Inflammatory breast cancer: clinical course, diagnosis and treatment

To identify influence of different therapeutic and prognostic factors on survival, a review of the data on treatment of 197 patients with inflammatory breast cancer was carried out at the Dispensary (1994-2004). Multimodal treatment included combinations of radiotherapy, mastectomy and chemotherapy (CMF--75; CAF--98 and taxanes--9). Significantly lower survival was reported for patients with lymph node involvement (N1, N2 and N3) and those without mastectomy and radiotherapy. Overall 10-year survival was registered only in those who had received chemotherapy, radiotherapy and mastectomy (20.2% +/- 5.5); overall 5-year survival was 42.0% +/- 4.8.     

Impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on breast reconstruction

BACKGROUND:

With advances in oncologic treatment, cosmesis after mastectomy has assumed a pivotal role in patient and provider decision making. Multiple studies have confirmed the safety of both chemotherapy before breast surgery and immediate reconstruction. Little has been written about the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on decisions about reconstruction.

METHODS:

The authors identified 665 patients with stage I through III breast cancer who received chemotherapy and underwent mastectomy at Dana‐Farber/Brigham & Women's Cancer Center from 1997 to 2007. By using multivariate logistic regression, reconstruction rates were compared between patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (n = 180) and patients who underwent mastectomy before chemotherapy (n = 485). The rate of postoperative complications after mastectomy was determined for patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy compared with those who did not.

RESULTS:

Reconstruction was performed immediately in 44% of patients who did not receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy but in only 23% of those who did. Twenty‐one percent of neoadjuvant chemotherapy recipients and 14% of adjuvant‐only chemotherapy recipients underwent delayed reconstruction. After controlling for age, receipt of radiotherapy, and disease stage, neoadjuvant recipients were less likely to undergo immediate reconstruction (odds ratio [OR], 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37, 0.87) but were no more likely to undergo delayed reconstruction (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 0.75, 2.20). Surgical complications occurred in 30% of neoadjuvant chemotherapy recipients and in 31% of adjuvant chemotherapy recipients.

CONCLUSIONS:

The current results suggest that patients who receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy are less likely to undergo immediate reconstruction and are no more likely to undergo delayed reconstruction than patients who undergo surgery before they receive chemotherapy. Cancer 2011. © 2011 American Cancer Society.     

乳腺癌改良根治术术后放疗的疗效及预后影响因素分析

目的 探讨乳腺癌改良根治术术后放疗的疗效及预后影响因素.方法 收集200例乳腺癌改良根治术及术后放疗患者的临床资料,随访3年,统计患者的生存情况、复发情况和远处转移情况,影响乳腺癌改良根治术后放疗患者预后因素采用单因素和Cox风险比例回归模型分析.结果 随访3年,200例患者局部复发或远处转移58例,无病生存142例,...     

中国乳腺癌保乳治疗的前瞻性多中心研究

目的 探讨早期乳腺癌保乳治疗的可行性,以及我国开展保乳综合治疗的模式。方法 中国医学科学院中国协和医科大学肿瘤医院等全国共10家三级甲等医院协作,进行早期乳腺癌保乳治疗与切除乳房治疗的大样本前瞻性多中心对照研究。结果 完成保乳手术872例,占符合保乳治疗条件乳腺癌患者的19．5％,占同期全部可手术乳腺癌患者的9．0％。保乳治疗组复发9例（1．0％）,远处转移11例（1．3％）,死亡1例（0．1％）;切除乳房组复发18例（0．5％）,远处转移49例（1．4％）,死亡4例（0．1％）。两组术后局部复发率、远处转移率与死亡率差异无统计学意义（P均〉0．05）。保乳治疗乳房美容效果评估优、良者术后6个月占89．7％,术后1年占91．1％,术后2年占86．6％。结论 保乳治疗在中国是可行的,对早期乳腺癌患者的生存率、复发率无负面影响,提高了患者的生活质量。保乳治疗必须严格把握手术适应证,需要多学科的有机配合,综合治疗是保乳治疗成功的保证。     

