Hereditary cancer testing in a diverse sample across three breast imaging centers.

PURPOSE: Up to 10% of all breast cancers (BC) are attributed to inherited pathogenic variants (PV) in BC susceptibility genes; however, most carriers of PVs remain unidentified. Here, we sought to determine the yield of hereditary cancer gene PVs among diverse women attending breast imaging centers, who could benefit from enhanced surveillance and/or risk reduction interventions. METHODS: This cross-sectional retrospective cohort study included consecutive women, unselected for personal or family cancer history, who were offered genetic testing for hereditary cancer genes at the time of breast imaging at three centers (November 2020-March 2022). RESULTS: Among 1943 patients (median age: 66 years), self-reported race/ethnicity was White (34.5%), Hispanic (27.7%), African American (17.9%), Asian (4.5%), Ashkenazi Jewish (0.6%), Other (3.5%), and missing (13.0%). Thirty-nine patients (2%) were identified as carriers of a PV in an autosomal dominant clinically actionable hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC)-related or Lynch syndrome gene, most frequently, BRCA2 (6/39; 15.4%), PALB2 (8/39; 20.5%), CHEK2 (10/39; 25.6%), and PMS2 (5/39; 12.8%). Of the 34 PVs with known race/ethnicity, 47% were detected among non-White patients. Overall, 354/1,943 (18.2%) of patients met NCCN guidelines for HBOC gene testing and only 15/39 (38.5%) patients with an autosomal dominant clinically actionable PV met guidelines. CONCLUSION: This population health approach extended the reach of genetic cancer risk assessment in a diverse population and highlighted the limits of a guideline-based approach. This may help address inequity in access to risk-appropriate screening and cancer prevention.

Omission of radiation therapy following breast conservation in older (≥70 years) women with T1-2N0 triple-negative breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although randomized data support omitting adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) following breast conservation for T1-2N0 estrogen receptor positive breast cancer in ≥70-year-old women, there remains a knowledge gap regarding its omission for triple-negative BC (TNBC). METHODS AND MATERIALS: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for ≥70-year-old females with newly diagnosed T1-2N0M0 TNBC treated with breast conservation. Multivariable logistic regression ascertained factors associated with adjuvant RT administration. Overall survival (OS) between patients treated with or without adjuvant RT was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazards modeling determined variables associated with OS. RESULTS: Of 8526 patients, 6283 (74%) patients received adjuvant RT, and 2243 (26%) did not. RT was more frequently withheld in older patients, those with higher comorbidities, lower income, pT2 disease, following margin-positive resection, receipt of chemotherapy, and at academic centers (P < 0.05 for all). Median follow-up was 38.0 months. Five-year OS was greater in the adjuvant RT group (77.2% vs 55.3%, P < 0.001); these differences persisted when stratifying for age, T stage, and chemotherapy utilization (P < 0.001 for all). Omission of RT was also independently associated with poorer OS on multivariate analysis (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This investigation, the largest known such study to date, observed that omission of adjuvant RT for elderly women with T1-2N0 TNBC was associated with poorer OS; this was observed across a range of age groups, as well as following stratification by T stage and chemotherapy usage. Although these results do not imply causation, caution must be exercised when considering omission of adjuvant RT in node-negative TNBC patients.

Benign breast disease.

Benign breast disease includes all nonmalignant conditions of the breast, including benign tumors, trauma, mastalgia, mastitis, and nipple discharge. Benign tumors include pathologic changes that do not increase a patient's risk for developing cancer, lesions that confer a slightly increase risk, and lesions that are associated with an up to 50% risk of developing breast cancer. Both benign and malignant breast disorders can present with a palpable mass; skin dimpling, thickening, or erythema; pain; nipple discharge and inversion or distortion; or an abnormal screening mammogram with no clinical findings. Tools available to investigate breast problems include clinical breast examination, mammogram, and ultrasound. This article discusses the gynecologist's role in maintaining breast health, the clinical evaluation of breast problems, and management of benign breast disease.

