Recent developments in the palliative treatment of breast cancer: ASCO 2013

Highly selected abstracts from the ASCO meeting are reported. Abstract #1040: Subgroup analysis of TURANDOT (first-line paclitaxel and bevacizumab (T + BEV) versus capecitabine and BEV) was presented; 130 patients had triple-negative disease. One-year overall survival of T + BEV-treated patients with triple-negative disease was 78 %. Thus, T + BEV may represent a preferred regimen. Abstract #514: Evidence for drug penetration of capecitabine and lapatinib was demonstrated in resected brain metastases from breast cancer. Patients scheduled for brain surgery received pre-operative therapy. Drug concentrations were detected in all lesions. Thus, capecitabine and lapatinib may penetrate the blood-brain barrier. Abstract #505: In BOLERO-3, everolimus (EVE) or placebo plus trastuzumab/vinorelbine were administered to trastuzumab-resistant, HER2-positive breast cancer after previous taxanes. In the EVE versus placebo group, median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7.0 versus 5.7 months, respectively. Thus, a positive effect of EVE was found. Abstract #555: Prognostic factors in HER2-negative breast cancer patients receiving first-line bevacizumab (BEV) plus non-anthracycline therapy were investigated. Negative factors were disease-free interval £ 24 months, liver metastases or ³ 2 involved organs, triple-negativity and adjuvant taxanes/anthracyclines, respectively. Thus, established prognostic factors were also confirmed in BEV-treated patients. Abstract #1049: Subgroup analyses of the phase-III trial of eribulin versus capecitabine in metastatic breast cancer pre-treated with anthracyclines/taxanes was carried out. Overall survival was predicted by non-visceral disease, > 2 organs involved, and PFS of < 6 months after last chemotherapy. Eribulin was superior in patients with > 2 metastatic sites, HER2-negative, ER-negative, and triple-negative disease, respectively. The latter patients may preferentially benefit from eribulin therapy.