17P Prognostic and predictive non-invasive biomarkers in early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT)

TNBC is a heterogeneous and an aggressive disease difficult to treat due to the lack of targeted available therapies. Currently, the research of biomarkers is important to identify patients with worse response to NACT and lower disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). The predictive and prognostic influence of cytokines levels in early TNBC is still unclear. The aim of this study is to find non-invasive biomarkers in early TNBC. Prospective observational study was carried out in the University General Hospital of Valencia in 42 early TNBC patients treated with NACT. Blood samples were collected before NACT. 22 plasma cytokines levels were measured by multiplexed bead-based immunoassays (MILLIPLEX® HSTCMAG-28SK kit). R program was used for statistical analysis. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Mean age: 55 years (28-77). 52.4% stage I/II and 47.6% stage III. All NACT schemes included taxanes; carboplatin was added in 17 patients. A larger tumor size was associated with higher levels of sGal-3, sMIP-3α, sMIP-1α and sIL-8 but lower levels of sITAC. Furthermore, higher levels of sTNFα and sGAL3 were correlated with node involvement. Advanced clinical stage was associated with increased levels of sGal-3 and sIL-8 but lower levels of sITAC. Increased levels of sGM-CSF were predictive of a lower response to NACT. Moreover, high levels of sGal-3 and low levels of sITAC were predictive of lower lymph node response. Survival analysis showed that larger tumours, lymph node involvement, advanced clinical stage, poorly differentiated carcinomas and non-pathological complete response after NACT, were correlated with lower DFS and OS. Moreover, patients with lower levels of sGal-3 and sIL-10 were associated with better DFS and OS. Besides, patients with higher levels of sMIP-3α, sIL-13 and sIL-17 had a lower OS. Some non-invasive biomarkers could help us to identify patients with a worse prognosis in early TNBC. Plasma levels of sMIP-3α, sGal-3, sIL-10, sIL-13 and sIL-17, among others, were correlated with worse clinical outcomes. Furthermore, higher levels of sGM-CSF and sGal-3, and lower levels of sITAC, could predict a worse response to NACT.