Uptake of Risk-Reducing Surgeries in an International Real-World Cohort of Hispanic Women.

PURPOSE: Women with pathogenic variants (PVs) in breast cancer (BC) and ovarian cancer (OC) associated genes are candidates for cancer risk-reducing strategies. Limited information is available regarding risk-reducing surgeries (RRS) among Hispanics. The aim of this study was to describe the uptake of RRS in an international real-world experience of Hispanic women referred for genetic cancer risk assessment (GCRA) and to identify factors affecting uptake. METHODS: Between July 1997 and December 2019, Hispanic women, living in the United States or in Latin America, enrolled in the Clinical Cancer Genomics Community Research Network registry were prospectively included. Demographic characteristics and data regarding RRS were obtained from chart reviews and patient-reported follow-up questionnaires. Median follow-up was 41 months. RESULTS: Among 1,736 Hispanic women referred for GCRA, 27.2% women underwent risk-reducing mastectomy (RRM), 25.5% risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) and, 10.7% both surgeries. Among BRCA carriers, rates of RRM and RRSO were 47.6% and 56.7%, respectively. In the multivariate analyses, being a carrier of a BC susceptibility gene (odds ratio [OR], 3.44), personal history of BC (OR, 6.22), living in the US (OR, 3.90), age ≤50 years (OR, 1.68) and, family history of BC (OR, 1.56) were associated with a higher likelihood of undergoing RRM. Carrying an OC susceptibility gene (OR, 6.72) was associated with a higher likelihood of undergoing RRSO. CONCLUSION: The rate of RRS among Hispanic women is suboptimal. PV carriers, women with personal history of cancer, and those with a family history of cancer were more likely to have RRS, with less uptake outside the US. Understanding personal and systemic factors influencing uptake may enable interventions to increase risk appropriate uptake of RRS.

Evaluation of a Proteomics-Guided Protein Signature for Breast Cancer Detection in Breast Tissue.

The distinction between noncancerous and cancerous breast tissues is challenging in clinical settings, and discovering new proteomics-based biomarkers remains underexplored. Through a pilot proteomic study (discovery cohort), we aimed to identify a protein signature indicative of breast cancer for subsequent validation using six published proteomics/transcriptomics data sets (validation cohorts). Sequential window acquisition of all theoretical (SWATH)-based mass spectrometry revealed 370 differentially abundant proteins between noncancerous tissue and breast cancer. Protein-protein interaction-based networks and enrichment analyses revealed dysregulation in pathways associated with extracellular matrix organization, platelet degranulation, the innate immune system, and RNA metabolism in breast cancer. Through multivariate unsupervised analysis, we identified a four-protein signature (OGN, LUM, DCN, and COL14A1) capable of distinguishing breast cancer. This dysregulation pattern was consistently verified across diverse proteomics and transcriptomics data sets. Dysregulation magnitude was notably higher in poor-prognosis breast cancer subtypes like Basal-Like and HER2 compared to Luminal A. Diagnostic evaluation (receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves) of the signature in distinguishing breast cancer from noncancerous tissue revealed area under the curve (AUC) ranging from 0.87 to 0.9 with predictive accuracy of 80% to 82%. Upon stratifying, to solely include the Basal-Like/Triple-Negative subtype, the ROC AUC increased to 0.922-0.959 with predictive accuracy of 84.2%-89%. These findings suggest a potential role for the identified signature in distinguishing cancerous from noncancerous breast tissue, offering insights into enhancing diagnostic accuracy.

Brain metastasis risk prediction model in females with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in females, and the hormone receptor-positive subtype is the most frequent. Breast cancer is a common source of brain metastases; therefore, we aimed to generate a brain metastases prediction model in females with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. METHODS: The primary cohort included 3,682 females with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer treated at a single center from May 2009 to May 2020. Patients were randomly divided into a training dataset (n = 2,455) and a validation dataset (n = 1,227). In the training dataset, simple logistic regression analyses were used to measure associations between variables and the diagnosis of brain metastases and to build multivariable models. The model with better calibration and discrimination capacity was tested in the validation dataset to measure its predictive performance. RESULTS: The variables incorporated in the model included age, tumor size, axillary lymph node status, clinical stage at diagnosis, HER2 expression, Ki-67 proliferation index, and the modified Scarff-Bloom-Richardson grade. The area under the curve was 0.81 (95 % CI 0.75-0.86), p < 0.001 in the validation dataset. The study presents a guide for the clinical use of the model. CONCLUSION: A brain metastases prediction model in females with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer helps assess the individual risk of brain metastases.

