[Male breast cancer: prognostic factors, diagnosis and treatment: a multi-institutional survey of 95 cases]. / Le cancer du sein chez l'homme: approche épidémiologique, diagnostique, et thérapeutique: étude multicentrique rétrospective à propos de 95 cas.

OBJECTIVES: The optimal treatment for male breast cancer is not known because male breast cancer is a rare disease. It represents as little as 0.6% of all breast cancers and less than 1% of human cancers. The aim was to analyze the clinical, histological and therapeutic characteristics of 95 men cared for breast cancer between 2000 and 2010 in four hospitals, and determine predictors of poor prognosis to improve care of male breast cancer. METHODS: This study is a multi-institutional survey, retrospective, involving four French institutions: Cancer Institute of the West (ICO), Reunion Island South hospital group, the hospital group of Dax, and the Bergonié Institute. All carcinomas in situ or invasive breast occurred in male patients were included. An analysis of clinical, histological and therapeutic features was performed. Statistical analysis of our study focused on the overall survival of patients and specific method of Kaplan-Meier, enabling search for predictors of poor prognosis. RESULTS: The mean age was 65 years. Thirty-seven percent of patients were overweight or obese. It was in 88% of cases of palpable tumor whose average size was 26.29mm. Ninety patients, none had a lesion palpable T0, 44% T1 tumors, 38% T2 tumors, 3% had a T3 tumors, and finally 10% T4 tumors. The histological type was the most common invasive ductal carcinoma (87%). He found a similar proportion of patients with or without lymph node involvement. N+ patients, capsular rupture was observed in 29% of cases. Receptor positivity was found, estrogen in 95% of cases and progesterone in 83% of cases. Additional irradiation was performed in 75% of patients and chemotherapy in 37% of patients. Overall survival was 79.2% at five years and 70.8% at ten years. Age, tumor size and histological capsular rupture are factors that significantly influence the overall survival and specific. CONCLUSION: Male breast cancer is a different pathology of breast cancer in women. The majority of recommendations suggest treating men who are diagnosed with breast cancer, using the guidelines applied to postmenopausal women treatments. There is no study based on male population that has evaluated these treatment modalities in terms of impact on survival. The diagnosis is usually made at later stages, and tumor size is often greater. Histological characteristics also differ. However, the treatment is almost identical.

[Hodgkin's disease and breast cancer: for which patients is there an association? A series from Institut Bergonié]. / Maladie de Hodgkin et cancer du sein: une association pour quelles patientes ? À propos d'une série de l'institut Bergonié

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer is the most frequent secondary tumor for women treated for Hodgkin's disease. It is important to study the risk factors associated to be able to adapt the monitoring of these women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study from Institut Bergonié, a comprehensive French Cancer Center, concerning the women treated for Hodgkin's disease and having developed a breast cancer. RESULTS: Among 328 women treated for Hodgkin's disease between January 1968 and December 1994, 20 patients developed 25 breast cancers. The average age of the patients during the irradiation was 24 years and the average period of occurrence of the cancer was 19 years. An irradiation of the chest wall and an under-diaphragmatic irradiation in doses of 40Gy are risk factors for the occurrence of breast cancer. A young age, less than 30, in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease tend to be significant. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This population of women with a high risk of breast cancer thus has to benefit from an appropriate monitoring program, which is what we suggest setting up in the Institut Bergonié.

Cost comparison of axillary sentinel lymph node detection and axillary lymphadenectomy in early breast cancer. A national study based on a prospective multi-institutional series of 985 patients 'on behalf of the Group of Surgeons from the French Unicancer Federation'.

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to assess the global cost of the sentinel lymph node detection [axillary sentinel lymph node detection (ASLND)] compared with standard axillary lymphadenectomy [axillary lymph node dissection (ALND)] for early breast cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective, multi-institutional, observational, cost comparative analysis. Cost calculations were realized with the micro-costing method from the diagnosis until 1 month after the last surgery. RESULTS: Eight hundred and thirty nine patients were included in the ASLND group and 146 in the ALND group. The cost generated for a patient with an ASLND, with one preoperative scintigraphy, a combined method for sentinel node detection, an intraoperative pathological analysis without lymphadenectomy, was lower than the cost generated for a patient with lymphadenectomy [€ 2947 (σ = 580) versus € 3331 (σ = 902); P = 0.0001]. CONCLUSION: ASLND, involving expensive techniques, was finally less expensive than ALND. The length of hospital stay was the cost driver of these procedures. The current observational study points the heterogeneous practices for this validated and largely diffused technique. Several technical choices have an impact on the cost of ASLND, as intraoperative analysis allowing to reduce rehospitalization rate for secondary lymphadenectomy or preoperative scintigraphy, suggesting possible savings on hospital resources.

