment process, requiring exploration of precise strengthening and de-escalation of neoadjuvant therapy. “Neoadjuvant therapy changes adjuvant therapy, and early treatment affects recurrence treatment”. Although the early treatment of triple-negative breast cancer once showed a complicated state of “a hundred schools of thought contend”, today’s treatment strategy is far from focusing on the simple respond of those three negative markers. The core lies in precise diagnosis and classification for treatment! This article summarizes the progress of early breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, in order to provide valuable reference for clinicians’ practical application.