Preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging in early breast cancer

BACKGROUND:

Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) of patients with early breast cancer is being investigated on a multi‐institutional protocol National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) B‐39/RTOG 0413. Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is more sensitive than mammography (MG) and may aid in selection of patients appropriate for PBI.

METHODS:

Patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) routinely undergo contrast‐enhanced, bilateral breast MRI at the Cleveland Clinic. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all early‐stage breast cancer patients who had a breast MRI, MG, and surgical pathology data at our institution between June of 2005 and December of 2006. Any suspicious lesions identified on MRI were further evaluated by targeted ultrasound ± biopsy.

RESULTS:

A total of 260 patients met eligibility criteria for NSABP B‐39/RTOG 0413 by MG, physical exam, and surgical pathology. The median age was 57 years. DCIS was present in 63 patients, and invasive breast cancer was found in 197 patients. MRI identified suspicious lesions in 35 ipsilateral breasts (13%) and in 16 contralateral breasts (6%). Mammographically occult, synchronous ipsilateral foci were found by MRI in 11 patients (4.2%), and in the contralateral breast in 4 patients (1.5%). By univariate analysis, lobular histology (infiltrating lobular carcinoma [ILC]), pathologic T2, and American Joint Committee on Cancer stage II were significantly associated with additional ipsilateral disease. Of patients with ILC histology, 18% had ipsilateral secondary cancers or DCIS, compared with 3% in the remainder of histologic subtypes (P = .004). No patient older than 70 years had synchronous cancers or DCIS detected by MRI.

CONCLUSIONS:

Breast MRI identified synchronous mammographically occult foci in 5.8% of early breast cancer patients who would otherwise be candidates for APBI. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.     

Review of Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in Breast Cancer: Should MRI Be Performed on All Women with Newly Diagnosed,Early Stage Breast Cancer?

Randomized controlled trials have shown equivalent survival for women with early stage breast cancer who are treated with breast‐conservation therapy (local excision and radiotherapy) or mastectomy. Decades of experience have demonstrated that breast‐conservation therapy provides excellent local control based on defined standards of care. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been introduced in preoperative staging of the affected breast in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer because it detects additional foci of cancer that are occult on conventional imaging. The median incremental (additional) detection for MRI has been estimated as 16% in meta‐analysis. In the absence of consensus on the role of preoperative MRI, we review data on its detection capability and its impact on treatment. We outline that the assumptions behind the adoption of MRI, namely that it will improve surgical planning and will lead to a reduction in re‐excision surgery and in local recurrences, have not been substantiated by trials. Evidence consistently shows that MRI changes surgical management, usually from breast conservation to more radical surgery; however, there is no evidence that it improves surgical care or prognosis. Emerging data indicate that MRI does not reduce re‐excision rates and that it causes false positives in terms of detection and unnecessary surgery; overall there is little high‐quality evidence at present to support the routine use of preoperative MRI. Randomized controlled trials are needed to establish the clinical, psychosocial, and long‐term effects of MRI and to show a related change in treatment from standard care in women newly affected by breast cancer. CA Cancer J Clin 2009;59:290–302. © 2009 American Cancer Society, Inc.     

The role of magnetic resonance imaging in early breast cancer

Despite recent evidence that fails to detect a benefit in surgical and local recurrence outcomes in those who receive optimal surgery and adjuvant systemic and radiotherapy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is still being employed. We review the recent literature to clarify the role in the use of MRI in early breast cancer. A literature search using the Medline and Ovid databases was conducted between 2004 and 2011 using the terms "magnetic resonance imaging' and 'early breast cancer'. Only articles with clinical trials published in English in adult humans with available abstracts were included. Articles on high-risk women, response to neoadjuvant therapy, advanced breast cancer, the occult primary, the contralateral breast and technical articles were excluded. Articles examining the role of MRI in the staging of early breast cancer were retained. Over 260 articles regarding breast MRI have been published in the last 5 years. Additional foci may be found in 16% of patients but the impact on the extent of surgery and local recurrence rate is yet to be defined. Certain sub-groups who may benefit include those with invasive lobular carcinoma and mammographically dense breasts and those for consideration of partial breast irradiation. With standard adjuvant radiotherapy, there is no benefit in routine MRI with respect surgical extent and local recurrence. Should MRI be used, pre-operative biopsy to confirm additional disease must be undertaken prior to a change in surgical extent of resection. However, MRI may be useful in the evaluation of those who can be considered for partial breast irradiation. Centres undertaking breast MRI must have MRI-biopsy capabilities and constantly audit the reporting of MRI with correlation to the final pathology.     