Evaluation of a preoperative multimedia information program in surgical oncology.

AIM: We report on the design, validation and evaluation of a DVD for patient information in a department of surgical oncology. PATIENTS AND METHOD: DVDs provided the patient with information about the anatomy, surgical techniques and post-operative complications on digestive cancers, oral cavity and breast tumours. After surgery a questionnaire was sent to the patients in order to evaluate their level of satisfaction and opinion regarding the pre-operative information they had been given. RESULTS: One hundred and eight patients were invited to watch the DVD. Seventy-one percent of the patients considered that viewing the DVD had been positive and encouraging and 83% of all the patients would recommend its use. Among the 14 patients who experienced complications, only 21% declared having been well informed by the DVD and only 12% considered they were better prepared to face those complications. CONCLUSIONS: DVD based information systems are valuable and acceptable to patients, but the presentation of complications needs to be improved.

[Primary breast sarcoma. A retrospective study of 42 patients treated at the Bergonié Institute during a 32-year period]. / Sarcomes primitifs du sein: à propos d'une série rétrospective de 42 cas traités à l'Institut Bergonié sur une période de 32 ans.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the experience of a single cancer center with unusual tumors. To analyze Primary breast sarcomas (PBS). To investigate treatment and prognostic factors influencing overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of a series of 42 patients. We reviewed the clinical records and pathology slides of 42 women with PBS treated in our institution between 1970 and 2002. Log-rank tests were used to determine OS and DFS. RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 56.9 years (24-81 years). Surgery was part of the therapeutic strategy in all the patients. Patients with angiosarcoma and those with malignant cystosarcoma constituted distinct populations. The 10-year OS and DFS rates were 53% and 55% for angiosarcoma patients and 89% and 100% for cystosarcoma patients (p=0.009 and 0.01 respectively). CONCLUSION: Careful preoperative multidisciplinary assessment is required before making the decision to treat. Mastectomy is generally indicated. Axillary lymph node dissection is not indicated.

Number of residual nodules, better than size, defines optimal surgery in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

The objective of the present study was to improve the definitions of optimal and suboptimal surgery in ovarian cancer. A retrospective prognostic factor analysis was done in a series of 433 patients with advanced ovarian cancer (stages III and IV) treated during the cisplatine era from 1980 to 1997 with assessment of postoperative residual disease by number and ranges of size of peritoneal nodules. Mean age of patients was 56.7 years. Median follow-up of patients alive was 138 months (range: 6-266 months). Median overall survival was 23 months. Significant prognostic factors for overall survival in univariate analysis were age, the presence of ascites, FIGO stage, treatment period, histological subtype, grade, results of surgery as defined by size and number of residual nodules. In multivariate analysis, quality of surgery defined by no versus few versus numerous residual nodules showed to remain an independent prognostic factor for outcome (P = 0.003), whereas size of residual nodules did not achieve significance. In conclusion, only complete surgery (no residual nodules) confers a real survival advantage. Cytoreduction to few and small nodules is associated with favorable outcome and could be qualified as optimal. Otherwise, cytoreduction leaving numerous nodules, whatever their size, remains suboptimal. Such patients should be considered for neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.

[Breast biopsies: stereotactic vacuum-assisted core biopsy and stereotactic surgical breast biopsy]. / Les prélèvements mammaires en stéréotaxie: macrobiopsies avec aspiration et biopsies chirurgicales stéréotaxiques.

Stereotactically-guided procedures for diagnosis of breast lesions can avoid a lot of surgical biopsies. Stereotactic guidance is used for vacuum-assisted core biopsies and for stereotactic breast biopsies. Technical details of the procedures are described, and the benefits and the limits of these methods are discussed. Indications for breast sampling are proposed according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) assessment categories.

[First surgery followed by vaginal curietherapy in small-volume uterine cervix cancer: an alternative to the association of uterovaginal curietherapy and surgery]. / Chirurgie première suivie de curiethérapie vaginale dans les cancers du col utérin de petit volume: une alternative à l'association de curiethérapie utérovaginale et de chirurgie.