Characterization of HER2-low breast cancer in young women with germline BRCA1/2 pathogenetic variants: Results of a large international retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) in women aged ≤40 years carrying germline pathogenetic variants (PVs) in BRCA1/2 genes is infrequent but often associated with aggressive features. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-low-expressing BC has recently emerged as a novel therapeutic target but has not been characterized in this rare patient subset. METHODS: Women aged ≤40 years with newly diagnosed early-stage HER2-negative BC (HER2-0 and HER2-low) and germline BRCA1/2 PVs from 78 health care centers worldwide were retrospectively included. Chi-square test and Student t-test were used to describe variable distribution between HER2-0 and HER2-low. Associations with HER2-low status were assessed with logistic regression. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used to assess disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival. Statistical significance was considered for p ≤ .05. RESULTS: Of 3547 included patients, 32.3% had HER2-low BC, representing 46.3% of hormone receptor-positive and 21.3% of triple-negative (TN) tumors. HER2-low vs. HER2-0 BC were more often of grade 1/2 (p < .001), hormone receptor-positive (p < .001), and node-positive (p = .003). BRCA2 PVs were more often associated with HER2-low than BRCA1 PVs (p < .001). HER2-low versus HER2-0 showed better DFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.86; 95% CI, 0.76-0.97) in the overall population and more favorable DFS (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.64-0.95) and overall survival (HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.46-0.93) in the TN subgroup. Luminal A-like tumors in HER2-low (p = .014) and TN and luminal A-like in HER2-0 (p = .019) showed the worst DFS. CONCLUSIONS: In young patients with HER2-negative BC and germline BRCA1/2 PVs, HER2-low disease was less frequent than expected and more frequently linked to BRCA2 PVs and associated with luminal-like disease. HER2-low status was associated with a modestly improved prognosis.

Multicenter Study on the Frequency of Low Bone Mineral Density in Young Women With Breast Cancer and Associated Factors.

INTRODUCTION: Young women with breast cancer (BC) may experience bone mineral density (BMD) loss secondary to cancer treatment effects on estrogen levels. Studies assessing BMD in BC patients have had a limited representation of young women. This multicenter retrospective study analyzed the frequency of low BMD and associated factors in this age group. METHODS: Women diagnosed with stage 0-III BC at ≤40 years, treated with chemotherapy and/or endocrine therapy between 2010 and 2020 at 5 Mexican BC referral centers were eligible. Demographic, clinical and treatment data were collected, as well as bone dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) results. Low BMD was defined as lumbar or femoral neck T-score < -1.0 or Z-score ≤ -2.0. RESULTS: A total of 1259 patients were included; median age at diagnosis was 36 years (21-40). Overall, 93% received chemotherapy and 65% endocrine therapy (tamoxifen was received at some point by 61%, aromatase inhibitors by 17%, and GnRH agonists/bilateral oophorectomy by 21%). DEXA scans were documented in 254 (20%), of which 163 (64%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 58%-70%) had a low BMD report. Low BMD was associated with receiving aromatase inhibitors (Odds ratio [OR] 1.92; 95% CI 1.13-3.24), and GnRH agonists/bilateral oophorectomy (OR 2.25; 95% CI 1.21-4.21). CONCLUSION: The suboptimal frequency of BMD monitoring observed displays an alarming disregard for bone health in young patients. Thus, a high proportion of women with low BMD are potentially being missed and precluded from the opportunity to receive timely interventions. Particular focus should be put on BMD monitoring among patients treated with aromatase inhibitors, GnRH agonists or bilateral oophorectomy.

Uptake of Risk-Reducing Measures, Cascade Testing, and Related Challenges Among Carriers of Breast Cancer-Associated Germline Pathogenic Variants in Mexico.

