Sentinel lymph node biopsy before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in cN0 breast cancer patients: impact on axillary morbidity and survival-a propensity score cohort study.

PURPOSE: In patients with clinically lymph node-negative (cN0) breast cancer, performing sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) has been preferentially embraced in comparison to before NACT. However, survival outcomes associated with both strategies remain understudied. We aimed to compare the axillary lymphadenectomy (ALND) rate, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS), between two strategies. METHODS: We included 310 patients in a retrospective observational study. SNLB was performed before NACT from December 2006 to April 2014 (107 cases) and after NACT from May 2014 to May 2020 (203 patients). An inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method was applied to homogenize both groups. Hazard ratios (HR) and odd ratios (OR) are reported with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS: The lymphadenectomy rate was 29.9% before NACT and 7.4% after NACT (p < 0.001), with an OR of 5.35 95%CI (2.7-10.4); p = .002. After 4 years of follow-up, SLNB after NACT was associated with lower risk for DFS, HR 0.42 95%CI (0.17-1.06); p = 0.066 and better OS, HR 0.21 CI 95% (0.07-0.67); p = 0.009 than SLNB before NACT. After multivariate analysis, independent adverse prognostic factors for OS included SLNB before NACT, HR 3.095 95%CI (2.323-4.123), clinical nonresponse to NACT, HR 1.702 95% CI (1.012-2.861), and small tumors (cT1) with high proliferation index, HR 1.889 95% (1.195-2.985). CONCLUSION: Performing SLNB before NACT results in more ALND and has no benefit for patient survival. These findings support discontinuing the practice of SLNB before NACT in patients with cN0 breast cancer.

SENECA study: staging endometrial cancer based on molecular classification.

OBJECTIVE: Management of endometrial cancer is advancing, with accurate staging crucial for guiding treatment decisions. Understanding sentinel lymph node (SLN) involvement rates across molecular subgroups is essential. To evaluate SLN involvement in early-stage (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2009 I-II) endometrial cancer, considering molecular subtypes and new European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO) risk classification. METHODS: The SENECA study retrospectively reviewed data from 2139 women with stage I-II endometrial cancer across 66 centers in 16 countries. Patients underwent surgery with SLN assessment following ESGO guidelines between January 2021 and December 2022. Molecular analysis was performed on pre-operative biopsies or hysterectomy specimens. RESULTS: Among the 2139 patients, the molecular subgroups were as follows: 272 (12.7%) p53 abnormal (p53abn, 1191 (55.7%) non-specific molecular profile (NSMP), 581 (27.2%) mismatch repair deficient (MMRd), 95 (4.4%) POLE mutated (POLE-mut). Tracer diffusion was detected in, at least one side, in 97.2% of the cases; with a bilateral diffusion observed in 82.7% of the cases. By ultrastaging (90.7% of the cases) or one-step nucleic acid amplification (198 (9.3%) of the cases), 205 patients were identified with affected sentinel lymph nodes, representing 9.6% of the sample. Of these, 139 (67.8%) had low-volume metastases (including micrometastases, 42.9%; and isolated tumor cells, 24.9%) while 66 (32.2%) had macrometastases. Significant differences in SLN involvement were observed between molecular subtypes, with p53abn and MMRd groups having the highest rates (12.50% and 12.40%, respectively) compared with NSMP (7.80%) and POLE-mut (6.30%), (p=0.004); (p53abn, OR=1.69 (95% CI 1.11 to 2.56), p=0.014; MMRd, OR=1.67 (95% CI 1.21 to 2.31), p=0.002). Differences were also noted among ESGO risk groups (2.84% for low-risk patients, 6.62% for intermediate-risk patients, 21.63% for high-intermediate risk patients, and 22.51% for high-risk patients; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals significant differences in SLN involvement among patients with early-stage endometrial cancer based on molecular subtypes. This underscores the importance of considering molecular characteristics for accurate staging and optimal management decisions.

