A total of 195 cases of PABC were identified from our hospital’s database. Among these cases, 64 (32.8%) patients were identified as HER2-positive PABC and 64 HER2-positive non-PABC were matched for age at diagnosis, treatment, clinical stage, and pathological response to reach an overall study population of 128.
Clinical and Pathological Characteristics
The mean age across the total study population was 34 years with no difference between the groups. There was no difference in tumor size (T) (p = 0.9), lymph node involvement (N) (p = 0.23), distant metastasis (M) (p = 0.23), type of breast cancer (p = 0.1), and histopathological treatment response (p = 0.908) between the two groups.
Moreover, distribution of hormonal-receptor status (ER and PR) between both groups did not show statistical differences where the hormonal status in the HER2-positive PABC group revealed 81.25% positivity, and 76.56% in the non-pregnant group (p = 0.52). (Table 1)
Pain was reported by 21.88% of non-pregnant and 23.44% of pregnant cases. A mass as a symptom was prevalent, noted by 84.38% of non-pregnant and 87.5% of pregnant individuals. Axillary lymph nodes were reported by 15.63% of non-pregnant and 23.44% of pregnant cases. Nipple retraction was experienced by 15.63% of non-pregnant and 12.5% of pregnant cases. There was no significant difference in symptom prevalence between the two groups (p = 0.908). (Table 1)
First Treatment Type
Among non-pregnant HER2-positive patients, 26.56% received surgery as their initial treatment, while 68.75% underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A smaller proportion, 4.69%, received palliative chemotherapy. In comparison, among pregnant HER2-positive patients, 26.56% had surgery as the first treatment, 62.50% received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and a slightly larger percentage, 10.94%, received palliative chemotherapy. The p-value of 0.2 suggests no statistically significant difference in the choice of initial treatment between the non-pregnant and pregnant HER2-positive groups. (Table 1)
Anti-HER2 (Herceptin) Therapy
Concerning the duration of Herceptin therapy, a significant distinction is observed. Among non-pregnant patients, 71.88% completed the recommended 12-month Herceptin regimen, 9.38% received Herceptin for less than a year, and 18.75% did not undertake the therapy. In contrast, pregnant patients exhibited a different pattern, with 45.3% completing the full 12-month regimen, 18.8% receiving Herceptin for a shorter duration, and 35.9% not initiating Herceptin. This disparity is statistically significant, underscored by a p-value of 0.01, indicating the influence of pregnancy on the duration of Herceptin therapy.
Additionally, the data addressed the timing of Herceptin initiation from diagnosis, measured in weeks. The mean time to initiate Herceptin was 16.9 weeks for non-pregnant individuals and 23.8 weeks for pregnant patients. The median time to commence Herceptin varied considerably, ranging from 0.57 to 35.05 weeks for non-pregnant individuals and from 3.28 to 125.66 weeks for pregnant individuals. This difference in the timing of Herceptin initiation holds statistical significance, corroborated by a p-value of 0.02. (Table 1)
Table (1): Comparison of clinical characteristics, histological, immunohistochemical characteristics, and Treatments received in HER2-positive PABC and HER2 non-PABC groups.
Variable | Total | Non-Pregnant HER2 Positive | Pregnant HER2 Positive | p Value |
N (%) | 128 | 64(50%) | 64(50%) |
Age(years) | Mean (Std.) | 34.06 (4.190) | 34.19 (3.995) | 33.97 (4.398) | 0.72 |
Median (Min-Max) | 34 (25–25) | 34(25–45) | 33(26–45) |
Clinical T | T0/Tis | 7 | 5.47% | 3 | 4.69% | 4 | 6.25% | 0.9 |
T1 | 11 | 8.59% | 6 | 9.38% | 5 | 7.81% |
T2 | 49 | 38.28% | 24 | 37.50% | 25 | 39.06% |
T3 | 41 | 32.03% | 20 | 31.25% | 21 | 32.81% |
T4 | 20 | 15.63% | 11 | 17.19% | 9 | 14.06% |
Clinical N | N0 | 39 | 30.47% | 19 | 29.69% | 20 | 31.25% | 0.23 |
N1 | 58 | 45.31% | 30 | 46.88% | 28 | 43.75% |
