Correlation between peritoneal cancer index and survival in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer with complete resection.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between the peritoneal cancer index, overall survival, and recurrence free survival, in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS: Patients treated at the Gustave-Roussy Institute between December 2004 and November 2017 for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer in complete resection were included. The correlation between the peritoneal cancer index and survival was studied using statistical modeling. Multivariate analysis was performed with a logistic regression model. RESULTS: Of the 351 patients included, 94 (27%) had initial surgery and 257 (73%) had interval surgery. Median follow-up was 52.7 months (range 47.6-63.9). Median peritoneal cancer index was 10 (range 0-32). The linear model best represented the relationship between peritoneal cancer index and overall survival. Patients with neoadjuvant chemotherapy had a greater instantaneous risk of baseline death than those with initial surgery, as well as a more rapid increase in this risk as the peritoneal cancer index increased. Overall survival and recurrence free survival were better in the initial surgery group (103.4 months (79.1-not reached (NR)) vs 66.5 months (59.1-95.3) and 31.8 months (23.7-48.7) vs 25.9 months (23.2-29), respectively). Risk factors for death were body mass index, peritoneal cancer index, and need for neoadjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The peritoneal cancer index is a prognostic indicator, but its linear relationship with survival precluded setting a unique peritoneal cancer index cut-off. Moreover, the prognostic impact of peritoneal cancer index was stronger in the setting of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

[Therapeutic de-escalation in breast cancer surgery]. / Désescalade thérapeutique dans le cancer du sein en chirurgie oncologique.

The surgical management of breast cancer has been marked by a therapeutic de-escalation from radical surgery to breast conservation and from axillary curage to sentinel lymph node sampling. With regard to breast surgery, the de-escalation of treatment has been largely due to organized screening, which has made it possible to diagnose tumors of smaller volume or at an earlier stage. The indications for conservative surgery have been broadened by the addition of radiotherapy on one hand, and the introduction of adjuvant and neo-adjuvant treatments on the other hand. In an effort to de-escalate surgery, totally non-invasive techniques such as radiofrequency, HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) or cryotherapy have been tested. Currently, three trials are underway to evaluate active surveillance, without surgery, in the management of certain low-risk ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS). Regarding axillary procedures, the sentinel node technique has allowed axillary staging in patients with early breast cancer without clinical or radiological lymph node involvement. Currently, international recommendations (ASCO, NCCN) and the consensus of experts in St Gallen do not recommend additional curage in cases of macro or micrometastatic invasion of the sentinel lymph nodes if the criteria of ACOSOG Z0011 are met. The question now arises as to the relevance of a biopsy of suspected axillary nodes during the initial workup and the usefulness of the sentinel node technique in the case of a negative initial workup.

Droplet-based digital PCR and next generation sequencing for monitoring circulating tumor DNA: a cancer diagnostic perspective.

INTRODUCTION: Early detection of cancers through the analysis of ctDNA could have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality of cancer patients. However, using ctDNA for early cancer diagnosis is challenging partly due to the low amount of tumor DNA released in the circulation and its dilution within DNA originating from non-tumor cells. Development of new technologies such as droplet-based digital PCR (ddPCR) or optimized next generation sequencing (NGS) has greatly improved the sensitivity, specificity and precision for the detection of rare sequences. Areas covered: This paper will focus on the potential application of ddPCR and optimized NGS to detect ctDNA for detection of cancer recurrence and minimal residual disease as well as early diagnosis of cancer patients. Expert commentary: Compared to tumor tissue biopsies, blood-based ctDNA analyses are minimally invasive and accessible for regular follow-up of cancer patients. They are also described as a better picture of patients' pathology allowing to highlight both tumor heterogeneity and multiple tumor sites. After a brief introduction on the application of the follow-up of ctDNA using genetic or epigenetic biomarkers for prognosis and surveillance of cancer patients, potential perspectives of using ctDNA for early diagnosis of cancers will be presented.