Post-mastectomy reconstruction: A risk-stratified comparative analysis of outcomes

IntroductionAlthough breast reconstruction following mastectomy plays a role in the psychological impact of breast cancer, only one in three women undergo reconstruction. Few multi-institutional studies have compared complication profiles of reconstructive patients to non-reconstructive.MethodsUsing the National Surgical Quality Improvement database, all patients undergoing mastectomy from 2006 to 2010, with or without reconstruction, were identified and risk-stratified using propensity scored quintiles. The incidence of complications and comorbidities were compared.ResultsOf 37,723 mastectomies identified, 30% received immediate breast reconstruction. After quintile matching for comorbidities, complications rates between reconstructive and non-reconstructives were similar. This trend was echoed across all quintiles, except in the sub-group with highest comorbidities. Here, the reconstructive patients had significantly more complications than the non-reconstructive (22.8% versus 7.0%, p < 0.001).ConclusionImmediate breast reconstruction is a well-tolerated surgical procedure. However, in patients with high comorbidities, surgeons must carefully counterbalance surgical risks with psychosocial benefits to maximize patient outcomes.Level of evidenceLevel 3     

Intraoperative detection of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer patients using ultrasonography-guided direct indocyanine green dye-marking by real-time virtual sonography constructed with three-dimensional computed tomography-lymphography

PurposeThis study aims to determine the utility of ultrasonography (US)-guided direct dye-marking of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) by real-time virtual sonography (RVS) constructed with three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT)-lymphography (LG).Patients and methodsWe identified SLNs in 258 clinically node-negative breast cancer patients using an RVS system to display in real time a virtual multiplanar reconstruction CT image obtained from CT volume data corresponding to the same cross-sectional image from US. CT volume data were obtained using our original 3D CT-LG, which accurately detects SLNs in breast cancer. We then perform US-guided dye-marking close to SLNs using indocyanine green (ICG). Subsequently, indigo carmine blue dye was injected into the subareolar and peritumoral areas around each primary tumor. All patients underwent SLN biopsy and SLN metastases were examined pathologically.ResultsIn all 258 patients, we were able to detect the same SLNs visualized on 3D CT-LG, using the RVS system. We detected ICG close to SLNs in 257 of 258 patients (99.6%) during SLN biopsy. In 25 patients (9%), we failed to follow the blue lymphatic route stained by indigo carmine and SLNs were not stained by indigo carmine, but easily detected SLNs by ICG marking.ConclusionUS-guided direct ICG dye-marking of SLNs using this RVS system seems useful for the detection of SLNs, allowing easy detection of SLNs even when the stained lymphatic route is not followed.     

Prolonged clinical benefit from the maintenance hormone therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer

ObjectiveWe investigated the efficacy of maintenance hormone therapy (MHT), which was given to hormone positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients in non-progression status to the previous chemotherapy.MethodsThis study retrospectively analyzed 76 MBC patients who had been treated with MHT from 2006 to 2010 at a single institute.ResultsFor the 76 patients reviewed, the median progression free survival (PFS) to MHT was 14.4 months (95% CI, 11.6–17.3). Prolonged PFS was associated with less previous palliative chemotherapy, fewer metastatic sites, and the absence of visceral metastasis in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that only the number of previous palliative chemotherapy (HR 1.73, 95% CI, 1.00–2.98; P = 0.04) remained as a significant variable. MHT was generally well tolerated.ConclusionsMHT showed considerable efficacy and tolerability in this study. Further randomized prospective study is warranted.     

Phase II study of liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide,followed by sequential trastuzumab plus docetaxel as primary systemic therapy for breast cancer patients with HER2 overexpression or amplification

