Optimal Choice as First-Line Therapy for Patients with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis

Abstract

To identify the advantageous therapy as the first-line treatment for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Randomized controlled trials were searched for on Medline, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the Cochrane Library between January 2001 and December 2021. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) and secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). A Bayesian framework was applied to facilitate indirect comparisons, of which the outcomes were presented using cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) values, synthesized hazard ratio, risk ratio, and 95% credible interval. A total of 3140 patients were identified. Pooled results of PFS revealed that chemotherapy plus AKT inhibitors (AKTi) was likely the most effective therapy among enrolled therapies (SUCRA = 91.6%), of which the result remained consistent in comparative analysis for OS. In addition, no significant difference was detected between PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies in patients, whereas the PD-1 inhibitors (PD-1i) regimen was advantageous over PD-L1 inhibitor (PD-L1i) therapy for PD-L1 positive TNBC. Concerning TRAEs, an apparent heterogeneity associated with safety profiles were denoted among enrolled agents. Chemotherapy plus AKTi was the most effective therapy with comparable safety profiles. Chemotherapy plus the anti-PD-1 regimen was advantageous over the combination therapy based on the PD-L1 blockade.