Breast Cancer Patient's Outcomes after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Surgery at 5 and 10 Years for Stage II-III Disease.

Introduction: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer offers the possibility to facilitate breast and axillary surgery; it is a test of chemosensibility in vivo with significant prognostic value and may be used to tailor adjuvant treatment according to the response. Material and Methods: A retrospective single-institution cohort of 482 stage II and III breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy based on anthracycline and taxans, plus antiHEr2 in Her2-positive cases, was studied. Survival was calculated at 5 and 10 years. Kaplan-Meier curves with a log-rank test were calculated for differences according to age, BRCA status, menopausal status, TNM, pathological and molecular surrogate subtype, 20% TIL cut-off, surgical procedure, response to chemotherapy and the presence of vascular invasion. Results: The pCR rate was 25.3% and was greater in HER2 (51.3%) and TNBC (31.7%) and in BRCA carriers (41.9%). The factors independently related to patient survival were pathology and molecular surrogate subtype, type of surgery, response to NACT and vascular invasion. BRCA status was a protective prognostic factor without reaching statistical significance, with an HR 0.5 (95%CI 0.1-1.4). Mastectomy presented a double risk of distant recurrence compared to breast-conservative surgery (BCS), supporting BCS as a safe option after NACT. After a mean follow-up of 126 (SD 43) months, luminal tumors presented a substantial difference in survival rates calculated at 5 or 10 years (81.2% compared to 74.7%), whereas that for TNBC was 75.3 and 73.5, respectively. The greatest difference was seen according to the response in patients with pCR, who exhibited a 10 years DDFS of 95.5% vs. 72.4% for those patients without pCR, p < 0001. This difference was especially meaningful in TNBC: the 10 years DDFS according to an RCB of 0 to 3 was 100%, 80.6%, 69% and 49.2%, respectively, p < 0001. Patients with a particularly poor prognosis were those with lobular carcinomas, with a 10 years DDFS of 42.9% vs. 79.7% for ductal carcinomas, p = 0.001, and patients with vascular invasion at the surgical specimen, with a 10 years DDFS of 59.2% vs. 83.6% for those patients without vascular invasion, p < 0.001. Remarkably, BRCA carriers presented a longer survival, with an estimated 10 years DDFS of 89.6% vs. 77.2% for non-carriers, p = 0.054. Conclusions: Long-term outcomes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy can help patients and clinicians make well-informed decisions.

Mejora coste efectiva en diagnóstico de cáncer endometrial con la incorporación del análisis molecular GynEC(R)-Dx / Cost-effective improvement in endometrial cancer diagnosis by the incorporation of molecular analysis

Objetivo: estimar el número de exploraciones evitables al comparar un algoritmo diagnóstico clásico de la metrorragia posmenopáusica (MPM) frente a un algoritmo que incorpore un test molecular como GynEC(R)-Dx. Material y métodos: estudio de cohortes, prospectivo y aleatorizado por centros realizado en mujeres que presentaron MPM. Las pacientes fueron aleatorizadas a seguir un algoritmo de estudio de MPM clásico vs GynEC(R)-Dx. Se registraron variables demográficas y se comparó el uso de recursos tales como biopsias, ecografías, histeroscopias y visitas entre ambos grupos. Adicionalmente se revalidó la sensibilidad (S), especificidad (E), valor predictivo positivo (VPP) y valor predictivo negativo (VPN) del test. Resultados: se incluyeron un total de 94 pacientes, 51 en grupo clásico y 43 en grupo GynEC(R)-Dx. En el grupo clásico se realizaron 95 exploraciones más respecto al grupo de GynEC(R)-Dx clasificadas en: 11 biopsias, 17 ecografías, 24 histeroscopias y 89 visitas. En el grupo GynEC(R)-Dx se realizaron 92 exploraciones innecesarias consideradas "fuera de protocolo". En la revalidación se observó una S 100%, E 92.5%, VPP 50%, VPN 100%. Conclusiones: la incorporación de un test molecular como GynEC(R)-DX para el estudio de la metrorragia posmenopáusica permite disminuir el número de exploraciones y visitas respecto a los algoritmos convencionales

