Sentinel Node Biopsy Before Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Spares Breast Cancer Patients Axillary Lymph Node Dissection

Background Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients is a valuable method to determine the efficacy of chemotherapy and potentially downsize the primary tumor, which facilitates breast-conserving therapy. In 18 studies published about sentinel node biopsy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the sentinel node was identified in on average 89%, and the false-negative rate was on average 10%. Because of these mediocre results, no author dares to omit axillary clearance just yet. In our institute, sentinel lymph node biopsy is performed before neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate our experience with this approach. Methods Sentinel node biopsy was performed before neoadjuvant chemotherapy in 25 T2N0 patients by using lymphoscintigraphy, a gamma ray detection probe, and patent blue dye. Axillary lymph node dissection was performed after chemotherapy if the sentinel node contained metastases. Results Ten patients had a tumor-positive axillary sentinel node, and one patient had an involved lateral intramammary node. Four patients had additional involved nodes in the completion lymph node dissection specimen. The other 14 patients (56%) had a tumor-negative sentinel node and did not undergo axillary lymph node dissection. No recurrences have been observed after a median follow-up of 18 months. Conclusions Fourteen (56%) of the 25 patients were spared axillary lymph node dissection when the sentinel node was found to be disease free. Performing sentinel node biopsy before neoadjuvant chemotherapy seems successful and reliable in patients with T2N0 breast cancer.     

胃肠道间质肿瘤伴肝转移18例临床分析

目的:总结胃肠道间质肿瘤(gastrointestinal stromal tumors,GIST)伴肝转移的诊断及治疗经验。方法:回顾性分析18例胃肠道间质肿瘤伴肝转移的临床资料。结果:胃肠道间质瘤伴肝转移18例,其中12例位于胃,2例位于十二指肠,4例位于结肠。临床表现主要为消化道出血(60%),腹部包块(25%),体检发现贫血(25%)。术前均行内窥镜、B超及CT检查,术前12例病理确诊(66.7%)。全组均行手术切除,无手术死亡和手术并发症,其中局部切除3例,12例扩大切除 肝转移灶切除 淋巴结清扫。6例患者术后服用甲磺酸伊马替尼(格列卫)辅助治疗。16例患者获得随访,1年生存率为88.9%,3年生存率为48.6%。结论:GIST伴肝转移术前确诊率低,综合分析有助于提高确诊率。手术切除为主的综合治疗是最可靠的治疗方法。     

不同激素状态的HER2阳性晚期乳腺癌复发转移特征及生存分析

 目的 探讨不同HR状态的HER2阳性晚期乳腺癌患者的复发转移特征、预后及解救曲妥珠单抗治疗疗效的差异。方法 回顾性分析237名HER2阳性晚期乳腺癌患者的临床病理学资料，根据HR状态分为HR+/HER2+组和HR-/HER2+组，对两组间临床病理学特征、复发转移特点、预后及解救曲妥珠单抗治疗疗效进行分析比较。结果 与HR-/HER2+相比，HR+/HER2+多为绝经前患者，临床分期以Ⅰ~Ⅱ期为主，T分期更早，较少发生腋窝淋巴结转移。在总体复发转移部位上HR+/HER2+者更易发生骨转移，较少发生肺转移。HR+/HER2+组中位总生存时间34（5~102）月，HR-/HER2+组为29（3~70）月，两组间差异有统计学意义。接受解救曲妥珠单抗联合化疗的患者，ER<50%者达PR者占68.6%，ER≥50%者占46.2%，差异有统计学意义（P=0.037）。多因素分析结果显示ER状态是HR+/HER2+晚期乳腺癌的独立预后因素；肝转移、解救抗HER2靶向治疗是HR-/HER2+晚期乳腺癌的独立预后因素。结论 与HR-/HER2+患者相比，HR+/HER2+患者多发生骨转移，较少发生肺转移；预后较好；ER阳性细胞数所占比例较高的患者解救曲妥珠单抗治疗疗效较差。     

Multi-Institutional Clinical Outcomes of Biopsy Gleason Grade Group 5 Prostate Cancers Treated With Contemporary High-Dose Radiation and Long-Term Androgen Deprivation Therapy