N2 | 20 | 15.63% | 7 | 10.94% | 13 | 20.31% |
N3 | 11 | 8.59% | 8 | 12.50% | 3 | 4.69% |
Clinical M | M0 | 108 | 84.38% | 56 | 87.50% | 52 | 81.25% | 0.24 |
M1 | 20 | 15.63% | 8 | 12.50% | 12 | 18.75% |
Pathological Response | Complete | 26 | 20.31% | 17 | 26.56% | 9 | 14.06% | 0.31 |
Partial | 31 | 24.22% | 15 | 23.44% | 16 | 25.00% |
No Response | 49 | 38.28% | 21 | 32.81% | 28 | 43.75% |
Progression | 5 | 3.91% | 2 | 3.13% | 3 | 4.69% |
NA | 17 | 13.28% | 9 | 14.06% | 8 | 12.50% |
Histopathology | IDC | 121 | 94.53% | 58 | 90.63% | 63 | 98.44% | 0.1 |
ILC | 4 | 3.13% | 4 | 6.25% | 0 | 0.00% |
IMC | 3 | 2.34% | 2 | 3.13% | 1 | 1.56% |
Symptoms | Pain | 29 | 22.66% | 14 | 21.88% | 15 | 23.44% | 0.908 |
Mass | 110 | 85.94% | 54 | 84.38% | 56 | 87.50% |
Axillary LNs | 25 | 19.53% | 10 | 15.63% | 15 | 23.44% |
Nipple Retraction | 18 | 14.06% | 10 | 15.63% | 8 | 12.50% |
Other | 28 | 21.88% | 13 | 20.31% | 15 | 23.44% |
First Treatment Type | Surgery | 34 | 26.56% | 17 | 26.56% | 17 | 26.56% | 0.22 |
Neoadjuvant CTX | 84 | 65.63% | 44 | 68.75% | 40 | 62.50% |
Palliative CTX | 10 | 7.81% | 3 | 4.69% | 7 | 10.94% |
Hormonal Status | Positive | 101 | 78.91% | 49 | 76.56% | 52 | 81.25% | 0.52 |
Negative | 27 | 21.09% | 15 | 23.44% | 12 | 18.75% |
Anti-HER 2 (Herceptin) | Completed planned therapy duration | 75 | 58.59% | 46 | 71.88% | 29 | 45.31% | 0.007 |
Did not complete planned therapy duration | 18 | 14.06% | 6 | 9.38% | 12 | 18.75% |
Didn’t take | 35 | 27.34% | 12 | 18.75% | 23 | 35.94% |
Time to initiate Herceptin (week) | Mean(± Std.) | 20 (± 14.1) | 16.9 (± 6.5) | 23.8 (± 19.3) | 0.02 |
Median(Min-Max) | 18.2 (0.57-125.66) | 16.81 (0.57–35.05) | 19.52 (3.28-125.66) |
Survival analysis:
The median follow-up duration for the study was 38.84 months (0.95 to 183.3 months). Among the 128 individuals, 32 events were recorded. The median survival was estimated at 122 months. The 10-year survival rate was 54% (95% CI 41% -72%) whereas for the 5-year survival, the rate was 76% (95% CI 67% − 85%).
Overall survival
There was no statistically significant difference in overall survival between non-pregnant and pregnant individuals. (Fig. 1a).
The 5-year survival rate for HER2-positive non-PABC was 83% (95% CI: 72–95%), indicating a favorable survival outcome during this period. In contrast, the 5-year survival rate for HER2-positive PABC was slightly lower at 68% (95% CI: 55–83%), suggesting a comparatively lower survival rate for this group within the same period. (p = 0.051) (Table 2)
HER2-positive non-PABC showed a 10-year survival rate of 49% (95% CI: 25–97%), suggesting that nearly half of the patients survived up to that point. On the other hand, HER2-positive PABC demonstrated a slightly higher 10-year survival rate of 53% (95% CI: 39–72%), indicating a somewhat improved long-term survival compared to the 5-year mark. (p = 0.2) (Table 2).
Overall, while HER2-positive PABC initially showed a lower 5-year survival rate compared to HER2-positive non-PABC, the 10-year survival rates are relatively comparable, exhibit potential improvements in survival for HER2-positive PABC over a longer period.
Recurrence free survival
The Kaplan-meier RFS curve illustrated higher likelihood of recurrences in the HER2-positive PABC group (HR 1.93 (1.07–3.49) (p = 0.029)). (Fig. 1b).
At the 5-year mark, RFS rates were 69% (95% CI: 57–83%) for non-PABC patients and 52% (95% CI: 40–68%) for PABC patients (p = 0.03). This trend persisted at the 10-year mark, with RFS rates of 46% (95% CI: 20–100%) for non-PABC and 40% (95% CI: 25–64%) for PABC (p-value: 0.03). These findings underscore that, in terms of RFS rates, non-PABC patients exhibited a relatively better outcome than those with a history of pregnancy-associated diagnosis. (Table-2)
Event free survival
The same was also reflected in the EFS Kaplan-meier curve, where pregnant individuals showed a higher chance of events compared to non-pregnant participants (HR 2.00 (1.11–3.60) (p = 0.02). (Fig. 1c).
