Light at night exposure and risk of breast cancer: a meta-analysis of observational studies.

Objective: The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the impact of light at night (LAN) exposure on the risk of breast cancer across varying factors. Method: We conducted a systematic search of literature up to July 15, 2023, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases, using keywords related to breast cancer and LAN exposure. Cohort study and case-control study literature on night light exposure and breast cancer risk were included. Statistical analyses were performed using Stata software version 17.0. To address heterogeneity among different studies, we employed a random-effects model for analysis and assessed publication bias using funnel plots and Egger's test. Results: We included 13 case-control and 8 cohort studies with 734,372 participants worldwide. In the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) assessments, the average score was 7.43 (ranging from 5 to 9). The overall meta-analysis demonstrated a significant association between exposure to LAN and risk of breast cancer (RR = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.06-1.17; I2 = 31.3%, p < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, the results of the analysis for study types (case-control studies: RR = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.06-1.27; I2 = 40.4%, p = 0.001; cohort studies: RR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.04-1.14; I2 = 0.0%, p < 0.001) and the results for light exposure types (outdoor LAN: RR = 1.07; 95% CI: 1.02-1.13; I2 = 30.9%, p = 0.004) are presented. In the analysis conducted for continents, the highest breast cancer risk was observed in the Asian population (Asian: RR = 1.24; 95% CI: 1.15-1.34; I2 = 0.0%, p < 0.001) and in the analysis of estrogen receptor status (ER+: RR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.03-1.18; I2 = 17.0%, p = 0.005;). We also conducted an analysis on menopausal status and various lifestyles but did not find any statistically significant findings. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that LAN exposure is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, particularly in the Asian population. Among the existing hypotheses, the idea that LAN exposure leads to a decrease in melatonin is widely accepted. However, until the mechanism of this effect is clearly elucidated, it is not recommended to take melatonin supplements for breast cancer prevention without medical advice. We hope to conduct more high-quality research, especially concerning the investigation of other environmental confounding factors, to further advance this field.

Exploring Breast Cancer Systemic Drug Therapy Patterns in Real-World Data.

PURPOSE: To explore medications and their administration patterns in real-world patients with breast cancer. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed using TriNetX, a federated network of deidentified, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant data from 21 health care organizations across North America. Patients diagnosed with breast cancer between January 1, 2013, and May 31, 2022, were included. We investigated a rule-based and unsupervised learning algorithm to extract medications and their administration patterns. To group similar administration patterns, we used three features in k-means clustering: total number of administrations, median number of days between administrations, and standard deviation of the days between administrations. We explored the first three lines of therapy for patients classified into six groups on the basis of their stage at diagnosis (early as stages I-III v late as stage IV) and the sensitivity of the tumor's receptors to targeted therapies: hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor 2-negative (HR+/ERBB2-), ERBB2-positive (ERBB2+/HR±), or triple-negative (TN; HR-/ERBB2-). To add credence to the derived regimens, we compared them to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN): Breast Cancer (version 2.2023) recommendations. RESULTS: In early-stage HR+/ERBB2- and TN groups, the most common regimens were (1) cyclophosphamide and docetaxel, administered once every 3 weeks for three to six cycles and (2) cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin, administered once every 2 weeks for four cycles, followed by paclitaxel administered once every week for 12 cycles. In the early-stage ERBB2+/HR± group, most patients were administered carboplatin and docetaxel with or without pertuzumab and with trastuzumab (for six or more cycles). Medications most commonly administered in our data set (7,798 patients) agreed with recommendations from the NCCN in terms of medications (regimens), number of administrations (cycles), and days between administrations (cycle length). CONCLUSION: Although there is a general agreement with the NCCN Guidelines, real-world medication data exhibit variability in the medications and their administration patterns.

Dietary advanced glycation end products are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in Iranian adults.

