Comparing Breast Cancer Experiences and Quality of Life between Lesbian and Heterosexual Women.

BACKGROUND: While breast cancer among women in general has been well studied, little is known about breast cancer in sexual minority women (SMW). Aside from being at an increased risk for development of, and mortality from, breast cancer compared to their heterosexual counterparts, there is a growing collection of literature that suggests that SMW experience breast cancer differently to heterosexual women. METHODS: Qualitative study of both straight and lesbian women with a diagnosis of breast cancer. Focus groups were conducted to assess straight and SMW experiences pertaining to perceived barriers, resources/support from partners as well as attitudes pertaining to breast reconstruction. RESULTS: A sample of 15 participants (10 straight and 5 lesbian women) were included in the present study. Focus group themes focused on support, wishes for support, satisfaction with inclusion of partner, fear, perceived discrimination, quality of life, body image, treatment delay, financial concern, frustration with the system, reconstruction, access to information, and attitudes towards cancer diagnosis. A majority of women in both groups chose to undergo breast reconstruction. CONCLUSION: In our study, SMW experienced their breast cancer treatment through a uniquely supportive and positive lens, often with higher relationship satisfaction and better self-image when compared to straight women.

Screening an Established Natural Product Library Identifies Secondary Metabolites That Potentiate Conventional Antibiotics.

Health organizations worldwide have warned that we are on the cusp of a "post-antibiotic era," necessitating new approaches to combat antibiotic resistant infections. One such approach is the development of antibiotic adjuvants, which have little or no inherent antibiotic activity at their active concentrations but instead potentiate the activity of antibiotics against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Recently, we demonstrated that meridianin D, a natural product originally reported to have activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, possesses the ability to reverse colistin resistance in colistin resistant bacteria. As most natural product screens typically involve screening for only certain activities (anticancer, antiviral, and antimicrobial are typical), we posited that the meridianin D discovery was not unique and there are potentially many natural products that have adjuvant activity. To explore this, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Natural Product Library Set IV was screened for adjuvant activity using four classes of antibiotics (ß-lactams, aminoglycosides, macrolides, and polymyxins) against three bacterial pathogens (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Acinetobacter baumannii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae). Sixteen compounds suppressed ß-lactam resistance in MRSA, five of which effected a 16-fold reduction in the oxacillin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Two natural products effectively suppressed aminoglycoside resistance in both of the Gram-negative species tested, and no hits were observed with macrolides. In contrast, a larger number of natural product adjuvants were identified when screening against colistin-resistant strains of A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae. Nine compounds reduced the colistin MIC to its breakpoint or lower (up to a 1024-fold reduction). Clorobiocin, novobiocin, and prodigiosin were most effective, reducing the colistin MIC in K. pneumoniae strain B9 to 2 µg/mL at concentrations as low as 0.625, 2.5, and 1.25 µM, respectively. Restored sensitivity to colistin with these compounds does not appear to coincide with known mechanisms of colistin resistance.

Early Postoperative Complications after Oncoplastic Reduction.

BACKGROUND: Breast-conserving surgery with adjuvant radiation therapy (BCT) has been established as safe oncologically. Oncoplastic breast surgery uses both oncologic and plastic surgery techniques for breast conservation to improve cosmetic outcomes. We evaluated the risk factors associated with complications after oncoplastic breast reduction. METHODS: A single-institution, institutional review board-approved, retrospective review of electronic medical records of female patients with breast cancer who underwent oncoplastic breast reduction from 2008 to 2014. A review of electronic medical records collected relevant medical history, clinical and pathological information, and data on postoperative complications within 6 months stratified into major or minor complications. Categorical variables analyzed with the χ2 exact method; continuous variables were analyzed with the Wilcoxon rank sum test exact method. RESULTS: We identified 59 patients; 4 required re-excision for positive margins, and 1 moved on to completion mastectomy. The overall complication rate was 33.9% (n = 20): 12 major (20.3%) and 8 minor (13.6%). Of the continuous variables (age, body mass index, and tissue removed), increased age was associated with minor complications (P = 0.02). Among the categorical variables (stratified body mass index, prior breast surgery, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, vascular disease, pulmonary disease, and stratified weight of tissue removed), none were associated with overall or major complications. Pulmonary disease was associated with minor complications (P = 0.03). Bilateral versus unilateral oncoplastic breast reduction showed no statistically significant increase in complications. CONCLUSIONS: The overall complication rate after oncoplastic breast reduction was markedly higher than that in nationally published data for breast-conserving surgery. The complication rate resembled more closely the complication rate after bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. No risk factors were associated with major or overall complications. Age and pulmonary disease were associated with minor complications. Patients should be selected and counseled appropriately when considering oncoplastic breast reduction.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Axillary Breast Cancer Metastasis in the Neoadjuvant Setting: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for assessment of regional breast cancer metastasis is controversial owing to the variable specificity. We evaluated breast MRI for axillary metastasis in neoadjuvant chemotherapy patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-institution, institutional review board-approved prospective trial enrolled female breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy from 2008 to 2012 and collected the pre- and post-treatment MRI, pretreatment axillary ultrasound, axillary biopsy, and surgical pathologic findings. The kappa coefficient was used to evaluate the strength of the agreement between the 2 modalities and Fisher's exact test was used to evaluate the association. RESULTS: A total of 43 patients were included. Of these 45 patients, 35 had stage N1-N2 before treatment. Comparing the abnormal results on the pretreatment MRI scans and axillary biopsy examinations, a consistent diagnosis was found for 92%, with a moderate strength of agreement (kappa coefficient, 0.54). The pretreatment MRI findings were significantly associated with the axillary biopsy results (P = .014). The false-positive rate, false-negative rate, sensitivity, and specificity were 50%, 3%, 97%, 50%, respectively. Comparing the post-treatment MRI and surgical pathologic findings revealed a consistent diagnosis rate of, with a slight strength of agreement (kappa, 0.16). The false-positive rate, false-negative rate, sensitivity, and specificity were 38%, 46%, 55%, and 63%, respectively. The post-treatment MRI findings were not associated with the pathologic lymph node results (P = .342). CONCLUSION: Pretreatment breast MRI was more specific for axillary metastasis than was axillary ultrasonography. However, post-treatment breast MRI was not predictive of residual axillary disease and should be used cautiously when altering treatment plans.

Clinical Considerations of Risk, Incidence, and Outcomes of Breast Cancer in Sexual Minorities.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women. Limited research exists on the impact of sexual orientation on overall risk of and mortality from breast cancer. We sought to summarize the medical literature on breast cancer in sexual minority women and identify possible disparities in this population. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted for English-language studies in peer-reviewed medical journals that referenced breast cancer and sexual minority, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender individuals. Articles published between January 2000 and November 2015 were included. They were reviewed for relevance to breast cancer risk stratification, breast cancer mortality, breast reconstruction, and transgender issues. RESULTS: Behavioral risks, reproductive risks, and risks associated with decreased access to health care may all affect outcomes for sexual minorities with breast cancer. Limited studies have mixed results regarding mortality associated with breast cancer in sexual minorities due to an inconsistent reporting of sexual orientation. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the research examining breast cancer in sexual minority women remains limited. This finding is likely due to limitations in the reporting of sexual orientation within large databases, thus making broader-scale research difficult.