[Male breast cancer: a review of 52 cases collected at the Institute Bergonié (Bordeaux, France) from 1980 to 2004]. / Cancers du sein chez l'homme: à propos de 52 cas pris en charge à l'institut Bergonié de Bordeaux entre 1980 et 2004.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the characteristics and to establish prognosis factors for 52 men suffering from breast cancer from 1980 to 2004. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Men treated for breast cancer (invasive or in situ). A retrospective study analyzed clinical and histological characteristics, and treatment procedures. The probability of survival or recurrence was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic factors were studied using the Log Rank test. RESULTS: The mean age of our patients was 63.5 years old. In 73.1% of cases, subaerolar tumors were the initial symptoms, the average size was 30.31 mm. Among patients, 17 (32.7%) had T1, 19 (36.5%) T2, two (3.8%) T3 and 14 (26.9%) T4. The most represented histological type was the infiltrative ductal carcinoma (84.6%). The spread rate to axillary lymph nodes was 63.6%. The hormone dependency of these tumors was proven in 84.6% of cases. Overall survival rate were about 69% at five years and 32% at 10 years. The spread to lymph node and to derm, the clinical stage were significant factors influencing disease free survival. None of these factors had any significance regarding overall survival. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Male breast cancer is a rare disease (about 1% of breast cancer) with a poor prognosis (32% 10 years disease free survival). An early diagnosis and better knowledge of the disease would certainly lead to improvement of prognosis.

Impact of immunohistochemical markers, CK5/6 and E-cadherin on diagnostic agreement in non-invasive proliferative breast lesions.

AIMS: To assess the impact of cytokeratin (CK) 5/6 and E-cadherin immunohistochemistry on diagnostic agreement of non-invasive proliferative breast lesions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty pathologists classified 105 cases of non-invasive proliferative breast lesions into 10 diagnostic categories. One haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) slide of each case was analysed on a first round and one H&E slide with corresponding CK5/6 and E-cadherin immunohistochemistry was analysed on a second round. Interobserver reproducibility for category-specific and management-specific lesions was measured on each round. CK5/6 and E-cadherin had little impact on diagnostic agreement, which remained moderate between the first and second rounds (overall kappa coefficients of 0.47 and 0.53, respectively, P = NS). Levels of agreement slightly improved for lesions with specific CK5/6 and E-cadherin immunoprofiles (usual ductal hyperplasia, atypical ductal hyperplasia, atypical lobular hyperplasia, lobular carcinoma in situ, non-high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ), but the differences observed were not statistically significant. However, diagnostic agreement improved when lesions were grouped according to their management category (overall kappa coefficients of 0.58 and 0.66 in the first and second rounds, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: CK5/6 and E-cadherin immunohistochemistry has little impact on interobserver reproducibility for non-invasive breast lesions. Diagnostic agreement can, however, be improved by grouping lesions in management categories.

Prognostic significance of immunohistochemically detected breast cancer node metastases in 218 patients.

Axillary lymph node metastases detected by immunohistochemistry in standard node-negative patients with breast carcinomas (13 out of 129 infiltrating ductal carcinomas and 37 out of 89 infiltrating lobular carcinomas) do not have any prognostic significance in patients followed up for a long time (respectively 24 and 18 years). Moreover, their pejorative significance in the literature is debatable since the groups and events taken into account are heterogeneous.

Risk factors for recurrence and metastasis after breast-conserving therapy for ductal carcinoma-in-situ: analysis of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Trial 10853.

PURPOSE: In view of the increasing number of patients treated with breast-conserving treatment (BCT) for ductal carcinoma-in-situ (DCIS), risk factors for recurrence and metastasis should be identified. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical and pathologic characteristics from patients with DCIS in the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer trial 10853 (excision with or without radiotherapy) were related to the risk of recurrence. Pathologic features were derived from a central review of 863 of the 1,010 randomized cases (85%). The median follow-up was 5.4 years. RESULTS: Factors associated with an increased risk of local recurrence in the multivariate analysis were young age (< or = 40 years) (hazard ratio, 2.14; P =.02), symptomatic detection of DCIS (hazard ratio, 1.80; P =.008), growth pattern (solid and cribriform) (hazard ratios, 2.67 and 2.69, respectively; P =.012), involved margins (hazard ratio, 2.07; P =.0008), and treatment by local excision alone (hazard ratio, 1.74; P =.009). The risk of invasive recurrence was not related to the histologic type of DCIS (P =.63), but the risk of distant metastasis was significantly higher in poorly differentiated DCIS compared with well-differentiated DCIS (hazard ratio, 6.57; P =.01). CONCLUSION: Patients with poorly differentiated DCIS have a high risk of distant metastasis after invasive local recurrence. Margin status is the most important factor in the success of BCT for DCIS; additionally, young age and symptomatic detection of DCIS have negative prognostic value.

