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Breast Cancer Treatment Studies / HER2/EGFR in Cancer Research / Advanced Breast Cancer Therapies · Journal article
Cerrahpasa Medical Journal · September 8, 2026
Encouraging direction, but not yet definitive.
This retrospective single-center analysis of 87 HR+/HER2− metastatic breast cancer patients identifies new visceral and liver metastases at first progression on CDK4/6 inhibitors as independent predictors of shorter post-progression survival. The findings suggest that sites of progression may have practical prognostic utility, though the small, single-center design limits confidence and generalizability.
Retrospective single-center cohort study. Patients with HR+/HER2− metastatic breast cancer who experienced disease progression on first-line CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy at a single center.. Intervention: First-line CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy (specific agents not differentiated in abstract).. Compared with: Progression patterns stratified by site of new metastatic disease (visceral vs. non-visceral, liver-specific vs. other, bone-only vs. multisite).. n = 87. Single center (location not specified in abstract)..
New visceral progression observed in 56.3% at progression, independently associated with worse PPS (HR 2.93; 95% CI 1.48-5.82; P=.002) New liver metastases in 35.6%, independently associated with worse PPS (HR 3.41; 95% CI 1.79-6.50; P<.001) Patients with new visceral progression had median PPS of 8.4 months vs 16.5 months without (P=.002)
Source does not report absolute risk reduction, number-needed-to-harm, or analysis of treatment selection after progression.
Clinicians may use the site of first progression on CDK4/6 inhibitors—particularly the emergence of visceral or liver metastases—as a rough prognostic marker to counsel patients on expected post-progression survival and inform treatment planning. However, the small single-center sample warrants external validation before routine adoption in clinical decision-making.
Retrospective single-center study of 87 patients identifying progression patterns as prognostic factors for post-progression survival in CDK4/6-inhibitor-treated HR+/HER2− metastatic breast cancer, with statistically significant hazard ratios for visceral and liver progression but limited by design and sample size.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
Clinicians may use the site of first progression on CDK4/6 inhibitors—particularly the emergence of visceral or liver metastases—as a rough prognostic marker to counsel patients on expected post-progression survival and inform treatment planning. However, the small single-center sample warrants external validation before routine adoption in clinical decision-making.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Objective: Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors have improved outcomes in hormone receptor–positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–negative (HER2−) metastatic breast cancer; however, most patients eventually develop disease progression. The clinical significance of progression patterns in this setting remains poorly defined. Methods: This retrospective single-center study included patients with HR+/HER2− metastatic breast cancer who developed progression during first-line CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy. Progression patterns were categorized according to newly developed metastatic sites, including visceral, liver-specific, bone-only, and multisite progression. Post-progression survival (PPS) was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox regression models. Results: A total of 87 patients were included. At progression, 86.2% developed new metastatic lesions, with new visceral progression observed in 56.3% and new liver metastases in 35.6%. In multivariable analysis, new visceral progression was independently associated with worse PPS (hazard ratio [HR], 2.93; 95% CI, 1.48-5.82; P =.002), as was new liver metastasis (HR, 3.41; 95% CI, 1.79-6.50; P <.001). Patients with new visceral progression had significantly shorter median PPS compared to those without (8.4 vs. 16.5 months), and similar findings were observed for liver involvement (8.0 vs. 15.8 months). Multisite progression showed a trend toward inferior survival, whereas bone-only progression was not associated with worse outcomes. Conclusion: In patients with HR+/HER2− metastatic breast cancer, the site of first progression after CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy may help estimate subsequent prognosis. New visceral disease, especially liver involvement, was linked to shorter PPS, whereas bone-only progression followed a less aggressive course. These routinely available imaging findings may add practical value when assessing risk after CDK4/6 inhibitor failure. Cite this article as: Aliyev V, Birsin Z, Günaltılı M, et al. Progression patterns as determinants of post-progression survival in hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative metastatic breast cancer treated with cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors. Cerrahpaşa Med J. 2026, 50, 0061, doi: 10.5152/cjm.2026.26061
Taken from the source record, never inferred. Follow any of these and new work involving them reaches your briefing.