Health-Related Quality of Life After Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: Results From the INSPIRE Registry.

INTRODUCTION: Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) with immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) is increasingly used for both breast cancer (TNSM) and risk reduction (RRNSM). The aim of the study is to report the results of the INSPIRE registry assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) comparing baseline and 1-year follow-up, regarding surgical indications and chemotherapy (CT) received. METHODS: INSPIRE is a prospective database including women undergoing NSM and IBR from 18 countries. HRQoL was measured using EORTC QLQC30 and QLQ-BR23 before surgery and after 1 year. RESULTS: A total of 677 women were included, of whom 537 (79.3%) underwent TNSM and 140 (21.6%) RRNSM: in total, 806 NSM (556 TNSM and 250 RRNSM). Nipple involvement was present in 7.73% of TNSM and incidental carcinoma in 1.2% of the RRNSM group. Out of the overall 537 patients with systemic treatment, 177 (32.96%) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) and 118 (21.92%) adjuvant chemotherapy (CT). A total of 227 patients (28.16%) developed at least one complication postoperatively, 164 (29.5%) in the TNSM group and 63 (25.2%) in the RRNSM group. The TNSM group improved in global health status and emotional functioning after 1 year. No differences were found when comparing HRQoL at 1 year between patients who received NCT and those who received adjuvant CT. The RRNSM group showed improvement in HRQoL, with better emotional functioning and fatigue after 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: This registry reports HRQoL findings after NSM. The impact of CT on worse HRQoL is independent from its timing. Patients with RRNSM showed an improved HRQoL at 1-year follow-up. Discussion of HRQoL outcomes with patients will facilitate the informed decision-making when considering NSM.

Leveraging the increased rates of pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant treatment in breast cancer to de-escalate surgical treatments.

INTRODUCTION: Breast conservative surgery (BCS) and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) after neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) is safe and effective for selected patients. This aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of anatomic site of response on outcomes and to assess the real population who may benefit from nonsurgical approaches after NAT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From a prospectively maintained database, patients with T1-4 N0-2 breast cancer undergoing NAT were identified. Clinicopathological and survival rates were compared in relation to response and anatomic site of response. RESULTS: Six hundred and forty-six patients were included in the study. Pathologic complete response (pCR) was an independent factor for BCS and SLN. HER2 positive and TN tumors with cN0 achieving a breast pCR remain ypN0 (p = .002). Residual axillary disease was associated with breast residual tumor (p = .05) and subtype (p = .001). With a median follow up of 35.25 months, patients with any pCR had improved survival when compared with partial response, but not significant differences between pCR, axillary pCR, or breast pCR. CONCLUSION: Achieving a pCR increases BCS and SLN. In selected subgroups, sparing any axillary surgery after NAT maybe feasible. In cN+ patients, any pCR was associated with survival, but not the anatomic site of response.

Intraoperative Ultrasound-Guided Excision of Axillary Clip in Patients with Node-Positive Breast Cancer Treated with Neoadjuvant Therapy (ILINA Trial) : A New Tool to Guide the Excision of the Clipped Node After Neoadjuvant Treatment.

BACKGROUND: The accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) has been improved with the placement of a clip in the positive node prior to treatment. Several methods have been described for clipped node excision during SLNB after NAT. We assessed the feasibility of intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS)-guided excision of the clipped node during SLNB and investigated whether the accuracy of SLNB is improved. METHODS: After approval by the Institutional Ethics Committee, all breast cancer patients undergoing NAT had an US-visible clip placed in the positive node. The ILINA trial consisted of IOUS-guided excision of the clipped node along with SLNB and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). RESULTS: Forty-six patients had a clip placed in the positive node. In two (4.3%) cases, the clip could not be seen prior to surgery and the patient underwent ALND; however, the clipped node was successfully removed by IOUS-guided excision in 44 patients. Thirty-five patients (79.5%) underwent SLNB along with IOUS-guided excision of the clipped node and ALND, and were subsequently included in the ILINA trial. Nine patients were not included (five patients with SLNB only and four patients with ALND without SLNB). SLNB matched the clipped node in 27 (77%) patients. The false negative rate for the ILINA protocol was 4.1% (95% confidence interval 0.1-21.1%). CONCLUSIONS: IOUS-guided excision of the axillary clipped node after NAT was feasible, safe, and successful in 100% of cases. The ILINA trial is accurate in predicting axillary nodal status after NAT.

