LVI and PNI are associated with advanced CRC. PNI is an independent poor prognostic marker for survival in CRC. LVI and PNI are associated with LN involvement in T1 and T2 tumors. Documentation of LVI and PNI status on biopsy specimens may help in prognostication and decision-making in the management of these early tumors.

A B S T R A C T PurposeFindings from the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) -positive National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) B31 trial suggested that MYC/HER2 coamplification (Ͼ 5.0 copies/nucleus) was associated with additional benefit from adjuvant trastuzumab in patients with early-stage breast cancer. To further explore this relationship, we investigated associations between MYC amplification and disease-free survival (DFS) in a similar adjuvant trastuzumab HER2-positive breast cancer trial-North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) N9831. Patients and MethodsThis analysis included 799 patients randomly assigned to receive chemotherapy alone or with concurrent trastuzumab on N9831. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed by using a dual-probe mixture for MYC and centromere 8 (MYC:CEP8) on tissue microarrays. MYC amplification was prespecified as MYC:CEP8 ratio Ͼ 2.2 or average MYC copies/nucleus Ͼ 5.0. Exploratory variables included polysomy 8. ResultsIn comparing DFS (median follow-up, 4.0 years) between treatments, patients with MYC:CEP8 ratio Յ 2.2 (n ϭ 618; 77%) and Ͼ 2.2 (n ϭ 181; 23%) had hazard ratios (HRs) of 0.46 (P Ͻ .001) and 0.67 (P ϭ .33), respectively (interaction P ϭ .38). Patients with MYC copies/nucleus Յ 5.0 (n ϭ 534; 67%) and Ͼ 5.0 (n ϭ 265; 33%) had HRs of 0.52 (P ϭ .002) and 0.48 (P ϭ .02), respectively (interaction P ϭ .94). Patients with MYC:CEP8 ratio Ͻ 1.3 with normal chromosome 8 copy number (n ϭ 141; 18%) and Ն 1.3 or Ͻ 1.3 with polysomy 8 (n ϭ 658; 82%) had HRs of 0.66 (P ϭ .28) and 0.44 (P Ͻ .001), respectively (interaction P ϭ .23). Patients with MYC copies/nucleus Ͻ 2.5 (n ϭ 130; 16%) and Ն 2.5 (n ϭ 669; 84%) had HRs of 1.07 (P ϭ .87) and 0.42 (P Ͻ .001), respectively (interaction P ϭ .05). ConclusionWe did not confirm the B31 association between MYC amplification and additional trastuzumab benefit. Exploratory analyses revealed potential associations between alternative MYC/chromosome 8 copy number alterations and differential benefit of adjuvant trastuzumab.