BACKGROUND: Dietary advanced glycation end products (AGEs) can play an important role in increasing inflammatory factors and oxidative stress as risk factors for cancers. In the present study, we aimed to assess the relationship between dietary AGEs and the risk of breast cancer (BC) in Iranian adult women. METHODS: This hospital-based case-control study includes 401 participants aged ≥ 30 years old. The cases group consisted of 134 women diagnosed with histologically confirmed BC. The control group included 267 women enrolled randomly from patients admitted to the same hospitals. Dietary intake information was determined using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and dietary AGEs intake was computed for all participants. Logistic regression models, adjusted for potential confounders, were used to determine the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of BC across tertiles of dietary AGEs. RESULTS: The mean ± SD age and body mass index of the study population were 47.92 ± 10.33 years and 29.43 ± 5.51 kg/m2, respectively. The median (interquartile) of dietary AGEs in all individuals was 9251(7450, 11,818) kU/day. After adjusting for age, first pregnancy age, and energy intake, participants in the highest tertile of dietary AGEs intakes had higher odds of BC compared to those in the lowest tertile of dietary AGEs (OR:2.29;95%CI:1.19-4.39, Ptrend:0.012). Additionally, in the multivariable model, after adjusting for age, age at first pregnancy, energy, menopausal status, family history of cancer, anti-inflammatory drug use, Vitamin D supplementation, physical activity, body mass index, number of childbirths, and history of abortion, breastfeeding, and oral contraceptive pills use, the odds of BC were increased across tertiles of dietary AGEs intake (OR: 2.33; 95%CI: 1.18-4.60, Ptrend: 0.017). CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that a diet with high AGEs is associated with a higher likelihood of BC in adult women.

Association of Dietary Intake of Zinc and Selenium with Breast Cancer Risk: A Case-Control Study in Chinese Women.

As major nonenzymatic antioxidant components in the body, dietary Zinc (Zn) and Selenium (Se) may have an impact on breast cancer development. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary Zn, Se intake and breast cancer risk in Chinese women. The case-control study included 1591 cases and 1622 age-frequency matched controls. Dietary intake was collected using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Dietary Zn and Se were divided into four categories: Zn/Se from plants, Zn/Se from meat, Zn/Se from red meat, and Zn/Se from white meat. Unconditional logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline analyses were performed to identify potential associations. Zn from white meat intake was linearly and inversely associated with breast cancer risk, and Se from red meat intake was linearly and positively associated with breast cancer risk, with adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval of 0.76 (0.61-0.95) and 1.36 (1.04-1.77), respectively. Non-linear relationships were found between total dietary Zn, Zn from meat, Zn from red meat intake and breast cancer risk (pnon-linearity < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary Zn and Se intake were associated with breast cancer risk in Chinese women, and the optimal intake of Zn may be beneficial for breast cancer prevention.

Association of food groups and dietary pattern with breast cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of current evidence for the association between food groups, dietary patterns, and breast cancer risk among the Asian population. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We performed a systematic literature search up to December 2022 in English in the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted as effect sizes. Publication bias was estimated by two different funnel plot methods. RESULTS: We collected the data from 15 cohort studies and 34 case-control studies meeting the search criteria. The meta-analysis found that the consumption of fruits and, likewise, vegetables were associated with a 29% lower risk of breast cancer, respectively [RR = 0.71 (0.55, 0.93); RR = 0.71 (0.53, 0.95)]. By contrast, no significance was found between meat, soy foods, and green tea consumption and breast cancer risk (P > 0.05). However, soy protein and isoflavone intake could lower breast cancer risk by 35% and 32%, respectively [RR = 0.65 (0.51, 0.83); RR = 0.68 (0.55, 0.82)]. As for the dietary pattern, high adherence to a healthy dietary pattern and, similarly, to a healthy eating index was associated with a 38% and 51% reduction in breast cancer risk, respectively [RR = 0.62 (0.44, 0.88; RR = 0.49 (0.27, 0.87)], while high adherence to an unhealthy dietary pattern was associated with a 44% increased risk [RR = 1.44 (1.06, 1.96)]. Considering alcohol consumption, a 75% increased risk of breast cancer was found [RR = 1.75 (1.33, 2.30)]. CONCLUSION: The present meta-analysis found that high intakes of fruits, vegetables, soy protein, and soy isoflavone significantly reduced the risk of breast cancer, while high intake of alcohol had a significantly increased risk. Meat, soy food, and green tea consumption were not significantly associated with breast cancer risk. Considering dietary patterns, high adherence to a healthy eating index and a healthy dietary pattern may reduce breast cancer risk. Conversely, adherence to unhealthy dietary patterns may increase breast cancer risk. However, further studies are needed to confirm the associations between dietary patterns and breast cancer in the Asian population.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for local late radiation toxicity in breast cancer patients: A systematic review.

