Surgery in reference centers improves survival of sarcoma patients: a nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: NETSARC (netsarc.org) is a network of 26 sarcoma reference centers with specialized multidisciplinary tumor boards (MDTB) aiming to improve the outcome of sarcoma patients. Since 2010, presentation to an MDTB and expert pathological review are mandatory for sarcoma patients nationwide. In the present work, the impact of surgery in a reference center on the survival of sarcoma patients investigated using this national NETSARC registry. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients' characteristics and follow-up are prospectively collected and data monitored. Descriptive, uni- and multivariate analysis of prognostic factors were conducted in the entire series (N = 35 784) and in the subgroup of incident patient population (N = 29 497). RESULTS: Among the 35 784 patients, 155 different histological subtypes were reported. 4310 (11.6%) patients were metastatic at diagnosis. Previous cancer, previous radiotherapy, neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), and Li-Fraumeni syndrome were reported in 12.5%, 3.6%, 0.7%, and 0.1% of patients respectively. Among the 29 497 incident patients, 25 851 (87.6%) patients had surgical removal of the sarcoma, including 9949 (33.7%) operated in a NETSARC center. Location, grade, age, size, depth, histotypes, gender, NF1, and surgery outside a NETSARC center all correlated to overall survival (OS), local relapse free survival (LRFS), and event-free survival (EFS) in the incident patient population. NF1 history was one of the strongest adverse prognostic factors for LRFS, EFS, and OS. Presentation to an MDTB was associated with an improved LRFS and EFS, but was an adverse prognostic factor for OS if surgery was not carried out in a reference center. In multivariate analysis, surgery in a NETSARC center was positively correlated with LRFS, EFS, and OS [P < 0.001 for all, with a hazard ratio of 0.681 (95% CI 0.618-0.749) for OS]. CONCLUSION: This nationwide registry of sarcoma patients shows that surgical treatment in a reference center reduces the risk of relapse and death.

Survival Benefit of the Surgical Management of Retroperitoneal Sarcoma in a Reference Center: A Nationwide Study of the French Sarcoma Group from the NetSarc Database.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines recommend that retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) be managed in a reference sarcoma center (RSC), but the benefit remains to be demonstrated. This study investigated the impact of initial surgery performed within the NetSarc network on overall survival (OS). METHODS: NetSarc is a network of 26 RSCs with specialized multidisciplinary tumor boards (MDTs) that is funded by the French NCI. Since 2010, presentation to an MDT and second pathological review are mandatory for sarcoma patients, and data have been collected in a nationwide database. We extracted data for all patients who received surgery in or outside the network and who presented at a NetSarc center (NSC) for primary nonmetastatic RPS between 2010 and 2017. RESULTS: A total of 2945 patients were included: 1078 (36.6%) underwent the first surgery in an NSC, and 1867 (63.4%) in an out-of-network center. The median number of operations at an NSC during the study period was 23 (range: 3-209), and the corresponding median was 1 (range: 1-2) at out-of-network centers. The diagnostic procedures followed significantly more clinical practice guidelines within NetSarc, where there were significantly more first R0 resections [452 (41.9%) vs. 230 (12.3%)]. The OS was significantly superior for patients treated within NetSarc, with a 2-year OS of 87% vs. 70% (p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, surgery within an NSC was an independent predictor of OS, with a twofold lower odds ratio of death. CONCLUSIONS: In this national study, surgery for primary RPS within an NSC was associated with a better OS.

Impact of sentinel node biopsy on long-term quality of life in breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess long-term quality of life (QoL) over a period of 6 years in women with breast cancer (BC) who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), or SLNB followed by ALND. METHODS: The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ)-C30 and the EORTC-QLQ-BR-23 questionnaires were used to assess QoL before surgery, just after surgery, 6, 12 and 72 months later. The longitudinal effect of surgical modalities on QoL was assessed with a mixed model analysis of variance for repeated measurements. RESULTS: Five hundred and eighteen BC patients were initially included. The median follow-up was 6 years. During the follow-up, 61 patients died. None of the patients of the SLNB group developed lymphedema during follow-up and the relapse rate was similar in the different groups (P=0.62). Before surgery, global health status (P=0.52) and arm symptoms (BRAS) (P=0.99) QoL scores were similar whatever the surgical procedure. The BRAS score (P=0.0001) was better in the SLNB group 72 months after surgery. Moreover, during follow-up, patients treated with SLNB had lower arm symptoms scores than ALND patients and there was no difference for arm symptoms between patients treated with ALND and those treated with SLNB followed by complementary ALND. CONCLUSION: Long-term follow-up showed that SLNB was associated with less morbidity than ALND.