Surgical treatment of carcinoma of the breast. V. Changes in patient population and therapeutic modalities at a metropolitan hospital (1971-1980)

This is a retrospective study of 408 patients who had mastectomy for carcinoma of the breast during 1971-1980. Over these 10 years, we have had a significant increase in Hispanic patients. Although the mean size of breast tumors among the Hispanic patients was smaller than that of our black patients, Hispanic patients are more likely to have higher numbers of positive axillary lymph nodes. Similar to the nationwide trend, over 90% of the patients had modified radical mastectomy in recent years, and adjuvant systemic chemotherapy has replaced postoperative radiotherapy for patients with axillary metastasis. Postmastectomy actuarial 5-year relapse rates of our patients with none or 1-3 positive axillary nodes were quite similar. Among patients with 1-3 positive axillary nodes, year of diagnosis and whether postoperative radiotherapy or chemotherapy was added or not did not affect disease-free probability. However, among patients who had four or more positive axillary nodes, those who were admitted after 1976 and who received systemic chemotherapy (90% had CMF) had a much lower probability of developing recurrence.     

Factors influencing medical oncology referral in Dukes' C colonic cancer

Aim: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide and adjuvant chemotherapy is proven to improve survival in patients with Dukes' C CRC. The purpose of this study was to analyze factors influencing referral to medical oncology in patients with Dukes' C colonic cancer in our institutions. Methods: Patients who underwent resection for Dukes' C colonic cancer were assessed for factors that influence the pattern of postoperative referral to the medical oncology department, including demographic and perioperative data. Results: Overall, 466 patients were identified to have Dukes' C colonic cancer, with 53.9% of these being female. Referral to medical oncology occurred for 58.4% patients. Multivariable logistic regression modeling identified age, elective admission and resection in private hospitals as factors. The likelihood of medical oncology referral in patients who had elective resection was 63% versus 41% in those who had emergency resection and resection in private hospitals was 69% versus 50% in public hospitals. Conclusion: Referral to a postoperative medical oncology clinic for adjuvant chemotherapy in Dukes' C colonic cancer was more likely in younger patients, those who underwent elective resection and those treated in private hospitals.     

早期乳腺癌保乳治疗的临床研究

目的：探讨早期乳腺癌保乳术后综合治疗的效果。方法：对１０８例早期乳腺癌行保乳治疗,并与同期行改良根治术治疗的１２１例早期乳腺癌行对比研究。保乳治疗患者年龄３１～６１岁,中位年龄４４.５岁。保乳术后行全乳腺放疗和瘤床加量,处方剂量５０Ｇｙ／５周,瘤床追加６～９ＭｅＶ电子线１０～１５Ｇｙ／７～１０天。改良根治术患者年龄３４～６８岁,中位年龄４７.６岁。改良根治术后放疗的范围根据肿块大小和淋巴结转移情况决定,处方剂量５０Ｇｙ／５周。两组均采用ＣＡＦ或ＣＭＦ方案化疗,ＥＲ或ＰＲ阳性的患者给予内分泌治疗。结果：１０８例保乳治疗患者中３例复发,５例出现远处转移（２例为骨转移,１例为骨、肝、肺多发转移,２例为肺转移）。术后６个月美容效果评估优、良者为９１.７％,术后１年为９２.６％。１２１例改良根治术患者中３例复发,７例出现远处转移（３例为骨转移,３例为肺转移,１例为多发脏器转移）。两组的近期疗效差异均无统计学意义（Ｐ＞０.０５）。结论：早期乳腺癌采用保乳术及术后综合治疗的疗效不低于改良根治术,且美容效果更优。     

