Journals / Turkish Journal of Clinics and Laboratory / 2026 / Sayı: 1

Real-world outcomes of CDK4/6 inhibitors in HR-positive/HER2- negative metastatic breast cancer: a single-center cohort from Turkey

HR Pozitif/HER2 Negatif Metastatik Meme Kanserinde CDK4/6 İnhibitörlerinin Gerçek Yaşam Sonuçları: Türkiye’den Tek Merkezli Bir Kohort

Selami Bayram(Memorial Antalya Hastanesi)0000-0002-0930-5025
Mustafa Özdoğan(Memorial Göztepe Hastanesi)0000-0001-9512-4828
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-03-01
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), the and secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), clinical benefit rate (CBR: CR+PR+SD ≥24 weeks), and safety.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Aim: Endocrine therapy (ET) plus a cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i) is the standard first-line treatment for hormone receptor–positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–negative (HR+/HER2–) metastatic breast cancer (MBC); however, real-world data from routine practice in Türkiye remain limited.
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Key Findings & Data:We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of CDK4/6i-ET across treatment lines and explored first-line outcomes with palbociclib–letrozole versus ribociclib–letrozole.
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Conclusion & Impact:The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), the and secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), clinical benefit rate (CBR: CR+PR+SD ≥24 weeks), and safety.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Metastatik meme kanseri · Hormon reseptör pozitif/HER2 negatif · CDK4/6 inhibitörü

Abstract

Aim: Endocrine therapy (ET) plus a cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i) is the standard first-line treatment for hormone receptor–positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–negative (HR+/HER2–) metastatic breast cancer (MBC); however, real-world data from routine practice in Türkiye remain limited. We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of CDK4/6i-ET across treatment lines and explored first-line outcomes with palbociclib–letrozole versus ribociclib–letrozole. Material and Methods: This single-center, retrospective cohort study included consecutive adults with HR+/HER2–MBC treated with palbociclib or ribociclib plus ET (letrozole or fulvestrant) in routine practice. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), the and secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), clinical benefit rate (CBR: CR+PR+SD ≥24 weeks), and safety. Survival was estimated using Kaplan–Meier methods and compared with log-rank tests and univariable Cox models. Exploratory analyses examined outcomes by treatment line (first, second, and ≥third) and compared first-line palbociclib–letrozole with ribociclib–letrozole. Results: A total of 124 patients were included; CDK4/6i-ET was administered as first-, second-, and ≥ third-line therapyin 65.3%, 19.4%, and 15.3% of patients, respectively. Overall, 51 patients (41.1%) experienced disease progression, and 19 (15.3%) died. Twelve-month PFS rates were 82.7%, 69.9%, and 42.1% in the first-, second-, and ≥third-line groups, respectively; the risk of progression or death was higher in the second line (HR 2.20, 95% CI 1.09–4.46) and ≥third line (HR 4.71, 95% CI 2.45–9.05) than in the first line. Twelve-month OS rates were 93.4%, 86.5%, and 83.6%, with a significantly higher hazard of death in the ≥third line (HR 3.88, 95% CI 1.41–10.71) compared with the first line. The ORR was 37.9%, and the CBR was 87.9%. In the first-line aromatase inhibitor subset, no statistically significant differences were observed between palbociclib–letrozole and ribociclib–letrozole for PFS (HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.43–1.39; p=0.392) or OS (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.20–3.47; p=0.797). At least one adverse event occurred in 85.4% of patients; grade ≥3 neutropenia occurred in 42.7% of patients, while permanent discontinuation due to toxicity was infrequent (2.4%). Conclusion: In this real-world cohort, CDK4/6i-ET achieved clinically meaningful disease control with a safety profile consistent with pivotal trials. The earlier introduction of CDK4/6 inhibition was associated with longer PFS and OS, whereas exploratory first-line comparisons did not demonstrate a significant difference between palbociclib and letrozole and ribociclib–letrozole. These findings support the early incorporation of CDK4/6i-ET in HR+/HER2– MBC and the individualized choice of regimen based on comorbidities, monitoring requirements, and patient preference.

