Cancer Core Europe (CCE) Lecture - Insights into the heterogeneity of ER-positive breast cancer – late risk of metastatic recurrence & endocrine treatment benefit

Insights into the heterogeneity of ER-positive breast cancer – late risk of metastatic recurrence & endocrine treatment benefit

Join Zoom Meeting: ki-se.zoom.us/j/66629524056

Meeting ID: 666 2952 4056

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease with the main fundamental difference being whether the tumour is hormone-sensitive or not, i.e. oestrogen receptor-positive (ER+) or negative (ER-). A unique feature of ER+ BC is the long-term risk of metastatic recurrence decades after initial diagnosis, and half or more of all BC metastases in this patient group will be diagnosed LATE i.e. beyond 5 - 10 years after diagnosis as shown by us and others [Johansson & Lindström et al, JCO 2022; Richman & Dowsett, Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2019; Yu & Lindström et al, JAMA Oncology 2019; Pan et al, NEJM 2017].

The factors underlying late risk of metastatic recurrence remain poorly understood. Current research is mainly focused on early risk, partly due to the lack of tumour samples from patients with complete longterm follow-up. Late risk is clinically important in particular for younger premenopausal patients with a long post cancer life expectancy, but also decades of fear about disease recurrence. Young premenopausal women with BC have a worse prognosis as compared to postmenopausal women, and menopausal status itself has been suggested to be an independent risk factor related to the hormonal milieu. My research focus is on longterm risk of metastatic disease, and how risk and endocrine treatment benefit is influenced by menopausal status and tumour biology including standard tumour markers, intra-tumour heterogeneity, and tumour microenvironment using unique clinical trials with complete longterm follow-up.

What is Cancer Core Europe (CCE)?

Cancer Core Europe is a consortium of seven leading cancer centres (www.cancercoreeurope.eu). CCEs members are driven by a strong will to reshape the cancer research model to ultimately increase the European Union’s competitiveness as a place to conduct cutting-edge research that’s translated to the clinic to deliver more personalized medicine.

What is the content and aim of the CCE Lecture?

The CCE Lecture serie is a CCE-internal event, which educates and informs about state of the art research within the seven centers and is aimed to increase awareness among partners about each other’s activities and potential for collaboration.