Intraoperative Ultrasound-Guided Lumpectomy Versus Mammographic Wire Localization for Breast Cancer Patients After Neoadjuvant Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS)-guided lumpectomy in early breast cancer has shown advantages over other techniques. However, the use of IOUS has been less explored after neoadjuvant treatment (NAT). This study aimed to compare IOUS- and wire localization (WL)-guided surgery in breast cancer patients after NAT. METHODS: The study enrolled patients treated with NAT who underwent breast-conserving surgery (BCS) between July 2008 and December 2012. For the patients with a hydrogel marker or residual tumor visible on ultrasound, an IOUS-guided surgery was performed (IOUS group). The patients with a standard marker or hydrogel marker not visible on ultrasound underwent a WL-guided surgery (WL group). RESULTS: The study investigated 214 patients: 145 (67.8 %) in the IOUS group and 69 (32.2 %) in the WL group. The patient and tumor characteristics were comparable between the two groups. For the patients who had a pathologic complete response (pCR) or microscopic disease, the volume excised was lower in the IOUS group (p = 0.03). The rate of reexcision for positive or close margins was similar in the two groups (p = 0.80). After a median follow-up period of 43 months, the local recurrence rates did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with WL surgery, IOUS seems to lower the volume of resection in patients with pCR or minimal microscopic disease after NAT without compromising margins and local recurrences. BCS can easily be achieved with IOUS for patients with a good response after NAT.

Different Prognostic Implications of Residual Disease After Neoadjuvant Treatment: Impact of Ki 67 and Site of Response.

BACKGROUND: Pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) can be used as an independent prognostic factor in neoadjuvant trials. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of Ki 67 expression and site of response on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) across different molecular subtypes of breast cancer following NAC. METHODS: Records from 357 patients who received NAC from 2004 to 2011 were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to analyze clinical and pathological factors that influence pCR and DFS. RESULTS: Mean follow-up time was 45 months (range 12-112). pCR was achieved in 82 patients (23 %). According to molecular subtypes, rates of pCR were significantly higher for patients with HER2-positive and triple-negative tumors (69.4 and 32.7 %, respectively; p < 0.001) compared with other molecular subtypes. pCR was a predictive factor of longer OS and DFS. The hazard ratio for DFS in patients with positive lymph nodes (ypN1) after NAC was 2.48 (95 % confidence interval 1.47-4.19). Multivariate analysis showed that molecular subtype, changes in Ki 67 expression, and axillary lymph node response were significantly predictors of OS and DFS. CONCLUSIONS: pCR in the axilla and posttreatment changes in Ki 67 after NAC are associated with improved survival. Depending on axillary staging before NAC, detection of minimal residual disease-defined as the presence of isolated tumor cells in the SLN after NAC-may confer different prognosis. Further studies are needed to tailor treatments for patients with residual disease after NAC.

Nomogram including the total tumoral load in the sentinel nodes assessed by one-step nucleic acid amplification as a new factor for predicting nonsentinel lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients.