PURPOSE: This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the literature on the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on symptoms of local late radiation toxicity (LRT) in patients treated for breast cancer. METHODS: A systematic search was performed in September 2021. All studies with a sample size of ≥10 patients reporting the effect of HBOT for symptoms of LRT after radiotherapy of the breast and/or chest wall were included. The ROBINS-I tool was used for critical appraisal of methodological quality. The toxicity outcomes pain, fibrosis, lymphedema, necrosis/skin problems, arm and shoulder mobility, and breast and arm symptoms were evaluated. RESULTS: Nine studies concerning a total of 1308 patients were included in this review. Except for one study, sample sizes were small. Most studies had inadequate methodology with a substantial risk of bias. Post-HBOT, a significant reduction of pain was observed in 4/5 studies, of fibrosis in 1/2 studies, and of lymphedema of the breast and/or arm in 4/7 studies. Skin problems of the breast were significantly reduced in 1/2 studies, arm- and shoulder mobility significantly improved in 2/2 studies, and breast- and arm symptoms were significantly reduced in one study. CONCLUSION: This systematic review indicates that HBOT might be useful for reducing symptoms of LRT in breast cancer patients, however evidence is limited. A randomized controlled trial in a larger cohort of patients including a combination of patient- and clinician-reported outcome measures would be valuable to assess the effect of HBOT on symptoms of LRT.

Benefits of Homeopathic Complementary Treatment in Patients With Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study Based on the French Nationwide Healthcare Database.

BACKGROUND: Complementary therapy in oncology aims to help patients better cope with the illness and side effects (SEs) of cancer treatments that affect their quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to assess the benefits of homeopathic treatment on the health-related QOL (HRQOL) of patients with non-metastatic breast cancer (BC) prescribed in postsurgical complementary therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An extraction from the French nationwide healthcare database targeted all patients who underwent mastectomy for newly diagnosed BC between 2012 and 2013. HRQOL was proxied by the quantity of medication used to palliate the SEs of cancer treatments. RESULTS: A total of 98,009 patients were included (mean age: 61 ± 13 years). Homeopathy was used in 11%, 26%, and 22% of patients respectively during the 7 to 12 months before surgery, the 6 months before, and 6 months after. Thereafter, the use remained stable at 15% for 4 years. Six months after surgery, there was a significant overall decrease (RR = 0.88, confidence interval (CI)95 = 0.87-0.89) in the dispensing of medication associated with SEs in patients treated with ≥ 3 dispensing of homeopathy compared to none. The decrease appeared to be greater for immunostimulants (RR = 0.79, (CI)95 = 0.74-0.84), corticosteroids (RR = 0.82, (CI)95 = 0.79-0.85), and antidiarrheals (RR = 0.83, (CI)95 = 0.77-0.88). CONCLUSION: The study showed an increasing use of homeopathy in patients with BC following diagnosis. This use was maintained after surgery and seemed to play a role in helping patients to better tolerate the SEs of cancer treatments.

