The prognostic value of the tumour-stroma ratio in primary operable invasive cancer of the breast: a validation study.

PURPOSE: The primary aim of the current study is to validate the prognostic relevance of the relative amount of tumour-associated stroma, the tumour-stroma ratio, in a large cohort of primary operable breast cancer patients. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed on women diagnosed and treated for primarily operable invasive breast cancer in the period from 1 January 1990 till 31 December 1999. Tumour-stroma ratio was estimated by microscopic evaluation of haematoxylin and eosin tumour slides. Two independent observers (k = 0.68) performed tumour-stroma ratio evaluation in a significant part of the cohort. The prognostic potential with respect to overall, recurrence-free and distant metastasis-free survival was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of n = 737 women were evaluated. Median follow-up time was 11.5 years. High stromal content was an independent prognosticator for worse overall (hazard ratio 1.56, p = 0.002, 95% confidence interval 1.18-2.05), distant metastasis-free (hazard ratio 1.52, p = 0.008, 95% confidence interval 1.12-2.06) and recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio 1.35, p = 0.046, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.81). In subgroups of hormone receptor-positive and lymph node-negative cases, high stromal content was also an independent prognosticator for worse outcome. CONCLUSION: Tumour-stroma ratio is an independent risk factor for worse overall, distant metastasis-free and recurrence-free survival in primarily operable breast cancer. However, detailed prospective studies with respect to tumour-stroma ratio are necessary to gain more insight in its prognostic potential in clinical practice.

The additional cancer yield of clinical breast examination in screening of women at hereditary increased risk of breast cancer: a systematic review.

Women at hereditary increased risk of breast cancer are subjected to frequent clinical breast examination (CBE) and radiological evaluation of the breasts. This review appraises the additional cancer yield by CBE in screening of women at increased risk of breast cancer who are also subjected to frequent radiological evaluation. A literature search was conducted to identify all prospective studies on the additional value of CBE in screening of women at increased risk of breast cancer. Quality appraisal of included studies was performed using the QUADAS-2 tool. A total of 514 citations were identified. Relevant literature was scarce and highly heterogeneous. Seven prospective studies were included for review of which two studies reported additional cancer yield of CBE (3 and 5 % of total cancer cases). These two studies reported lower screen detection (77 and 80 %) compared to the studies in which no additional cases were detected by CBE (screen detection ≥94 %). Current literature on CBE in screening of women at increased risk of breast cancer is insufficient. However, it suggests that the additional cancer yield by performing CBE is minimal or absent. Reconsideration of the role of CBE in intensified screening might be warranted.

A mycotic aneurysm of the abdominal aorta caused by Mycobacterium bovis after intravesical instillation with bacillus Calmette-Guérin.

Intravesical administration of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), a live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis, plays an important role in adjuvant treatment of superficial bladder cancer. Severe adverse events due to this treatment are rare. Complications of varying character and severity have been described, including rare BCG-related vascular infections. In this writing, we present a case of mycotic abdominal aneurysm caused by M. bovis infection related to prior intravesical BCG instillation.