Several models have been developed to predict non-sentinel nodes (NSLN) metastasis in patients with a positive sentinel node (SLN) that incorporates a standard pathology examination of the SLN. It has been reported that total tumoral load (TTL) in the SLNs assessed by one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) is a predictive factor for additional NSLN metastasis in the axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). The objective was to develop a nomogram that predicts patient´s risk of additional NSLN metastasis incorporating TTL in the SLNs assessed by OSNA. Six hundred and ninety-seven consecutive patients with positive SLN evaluation by OSNA and a completion ALND were recruited. Pathologic features of the primary tumor and SLN metastases, including TTL were collected. Multivariate logistic regression identified factors predictive of non-SLN metastasis. A nomogram was developed with these variables and validated in an external cohort. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, tumor size, number of affected SLN, Her2 overexpression, lymphovascular invasion, and TTL were each associated with the likelihood of additional NSLN metastasis (p < 0.05). The overall predictive accuracy of the nomogram, as measured by the AUC was 0.7552 (95 %CI 0.7159-0.7945). When applied to the external cohort the nomogram was accurate with an AUC = 0.678 (95 %CI 0.621-0.736). This novel nomogram that incorporates TTL assessed by OSNA performs well and may help clinicians to make decisions about ALND for individual patients. Moreover, the standardization of pathologic assessment by OSNA may help to achieve interinstitutional reproducibility among nomograms.

Intraoperative molecular analysis of total tumor load in sentinel lymph node: a new predictor of axillary status in early breast cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the intraoperative positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) total tumor load (TTL, defined as the amount of CK19 mRNA copies [copies/µL] in all positive SLNs) obtained by one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) and to determine whether it is predictive of non-SLNs involvement. SUMMARY/BACKGROUND/DATA: The OSNA assay (Sysmex Corporation, Kobe, Japan) is a new diagnostic technique that uses molecular biological techniques to analyze SLN that has been validated as an accurate method for detection of positive SLN. Although the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z0011 trial has defined a select cohort of patients in whom a completion axillary lymph node dissection (cALND) may be safely omitted, there are a still a number of patients where prediction of non-SLN metastasis may be helpful for cALND decision making. Multiple studies suggest that specific pathologic characteristics of the primary tumor and the SLN metastases are associated with an increased likelihood of additional positive non-SLN. METHODS: This is a retrospective multicentric cohort study of 697 patients with cT1-3N0 breast cancer, who had had intraoperative SLN evaluation by OSNA assay with a cALND. TTL is defined as the amount of CK19 mRNA copies number in all positives SLN (copies/µL). RESULTS: Univariate logistic regression showed that, in addition to TTL (p < 0.001), the number of affected SLNs (p < 0.001), tumor size (p < 0.001), HER2 status (p = 0.007), and lymphovascular invasion (LVI, p < 0.001) were predictive of ALND status. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that TTL is an independent predictor of metastatic non-SLNs, after adjusting for the tumor size, HER2 status, LVI and, in particular, the number of affected SLNs. CONCLUSIONS: TTL by OSNA is a newly standardized and automated tool that predicts axillary node status better and independently of the number of affected SLNs and the type of surgery. This value can then help clinicians to personalize surgical treatment. Prospective studies will be carried out to determine the clinical impact of this variable in the management of patients.

Feasibility and safety of targeted axillary dissection guided by intraoperative ultrasound after neoadjuvant treatment.

BACKGROUND: Axillary management in cN + axillary nodes after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) in breast cancer (BC) remains under research with the aim of de-escalation of axillary node dissection (ALND). Several axillary guided localization techniques have been reported. This study evaluates the safety of intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) guided targeted axillary dissection (TAD) in a large sample after the results of ILINA trial. MATERIALS: Prospective data have been collected from October 2015 to June 2022 in patients with cT0-T4 and positive axillary lymph nodes (cN1) treated with NST. Before NST, an ultrasound visible marker was placed into the positive node. After NST, IOUS guided TAD was performed including sentinel node biopsy (SLN). Until December 2019, all patients underwent an ALND after TAD procedure. From January 2020, ALND was spared in those patients with an axillary pathological complete response (pCR). RESULTS: 235 patients were included. pCR (ypT0/is ypN0) was achieved in 29% patients. Identification rate (IR) of the clipped node by IOUS was 96% (95% IC, 92.5-98.1%) and IR of SLN was 95% (95% IC, 90.8-97.2%). False negative rate (FNR) for TAD procedure (SLN + clipped node) was 7.0% (95% IC, 2.3-15.7%), which decreased to 4.9% when a total of 3 or more nodes were removed. Axillary ultrasound before surgery assessed residual disease with an AUC of 0.5241. Residual axillary disease tend to be the most significant factor for axillary recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the feasibility, safety and accuracy of IOUS guided surgery for axillary staging after NST in node positive BC patients.