Prognostic Factors, Treatment, and Outcomes in Early Stage, Invasive Papillary Breast Cancer: A SEER Investigation of Less Aggressive Treatment in a Favorable Histology.

OBJECTIVES: Invasive papillary breast cancer (IPBCA) represents 0.5% of invasive BCA, and is thought to carry a favorable prognosis. This population-based study reports on prognostic factors, treatment, and outcomes of early-stage IPBCA to explore whether there is any evidence to support less aggressive treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: IPBCA cases from 1990 to 2009 of the recent Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results were analyzed. Inclusion criteria included patients with stage T1-2, N0 IPBCA. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the variables of treatment, stage, race, hormone receptor status, grade (G1-3), and age. Treatment modalities included lumpectomy alone (LA), lumpectomy with radiation treatment (LRT), and mastectomy alone (MA). RESULTS: Among 10,485 patients, median follow-up was 56 months. Five and 10-year overall survival (OS) were 93.1% and 76.8%, respectively. Patients treated with LRT had superior mean OS 16.8 versus 14.9 years for MA (P=0.0004) and 14.2 years for LA (P=0.0003). Improved OS also correlated with lower histologic grade (P<0.0001), lower T-stage (P<0.0001), and younger age (P<0.0001). Black patients had the worst OS (12.7 y, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: LRT is associated with superior OS for early-stage invasive papillary BCA patients, when compared with LA or MA in this population-based study. The findings support the standard of care breast conservation approach for patients with invasive papillary BCA. Other prognostic factors associated with worse OS include increased age, higher T-stage, higher histologic grade, and black race.

Treatment Outcomes and Prognostic Factors in Male Patients With Stage IV Breast Cancer: A Population-based Study.

PURPOSE: Male breast cancer (MBC) represents < 1% of breast cancer patients, and limited data exists regarding metastatic MBC. To better characterize this patient subset, we performed a population-based study examining prognostic factors among patients with stage IV MBC. METHODS: Patients with stage IV MBC diagnosed between 1988 and 2012 were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and cause-specific survival (CSS) were evaluated. RESULTS: Overall, 394 patients had metastatic disease meeting inclusion criteria. The median follow-up was 21 months. The 5-year OS and CSS rates were 21.1% and 38.3%, respectively. Of those with known progesterone receptor (PR) status, 52% were PR-positive, which was associated with better OS (P < .001) and CSS (P = .003). Overall, 197 patients (50%) received surgery for the primary tumor, and 197 (50%) did not. Patients undergoing surgery had longer median CSS than those who did not (36 vs. 21 months; P < .001). Additional factors that correlated with prolonged OS and CSS were smaller tumor size (≤ 2 cm; P < .05) and younger age (≤ 65 years; P < .05). In multivariate analysis, smaller tumor size, PR-positivity, younger age, and resection of the primary tumor were associated with longer OS and CSS (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Although stage IV MBC has poor OS and CSS, patients with PR-positive disease, younger age (≤ 65 years), tumor size ≤ 2 cm, or who undergo surgery of the primary tumor have better OS and CSS. This is the largest study of stage IV MBC to date, and these findings address some of the questions regarding this rare presentation of breast cancer.

Clinical outcomes, toxicity, and cosmesis in breast cancer patients with close skin spacing treated with accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) using multi-lumen/catheter applicators.