乳腺癌术后乳房重建手术与放疗间关系——基于中国110家医院横断面调查研究

目的 调查目前我国乳房重建手术开展现状,以及国内医生对放疗与乳房重建手术之间关系看法。方法 选取全国范围内110家乳腺癌年手术量>200例的医疗机构,以问卷调查形式开展研究,调查内容包括手术医师及其所在科室和医院的基本情况、2017年乳腺癌手术开展情况、各类型重建手术开展情况以及对放疗和重建手术关系的具体看法。结果 110家单位参与调研,96家(87.3%)单位已开展重建手术,植入物重建占总重建手术量的65.7%,自体重建占20.1%。对于可能需要术后放疗的患者,受访医院首选的手术方式为植入物重建,对于明确需要术后放疗和全乳切除术后接受过放疗的患者,首选自体组织重建。术后放疗是即刻乳房重建的阻碍因素,多数医院认为放疗对手术的影响不大。延期-即刻乳房重建的开展比例达到66%,86%的医院首选在放疗结束半年后更换假体。保乳术后复发的患者也可进行即刻重建,首选的手术方式为植入物重建。结论 我国乳房重建的比例开展较低,医生技术掌握仍有欠缺,在面对与放疗的冲突时,国内专科医生的选择与指南和共识尚存在出入,提示需要对医生进行更专业的培训,以进一步推动国内乳房重建事业的发展。     

Treatment of male breast cancer

From Mar. 1958 through 1985, 50 male patients with breast cancer were treated in our hospital. The ratio of male and female with primary breast cancer was 1:90 during the same period. All were proven by pathology except one case. Forty seven have been followed for more than 5 years. There were 12 stage I lesions, 19 stage II and 16 stage III. Radical mastectomy was performed in 22 patients, total mastectomy in 11 and lobectomy in 12, supplemented by radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or their combination. Two were not indicated for surgery and were only given a combination combination therapy without operation. The irradiation after radical mastectomy was to deliver to the regional lymph nodes and for the rest, a dose of 5,000-6,000 cGy/5-6 weeks should be added to the chest wall. The chemotherapy, including Thio-TEPA, 5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide and methotrexate etc, in the form of single or multi-drug for 1-3 courses, was given. The overall 5 and 10 year survival rates were 51% and 22.5%. The 5 year survival rates of stage I, II and III patients were 83%, 53% and 25%. The 5 year survivals of radical mastectomy, total mastectomy and lobectomy combined with radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy were 59%, 27% and 67%. In those who failed, 50% developed local recurrence or regional metastasis or both and 60% had extensive dissemination. The results indicate that the combination therapy comprising radical mastectomy and lobectomy has a good prognosis. The authors believe that the male breast cancer is more hormone-dependent than the female breast cancer, orchiectomy plays an important role in the treatment of advanced lesions.     

Radiotherapy for uterine cervical cancer: results of the 1995-1997 patterns of care process survey in Japan

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to establish Japanese national practice patterns for uterine cervical cancer patients who received radiotherapy without surgery. METHODS: The Japanese Patterns of Care Study (JPCS) conducted a national survey of 73 institutions using two-stage cluster sampling, and collected specific information on 591 patients with uterine cervical cancer treated by radiotherapy without planned surgery between 1995 and 1997. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 70 years. Karnofsky performance status (KPS) was >/=90 for 37%. Most patients (95%) had histology of squamous cell carcinoma. Ten percent were stage I, 29% stage II, 48% stage III and 13% stage IVA. Photon beams of 10-14 MV were the most used for external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). The beam energy utilized varied significantly by institution strata. Midline block was used in approximately 70% of institutions. Intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) was performed in 77%. Institution strata correlated significantly with the ICBT application. The majority of patients (89%) were treated with high-dose-rate (HDR) ICBT. The median single point A dose of HDR-ICBT was 600 cGy. The median summated point A dose from EBRT and HDR-ICBT was 5800 cGy (range: 1196-8600). The median overall treatment time including ICBT was 49 days. Twenty-four percent of the patients received chemotherapy. Concurrent chemoradiation was performed in 5%. CONCLUSIONS: The JPCS established the Japanese national practice patterns of care for uterine cervical cancer patients treated with radiotherapy without planned surgery between 1995 and 1997. This survey demonstrated that the institutional strata significantly affected several practice patterns.     