Objective: The histopathology remains the gold standard to diagnose endometrial cancer (EC) from endometrial biopsy. Molecular tests have recently emerged as a useful tool to classify EC according to its prognosis. However, there is currently no published protocol that includes molecular diagnosis of postmenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). We hypothesized that the incorporation of a molecular test in the management of postmenopausal women with AUB improves the cost-efectiveness of the diagnostic process. Material and methods: We present a prospective study performed in postmenopausal women who presented AUB between 2009-2014. Seven centers recruited the patients. Three of them follow the classical diagnosis algorithm (group 1) and four centers follow the one that incorporates a molecular test (Gynec(R)-Dx) performed on the remnants of aspirates (group 2). In group 2, when both the endometrial biopsy and the molecular test were negative, the consequent explorations were considered as "out of procotol". Clinical data, number of biopsies, ultrasounds, hysteroscopies and visits were compared between groups. In addition, the sensitivity (S), specificity (E), positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) of the molecular test were calculated. Results: 94 patients were recruited. 51 vs 43 women were included in the classical and the molecular algorithm respectively. There were no differences in age, BMI, parity, use of tamoxifen or hormonal treatment. The detailed outcomes of explorations between classical vs molecular group are shown in Table 1. 324 vs 229 explorations were performed respectively (table 2). In the molecular group, 92 explorations were considered "out of protocol". The test validations showed a 100% S, 92.5% E, 50% PPV and 100% NPV. Conclusions: According to our results, the incorporation of a molecular test for the diagnosis of EC in postmenopausal women who complained with AUB reduces the number of explorations. Consequently, the molecular algorithm is more cost-effective than conventional algorithms

Correlación y concordancia entre la severidad de los síntomas de incontinencia urinaria de esfuerzo y los parámetros ecográficos de movilidad uretral / Correlation and concordance between the severity of stress urinary incontinence symptoms and ultrasound parameters of urethral mobility

Objetivo: valorar la correlación y concordancia entre la severidad de la incontinencia urinaria de esfuerzo y la movilidad ecográfica de la uretra. Sujetos y métodos: análisis retrospectivo de los datos clínico-ecográficos de las pacientes a las que se realizó ecografía uroginecológica desde el año 2008 al 2013. Todas respondieron el cuestionario de severidad de Sandvik. Se midió la movilidad uretral mediante ecografía. Se realizó un test de correlación de Spearman y el coeficiente kappa de Cohen entre el índice de Sandvik y el deslizamiento uretral. Resultados: se analizaron 152 pacientes. Existe una correlación positiva significativa entre el índice de Sandvik y la movilidad uretral. En cambio, existe un índice de concordancia bajo. Conclusiones: la ecografía uroginecológica es útil en el diagnóstico de la severidad de la incontinencia urinaria de esfuerzo por hipermovilidad uretral en aquellos pacientes con menor severidad. En los pacientes con mayor severidad, la prueba es poco reproducible (AU)

Objective: To assess the correlation and concordance between the severity of the symptoms of stress urinary incontinence and ecographical mobility of the urethra. Subjects and methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical and ultrasound data from the patients which had performed urogynaecological ultrasonography from 2008 to 2013. They all filled out the Sandvik questionnaire. Sonographic measurement of urethral mobility was performed. We performed a Spearman correlation test and Cohen’s Kappa test between the Sandvik index and the urethral sliding. Results: A total of 152 patients were analyzed. There is a positive correlation between the Sandvik index and urethral mobility. Nevertheless, there is a low concordance. Conclusions: Urogynecological ultrasound is useful to diagnose the severity of stress urinary incontinence caused by hypermobility in patients with less incontinence. In patients with more severity, the measurement of hypermobility is not reproducible (AU)