PURPOSE: Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) using a single-lumen device is associated with better cosmetic outcomes if the spacing between the applicator and skin is > 7 mm. However, there are no reports addressing the late toxicity and clinical outcomes in patients treated with single-entry multi-lumen/catheter applicators who had close skin spacing (7 mm or less). We undertook this study to report clinical outcome, acute and late toxicity as well as cosmesis of early stage breast cancer patients with close skin spacing treated with APBI using multi-lumen or multi-catheter devices. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of all breast cancer patients who had undergone APBI using single-entry multi-lumen/catheter devices in a single institution between 2008 to 2012. The study was limited to those with ≤ 7 mm spacing between the device and skin. RESULTS: We identified 37 patients and 38 lesions with skin spacing of ≤ 7 mm. Seven lesions (18%) had spacing of ≤ 3 mm. Median follow-up was 47.5 months. There was one case of ipsilateral breast recurrence and one ipsilateral axillary recurrence. Based on RTOG criteria, 22 treated lesions experienced grade 1 and 9 lesions experienced grade 2 toxicity. Twenty-one lesions experienced late grade 1 toxicity. One patient had to undergo mastectomy due to mastitis. Twenty-four treated breasts showed excellent and 11 had good cosmetic outcome. Overall cosmesis trended towards a significant correlation with skin spacing. However, all patients with ≤ 3 mm skin spacing experienced acute and late toxicities. CONCLUSIONS: Accelerated partial breast irradiation can be safely performed in patients with skin spacing of ≤ 7 mm using single-entry multi-lumen/catheter applicators with excellent cosmetic outcomes and an acceptable toxicity profile. However, skin spacing of ≤ 3 mm is associated with acute and late toxicity and should be avoided if possible.

Dosimetric considerations and early clinical experience of accelerated partial breast irradiation using multi-lumen applicators in the setting of breast augmentation.

PURPOSE: Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) is an accepted treatment option in breast-conserving therapy for early stage breast cancer. However, data regarding outcomes of patients treated with multi-lumen catheter systems who have existing breast implants is limited. The purpose of this study was to report treatment parameters, outcomes, and possible dosimetric correlation with cosmetic outcome for this population of patients at our institution. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We report the treatment and outcome of seven consecutive patients with existing breast implants and early stage breast cancer who were treated between 2009 and 2013 using APBI following lumpectomy. All patients were treated twice per day for five days to a total dose of 34 Gy using a high-dose-rate (192)Ir source. Cosmetic outcomes were evaluated using the Harvard breast cosmesis scale, and late toxicities were reported using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) late radiation morbidity schema. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 32 months, all patients have remained cancer free. Six out of seven patients had an excellent or good cosmetic outcome. There were no grade 3 or 4 late toxicities. The average total breast implant volume was 279.3 cc, received an average mean dose of 12.1 Gy, and a maximum dose of 234.1 Gy. The average percentage of breast implant volume receiving 50%, 75%, 100%, 150%, and 200% of the prescribed dose was 15.6%, 7.03%, 4.6%, 1.58%, and 0.46%, respectively. Absolute volume of breast implants receiving more than 50% of prescribed dose correlated with worse cosmetic outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Accelerated partial breast irradiation using a multi-lumen applicator in patients with existing breast implants can safely be performed with promising early clinical results. The presence of the implant did not compromise the ability to achieve dosimetric criteria; however, dose to the implant and the irradiated implant volume may be related with worse cosmetic outcomes.

Surgeon-performed ultrasound reliably predicts skin spacing and may decrease the rate of MammoSite balloon catheter explantation in patients undergoing brachytherapy for breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if the distance from the skin to the seroma cavity, as measured with ultrasound (US) before catheter placement, correlated with the distance from skin to MammoSite balloon catheter as measured on computerized axial tomography (CAT) after catheter placement. METHODS: US was used to measure the distance from the skin to the seroma cavity, and then the MammoSite balloon catheter was inserted. Skin-to-balloon distance was then measured using CAT. Statistical analysis was performed to determine correlation between the 2 measurements. RESULTS: Our cohort consisted of 70 patients. US distance correlated with CAT distance (Pearson correlation coefficient .70). Mean US distance was 10.8 mm (SD 4.5 mm); mean CAT distance was 11.9 mm (SD 7.5 mm); and mean difference between the 2 measurements was -1.1 mm (SD 6.1 mm). A US measurement >/=7.6 mm predicted successful completion of MammoSite brachytherapy in 98% of patients. Patients with skin-to-seroma cavity distance <7.6 mm required explantation before treatment completion 39% of the time. CONCLUSIONS: Office-based US performed before insertion of the MammoSite balloon catheter statistically correlates with measurement by CAT. Patients with >/=7.6 mm skin-to-seroma cavity distance on US had a higher completion rate of MammoSite brachytherapy treatment.