Homeopathy effects in patients during oncological treatment: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: In this systematic review we included clinical studies from 1800 until 2020 to evaluate evidence of the effectiveness of homeopathy on physical and mental conditions in patients during oncological treatment. METHOD: In February 2021 a systematic search was conducted searching five electronic databases (Embase, Cochrane, PsychInfo, CINAHL and Medline) to find studies concerning use, effectiveness and potential harm of homeopathy in cancer patients. RESULTS: From all 1352 search results, 18 studies with 2016 patients were included in this SR. The patients treated with homeopathy were mainly diagnosed with breast cancer. The therapy concepts include single and combination homeopathic remedies (used systemically or as mouth rinses) of various dilutions. Outcomes assessed were the influence on toxicity of cancer treatment (mostly hot flashes and menopausal symptoms), time to drain removal in breast cancer patients after mastectomy, survival, quality of life, global health and subjective well-being, anxiety and depression as well as safety and tolerance. The included studies reported heterogeneous results: some studies described significant differences in quality of life or toxicity of cancer treatment favouring homeopathy, whereas others did not find an effect or reported significant differences to the disadvantage of homeopathy or side effects caused by homeopathy. The majority of the studies have a low methodological quality. CONCLUSIONS: For homeopathy, there is neither a scientifically based hypothesis of its mode of action nor conclusive evidence from clinical studies in cancer care.

Clinical Implications and Management of Non-BIA-ALCL Breast Implant Capsular Pathology.

SUMMARY: The breast implant capsule is a dynamic structure that forms following the implantation of a device. Although normally benign, increased awareness of breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) highlights that disease may arise from the capsule. BIA-ALCL presents as a late seroma or mass but explains few of the late seromas found in breast implant patients. To date, many of these seromas lack a clear cause and are often described as "idiopathic." Several benign and malignant breast implant capsular diseases can cause a late seroma or mass, including breast implant-associated squamous cell carcinoma. Similar to early reports of BIA-ALCL, these conditions are rare and largely limited to case reports or series. The purpose of this special topic is to present a narrative review highlighting capsular abnormalities that contribute to the formation of late seroma or mass in an attempt to broaden the differential diagnosis and help plastic surgeons identify the cause. Specifically, we review the presentation and management of BIA-ALCL, synovial metaplasia, capsular epithelialization, late hematoma, double capsule, breast cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, mesenchymal tumor, and B-cell lymphoma. Although rare, plastic surgeons should consider these capsular conditions as causes of late seromas and masses. Usually, these conditions may be diagnosed by following the National Comprehensive Cancer Network screening guidelines for BIA-ALCL. Thorough evaluation and workup of late seromas and masses may lead to improved characterization of these rare breast implant capsular conditions and improve our understanding of their pathophysiology and management.

Effect of Electroacupuncture Based on ERAS for Preoperative Anxiety in Breast Cancer Surgery: A Single-Center, Randomized, Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) based on enhanced recovery after surgery on preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a single-center, randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial. Between December 2018 and 2019, 144 female undergoing breast conserving surgery were assigned to conventional (A), preoperative EA (B), intraoperative EA (C), and combination of preoperative and intraoperative EA (D) groups. Primary outcome was the self-rating anxiety scale. Secondary outcomes included visual analogue scale, quality of recovery 40, postoperative complications, and acupuncture-related adverse reactions. RESULTS: 141 patients completed the trial. Groups B and D self-rating anxiety scale were significantly lower than A and C (P < .01); the sleep quality was significantly better (P < .01). The incidence of nausea at 6 hours postoperatively was significantly lower in group D than other groups (P < .007); the incidence of vomiting at 6 hours postoperatively was better than group A (P < .007). visual analogue scale at 24 hours postoperatively was significantly different between groups A, B, and D (P < .01). Quality of recovery 40 total score at 24 hours postoperatively in group D was significantly higher than A and B (P < .05). The 72-hour postoperative emotional state was most significantly improved in group D (P < .05), while groups B and C showed interactive effect (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Preoperative EA alleviated anxiety in the preoperative waiting area, and improved sleep quality. Combination of preoperative and intraoperative EA may be more effective in improving postoperative quality of life. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1800019979. Registered on December 10, 2018. (http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=27653&htm=4).

