Treatment of Recurrent Breast Cancer Following Breast Conserving Surgery

Patients with isolated ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence face completion mastectomy in the majority of cases. Selected patients may derive good outcomes from repeat breast conservation surgery and indeed repeat irradiation may be employed using one of many different modalities. Tumor biology rather than salvage surgery method is likely to influence outcome. Patients with isolated breast tumor recurrence are treated in the majority of cases with completion mastectomy, when for selected patients there exists little evidence that more radical surgery provides better outcomes in terms of further recurrence and overall survival, than repeated breast conserving surgery. Literature search identifying articles addressing the issue of repeat breast conserving surgery for ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence, and repeat radiotherapy (search terms include: repeat breast conserving surgery, salvage mastectomy, salvage breast conserving surgery, salvage radiotherapy, reirradiation). Thirty‐five articles discussed the outcomes of repeat breast conserving surgery versus salvage mastectomy, methods of repeat breast irradiation, repeat sentinel lymph node biopsy and related factors. Repeat breast conserving surgery may represent a safe and feasible treatment method for isolated ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence.     

Prevention and Management of Lymphedema after Breast Cancer Treatment

Lymphedema of the arm after breast cancer treatment continues to challenge clinicians worldwide. In this review, we examine the main modalities, both nonsurgical and surgical, to prevent and treat this as yet incurable condition.     

Sentinel Nodes in Breast Cancer: Relevance of Axillary Level II Nodes and Optimal Number of Nodes that Need to Be Removed

Background In some patients, the radiocolloid used to perform sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for breast cancer appears in a number of lymph nodes and in different levels of the axilla. Most positive sentinel lymph node specimens (SLNSs) removed during SLNB are identified in level I of the axilla and within the first 4 SLNSs. Our objective was to verify the staging accuracy of harvesting only the first 4 SLNSs and to determine the relevance of SLNSs that reside in level II of the axilla. Methods A prospective database documenting the method of identification, radioisotope count, order of retrieval, and axillary level of SLNSs from 893 SLNBs was analyzed. Results A median of 2 SLNSs (range 1–9) were removed per patient. More than 4 SLNSs were found in 8.0%. All SLNSs harboring the largest nodal metastases were identified within the first 4 harvested. Twenty-one percent (184 of 870) of patients had level II SLNSs; 4.9% (9 of 184) were positive. When SLNSs were positive in both levels I and II, the nodal metastases were always of greater or equal size in the level I nodes. Only one patient (0.5%) had a positive level II SLNS macrometastasis (>2 mm, pN1), with a negative level I SLNS, but it was the hottest node and was removed first. Conclusions Removal of more than the first 4 hottest SLNSs does not improve staging accuracy. Level II nodes can be ignored if a hotter level I SLNS is first identified.     

The Relevance of Mouse Models to Understanding the Development and Progression of Human Breast Cancer

Mouse modeling of human breast cancer has developed tremendously over the past ten years. Human breast cancer is characterized by enormous biological diversity and, collectively, the new models have come much closer to encompassing this diversity. They have provided a deeper understanding of the fundamental events that mediate the initiation, development, and progression of breast cancer, and they offer new opportunities to develop and test strategies to treat and, perhaps, even prevent the disease. This chapter reviews the historical development of mouse models of breast cancer and highlights some of their major strengths, weaknesses, and contributions.     

Characteristics and Treatment of Metaplastic Breast Cancer: Analysis of 892 Cases from the National Cancer Data Base

Background Metaplastic breast cancer (MBC) is characterized by various combinations of adenocarcinoma, mesenchymal, and other epithelial components. It was officially recognized as a distinct pathologic diagnosis in 2000. With few published reports, we hypothesized that MBC may have markedly different characteristics at presentation than typical infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) and may be managed differently. Methods Data from patients with MBC and IDC reported to the National Cancer Database from January 2001 through December 2003 were reviewed for year of diagnosis, patient age, race/ethnicity, tumor size, nodal status, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, tumor grade, hormone receptor status, and initial treatment, and were analyzed statistically by the Pearson χ² test. Results A total of 892 patients with MBC and 255,164 patients with IDC were identified. The group with MBC was older (mean age, 61.1 vs. 59.7 years; P = .001), had a significantly increased proportion of African American (14.1%, 126 of 892, vs. 10.2%, 25,900 of 255,164; odds ratio [OR], 1.455, P = .001) and Hispanic patients (5.5%, 49 of 892 vs. 3.9%, 9,947 of 255,164; OR, 1.817, P = .001), had fewer T1 tumors (29.5% vs. 65.2%), more N0 tumors (78.1% vs. 65.7%, OR, .5, P = .001), more poorly or undifferentiated tumors (67.8% vs. 38.8%), and fewer estrogen receptor–positive tumors (11.3% vs. 74.1%, OR, 22.4, P = .001) than the IDC group. Patients with MBC were treated with breast-conserving surgery less frequently than patients with IDC (38.5% vs. 55.8%, OR, 2.0, P = .001) because of the larger tumor size. Chemotherapy was used more often for patients with MBC (53.4% vs. 42.1%, OR, 1.6, P = .001) because of more advanced AJCC stage. Conclusions MBC is a rare tumor with different characteristics than IDC: it presents with larger tumor size, less nodal involvement, higher tumor grade, and hormone receptor negativity. Patients with MBC are treated more aggressively than IDC (more often with mastectomy and chemotherapy) because of a higher stage at presentation, but are being treated by the same principles as IDC. Follow-up will determine the long-term results of the current treatment. *Members of the Breast Disease Site Team are listed in Appendix 1.     