Magnetic resonance imaging in breast cancer: A literature review and future perspectives

Early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer are essential for successful treatment. Currently mammography and ultrasound are the basic imaging techniques for the detection and localization of breast tumors. The low sensitivity and specificity of these imaging tools resulted in a demand for new imaging modalities and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become increasingly important in the detection and delineation of breast cancer in daily practice. However, the clinical benefits of the use of pre-operative MRI in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer is still a matter of debate. The main additional diagnostic value of MRI relies on specific situations such as detecting multifocal, multicentric or contralateral disease unrecognized on conventional assessment (particularly in patients diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma), assessing the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, detection of cancer in dense breast tissue, recognition of an occult primary breast cancer in patients presenting with cancer metastasis in axillary lymph nodes, among others. Nevertheless, the development of new MRI technologies such as diffusion-weighted imaging, proton spectroscopy and higher field strength 7.0 T imaging offer a new perspective in providing additional information in breast abnormalities. We conducted an expert literature review on the value of breast MRI in diagnosing and staging breast cancer, as well as the future potentials of new MRI technologies.     

Pathologic complete response in breast cancer patients receiving anthracycline‐ and taxane‐based neoadjuvant chemotherapy

BACKGROUND:

The current study was conducted to evaluate the influence of race/ethnicity and tumor subtype in pathologic complete response (pCR) following treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

METHODS:

A total of 2074 patients diagnosed with breast cancer between 1994 and 2008 who were treated with neoadjuvant anthracycline‐ and taxane‐based chemotherapy were included. pCR was defined as no residual invasive cancer in the breast and axilla. The Kaplan‐Meier product‐limit was used to calculate survival outcomes. Cox proportional hazards models were fitted to determine the relationship of patient and tumor variables with outcome.

RESULTS:

The median patient age was 50 years; 14.6% of patients were black, were 15.2% Hispanic, 64.3% were white, and 5.9% were of other race. There were no differences in pCR rates among race/ethnicity (12.3% in black, 14.2% in Hispanics, 12.3% in whites, and 11.5% in others, P = .788). Lack of pCR, breast cancer subtype, grade 3 tumors, and lymphovascular invasion were associated with worse recurrence‐free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) (P ≤ .0001). Differences in RFS by race/ethnicity were noted in the patients with hormone receptor‐positive disease (P = .007). On multivariate analysis, Hispanics had improved RFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.69; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.49‐0.97) and OS (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.41‐0.97); blacks had a trend toward worse outcomes (RFS: HR, 1.28 [95% CI, 0.97‐1.68] and OS: HR, 1.32 [95% CI, 0.97‐1.81]) when compared with whites.

CONCLUSIONS:

In this cohort of patients, race/ethnicity was not found to be significantly associated with pCR rates. On a multivariate analysis, improved outcomes were observed in Hispanics and a trend toward worse outcomes in black patients, when compared with white patients. Further research was needed to explore the potential differences in biology and outcomes. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.     

Exploring circulating micro‐RNA in the neoadjuvant treatment of breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy amongst females worldwide. In recent years the management of this disease has transformed considerably, including the administration of chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting. Aside from increasing rates of breast conserving surgery and enabling surgery via tumour burden reduction, use of chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting allows monitoring of in vivo tumour response to chemotherapeutics. Currently, there is no effective means of identifying chemotherapeutic responders from non‐responders. Whilst some patients achieve complete pathological response (pCR) to chemotherapy, a good prognostic index, a proportion of patients derive little or no benefit, being exposed to the deleterious effects of systemic treatment without any knowledge of whether they will receive benefit. The identification of predictive and prognostic biomarkers could confer multiple benefits in this setting, specifically the individualization of breast cancer management and more effective administration of chemotherapeutics. In addition, biomarkers could potentially expedite the identification of novel chemotherapeutic agents or increase their efficacy. Micro‐RNAs (miRNAs) are small non‐coding RNA molecules. With their tissue‐specific expression, correlation with clinicopathological prognostic indices and known dysregulation in breast cancer, miRNAs have quickly become an important avenue in the search for novel breast cancer biomarkers. We provide a brief history of breast cancer chemotherapeutics and explore the emerging field of circulating (blood‐borne) miRNAs as breast cancer biomarkers for the neoadjuvant treatment of breast cancer. Established molecular markers of breast cancer are outlined, while the potential role of circulating miRNAs as chemotherapeutic response predictors, prognosticators or potential therapeutic targets is discussed.     