PURPOSE: Evaluate the results of the treatment of small uterine cervix cancer with the association of surgery and postoperative vaginal brachytherapy, without unfavourable prognostic factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After radical hysterectomy with lymphadenectomy, 29 women (mean age: 44 years) with carcinoma < 25 mm (26 stage IB1, 3 IIA, mean size: 15 mm) were treated by post-operative prophylactic vaginal brachytherapy using low dose rate. Ovarian transposition was performed at the surgical time in 14 young women (mean age 35 years). RESULTS: The actuarial specific survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 100% and 90% respectively, with a mean follow-up 75 months. Only one local recurrence was observed. The rate of grade 1 post-operative complication was 7%. The conservation rate of the ovarian function was 85% for young women. CONCLUSION: Treatment of small volume uterine cervix cancer using first surgery and post-operative vaginal brachytherapy is a reliable therapeutic option. The results in terms of specific survival and complications are the same with those after standard association of preoperative uterovaginal brachytherapy and surgery.

[Radiotherapy of the breast and chest wall: treatment volume]. / La radiothérapie du sein et de la paroi thoracique: les volumes à traiter.

The radiotherapy of the breast or the chest wall is a complex technique. The definition of the gross tumour volume and the clinical target volume depends on clinical, anatomical and histological criteria. The volumes are located by physical examination, mammography, echography and tomodensitometry. The implantation of surgical clips in the lumpectomy cavity is useful for the boost field. The planning target volume takes into consideration movements of tissues during respiration and variations in beam geometry characteristics. The organs at risk (heart, lung) must be considered systematically. Technical contrivances are necessary to modify and homogenize dose distribution. Conformational irradiation allows an individually design treatment planning. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy technique is a future advantageous technique still under evaluation.

Analysis of 676 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast from 1971 to 1995: diagnosis and treatment--the experience of one institute.

Six hundred seventy-six patients with ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast (DCIS) from 1971 to 1995 were included in the study. Computerized patient files were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical findings were less frequently reported to reveal DCIS after 1989. Positive mammographic findings were obtained in 87% of patients and were mainly represented by microcalcifications (79.4%). Treatment procedures were breast-conserving surgery (BCS) alone (37.5%), BCS followed by radiation (BCSR) (25.5%), or mastectomy (M) (37%). The actuarial local recurrence was 2.6% in the M group (94 months of follow-up), 14.5% in the BCS group (85,7 months of follow-up), and 7.5% in the BCSR group (78.8 months of follow-up). Predictive factors of recurrence in all patients were invaded margin status and age. In the BCS group, grade was also a predictive factor. The analysis per decade shows that the lesions currently diagnosed are less serious than those of the past. All the recurrence in patients with positive margins was in the same quadrant as the original lesion. This further emphasizes the need for clear margins.

Outcome of squamous cell carcinoma of the gingiva: a follow-up study of 83 cases.

BACKGROUND: Squamous cell carcinomas of the gingiva are relatively rare tumours. Standard treatment is based on surgery and radiotherapy. The extent of bone involvement affects mandibulectary indications. PURPOSE: A retrospective review of squamous cell carcinomas of the gingiva was performed to evaluate the incidence of mandibular or maxillary bone involvement. Indications for marginal and segmental bone resections are specified. MATERIAL: From 1985 to 1996, 83 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the gingiva were treated at the Department of Surgery (Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France) and at the Department of Maxillofacial and Plastic Surgery (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Bordeaux, France). Forty-three underwent surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy. Twenty-two had flap reconstructions. Clinical evaluation and panorex roentgenography were the means used to evaluate bony invasion and to decide on the extent of bone resection. METHODS: A retrospective review of 83 consecutive patients was performed. This series is unusual in its homogeneity: surgery was performed by only two individuals and the radiotherapy was the responsibility of just two physicians. Outcome was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Primary local control was achieved in 72 patients (87%). Overall survival and rate of recurrence were comparable to those of other squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity and oropharynx. CONCLUSION: Surgical resection continues to be the mainstay of treatment and this study tends to confirm the validity of modified neck dissection and marginal bone resection in suitably selected patients.

[Large core of nonpalpable breast lesions]. / Microbiopsies des lésions mammaires non palpables.

The development of breast cancer screening has radically changed the diagnostic approach to breast lesions. Stereotactic large-core breast biopsy was developed to reduce the number of unnecessary surgical excisional biopsies in the increasing number of patients with doubtful or suspicious mammogram findings. The methods used to evaluate this new technique are discussed, as well as results in terms of efficacy, factors that may influence efficacy, and difficulties in interpreting large-core biopsies. Recommendations regarding the harvesting and interpretation of stereotactic large-core biopsies are made.

