Impact of androgen receptor on chemotherapy efficacy in patients with metastatic triple negative breast cancer

Abstract

The objective: was to determine the impact of androgen receptor (AR) expression on the effectiveness of the first and second line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic triple negative breast cancer (mTNBC). Materials and methods. The impact of AR expression on treatment results was evaluated in patients with mTNBC received the first (n=122) and second (n=87) line chemotherapy in open randomized studies. The status of AR was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, AR positive patients were defined as having AR more than 10%. Results. From 116 patients with mTBNC 44 (38%) were AR positive, 72 (62%) – AR negative. Median progression free survival in patients received the first line chemotherapy was 8 months in AR positive and 6 months in AR negative, p=0.27. The incidence of objective tumor response in mTNBC patients received the second line chemotherapy was 71.1% in AR negative and 76.92% in AR positive, p=0.48. Median progression free survival in patients received the second line chemotherapy was 6 months in AR positive and 4 months in AR negative, p=0.0045. Median overall survival in AR positive patients was statistically significantly higher (12 months versus 9 months, р=0.04). Conclusions. Impact of AR expression on progression free and overall survival was proved for mTNBC patients received the second line chemotherapy. Keywords: metastatic triple negative breast cancer, androgen receptor, chemotherapy, progression free survival, overall survival.