The application of breast MRI in staging and screening for breast cancer

Contrast-enhanced breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a relatively new but increasingly used modality for the detection of breast cancer. MRI has demonstrated utility in identifying additional tumor foci and extent of disease in patients with known breast cancer. This is especially useful with invasive lobular carcinoma, which is difficult to evaluate on mammography. MRI has been found to identify the primary tumor in 70% to 86% of cases of occult breast cancer. Contrast-enhanced breast MRI has shown some usefulness in the detection of residual cancer following surgery but is limited by postoperative changes. In patients who have undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy, breast MRI is most accurate in those patients in whom there is little or no response to chemotherapy. The use of contrast-enhanced breast MRlfor breast cancer screening is controversial. It has only been used in afew small studies of high-risk patients. The limitations of breast MRI include uptake in benign lesions and normal tissue, sensitivity for ductal carcinoma in situ, cost, and availability. This paper will discuss the uses, benefits, and limitations of contrast-enhanced breast MRI in the staging and screening of breast cancer.     

Changes over time in the impact of gene‐expression profiles on the administration of adjuvant chemotherapy in estrogen receptor positive early stage breast cancer patients: A nationwide study

Ten years ago gene‐expression profiles were introduced to aid adjuvant chemotherapy decision making in breast cancer. Since then subsequent national guidelines gradually expanded the indication area for adjuvant chemotherapy. In this nation‐wide study the evolution of the proportion of patients with estrogen‐receptor positive (ER+) tumors receiving adjuvant chemotherapy in relation to gene‐expression profile use in patient groups that became newly eligible for chemotherapy according to national guideline changes over time is assessed. Data on all surgically treated early breast cancer patients diagnosed between 2004–2006 and 2012–2014 were obtained from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. ER+/Her2? patients with tumor‐characteristics making them eligible for gene‐expression testing in both cohorts and a discordant chemotherapy recommendation over time (2004 guideline not recommending and 2012 guideline recommending chemotherapy) were identified. We identified 3,864 patients eligible for gene‐expression profile use during both periods. Gene‐expression profiles were deployed in 5% and 35% of the patients in the respective periods. In both periods the majority of patients was assigned to a low genomic risk‐profile (67% and 69%, respectively) and high adherence rates to the test result were observed (86% and 91%, respectively). Without deploying a gene‐expression profile 8% and 52% (p <0.001) of the respective cohorts received chemotherapy while 21% and 28% of these patients received chemotherapy when a gene‐expression profile was used (p 0.191). In conclusion, in ER+/Her2? early stage breast cancer patients gene‐expression profile use was associated with a consistent proportion of patients receiving chemotherapy despite an adjusted guideline‐based recommendation to administer chemotherapy.     

Predictors of distress and quality of life in patients undergoing cancer therapy: impact of treatment type and decisional role

Purpose: The purpose of this secondary investigation was to examine the impact of the type of treatment received and the perceived role in treatment decision making in predicting distress and cancer‐specific quality of life in patients newly diagnosed with breast or prostate cancer. Method: Participants included 1057 newly diagnosed breast and prostate cancer patients from four Canadian cancer centers who partook in a randomized controlled trial examining the utility of providing patients with an audio‐recording of their treatment planning consultation. A MANCOVA was performed to predict distress and cancer‐specific quality of life at 12 weeks post‐consultation based on control variables (patient age, education, residence, tumor size (breast sample), gleason score (prostate sample), and receipt of an initial treatment consultation recording), predictor variables (treatment type—chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy; decisional role—active, collaborative, passive), and interactions between these predictors. Results: Women who received chemotherapy and reported having played a more passive role in treatment decision making had significantly greater distress and lower cancer‐specific quality of life at 12‐week post‐consultation. There were no statistically significant predictors of these outcomes identified for men with prostate cancer. Conclusion: Receipt of chemotherapy places women with breast cancer at risk for distress and reduced quality of life, but only for the subset of women who report playing a passive role in treatment decision making. Prospective, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the present findings and to explicate the antecedents, composition, and consequences of the ‘passive’ decisional role during the treatment phase of the cancer trajectory. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Systemic therapy for early‐stage HER2‐positive breast cancers: Time for a less‐is‐more approach?