The Cardioprotective Effect of Vitamin D in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Adjuvant Doxorubicin Based Chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the potential protective effect of Vitamin D (Vit D) on DOX induced cardio toxicity (DIC) in early breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant DOX based chemotherapy (AC). The secondary objective was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Vit D by measuring serum IL-6 and its correlation with cardio toxicity. METHODS: This study was carried out on 150 newly diagnosed women with breast cancer who were planned to receive four cycles of adjuvant AC chemotherapy regimen (60 mg/m2 DOX and 600 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide) every 21 days. Study patients were randomized 1:1 into a control group treated with AC and a Vit D group treated with AC plus 0.5 µg of Vit D (Bon One 0.5 µg) orally once daily during the whole treatment course. The cardio protective effect of Vit D was assessed by measuring serum levels of Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), cardiac troponin T (cTnT), and anti-inflammatory Interleukin 6 (IL-6) at baseline, and after 4 cycles of AC in all study patients. RESULTS: Vit D supplementation in Vit D group patients was associated with a significant decrease (P < 0.001) in serum levels of LDH, cTnT, and IL-6 compared to the control group . CONCLUSION: The present work provides a promising clinical evidence to support the cardio protective effects of Vit D against DIC through attenuating the evoked pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by DOX.

Soy Isoflavones and Breast Cancer Risk: A Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Soy contains genistein and daidzein isoflavones. Isoflavones are phytoestrogens, with a similarity in structure to human 17-ß estradiol hormone. They imitate the action of estrogen on organs by binding and activating estrogen receptors. Numerous studies have examined the relationship between soy consumption and breast cancer but not the amount of consumption itself. We performed a systematic review of the literature in order to determine whether the amount of soy and isoflavones consumed has a positive effect in pre- and post-menopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data gathering was performed following PRISMA guidelines. Narrowing down the result set for all relevant data was performed via title, abstract, full-text evaluation and the snowball procedure. The selected articles had all relevant data extracted. Analysis of the data was performed using Cochrane's Review Manager statistical analysis tool in order to draw conclusions regarding the positive effect for the amount of soy and isoflavones consumed. RESULTS: Significant results were found when statistically analyzing data from prospective studies which compared soy isoflavones consumption, breast cancer risk and occurrence. The data were indicative of a clear inverse correlation between the amount of isoflavones consumed and breast cancer occurrence in pre- and post-menopausal women. CONCLUSION: The consumption of soy isoflavones can reduce the risk of breast cancer in pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women.

Dietary Trace Element Intake and Risk of Breast Cancer: A Mini Review.

Trace elements are essentially required for various physiological and metabolic functions, and any disturbance in the trace elements homeostasis may result in the development of chronic diseases including breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer type reported in women equally affecting both the high-income and low-income countries. This review therefore aimed to evaluate the impact of dietary trace element intake in relation to the incidence of breast cancer. We focused on five trace elements, thus emphasizing dietary selenium, zinc, iron, copper, and cadmium intake and risk of breast cancer. A systematic approach was applied to perform this review through entering a search term in PubMed and Scopus databases. A total of 24 articles were included after meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Most of the studies regarding dietary iron intake showed a detrimental effect of increased dietary heme iron on breast cancer incidence risk. In addition, there is a limited evidence of high dietary intake of selenium and zinc to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Also, a few studies showed a relationship between high cadmium consumption and risk of breast cancer. More studies related to cadmium and copper exposure are needed to confirm this relationship. As a result, the findings of this review suggested that high dietary heme iron is a potential risk factor for breast cancer.

