Survival Analysis of the WSG TP-II Trial: Neoadjuvant Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab Plus Endocrine Therapy Versus Chemotherapy in Hormone Receptor–Positive/Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2–Positive Early Breast Cancer

O Oleg Gluz (Breast Center, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Bethesda Klinik, Moenchengladbach, Germany) U Ulrike A. Nitz (West German Study Group, Moenchengladbach, Germany) M Matthias Christgen (Pathology, MHH—Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany) S Sherko Kuemmel (Breast Unit, Kliniken Essen Mitte Evangelische Huyssens-Stiftung, Essen, Germany) J Johannes Holtschmidt (German Breast Group, Neu-Isenburg, Germany) J Johannes Schumacher P Philip Raeth (Palleos Healthcare GmbH, Wiesbaden, Germany) A Andreas D. Hartkopf K Kerstin Luedtke-Heckenkamp (Oncology Department, Franziskus-Hospital Harderberg—Niels-Stensen-Kliniken GmbH, Georgsmarienhuette, Germany) M Marianne Just (Oncology, Onkologische Schwerpunktpraxis, Bielefeld, Germany) R Raquel von Schumann (Breast Center Niederrhein, Johanniter Bethesda Moenchengladbach, Moenchengladbach, Germany) S Silke Polata (Evang. Waldkrankenhaus Spandau, Berlin) T Timo Schinkoethe (Breast Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University Hospital, Munich, Germany) M Monika K. Graeser (West German Study Group, Moenchengladbach, Germany) R Ronald Kates (West German Study Group, Moenchengladbach, Germany) R Rachel Wuerstlein (Breast Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University Hospital, Munich, Germany) N Nadia Harbeck (Breast Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich University Hospital, Munich, Germany)

Abstract

PURPOSE The WSG TP-II trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03272477 ) was designed to compare the impact of 12 weeks of neoadjuvant trastuzumab + pertuzumab combined with endocrine therapy (ET) versus chemotherapy (once per week paclitaxel) on the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate and survival in hormone receptor–positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–positive early breast cancer (eBC). Analysis of the primary end point revealed that the pCR rate in the paclitaxel + trastuzumab + pertuzumab arm was superior compared with that in the ET + trastuzumab + pertuzumab arm (56.4% v 23.7%). METHODS Here, we present the final 5-year survival analysis of this multicenter, randomized phase II, open-label trial, with 207 participants randomly assigned 1:1 to the two study arms. All patients received dual HER2 blockade in the adjuvant setting. Further standard chemotherapy was obligatory in all patients with non-pCR, but optional after pCR. RESULTS After a 5-year follow-up, an overall survival rate of 100% (95% CI, 100.0 to 100.0) in the ET arm versus 97.9% (95% CI, 95.0 to 100.0) in the paclitaxel arm was estimated. The corresponding 5-year event-free survival-ductal carcinoma in situ rates were 92.1% (95% CI, 86.6 to 97.9) versus 94.8% (95% CI, 90.5 to 99.3), and 5-year invasive disease-free survival rates were 97.7% (95% CI, 94.5 to 100.0) versus 79.8% (95% CI, 55.6 to 100.0). CONCLUSION Our results show excellent survival outcomes in patients with hormone receptor–positive/HER2–positive eBC who received either a de-escalated chemotherapy or ET in combination with trastuzumab and pertuzumab in the neoadjuvant setting. WSG TP-II confirms the safety and efficacy of a de-escalated and well-tolerated neoadjuvant therapy approach with pCR-guided adjuvant therapy in hormone receptor–positive/HER2–positive eBC.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 44, Issue 21
Published July 20, 2026
Pages 1974-1980
ISSN 0732-183X
Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Journal Info

Journal of Clinical Oncology

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

ISSN: 0732-183X Health Sciences

Authors (17)

O

Oleg Gluz

Breast Center, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Bethesda Klinik, Moenchengladbach, Germany

U

Ulrike A. Nitz

West German Study Group, Moenchengladbach, Germany

M

Matthias Christgen

Pathology, MHH—Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany

S

Sherko Kuemmel

Breast Unit, Kliniken Essen Mitte Evangelische Huyssens-Stiftung, Essen, Germany

J

Johannes Holtschmidt

German Breast Group, Neu-Isenburg, Germany

J

Johannes Schumacher

P

Philip Raeth

Palleos Healthcare GmbH, Wiesbaden, Germany

A

Andreas D. Hartkopf

K

Kerstin Luedtke-Heckenkamp

Oncology Department, Franziskus-Hospital Harderberg—Niels-Stensen-Kliniken GmbH, Georgsmarienhuette, Germany

M

Marianne Just

Oncology, Onkologische Schwerpunktpraxis, Bielefeld, Germany

R

Raquel von Schumann

Breast Center Niederrhein, Johanniter Bethesda Moenchengladbach, Moenchengladbach, Germany

S

Silke Polata

Evang. Waldkrankenhaus Spandau, Berlin

T

Timo Schinkoethe

Breast Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University Hospital, Munich, Germany

M

Monika K. Graeser

West German Study Group, Moenchengladbach, Germany

R

Ronald Kates

West German Study Group, Moenchengladbach, Germany

R

Rachel Wuerstlein

Breast Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University Hospital, Munich, Germany

N

Nadia Harbeck

Breast Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich University Hospital, Munich, Germany