Treatment satisfaction with subcutaneous immunoglobulin replacement therapy in patients with primary immunodeficiency: a pooled analysis of six Hizentra® studies

Purpose Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDDs) are a heterogenous group of disorders characterized by intrinsic impairment in the immune system. Most patients with PIDD require life-long immunoglobulin G replacement therapy, which has been shown to reduce the rate of infections and, related hospitalizations and reduce health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Here, treatment satisfaction and HRQOL in patients with PIDD was evaluated upon switching from intravenous (IVIG) or subcutaneous immunoglobulins (SCIGs) to 20% SCIG (Hizentra®), and during long-term steady-state Hizentra® treatment. Methods Analyses were based on two pivotal (switch) and four extension/follow-up (maintenance) Phase III studies of Hizentra® conducted in Europe (EU), Japan (JP), and the United States (US). Two validated questionnaires were used: Life Quality Index (LQI) for assessment of IgG-specific perceptions of HRQOL and Short Form 36 version 2 (SF-36v2). Results In the EU and JP switch studies, there was significant and meaningful improvement from Screening in LQI domain scores at all time points, largely driven by patients switching from IVIG to SCIG. In the EU switch study, there were also significant increases in mean SF-36v2 domain scores for Physical Function and General Health from Screening to Week 12. These improvements were observed also at Week 24. Overall, LQI and SF-36v2 domain scores were generally sustained in the maintenance studies. Conclusions These results showed that switching patients from IVIG to SCIG improves patient self-reported health status and IgG-specific HRQOL perception. The maintenance studies generally showed no deterioration of this improved health status over a long follow-up period

Reply to C. Fontanella et al

SCOPUS: le.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Effect of body mass index on response to neo-adjuvant therapy in HER2-positive breast cancer: an exploratory analysis of the NeoALTTO trial

Índex de massa corporal; Càncer de mama HER2-positiu; Tractament neoadjuvantÍndice de masa corporal; Cáncer de mama HER2 positivo; Tratamiento neoadyuvanteBody mass index; HER2-positive breast cancer; Neo-adjuvant treatmentBackground Obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer (BC) development, recurrence, and death. In view of this, we aimed to investigate the clinical value of obesity in BC patients treated with anti-HER2 therapies in the NeoALTTO trial, which randomized 455 patients to neo-adjuvant lapatinib, trastuzumab, or their combination plus paclitaxel. Methods Patients were classified according to their basal body mass index (BMI) into underweight (< 18.5 kg/m2), normal (≥ 18.5; < 25 kg/m2), overweight (≥ 25; < 30 kg/m2), and obese (≥ 30 kg/m2) WHO categories. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed using BMI as a categorical variable. Pathological complete response (pCR) and event-free survival (EFS) were the NeoALTTO primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. Results Among 454 patients analyzed, 14 (3%), 220 (48%), 137 (30%), and 83 (18%) were classified as underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese, respectively; 231 (51%) and 223 (49%) had hormone receptor (HR)-positive and HR-negative primary tumors; 160 (35%) achieved pCR. In the overall patient population, no association was found between BMI groups and pCR, as we reported pCR rates of 57.1%, 35%, 30.7%, and 39.8% in underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese cases, respectively. In contrast, in HR-positive tumors, overweight or obesity was generally associated with decreased likelihood of achieving a pCR independently of other clinical variables, including planned surgery, nodal status, and tumor size (odds ratio [OR] = 0.55, 95%CI 0.30–1.01, as compared to normal or underweight; p = 0.053); notably, no differential effect of BMI with respect to pCR was observed in HR-negative cases (odds ratio [OR] = 1.30, 95%CI 0.76–2.23, as compared to normal or underweight; p = 0.331), resulting in a statistically significant interaction between BMI and HR status (p = 0.036). There was no association between BMI and EFS neither in the overall nor in the HR-positive population, but this analysis was under-powered. Conclusions NeoALTTO patients overweight or obese at baseline and with HR-positive primary BC appeared less likely to achieve pCR after neo-adjuvant anti-HER2 therapies. This finding paves the way to future research in targeting the interplay between HER2/HR signaling and metabolism.The NeoALTTO study was sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline from its inception until November 30, 2015, and by Novartis since then. Lapatinib is an asset of Novartis AG as of March 2, 2015. Funding sources had no involvement in the study design, data collection, analysis and interpretation, writing of the report, and decision to submit the article for publication

