Case Study: Enhancing treatments for triple negative breast cancer
Overview
Around 15% of breast cancer patients have tumour cells that lack receptors for oestrogen and progesterone hormones as well as the HER2 protein. This type of cancer is described as triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).
Unfortunately, this patient group faces limited treatment alternatives and poorer prognoses compared to receptor-positive breast cancer patients at comparable disease stages.
An Edinburgh Cancer Informatics study examined routinely collected data from patients with early triple negative breast cancer (eTNBC) to better understand factors that may improve survival outcomes. The researchers found that neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), which involves using chemotherapy to shrink a tumour prior to surgery, can result in increased pathological complete response (pCR) rates.
Achieving pCR is associated with improved survival outcomes for patients with eTNBC.
Who is involved?
This project is led by Edinburgh Cancer Informatics, in collaboration with DATA-CAN, the Edinburgh Cancer Centre, and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Data for the study was accessed through the DataLoch Safe Haven, and funding was provided by Roche Products Ltd. and DATA-CAN.
What data did they use?
Researchers analysed data from two UK cancer centres: the Edinburgh Cancer Centre (NHS Lothian) and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The joint Leeds-Edinburgh dataset included 228 women diagnosed with early triple negative breast cancer (eTNBC) between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2016 who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Patients were followed for a median period of 4.5 years.
Within the dataset, 74 patients (33%) achieved pathological complete response (pCR).
Because the dataset followed patients over time, researchers were able to examine longer-term outcomes. Five years after diagnosis, 96% of patients who achieved pCR were still alive, compared with 61% of patients who did not achieve pCR. Patients with pCR also showed a 29% lower likelihood of experiencing an event affecting event-free survival.
These findings demonstrate the value of routinely collected NHS data in understanding treatment outcomes and improving care pathways for patients with triple negative breast cancer.
Image credit: Breast cancer cells. Annie Cavanagh. Source: Wellcome Collection.