Trastuzumab‐based chemotherapy has dramatically improved outcomes for patients with all stages of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)‐positive breast cancer. Additional HER2‐directed agents that have recently been approved are also expected to improve outcomes. Patients with small, lymph node‐negative, HER2‐positive breast cancers who are treated with trastuzumab‐based chemotherapy demonstrate especially favorable responses, with 5‐year recurrence rates of <5%. In this review, recent data regarding response rates among patients with early‐stage HER2‐positive breast cancer treated with trastuzumab‐based chemotherapy are discussed. This review supports future studies of the possible omission of chemotherapy in a subset of patients with HER2‐positive cancers, specifically those that coexpress hormone receptors. Cancer 2015;121:517–526. © 2014 American Cancer Society.     

56例隐匿性乳腺癌临床病理特征分析及诊疗策略探讨

背景与目的：隐匿性乳腺癌发病隐匿,诊断困难,治疗策略不确定,是乳腺癌领域的难点和热点。本研究探讨了隐匿性乳腺癌的临床病理特征及诊疗策略。方法：对56例隐匿性乳腺癌患者在术前采用乳腺彩超、钼靶、磁共振及PET/CT检查,对比不同检查方法对隐匿性乳腺癌可疑原发灶检出率及病理符合率的差异。治疗方案采用新辅助化疗、乳腺癌改良根治术、保乳+腋窝淋巴结清扫术、腋窝淋巴结清扫术,术后行化疗+放疗。结果：乳腺超声、X线、MRI、PET/CT对乳腺可疑原发灶的检出率分别为7.14%（4/56）、29.41%（15/51）、37.50%（18/48）和16.28%（7/43）;结合术后病理学检查发现其病理符合率分别为66.67%（2/3）、50.00%（7/14）、50.00%（9/18）和50.00%（3/6）;26例患者乳腺超声、X线及MRI均未发现可疑原发灶,其中21例接受病理学检查,阳性率为14.29%（3/21）;对39例乳腺癌改良根治术标本行乳腺病理切片检查,检出原发灶15例,检出率38.46%。根据St. Gallen指南分子分型标准,Luminal A型、Luminal B型、HER-2阳性型和三阴性型比例分别为7.14%、46.43%、12.50%和33.93%。术后随访52例,随访时间10~104个月,中位时间35个月,复发转移4例,死亡0例。检出原发灶的15例患者中,复发或转移2例;未检出原发灶的24例患者中,无复发或转移;行新辅助化疗17例,达病理学完全缓解（pathological complete response,PCR）2例,复发或转移2例;行乳腺癌改良根治术39例,复发或转移2例;行保乳+腋窝清扫8例,复发或转移2例;腋窝清扫9例,无复发或转移。结论：乳腺MRI检查在隐匿性乳腺癌的排除性诊断中有重要价值;乳腺超声、X线及MRI均未发现可疑原发灶的患者其乳腺病理原发灶检出率较低;隐匿性乳腺癌的治疗策略可选择新辅助化疗、乳腺癌改良根治术、保乳+腋窝清扫术、腋窝清扫术;乳腺病理学未检出原发灶的患者复发转移率低于检出原发灶者。     