Response shift effects on measuring post-operative quality of life among breast cancer patients: a multicenter cohort study.

PURPOSE: To characterize response shift effects in patients with breast cancer (BC). METHODS: The QLQ-C30, BR23, and EurQOL-EQ-5D were assessed at baseline and at the end of the first hospitalization. We used the then-test approach to characterize changes in internal standards by calculating the mean difference between the then-test (retrospective measure) and pre-test baseline QoL assessments. The Ideal Scale Approach was also used to assess changes in standards by comparing health and QoL expectancies between baseline and the end of the first hospitalization. Successive Comparison Approach was used to assess changes in values through the longitudinal assessment of the relative importance of EuroQOL dimensions. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that recalibration RS effects occurred early after the first hospitalization for 6/15 dimensions of QLQ-C30 (emotional, cognitive, fatigue, insomnia, appetite loss, diarrhea) and 2/8 of BR-23 (future perspective, systemic therapy side effects). Moreover, health and QoL expectancies changed between the baseline and the end of the first hospitalization, and changes in values were seen for the self-care and usual activities dimensions of the EuroQOL-EQ-5D. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of RS early after the first hospitalization suggests that it needs to be taken into account to interpret QoL changes in BC.

Impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on survival in breast cancer patients in daily practice: a population-based study.

This population-based study aimed to describe the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NC) on survival in breast cancer (BC) patients in daily practice. BC patients treated with NC followed by surgery and radiotherapy, were retrospectively selected from 1982 to 2005 using the Côte d'Or BC registry. These patients were matched for the baseline AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer) stage, age at diagnosis, date of diagnosis and oestrogens receptors status to those who had undergone surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The prognostic effect of NC on survival in BC patients was assessed with relative survival (RS) analyses. From 1982 to 2005, 210 patients with BC diagnosed in Côte d'Or were treated with NC followed by surgery and radiotherapy. For these patients, mean age at diagnosis was 50 (SD = 11). The main tumour characteristics were clinical AJCC stage 3 (46%) and an advanced Scarff Bloom and Richardson (SBR) stage (80%). Breast conserving surgery was performed in 84 patients (40%), 151 patients (72%) were treated with anthracyclines as the NC and the 5-year RS rate was 71%. Among these patients, 92 (37%) were matched. In this population, multivariate analyses showed that the use of NC did not independently influence RS: relative excess risk = 0.93 (0.50, 1.71).

Gene expression profile and response to trastuzumab-docetaxel-based treatment in breast carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Resistance to trastuzumab is often observed in women with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer and has been shown to involve multiple potential mechanisms. We examined the ability of microarray analyses to determine the potential markers of pathological complete response (pCR). METHODS: We conducted an analysis of tumours from 38 patients with locally advanced HER2-positive breast cancer who had received trastuzumab combined with docetaxel. Quantitative reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR was used to assess the expression of 30 key genes; microarray analyses were carried out on 25 tumours to identify a prognostic gene expression profile, with 13 blinded samples used to validate the identified profile. RESULTS: No gene was found to correlate with response by RT-PCR. The microarray analysis identified a gene expression profile of 28 genes, with 12 upregulated in the pCR group and 16 upregulated in non-pCR. The leave-one-out cross-validation test exhibited 72% accuracy, 86% specificity, and 55% sensitivity. The 28-gene expression profile classified the 13 validation samples with 92% accuracy, 89% specificity, and 100% sensitivity. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that genes not involved in classical cancer pathways such as apoptosis or DNA repair could be involved in responses to a trastuzumab-docetaxel-based regimen. They also describe for the first time a gene expression signature that predicts trastuzumab response.

A multicenter cohort study to compare quality of life in breast cancer patients according to sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection.

