Clinical significance of HER2 status in T1bN0 breast cancer: a nationwide study from the Korean Breast Cancer Society.

PURPOSE: The prognosis of patients with node-negative T1b tumors according to human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status is not known. This group of patients has not been studied in the available randomized trials. The objective of this study was to evaluate the survival of patients in a monoethnic group diagnosed with T1b lymph node-negative breast cancer depending on HER2 status. METHODS: We analyzed 3110 patients with T1bN0M0 breast cancer whose data were deposited into the Korean Breast Cancer Society Registry database between 2000 and 2009. Overall survival (OS) and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) were compared according to HER2 status. RESULTS: Among all patients, 494 (15.9%) had HER2-positive breast cancer. At a mean follow-up of 93 months, 108 deaths and 86 breast cancer-specific deaths were noted among all patients. There was no significant difference in OS between the HER2-negative and HER2-positive groups (p = 0.103). The same result was observed for BCSS. However, in the subgroup of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive women, HER2-negative patients had a better BCSS prognosis than HER2-positive patients (p = 0.025). Multivariate analysis also indicated a significant difference in BCSS in the ER-positive subgroup (HR 2.60; 95% CI 1.15-5.87; p = 0.021). CONCLUSION: This study analyzed a large nationwide and monoethnic cohort and found a significant difference only in BCSS in the ER-positive subgroup according to HER2 status. Anti-HER2 therapy may be considered in HER2-positive and ER-positive patients with small, node-negative breast cancer.

Characteristics of gastric cancer recurrence five or more years after curative gastrectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of recurrences that occurred 5 or more years after curative resection for gastric cancer. METHODS: We analyzed recurrences among 1,299 patients with gastric cancer who underwent curative operations at the Department of Surgery, Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital between September 1998 and December 2002. Recurrences were classified as within 2 years (early), 2-5 years (intermediate), and more than 5 years (late) after gastrectomy. The clinicopathologic findings of the patients with late recurrence were compared with those of patients in the other two recurrence groups, with special reference to the patterns of recurrence. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were performed, incorporating factors such as operation type, T-stage, N-stage, stage, lymphatic invasion, neural invasion, histology, tumor size, and recurrence site. RESULTS: At the time of last follow-up, recurrence occurred in 266 (20.5%) patients. Recurrence times were classified as <2 years (182 patients), 2-5 years (61 patients), or >5 years (23 patients). The late recurrence rate was 8.6%. The occurrence of recurrence >5 years after gastrectomy was significantly correlated with age, operation type, T-stage, N-stage, stage, lymphatic invasion, neural invasion, histology, tumor size, location and recurrence site (P<0.05). The main recurrence patterns in the 23 patients with late recurrence were locoregional metastasis (10 patients, 43.5%), peritoneal seeding (8 patients, 34.8%), hematogenous metastasis (2 patients, 8.7%), and multiple metastasis (3 patients, 13.0%). A multivariate analysis showed that larger tumor size and younger age were independent prognostic factors for late recurrence. Additionally, locoregional and peritoneal recurrences were significantly more common than hematogenous recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: Although late recurrence was uncommon, younger age and larger tumor size were associated with high risk. Follow-up surveillance is recommended for locoregional and peritoneal metastasis.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Diagnosis and Surgery of Breast Cancer: A Multi-Institutional Study.

PURPOSE: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted the rates of screening, case identification, and referral for cancer diagnosis. We investigated the diagnosis and surgery status of breast cancer before and after the COVID-19 pandemic at a multi-institutional level. METHODS: We collected breast cancer data from the clinical data warehouse which contained the medical records of patients from six academic institutions in South Korea. Patients were divided into two groups: February to April (period A) and May to July (period B). The data from the two groups were then compared against the same periods in 2019 and 2020. The primary objective was to investigate the differences in breast cancer stages before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Among 3,038 patients, there was a 9.9% reduction in the number of diagnoses in 2020. This decrease was more significant during period A than period B. The breast cancer stage was not statistically different in period A (p = 0.115), but it was in period B (p = 0.001). In the subset analysis according to age, there was a statistical difference between 2019 and 2020 in period B for patients under the age of 65 years (p = 0.002), but no difference was observed in the other groups. CONCLUSION: The number of breast cancer cases declined during the pandemic, and the staging distribution has changed after the pandemic peak.

Mechanoreceptors in Remnant Posterior Cruciate Ligament and Achilles Tendon Allografts After Remnant-Preserving Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Hematoxylin-Eosin and Immunohistochemical Assessments.

BACKGROUND: Mechanoreceptor is a subtype of somatosensory receptor. It conveys extracellular stimuli through intracellular signal conduction via mechanically gated ion channel. It conveys not only kinetic stimuli but also pressure, stretching, touch, and even sound wave. Few studies have determined whether mechanoreceptors are present in Achilles tendon allografts used during remnant-preserving posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction (PCLR). PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose was to investigate whether mechanoreceptors are present in remnant tissues of the PCL and allograft tissues after PCLR. It was hypothesized that mechanoreceptors may be present in the remnant PCL tissue of the patients who underwent remnant PCLR technique. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Tissue samples were obtained from 14 participants who had undergone PCLR by means of Achilles tendon allografts (PCLR group) and from 4 healthy controls (control group). Among the PCLR group, 12 patients had undergone a remnant PCLR technique and the remaining 2 patients had undergone a nonremnant PCLR technique. In the PCLR group, we obtained samples during second-look arthroscopy or total knee arthroplasty after PCLR. In the control group, 4 biopsy specimens of normal PCL tissues were obtained from patients who had undergone other arthroscopic procedures. To check the presence of mechanoreceptors, immunohistochemical studies were performed on all biopsy specimens to identify neuronal and neurocytic markers by using monoclonal antibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein, neuron-specific enolase, neurofilament, and S-100 protein. Only 1 of these markers needed to be positive to prove the presence of mechanoreceptors. RESULTS: Neural tissue analogs, confirmed to be mechanoreceptors with monoclonal antibodies by the Ultraview DAB detection kit, were found in all specimens obtained from the control group. Mechanoreceptors were not found in the allograft specimens. However, remnant PCL tissues were found to have mechanoreceptors in 11 of 12 samples (91.7%). CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that Achilles tendon allografts lack mechanoreceptors. This study can be used as histological evidence to support the advantage of remnant-preserving techniques for PCLR because they preserve proprioception. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: To preserve proprioception, which leads to better functional outcome, using the remnant technique is a better procedure for PCL reconstruction.

Gorham's disease in humerus treated with autogenous vascularized fibular graft.

Gorham's disease is a rare disorder of the bone characterized by progressive massive osteolysis. The pathophysiology is unknown, and diagnosis is often difficult. Most cases are often recognized retrospectively. There is no standardized treatment and management for Gorham's disease. We report a case of an 18-year-old male presenting with a pathologic fracture in the humerus shaft diagnosed with Gorham's disease. Patient was treated with autogenous vascularized fibular graft with wide excision and a 10 years followup after first surgery.