Single-agent epirubicin as primary chemotherapy in T2-T3, N0-N2, M0 breast carcinoma: 6-year follow-up

OBJECTIVE: Single-agent epirubicin was tested as primary chemotherapy treatment in patients with early breast cancer >3 cm. METHODS: 100 women with locally advanced breast cancer >3 cm were treated with three cycles of single-agent epirubicin at a dose of 120 mg/m2. All patients showing tumor shrinkage to less than 3 cm were considered candidates for conservative surgery (quadrantectomy); in the remaining patients modified radical mastectomy was carried out. Postsurgical treatment consisted of CMF chemotherapy except for postmenopausal node-positive, estrogen-positive patients who were assigned to hormonal treatment with tamoxifen and postmenopausal node-negative, estrogen-positive ones who did not receive any treatment. RESULTS: Quadrantectomy was carried out in 71 patients. At the median follow-up time of 69 months, the relapse rate was 29.6% among patients who underwent quadrantectomy (21 out of 71) and 58.6% among patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy (17 out of 29). CONCLUSIONS: Single-agent chemotherapy with anthracyclines could appear to be an effective treatment in inducing a tumor downstaging in patients with early breast cancer >3 cm. This treatment can be administered outside clinical trials in patients who desire to preserve their body integrity. Further prospective, randomized trials are needed in order to validate and better define the role of epirubicin in the neoadjuvant strategy of breast cancer patients.     

Multimodal treatment for inflammatory breast cancer

This is a retrospective study of 61 patients with clinically diagnosed breast cancer (IBC) treated with multimodality therapy between September 1977 and September 1985. All patients were scheduled to receive three courses of doxorubicin-based chemotherapy followed by mastectomy, further chemotherapy, and postoperative irradiation. Ten patients (16%) obtained a complete response, defined as either resolution of the clinical signs of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) (4 patients) or no evidence of tumor in the mastectomy specimen (6 patients). Twenty-seven patients (45%) obtained a partial response, defined as a greater than 50% reduction in the clinical signs of inflammatory breast cancer. No response occurred in 24 patients (39%). Immediate mastectomy was done in 56 patients. Five patients whose disease was not resectable received preoperative irradiation. Nine patients at high risk for locoregional failure received postoperative irradiation immediately after mastectomy and before additional chemotherapy. Postoperative irradiation was given to the chest wall and peripheral lymphatics using standard or accelerated fractionation to a maximum dose of 60 Gy. Forty-six patients completed planned treatment including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy without failure. The minimum follow-up was 36 months. The 5-year actuarial disease-free survival was 70% for the complete response group, and 35% for the partial response group. All patients with no response failed by 34 months. The actuarial 5-year disease-free survival rate for the entire group was 27%. The 5-year actuarial locoregional control was 89% in the complete response group, 68% in the partial response group, 33% in the no response group, and 58% for all patients. Most failures were on the chest wall within the irradiated volume. Chest wall failures were more frequent in those who did not achieve brisk erythema or moist desquamation after postoperative irradiation. We conclude that multimodal treatment of patients with inflammatory breast cancer results in a low incidence of failure if complete response is obtained following initial chemotherapy. The locoregional control rate and actuarial 5-year disease-free survival for the entire group were not improved when mastectomy was done. Surgery should be done in those patients who respond adequately to chemotherapy, so that late sequelae of high-dose breast irradiation can be eliminated. Higher doses of postoperative irradiation may be required to improve local control in those patients with the poorest response to initial chemotherapy.     