PURPOSE: Genetic cancer risk assessment (GCRA) provides pathogenic variant (PV) carriers with the invaluable opportunity to undertake timely cancer risk-reducing (RR) measures and initiate cascade testing (CT). This study describes the uptake of these strategies and the related barriers among breast cancer-associated germline PV carriers in Mexico. METHODS: Carriers who were at least 6 months after disclosure of genetic test results at two GCRA referral centers were invited to answer a survey assessing sociodemographic characteristics, awareness of their carrier status and its implications, uptake of RR measures according to international guidelines by PV, CT initiation, and associated challenges. RESULTS: Of the eligible carriers, 246/384 (64%) answered the survey (median age: 44 years). Most were female (88%), married/in domestic partnership (66%), and had personal breast/ovarian cancer history (61%). PVs included BRCA1/2 (75%), CHEK2 (10%), PALB2 (5%), ATM (5%), NF1 (2%), RAD51C (2%), PTEN (1%), and TP53 (1%). Most (87%) participants were aware of their carrier status. When recommended, 37% underwent RR bilateral mastectomy, 48% RR oophorectomy, 70% annual mammogram, and 20% breast magnetic resonance imaging. Challenges hindering the uptake of RR measures included financial limitations (67%), lack of recommendation by their physician (35%), and fear (24%). Nearly all (98%) claimed sharing their results with their relatives. CT was initiated in 63% of families and was associated with carriers being married/in domestic partnership (P = .04) and believing GCRA was useful (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Despite the resource-constrained setting, relevant rates of RR measures and CT were observed. Targeted interventions to reduce out-of-pocket expenses and improve patient-physician communication and patients' understanding on carrier status are warranted to enhance the overall benefit of GCRA and ultimately improve the provision of patient-centered care to both carriers and their at-risk relatives.

Ovarian Suppression: Early Menopause and Late Effects.

OPINION STATEMENT: Around 90% of breast tumours are diagnosed in the early stage, with approximately 70% being hormone receptor-positive. The cornerstone of adjuvant therapy for early-stage hormone receptor-positive breast cancer is endocrine therapy, tailored according to disease stage, biological characteristics of the tumour, patient's comorbidities, preferences and age. In premenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, ovarian function suppression is a key component of the adjuvant endocrine treatment in combination with an aromatase inhibitor or tamoxifen. Moreover, it can be used during chemotherapy as a standard strategy for ovarian function preservation in all breast cancer subtypes. In the metastatic setting, ovarian function suppression should be used in all premenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer to achieve a post-menopausal status. Despite its efficacy, ovarian function suppression may lead to several side effects that can have a major negative impact on patients' quality of life if not properly managed (e.g. hot flashes, depression, cognitive impairment, osteoporosis, sexual dysfunction, weight gain). A deep knowledge of the side effects of ovarian function suppression is necessary for clinicians. A correct counselling in this regard and proactive management should be considered a fundamental part of survivorship care to improve treatment adherence and patients' quality of life.

Diagnostic delays in breast cancer among young women: An emphasis on healthcare providers.

Despite advances in breast cancer care, breast cancer in young women (BCYW) faces unique challenges, diagnostic delays, and limited awareness in many countries. Here, we discuss the challenges and consequences associated with the delayed diagnosis of BCYW. The consequences of delayed diagnosis in young women - which generally varies among developed, developing, or underdeveloped countries - are severe due to a faster breast tumor growth rate than tumors in older women, also contributing to advanced cancer stages and poorer outcomes. Though there are many underlying reasons for diagnostic delays due to age, the article delves explicitly deep into the diagnostic delay of BCYW, focusing on healthcare providers, potential contributing factors, its consequences, and the urgent need to start minimizing such incidences. The article suggests several strategies to address these issues, including increasing awareness, developing educational programs for healthcare providers to identify signs and symptoms in young women, developing clear diagnostic guidelines, and improving screening strategies.

Obstetric and neonatal outcomes following taxane use during pregnancy: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The use of taxanes following the first trimester of pregnancy is endorsed by current clinical guidelines. However, evidence regarding their safety in terms of obstetric and neonatal outcomes is limited. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was performed using the MEDLINE, CENTRAL and Web of Sciences databases from their inception up to 12/16/2022. Eligibility criteria included gestational taxane use, presentation of original findings, and individual case data presented. A descriptive statistical analysis was undertaken. RESULTS: A total of 159 patients treated with taxane-containing regimens during pregnancy were identified, resulting in 162 fetuses exposed in utero. The majority of patients had breast cancer (n = 88; 55.3%) or cervical cancer (n = 45; 28.3%). The most commonly employed taxane was paclitaxel (n = 131; 82.4%). A total of 111 (69.8%) patients were also treated with other cytotoxic drugs during pregnancy, including platinum salts (n = 70; 63.0%) and doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (n = 20; 18.0%). While most patients received taxanes during the second trimester of pregnancy (n = 79; 70.0%), two were exposed to taxanes in the first trimester. Obstetric outcomes were reported in 105 (66.0%) cases, with the most frequent adverse events being preterm contractions or premature rupture of membranes (n = 12; 11.4%), pre-eclampsia/HELLP syndrome (n = 6; 5.7%), and oligohydramnios/anhydramnios (n = 6; 5.7%). All cases with pregnancy outcome available resulted in live births (n = 132). Overall, 72 (54.5%) neonates were delivered preterm, 40 (30.3%) were classified as small for gestational age (SGA), and 2 (1.5%) had an Apgar score of < 7 at 5 min. Perinatal complications included acute respiratory distress syndrome (n = 14; 10.6%), hyperbilirubinemia (n = 5; 3.8%), and hypoglycemia (n = 2; 1.5%). In addition, 7 (5.3%) cases of congenital malformations were reported. At a median follow-up of 16 months, offspring health status was available for 86 (65.2%), of which 13 (15.1%) had a documented complication, including delayed speech development, recurrent otitis media, and acute myeloid leukemia. CONCLUSIONS: Taxanes appear to be safe following the first trimester of pregnancy, with obstetric and fetal outcomes being similar to those observed in the general obstetric population. Future studies should aim to determine the most effective taxane regimen and dosage for use during gestation, with a specific focus on treatment safety.

