Gastrointestinal Toxicity of Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) in Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Pooled Analysis.

Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), sacituzumab govitecan (SG), and trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) are three ADCs approved for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Since gastrointestinal toxicities have been commonly observed with these drugs in clinical trials, a pooled analysis evaluating gastrointestinal adverse events (AEs) in patients with MBC treated with ADCs in clinical trials was performed. PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception until May 2023 for phase II and III clinical trials reporting frequency and severity of gastrointestinal AEs during treatment with ADCs. Data were retrieved for nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain: overall and grade 3-4 toxicity rates according to NCI-CTCAE were collected and expressed as proportions. A pre-specified subgroup analysis according to the agent was also carried out. Fourteen studies, comprising 5608 patients, were included in the analysis. Gastrointestinal AEs were frequently registered with SG and T-DXd. A significantly higher frequency of nausea (65.6% with SG, 75% with T-DXd), vomiting (43.7% with SG, 45% with T-DXd), and diarrhea (59.7% with SG, 29% with T-DXd) was noticed with these ADCs compared to TDM-1. Furthermore, diarrhea was more frequently associated with SG (grade 3 in 7.5% of patients), while constipation and abdominal pain were less common. Gastrointestinal AEs, notably nausea and diarrhea, were frequently reported by MBC patients treated with SG and T-DXd in clinical trials. Since these ADCs are administered continuously until disease progression or occurrence of unbearable AEs, gastrointestinal toxicity may have a negative impact on patient quality of life. Therefore, appropriate management of gastrointestinal AEs is mandatory to ensure treatment efficacy and adherence.

Fat Body Mass and Vertebral Fracture Progression in Women With Breast Cancer.

Importance: Women with early breast cancer (EBC) exposed to aromatase inhibitors (AIs) may experience fragility fractures despite treatment with bone-active drugs. Risk factors for fractures in patients receiving AIs and denosumab have not been explored to date. Objectives: To evaluate whether an association exists between dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-measured fat body mass (FBM) and vertebral fracture (VF) progression in postmenopausal women with EBC undergoing adjuvant therapy with AIs in combination with denosumab and to examine whether VF was associated with common risk factors for bone fracture and parameters of body composition other than FBM. Design, Setting, and Participants: For this prospective, single-center, cohort study, 237 patients with EBC who were undergoing adjuvant treatment with AIs and denosumab (60 mg every 6 months) were enrolled at the Breast Unit of the ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia from September 2014 to June 2018. Data analysis was conducted in June 2022. Exposure: Body composition parameters, bone mineral density, and morphometric VFs were assessed by DXA at study entry and after 18 months of therapy. Main Outcomes and Measures: VF progression, defined as either new or worsening of preexisting VFs, between the 2 time points. Results: Of the 237 patients enrolled (median [range] age, 61 [28-84] years), 17 (4.4%) reported VF progression. Univariable analysis found an association between VF progression and a history of clinical fractures (odds ratio [OR], 3.22; 95% CI, 1.19-8.74; P = .02), Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) score for major fractures (OR, 4.42; 95% CI, 1.23-13.79; P = .04), percentage of FBM (OR, 6.04; 95% CI, 1.69-21.63; P = .006), and android fat (OR, 9.58; 95% CI, 1.17-78.21; P = .04) and an inverse association with appendicular lean mass index-FBM ratio (OR, 0.25, 95% CI, 0.08-0.82; P = .02). Multivariable analysis revealed percentage of FBM (OR, 5.41; 95% CI, 1.49-19.59; P = .01) and FRAX score (OR, 3.95; 95% CI, 1.09-14.39; P = .04) as independent variables associated with VF progression. Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this study suggest that baseline FBM is an independent factor for VF progression in patients with EBC treated with adjuvant AIs and denosumab. This observation is new and indicates that diet and exercise may synergize with denosumab in the management of bone health in this patient setting.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes predict clinical outcomes in hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative advanced breast cancer patients treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors.