Early-Stage Breast Cancer Detection in Breast Milk.

Breast cancer occurring during pregnancy (PrBC) and postpartum (PPBC) is usually diagnosed at more advanced stages compared with other breast cancer, worsening its prognosis. PPBC is particularly aggressive, with increased metastatic risk and mortality. Thus, effective screening methods to detect early PrBC and PPBC are needed. We report for the first time that cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA) is present in breast milk (BM) collected from patients with breast cancer. Analysis of ctDNA from BM detects tumor variants in 87% of the cases by droplet digital PCR, while variants remain undetected in 92% of matched plasma samples. Retrospective next-generation sequencing analysis in BM ctDNA recapitulates tumor variants, with an overall clinical sensitivity of 71.4% and specificity of 100%. In two cases, ctDNA was detectable in BM collected 18 and 6 months prior to standard diagnosis. Our results open up the potential use of BM as a new source for liquid biopsy for PPBC detection. SIGNIFICANCE: For the first time, we show that BM obtained from patients with breast cancer carries ctDNA, surpassing plasma-based liquid biopsy for detection and molecular profiling of early-stage breast cancer, even prior to diagnosis by image. See related commentary by Cunningham and Turner, p. 2125. This article is featured in Selected Articles from This Issue, p. 2109.

Extensive nodal involvement increases the positivity of blue nodes in the axillary reverse mapping procedure in patients with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The axillary reverse mapping (ARM) technique has been proposed to prevent arm lymphedema. We conducted this study to assess the feasibility of the technique and the outcomes of patients with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). METHODS: From July 2009 to May 2010, a prospective study was performed in 36 patients with breast cancer undergoing an ALND. The ARM technique was performed injecting 3 cm(3) of Patent Blue in the ipsilateral arm. Of the 36 patients, 29 patients received NAC previously to the ARM and 7 patients had an ALND and ARM performed as first treatment for positive axillary nodes. RESULTS: The identification rate of blue nodes was 83.3% (30 patients). Sentinel lymph node (SLN) was performed in 15 of 29 (42%) patients in the NAC group. Of these 15, two patients (13%) had a concordance between the blue and the hot node. Blue nodes were positive in 4 (13%) of the 30 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The ARM technique is feasible in patients undergoing NAC. Patients with extensive nodal involvement have increased risk of having positive blue nodes. More studies are needed to assess the subgroup of patients with positive axilla that may have the blue node spared without compromising the oncological treatment.

Prognostic value of ctDNA detection in patients with early breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is increasingly being used as a biomarker in early breast cancer (EBC). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the prognostic value of ctDNA in patients with EBC treated with neoadjuvant therapy (NAT). We searched Medline, Web of Science and Embase for observational or interventional studies that included patients with EBC undergoing NAT, reported outcomes related to the predefined endpoints, and had full text articles available. Study selection followed the PRISMA guidelines and quality assessment the REMARK tool for biomarker studies. Primary endpoint was impact of ctDNA detection in different time points (baseline, on-treatment, and after NAT) on relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints included the association of ctDNA detection with pathologic complete response (pCR), and the positive and negative predictive value of ctDNA detection in predicting residual disease after NAT. From the 2908 studies initially identified, 11 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Detection of ctDNA, both at baseline and after completion of NAT, significantly associated to worse RFS (HR 4.22, 95% CI: 1.29-13.82 and HR 5.67, 95% CI: 2.73-11.75, respectively) and worse OS (HR 19.1, 95% CI: 6.9-53.04 and HR 4.00, 95% CI: 1.90-8.42, respectively). In contrast, detection of ctDNA did not associate with the probability of achieving a pCR. Our results suggest that ctDNA assessment during NAT for EBC merits further evaluation as a stratification risk factor in prospective trials, in order to better individualize patient's treatment.