隐性乳腺癌的诊治(附68例报告)

目的：探讨隐性乳腺癌的发病特点、检诊规范和治疗方法.方法：回顾性分析68例隐性乳腺癌临床病理资料和治疗效果.结果：全组均经腋窝淋巴结活检及免疫组化M4G33检测明确诊断,65例行根治术或改良根治术,3例行腋窝肿块切除,术后全部辅助放、化疗,全组5、10年生存率分别为77.9%和58.12%;术后常规病检原发灶检出率33.8%（22/65）,结合全乳腺次连续大切片检查,病理原发灶总检出率达86.2%（56/65）.结论：对女性腋窝肿块同时排除全身其它部位癌转移者应高度考虑隐性乳腺癌,腋窝淋巴结活检和免疫组化M4G3检测对确诊有重要意义;根治术标本宜行全乳腺次连续大切片检查以提高原发癌灶检出率,治疗宜选择根治术或改良根治术并辅助放疗、化疗以及内分泌治疗.     

Second primary in the contralateral breast after treatment of breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To study the potential risk factors for contralateral breast cancer (CBC) in women after treatment of the primary breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1985 and December 1995, records of 1084 breast cancer patients at our institution were analyzed for incidence of CBC. In all the patients a detailed analysis was carried out with respect to age, disease stage, radiation therapy technique, dose, the use of chemotherapy or hormone therapy, and other clinical and/or pathologic characteristics. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the acturial rate of CBC. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to estimate the relative risk (RR) of CBC. RESULTS: Up to December 2005, the median follow up was 12 years. Overall incidence of CBC was 4%. The 10 and 20 year acturial rate of CBC was 5.6% and 11.3%, respectively. The CBC rate at 10 and 20 year was 5.4% and 10.2%, respectively, for patients with mastectomy only and 5.1% and 9.7%, respectively, in the mastectomy plus RT group (p=0.3). In the subset of patients <45 years of age at the time of treatment, 10 and 20 year acturial rate of CBC was 5% and 9%, respectively, for patients who underwent mastectomy only and 6.3% and 11%, respectively, for patients treated with mastectomy plus RT (RR=1.4, 95% CI: 1.14-1.45, p=0.003). There was statistically significant lower rate of CBC in patients given adjuvant hormonal therapy (8.5%) as compared to those without hormonal therapy (14.3%, p=0.004) at 20 year. Women with family history of breast cancer had highest rate (15.3%) of CBC (RR=1.6, 95% CI: 1.12-1.27) at 20 years. The adjuvant use of chemotherapy did not significantly affect the risk of second malignancy. CONCLUSION: There seems to be little risk of second malignancies in patients treated with mastectomy plus RT using modern techniques, compared with mastectomy only, that was only prevalent in patients <45 years of age. Family history of breast cancer seems to be the highest risk factor for CBC.     

A case report of pseudoprogression followed by complete remission after proton-beam irradiation for a low-grade glioma in a teenager: the value of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI

Background

There are no specific recommendations for the management of breast cancer patients with germ-line p53 mutations, an exceptional genetic condition, particularly regarding postoperative radiotherapy. Preclinical data suggested that p53 mutations conferred enhanced radiosensitivity in vitro and in vivo and the few clinical observations showed that Li-Fraumeni families were at a higher risk of secondary radio-induced malignancies.

Methods

We reviewed a cohort of patients with germ-line p53 mutations who had been treated for breast cancer as the first tumor event. We assessed their outcome and the incidence of secondary radio-induced malignancies.

Results

Among 47 documented Li-Fraumeni families treated from 1997 to 2007 at the Institut Gustave Roussy, 8 patients had been diagnosed with breast cancer as the first tumor event. Three patients had undergone conservative breast surgery followed by postoperative radiotherapy and five patients had undergone a mastectomy (3 with postoperative radiotherapy). Thus, 6/8 patients had received postoperative radiotherapy. Median follow-up was 6 years. Median age at the diagnosis of the primary breast cancer was 30 years. The histological characteristics were as follows: intraductal carcinoma in situ (n = 3), invasive ductal carcinoma (n = 4) and a phyllodes tumor (n = 1). Among the 6 patients who had received adjuvant radiotherapy, the following events had occurred: 3 ipsilateral breast recurrences, 3 contralateral breast cancers, 2 radio-induced cancers, and 3 new primaries (1 of which was an in-field thyroid cancer with atypical histology). In contrast, only one event had occurred (a contralateral breast cancer) among patients who had not received radiation therapy.