Effect of body mass index on response to neo-adjuvant therapy in HER2-positive breast cancer: an exploratory analysis of the NeoALTTO trial

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer (BC) development, recurrence, and death. In view of this, we aimed to investigate the clinical value of obesity in BC patients treated with anti-HER2 therapies in the NeoALTTO trial, which randomized 455 patients to neo-adjuvant lapatinib, trastuzumab, or their combination plus paclitaxel. Methods: Patients were classified according to their basal body mass index (BMI) into underweight (< 18.5 kg/m2), normal (≥ 18.5; < 25 kg/m2), overweight (≥ 25; < 30 kg/m2), and obese (≥ 30 kg/m2) WHO categories. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed using BMI as a categorical variable. Pathological complete response (pCR) and event-free survival (EFS) were the NeoALTTO primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. Results: Among 454 patients analyzed, 14 (3%), 220 (48%), 137 (30%), and 83 (18%) were classified as underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese, respectively; 231 (51%) and 223 (49%) had hormone receptor (HR)-positive and HR-negative primary tumors; 160 (35%) achieved pCR. In the overall patient population, no association was found between BMI groups and pCR, as we reported pCR rates of 57.1%, 35%, 30.7%, and 39.8% in underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese cases, respectively. In contrast, in HR-positive tumors, overweight or obesity was generally associated with decreased likelihood of achieving a pCR independently of other clinical variables, including planned surgery, nodal status, and tumor size (odds ratio [OR] = 0.55, 95%CI 0.30–1.01, as compared to normal or underweight; p = 0.053); notably, no differential effect of BMI with respect to pCR was observed in HR-negative cases (odds ratio [OR] = 1.30, 95%CI 0.76–2.23, as compared to normal or underweight; p = 0.331), resulting in a statistically significant interaction between BMI and HR status (p = 0.036). There was no association between BMI and EFS neither in the overall nor in the HR-positive population, but this analysis was under-powered. Conclusions: NeoALTTO patients overweight or obese at baseline and with HR-positive primary BC appeared less likely to achieve pCR after neo-adjuvant anti-HER2 therapies. This finding paves the way to future research in targeting the interplay between HER2/HR signaling and metabolism.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

STAT3 activation in HER2-positive breast cancers: Analysis of data from a large prospective trial.

The JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway may be aberrantly activated and have various and conflicting roles in breast cancer. The current study explored prognostic implications of activated STAT3 in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive primary breast cancers in the context of a large prospective study (ALTTO). Activated STAT3 was determined by immunohistochemical analysis of STAT3 phosphorylation (Y705) performed on the primary tumors. This analysis evaluated whether patients with activated STAT3 had disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) different from patients without activated STAT3. A total of 5694 patients out of the 8381 patients enrolled in ALTTO were included in this analysis (67.9%), and 2634 of them (46%) had evidence of STAT3 activation (minimum tumor Allred score ≥2). The median follow-up was 6.93 years (6.85-6.97 years), at the end of which 1035 (18.18%) and 520 (9.13%) patients experienced DFS and OS events, respectively. Patients with STAT3 activation experienced improved DFS compared to those without it (multivariable hazard ratio [HR], 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74-0.95; P = .006). There were no group differences in OS (multivariable HR, 0.92; 95% CI 0.78-1.10; P = .37). This effect was limited to ER-positive tumors. In conclusion, these findings support the role of STAT3 activation as a marker of favorable outcome in ER-positive/HER2-positive breast cancer patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Tolerability and toxicity of trastuzumab or trastuzumab + lapatinib in older patients: a sub-analysis of the ALTTO trial (BIG 2-06; NCCTG (Alliance) N063D)