Clearance of ctDNA in triple-negative and HER2-positive breast cancer patients during neoadjuvant treatment is correlated with pathologic complete response.

Background: Although the standard of care is to perform surgery of primary breast cancer (BC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), for certain patients achieving clinical complete response (cCR) and pathologic complete response (pCR), omission of surgical treatment may be an option. Levels of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) during and after therapy could identify patients achieving minimal residual disease. In this study, we evaluated whether ctDNA clearance during NAC could be a correlate to effective response in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2+) and triple-negative (TN) BC patients. Methods: A prospective study was conducted to identify patient-specific PIK3CA and TP53 mutations in tissue using next-generation sequencing, which could then be used to track the presence/absence of mutations prior to, during, and following NAC using Sysmex SafeSEQ technology. All patients underwent a surgical excision after NAC, and pCR was assessed. Results: A total of 29 TN and HER2+ BC patients were examined and 20 that carried mutations in the PIK3CA and/or TP53 genes were recruited. Overall, 19 of these 20 patients harbored at least one tumor-specific mutation in their plasma at baseline. After NAC, 15 patients (75.0%) achieved pCR according to the histopathologic evaluation of the surgical specimen, and 15 patients (75.0%) had a cCR; 18 of 20 patients (90.0%) had concordant pCR and cCR. The status of 'no mutation detected' (NMD) following NAC in cCR patients correctly identified the pCR in 14 of 15 patients (93.33%), as well as correctly ruled out pCR in three patients, with an accuracy of 89.47%. During the 12-month follow-up after surgery, 40 plasma samples collected from 15 patients all showed no detectable ctDNA (NMD), and no patient recurred. Conclusion: These findings prompt further research of the value of ctDNA for non-invasive prediction of clinical/pathological response, raising the possibility of sparing surgery following NAC in selected BC patients.

Preclinical In Vivo Validation of the RAD51 Test for Identification of Homologous Recombination-Deficient Tumors and Patient Stratification.

PARP inhibitors (PARPi) are approved drugs for platinum-sensitive, high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) and for breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancers (PaC) harboring genetic alterations impairing homologous recombination repair (HRR). Detection of nuclear RAD51 foci in tumor cells is a marker of HRR functionality, and we previously established a test to detect RAD51 nuclear foci. Here, we aimed to validate the RAD51 score cut off and compare the performance of this test to other HRR deficiency (HRD) detection methods. Laboratory models from BRCA1/BRCA2-associated breast cancer, HGSOC, and PaC were developed and evaluated for their response to PARPi and cisplatin. HRD in these models and patient samples was evaluated by DNA sequencing of HRR genes, genomic HRD tests, and RAD51 foci detection. We established patient-derived xenograft models from breast cancer (n = 103), HGSOC (n = 4), and PaC (n = 2) that recapitulated patient HRD status and treatment response. The RAD51 test showed higher accuracy than HRR gene mutations and genomic HRD analysis for predicting PARPi response (95%, 67%, and 71%, respectively). RAD51 detection captured dynamic changes in HRR status upon acquisition of PARPi resistance. The accuracy of the RAD51 test was similar to HRR gene mutations for predicting platinum response. The predefined RAD51 score cut off was validated, and the high predictive value of the RAD51 test in preclinical models was confirmed. These results collectively support pursuing clinical assessment of the RAD51 test in patient samples from randomized trials testing PARPi or platinum-based therapies. SIGNIFICANCE: This work demonstrates the high accuracy of a histopathology-based test based on the detection of RAD51 nuclear foci in predicting response to PARPi and cisplatin.

SOLTI-1805 TOT-HER3 Study Concept: A Window-of-Opportunity Trial of Patritumab Deruxtecan, a HER3 Directed Antibody Drug Conjugate, in Patients With Early Breast Cancer.