BACKGROUND: This prospective multicenter study assessed and compared the impact of different surgical procedures on quality of life (QoL) in breast cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The EORTC QLQ-C30 and the EORTC QLQ-BR-23 questionnaires were used to assess global health status (GHS), arm (BRAS) and breast (BRBS) symptom scales, before surgery, just after surgery and 6 and 12 months later. The Kruskal-Wallis test with the Bonferroni correction was used to compare scores. A mixed model analysis of variance for repeated measurements was then applied to assess the longitudinal effect of surgical modalities on QoL. RESULTS: Before surgery, GHS (P = 0.7807) and BRAS (P = 0.7688) QoL scores were similar whatever the surgical procedure: sentinel node biopsy (SLNB), axillary node dissection (ALND) or SLNB + ALND. As compared with other surgical groups, GHS 75.91 [standard deviation (SD) = 17.44, P = 0.041] and BRAS 11.39 (SD = 15.36, P < 0.0001) were better in the SLNB group 12 months after surgery. Whatever the type of surgery, GHS decreased after surgery (P < 0.0001), but increased 6 months later (P = 0.0016). BRAS symptoms increased just after surgery (P = 0.0329) and until 6 months (P < 0.0001) before decreasing (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: SLNB improved GHS and BRAS QoL in breast cancer patients. However, surgeons must be cautious, SLNB with ALND results in a poorer QoL.

Malignant extraovarian endometriosis: a review.

AIMS: Malignant transformation in extra-ovarian endometriosis is a rare but known complication. This distinct pathological entity is reviewed with a specific focus on aetiology and treatment. METHODS: Studies were identified by searching the English language literature in the MEDLINE database and by an extensive review of bibliographies from articles found through that search. FINDINGS: Up to 1% of women with endometriosis will develop endometriosis-associated neoplasm. Almost a quarter of the reported cases of malignancy in endometriosis have involved extra-ovarian tissues. In many cases, hormonal factors may play a role in its pathogenesis. Estrogen monotherapy in obese patients significantly increase the risk of malignant extra-gonadal endometrial transformation. Genetic anomalies have also been reported such as loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 5q. For patients with disease confined to the site of origin, a 82-100% 5-year survival has been noted for endometrioid cell type; disseminated intraperitoneal disease, however, has a very poor associated prognosis, with a 0-12% 5-year survival overall. CONCLUSIONS: Women with endometriosis-associated cancers most likely represent a different class of patients than traditional ovarian cancer patients and may require different therapeutic options.

[Pseudomyxoma peritonei: new concept and new therapeutic approach]. / Pseudomyxome péritonéal ou maladie gélatineuse du péritoine: nouveaux concepts et nouvelle prise en charge thérapeutique.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a rare disease, usually diagnosed after the discover of "jelly belly" by laparotomy. With the progress of immunohistochemistry, most authors now acknowledge the appendix to be the principal origin of this disease. Pseudomyxoma peritonei need to considered as border line malignant disease because of its inevitable persistence and progression without adapted therapeutic approach: cytoreductive surgery combined with perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia and/or immediate postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy) into specialized centres. The principal prognostic factors are the prior surgical history, the completeness of cytoreduction and especially the histopathologic grade.

[Primary juvenile hyperparathyroidism. Report of 24 cases]. / Hyperparathyroïdies primaires juvéniles. A propos de 24 observations.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Primary hyperparathyroidism usually affects elderly patients. Juvenile primary hyperparathyroidism is rare, and raises diagnostic and prognostic problems. The aim of this retrospective study on 24 patients is to establish clinical, histological, and therapeutic features of juvenile primary hyperparathyroidism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1986 to 2001, 673 patients were treated for primary hyperparathyroidism in our department. Twenty four patients were younger than 30 years old (3.5%). There were 14 women and 10 men. Mean age was 23 year (14-30). Clinical manifestations, pathologics findings and postoperative results were studied. RESULTS: Sixteen patients presented a sporadic form of primary hyperparathyroidism with a single adenoma. Clinical manifestations were renal symptoms in 11 cases and acute hypercalcemia syndrome in 2 cases. Seven patients had a NEM I syndrome: parathyroid lesions were 6 hyperplasia and one adenoma. A 27 years old woman presented a recurrent familial isolated hyperparathyroidism. She was operated on 10 years before and at reoperation parathyroid carcinoma was found. Nineteen patients were cured after a post operative follow up ranging from 3 to 168 months. One patient had an asymptomatic hypercalcemia recurrence. Two patients presented permanent hypoparathyroidism treated with calcitriol and calcium. CONCLUSION: Sporadic forms represent majority of cases of juvenile hyperparathyroidism. Renal manifestations are usual. Nevertheless, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 has to be evocated.

[Adrenocortical carcinoma: prognostic factors for local recurrence and indications for reoperation. A report on a series of 22 patients]. / Corticosurrénalome malin: facteurs pronostiques des récidives locorégionales et indications des réinterventions. A propos d'une série de 22 patients.