AimsThis multicentric retrospective study reports long-term clinical outcomes of non-metastatic grade group 5 prostate cancers treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) alone with long-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).Materials and methodsPatients treated across 19 institutions were studied. The key endpoints that were evaluated were 5-year biochemical recurrence-free survival (bRFS), metastases-free survival (MFS), overall survival, together with EBRT-related acute and late toxicities. The impact of various prognostic factors on the studied endpoints was analysed using univariate and multivariate analyses.ResultsAmong the 462 patients, 88% (405) had Gleason 9 disease and 31% (142) had primary Gleason pattern 5. A prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan was used for staging in 33% (153), 80% (371) were staged as T3/T4 and 30% (142) with pelvic nodal disease. The median ADT duration was 24 months; 66% received hypofractionated EBRT and 71.4% (330) received pelvic nodal irradiation. With a median follow-up of 56 months, the 5-year bRFS, MFS and overall survival were 73.1%, 77.4% and 90.5%, respectively. Primary Gleason pattern 5 was associated with worse bRFS, MFS and overall survival with hazard ratios of 0.51 (95% confidence interval 0.35 to 0.73, P < 0.001), 0.64 (95% confidence interval 0.43 to 0.96, P = 0.031) and 0.52 (95% confidence interval 0.28 to 0.97, P = 0.040), respectively, whereas pelvic nodal disease was associated with worse bRFS (hazard ratio 0.67, 95% confidence interval 0.46 to 0.98, P = 0.039) and MFS (hazard ratio 0.56, 95% confidence interval 0.37 to 0.85, P = 0.006). The acute and late radiation-related toxicities were low overall and pelvic nodal irradiation was associated with higher toxicities.ConclusionContemporary EBRT and long-term ADT led to excellent 5-year clinical outcomes and low rates of toxicity in this cohort of non-metastatic grade group 5 prostate cancers. Primary Gleason pattern 5 and pelvic node disease portends inferior clinical outcomes.     

Focal nodular hyperplasia after oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy: A diagnostic challenge

Chemotherapy could induce benign liver alterations presenting as diffuse or focal lesions mimicking metastases. Oxaliplatin-induced vascular liver injury is described in literature, but the association with FNH-like lesions has been reported in a limited number of cases. We herewith describe the case of a 67-year-old male, who had laparoscopic right-sided hemicolectomy, 8 years ago, because of colonic adenocarcinoma (pT3N0M0) and subsequent adjuvant chemotherapy (capecitabine + oxaliplatin), who referred to the ultrasound service of our Radiology Unit because of abdominal pain. Five-years follow-up was negative for metastases. Ultrasound examination showed 2 small hypoechoic hepatic nodules, in segment VIII and VII, confirmed at CT, suspected for metastases. FDG-PET was negative, and blood tumor markers were within normal ranges. For further evaluation we performed gadoxetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MRI that showed hyperintensity of the nodules in the hepatobiliary phase with central small hypointensity due to a central scar. Considering the previous oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy the findings were compatible with FNHlike lesions and the diagnostic suspicion was confirmed at ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy. Knowledge of the possible occurrence of FNH-like lesions in oncologic setting, along with the detection of typical MRI appearance, is important for appropriate management and may avoid unnecessary biopsy or surgery and reduce patients’ anxiety.     

Computed tomography features of pulmonary metastases from angiosarcoma: Lessons learned from one case study

A distinctive feature of some angiosarcomas is that two or more atypical forms of pulmonary metastases may be detected concomitantly. In this case report, we present a 37-year-old man diagnosed with angiosarcoma of the neck, with extreme diversity of lung metastases on chest computed tomography (CT). We analyzed CT features of metastases and discussed possible reasons for their pleomorphism, as well as clinical implications of these findings.     

Is central sarcopenia a predictor of prognosis for patients with pathological fracture?