Background: Preclinical data support a key role for the human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) pathway in hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer. Recently, new HER3 directed antibody drug conjugates have shown activity in breast cancer. Given the need to better understand the molecular biology, tumor microenvironment, and mechanisms of drug resistance in breast cancer, we designed this window-of-opportunity study with the HER3 directed antibody drug conjugate patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd; U3-1402). Trial Design: Based on these data, a prospective, multicenter, single-arm, window-of-opportunity study was designed to evaluate the biological effect of patritumab deruxtecan in the treatment of naïve patients with HR-positive/HER2-negative early breast cancer whose primary tumors are ≥1 cm by ultrasound evaluation. Patients will be enrolled in four cohorts according to the mRNA-based ERBB3 expression by central assessment. The primary endpoint is a CelTIL score after one single dose. A translational research plan is also included to provide biological information and to evaluate secondary and exploratory objectives of the study. Trial Registration Number: EudraCT 2019-004964-23; NCT number: NCT04610528.

Breast cancer during pregnancy: matched study of diagnostic approach, tumor characteristics, and prognostic factors.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is one of the most frequently occurring cancers during pregnancy and its incidence is increasing. Many studies have shown poor outcomes, the causes of which remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: To analyze radiologic characteristics, histology, and prognosis factors of breast cancer during pregnancy. METHODS: A total of 42 patients with breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy (BCP) were matched with 84 patients with breast cancer of similar age who were not pregnant. Sensitivity of radiology, tumor characteristics, prognosis factors, disease-free survival, and overall survival were analyzed. RESULTS: The sensitivity of breast ultrasound was higher than that of mammography for both groups. Ultrasound sensitivity for cancer was 95.7% in patients with BCP versus 98% in the not pregnant group, with non-statistically significant differences. Mammography sensitivity for cancer was 56.5% in patients with BCP versus 61% in the not pregnant group, with non-statistically significant differences. The stage at diagnosis according to the TNM staging system was significantly higher in patients with BCP with stage IV cancer: 16.7% in patients with BCP versus 3.7% in the not pregnant group (p = 0.03). No statistically significant differences were observed in histologic grade, Ki-67 index, or molecular subtype. Disease-free survival and overall survival were significantly lower in patients with BCP (p = 0.002 and p = 0.04). Multivariate analysis showed no difference when adjusting for stage and surrogate molecular subtype. CONCLUSION: Breast ultrasound shows a high sensitivity to detect breast cancer during pregnancy. BCP is diagnosed at a higher stage than in nonpregnant women. In our series, patients with BCP had poorer outcomes than the not pregnant group. These results were not observed when adjusting for stage.

A randomized study comparing different doses of superparamagnetic iron oxide tracer for sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer: The SUNRISE study.

INTRODUCTION: The non-radioactive method that uses the magnetic tracer (SPIO/Sienna) has shown to be a feasible technique for the SLN detection in breast cancer patients. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of different doses of a new magnetic tracer Sienna XP (Magtrace) compared to Tc-99 m and to evaluate its non-inferiority. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer cT1-3 N0, from October 2016 to August 2018 were eligible and consecutively randomized to three different doses of new SPIO used: group 1 (1 mL), group 2 (1.5 mL) and group 3 (2 mL). RESULTS: A total of 135 patients were included in the study, 45 in each group. Detection of SLNs with the three doses of Sienna XP (1 mL, 1.5 mL and 2 mL) showed non-inferior rates compared to the conventional technique with radiotracer (p = 0.654). Concordance by patients with SLN positive was 100% for all groups. 83 (70.3%) patients reported skin staining at one month postoperatively, significantly lower in group 1 (p = 0.042). At 6 months follow up, group 1 remains with significantly lower skin discoloration (p = 0,01). In multivariate analysis, dose of 2 mL showed statistically significant for the skin staining. The majority of patients (70%) felt that skin discoloration does not represent a problem. CONCLUSION: The use of the Sienna XP magnetic tracer at 1 mL is not inferior to higher doses of magnetic tracer neither is inferior to radiotracer. 1 mL of magnetic tracer resulted in significantly less skin discoloration compared to higher doses.