The event-free survival (EFS) rates at the 5-year mark revealed significant differences, with rates of 69% (95% CI: 57–83%) for non-PABC and 51% (95% CI: 39–67%) for PABC (p = 0.02). Similarly, at the 10-year mark, the differences persisted, displaying EFS rates of 46% (95% CI: 20–100%) for non-PABC and 39% (95% CI: 24–100%) for PABC (p-value: 0.018). These results emphasize that, in terms of event-free survival rates, non-PABC patients demonstrated a comparatively better outcome than those with a history of pregnancy-associated diagnosis. (Table-2).
Table (2): OS, RFS and DFS (5 and 10-year survival) rate in HER2-positive PABC and non-PABC
| HER2-positive non-PABC | HER2-positive PABC | P value |
OS | 5-year rate (95% CI) | 83% (72%, 95%) | 68% (55%, 83%) | 0.051 |
10-year rate (95% CI) | 49% (25%, 97%) | 53% (39%, 72%) | 0.2 |
RFS | 5-year rate (95% CI) | 69% (57–83%) | 52% (40–68%) | 0.03 |
10-year rate (95% CI) | 46% (20–100%) | 40% (25–64%) | 0.03 |
EFS | 5-year rate (95% CI) | 69% (57–83%) | 51% (39–67%) | 0.02 |
10-year rate (95% CI) | 46% (20–100%) | 39% (24–100%) | 0.018 |
Subgroup Survival analysis – completion of Anti-HER2 treatment
This sub-analysis focused on the completeness of the 12-month anti-HER2 (Herceptin) treatment. There was no significant difference between pregnant individuals who completed the 12-month anti-HER2 treatment and non-pregnant individuals who completed the 12-month anti-HER2 treatment, (HR = 1.89, 95%CI 0.57–6.28, p = 0.3).
However, pregnant individuals who did not complete the 12-month anti-HER2 treatment exhibited a worse prognosis compared to the non-pregnant group (HR = 4.94, 95% CI 1.41–17.3, p = 0.012). (Fig. 2a).
Furthermore, considering the entire cohort, a notable distinction in survival curves was observed. Completing the 12-month anti-HER2 treatment resulted in a superior survival curve compared to patient who did not complete the regimen ((HR 4.67 95% CI: 1.93 to 11.3 p = < 0.001). A similar trend was observed for patients who did not initiate any anti-HER2 treatment in terms of prognosis, although it did not reach a significant statistical level ((HR 2.00 (95% CI: 0.86 to 4.66 p = 0.11)) (Fig. 2b). These findings underscore the importance of completing the full 12-month anti-HER2 treatment regimen in improving outcomes for HER2-positive breast cancer patients in the studied cohort.
Subgroup Survival analysis – Pregnancy trimester
There was no difference in OS when analyzing across pregnancy trimesters (first, second and third) and time after pregnancy, 5-years survival rates were 100%, 50%, 73%, & 55%, respectively. (p = 0.05) (Fig. 3)
Multivariate Analysis
In the Cox regression model assessing the relationship between specific factors and overall survival, we incorporated significant factors identified in the univariate analysis, namely time to initiate anti-HER2 treatment, and completeness of anti-HER2 treatment. This multivariate analysis provided crucial insights into the role of these factors concerning survival outcomes. First, the timing of initiating anti-HER2 treatment, whether before or after 18 weeks from diagnosis (sample Median), did not exhibit a statistically significant impact on survival (HR = 1.15, 95% CI: [0.40, 3.32], p = 0.8). However, the completeness of anti-HER2 treatment emerged as a significant factor. Patients who partially completed anti-HER2 treatment showed worse outcomes (HR = 3.78, 95% CI: [1.48, 9.64], p = 0.005) compared to those who completed the treatment. These findings emphasize the importance of completing the anti-HER2 treatment for optimal outcomes irrespective of delay in initiating therapy for different patient groups within the HER2 positive cohort. (Table 3)
Table (3): Cox_regression model
Characteristic | HR1 | 95% CI1 | p-value |
Time of anti-HER2 initiation | | | |
Less than 18weeks | — | — | |
More than 18weeks | 1.15 | 0.40, 3.32 | 0.8 |
Completeness of Anti-HER2 | | | |
Completed anti-HER2 treatment | — | — | |
Partially completed anti-HER2 | 3.78 | 1.48, 9.64 | 0.005 |
HER2 positive groups | | | |
Non-pregnant | — | — | |
pregnant | 1.06 | 0.37, 3.00 | > 0.9 |
1 HR = Hazard Ratio, CI = Confidence Interval | |