Taxanes for the treatment of breast cancer during pregnancy: an international cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: The addition of taxanes to anthracycline-based chemotherapy is considered standard of care in the treatment of breast cancer. However, there are insufficient data regarding the safety of taxanes during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to describe the incidence of obstetric and neonatal adverse events associated with the use of taxane-containing chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of breast cancer during pregnancy. METHODS: This is a multicenter, international cohort study of breast cancer patients treated with taxanes during pregnancy. A descriptive analysis was undertaken to synthetize available data. RESULTS: A total of 103 patients were included, most of whom were treated with paclitaxel and anthracyclines given in sequence during gestation (90.1%). The median gestational age at taxane initiation was 28 weeks (range = 12-37 weeks). Grade 3-4 adverse events were reported in 7 of 103 (6.8%) patients. The most common reported obstetric complications were intrauterine growth restriction (n = 8 of 94, 8.5%) and preterm premature rupture of membranes (n = 5 of 94, 5.3%). The live birth rate was 92 of 94 (97.9%), and the median gestational age at delivery was 37 weeks (range = 32-40 weeks). Admission to an intensive care unit was reported in 14 of 88 (15.9%) neonates, and 17 of 70 (24.3%) live births resulted in small for gestational age neonates. Congenital malformations were reported in 2 of 93 (2.2%). CONCLUSION: Obstetric and neonatal outcomes after taxane exposure during pregnancy were generally favorable and did not seem to differ from those reported in the literature with standard anthracycline-based regimens. This study supports the use of taxanes during gestation when clinically indicated.

Pregnancy After Breast Cancer in Young BRCA Carriers: An International Hospital-Based Cohort Study.

Importance: Young women with breast cancer who have germline pathogenic variants in BRCA1 or BRCA2 face unique challenges regarding fertility. Previous studies demonstrating the feasibility and safety of pregnancy in breast cancer survivors included limited data regarding BRCA carriers. Objective: To investigate cumulative incidence of pregnancy and disease-free survival in young women who are BRCA carriers. Design, Setting, and Participants: International, multicenter, hospital-based, retrospective cohort study conducted at 78 participating centers worldwide. The study included female participants diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at age 40 years or younger between January 2000 and December 2020 carrying germline pathogenic variants in BRCA1 and/or BRCA2. Last delivery was October 7, 2022; last follow-up was February 20, 2023. Exposure: Pregnancy after breast cancer. Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary end points were cumulative incidence of pregnancy after breast cancer and disease-free survival. Secondary end points were breast cancer-specific survival, overall survival, pregnancy, and fetal and obstetric outcomes. Results: Of 4732 BRCA carriers included, 659 had at least 1 pregnancy after breast cancer and 4073 did not. Median age at diagnosis in the overall cohort was 35 years (IQR, 31-38 years). Cumulative incidence of pregnancy at 10 years was 22% (95% CI, 21%-24%), with a median time from breast cancer diagnosis to conception of 3.5 years (IQR, 2.2-5.3 years). Among the 659 patients who had a pregnancy, 45 (6.9%) and 63 (9.7%) had an induced abortion or a miscarriage, respectively. Of the 517 patients (79.7%) with a completed pregnancy, 406 (91.0%) delivered at term (≥37 weeks) and 54 (10.4%) had twins. Among the 470 infants born with known information on pregnancy complications, 4 (0.9%) had documented congenital anomalies. Median follow-up was 7.8 years (IQR, 4.5-12.6 years). No significant difference in disease-free survival was observed between patients with or without a pregnancy after breast cancer (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.81-1.20). Patients who had a pregnancy had significantly better breast cancer-specific survival and overall survival. Conclusions and Relevance: In this global study, 1 in 5 young BRCA carriers conceived within 10 years after breast cancer diagnosis. Pregnancy following breast cancer in BRCA carriers was not associated with decreased disease-free survival. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03673306.