IntroductionWe aimed to investigate the relationship between central sarcopenia and survival in patients with pathological fracture.MethodsWe reviewed records of patients who were treated for pathological fracture of axial and appendicular skeleton in our clinic between 2011 and 2020. We used the psoas: lumbar vertebral index (PLVI) on axial computer tomographic evaluation to assess for central sarcopenia. A multivariate Cox algorithm was applied to recognize these factors independently associated with one month, six months, one year, and overall survival.ResultsA total of 147 patients [61 (41.4%) male and 86 (58.6%) female] were included, with an average age of 62.4 years. During the study, 108 (73.4%) patients died, and 39 (26.6%) were alive. The survival rates at 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery were 94.6%, 68.7%, and 53.1%, respectively. PLVI values ranged from 0.21 to 1.20 with a mean of 0.536 and a median of 0.520. According to the median value of PLVI, 68 patients with sarcopenia had low PLVI and 79 patients without sarcopenia had high PLVI. For the first month, only the preoperative albumin level was identified as a prognostic factor. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG), American Society of Anesthesia (ASA) scores and primary malignancy (rapid grade) were strong predictor of poor survival. The PLVI was independent significant predictor of first month (HR, 0.083 [95% CI, 0.011–0.649], p = 0.018) and overall survival (HR, 0.129 [95% CI, 0.034–0.492], p = 0.003).ConclusionThe PLVI was a strong predictor of first year, and overall survival in patients with pathological fracture.     

Long-term outcomes after minimal right lateral thoracotomy for the resection of cardiac tumors

ObjectivesCardiac tumors are a rare and heterogeneous entity, with a cumulative incidence of up to 0.02%. This study aimed to investigate one of the largest patient cohorts for long-term outcomes after minimally-invasive cardiac surgery using right-anterior thoracotomy and femoral cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) cannulation.MethodsBetween 2009 and 2021, patients who underwent minimally-invasive cardiac tumor removal at our department were included. The diagnosis was confirmed postoperatively by (immune-) histopathological analysis. Preoperative baseline characteristics, intraoperative data, and long-term survival were analyzed.ResultsBetween 2009 and 2021, 183 consecutive patients underwent surgery for a cardiac tumor at our department. Of these, n = 74 (40%) were operated on using a minimally-invasive approach. The majority, n = 73 (98.6%), had a benign cardiac tumor, and 1 (1.4%) had a malignant cardiac tumor. The mean age was 60 ± 14 years, and n = 45 (61%) of patients were female. The largest group of tumors was myxoma (n = 62; 84%). Tumors were predominantly located in the left atrium in 89% (n = 66). CPB-time was 97 ± 36min and aortic cross-clamp time 43 ± 24 min s. The mean hospital stay was 9.7 ± 4.5 days. The perioperative mortality was 0%, and all-cause mortality after ten years was 4.1%.ConclusionMinimally-invasive tumor excision is feasible and safe, predominantly in benign cardiac tumors, even in combination with concurrent procedures. Patients who require cardiac tumor removal should be evaluated for minimally-invasive cardiac surgery at a specialized center, as it is highly effective and associated with good long-term survival.     

The Relationship Between Expression of EpCAM Cancer Stem Cell Marker with Histopathological Grading,Lymphovascular Invasion,and Metastases in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of EpCAM in the colorectal adenocarcinoma. Material and methods: This study used a cross-sectional design. One hundred and thirteen paraffin embedded block of Colorectal Adenocarcinoma were assessed using anti-EpCAM/Epithelial Specific Antigen (Ber-EP4) mouse monoclonal antibody and their expression were performed using Olympus CX-43 light microscope. The relationship between EpCAM expression with histopathological grade of colorectal adenocarcinoma, lymphovascular invasion and metastases ability were statistically analyzed by Chi-Square tests and presented in tables using SPSS 18. Results: From 113 samples, in samples with lymphovascular invasion there were 37 samples (32.7%) with strong expression, while those with weak expression were 19 samples (16.8%). There were 39 samples with metastases and strong expression of EpCAM (34.5%), while 21 samples with weak expression (18.6%). There was a significant relationship between the expression of cancer stem cell marker EpCAM with lymphovascular invasion and colorectal adenocarcinoma metastases (p = 0.002), but there was no significant relationship with histopathological grade (p = 0.574). Conclusion: The EpCAM expression can be used as a prognostic factor, and can be considered as a predictive or an option for target therapy in colorectal adenocarcinoma.