Axillary staging based on molecular analysis: Results of the B-CLOSER-II study.

INTRODUCTION: Axillary staging (pN) is a strong predictor of outcome in early stage breast cancer yet following the publication of the Z0011 trial there has been an increasing tendency to spare lymph node dissection. Automated molecular detection of cytokeratin 19mRNA by one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) has been demonstrated to be an accurate method to assess sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis. In this study we compare histological and molecular methods following complete axillary lymph node dissection (cALND), determine whether molecular axillary staging affects survival, and evaluate the predictive and prognostic value of total tumor load in ALND (AD-TTL) and in all positive nodes (G-TTL). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Axillary lymph nodes were collected from 102 patients with primary breast cancer with histological confirmation of axillary involvement (cN+) or positive SLN. The central 1-mm portion of each non-SLN was processed for hematoxylin-eosin staining and the remaining tissue was analyzed by OSNA. RESULTS: Non-SLNs were diagnosed as positive in 72 out of 102 patients (70.6 %) on OSNA compared with only 53 (52 %) on histology (p < 0.01). Thirteen patients would have changed staging if the diagnoses provided had been by molecular methods (p < 0.01), but without a change in prognosis. AD-TTL and G-TTL were predictive of recurrence and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to molecular detection, histological examination significantly underestimates the frequency of axillary node metastases. However, the increase in pN did not show a clinical effect on survival in those patients.

Five microRNAs in Serum Are Able to Differentiate Breast Cancer Patients From Healthy Individuals.

Breast cancer is the cancer with the most incidence and mortality in women. microRNAs are emerging as novel prognosis/diagnostic tools. Our aim was to identify a serum microRNA signature useful to predict cancer development. We focused on studying the expression levels of 30 microRNAs in the serum of 96 breast cancer patients vs. 92 control individuals. Bioinformatic studies provide a microRNA signature, designated as a predictor, based on the expression levels of five microRNAs. Then, we tested the predictor in a group of 60 randomly chosen women. Lastly, a proteomic study unveiled the overexpression and downregulation of proteins differently expressed in the serum of breast cancer patients vs. that of control individuals. Twenty-six microRNAs differentiate cancer tissue from healthy tissue, and 16 microRNAs differentiate the serum of cancer patients from that of the control group. The tissue expression of miR-99a, miR-497, miR-362, and miR-1274, and the serum levels of miR-141 correlated with patient survival. Moreover, the predictor consisting of miR-125b, miR-29c, miR-16, miR-1260, and miR-451 was able to differentiate breast cancer patients from controls. The predictor was validated in 20 new cases of breast cancer patients and tested in 60 volunteer women, assigning 11 out of 60 women to the cancer group. An association of low levels of miR-16 with a high content of CD44 protein in serum was found. Circulating microRNAs in serum can represent biomarkers for cancer prediction. Their clinical relevance and the potential use of the predictor here described are discussed.

The Second Generation Antibody-Drug Conjugate SYD985 Overcomes Resistances to T-DM1.

Trastuzumab-emtansine (T-DM1) is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) approved for the treatment of HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2)-positive breast cancer. T-DM1 consists of trastuzumab covalently linked to the cytotoxic maytansinoid DM1 via a non-cleavable linker. Despite its efficacy, primary or acquired resistance frequently develops, particularly in advanced stages of the disease. Second generation ADCs targeting HER2 are meant to supersede T-DM1 by using a cleavable linker and a more potent payload with a different mechanism of action. To determine the effect of one of these novel ADCs, SYD985, on tumors resistant to T-DM1, we developed several patient-derived models of resistance to T-DM1. Characterization of these models showed that previously described mechanisms-HER2 downmodulation, impairment of lysosomal function and upregulation of drug efflux pumps-account for the resistances observed, arguing that mechanisms of resistance to T-DM1 are limited, and most of them have already been described. Importantly, SYD985 was effective in these models, showing that the resistance to first generation ADCs can be overcome with an improved design.