Lymphedema alters lipolytic, lipogenic, immune and angiogenic properties of adipose tissue: a hypothesis-generating study in breast cancer survivors.

Later stages of secondary lymphedema are associated with the massive deposition of adipose tissue (AT). The factors driving lymphedema-associated AT (LAT) expansion in humans remain rather elusive. We hypothesized that LAT expansion could be based on alterations of metabolic, adipogenic, immune and/or angiogenic qualities of AT. AT samples were acquired from upper limbs of 11 women with unilateral breast cancer-related lymphedema and 11 healthy women without lymphedema. Additional control group of 11 female breast cancer survivors without lymphedema was used to assess systemic effects of lymphedema. AT was analysed for adipocyte size, lipolysis, angiogenesis, secretion of cytokines, immune and stem cell content and mRNA gene expression. Further, adipose precursors were isolated and tested for their proliferative and adipogenic capacity. The effect of undrained LAT- derived fluid on adipogenesis was also examined. Lymphedema did not have apparent systemic effect on metabolism and cytokine levels, but it was linked with higher lymphocyte numbers and altered levels of several miRNAs in blood. LAT showed higher basal lipolysis, (lymph)angiogenic capacity and secretion of inflammatory cytokines when compared to healthy AT. LAT contained more activated CD4+ T lymphocytes than healthy AT. mRNA levels of (lymph)angiogenic markers were deregulated in LAT and correlated with markers of lipolysis. In vitro, adipose cells derived from LAT did not differ in their proliferative, adipogenic, lipogenic and lipolytic potential from cells derived from healthy AT. Nevertheless, exposition of preadipocytes to LAT-derived fluid improved their adipogenic conversion when compared with the effect of serum. This study presents results of first complex analysis of LAT from upper limb of breast cancer survivors. Identified LAT alterations indicate a possible link between (lymph)angiogenesis and lipolysis. In addition, our in vitro results imply that AT expansion in lymphedema could be driven partially by exposition of adipose precursors to undrained LAT-derived fluid.

Estrogen Receptor Status Oppositely Modifies Breast Cancer Prognosis in BRCA1/BRCA2 Mutation Carriers Versus Non-Carriers.

Breast cancer (BC) prognosis in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers has been reported contradictorily, and the significance of variables influencing prognosis in sporadic BC is not established in BC patients with hereditary BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations. In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed the effect of clinicopathological characteristics on BC prognosis (disease-free survival [DFS] and disease-specific survival [DSS]) in hereditary BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers. We enrolled 234 BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers and 899 non-carriers, of whom 191 carriers and 680 non-carriers, with complete data, were available for survival analyses. We found that patients with ER-positive tumors developed disease recurrence 2.3-times more likely when they carried a BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation (23/60; 38.3% ER-positive carriers vs. 74/445; 16.6% ER-positive non-carriers; p < 0.001). ER-positive mutation carriers also had a 3.4-times higher risk of death due to BC compared with ER-positive non-carriers (13/60; 21.7% vs. 28/445; 6.3%; p < 0.001). Moreover, prognosis in ER-negative BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers was comparable with that in ER-positive non-carriers. Our study demonstrates that ER-positivity worsens BC prognosis in BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers, while prognosis for carriers with ER-negative tumors (including early-onset) is significantly better and comparable with that in ER-positive, older BC non-carriers. These observations indicate that BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers with ER-positive BC represent high-risk patients.

Circulating tumor cells in patients with breast cancer: monitoring chemotherapy success.

UNLABELLED: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are an independent prognostic factor for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). However, the role of CTCs in early breast cancer management is not yet clearly defined. The aim of this study was to assess the CTC-positivity rate in patients undergoing chemotherapy depending on breast cancer stage in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant setting. We evaluated the ability to confirm therapy response by CTC analysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: CTCs isolated from blood by means of immunomagnetic separation were further characterized by means of reverse transcriptase - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EPCAM), mucin 1 (MUC1) and v-erb-b2 avian erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 2 (HER2) transcripts with the AdnaTest™. This prospective study included 179 patients; altogether 419 blood samples were evaluated. Patients with primary tumors were divided into neoadjuvant (n=38), and adjuvant (n=100) groups. Forty-one patients with MBC were evaluated under palliative treatment. RESULTS: CTC positivity was described in 35% of patients with early breast cancer without detected metastases before neoadjuvant chemotherapy; similarly, a 26% positivity rate was found in the adjuvant group. In patients with MBC, we detected CTCs in 43% of them. After completing the therapy, the CTC positivity rate decreased to 5% in the neoadjuvant group, to 13% in the adjuvant group and to 12% in the MBC group. CTC positivity after the therapy may classify a subgroup of patients at high risk of developing metastatic disease. This was even true when a patient was evaluated as being CTC-negative before chemotherapy. The multivariate analysis evaluating the correlation of CTC positivity with clinicopathological characteristics such as tumor size, nodal involvement, hormone receptor status, HER2 expression and number of metastatic sites revealed no statistically significant relationships. CONCLUSION: CTC status may have a significant impact on early BC management.