Live birth outcomes after adolescent and young adult breast cancer

Reproductive outcomes are an important survivorship concern for women diagnosed with cancer as adolescents and young adults (AYAs). We examined the incidence of live birth and the prevalence of adverse birth outcomes according to tumor and treatment characteristics among AYAs with breast cancer. Women diagnosed with breast cancer at ages 15–39 during 2000–2013 were identified using the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry (n = 4,978). Cancer registry records were linked to state birth certificate files from 2000 to 2014 to identify births to women with and without a breast cancer history. The breast cancer cohort was followed until live birth, death, age 46, or December 31, 2014, whichever occurred first. For each birth to breast cancer survivors (n = 338), we sampled 20 births to women without a recorded cancer diagnosis, with frequency matching on maternal age and year of delivery. The cumulative incidence of live births after breast cancer was 8% at 10 years. Births were less common among women treated with chemotherapy. Overall, the prevalence of preterm birth, low birth weight, small‐for‐gestational age (SGA) and Cesarean delivery did not differ substantially between births to women with and without breast cancer. However, births to women with ER‐negative disease were more likely to be preterm (PR = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.11–3.06). In this population‐based study, <10% of AYA breast cancer survivors had a live birth within 10 years of their diagnosis. The increase in risk of preterm delivery among ER‐negative survivors in our cohort warrants further investigation in larger studies.     

Cytologically proven axillary lymph node metastases are eradicated in patients receiving preoperative chemotherapy with concurrent trastuzumab for HER2‐positive breast cancer

BACKGROUND:

The axillary pathologic complete response rate (pCR) and the effect of axillary pCR on disease‐free survival (DFS) was determined in patients with HER2‐positive breast cancer and biopsy‐proven axillary lymph node metastases who were receiving concurrent trastuzumab and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy is reported to result in pCR in the breast and axilla in up to 25% of patients. Patients achieving a pCR have improved DFS and overall survival. To the authors' knowledge, the rate of eradication of biopsy‐proven axillary lymph node metastases with trastuzumab‐containing neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens has not been previously reported.

METHODS:

Records were reviewed of 109 consecutive patients with HER2‐positive breast cancer and axillary metastases confirmed by ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration biopsy who received trastuzumab‐containing neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by breast surgery with complete axillary lymph node dissection. Survival was evaluated by the Kaplan‐Meier method. Clinicopathologic factors and DFS were compared between patients with and without axillary pCR.

RESULTS:

Eighty‐one patients (74%) achieved a pCR in the axilla. Axillary pCR was not associated with age, estrogen receptor status, grade, tumor size, initial N classification, or median number of lymph nodes removed. More patients with an axillary pCR also achieved a pCR in the breast (78% vs 25%; P < .001). At a median follow‐up of 29.1 months, DFS was significantly greater in the axillary pCR group (P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS:

Trastuzumab‐containing neoadjuvant chemotherapy appears to be effective in eradicating axillary lymph node metastases in the majority of patients treated. Patients who achieve an axillary pCR are reported to have improved DFS. The success of pCR with concurrent trastuzumab and chemotherapy in eradicating lymph node metastases has implications for surgical management of the axilla in these patients. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.     

定量动态增强磁共振评估乳腺癌新辅助化疗疗效的应用研究

背景与目的：乳腺癌的新辅助化疗(neoadjuvant chemotherapy, NAC)已成为成熟的治疗方法,但疗效评估尚未有统一有效的方法。该研究即探讨定量动态增强磁共振在乳腺癌NAC疗效评估中的价值。方法：24例术前行NAC的乳腺癌确诊患者(24例均为浸润性导管癌),分别于NAC前、第2个疗程后、化疗结束但术前3个时间点行定量动态增强磁共振检查,分析NAC前后肿瘤最长径及动态增强磁共振定量参数：容量转移常数(Ktrans)、速率常数(Kep)、血管外细胞外间隙容积比(Ve)的变化。结果：24例患者均为单侧单发乳腺癌病灶,以RECIST标准分为有效组(17个)和无效组(7个),有效组与无效组Ktrans、Kep在NAC前与第2个疗程、化疗前与化疗结束差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05),Ve在有效组与无效组治疗前后差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论：定量动态增强磁共振可用来评估NAC疗效,并且Ktrans、Kep可做到定量,使评估结果更为客观真实,但Ve对判断治疗效果未见明显优势。     

Effectiveness of alternating mammography and magnetic resonance imaging for screening women with deleterious BRCA mutations at high risk of breast cancer

BACKGROUND:

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used to supplement screening mammography and clinical breast examination (CBE) in women who are at high risk of developing breast cancer. In this study, the authors investigated the efficacy of alternating screening mammography and breast MRI every 6 months in women who had a genetically high risk of developing breast cancer.