Özet

Amaç: Hormon reseptör pozitif/human epidermal growth factor reseptör 2 negatif (HR+/HER2-) metastatik meme kanserinde (MMK) endokrin tedavi (ET) ile kombinasyon halinde siklin bağımlı kinaz 4/6 inhibitörleri (CDK4/6i) birinci basamak standart tedavidir; ancak Türkiye’den gerçek yaşam verileri sınırlıdır. Bu çalışmada CDK4/6i-ET’nin farklı tedavi basamaklarındaki etkinlik ve güvenlilik sonuçları ile birinci basamakta palbosiklib-letrozol ve ribosiklib-letrozol rejimlerinin sonuçları araştırıldı. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Bu tek merkezli, retrospektif kohort çalışmasına, rutin pratikte palbosiklib veya ribosiklib ile ET (letrozol veya fulvestrant) kombine edilerek tedavi edilen ardışık HR+/HER2– MMK’li erişkin hastalar dahil edildi. Birincil sonlanım noktası progresyonsuz sağkalım (PFS) idi. İkincil sonlanım noktaları genel sağkalım (OS), objektif yanıt oranı (OYO), klinik yarar oranı (KYO; KR+KY+SD ≥24 hafta) ve güvenlilikti. Sağkalım Kaplan–Meier yöntemi ile hesaplandı, log-rank testi ve tek değişkenli Cox modelleri ile karşılaştırıldı. Keşifsel analizlerde tedavi basamağına (1., 2., ≥3. basamak) göre sonuçlar ve birinci basamakta palbosiklib-letrozol ile ribosiklib-letrozol karşılaştırıldı. Bulgular: Toplam 124 hasta dahil edildi; CDK4/6i-ET birinci, ikinci ve ≥üçüncü basamakta sırasıyla %65,3, %19,4 ve %15,3 oranında kullanıldı. Toplam 51 hastada (%41,1) progresyon ve 19 hastada (%15,3) ölüm izlendi. Birinci, ikinci ve ≥üçüncü basamakta 12 aylık PFS oranları sırasıyla %82,7, %69,9 ve %42,1 idi; birinci basamağa kıyasla progresyon veya ölüm riski ikinci basamakta daha yüksek bulundu (HR 2,20; %95 GA 1,09–4,46) ve ≥üçüncü basamakta daha da belirgindi (HR 4,71; %95 GA 2,45–9,05). 12 aylık OS oranları sırasıyla %93,4, %86,5 ve %83,6 olup, ≥üçüncü basamakta ölüm riski anlamlı derecede artmıştı (HR 3,88; %95 GA 1,41–10,71). OYO %37,9, KYO %87,9 idi. Birinci basamak aromataz inhibitörü alt grubunda, palbosiklib-letrozol ile ribosiklib-letrozol arasında PFS (HR 0,77; %95 GA 0,43–1,39; p=0,392) ve OS (HR 0,83; %95 GA 0,20–3,47; p=0,797) açısından istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark saptanmadı. En az bir advers olay hastaların %85,4’ünde görüldü; derece ≥3 nötropeni oranı %42,7 iken toksisiteye bağlı kalıcı tedavi kesilmesi nadirdi (%2,4). Sonuç: Bu gerçek yaşam kohortunda CDK4/6i-ET, faz III çalışmalara uyumlu bir güvenlilik profili ile klinik olarak anlamlı hastalık kontrolü sağlamıştır. CDK4/6 inhibitörlerinin daha erken basamakta kullanılması daha uzun PFS ve OS ile ilişkili bulunurken, birinci basamaktaki rejim-düzeyindeki karşılaştırmalar palbosiklib-letrozol ile ribosiklib-letrozol arasında anlamlı fark göstermemiş ve keşifsel olarak yorumlanmalıdır. Bulgularımız, HR+/HER2– MMK’de CDK4/6i-ET’nin erken dönemde tedaviye entegre edilmesini ve rejim seçiminin komorbiditeler, izlem gereksinimleri ve hasta tercihine göre bireyselleştirilmesini desteklemektedir.

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Cite This Article

Bayram, S., Özdoğan, M. (2026). Real-world outcomes of CDK4/6 inhibitors in HR-positive/HER2- negative metastatic breast cancer: a single-center cohort from Turkey. Turkish Journal of Clinics and Laboratory, Sayı: 1. https://doi.org/10.18663/tjcl.1838613

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