STUDY AIMS: The aim of this retrospective study was to identify prognostic factors on local recurrence in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma and to assess the effect of reoperations. METHODS: From 1985 to 2001, 22 patients were operated for adrenocortical carcinoma. We evaluated the correlation between actuarial survival without local recurrence and tumor staging, Weiss criteria, mitotic index, extensive resection and Op'DDD therapy by univariate analysis. Then we evaluated the effect of reoperations on survival. RESULTS: Local recurrence was observed in 7 patients and the 5-years actuarial survival without local recurrence was 50%. Tumor stage (I et II versus III et IV), Weiss criteria (< or = 6 criteria versus > 6) and mitotic index (< or = 20 mitoses/50 HPF versus > 20) affected survival without local recurrence. Extensive resection could reduce local recurrence rate. Op'DDD therapy was ineffective in prolonging survival without local recurrence. Four patients underwent repeat resections: 2 patients were still alive with disease free, 54 and 8 months after reoperations and 2 patients died, 19 and 25 months after reoperations. Three patients did not have repeat resection. They rapidly died within 8 months. CONCLUSION: Pathologic features (tumor staging and mitotic index) affected local recurrence prognostic. But extensive resection to adjacent organs could facilitate complete resection tumor and reduce the local recurrence rate. Complete repeat resection of local recurrence can improve survival. The disabling effects of Op'DDD were important and its efficacy was not clear.

[Differentiated thyroid carcinoma in children and adolescents: therapeutic strategy according to clinic presentation]. / Cancers différenciés de la thyroïde chez l'infant et l'adolescent: stratégie thérapeutique adaptée à la présentation clinique.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this retrospective study was to propose a therapeutic strategy according to clinic and pathologic presentations, in differentiated thyroid carcinoma in patients less than 20 years of age. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1995 to 2002, 74 patients less than 20 years of age were operated on for a differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Patients were divided in two groups according to the presence of lymph node (LN) detected before operation (19 "with LN" and 55 "without LN"). RESULTS: Surgery consisted of total thyroidectomy and lymph node dissection in the group "with LN". In the second group "without LN", total thyroidectomy was performed in 19 patients (associated with lymph node dissection in seven) and loboisthmectomy in 29 patients. Post operative radio iodine ablation was performed in 25 patients (16 "with LN" and nine "without LN"). During the follow up (median 71 months), 9/19 patients "with LN" underwent surgery for lymph node recurrence. Four patients of the "without LN" group were reoperated for recurrence in the controlateral thyroid lobe after initial loboisthmectomy. Initial presence of lymph nodes was a risk factor for reoperation. Survival without reoperation at 5 and 10 years was 58% and 38% for the "with LN" group and 96% and 91% for the "without LN" group respectively (P < 0.001). At the time of analysis, all patients were alive. Ninety percent of patients were in remission (68% of "with LN" and 98% of "without LN" patients). CONCLUSION: The risk of reoperation for lymph node recurrence during first post operative year is important in the "with LN" group. Therapeutic strategy consists of total thyroidectomy, complete lymph node dissection, radio iodine administration and l-thyroxine treatment. In "without LN" patients risk of lymph node recurrence is low. Treatment consist of total thyroidectomy, lymph node dissection and radio iodine administration are not systematic.

[Current management of pheochromocytoma: about 50 cases]. / Traitement actuel des phéochromocytomes: à propos de 50 cas.

STUDY AIM: The aim of this retrospective study was to assess our experience of the laparoscopic surgery of pheochromocytoma. We report indications and results of laparoscopic and open adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between january 1994 and may 2002, 50 patients underwent laparoscopic or open adrenalectomy for pheocromocytoma. The perioperative hemodynamic parameters were assessed for each patient. In each case, urinary metanephrine levels were measured at the second month postoperatively. The long term outcome was assessed in 44 patients. The mean follow-up was 39 months. RESULTS: Ten patients underwent open adrenalectomy: 8 patients for unilateral tumors (tumor size was > 8 cm in 7 cases) and 2 patients for bilateral tumors (1 recurrence and 1 cystic polylobed tumor). Fourty patients underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy: in 32 cases, including 1 patient with a bilateral tumor, no conversion was performed (tumor size was < 5 cm in 29 cases). In 8 cases (20%), a conversion to an open operation was performed. The reasons to convert were bleeding and periadrenal fibrosis in 7 cases. In laparoscopic adrenalectomy group, hemodynamic troubles were not more frequent, the hospital stay was shorter and there was no recurrence. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the Gold standard procedure for patients with pheochromocytoma. But open adrenalectomy is sometimes indicated: tumor size > 8 cm, periadrenal fibrosis, and recurrence tumor.

Neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer has no benefits on overall survival or on the mastectomy rate in routine clinical practice. A population-based study with a median follow-up of 11 years using propensity score matching.

BACKGROUND: Even though neoadjuvant chemotherapy has shown no benefits on overall survival (OS), it is being widely used in the treatment of breast cancer. This is based on the assumption that it may diminish the mastectomy rate and therefore be clinically relevant for patients. Our objective was to assess the impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on OS and on the rate of mastectomy in patients with non-metastatic primary operable breast carcinoma in routine practice. METHODS: The Cote d'Or district breast cancer registry was used to analyse the OS and mastectomy rate in patients with invasive primary operable unilateral breast cancer diagnosed between 1982 and 2006. We performed Cox proportional hazard ratio (HR) analyses for OS and multivariate logistic regression for the mastectomy rate for the overall population. Different matching methods based on the propensity score were used as sensitivity analyses to ensure that corrections for selection bias were adequate. RESULTS: We analysed 1578 patients, among whom 174 had received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Median follow-up was 11.1 years. There was no difference between the two treatment groups for OS (HR=1.08 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.77-1.51 for neoadjuvant chemotherapy)). The mastectomy rate was higher among patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (odds ratio 1.54 (95%CI: 1.03-2.31)). Sensitivity analyses confirmed these results: for OS, there was no difference between the two populations precisely matched using propensity scores (HR 1.08; 95%CI: 0.671-1.65). CONCLUSION: Despite long term follow-up, neoadjuvant chemotherapy provided no benefit for either OS or the mastectomy rate in our population.

Pre-operative systemic (neo-adjuvant) therapy with trastuzumab and docetaxel for HER2-overexpressing stage II or III breast cancer: results of a multicenter phase II trial.

BACKGROUND: Trastuzumab plus chemotherapy has become the standard of care for women with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive metastatic breast cancer. Trastuzumab-based pre-operative systemic (neo-adjuvant) therapy (PST) also appears promising, warranting further investigation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with HER2-positive, stage II/III non-inflammatory, operable breast cancer requiring a mastectomy (but who wished to conserve the breast) received weekly trastuzumab and 3-weekly docetaxel for six cycles before surgery. The primary end point was pathological complete response (pCR) rate, determined from surgical specimens. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were enrolled. The majority (79%) had T2 tumors, with 42% being N1/2. Twenty-nine patients completed six cycles of therapy and one patient withdrew prematurely due to progressive disease. A complete or partial objective clinical response was seen in 96% (73% and 23%, respectively) of patients. Surgery was performed in 30 patients, breast conserving in 23 (77%). In an intention-to-treat analysis, tumor and nodal pCR was seen in 14 (47%) patients. Treatment was generally well tolerated. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in 85% of patients while febrile neutropenia was encountered in 18%. Only three patients withdrew prematurely due to toxicity. No symptomatic cardiac dysfunction was reported. CONCLUSIONS: PST with trastuzumab plus docetaxel achieved promising efficacy, with a high pCR rate and good tolerability, in women with stage II or III HER2-positive breast cancer.

Prophylactic pancreaticoduodenectomy for premalignant duodenal polyposis in familial adenomatous polyposis.

The frequency of duodenal adenomas in patients with, familial adenomatous polyposis is high. Duodenal adenoma has malignant potential, and duodenal adenocarcinoma is one of the main causes of death in patients who have had previous proctocolectomy. A conservative approach to the treatment of duodenal adenomas (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, endoscopy, polypectomy through duodenotomy) is inefficient and unsafe. When invasive cancer occurs in duodenal adenomas, the result of surgery is poor. We have performed prophylactic pancreaticoduodenal resection (PDR) for nonmalignant severe duodenal polyposis in five patients since 1991. No operative mortality was observed. One patient developed a pancreatic fistula which was successfully managed by medical treatment. The mean follow-up was 35 months. All five patients are still alive and have a good functional outcome. Prophylactic PDR may be indicated in familial adenomatous polyposis when duodenal polyposis is severe. Stages III and IV of Spigelman's classification, periampullary adenoma, age above 40, and family history of duodenal cancer are factors that may lead to the decision to perform prophylactic PDR.