Night shift work, chemical coexposures and risk of female breast cancer in the Norwegian Offshore Petroleum Workers (NOPW) cohort: a prospectively recruited case-cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the association between night shift work and risk of breast cancer, overall and by hormone receptor subtype, among females in the Norwegian Offshore Petroleum Workers (NOPW) cohort. We also examined the association of coexposure (chlorinated degreasers and benzene) and breast cancer risk, and possible interaction with work schedule. DESIGN: Prospectively recruited case-cohort study within the NOPW cohort. SETTING: Female offshore petroleum workers active on the Norwegian continental shelf. PARTICIPANTS: 600 female workers (86 cases and 514 non-cases) were included in the study. We excluded workers that died or emigrated before start of follow-up, had missing work history, were diagnosed with breast cancer or other prior malignancy (except non-melanoma skin cancer) before start of follow-up. RESULTS: No overall association was found between breast cancer risk and work schedule (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.52 to 1.46 for work schedule involving night shift vs day shift only). There was no significant association between work schedule and risk of any breast cancer subtype. No significant interactions were found between work schedule and chemical coexposures (breast cancer overall Pinteraction chlorinated degreasers=0.725 and Pinteraction benzene=0.175). CONCLUSIONS: Our results did not provide supporting evidence that work schedule involving night shift affects breast cancer risk in female offshore petroleum workers, but should be considered cautiously due to few cases. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted.

Short Stay Management of Locally Advanced Breast Cancer Using Immediate Local Thoracoabdominal Advancement Flap and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Patients with locally advanced invasive breast cancer (LABC) are often considered inoperable, because of the anticipated chest wall defect and need for complex reconstruction. We present a series of patients who underwent mastectomy with extensive skin resection and immediate chest wall reconstruction using a local thoracoabdominal advancement flap (TAAF). All patients were managed after surgery with an ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) protocol, to decrease length of stay in hospital. We also present 1 patient who subsequently had satisfactory bilateral delayed breast reconstruction with pedicled latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps with prepectoral silicone implants. METHODS: This is a single-surgeon, single-institution retrospective chart review of patients with LABC who underwent mastectomy with skin resection and local TAAF from May 2017 to October 2019, with minimum 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: Thirteen patients met inclusion criteria. Twelve of 13 patients presented with stage III or IV invasive breast cancer, with skin involvement. The mean chest wall defect measured 248.7 cm2 (140-336 cm2; SD, 63.2 cm2), and all were successfully reconstructed with immediate local TAAF. There were no intraoperative complications, but 1 patient developed a postop hematoma. The mean hospital stay was 1.3 nights, with 9 patients (69.2%) staying less than 23 hours and 4 patients (30.8%) staying 2 nights. Nine patients (69.2%) underwent adjuvant therapy, beginning on average 32 days (13-55 days; SD, 13.1 days) after surgery. The mean follow-up time was 13.8 months (4.5-31.6 months; SD, 9.2 months). One patient underwent successful delayed bilateral breast reconstruction with pedicled latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps and silicone implant placement. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that reconstruction with local TAAF is an outpatient procedure that reliably provides durable, immediate chest wall coverage, after mastectomy in patients with LABC. This technique has a short operative time, low blood loss, and low complication rate, allowing timely adjuvant therapy. Using an ERAS postop protocol we were able to reduce mean hospital stay to 1.3 days. Compared with other described techniques of reconstruction, the additional scars and donor site morbidity are minimal, allowing for delayed breast reconstruction. We also present survival outcomes data on these surgically managed patients.

Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL): a good practice guide, pictorial review, and new perspectives.

Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a rare but emerging T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It has two distinct subtypes, "effusion-only" or "mass-forming" disease, arising around implants in patients with in situ or previous history of textured-surface breast implants. The clinical, histopathological and imaging features are unique and nuanced as compared to primary breast malignancy and other lymphoma categories. Prompt recognition and diagnosis triggers referral to appropriate BIA-ALCL centres and initiation of treatment, with potential for excellent prognosis. Definitive management of both subtypes involves implant and capsule removal; systemic therapy is reserved for mass-forming disease and advanced-stage disease. There have been recent crucial advances in the diagnostic pathway, with publication of national and international guidelines: from the UK Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Expert Advisory Group (PRASEAG), and the United States National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). This review provides a practical guide to the clinical work-up of BIA-ALCL, enabling optimisation of the diagnostic imaging pathway, with representative cases.

Residential ultraviolet radiation and breast cancer risk in a large prospective cohort.

BACKGROUND: Ambient ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been increasing due to climate change. While this may result in adverse health consequences such as an increased incidence of skin cancer, UV radiation is also a source of vitamin D, which has been hypothesized to be protective for breast cancer risk. METHODS: Using a spatiotemporal kriging model, we estimated residential UV exposure levels for the enrollment addresses (2003-2009) of breast cancer-free women aged 35-74 years participating in the Sister Study and living in the contiguous United States (N = 48,450). Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the risk associated with UV exposure levels (mW/m2) categorized in quintiles. We examined the association for breast cancer overall (invasive and ductal carcinoma in situ) and by estrogen receptor (ER) status of the tumor. We considered effect modification by regular (≥4 times/week) vitamin D supplement use. RESULTS: Over a median of 10.5 years of follow up, 3,510 incident breast cancer diagnoses were reported. We found no evidence of an association between living in areas with higher levels of UV radiation and overall breast cancer risk (HRQ5 vs. Q1 = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.90, 1.11). Higher UV levels were inversely associated with the risk of ER- breast cancer (HRQ5 vs. Q1 = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.55-0.99), but not ER+ (HR Q5 vs. Q1 = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.92-1.18). For ER- breast cancer, the inverse association was only evident in women who did not regularly take vitamin D supplements (HRQ5 vs. Q1 = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.33-0.81) compared with those who did regularly take vitamin D supplements (HRQ5 vs. Q1 = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.68-1.54; p-for-heterogeneity = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study support a role for UV exposure and vitamin D in the etiology of ER- breast cancer.

Dietary and Supplemental Vitamin C Intake and Risk of Breast Cancer: Results from the Nurses' Health Studies.

BACKGROUND: Some previous studies suggested that high supplemental vitamin C intake may be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, although evidence is inconsistent. OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to study the association between vitamin C intake and breast cancer risks using regularly updated assessments of intake over a long follow-up. METHODS: We prospectively followed 88,041 women aged 33 to 60 years from the Nurses' Health Study (1980-2014) and 93,372 women aged 26 to 45 years from the Nurses' Health Study II (1991-2013). A total of 11,258 incident invasive breast cancers among 181,413 women were diagnosed. Data on vitamin C intake were collected every 2-4 years via a validated FFQ and specific questions on dietary supplement use. Multivariate HRs and 95% CIs for incident invasive breast cancer were estimated with Cox models. RESULTS: During follow-up, 82% of participants ever used supplements containing vitamin C, including multivitamins. Cumulative total vitamin C intake (HR for quintiles 5 compared with 1 = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.91-1.03; Ptrend = 0.81), dietary vitamin C intake (HR for quintiles 5 compared with 1 = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.92-1.04; Ptrend = 0.57), and supplemental vitamin C intake (HR for quintiles 5 compared with 1 in users = 1.02; 95% CI: 0.94-1.09; Ptrend = 0.77) were not associated with breast cancer risks. Results were unchanged when different exposure latencies were considered. The results did not differ by menopausal status, postmenopausal hormone therapy use, or BMI. No differences were observed by estrogen receptor status of the tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not support any important association between total, dietary, or supplemental vitamin C intake and breast cancer risks.

Association between dietary fat and fat subtypes with the risk of breast cancer in an Iranian population: a case-control study.

