Is the 21-Gene Recurrence Score on Core Needle Biopsy Equivalent to Surgical Specimen in Early-Stage Breast Cancer? A Comparison of Gene Expression Between Paired Core Needle Biopsy and Surgical Specimens.

Publication Title

Annals of surgical oncology : the official journal of the Society of Surgical Oncology

Authors

Javier I J Orozco, Saint John's Cancer Institute, Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USAFollow
Shu-Ching Chang, Center for Cardiovascular Analytics, Research and Data Science (CARDS), Providence Saint Joseph Health, Portland, OR, USAFollow
Chikako Matsuba, Saint John's Cancer Institute, Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USAFollow
Miquel Ensenyat-Mendez
Gary L Grunkemeier, Center for Cardiovascular Analytics, Research and Data Science (CARDS), Providence Saint Joseph Health, Portland, OR, USAFollow
Diego M Marzese
Janie G Grumley, Saint John's Cancer Institute, Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USAFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-9-2021

Keywords

california; santa monica; jwci; sjci; psjhc; oregon; portland

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Molecular testing on surgical specimens predicts disease recurrence and benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) early-stage breast cancer (EBC). Testing on core biopsies has become common practice despite limited evidence of concordance between core/surgical samples. In this study, we compared the gene expression of the 21 genes and the recurrence score (RS) between paired core/surgical specimens.

METHODS: Eighty patients with HR+/HER2- EBC were evaluated from two publicly available gene expression datasets (GSE73235, GSE76728) with paired core/surgical specimens without neoadjuvant systemic therapy. The expression of the 21 genes was compared in paired samples. A microarray-based RS was calculated and a value ≥ 26 was defined as high-RS. The concordance rate and kappa statistic were used to evaluate the agreement between the RS of paired samples.

RESULTS: Overall, there was no significant difference and a high correlation in the gene expression levels of the 21 genes between paired samples. However, CD68 and RPLP0 in GSE73235, AURKA, BAG1, and TFRC in GSE76728, and MYLBL2 and ACTB in both datasets exhibited weak to moderate correlation (r < 0.5). There was a high correlation of the microarray-based RS between paired samples in GSE76728 (r = 0.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.81-0.96) and GSE73235 (r = 0.82, 95% CI 0.71-0.89). There were no changes in RS category in GSE76728, whereas 82% of patients remained in the same RS category in GSE73235 (κ = 0.64).

CONCLUSIONS: Gene expression levels of the 21-gene RS showed a high correlation between paired specimens. Potential sampling and biological variability on a set of genes need to be considered to better estimate the RS from core needle biopsy.

Area of Special Interest

Cancer

Area of Special Interest

Women & Children

Specialty/Research Institute

Diagnostic Imaging

Specialty/Research Institute

Oncology