Purpose: Little is known about the use of trastuzumab or trastuzumab + lapatinib in older patients. We have performed a sub-analysis of the Adjuvant Lapatinib And/Or Trastuzumab Treatment Optimisation (ALTTO) trial focused on toxicity and treatment completion of both regimens in older patients (≥ 65 years old) Methods: The ALTTO trial randomised 8381 patients with early HER2-positive BC in 4 arms. Eligible patients for this study were those having received at least one dose of assigned treatment in either the trastuzumab or trastuzumab + lapatinib arms. Treatment completion was evaluated through the rate of temporary treatment interruptions, permanent treatment discontinuations and lapatinib dose reductions. Toxicity was evaluated via a selected subset of adverse events of interest (AEI). Risk factors for both treatment completion outcomes and toxicity were investigated, including comorbidities and use of 5 or more co-medications at randomization. Results: A total of 430 patients ≥ 65 year were eligible. Median age was 68 (range 65–80). In comparison with the younger cohort, older patients had a significantly higher number of comorbidities at randomization (p < 0.001). Treatment completion outcomes were worse, particularly in the trastuzumab + lapatinib arm. Adverse events of interest were likewise more common in the trastuzumab + lapatinib arm with higher AEI rates (63.4% in younger vs 78.0% in older, p < 0.001). Concomitant chemotherapy was associated with worse treatment completion outcomes among older patients. Conclusion: Trastuzumab plus lapatinib was significantly more toxic among older patients and had worse treatment completion. Trastuzumab was generally well tolerated.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Body Mass Index and Weight Change in Patients With HER2-Positive Early Breast Cancer: Exploratory Analysis of the ALTTO BIG 2-06 Trial

Background: The association between obesity and prognosis in HER2-positive early breast cancer remains unclear, with limited data available. This study aimed to determine the impact of body mass index (BMI) at baseline and weight change after 2 years on outcomes of patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer. Methods: ALTTO was a randomized phase III trial in patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer. BMI was collected at randomization and 2 years after. WHO BMI categories were used: underweight, = 25 to = 30 kg/m(2). A weight change from baseline of >= 5.0% and = 5.0% at 2 years after randomization was associated with significantly poorer DFS (aHR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.05-1.71), DDFS (aHR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.07-1.98), and OS (aHR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.18-2.84). Hormone receptor and menopausal status but not anti-HER2 treatment type influenced outcomes. Toxicities were more frequent in obese patients. Conclusions: In patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer, obesity at baseline is a poor prognostic factor. Weight loss during treatment and follow-up negatively impacts clinical outcomes. Dietary counseling should be part of survivorship care programs

Prognostic role of distant disease-free interval from completion of adjuvant trastuzumab in HER2-positive early breast cancer: Analysis from the ALTTO (BIG 2-06) trial

Background In HER2-positive breast cancer, time elapsed between completion of (neo)adjuvant trastuzumab and diagnosis of metastatic disease (a € trastuzumab-free interval', TFI) is crucial to choose the optimal first-line treatment. Nevertheless, there is no clear evidence to support its possible prognostic role. Methods In the Adjuvant Lapatinib and/or Trastuzumab Treatment Optimisation (ALTTO) trial, patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer were randomised to 1 year of either trastuzumab alone, lapatinib alone, their sequence or their combination. This exploratory analysis included only patients in the trastuzumab alone or trastuzumab plus lapatinib arms who developed a distant disease-free survival (DDFS) event. Overall survival (OS) was defined as time between date of DDFS event and death; age at diagnosis, tumour size and hormone receptor status were the variables included in the multivariate models. Results Out of 8381 patients included in ALTTO, 404 patients in the trastuzumab alone and trastuzumab plus lapatinib arms developed a DDFS event, of which 201 occurred 12 months (group B) after completion of adjuvant trastuzumab. No significant difference in location of first DDFS event was observed (p=0.073); a numerically higher number of patients in group A than in group B developed brain metastasis (26% vs 15%). Choice of first-line therapy differed between the two groups (p=0.022): in group A, more patients received lapatinib (25% vs 11%) and less pertuzumab (8% vs 17%). Median OS was 29.3 and 18.4 months in groups B and A, respectively (adjusted HR 0.69; 95% CI 0.54-0.89; p=0.004). The longer OS for patients in group B was observed across the analysed subgroups without interaction according to hormone receptor status (p=0.814) nor type of administered adjuvant anti-HER2 treatment (p=0.233). Conclusions TFI has prognostic value in patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer treated with adjuvant trastuzumab-based therapy. TFI is a valid tool to better individualise clinical recommendations and to design future first-line treatment trials for metastatic patients.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe