New and important changes in breast cancer TNM: incorporation of biologic factors into staging

Introduction: Cancer staging has historically been based solely on the anatomic extent of the tumor (T), spread to lymph nodes (N), and the presence of distant metastases (M). More recently biologic factors have been added to modify TNM stage groups to provide more accurate prognosis for patients.

Areas covered: The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) updated breast cancer staging in 2016 to include T, N, M, tumor grade and expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors and HER2. Addition of these factors changed the stage group for a large fraction of cases compared to prior TNM stage groupings. This updated ‘prognostic stage’ provides more robust and precise prognosis information.

Expert opinion: Inclusion of biological information in staging changes the meaning and the use of stage in clinical practice. This paper reviews the evidence supporting these changes, limitations affecting staging, and discusses the implications for clinical practice and the future of breast cancer staging.     

Communication Regulatory Science: Mapping a New Field

ABSTRACT

Communication regulatory science is an emerging field that uses validated techniques, tools, and models to inform regulatory actions that promote optimal communication outcomes and benefit the public. In the opening article to this special issue on communication and tobacco regulatory science, we 1) describe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation of tobacco products in the US; 2) introduce communication regulatory science and provide examples in the tobacco regulatory science realm; and 3) describe the special issue process and final set of articles. Communication research on tobacco regulatory science is a burgeoning area of inquiry, and this work advances communication science, informs and potentially guides the FDA, and may help to withstand legal challenges brought by the tobacco industry. This research has the potential to have a major impact on the tobacco epidemic and population health by helping implement the most effective communications to prevent tobacco initiation and increase cessation. This special issue provides an example of 10 studies that exemplify tobacco regulatory science and demonstrate how the health communication field can affect regulation and benefit public health.     

Anthropometric and reproductive factors and risk of esophageal and gastric cancer by subtype and subsite: Results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort

Obesity has been associated with upper gastrointestinal cancers; however, there are limited prospective data on associations by subtype/subsite. Obesity can impact hormonal factors, which have been hypothesized to play a role in these cancers. We investigated anthropometric and reproductive factors in relation to esophageal and gastric cancer by subtype and subsite for 476,160 participants from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort. Multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox models. During a mean follow-up of 14 years, 220 esophageal adenocarcinomas (EA), 195 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas, 243 gastric cardia (GC) and 373 gastric noncardia (GNC) cancers were diagnosed. Body mass index (BMI) was associated with EA in men (BMI ≥30 vs. 18.5–25 kg/m²: HR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.25–3.03) and women (HR = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.15–6.19); however, adjustment for waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) attenuated these associations. After mutual adjustment for BMI and HC, respectively, WHR and waist circumference (WC) were associated with EA in men (HR = 3.47, 95% CI: 1.99–6.06 for WHR >0.96 vs. <0.91; HR = 2.67, 95% CI: 1.52–4.72 for WC >98 vs. <90 cm) and women (HR = 4.40, 95% CI: 1.35–14.33 for WHR >0.82 vs. <0.76; HR = 5.67, 95% CI: 1.76–18.26 for WC >84 vs. <74 cm). WHR was also positively associated with GC in women, and WC was positively associated with GC in men. Inverse associations were observed between parity and EA (HR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.14–0.99; >2 vs. 0) and age at first pregnancy and GNC (HR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.32–0.91; >26 vs. <22 years); whereas bilateral ovariectomy was positively associated with GNC (HR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.04–3.36). These findings support a role for hormonal pathways in upper gastrointestinal cancers.     

Differences in means-end exploration between infants at risk for autism and typically developing infants in the first 15 months of life

Our study compared means-end exploration in infants at risk (AR) for autism and typically developing (TD) infants using a nested box paradigm. Sixteen AR and 16 TD infants were observed at 9, 12, and 15 months with follow-up at 18 and 24 months. We collected video data on three tasks involving retrieval of a small toy by opening (a) an opaque box, (b) a transparent box, and (c) two nested boxes. Dependent variables included hand bias, time to completion, bilateral hand use, problem-solving strategies used, and tester assistance required. There were no group differences in terms of hand biases. Compared to TD infants, AR infants had lower bilateral hand use, poor problem solving skills, and required greater assistance. Both groups demonstrated age-related improvements in motor and cognitive skills. Means-end exploration provides a window into the bilateral coordination and motor planning/problem-solving abilities of young infants at risk for autism. Lastly, object retrieval tasks could serve as important learning contexts for at-risk infants.     

Patterns of facial fractures in children

Morbidity and mortality among children is usually the result of trauma. Because a child’s face is retruded relative to the protecting skull, has a thicker layer of adipose tissue, more elastic bones, flexible sutures lines, the presence of tooth buds within the jaws, and the lack of pneumatisation of the sinuses, the facial bones fracture less commonly than in adults. Our aim was to assess the patterns of such fractures in children who presented to the department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, King Edward Medical University/Mayo Hospital Lahore, Pakistan. All 535 eligible children between the ages of 1-16 years who presented during the two years December 2009 - December 2011 were included in the study. Facial fractures were diagnosed by clinical examination, plain radiographs, and computed tomography, and the pattern of fractures of the facial bones including the frontal bone, orbital bones, maxilla, zygoma, naso-orbito-ethmoidal complex, mandible, and dentoalveolar region was documented. The male:female ratio was 2:1 with 369 male (70%) and 166 female (31%) patients. Fall was the cause in 212 (39%), and in 167 (31%) it was road traffic accidents, while sports were the cause in 135 (25%). The naso-orboto-ethmoid complex was fractured in 37 cases (7%) while 104 children (19%) presented with isolated fractures of the zygomatic bone. The maxilla was fractured in 195 cases (36%), the mandible in 380 (71%), and dentoalveolar trauma was the cause in 256 (50%). The mandible was the bone that was most often fractured (mostly in boys and usually as a result of falls during summer vacations), with the peak occurring in those aged 8-12 years.     

Impact of postoperative radiotherapy on survival and loco-regional control in node-negative oral cavity tumours classified as T3 using the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual eighth edition

According to the eighth edition of the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual (AJCC8), a depth of invasion (DOI) >10 mm is classified as pT3, representing a locally advanced tumour requiring postoperative radiotherapy (PORT). When node-negative, however, evidence regarding whether PORT improves loco-regional control or survival is unclear. To clarify this, two cohorts of patients were studied: (1) patients classified as pT3N0 by the seventh edition of the AJCC manual (AJCC7), with DOI >10 mm and a tumour diameter >4 cm (17 patients who received PORT), and (2) patients classified as pT1N0 and pT2N0 by AJCC7, with DOI >10 mm and a tumour diameter <4 cm (55 patients who did not receive PORT). Loco-regional control and survival were analysed. PORT was found not to impact overall survival or disease-free survival. It was also found not to impact local, regional, or distant recurrence. Although the two subsets of patients considered here (DOI >10 mm with tumour diameter below or above 4 cm) were previously distinct, they are both considered pT3 in AJCC8. Data from this study indicate that the routine administration of PORT to patients with a DOI >10 mm may not be warranted in the absence of other risk features such as nodal disease or close margins.