METHODS:

A retrospective chart review was performed on all women who were seen in a high‐risk breast cancer clinic from 1997 to 2009. Patients with breast cancer gene (BRCA) mutations who underwent alternating screening mammography and breast MRI every 6 months were included in the study. Mammography, ultrasonography, MRI, and biopsy results were reviewed.

RESULTS:

Of 73 patients who met the study criteria, 37 had BRCA1 mutations, and 36 had BRCA2 mutations. Twenty‐one patients (29%) completed 1 cycle of mammography and MRI surveillance, 23 patients (31%) completed 2 cycles, 18 patients (25%) completed 3 cycles, and patients 11 (15%) completed ≥4 cycles. The median follow‐up was 2 years (range, 1‐6 years). Thirteen cancers were detected among 11 women (15%). The mean tumor size was 14 mm (range, 1‐30 mm), and 2 patients had bilateral cancers. Twelve of 13 cancers were detected on an MRI but not on the screening mammography study that was obtained 6 months earlier. One cancer (a 1‐mm focus of ductal carcinoma in situ) was an incidental finding in a prophylactic mastectomy specimen. One patient had ipsilateral axillary lymphadenopathy identified on ultrasonography but had no evidence of lymph node involvement after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery.

CONCLUSIONS:

In women who were at genetically high risk of developing breast cancer, MRI detected cancers that were not identified on mammography 6 months earlier. Future prospective studies are needed to evaluate the benefits of this screening regimen. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.     

Does MRI predict pathologic tumor response in women with breast cancer undergoing preoperative chemotherapy?

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy precludes the accurate pre-surgical pathologic measurement of tumor size. The purpose of this study is to review imaging studies performed in patients who received preoperative chemotherapy prior to surgery and determine whether MRI, ultrasound (US) or physical exam best predicted final pathologic tumor size. METHODS: Stage I, II, and III breast cancer patients were treated with neoadjuvant therapy on trial. As part of the trials, women underwent MRI, US, and physical exam prior to the start of therapy and 1 week after completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: Of the 68 patients with MRI data, the correlation coefficient (r) of MRI to pathologic size of tumor was r = 0.749. Among the 52 patients who had an US assessment the correlation of US to pathology was r = 0.612. Sixty-two patients had physical exam data, and the correlation of examination to pathology size was r = 0.439. MRI correctly predicted 8 of 11 complete responders and accurately evaluated the size of non-responders to neoadjuvant therapy (r = 0.869) CONCLUSIONS: In a select group of women undergoing neoadjuvant therapy for invasive breast cancer, MRI best predicted pathology response. The use of MRI in neoadjuvant therapy may allow for accurate prediction of patients eligible for breast conservation.     

Mammographycally occult high grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) as second primary breast cancer, detected with MRI: a case report

Background

Contralateral breast cancer (CLB) is the most common second primary breast cancer in patients diagnosed with breast cancer. The majority of patients harbouring CLB tumours develop the invasive disease. Almost all invasive carcinomas are believed to begin as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) lesions. The sensitivity of MRI for DCIS is much higher than that of mammography.

Case report

We report the case of a woman who was treated with breast conserving therapy 10 years ago. At that time the invasive medullary carcinoma was diagnosed in the left breast. Ten years later mammographically occult DCIS was diagnosed with MRI-guided core biopsy in contralateral breast.

Conclusions

There might be a potential role of MRI screening as part of an annual follow-up for patients diagnosed with breast cancer.     

Prognostic significance of occult axillary lymph node metastases after chemotherapy‐induced pathologic complete response of cytologically proven axillary lymph node metastases from breast cancer

BACKGROUND:

Primary systemic chemotherapy has been a standard of care for the management of locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) patients and has increasingly been used for patients with large operable breast cancer. Pathologic complete response (pCR) of axillary lymph node metastases predicted an excellent probability of long‐term disease‐free and overall survival. Although the clinical significance of occult lymph node metastases in patients with breast cancer was extensively studied, their prognostic value in patients with LABC after primary chemotherapy was not known. This study evaluated the detection rate and clinical significance of occult lymph node metastases in lymph nodes that contained metastatic carcinoma at the time of initial diagnosis and converted to negative based on routine pathologic examination after primary systemic chemotherapy.