[Clinical and biological evaluation of the response to neoadjuvant hormone therapy before radiotherapy in nonmetastatic cancers of the prostate]. / Evaluation clinique et biologique de la réponse à l'hormonothérapie néoadjuvante avant radiothérapie dans les cancers de la prostate non métastatiques.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and biochemical response to neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (NAHT) before radical external radiotherapy (EBRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 1986 to June 1994, 105 patients with histologically proven and non-metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma (stage B2-C2) received a short induction hormonal therapy (median: 3 months) with a luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) analog associated with an anti-androgen followed in all cases by EBRT (66 Gy). All patients underwent a prostate-specific acid (PSA) determination, pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan and bone scan before the combined treatment. Response, treatment toxicity and PSA concentration were analyzed after the NAHT, 3 months after the completion of radiotherapy and every 6 months there after. Relapse was defined by PSA elevations above 4 ng/mL or two consecutive elevation above 1 ng/mL. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 52 months. According to the Withmore-Jewett clinical classification, 85 tumors were stage C. Pre-treatment PSA (PSAi) was above 20 ng/mL in 63.8% of the patients (median PSAi: 26 ng/mL). A clinical evaluation and a PSA determination (PSAPH) were both performed for all patients after NAHT. Most of the time, urinary obstructive symptoms disappeared with androgen ablation; tumor volume regression exceeded 50% in 99 cases and was complete in 50 cases. Median PSAPH was 0.6 ng/mL for the entire group. Clinical and biochemical tumor response were coherent: 84% of patients with clinical total remission had a PSAPH < 1 ng/mL. PSAPH value was significantly correlated with tumor stage and pre-treatment PSAi: among the 11 patients with a PSAPH > 4 ng/mL, ten were stage C and nine had a PSAi > 20 ng/mL. A PSAPH value exceeding 4 ng/mL predicted biochemical relapse (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: We conclude that biochemical response to hormonal therapy has a major prognostic value before EBRT can help to identify patients for an adjuvant hormonal therapy.

[Results of 10 years of a randomized trial of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancers larger than 3 cm]. / Résultats à 10 ans d'un essai randomisé de chimiothérapie néo-adjuvante dans les cancers du sein de plus de 3 cm.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this randomised trial was to determine advantages and drawbacks of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with operable breast cancers > 3 cm. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hundred and seventy-two women (age 70) with operable breast cancers larger than 3 cm (T2-3/N0-1/M0) were included in a randomised trial from January 1, 1985 to April 30, 1989. Patients in group A (n = 138) were treated by mastectomy and axillary node dissection. Adjuvant chemotherapy was indicated for 104 patients with axillary node involvement (n = 82) or negative oestrogen and progesterone receptors (EPR-) (n = 22). Patients in group B (n = 134) were treated by initial chemotherapy (identical as in group A) followed by locoregional treatment according to the response. Before treatment, the average of clinical tumoural diameter was 43 mm. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 124 months. In group B, 49 patients (36.5%) were resistant to chemotherapy; a conservative breast surgical treatment was performed in the other 84 patients sensitive to chemotherapy (62.6%). In this last subgroup, 19 (22.6%) needed a secondary mastectomy because of locoregional recurrence. Survival rates were not different in groups A and B, but loco-regional recurrences were frequent in group B. At 10 years, the overall survival rate was 60% and half of living patients in group B were free of cancer and with their breast. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy permitted in two-thirds of cases breast conservation treatment, initially considered to be impossible. Locoregional recurrences are more frequent than after mastectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy.

[Treatment of A2-B2 prostatic cancer: results of a hormonoradiotherapy combination in the PSA era]. / Traitement des cancers prostatiques A2-B2: résultats d'une association hormonoradiothérapique dans l'ère du PSA.

PURPOSE: Prospective analysis of results of combined neoadjuvant hormonetherapy and external beam radiation therapy in A2-B2 prostate adenocarcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1986 and 1994, 36 patients with clinical stage A2 (five patients), B1 (12 patients) and B2 (19 patients) N0 adenocarcinoma of the prostate declined for radical surgery, underwent a brief neoadjuvant hormonal therapy before external beam radiotherapy at our radiation therapy department. They all had a PSA determination before the combined treatment and no evidence of local extension or metastatic spread. They were followed clinically and with serial PSA levels for a median time of 58 months. Relapse was defined by a PSA level > or = 2.5 ng/mL. RESULTS: Median pre-treatment PSA level was 16.5 ng/mL; 16 patients had less than 15 ng/mL. Combined treatment was very well tolerated. After 3 months of neoadjuvant hormonetherapy, digital rectal examination was normalized in 27 cases with a PSA value < or = 1 ng/mL in 23. Only four tumors have relapsed (one local failure, two metastases and one PSA failure). The single factor that predicted biochemical relapse was pre-treatment PSA level: the 5-year actuarial rate of PSA failure when PSA level < 15 ng/mL was 0% and 27.5% if it was > or = 15 ng/mL (p = 0.05). During follow-up, only two patients suffered grade 2 rectitis and seven complained a total impotency. CONCLUSION: This limited study advocates hormonal neoadjuvant therapy and radiotherapy association in intracapsular prostatic carcinoma in patients declined for surgery or when pre-treatment PSA is above 15 ng/mL, with mild acute and late toxicity.

