Estrogen, progesterone, and HER2/neu receptor discordance between primary and metastatic breast tumours-a review.

Discordance in estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR), and HER2/neu status between primary breast tumours and metastatic disease is well recognized. In this review, we highlight how receptor discordance between primary tumours and paired metastasis can help elucidate the mechanism of metastasis but can also effect patient management and the design of future trials. Discordance rates and ranges were available from 47 studies (3384 matched primary and metastatic pairs) reporting ER, PR, and HER2/neu expression for both primary and metastatic sites. Median discordance rates for ER, PR, and HER2/neu were 14 % (range 0-67 %, IQR 9-25 %), 21 % (range 0-62 %, IQR 15-41 %), and 10 % (range 0-44 %, IQR 4-17 %), respectively. Loss of receptor expression was more common (9.17 %) than gain (4.51 %). Discordance rates varied amongst site of metastasis with ER discordance being highest in bone metastases suggesting that discordance is a true biological phenomenon. Discordance rates vary for both the biomarker and the metastatic site. Loss of expression is more common than gain. This can affect patient management as it can lead to a reduction in both the efficacy and availability of potential therapeutic agents. Future studies are recommended to explore both the mechanisms of discordance as well as its impact on patient outcome and management.

Laparoscopic resection for colon cancer: would all patients benefit?

PURPOSE: This study was designed to assess whether the exclusion criteria used in the Clinical Outcomes of Surgical Therapy and Colon Cancer Laparoscopic or Open Resection trials affected the generalizability of their findings. METHODS: A prospective database of consecutive laparoscopic resections performed for colon cancer was reviewed. Patients were categorized into two groups: inclusion group and exclusion group, based on the selection criteria used in the Clinical Outcomes of Surgical Therapy and Colon Cancer Laparoscopic or Open Resection trials. Baseline and perioperative data were analyzed by using t-tests, Wilcoxon's rank-sum, chi-squared, and Fisher's exact test. Kaplan-Meier survival curves, followed by adjustment for tumor nodes metastasis stage and age utilizing a Cox proportional hazard model, were performed. RESULTS: The inclusion group had 221 patients and the exclusion group had 166 (median age and gender distribution were similar). The exclusion group had a higher conversion rate (23 vs. 11.3 percent; P=0.0023). There was no difference in intraoperative complications (9 percent for exclusion group vs. 8.6 percent for inclusion group; P=0.8), operative time (180 minutes for exclusion group vs.172 minutes for inclusion group; P=0.24), or postoperative complication rates (33.7 percent for exclusion group vs. 26 percent for inclusion group; P=0.13). No difference was detected in perioperative mortality rates, length of stay, days to diet as tolerated, and adjusted two-year survival. CONCLUSIONS: No differences were found in outcomes between the two groups in terms of operative/postoperative complications, length of stay, perioperative mortality, and two-year survival. It seems that all patients with colon cancer can potentially benefit from a laparoscopic approach.

Broad-based fellowships: a cornerstone of minimally invasive surgery education and dissemination.

Aware of the trends in surgery and of public demand, many residents completing a 5-year training program seek fellowships in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) because of inadequate exposure to advanced MIS during their residency. A survey was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a broad-based fellowship in advanced laparoscopic surgery offered in an academic health science center. The questionnaire was mailed to all graduates. Data on demographics, comfort level with specific laparoscopic procedures, and opinions regarding the best methods of acquiring these skills were collected. Most of the surgeons entered the fellowship directly after residency. The majority of these surgeons are academic surgeons. Fellows performed a median of 187 cases by the end of their training and felt comfortable operating on foregut, hindgut, and end organ. A full year of training was found to be the best format for appropriate skill transfer. A broad-based MIS fellowship meets the needs of both academic and community surgeons desiring to perform advanced laparoscopic procedures.