Purpose of the studyTrastuzumab combined with sequential chemotherapy with taxanes and anthracyclines as primary systemic therapy achieved high rates of pathologic complete response (pCR). Non-pegylated liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin (NPLD) has shown equal efficacy but minor cardiotoxicity compared to doxorubicin. This phase II study aimed to evaluate the activity and safety of trastuzumab with sequential chemotherapy for early or locally advanced HER2 positive BC.MethodsPreoperative treatment included NPLD (60 mg/mq iv) plus cyclophosphamide (600 mg/mq iv) every 3 weeks for 4 cycles followed by docetaxel (35 mg/mq iv) plus trastuzumab (4 mg/mq loading dose iv, then 2 mg/mq iv) weekly for 16 weeks. Primary endpoint was pCR defined as the absence of residual invasive cancer both in the breast and regional nodes. Clinical staging was exploratory evaluated by CT-PET.Results43 pts were treated from december 2005 to September 2011, 39 of them were evaluable for the purpose of study. Median age was 53 years (range: 31–78), the majority of pts had tumour stage cT2 (63%), tumour grade 3 (86%), clinical nodes involvement N+ (77%), ER positive (56%) and Ki-67 ≥20% (77%). pCR was reported in 19 (49%) of 39 pts. There was an association between Ki-67 ≥20% at baseline and pCR (p = 0.018). No cardiac toxicity or discontinuation of trastuzumab was reported. CT-PET modified the clinical stage for 10 patients showing new loco-regional lymph nodes.ConclusionsThis study confirms that integrating anti-HER2 therapy in primary treatment for HER2 positive breast cancer is active. NPLD is a safe option to minimize cardiotoxicity.     

Randomized phase II study of sunitinib versus standard of care for patients with previously treated advanced triple-negative breast cancer

PurposeThis randomized, open-label phase II study compared the efficacy of sunitinib monotherapy with that of single-agent standard-of-care (SOC) chemotherapy in patients with previously treated advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).MethodsPatients with advanced TNBC, relapsed after anthracycline- and taxane-based chemotherapy, were randomized to receive either sunitinib (37.5 mg/day) or the investigator's choice of SOC therapy. Progression-free survival was the primary endpoint.ResultsMedian progression-free survival was 2.0 months with sunitinib and 2.7 months with SOC chemotherapy (one-sided P = 0.888). Median overall survival was not prolonged with sunitinib (9.4 months) compared with SOC chemotherapy (10.5 months; one-sided P = 0.839). The objective response rate was 3% with sunitinib and 7% with SOC chemotherapy (one-sided P = 0.962).ConclusionsSunitinib monotherapy did not improve efficacy compared with SOC chemotherapy in patients with previously treated advanced TNBC, for which identification of effective treatments and therapeutic targets remains an urgent need.Trial registrationNCT00246571.     

Morphometric and Histological Study of Breast Lesions with Special Reference to Proliferative Activity and Invasiveness

Breast carcinoma is the most common cause of carcinoma death in women. Sometimes, difficulty arises to differentiate between premalignant lesions and carcinoma by routine histopathology. Our study was done to establish the role of morphometry and immunohistochemistry to solve this problem. In this study, total 60 cases of different breast lesions were included and 10 controls were also included to compare the results with the normal findings. They were studied by hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections for morphometry and routine histological study; as well as by proliferative markers such as proliferating cell nuclear antigen and p53. Invasiveness was studied using immunohistochemical staining with 34 βE12 monoclonal antibody. Statistically significant differences were found in morphometric parameters and in expression of proliferative markers between most of them. Morphometry and immunohistochemistry help in the proper diagnosis of different breast lesions that lie in the gray zone on routine histopathology.     

The impact of lobular and ductal breast cancer histology on the metastatic behavior and long term survival of breast cancer patients

The aim of the study was to evaluate the long-term survival of patients with invasive lobular carcinomas (ILC) and invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC) and the metastatic behavior of these two disease entities. Originally, all consecutive patients with pure lobular invasive breast cancers diagnosed between 1990 and 1999 in the area served by the Tampere University Hospital and their matched IDC controls were identified and re-evaluated histopathologically in this follow-up study, resulting in a total of 243 ILCs and 243 IDCs. Data on recurrences and survival were collected until the end of year 2009. Statistical analyses including Kaplan–Meier method, log-rank test, Fisher's exact test and Cox regression analysis were performed with the PASW Statistics 18.0 computer program. P-values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant.Within the mean follow-up time of 10.04 years, locoregional recurrences were significantly more common among the ILCs than IDCs (35 vs. 20, p = 0.04), but no differences in the total number of distant recurrences or bilaterality were observed. However, when the first distant recurrence sites were studied, ILC patients had significantly less lung metastases (p = 0.04), but more skin metastases (p = 0.04). During the whole follow-up period IDCs metastasized significantly more frequently to the lungs (p = 0.002), whereas gastrointestinal metastases were more common among ILCs (p = 0.02). Although the known favorable prognostic factors (hormone receptor positivity, low grade, low s-phase) were more common for the ILCs, the disease-free survival, the overall survival and the survival after recurrence did not differ between the groups. However, the Cox-regression model showed significantly worse survival for ILCs after adjusting for age, TNM-status, grade and ER-positivity (p = 0.004).In conclusion, ILC and IDC differ in respect for visceral metastases. Despite the known favorable prognostic factors and originally favorable survival, patients with lobular histology appear to have a worse survival in the multivariate analysis after a prolonged follow-up.     