Latin America and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer 1st Edition: Medical interventions including hormone replacement therapy and cancer screening.

Prostate, breast, colorectal, cervical, and lung cancers are the leading cause of cancer in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) accounting for nearly 50% of cancer cases and cancer deaths in the region. Following the IARC Code Against Cancer methodology, a group of Latin American experts evaluated the evidence on several medical interventions to reduce cancer incidence and mortality considering the cancer burden in the region. A recommendation to limit the use of HRT was issued based on the risk associated to develop breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer and on growing concerns related to the over-the-counter and without prescription sales, which in turn bias estimations on current use in LAC. In alignment with WHO breast and cervical cancer initiatives, biennial screening by clinical breast examination (performed by trained health professionals) from the age of 40 years and biennial screening by mammography from the age of 50 years to 74, as well as cervical screening by HPV testing (either self-sampling or provider-sampling) every 5-10 years for women aged 30-64 years, were recommended. The steadily increasing rates of colorectal cancer in LAC also led to recommend colorectal screening by occult blood testing every two years or by endoscopic examination of the colorectum every 10 years for both men and women aged 50-74 years. After evaluating the evidence, the experts decided not to issue recommendations for prostate and lung cancer screening; while there was insufficient evidence on prostate cancer mortality reduction by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, there was evidence of mortality reduction by low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) targeting high-risk individuals (mainly heavy and/or long-term smokers) but not individuals with average risk to whom recommendations of this Code are directed. Finally, the group of experts adapted the gathered evidence to develop a competency-based online microlearning program for building cancer prevention capacity of primary care health professionals.

Effect of receiving a customizable brochure on breast cancer patients' knowledge about their diagnosis and treatment: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients' lack of knowledge about their own disease may function as a barrier to shared decision-making and well-being. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of written educational materials on breast cancer patients. METHODS: This multicenter, parallel, unblinded, randomized trial included Latin American women aged ≥18 years with a recent breast cancer diagnosis yet to start systemic therapy. Participants underwent randomization in a 1:1 ratio to receive a customizable or standard educational brochure. The primary objective was accurate identification of molecular subtype. Secondary objectives included identification of clinical stage, treatment options, participation in decision-making, perceived quality of information received, and illness uncertainty. Follow-up occurred at 7-21 and 30-51 days post-randomization. CLINICALTRIALS: gov identifier: NCT05798312. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-five breast cancer patients with a median age of 53 years and 61 days from diagnosis were included (customizable: 82; standard: 83). At first available assessment, 52%, 48%, and 30% identified their molecular subtype, disease stage, and guideline-endorsed systemic treatment strategy, respectively. Accurate molecular subtype and stage identification were similar between groups. Per multivariate analysis, customizable brochure recipients were more likely to identify their guideline-recommended treatment modalities (OR: 4.20,p = 0.001). There were no differences between groups in the perceived quality of information received or illness uncertainty. Customizable brochure recipients reported increased participation in decision-making (p = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Over one third of recently diagnosed breast cancer patients are incognizant of their disease characteristics and treatment options. This study demonstrates a need to improve patient education and shows that customizable educational materials increase patients' understanding of recommended systemic therapies according to individual breast cancer characteristics.

Exploring the Potential Role of Circulating microRNAs as Biomarkers for Predicting Clinical Response to Neoadjuvant Therapy in Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) is increasingly being used to reduce tumor burden prior to surgical resection. However, current techniques for assessing tumor response have significant limitations. Additionally, drug resistance is commonly observed, raising a need to identify biomarkers that can predict treatment sensitivity and survival outcomes. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and have been shown to play a significant role in cancer progression as tumor inducers or suppressors. The expression of circulating miRNAs has been found to be significantly altered in breast cancer patients. Moreover, recent studies have suggested that circulating miRNAs can serve as non-invasive biomarkers for predicting response to NAT. Therefore, this review provides a brief overview of recent studies that have demonstrated the potential of circulating miRNAs as biomarkers for predicting the clinical response to NAT in BC patients. The findings of this review will strengthen future research on developing miRNA-based biomarkers and their translation into medical practice, which could significantly improve the clinical management of BC patients undergoing NAT.