Conclusions

These observations could argue in favor of bilateral mastectomy and the avoidance of radiotherapy.     

Prognostic role of adjuvant radiotherapy in triple‐negative breast cancer: A historical cohort study

The value of adjuvant radiotherapy in triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is currently debated. We assessed the association between adjuvant radiotherapy and survival in a large cohort of Asian women with TNBC. Women diagnosed with TNBC from 2006 to 2011 in five Asian centers (N = 1,138) were included. Survival between patients receiving mastectomy only, breast‐conserving therapy (BCT, lumpectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy) and mastectomy with radiotherapy were compared, and adjusted for demography, tumor characteristics and chemotherapy types. Median age at diagnosis was 53 years (range: 23–96 years). Median tumor size at diagnosis was 2.5 cm and most patients had lymph node‐negative disease. The majority of patients received adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 861, 76%) comprising predominantly anthracycline‐based regimes. In 775 women with T1‐2, N0‐1, M0 TNBCs, 5‐year relative survival ratio (RSR) was highest in patients undergoing mastectomy only (94.7%, 95% CI: 88.8–98.8%), followed by BCT (90.8%, 95% CI: 85.0–94.7%), and mastectomy with radiotherapy (82.3%, 95% CI: 73.4–88.1%). The adjusted risks of mortality between the three groups were not significantly different. In 363 patients with T3‐4, N2‐3, M0 TNBCs, BCT was associated with highest 5‐year RSR (94.1%, 95% CI: 81.3–99.4%), followed by mastectomy with radiotherapy (62.7%, 95% CI: 54.3–70.1%), and mastectomy only (58.6%, 95% CI: 43.5–71.6%). Following multivariable adjustment, BCT and mastectomy with radiotherapy remained significantly associated with lower mortality risk compared to mastectomy only. Overall, adjuvant radiotherapy was associated with higher survival in women aged <40 years, but not in older women. Adjuvant radiotherapy appears to be independently associated with a survival gain in locally advanced as well as in very young TNBC.     

12例男性乳腺癌的治疗

目的：分析男性乳腺癌的临床特点。方法：回顾12例患者，均先作根治手术，其中6例作术后放疗联合化疗，3例作术后单纯化疗，2例作术后单纯局部放疗，1例作单纯手术。结果：5年总生存率61．36％，10年总生存率38．35％，中位生存期为80个月。局部复发率为25％（3／12），完成术后放疗患者无1例局部复发。结论：男性乳腺癌与女性乳腺癌具有相似的临床特点，采取有效的综合治理也能获得较好的疗效。     

The combination of radiotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide-doxorubicin-ftorafur) and tamoxifen in stage II breast cancer. Long-term follow-up results of a randomised trial.

Two hundred patients with node positive stage II breast cancer were randomised to four groups after radical mastectomy and axillary evacuation: (1) Postoperative radiotherapy, (2) Adjuvant chemotherapy with eight courses of CAFt (cyclophosphamide 500 mg m-2 + doxorubicin 40 mg/m-2 + ftorafur 20 mg kg-1 orally day 1-14) every fourth week, (3) Postoperative radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy and (4) postoperative radiation, adjuvant chemotherapy and tamoxifen 40 mg daily for 2 years. Thirty-two per cent of the patients discontinued treatment due to GI-toxicity, while 26% required dose reductions due to leukopenia. Radiation pneumonitis was more frequent after the combination of postoperative radiotherapy with chemotherapy. There was a better relapse-free survival in the groups receiving chemotherapy compared to radiotherapy alone (P = 0.05), which was highly significant in a multivariate Cox analysis (P = 0.004). No significant survival differences were seen. Tamoxifen had no clear overall effect but there were better relapse-free (P = 0.04) and overall (P = 0.004) survival with tamoxifen in estrogen receptor positive patients, while estrogen receptor negative patients had a somewhat poorer survival (P = 0.07) after tamoxifen. Local control was better (NS) after the combination (93%) radiotherapy and chemotherapy compared to either treatment alone (76% with radiotherapy and 74% with chemotherapy at 5 years).     

