The use of genomic assays reduces rates of chemotherapy: a single-institution experience.

INTRODUCTION: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommends the use of tumour profiling tests to guide adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer. The Oncotype DX™ score (Genomic Health) has superseded more traditional tools such as PREDICT in appropriate patients (ER + ve, HER2-ve, lymph node negative and with a Nottingham Prognostic Index [NPI] ≥ 3.4). The aim of this study was to see whether the introduction of Oncotype DX within our institution resulted in an overall reduction in rates of chemotherapy. METHOD: Data was collected retrospectively using the Somerset Cancer Register, Pathology department databases and the institution's own online medical records system. Two groups were compared: (1) pre-oncotype (Jan 2012-Dec 2014) and (2) post-oncotype (Jan 2016-July 2018). RESULTS: During the pre-oncotype period, 28/82 (34%) patients who would have been eligible for testing (patients who were ER + ve, HER2-ve, and a NPI ≥ 3.4) received chemotherapy compared to 34/135 (25%) who were sent for oncotype during the second study period (p = 0.157). For grade 3 cancers, and those aged under 50, the results were more marked: grade 3 pre-oncotype 23/43 (53%), post-oncotype 29/76 (38%) (p = 0.101), aged under 50 pre-oncotype 8/15 (53%), post-oncotype 10/31 (32%) (p = 0.197). CONCLUSION: Within our institution, overall rates of chemotherapy have reduced since the introduction of Oncotype DX with the results more marked in subgroups of traditional indicators of tumour aggression. As genomic assays provide a more accurate prediction of the benefit of chemotherapy, its overall reduction has potential cost saving implications as well as reducing risk in patients who will derive little benefit.

Breast MRI in Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: A Useful Investigation in Surgical Planning?

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is highly sensitive in detecting invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) of the breast. In our institution, patients who are deemed to be suitable for breast conserving surgery (BCS) with unifocal small ILC on standard imaging are offered breast MRI to exclude multifocal and larger ILC. Our study investigates the usefulness of breast MRI in ILC. A prospective cohort study over a 58-month period, including all consecutive patients with ILC having breast MRI. Primary objective was to find out the proportion of ILC patients where preoperative MRI caused a change in the surgical treatment. Secondary objectives included finding mastectomy rate (initial & final), re-operation rate, cancer size correlation with different imaging modalities and final histopathology, loco-regional recurrence and disease-free survival. A total of 334 bilateral breast MRI were performed including 72 (21.5%) MRI for ILC patients. All these MRI were carried out within 2 week of patients given the diagnosis (median 5.5 days). Age range was 24-83 (median 56.5) years. Nineteen of 72 ILC patients (26.4%) had a change in their planned operation from BCS to a different operation owing to MRI findings (seven patients with multifocal cancers, 10 with significantly larger size of the cancer and two with contralateral malignancy). Initial mastectomy rate was 31.9%, final mastectomy rate was 36.1% and re-operation rate in BCS group was 18.3%. MRI correlated better with ILC histopathology cancer size than mammogram and ultrasound scans. There was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.999) between the cancer size on histology (median 23 mm) and MRI (median 25 mm). However, mammogram (median 17 mm) and ultrasound (median 14.5 mm) scans showed cancer sizes significantly different to final histology cancer size (p = 0.0008 and p = 0.0021 respectively). Over a 44 months median follow-up (range 27-85), 95.8% disease-free survival and 98.6% overall survival have been observed. One out of every four patients (26.4%) with ILC had a change in their planned operation due to MRI findings. A relatively high disease-free survival over a medium-term follow-up proves the oncological safety of MRI in ILC. Our study provides evidence in support of the targeted use of preoperative breast MRI among patients with ILC to improve surgical planning.

Junior doctor titles following implementation of Modernising Medical Careers in the UK.

OBJECTIVE: Recent changes in postgraduate medical training in the UK collectively organized under the auspices of Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) have created new labels for junior doctors in training. It would appear that many nurses and other health workers do not understand the new terminology. We aimed to investigate the knowledge of nursing staff about new junior doctor titles in a district general hospital. As far as we are aware, this is the first survey to determine the views and knowledge of the new terms among staff working in the NHS. DESIGN: Questionnaire study. SETTING: District general hospital, West Midlands, UK. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-five randomly selected staff nurses working in the surgical directorate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Questions were asked about their views and knowledge of the current nomenclature. To objectively assess knowledge of the new titles respondents were asked to match equivalent positions with those based on the old system. RESULTS: Only 22% (n = 12) of respondents felt that they fully understand current terms in usage. Seventy-six percent (n = 42) felt that it was 'very important' that titles accurately convey role and seniority of the doctor. The most common titles correctly matched were FY1 and House Officer (n = 45, 81%) and FY2 and First Year Senior House Officer (n = 35, 64%). Only 9% (n = 5) of staff nurses correctly matched ST3 to Junior Registrar and 13% (n = 7) correctly matched ST7 to Senior Registrar. Ward-based staff nurses demonstrated greater familiarity with titles when compared to nurses who work mainly in the outpatient clinic and theatre setting (p = 0.017). We did not identify a statistically significant association with demographic characteristics (age, gender, experience) and knowledge of the new terms (p > 0.05). Approximately 98% (n = 54) of the staff surveyed felt that terms are confusing to nurses and need to be simplified. CONCLUSIONS: Our survey revealed that nursing staff lacked knowledge of the current terminology to describe doctors in training. This may have implications for staff expectations regarding specific role of junior doctor in terms of clinical decision-making, working relationships and communication between team members, and ultimately patient care.

The role of freehand needle core biopsy in the diagnosis of isolated axillary lymphadenopathy.

Patients with isolated axillary lymphadenopathy are often referred to rapid-access breast clinics for diagnostic evaluation. In the absence of a discernable breast primary, tissue diagnosis has conventionally been pursued using open biopsy. We aimed to assess the value of freehand needle core biopsy (FNCB) as an alternative to this. A prospective audit was conducted over 6 years from 2002 to 2008. Twenty-eight procedures were performed, all carried out under local anaesthesia in the outpatient setting. The majority of cases (10) revealed metastatic breast cancer. Other diagnoses included metastatic ovarian cancer (2), metastatic melanoma (3), lymphoma (4), silicone granuloma (1) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (1). Seven patients had inconclusive histology necessitating further open biopsy. This revealed primary lymphoma in 6 cases and benign histology in one. FNCB thus avoided the need for diagnostic excision biopsy in 75% (21/28) patients. However, it was found to be less useful in diagnosing de-novo lymphoma.