[Recurrence after treatment of breast intraductal carcinoma]. / Les récidives après traitement des carcinomes intracanalaires du sein.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of local recurrence of intraductal carcinoma of the breast with a large series and a review of literature. METHODS: We present a retrospective study of 331 cases treated for intraductal carcinoma of the breast. Only patients with at least 5 years follow-up were selected. We were specially interested in recurrence risk factors. In these patients with a long follow-up; pathology was reevaluated with new investigation technique. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 109 months, 40 local recurrences were observed; these lesions were invasive in 23 cases. Only one patient had recurrence after mastectomy. For the others, they had lumpectomy associated with radiotherapy in 12 cases. Histologic features, grade and therapeutic options were evaluated as risk factors of local recurrence. CONCLUSION: Follow-up after lumpectomy for intraductal carcinoma was studied. The status of tumor margins was important; irradiation appeared useful, specially in case of high grade carcinoma but further large prospective randomized studies are needed. The use of prognostic index is interesting, but there are still unanswered questions.

[Preventive analgesic effect of intraoperative administration of ibuprofen-arginine on postmastectomy pain syndrome]. / Effet analgésique préventif d'une administration périopératoire d'ibuprofène-arginine sur le syndrome douloureux postmastectomie.

The efficacy of preemptive analgesia on postoperative pain is discussed. From experimental neurophysiological data, the present policy of preventive analgesia aims at precluding modifications of the nervous system secondary to a nervous lesion and the appearance of chronic pain, particularly of the neurogenic kind. The post-mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) falls within the realm of neurogenic pain and is still poorly understood and underestimated. This study evaluated the preemptive effect of a perioperative administration of an oral non steroid anti-inflammatory, the ibuprofen-arginine, on PMPS. Thirty patients scheduled for partial or total mastectomy with axillary dissection were prospectively and randomly assigned to 2 groups. The ibuprofen-arginine group (group I) (n = 15), received an oral administration of 400 mg of ibuprofen-arginine, 90 min before surgery, 2 h after surgery and then every 8 h in the first 32 postoperative hours. The control group (group C) received in doubled blind a placebo at the same time. At 6 months, we looked after pain or dysesthesia. We confirmed the diagnosis of PMPS in presence of association of diagnosis criterias. Fourteen patients in each group have been included. Eighty-six percent of the patients (13 patients in group I and 11 patients in group C) presented at 6 months dysesthesia of the upper member ipsilateral to the mastectomy and/or the operated breast, appearing either immediately or after a laps of time. Nine patients (group I) and 6 patients (group C) had PMPS. Postoperative radiotherapy and lymphoedema were statistically associated with PMPS (p = 0.019 and p = 0.011). The perioperative preventive administration of a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug reduces neither the incidence of pain in the first post-operative months, nor the appearance of PMPS at 6 months. These results suggest that others factors than the nervous lesion may play a role in the occurrence of PMPS, as radiotherapy, lymphoedema, but also psychosocials factors.

[Intravenous leiomyomatosis of uterine origin with cardiac extension. A case report and review of the literature]. / Léiomyomatose intraveineuse d'origine utérine avec extension cardiaque. A propos d'un cas et revue de la littérature.

A case of intravenous leiomyomatosis of the uterus with extension into the heart discovered in a 34-year old patient who suffered from dyspnea is reported. The findings suggest that intravenous leiomyomatosis originates from the smooth muscle component of uterine veins. Only 30 cases of intravenous leiomyomatosis with intracardiac extension have been reported. Two-dimensional echocardiography showed an abnormal mass in the right atrium. Pelvic echography showed an abnormal mass in the pelvis. In case of cardiac involvement, spontaneous prognosis remains poor. The primary goal of surgery is the complete removal of the tumor. Hormonotherapy should also be considered in case of unresectable residual tumor. A long-term follow-up of patients after resection of intravenous leiomyomatosis is needed because recurrences up to 17 years after primary resection have been reported.