METHODS:

Fifty‐one patients with LABC and cytologically involved axillary lymph nodes that converted to negative after preoperative chemotherapy were identified from 2 prospective clinical trials. All lymph node sections were reviewed, 1 deeper level hematoxylin and eosin‐stained section of each lymph node was obtained and immunohistochemical staining for cytokeratin (CK) was performed. A total of 762 lymph nodes were evaluated for occult metastases. Kaplan‐Meier survival curves were used for calculating disease‐free and overall survival times.

RESULTS:

Occult axillary lymph node metastases were identified in 8 of 51 (16%) patients. In 6 patients, occult metastases were found in only 1 lymph node. In 7 patients, only isolated CK‐positive cells were identified. In all cases, occult carcinoma cells were embedded within areas of fibrosis, foreign body giant cell reaction, and extensive histiocytosis. Patients with occult lymph node metastases tended to have a higher frequency of residual primary breast tumors than those without occult metastases (4 of 8 vs 7 of 43, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference in disease‐free or overall survival times between patients with and without occult metastases after a median follow‐up 63 months.

CONCLUSIONS:

Persistent occult axillary lymph node metastases were not uncommon in patients with axillary lymph node‐positive LABC who experienced a pCR in involved lymph nodes after preoperative chemotherapy. However, such occult metastases did not adversely affect the good prognosis associated with axillary lymph node pCR. Therefore, routine lymph node CK evaluation was not recommended after primary chemotherapy. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.     

BCRP和Ki-67与乳腺癌新辅助化疗疗效的关系

目的:探讨乳腺癌组织中乳腺癌耐药蛋白(breast cancer resistance protein,BCRP)和Ki-67的表达与新辅助化疗疗效之间的关系.方法:回顾性分析我科2012 年10月至2014年8 月收治的Ⅱ-Ⅲ期乳腺癌新辅助化疗患者65例,采用免疫组化方法检测BCRP和Ki-67的表达,分析BCRP、Ki-67的表达水平与新辅助化疗疗效的关系.结果:原发性乳腺癌组织中BCRP的阳性表达率为67.7%.BCRP的表达水平与新辅助化疗后病理组织学反应有关,组织学显著反应组(病理反应4~5级)BCRP的表达水平明显低于非显著反应组(病理反应1~3级),差异有统计学意义(x2=12.77,P=0.001).化疗前Ki-67高表达组临床缓解率明显高于低表达组(x2=17.72,P<0.00). 结论: 联合检测乳腺癌组织中BCRP和Ki-67 的表达水平对新辅助化疗疗效有一定的预测价值.     

Accuracy of clinical evaluation of locally advanced breast cancer in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy

BACKGROUND:

Physical examination (PE), mammography (MG), breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET), and pathologic evaluation are used to assess primary breast cancer. To the authors' knowledge, their accuracy has not been well studied in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Accuracies of each modality in tumor and lymph node assessment in patients with T3/T4 tumors receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy were compared.

METHODS:

Forty‐five patients of a prospective clinical trial studying T3‐T4M0 tumors were included. Patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy: docetaxel/carboplatin with or without trastuzumab before and/or after surgery (depending on HER‐2/neu status and randomization). Tumor measurements by PE, MG, and MRI and lymph node status by PE and PET were obtained before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Concordance among different clinical measurements was assessed and compared with the tumor and lymph node staging by pathology. Spearman correlation (r) and root mean square error (RMSE) were used to measure the accuracy of measurements among all modalities and between modalities and pathologic tumor size.

RESULTS:

Compared with the tumor size measured by PE, MRI was more accurate than MG at baseline (r = 0.559, RMSE = 35.4% vs r = 0.046, RMSE = 66.1%). After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, PE correlated better with pathology than MG or MRI (r = 0.655, RMSE = 88.6% vs r = 0.146, RMSE = 147.1% and r = 0.364, RMSE = 92.6%). Axillary lymph node assessment after neoadjuvant chemotherapy demonstrated high specificity but low sensitivity by PET and PE.

CONCLUSIONS:

Findings suggested that MRI was a more accurate imaging study at baseline for T3/T4 tumor, and PE correlated best with pathology finding. PET and PE both correctly predicted positive axillary lymph nodes but not negative lymph nodes. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.