A nationwide pilot study on breast cancer screening in Peru.

Introduction: A high prevalence of advanced breast cancer (BC) is a common scenario in Latin America. In Peru, the frequency of BC at Stages III/IV is ≈50% despite implementation of a programme for breast cancer screening (BCS) along the country. We carried out a study to assess the feasibility and develop an instrument to evaluate the knowledge, barriers and perception about BCS in a nationwide pilot study in Peru among candidates for BCS. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of 2,558 reports indexed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Medline-Ovid and EMBASE, regarding to our study theme. In total, 111 were selected and a 51-items survey was developed (eight items about sociodemographic characteristics). Patients were recruited in public hospitals or private clinics, in rural and urban areas of nine departments of Peru. Results: We surveyed 488 women from: Lima (150), Cajamarca (93), Ica (59), Arequipa (56), Loreto (48), Ancash (38), Junín (15), Puerto Maldonado (15) and Huancavelica (14); 27.9% of them were from rural areas. The mean of age was 53.3 years (standard deviation ± 9.1). Regarding education level, 29.8% had primary, 33.2% secondary and 37.0% higher education. In total, 28.7% of women did not know the term 'mammogram' and 47.1% reported never receiving a BCS (36.9% from urban and 73.5% from rural population). In women that underwent BCS, only 67% knew it is for healthy women. In total, 54.1% of patients had low levels of knowledge about risk factors for BC (i.e. 87.5% of women respond that injuries in the breast produce cancer). Cultural, economic and geographic barriers were significantly associated with having a mammogram where 56.9% of participants considered a cost ≤ 7 USD as appropriate. Mammogram was perceived as too painful for 54.9% of women. In addition, women with a self-perception of low-risk for BC and a fatalistic perception of cancer were less likely to have a BCS. Conclusion: We found that it is feasible to conduct a large-scale study in Peru. The results of this pilot study highlight an urgent need of extensive education and awareness about BCS in Peru.

Characterization of triple negative breast cancer gene expression profiles in Mexican patients.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive type of cancer that accounts for ~23% of breast tumors in Mexico. In an attempt to understand in an improved way the behavior of TNBC, throughout the years, gene expression in these tumors has been studied. Lehman et al identified 6 subtypes of gene expression in TNBC with distinct characteristics. In the present study, it was aimed to assess clinical, pathological and prognostic characteristics of TNBC in a Mexican-based cohort. A total of 55 patients diagnosed with TNBC at Mexico's National Institute of Cancer (INCan) were included. Tumor needle biopsy samples were obtained and subjected to microarray analysis. Patients were thus classified into one of the 6 TNBC molecular subtypes. The prognostic, clinical and pathological information of patients was obtained, and differences across molecular subtypes were sought. Out of the 55 included patients, the following subtypes were identified: 9 basal-like-1, 11 basal-like-2 (BSL2), 16 immunomodulatory (IM), 12 mesenchymal, 6 androgen receptor-like and 1 mesenchymal stem-like. Mean follow-up time was 47.1 months. The IM molecular subtype had the best overall survival (OS) (median OS was not reached). BSL2 had the worst OS (15 months). A complete pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy was obtained more often in the IM subtype (P=0.032). No significant associations were found between any of the clinical or pathological characteristics and the TNBC molecular subtypes. The results obtained from the present study should be considered when seeking to implement a clinical-molecular model for TNBC patient care, particularly in Hispanic-based populations, as they have been frequently underrepresented in clinical studies assessing TNBC molecular subtypes.

Current Scenario of Clinical Cancer Research in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), progress has been made in some national and regional cancer control initiatives, which have proved useful in reducing diagnostic and treatment initiation delays. However, there are still significant gaps, including a lack of oncology clinical trials. In this article, we will introduce the current status of the region's clinical research in cancer, with a special focus on academic cancer research groups and investigator-initiated research (IIR) initiatives. Investigators in LAC have strived to improve cancer research despite drawbacks and difficulties in funding, regulatory timelines, and a skilled workforce. Progress has been observed in the representation of this region in clinical trial development and conduct, as well as in scientific productivity. However, most oncology trials in the region have been sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, highlighting the need for increased funding from governments and private foundations. Improvements in obtaining and/or strengthening the LAC cancer research group's financing will provide opportunities to address cancer therapies and management shortcomings specific to the region. Furthermore, by including this large, ethnic, and genetically diverse population in the world's research agenda, one may bridge the gap in knowledge regarding the applicability of results of clinical trials now mainly conducted in populations from the Northern Hemisphere.