Background: Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) combined with Endocrine Therapy (ET) are the standard treatment for patients with Hormone Receptor-positive/HER2-negative advanced breast cancer (HR+/HER2- aBC). Objectives: While CDK4/6i are known to reduce several peripheral blood cells, such as neutrophils, lymphocytes and platelets, the impact of these modulations on clinical outcomes is unknown. Design: A multicenter, retrospective-prospective Italian study. Methods: We investigated the association between baseline peripheral blood cells, or their early modifications (i.e. 2 weeks after treatment initiation), and the progression-free survival (PFS) of HR+/HER2- aBC patients treated with ETs plus CDK4/6i. Random Forest models were used to select covariates associated with patient PFS among a large list of patient- and tumor-related variables. Results: We evaluated 638 HR+/HER2- aBC patients treated with ET plus CDK4/6i at six Italian Institutions between January 2017 and May 2021. High baseline lymphocyte counts were independently associated with longer PFS [median PFS (mPFS) 20.1 versus 13.2 months in high versus low lymphocyte patients, respectively; adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR): 0.78; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.66-0.92; p = 0.0144]. Moreover, patients experiencing a lower early reduction of lymphocyte counts had significantly longer PFS when compared to patients undergoing higher lymphocyte decrease (mPFS 18.1 versus 14.5 months; aHR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.73-0.93; p = 0.0037). Patients with high baseline lymphocytes and undergoing a lower reduction, or even an increase, of lymphocyte counts during CDK4/6i therapy experienced the longest PFS, while patients with lower baseline lymphocytes and undergoing a higher decrease of lymphocytes had the lowest PFS (mPFS 21.4 versus 11 months, respectively). Conclusion: Baseline and on-treatment modifications of peripheral blood lymphocytes have independent prognostic value in HR+/HER2- aBC patients. This study supports the implementation of clinical strategies to boost antitumor immunity in patients with HR+/HER2- aBC treated with ETs plus CDK4/6i.

Is weight gain preventable in women with early breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy? A real-world study on dietary pattern, physical activity, and body weight before and after chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the role of a lifestyle intervention and clinical and therapeutic factors for preventing weight gain in early breast cancer (BC) patients from one week before to 12 months after chemotherapy. METHODS: Dietary assessments were conducted by a trained dietician using a food-frequency questionnaire at each clinical assessment. Total energy, macronutrients intakes, and physical activity were estimated and the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) for adherence to Mediterranean diet was calculated. At each follow-up visit, patients were provided with dietary advices according to Mediterranean and Italian guidelines by a registered dietician, after evaluation of their food records. The associations of clinical characteristics, dietary pattern, and physical activity with weight gain were evaluated by multiple logistic regression, with weight gain ≥5% from baseline value as a dichotomous dependent variable. RESULTS: 169 early BC patients who met all follow-up visits and provided complete data were included in the analysis. From baseline to last assessment, weight loss (≥5% decrease from baseline value), stable weight, and weight gain were observed in 23.1%, 58%, and 18.9% women, respectively. Overall, a 0.68 kg mean decrease in women's weight (-1.1% from baseline) was observed. The risk of gaining weight increased for having normal weight/underweight at baseline, receiving hormone therapy, MDS worsening, and physical activity decreasing from baseline to last assessment. CONCLUSION: Providing simple suggestions on Mediterranean diet principles was effective for preventing weight gain in normal weight women and favoring weight loss in overweight and obese women.

Role of Body Composition in the Prediction of Skeletal Fragility Induced by Hormone Deprivation Therapies in Cancer Patients.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review paper is intended to show that changes in body composition are key in the pathogenesis of bone fragility amongst patients with breast and prostate cancer receiving hormone deprivation therapies (HDTs) and that the mechanism is based on the development of alterations in bone quality rather than in bone quantity. RECENT FINDINGS: Preclinical and clinical data suggest a tight connection amongst bone, adipose and muscular tissues by means of several soluble mediators, potentially leading to (1) bone resorption and bone quality deterioration in sarcopenic obese subjects, (2) bone mineral deposition in healthy trained subjects. Cancer patients treated with HDTs frequently fall into the first condition, named osteosarcopenic obesity. Current clinical guidelines for the prevention of treatment-induced osteoporosis focus on bone mineral density (BMD) as a main predictive factor for fracture risk; however, the pathophysiology underlying HDT-induced bone fragility differs from that of primary and postmenopausal osteoporosis, suggesting a prevalent role for bone quality alterations. Focusing on available data from clinical trials, in our review we suggest osteosarcopenic obesity as a common target for the prevention and treatment of HDTs-related metabolic and skeletal complications, beyond a BMD-centred approach.

Prognostic significance of HER2-low status in HR-positive/HER2-negative advanced breast cancer treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors.

Whether Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (HER2)-low status has prognostic significance in HR + /HER2- advanced Breast Cancer (aBC) patients treated with first-line Endocrine Therapy plus CDK 4/6 inhibitors remains unclear. In 428 patients evaluated, HER2-low status was independently associated with significantly worse PFS and OS when compared with HER2-0 status. Based on our findings, HER2-low status could become a new prognostic biomarker in this clinical setting.

Sacituzumab govitecan and radiotherapy in metastatic, triple-negative, and BRCA-mutant breast cancer patient with active brain metastases: A case report.

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive cancer subtype, owing to its high metastatic potential: Patients who develop brain metastases (BMs) have a poor prognosis due to the lack of effective systemic treatments. Surgery and radiation therapy are valid options, while pharmacotherapy still relies on systemic chemotherapy, which has limited efficacy. Among the new treatment strategies available, the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) sacituzumab govitecan has shown an encouraging activity in metastatic TNBC, even in the presence of BMs. Case presentation: A 59-year-old woman was diagnosed with early TNBC and underwent surgery and subsequent adjuvant chemotherapy. A germline pathogenic variant in BReast CAncer gene 2 (BRCA2) was revealed after genetic testing. After 11 months from the completion of adjuvant treatment, she had pulmonary and hilar nodal relapse and began first-line chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel. However, after only 3 months from starting the treatment, she experienced relevant disease progression, due to the appearance of numerous and symptomatic BMs. Sacituzumab govitecan (10 mg/kg) was started as second-line treatment as part of the Expanded Access Program (EAP). She reported symptomatic relief after the first cycle and received whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) concomitantly to sacituzumab govitecan treatment. The subsequent CT scan showed an extracranial partial response and a near-to-complete intracranial response; no grade 3 adverse events were reported, even if sacituzumab govitecan was reduced to 7.5 mg/kg due to persistent G2 asthenia. After 10 months from starting sacituzumab govitecan, a systemic disease progression was documented, while intracranial response was maintained. Conclusions: This case report supports the potential efficacy and safety of sacituzumab govitecan in the treatment of early recurrent and BRCA-mutant TNBC. Despite the presence of active BMs, our patient had a progression-free survival (PFS) of 10 months in the second-line setting and sacituzumab govitecan was safe when administered together with radiation therapy. Further real-world data are warranted to confirm sacituzumab govitecan efficacy in this patient population.

Assessment of DXA derived bone quality indexes and bone geometry parameters in early breast cancer patients: A single center cross-sectional study.

Background: Bone mineral density (BMD) lacks sensitivity in individual fracture risk assessment in early breast cancer (EBC) patients treated with aromatase inhibitors (AIs). New dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) based risk factors are needed. Methods: Trabecular bone score (TBS), bone strain index (BSI) and DXA parameters of bone geometry were evaluated in postmenopausal women diagnosed with EBC. The aim was to explore their association with morphometric vertebral fractures (VFs). Subjects were categorized in 3 groups in order to evaluate the impact of AIs and denosumab on bone geometry: AI-naive, AI-treated minus (AIDen-) or plus (AIDen+) denosumab. Results: A total of 610 EBC patients entered the study: 305 were AI-naive, 187 AIDen-, and 118 AIDen+. In the AI-naive group, the presence of VFs was associated with lower total hip BMD and T-score and higher femoral BSI. As regards as bone geometry parameters, AI-naive fractured patients reported a significant increase in femoral narrow neck (NN) endocortical width, femoral NN subperiosteal width, intertrochanteric buckling ratio (BR), intertrochanteric endocortical width, femoral shaft (FS) BR and endocortical width, as compared to non-fractured patients. Intertrochanteric BR and intertrochanteric cortical thickness significantly increased in the presence of VFs in AIDen- patients, not in AIDen+ ones. An increase in cross-sectional area and cross-sectional moment of inertia, both intertrochanteric and at FS, significantly correlated with VFs only in AIDen+. No association with VFs was found for either lumbar BSI or TBS in all groups. Conclusions: Bone geometry parameters are variably associated with VFs in EBC patients, either AI-naive or AI treated in combination with denosumab. These data suggest a tailored choice of fracture risk parameters in the 3 subgroups of EBC patients.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Many clinical trials have investigated the role of ICIs in PM, with contrasting results. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials testing single-agent anti-Programmed Death -1 (PD-1)/Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1), anti-Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 (CTLA-4) or combined treatment in PM patients, analyzing response and survival rate as well as safety data. We selected 17 studies including 2328 patients. Both OS and PFS rates were significantly higher with combined ICI treatments than with single agent anti-PD-1/PD-L1 (p < 0.001 and p = 0.006, respectively) or anti CTLA-4 (p < 0.001) treatments. ORR and DCR for all ICI treatments were 20% (95% CI 13−27%) and 56% (95% CI 45−67%), respectively, and they did not significantly differ between combined and single agent treatments (p = 0.088 and p = 0.058, respectively). The 12-month OS and 6-month PFS rates did not differ significantly (p = 0.0545 and p = 0.1464, respectively) among pre-treated or untreated patients. Combined ICI treatments had a significantly higher rate of Adverse Events (AEs) (p = 0.01). PD-L1-positive patients had a higher probability of response and survival. In conclusion, combined ICI treatments have higher efficacy than single agents but are limited by higher toxicity. Efficacy was independent of treatment line, so a customized sequential strategy should still be speculated. PD-L1 expression could influence response to ICIs; however, reliable biomarkers are warranted.

Molecular Basis and Rationale for the Use of Targeted Agents and Immunotherapy in Sinonasal Cancers.

Despite the progress of surgery, radiotherapy, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the prognosis for advanced sinonasal cancers (SNCs) remains poor. In the era of precision medicine, more research has been conducted on the molecular pathways and recurrent mutations of SNCs, with the aim of understanding carcinogenesis, helping with diagnosis, identifying prognostic factors, and finding potentially targetable mutations. In the treatment of SNC, immunotherapy is rarely used, and no targeted therapies have been approved, partly because these tumors are usually excluded from major clinical trials. Data on the efficacy of targeted agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors are scarce. Despite those issues, a tumor-agnostic treatment approach based on targeted drugs against a detected genetic mutation is growing in several settings and cancer subtypes, and could also be proposed for SNCs. Our work aims to provide an overview of the main molecular pathways altered in the different epithelial subtypes of sinonasal and skull base tumors, focusing on the possible actionable mutations for which potential target therapies are already approved in other cancer types.

Sleep disturbances and restless legs syndrome in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer given adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Whether adjuvant therapy with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) causes sleep disturbances or not in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer (EBC) is still a controversial issue. METHODS: Between March 2014 and November 2017, validated questionnaires for assessing insomnia, anxiety, depression, quality of life (QoL) and restless legs syndrome (RLS) were administered to 160 EBC patients at baseline and after 3, 6, 12, and 24 months of AI therapy. RESULTS: AI therapy significantly decreased the patients' QoL, but did not influence insomnia, anxiety or depression. However, it significantly increased the frequency and severity of RLS. Patients with RLS at baseline (19%) or who developed RLS during AI therapy (26.3%) reported statistically lower quality of sleep, higher anxiety and depression, and worse QoL compared to patients who never reported RLS (54.7%). CONCLUSION: Although AI therapy does not affect sleep quality, it may increase RLS frequency. The presence of RLS could identify a group of EBC patients who may benefit from psychological support.

Taste Alterations Do Not Affect Change in Food Habits and Body Weight in Breast Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Chemotherapy-induced taste alterations (TAs) affect approximately 53-84% of breast cancer patients with significant consequences on flavor perception, possibly leading to food aversion and changes in daily dietary habits. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between TAs and changes in food habits and body weight among early breast cancer (EBC) patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: TAs were prospectively evaluated in 182 EBC patients from April 2014 to June 2018. TAs, dietary habits, and body weight were collected by a trained dietician. TAs were classified into different subtypes according to the following basic taste perception: metallic, sweet, bitter, salty, sour, and umami taste. RESULTS: During adjuvant chemotherapy, a significant reduction in the consumption of bread, breadsticks, red meat, fat salami, snacks, added sugar, milk, and alcoholic beverages was observed, regardless of TAs onset. No correlation between these dietary changes and different TAs subtypes was found. Body weight remained stable in most EBC patients (71.4%) and was not influenced by TAs onset and by different TAs subtypes. CONCLUSION: EBC patients change their dietary habits during adjuvant chemotherapy, mostly following the World Cancer Research Fund recommendations, irrespective of TAs onset and without affecting body weight.

Taste alterations during neo/adjuvant chemotherapy and subsequent follow-up in breast cancer patients: a prospective single-center clinical study.

PURPOSE: Dysgeusia and taste alterations (TAs) are side effects of cytotoxic chemotherapy and affect patients' quality of life; however, the prevalence, types, and duration of TAs and their potential relationship with other clinical disturbances are not well-described. Our primary aim was to prospectively evaluate the characteristics of TAs in early breast cancer (EBC) patients during (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy and up to 1 year after its completion. METHODS: From April 2014 to June 2018, 182 EBC patients entered the study and received (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy, mostly with taxane and anthracycline-containing regimens (65% of cases). A dietitian performed TAs assessment through the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Event v4.0 (CTCAE) and the Chemotherapy-induced Taste Alteration Scale (CiTAS) questionnaire during chemotherapy and follow-up according to defined time points: at baseline (T0, before starting chemotherapy); at the first follow-up visit, (T1, 2 months after starting chemotherapy); at the final follow-up visit (T2, 1 week after completing chemotherapy); after that, every 3 months up to 12 months. RESULTS: Dysgeusia was reported by 69.8% of patients at T1 and declined subsequently; salty flavor distortion was the most frequently reported TA (51.6% of cases). CiTAS was significantly different between T0 and T2 (p < 0.001). Dysgeusia occurred more frequently in patients reporting nausea, mucositis, diarrhea, and appetite modification. CONCLUSIONS: TAs are common but transient during chemotherapy and occurred frequently with other distressing gastrointestinal side effects. The assessment of these side effects is crucial in managing EBC patients during (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy.

How to Treat HR+/HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients after CDK4/6 Inhibitors: An Unfinished Story.

CDK4/6 inhibitors in association with endocrine therapy represent the best therapeutic choice for either endocrine-sensitive or resistant hormone-receptor-positive advanced breast cancer patients. On the contrary, the optimal therapeutic strategy after the failure of CDK4/6 inhibitors-based treatment still remains an open question worldwide. In this review, we analyze the most studied mechanisms of resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors treatment, as well as the most significant results of retrospective and prospective trials in the setting of progression after CDK4/6 inhibitors, to provide the reader a comprehensive overview from both a preclinical and especially a clinical perspective. In our opinion, an approach based on a deeper knowledge of resistance mechanisms to CDK4/6 inhibitors, but also on a careful analysis of what is done in clinical practice, can lead to a better definition of prospective randomized trials, to implement a personalized sequence approach, based on molecular analyses.

Accurate Triage of Oncological Patients for Safely Continuing Cancer Therapy During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of clinical triage of oncological patients for safe continuation of cancer therapy implemented during the first SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. METHODS: Between 25 February and 21 April 2020, patients attending the Medical Oncology Unit, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia (Italy) for cancer therapy underwent triage to identify those with no signs and symptoms suspicious for SARS-CoV-2 infection in which antineoplastic treatment could be continued as scheduled. Triage questions investigated common symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, dyspnea, anosmia, dysgeusia, headache, nasal congestion, conjunctival congestion, sore throat, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting); body temperature and pulse oximetry were also recorded. All patients were followed-up for overt SARS-CoV-2 through to 18th May 2020. RESULTS: Overall, 1180 patients (median age 65 years) underwent triage during the study period. The most frequent primary malignances were breast (32%), gastrointestinal (18%), and lung (16.5%) cancer. Thirty-one (2.5%) presented with clinically evident SARS-CoV-2 infection and tested positive on nasopharyngeal swab testing and/or radiological imaging. Triage identified 69 (6%) grey zone patients with symptoms suspicious for SARS-CoV-2; 5 (7.2%) subsequently developed symptomatic disease. Neither the symptomatic nor the grey zone patients received their scheduled treatment; instead, they were referred for hospitalization or home quarantine. CONCLUSION: Triage of oncological patients at our Unit provided for safe continuation of scheduled cancer treatment in 91.5% of patients during the initial SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.

Not all hematopoietic growth factors are created equal: should we gain information for their use with immunotherapy?

Myeloid growth factors, either granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (CSF) or granulocyte-macrophage CSF, are widely used to reduce the incidence and severity of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia by prophylactic or therapeutic administration. However, their activity in the novel therapeutic regimens, which often rely on the association between immunotherapy and chemotherapy, has not been thoroughly characterized yet. This paper presents some of the preclinical and clinical research regarding the putative interplay between myeloid growth factors and the immune system, advocating further studies to elucidate their potential positive or negative consequences on the outcomes when administered with immunotherapeutic agents.

Changes in eating habits and food preferences in breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy.

Change in eating habits in early breast cancer (EBC) patients during chemotherapy has been poorly studied in the literature. The primary aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate food preferences and weight change in EBC patients before and after adjuvant chemotherapy. From April 2014 to June 2018, 205 EBC patients underwent a dietary assessment according to the following timeline: baseline evaluation (one week before starting chemotherapy, T0); first follow-up (approximately 2-3 months after starting chemotherapy, T1); final follow-up (one week after chemotherapy end, T2). A statistically significant reduction of the following foods was reported after the start of chemotherapy: pasta or rice, bread, breadsticks/crackers, red meat, fat and lean salami, fresh and aged cheese, milk, yogurt, added sugar, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages (wine, beer, and schnapps), and condiments (oil and butter). Conversely, fruit consumption consistently increased. As a result of these changes, a Healthy Eating Index (HEI) specifically developed for this study and suggestive of a balanced diet, significantly increased. Body weight did not increase, despite reduction in physical activity. This prospective study shows that EBC patients tend to adopt "healthier dietary patterns" during adjuvant chemotherapy, leading to a non-change in weight, despite reduction in physical activity.

The Interaction of Lean Body Mass With Fat Body Mass Is Associated With Vertebral Fracture Prevalence in Women With Early Breast Cancer Undergoing Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy.

Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) induce depletion of estrogen levels, causing bone loss and increased fracture risk in women with breast cancer. High-fat body mass (FBM) emerged as an independent factor associated with the prevalence of morphometric vertebral fractures (VFs) in patients undergoing AIs. We explored the role of lean body mass (LBM) and the interaction of LBM with FBM in predicting the occurrence of VFs in postmenopausal women who were either AI-naïve or AI-treated. A total of 684 consecutive breast cancer patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Each woman underwent a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan, measuring bone mineral density (BMD), LBM, and FBM; VFs were assessed using a quantitative morphometric analysis of DXA images. After propensity score matching, the study population was restricted to 480 women, 240 AI-naïve and 240 AI-treated. We used multivariable logistic regression models to explore the associations between baseline characteristics, VF prevalence and the interaction between LBM, FBM and AI therapy. No interaction between LBM and AI therapy on VF prevalence was shown. Conversely, we reported a significant interaction between LBM, FBM and AI therapy (p = .0311). Among AI-treated women having LBM below and FBM above or equal the median value, VF prevalence was numerically higher (15/31; 48.4%) than in other subgroups (VF prevalence: 35.7% in high-LBM and low-FBM group, 23.2% in high-LBM and high-FBM group, and 19.8% in low-LBM and low-FBM group). Among AI-naïve women, the greatest VF proportion was observed in the subgroup with LBM and FBM below median value (25/92; 27.2%). This study suggests a synergism between LBM and FBM in predicting the morphometric VF in women with early breast cancer undergoing AIs. This observation is new and deserves further investigation. The assessment of body composition by DXA might be useful when estimating fracture risk in this population. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research © 2020 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Efficacy of the DigniCap System in preventing chemotherapy-induced alopecia in breast cancer patients is not related to patient characteristics or side effects of the device.

BACKGROUND: The DigniCap System is an effective scalp cooling device for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia in early breast cancer patients. AIM: This prospective study was designed to confirm the efficacy and tolerability of the device, to explore potential factors associated with its efficacy and to collect data on patient perceptions and satisfaction. METHODS: Between January 2016 and June 2018, 163 early breast cancer patients eligible for adjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled. Hair loss was assessed using the Dean scale, where a score of 0-2 (hair loss ≤50%) was defined as successful. RESULTS: Hair preservation was successful in 57% of patients in the overall series. The proportion was even higher (81%) in the patient subgroup treated with a paclitaxel and trastuzumab regimen. Side effects (feeling cold, headache, head heaviness, scalp and cervical pain) were mild to moderate and did not correlate with the rate of hair loss. Lifestyle, anthropometric factors and hair characteristics failed to be associated with device efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: The DigniCap System was well tolerated and found to be effective in preventing alopecia in early breast cancer patients. Our study failed to identify factors other than type of chemotherapy regimen associated with hair preservation.