Disentangling breast cancer patients' perceptions and experiences with regard to endocrine therapy: Nature and relevance for non-adherence

Background & study aimsAdjuvant endocrine therapy effectively prevents recurrence and progression of estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer. However, studies reveal substantial non-adherence. The objective was therefore to identify the nature of the experiences and beliefs of women treated with endocrine therapy in an attempt to find potential determinants of non-adherence.MethodOnline Focus Groups (OFGs) and individual interviews were conducted with 37 women who were treated with endocrine therapy. Sixty-three statements derived from the OFGs and 11 belief items from the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ) were used in a Q-sorting task conducted with 14 of the women. The quantitative Q-sorting data were statistically analyzed with Hierarchical Cluster Analysis.ResultsA six cluster solution was revealed that included the clusters ‘information’, ‘efficacy’, ‘tenacity’, ‘coping’, ‘side effects’ and ‘usage’. Women's own experiences and perceptions were not clearly delineated from the beliefs measured with the BMQ. However, women judged their own experiences and perceptions with regard to endocrine therapy as more relevant for adherence than the BMQ beliefs.ConclusionIn order to understand and to improve women's adherence to endocrine therapy, women's own perceptions and experiences about endocrine therapy should be targeted in addition to common beliefs that apply to a wide range of medicines.     

乳腺磁共振成像诊断乳管内乳头状瘤的临床价值

目的：探讨乳腺磁共振成像（MRI）诊断乳管内乳头状瘤的临床价值。 方法：选择176例有术前乳腺MRI资料,行手术治疗并病理证实的女性患者,其中乳管内乳头状瘤37例、非乳管内乳头状瘤的良性病变52例和乳腺癌87例。比较3组患者临床、病理及MRI资料,后者包括时间-信号强度曲线、影像学表现、肿瘤表观弥散系数（ADC）值。 结果：37例乳管内乳头状瘤患者病灶37处,52例非乳头状瘤的良性病患者病灶56处,87例乳腺癌患者病灶92处。乳管内乳头状瘤组患者与其他两组患者比较,在发病年龄方面无统计学差异（F=2.470,P=0.088）,但在肿瘤大小、肿瘤位置、时间-信号强度曲线、MRI下表现、ADC值等方面均有统计学差异（均P<0.05）。 结论：乳管内乳头状瘤具有独特MRI的影像学特征,故辅以ADC值,MRI可以成为临床诊断乳管内乳头状瘤的重要手段。     

中国湖南2?324例乳腺癌临床特征及分子亚型分析

目的：分析中国湖南乳腺癌的临床病理特征、分子亚型的分布特点及其与国内其他地区及国外的差异。 方法：回顾性分析湘雅医院2002年1月—2012年9月2?324例女性乳腺癌患者临床病理资料,根据雌激素受体（ER）,孕激素受体（PR）,Ki-67,表皮生长因子受体（Her-2）的状态,将乳腺癌分为4个分子亚型进行分析。 结果：湖南乳腺癌患者的平均年龄47.57岁,绝经前患者（64.5%）多于绝经后患者（35.5%）,以中期患者为主。分子亚型分布与国内不同地区及国外比较,差异均有统计学意义（均P<0.05）,其中luminal A型比例占59.6%,高于国内上海（52.8%）与广东人群（31.1%）及非裔美籍人群（55.5%）,但低于波兰人群（73.0%）与美国人群（66.1%）,Her-2型所占比例（5.6%）低于其他人群,而三阴型比例（22.0%）高于大多数其他人群。各分子亚型分布在年龄段、分期、绝经状态及新辅助化疗情况的分组间差异均有统计学意义（均P<0.05）。 结论：中国湖南乳腺癌平均发病年龄较轻,绝经前患者多,以luminal A型为主;分子亚型分布与年龄段、分期、绝经状态及新辅助化疗情况有关。