Randomized trial of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy for carcinoma of the rectum: National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project Protocol R-02

BACKGROUND: The conviction that postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy represent an acceptable standard of care for patients with Dukes' B (stage II) and Dukes' C (stage III) carcinoma of the rectum evolved in the absence of data from clinical trials designed to determine whether the addition of radiotherapy results in improved disease-free survival and overall survival. This study was carried out to address this issue. An additional aim was to determine whether leucovorin (LV)-modulated 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is superior to the combination of 5-FU, semustine, and vincristine (MOF) in men. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients (n = 694) with Dukes' B or C carcinoma of the rectum were enrolled in National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) Protocol R-02 from September 1987 through December 1992 and were followed. They were randomly assigned to receive either postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy alone (n = 348) or chemotherapy with postoperative radiotherapy (n = 346). All female patients (n = 287) received 5-FU plus LV chemotherapy; male patients received either MOF (n = 207) or 5-FU plus LV (n = 200). Primary analyses were carried out by use of a stratified log-rank statistic; P values are two-sided. RESULTS: The average time on study for surviving patients is 93 months as of September 30, 1998. Postoperative radiotherapy resulted in no beneficial effect on disease-free survival (P =.90) or overall survival (P =.89), regardless of which chemotherapy was utilized, although it reduced the cumulative incidence of locoregional relapse from 13% to 8% at 5-year follow-up (P =.02). Male patients who received 5-FU plus LV demonstrated a statistically significant benefit in disease-free survival at 5 years compared with those who received MOF (55% versus 47%; P =.009) but not in 5-year overall survival (65% versus 62%; P =.17). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of postoperative radiation therapy to chemotherapy in Dukes' B and C rectal cancer did not alter the subsequent incidence of distant disease, although there was a reduction in locoregional relapse when compared with chemotherapy alone.     

Primary breast cancer therapy in six regions of Germany

Studies from six regions of Germany (Aachen (W1), Dresden (E1), Jena (E2), Marburg (W2), Munich (W3), and Stuttgart (C1)) have been compared to verify and assess the quality of healthcare using breast cancer as an example. All of the data collection was carried out in comprehensive cancer centres and is population-based, with the exception of C1. Classic prognostic factors and the initial treatment of 8661 women with breast cancer, diagnosed between 1996 and 1998, were examined. Primary therapy, breast conserving therapy (BCT), and the use of subsequent local radiation and/or systemic therapy (chemotherapy or hormonal therapy) were analysed. BCT was performed on 39.3-57.7% of patients. By pT-category, the proportion of BCT in the six regions were as follows: for pTis between 37.8 and 64.3%, for pT1 between 51.7 and 71.5%, for pT2 between 25.9 and 51.1%, for pT3 between 0 and 13.1% and for pT4 between 0 and 15.2%. Multivariate analyses, adjusted for age and biological factors, showed a significant influence of the treating hospital on the mastectomy rate. The use of radiotherapy after BCT (80%) was quite homogeneous in the six regions. The application of radiotherapy after mastectomy, however, varied between 10.4 and 32.2%. In all regions, for premenopausal patients, the use of adjuvant systemic therapy almost reflected the St. Gallen-Consensus recommendations. In contrast, post-menopausal women with positive lymph nodes were not always treated according to these standards. In all regions, age had an influence on the administration of treatment: elderly breast cancer patients received less BCT, less radiotherapy and less adjuvant therapy than recommended in the St. Gallen-Consensus. Feedback of the results was made available to each hospital, providing a comparative summary of patient care that could be used by the participating hospitals for self-assessment and quality-control.