Platinum-based chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Experimental data suggest that triple-negative (TN) breast cancer may have increased sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy but clinical data are limited. We present our long-term results with platinum-based chemotherapy for TN breast cancer.


METHODS
In all, 94 (17 TN), 79 (11 TN) and 155 (34 TN) patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy in neo-adjuvant/adjuvant and advanced setting were included. Response rates and outcome were compared for TN tumours versus others.


RESULTS
Neo-adjuvant complete response rates were significantly higher for TN tumours (88%) than others (51%; P = 0.005). The 5-year overall survival (OS) for TN tumours following adjuvant/neo-adjuvant chemotherapy was 64% [95% confidence interval (CI) 44% to 79%] compared with 85% (95% CI 79% to 90%) for others. Five-year disease-free survival for TN tumours was 57% (95% CI 37% to 73%) compared with 72% (95% CI 64% to 78%) for others. For patients with advanced breast cancer, overall response rates were 41% for TN tumours and 31% for others (P = 0.3). Patients with TN tumours had a significantly prolonged progression-free survival of 6 months compared with 4 months for others (P = 0.05), though the OS was not significantly different between the two groups (11 versus 7 months).


CONCLUSIONS
Platinum-based chemotherapy achieves increased response rates for TN tumours, with a trend towards worse survival in early breast cancer through an improved survival in advanced disease. Prospective randomised trials are warranted.
Breast Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
B
B
Sirohi
M
M
Arnedos
S
S
Popat
S
S
Ashley
A
A
Nerurkar
G
G
Walsh
S
S
Johnston
I E
IE
Smith
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D015251:Epirubicin; D016685:Mitomycin; D014747:Vinblastine; D016190:Carboplatin; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil