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William J. Gradishar, MD, FACP, FASCO
William J. Gradishar, MD, FACP, FASCO
Posted: Tuesday, July 16, 2024
In Ah Kim, MD, PhD, of Seoul University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea, and colleagues aimed to improve precision treatments of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer by identifying subtypes with correlations to certain prognostic trends. The investigators, who reported their findings in JCO Precision Oncology, determined that B-cell immune activity has a strong impact on prognosis, particularly in ER-positive breast cancer.
“Although previous studies have mainly focused on the role of T cells in antitumor immunity, there is growing evidence that tumor-infiltrating B cells have indispensable and synergistic roles in tumor control,” stated the investigators. “Considering comprehensive molecular classifications can greatly aid precision treatments, we aimed to identify a subset of patients with high-risk ER-positive breast cancer who exhibit favorable treatment responses and prognosis.”
The researchers analyzed RNA-sequencing data from patients with breast cancer and classified them by PAM50 subtypes. They then focused on 44 patients who presented with ER-positive breast cancer. Then they analyzed the survival data of each patient and evaluated the progression-free interval of each patient. The immune cell composition data of each patient were also analyzed.
The study highlighted that the B-cell signature seemed to strongly influence the tumor gene-expression profile and patient prognosis. Patients with ER-positive breast cancer who had a high 21-gene recurrence score and low B-cell immune activity were found to have the poorest prognosis of any subgroup. These data emphasize the importance of integrating B-cell immunity assessments for prognosis prediction and treatment decisions. Although future studies are needed, the researchers hope this information may inform clinical strategies and streamline treatment approaches in the future.
Disclosure: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit ascopubs.org.
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