AIM: To examine the relationship between dietary fat intake and breast cancer (BC) development. METHOD: This case-control study included 473 women with breast cancer (pathologically confirmed) and 501 healthy subjects matched by age and residency. Dietary intakes of different types and sources of fatty acids were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. The association between dietary fats and odds of BC was assessed using a logistic regression model in crude and multivariable-adjusted models. P values below 0.05 were regarded as statistically significant. RESULTS: Participants' age and body mass index were 44.0 ± 10.8 years and 28.4 ± 5.6 kg/m2, respectively. Individuals with the highest quartile of total fat intake and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake were 1.50 times more at risk to develop BC than others. A positive significant association was observed between animal fat (Q4 vs. Q1, OR = 1.89, 95 % CI = 0.93-3.81), saturated fatty acid (SFA) (Q4 vs. Q1, OR = 1.70, 95 % CI = 0.88-3.30), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) (Q4 vs. Q1 OR = 1.85, 95 % CI = 0.95-3.61) and PUFA intake (Q4 vs. Q1, OR = 2.12, 95 % CI = 1.05-4.27) with BC risk in postmenopausal women. However, there was no association in premenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: Total dietary fat and its subtypes might increase the risk of BC, especially in postmenopausal women. This observational study confirms the role of dietary fat in breast cancer development. Intervention studies involving different estrogen receptor subgroups are needed.

Assisted reproductive technology treatment and risk of breast cancer: a population-based cohort study.

STUDY QUESTION: Is there an increased risk of breast cancer among women after ART treatment including ovarian hormone stimulation? SUMMARY ANSWER: The risk of breast cancer was slightly increased among women after ART treatment compared to age-matched, untreated women in the background population, and the risk was further increased among women initiating ART treatment when aged 40+ years. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: The majority of breast cancer cases are sensitive to oestrogen, and ovarian hormone stimulation has been suggested to increase the risk of breast cancer by influencing endogenous oestrogen levels. Previous studies on ART treatment and breast cancer have varied in their findings, but several studies have small sample sizes or lack follow-up time and/or confounder adjustment. Recent childbirth, nulliparity and higher socio-economic status are breast cancer risk factors and the latter two are also associated with initiating ART treatment. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: The Danish National ART-Couple II (DANAC II) cohort includes women treated with ART at public and private fertility clinics in 1994-2016. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Women with no cancer prior to ART treatment were included (n = 61 579). Women from the background population with similar age and no prior history of ART treatment were randomly selected as comparisons (n = 579 760). The baseline mean age was 33.1 years (range 18-46 years). Results are presented as hazard ratios (HRs) with corresponding CIs. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: During follow-up (median 9.69 years among ART-treated and 9.28 years among untreated), 5861 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, 695 among ART-treated and 5166 among untreated women (1.1% versus 0.9%, P < 0.0001). Using Cox regression analyses adjusted for nulliparity, educational level, partnership status, year, maternal breast cancer and age, the risk of breast cancer was slightly increased among women treated with ART (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.12-1.16). All causes of infertility were slightly associated with breast cancer risk after ART treatment. The risk of breast cancer increased with higher age at ART treatment initiation and was highest among women initiating treatment at age 40+ years (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.29-1.45). When comparing women with a first birth at age 40+ years with or without ART treatment, the increased risk among women treated with ART persisted (HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.09-2.08). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Although this study is based on a large, national cohort of women, more research with sufficient power and confounder adjustment is needed, particularly in cohorts with a broad age representation. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: An increased risk of breast cancer associated with a higher age at ART treatment initiation has been shown. Ovarian stimulation may increase the risk of breast cancer among women initiating ART treatment when aged 40+ years. Age-related vulnerability to hormone exposure or higher hormone doses during ART treatment may explain the increased risk. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This work was supported by a PhD grant to D.V. from the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Funding for establishing the DANAC II cohort was received from the Ebba Rosa Hansen Foundation. The authors report no conflict of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.