IMPAKT 2017

Dr Turner speaks with ecancer at IMPAKT 2017 about the clinical utility and resistance pathways associated with CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy. He highlights the significance of survival, response and tolerability among patients who respond to CDK 4/6 therapy, and outlines how further understanding of where and when these therapies fail can offer new treatment opportunities for patients.

Prof Loibl speaks with ecancer at IMPAKT 2017 about the differing genetic backgrounds and susceptibilities of breast cancer in patients who are pregnant. She describes results from next-generation sequencing of samples, compared to data in The Cancer Genome Atlas, noting that the samples assessed were taken from much younger women. Among the differences in gene expression, Prof Loibl highlights difference in PI3K and p53 mutation levels. Prof Loibl summarises treatment schedules for pregnant breast cancer patients, cautioning against under-treatment of aggressive tumours and over-treatment of HR2 patients.

Prof Veer speaks with ecancer at IMPAKT 2017 about breast cancer characteristics and treatment selection. She describes 'getting under the hood' of tumour gene expression, which led to the identification of 70 genes which can inform a patient's risk of cancer recurrence, and their suitability for further chemotherapy. Prof Veer places emphasis on collaboration and education amongst clinicians as a means to develop trial design and protocol, with the goal of bringing the benefits of targeted therapy to a wider patient base.

Dr Budczies speaks with ecancer at IMPAKT 2017 about immune surveillance and escape in breast cancer. He reports on bioinformatic interrogation of tumour data from The Cancer Genoma Atlas, identifying tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte activity and their role in 'hot' tumours. Dr Budczies looks towards further analysis and identification of biomarkers that may predict checkpoint therapy response.

Prof André speaks with ecancer at IMPAKT 2017 about establishing genomic triggers and drug targeting against metastatic breast cancer. He describes acquired and evolved genetic alterations as influences which can separate metastatic behaviour from primary tumours, and the high mutational load of ER metastatic as a possible target for immunotherapy. Prof André outlines his views on future research, with defining the genomic landscape of early and metastatic breast cancer, and the susceptibilities that follow, as priorities.

Dr Curigliano speaks with ecancer at IMPAKT 2017 about predicting patient response to checkpoint immunotherapy through genetic screening. He introduces a patient subpopulation with an overexpression of Immunologic Constant of Rejection (ICR) within HER2 /triple negative breast cancer who are most responsive to immunotherapy. Dr Curigliano highlights that these tumour subtypes are also most often associated with tumour infiltration by lymphocytes, and that this stratification of response could help in selecting treatments for patients.

Dr Cardoso speaks with ecancer at IMPAKT 2017, giving her highlights of the conference. She notes biomarkers of response and resistance as a key theme, and the utility of liquid biopsy to gather tumour data. In closing, Dr Cardoso notes the risk of financial toxicity, and encourages a personalised approach to treat the patient as an individual.

Prof Prat speaks with ecancer at IMPAKT 2017 about establishing biomarkers for breast cancer. He highlights differing breast cancer subtypes which have established sensitivities to endocrine or cell therapy, and looks beyond chemotherapy to combination and targeted therapies. Prof Prat compares translational successes with lung cancer as a guide for further trials of breast cancer treatments, and considers the importance of world-wide collaboration.

Dr Lindström speaks with ecancer at IMPAKT 2017 about STO-3, a historic trial of breast cancer patients treated with or without tamoxifen. She describes the survival impact of intra-tumour heterogeneity for oestrogen receptor (ER), especially among luminal A tumour subtypes. Dr Lindström outlines further long-term follow up studies in the STO-2 trial, and considers the clinical value of risk stratification.

Dr Sonnenblick speaks with ecancer at IMPAKT 2017 about the role of transcription factors in the JAK-STAT pathway, and the role of pSTAT-3 in breast cancer. He outlines the clinical background of STAT-3, with mixed reporting on tumour suppression and oncogenesis, and describes its validation with improved luminal breast cancer outcomes through pooled analysis and proteomic evaluation. Dr Sonnenblick sums up the role of pSTAT-3 as associated with an improved outcome, and urges consideration of this any further STAT inhibitory treatments.

Prof Overmoyer speaks with ecancer at IMPAKT 2017 about results from a phase II trial of GTX-024, or enobosarm, against androgen-receptor positive breast cancer. She describes how a new generation of androgens expand treatment options for breast cancer patients, and outlines the design and staging of trials with enobosarm.

Dr Asghar speaks with ecancer at IMPAKT 2017 about the use of CDK inhibitors against triple negative breast cancer. She highlights the luminal androgen receptor subtype as especially sensitive, in introduces upcoming trials of combined CDK/PI3K targeted therapies.