A Modified Excision for Combined Reduction Mammoplasty and Breast Conservation Therapy in the Treatment of Breast Cancer

Wide local excision combined with postoperative radiotherapy is a useful technique for patients with breast cancer. For patients with macromastia whose tumor is situated in the lower pole of the breast, a breast reduction (keyhole\inverted T pattern ) can be used to achieve wide local excision. However, for patients whose tumor is not in the inferior portion of the breast, and in whom this cancer also is situated close to the skin (requiring excision of skin with a 1-cm margin for oncologic safety), the traditional keyhole pattern cannot be used. A modification of the keyhole pattern\inverted T is described. The pedicle used depends on the site of the tumor. Although the breast scars are in different positions, a similar breast shape as well as symmetry still can be achieved. This is a useful technique for a select subgroup of patients. The outcomes for three patients are presented.     

Prophylactic Mastectomy in BRCA1/2 Mutation Carriers and Women at Risk of Hereditary Breast Cancer: Long-Term Experiences at the Rotterdam Family Cancer Clinic

Background BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and women from a hereditary breast(/ovarian) cancer family have a highly increased risk of developing breast cancer (BC). Prophylactic mastectomy (PM) results in the greatest BC risk reduction. Long-term data on the efficacy and sequels of PM are scarce. Methods From 358 high-risk women (including 236 BRCA1/2 carriers) undergoing PM between 1994 and 2004, relevant data on the occurrence of BC in relation to PM, complications in relation to breast reconstruction (BR), mutation status, age at PM and preoperative imaging examination results were extracted from the medical records, and analyzed separately for women without (unaffected, n = 177) and with a BC history (affected, n = 181). Results No primary BCs occurred after PM (median follow-up 4.5 years). In one previously unaffected woman, metastatic BC was detected almost 4 years after PM (primary BC not found). Median age at PM was younger in unaffected women (P < .001), affected women more frequently were 50% risk carriers (P < .001). Unexpected (pre)malignant changes at PM were found in 3% of the patients (in 5 affected, and 5 unaffected women, respectively). In 49.6% of the women opting for BR one or more complications were registered, totaling 215 complications, leading to 153 surgical interventions (71%). Complications were mainly related to cosmetic outcome (36%) and capsular formation (24%). Conclusions The risk of developing a primary BC after PM remains low after longer follow-up. Preoperative imaging and careful histological examination is warranted because of potential unexpected (pre)malignant findings. The high complication rate after breast reconstruction mainly concerns cosmetic issues.     

局限性肺切除在肺癌治疗中的作用

从１９７０年至１９９２年对肺癌病人共行局限性肺切除５６例，其中２７例为姑息性切除，２９例Ｔ_１Ｎ_０Ｍ_０周围型肺癌行根治性切除。后组病例术后５年生存率为７１．４％，与该院同期Ｔ_１Ｎ_０Ｍ_０肺癌行肺叶切除的５年生存率（７５．３％）无明显差别。因此，作者认为对过去曾行肺切除手术、心肺功能低下或高龄的Ｔ_１Ｎ_０Ｍ_０周围型肺癌病人行局限性肺切除是一较好的选择。     

MRI Screening in a Clinic Population with a Family History of Breast Cancer

Background Breast MRI is increasingly being used in patients at increased risk for breast cancer; however, guidelines for MRI screening are inadequately defined. We describe our experience with MRI screening in a large population of women with a family history of breast cancer. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the Memorial Sloan–Kettering breast cancer surveillance program prospective database from April 1999 to July 2006. Patients with a family history of breast cancer and at least 1 year follow-up were identified. All patients were offered biannual clinical breast examination (CBE) and annual mammography (MMG). MRI screening was performed at the discretion of the physician and patient. Results Family history profiles revealed 1,019 eligible patients; median follow-up was 5.0 years. MRI screening was performed in 374 (37%) patients resulting in a total of 976 MRIs during the study period. Cancer was detected in 9/374 patients (2%) undergoing MRI screening. Seven cancers were detected by MRI only, for a cancer detection rate of 0.7% (7/976) for screening MRI. When stratified by family risk profile, the positive predictive value (PPV) of MRI was higher (13%) in those patients with the strongest family histories and lower (6%) in patients with less significant family histories. Conclusions MRI screening can be a useful adjunct to CBE and MMG in patients with high-risk family histories of breast cancer, yet it has low yield in patients with lower-risk family histories. These data suggest that MRI screening should be reserved for those at highest risk. Patrick I. Borgen is currently affiliated with Maimonides Cancer Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA.     

Lymphedema: Knowledge, Treatment, and Impact Among Breast Cancer Survivors

Abstract: Lymphedema is an understudied consequence of surgery for breast cancer. It is estimated that as many as 60% of breast cancer survivors report symptoms of lymphedema. Few studies have examined the impact of lymphedema on the lives of women with breast cancer. The goal of this pilot study was to identify knowledge about, treatment received for, and the effect of lymphedema among a group of breast cancer survivors and physicians. Forty women with lymphedema and 10 physicians who treat breast cancer patients participated. Overall, women knew little to nothing about lymphedema before they developed it. After diagnosis, the primary source of information about lymphedema was a doctor or physical therapist. The majority of women received compressive garment therapy (75%), 46.9% received mechanical compressive therapy, 26% received bandaging, and 22% received physical therapy. More than half (55%) reported that clothing and appearance were affected by their condition and 48% reported that routine daily activities were impaired. Hot weather (58%) and regular arm use (40%) were reported to exacerbate the swelling. Most physicians reported that they did not routinely counsel women or provide written information on lymphedema prevention to their patients, and the extent to which women's daily living was affected by the condition was not always recognized. These findings have implications for interventions aimed at educating women and providers about lymphedema.