Efficacy outcomes of CDK4/6 inhibitors in combination with endocrine therapy treatment in hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative advanced breast cancer according to PAM50 intrinsic subtype: Primary results of SOLTI-1801 CDK-PREDICT study

Eur J Cancer. 2025 Feb 25:217:115219. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2024.115219. Epub 2025 Jan 3.

Abstract

Introduction: The prognostic value of PAM50 intrinsic subtypes (IS), cell cycle, and immune-related gene expression in HR+ /HER2- advanced breast cancer (BC) treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) and endocrine therapy (ET) in a first-line metastatic setting is unclear. This study evaluates these biomarkers in metastatic biopsies from patients diagnosed with HR+ /HER2- advanced BC.

Methods: CDK-PREDICT study is a multicentric, ambispective observational cohort study conducted in six Spanish hospitals. It included patients diagnosed with HR+ /HER2- advanced BC treated in the first-line setting with CDK4/6i and ET. Baseline biopsies were obtained prior to treatment to determine research-based PAM50 IS, cell cycle and immune-related gene expression. The primary objective was to evaluate progression-free survival (PFS) differences among PAM50 IS using uni- and multivariable Cox regression models. Secondary objectives included overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), and correlating cell cycle and immune response gene expression with PFS.

Results: A total of 185 patients were included, with a median follow-up of 38.5 months. PAM50 luminal subtypes were predominant (82.7 %). Non-luminal subtypes showed significantly shorter median PFS (10.2 vs. 25.7 months; HR, 2.50; p < 0.001) and OS (32.3 vs. 58.1 months; HR, 2.54; p < 0.001) than luminal subtypes. Higher cell cycle and immune-related genes expression, such as CCNE1 and PDCD1, as well as tumor infiltrating lymphocytes were associated with poorer outcomes.

Conclusions: This study confirms the independent prognostic value of PAM50 IS in HR+ /HER2- advanced BC treated with CDK4/6i and ET. Non-luminal subtypes exhibited the worst prognosis, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic strategies in this population.

Keywords: Biomarkers; CDK 4/6 inhibitors; Gene expression; Hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative advanced breast cancer; Intrinsic subtypes; PAM50.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal* / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols* / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms* / mortality
  • Breast Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism
  • Receptors, Progesterone / metabolism
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • CDK4 protein, human
  • CDK6 protein, human
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal