Factors Involved in Delaying Initiation of Adjuvant Chemotherapy After Breast Cancer Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Delays in initiating adjuvant chemotherapy after breast cancer surgery seems to have an impact on patients' risk of relapse and their survival rate. The aim of this retrospective study was to identify factors delaying initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy after breast surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients undergoing surgical treatment for mammary cancer between June 2014 and June 2015 and receiving adjuvant chemotherapy were selected retrospectively. RESULTS: In multivariate analysis, 3 factors significantly delay initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy: a secondary procedure (odds ratio [OR], 6.67; P = .00012), inclusion in a therapeutic trial (OR, 8.46; P = .0013), and a positive HER2 status (OR, 3.02; P = .063 [statistically significant]). DISCUSSION: This study provides a brief overview of the population most likely to experience a delay in the initiation of their adjuvant chemotherapy after cancer surgery. Our findings should assist interventions during initial management.

[Sentinel node detection using optonuclear probe (gamma and fluorescence) after green indocyanine and radio-isotope injections]. / Détection du ganglion sentinelle dans le cancer du sein par sonde opto-nucléaire après injection de vert indocyanine et de technétium 99m.

OBJECTIVE: Assess the biopsy's feasibility of the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) using optonuclear probe after of indocyanine green (ICG) and radio-isotope (RI) injections. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with a localized breast cancer and unsuspicious axillary nodes underwent a SLNB after both injections of ICG and radio-isotope. RESULTS: One or more SLN were identified on the 21 patients (identification rate of 100%). The median number SLN was 2 (1-3). Twenty SLN were both radio-actives and fluorescents (54.1%), 11 fluorescent only (29.7%) and 6 were only radio-actives (16.2%). Seven patients had a metastatic SLN (8 SLN overall). Among them, only one had a micrometastasic SLN, 5 others had a macrometastatic SLN and one patient had two macrometastatic SLNs. Among the 8 metastatic SLN, 5 were both fluorescent and radioactive, 2 were only fluorescent and 1 was only radioactive. CONCLUSION: Detection SLN using optonuclear probe after indocyanine green and radio-isotope injections is effective and could be, after validation by randomized trial, a reliable alternative to the blue dye injection for teams who consider that combined detection as the reference.

[Quality of life after lipomodelling: retrospective study of 42 patients]. / Qualité de vie après lipomodelage: étude rétrospective à propos de 42 patientes.

OBJECTIVES: Study of the quality of life of 42 patients who underwent a lipofilling in our institution between 2009 and 2010. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Analysis of cosmetic outcomes, side effects, emotional life and preoperative information received by a cohort of 42 patients contacted by anonymous questionnaires. Comparisons between patients with a single prothesis, latissimus dorsi flap with prothesis, autologous latissimus dorsi flap and rectus abdominal flap. RESULTS: The response rate was 56% (42 patients). The average volume of fat injected was 80mL. The aspect of the reconstructed breast and the harmony between two breasts were better after lipofilling (P=0.0001, P=0.0005). The evolution of the aesthetic result is satisfying for 64.1% of the patients. In 29% of cases, patients noticed adhesions at the injection site. Apprehension to touch the reconstructed breast and to wear a swimsuit decreases after lipofilling (P=0.0345;P=0.0284). All patients declared to be satisfied with the presurgery information. Half of the patients declare that the final result corresponds to their wishes. DISCUSSION: The side effects of lipofilling were studied from an oncological point of view. Less publications describe the patients quality of life after lipofilling. This surgery improves the breast reconstruction results and helps patients in a social, affective and aesthetic way. Overall, lipofilling improves more consistency in patients reconstructed by single prothesis and improves more appearance in patients reconstructed by single flap. CONCLUSION: Lipofilling improves significantly patients' quality of life. A clinical research protocol (GRATSEC) is currently underway to extend its indications. The lipofilling should not replace a bad indication of breast reconstruction.

Pure tubular carcinoma of the breast and sentinel lymph node biopsy: a retrospective multi-institutional study of 234 cases.

BACKGROUND: Pure Tubular Carcinoma (PTC) of the breast is a rare histological subtype of invasive breast cancer characterized by a low rate of lymph node involvement. Currently there is no consensus on less surgical axillary node staging according to this histological subtype. METHODS: We performed a retrospective multi-institutional study. Inclusion criteria were PTC, sentinel lymph node detection (SLND) and conservative breast surgery. RESULTS: From January 1999 to December 2006, 234 patients were included in the study from 9 institutions. The median pathological tumor size was 9.59 (1-22) mm. SLN were successfully detected in 98% (229/234) of patients. Among the 234 patients, a macrometastasis was found in 6 cases (2.5%), micrometastasis in 15 cases (6.4%), and isolated cells in 2 cases (0.8%). In the case of patients with SLND macrometastasis, half of them had macrometastasis in the complementary axillary lymphadenectomy, and none in the case of SLN only micrometastasis or isolated cells. Of the 122 patients with a pathological tumor size <10 mm, none had sentinel node macrometastasis. According to a multivariate analysis, pathological tumor size (>10 mm) was the only parameter significatively linked to the risk of lymph node involvement (p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: In a large multi-institutional series with SLND, we have shown that the risk of axillary lymph node involvement in PTC is very low. In the case of PTC <10 mm, we suggest that surgical axillary evaluation, even with SLND, may not be warranted.

[Paget's disease of the nipple and differential diagnosis]. / Maladie de Paget du mamelon et principaux diagnostics différentiels.

Clinical evaluation of the nipple-areolar complex is a routine component of the breast screening examination. All persistent unilateral nipple lesion should be viewed with suspicion and Paget's disease of the nipple should be considered. The diagnosis is established by nipple scrape cytology. It is a rare variant of ductal carcinoma in situ. The breast imaging work-up should include a search for an underlying malignancy, present in over 80% of cases, not infrequently multifocal. Preoperative MRI is useful if breast conservative surgery is contemplated because of the high rate of occult malignancy on mammograms and ultrasound. Erosive adenomatosis of the nipple is a benign process that may simulate Paget's disease isolated to the nipple. Less frequently, pagetoid basal cell carcinoma, Bowen's disease and melanoma may be more difficult to differentiate clinically and share the unilateral and chronic features of Paget's disease. Biopsy is needed for diagnosis. Cutaneous extension of a breast cancer is rare but should be suspected in patients with retraction and/or fixed nipple. Eczema is characterized by the bilateral nature of the process, the absence of nipple deformity, the presence of flare-ups and the favorable response to local steroid therapy.

Prognostic factors for patients treated for a recurrent FIGO stage III ovarian cancer: a retrospective study of 108 cases.

AIMS: To determine overall survival of patients treated for a first relapse of FIGO stage III ovarian cancer, outside of randomized trial, with a long term follow-up and to identify prognostic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A consecutive series of 108 patients treated for a first relapse of a FIGO stage III ovarian cancer was retrospectively included from December 1999 to November 2004. Each patient was treated with platinum-based chemotherapy in case of late (>6 months) relapse and with salvage chemotherapy without platinum in case of <6 months relapse. For statistical analysis the studied parameters were age, histological subtype, the completeness of initial surgery, disease-free period, localization of the relapse, clinical response to second-line chemotherapy, the completeness of secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCS) when it was performed. RESULTS: Median follow-up from the first relapse was 40 months. From the 108 patients, 35 underwent SCS. Median overall survival from the first relapse was 13 months in case of no SCS or non-optimal SCS and 35 months for patient with an optimal SCS (p = 0.006). In a multivariate analysis age, disease-free period, the clinical presentation of the relapse, completeness of SCS and response to second line chemotherapy appeared to be independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Prognostic factors of ovarian cancer relapse are directly or indirectly linked with the feasibility of a complete SCS. Thus in the case of an ovarian cancer relapse, the feasibility of SCS must be considered in order to give the patient the best chance to experience its complete removal.

[Oncologic, functional, and aesthetics results; evaluation of the quality of life after latissimus dorsi flap breast reconstruction. About a retrospective series of 450 patients]. / Résultats oncologiques, fonctionnels et esthétiques ; évaluation de la qualité de vie après reconstruction mammaire par lambeau de muscle grand dorsal. À propos d'une série rétrospective de 450 patientes.

Retrospective assesssment from 1998 to 2005 from women who have a breast reconstruction by autologus latissimus flap or by latissimus flap and silicone breast implant for differed breast reconstruction (DBR) or mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction (MIBR). PATIENTS AND METHOD: Analysis of oncologic results on 450 patients. Analysis of aesthetic, functional results and of quality of life by an anonymous questionnaire in the non progressive patients (407): 263 appraisable answers (13 DBR, 127 MIBR). Middle age: 49.8 years. RESULTS ONCOLOGIC: Forty-three patients (9.5%) had a relapse of their disease, 33 patients died (7.2%). The relapse of the disease was done in the form of metastasis alone: 29 (67.4%), metastasis and local recurrence: three (7%), local recurrence only: four (9.3%), not specified: seven (16.3%). The average time between the breast reconstruction and the relapse was 18.25±15.4 months. AESTHETIC RESULTS: The overall assessment is of 7.68/10. There is no statistical difference between immediate reconstruction and delayed reconstruction. A total of 11.2% patients considered it to be bad (<5/10). The symmetry between the two breasts in time is of 6.6/10 and 19.9% patients considered it to be bad (<5/10). The scar ransom, considered to be most important, is mostly in the back (4.1/10) then on the controlateral breast and then the breast reconstruction. This ransom is not easily acceptable in 15 to 20% of the patients. FUNCTIONAL RESULTS: The discomfort and the pain prevail above all in the back (3.56 and 2.59/10). Weaker symptoms in the event of immediate reconstruction than delayed reconstruction. We noted that 77.2% had kinesitherapy after surgery and 18.9% continues to have kinesitherapy, long time after surgery, mainly for massages of the back. The handicap is considered to be overall low 2.5/10 but 10% of the patients keep a feeling of important handicap (>7.5/10). QUALITY OF LIFE RESULTS: Seventy-one of the patients are serene. The discomfort to wear a bathing suit or to look at bare-chested is low (2.59 and 2.44/10). However 8.9% are in a very discomfort to see themselves bare-chested and 17.6% to show themselves to their spouse, with an impact on their emotional and sexual life in 36.4% of the cases. There is no significant difference between MIBR and DBR but on the other hand according to the judgement of the woman of her aesthetic result. A total of 95.7% do not regret having made this breast reconstruction. CONCLUSION: This study makes it possible to concentrate on the group of non satisfied patient for better determining the causes and the improvements of the surgical techniques to bring but also the overall surgical management of the patient even if most of the patients were mainly satisfied with their breast reconstruction.

[Patient follow-up after treatment for breast cancer]. / Surveillance d'une femme traitée pour cancer du sein.

Patient follow-up after treatment for a breast cancer is based on the local recurrence risk. Annual mammography remains the main point of this follow-up and tumor markers detection has still no interest. Absence of benefit of an intensive clinical, biological and radiological surveillance has been proved for a long time but expert recommendations still are a subject of discussion although they knew no evolution for more than 10 years. Evolution of those follow-up modalities will depend on the future indications of MRI and PET. About distant recurrence, a better knowledge of the risk is now possible thanks to the tumor biological profile study. Nevertheless, intensification of follow-up for some kind of high-risk tumors will have interest only if we can propose a therapeutic alternative in metastatic situation.

[Surgery for invasive breast cancer]. / Chirurgie des cancers invasifs du sein (à l'exception de la reconstruction mammaire).

As most solid tumors, surgery is often the first step of the multidisciplinary management for breast cancers. Although mastectomy and axillar lymphadenectomy still have indications, conservative treatment and sentinel node detection are commonly used. Thanks to induction chemotherapy and oncoplastic techniques, surgery is conservative in most cases, even for important tumors without overall survival prejudice. There is no consensus about resection margins status but a limit of 2 to 3 mm seems to be reasonable while oncoplastic surgery allows large resection and good cosmetic outcomes. In this overview, we present the state of the art for breast cancer surgery including conservative and radical treatments, axillar lymphadenectomy and sentinel lymph node detection, margins status, oncoplastic techniques.

[Evaluation of an information network and nurse consultation for breast reconstruction]. / Évaluation d'un dispositif d'annonce et d'information adapté à la reconstruction mammaire en cancérologie.

UNLABELLED: To evaluate the installation of a nurse consultation and an interactive support DVD in breast reconstruction. To judge utility of these new tools of information for the patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The nurse consultation is carried out after the initial consultation of the surgeon; during this consultation, a DVD containing of the interviews is given taking again the information given as well as patients' evidence on their path of care. Evaluation of the information given by the surgeon and the nurse (eight items from surgical techniques to convalescence). Evaluation of the interest and comprehensibility. Quotation from 0 to 10. RESULTS: Evaluation by anonymous questionnaire on 110 women, between February and December 2007. Rate of participation: 72.7% (80/110); mean age: 51.5±9.2. Information given is considered to be useful (surgeon: quotation above 9.3/10 in function of the items, nurse: quotation above 9.4) and comprehensible (quotation above 8.7/quotation above 8.9). The information made by the nurse is more comprehensible than that done by the surgeon, for over all items. The nurse consultation is considered to be very useful (9.45). Seventy percent of the patients learned from extra informations, compared to the consultation of the surgeon. This consultation does not have a direct influence on the choice of the technique (5.45/10), the consultation of the surgeon remaining predominant. Fifty percent of the women still learned from new informations, by using the DVD. On the other hand, it has little influence on the choice of the technique (4.84/10). The nurse consultation and the DVD are well conceived because 80% of the women did not need more information. The predominant elements in the choice of the patients are the surgeon consultation, then the nurse consultation and then the DVD. The total index of satisfaction is very good 9.31/10 (surgeon: 9.24, nurse 9.56, DVD 9.11). CONCLUSION: The nurse consultation and the DVD are not replacement components of the surgeon consultation. They are complementary and have an important role in the acquisition of information and the psychological support of the patients. The surgeon initial consultation remains predominent in the decision of choice by the patients, it must remain the most complete possible.

[Management of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer]. / Cancer de l'ovaire à un stade avancé : la place des curages ganglionnaires.

The standard management for advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer is optimum cytoreductive surgery followed by aggressive cytotoxic chemotherapy. However retroperitoneal remains controversial. The multiple directions of the lymph drainage pathway in ovarian cancer have been recognized. The incidence and pattern of lymph node involvement depends on the extent of disease progression and the histological type. Thus, it is difficult to specify a single node as the sentinel node. In this chapter, we review and discuss the actual benefits of lymph node dissection in patients with ovarian cancer, analysing previously reported and ongoing trials. A recent large randomized trial in patients with advanced ovarian cancer revealed that systemic lymphadenectomy had no impact on survival compared with removing only macroscopic lymph nodes but improves progression-free survival significantly. Further studies are needed to balance risks and benefits of systematic lymphadenectomy in advanced-stage disease.

[Cervical pathology: significance and therapeutic impact of margin status]. / La notion de marge d'exérèse dans le contexte de la pathologie du col utérin : définitions et impact thérapeutique.

Margin status in cervical pathology is one of most important predictive factor of recurrent disease. Even if management of surgical biopsy is standardized, quality of surgical procedure is fundamental. Frozen section can be realise in order to complete surgical procedure if margins are involved. Extemporaneous exam of endocervical margin during conservative surgery and vaginal cuff during radical surgery is a precious information for surgeon. Endocervical status for conization, parametrial and vaginal margins have been reported to be a factor predictive of residual disease. During radical trachelectomy, margins involvment of one of these three topographic zone is an important predictive factor of recurrent disease and can be an obstacle to preserve fertility.

Adjuvant intraoperative photodynamic therapy in experimental colorectal cancer using a new photosensitizer.

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy is a promising anticancer modality. The effect of adjuvant intraoperative photodynamic therapy (AIOPDT) using photosensitizers Photofrin or mesotetra (hydroxyphenyl) chlorin (m-THPC) was evaluated in a mouse model of local recurrence of colorectal cancer. METHODS: Animals were injected with either photosensitizer 24 h before surgery. Standard excision included removal of all visible tumour by a surgeon blinded to both the drug and subsequent light treatment. Following surgery the tumour beds were illuminated with either 70 J cm-2 of 510-nm light (Photofrin) or 2.5 J cm-2 of 652-nm light (m-THPC). Control groups had either surgery only, surgery and Photofrin only, surgery and m-THPC only, or surgery and either 652-nm or 510-nm light. RESULTS: After a 70-day observation period, the local recurrence rates were 25-26 per cent in the photodynamic therapy groups compared with 80-90 per cent in the control groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: AIOPDT using either Photofrin or m-THPC was equally effective in reducing local recurrence in this model. Since treatment time with m-THPC was only 25 s compared with 11 min with Photofrin, the use of the former new photosensitizer increases the practicality of AIOPDT and could enable the laser to be replaced with cheaper, less intense light sources.

Treatment of head and neck cancer with photodynamic therapy: results after one year.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a new and promising treatment modality for the treatment of malignant disease. This paper reports the preliminary experience of our group in the use of this therapy for the treatment of tumours arising in the head and neck. The majority of treatments in these cases have used a second generation systemic photosensitizer, meta-tetrahydroxyphenylchlorin (m-THPC). Two other cases were treated with either Photofrin 2 (a first generation systemic sensitizer) or with the topical photosensitizer, delta-aminolaevulinic acid (delta-ALA). The initial results have been encouraging with good clinical responses evident in patients presenting with a variety of differing tumour types. We feel there is now sufficient evident of the efficacy of this treatment to warrant a multicentre prospective study into the treatment of early head and neck cancer with PDT.

Adjuvant intraoperative photodynamic therapy in experimental colorectal cancer.

A reliable animal model for quantitative assessment of local recurrence of colorectal cancer was developed using colo26 tumour in BALB/c mice. The effect of adjuvant intraoperative photodynamic therapy to potentially curative surgery on local recurrence was examined in four study and four control groups. Study groups received 15 mg kg-1 Photofrin (a photosensitizing drug) 24 h before surgery. After 'curative' tumour excision, the tumour beds were illuminated with either 630 nm or 510 nm laser light each at 40 and 70 J/cm-2. Controls received surgery only, surgery and Photofrin only or surgery and either 630 nm or 510 nm light. The local recurrence rates at 70 days were 17-33 per cent in the study groups compared with 83-100 per cent in the control groups (P < 0.001; log rank test). Photodynamic therapy is capable of reducing local recurrence following potentially curative excision of tumour in this model.