HLA Antigen as Predictive Index for the Outcome of Breast Cancer Patients with Adjuvant Immunochemotherapy with PSK

Authors: T Yokoe, Y Iino, H Takei, J Horiguchi, Y Koibuchi, M Maemura, S Ohwada, Y Morishita

Journal: Anticancer Research

Study Design: Retrospective study

Participants: 134 patients with operable breast cancer

Trial Length: The study period was not explicitly mentioned, but it involved a retrospective analysis of patient data.

Intervention:

• NA group (no adjuvant therapy): Patients without vascular invasion
• FEMP group: Patients with vascular invasion received chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide, mitomycin C, and prednisolone)
• FEMP + PSK group: Patients with vascular invasion received chemotherapy (FEMP) plus PSK (a protein-bound polysaccharide)

Primary Outcomes: 5- and 10-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates

Summary: The study investigated the potential of HLA typing as a predictive marker for the effectiveness of adjuvant immunochemotherapy with PSK in breast cancer patients. The presence of HLA B40 was associated with better DFS rates, particularly in the FEMP + PSK group. The 5- and 10-year DFS rates were 100% for patients with B40(+) in the FEMP + PSK group, significantly better than those with B40(-). The findings suggest that HLA typing, specifically the presence of HLA B40, could help identify patients who might benefit most from adjuvant immunochemotherapy with PSK.