Analysis of 676 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast from 1971 to 1995: diagnosis and treatment--the experience of one institute.

Six hundred seventy-six patients with ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast (DCIS) from 1971 to 1995 were included in the study. Computerized patient files were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical findings were less frequently reported to reveal DCIS after 1989. Positive mammographic findings were obtained in 87% of patients and were mainly represented by microcalcifications (79.4%). Treatment procedures were breast-conserving surgery (BCS) alone (37.5%), BCS followed by radiation (BCSR) (25.5%), or mastectomy (M) (37%). The actuarial local recurrence was 2.6% in the M group (94 months of follow-up), 14.5% in the BCS group (85,7 months of follow-up), and 7.5% in the BCSR group (78.8 months of follow-up). Predictive factors of recurrence in all patients were invaded margin status and age. In the BCS group, grade was also a predictive factor. The analysis per decade shows that the lesions currently diagnosed are less serious than those of the past. All the recurrence in patients with positive margins was in the same quadrant as the original lesion. This further emphasizes the need for clear margins.

Application of the van nuys prognostic index in a retrospective series of 367 ductal carcinomas in situ of the breast examined by serial macroscopic sectioning: practical considerations.

UNLABELLED: The Van Nuys prognostic index (VNPI) was thought to be useful for predicting response to radiotherapy and local recurrence of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). We applied the VNPI under the conditions defined by Silverstein et al., in 367 retrospective DCIS entirely sectioned into serial macroscopic 2 mm slices (155 patients had radiotherapy, median follow-up 71 months). The percentage of positive blocks with DCIS was also estimated for each specimen with cut-offs at 30% and 60% to obtain three scores. One hundred and ninety five lesions had a low VNPI, 152 an intermediate VNPI, and 20 a high VNPI. There were 9% of local recurrences (half invasive, all in the group without radiotherapy) in the low VNPI group. The local recurrence rate increased with size (p = 0.001), with reduction of distance to margins (p = 0.05), with histologic grade (p = 0.02), with percentage of positive blocks (p = 0.0003) and with VNPI score (p = 0.03). The percentage of positive blocks was the only independent predictor for local recurrence (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: (1) The VNPI was a local recurrence rate predictor between the low and the intermediate groups but in our series the low VNPI group had a surprisingly high local recurrence rate. (2) Only prospective studies will assess the importance of margin width and the role of radiotherapy in maintaining local control. (3) Estimation of the percentage of positive blocks is simple, may be an alternative when measurement of DCIS is difficult and should be taken into account.

Current treatment of Hodgkin's disease.

In spite of the fact that Hodgkin's disease (HD) remains still an enigma its management and treatment yield a cure rate of about 80% of all patients. However, this management has two limits: on one side favourable cases which should not be overtreated because of unacceptable side-effects, and on the other side very unfavourable cases which should be treated differently because of a very high rate of failure and/or relapse. Then it becomes necessary to precise as thoroughly as possible these two limits in order to choose the adequate treatment for the patient. Prognostic factors based on patient and disease characteristics allow a relatively exact classification of favourable and unfavourable cases. This distinction in two prognostic groups has therapeutic implications in terms of chemotherapy (regimen, duration) and radiotherapy (extension, doses). Other specific situations have to be considered, e.g. pediatric cases, pregnancy, old age and HIV-infected patients who need an adapted management according to very different situations.

Prognostic significance of Ki-67 and topoisomerase IIalpha expression in infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast. A multivariate analysis of 863 cases.

To evaluate the prognostic relevance of Ki-67 and topoisomerase IIalpha expression in relation to tumor stage, grade, and hormone receptor content, 942 ductal infiltrating carcinomas of the breast were examined by means of the monoclonal antibodies Ki-S11 (Ki-67) and Ki-S4 (topoisomerase IIalpha). pS2, c-erbB2, and p53 were additionally considered as prognostic variables. The median follow-up time was 149 months. Eight-hundred-and-sixty-three tumors reacted with Ki-S11 and Ki-S4; the labeling indices of the two antigens were closely associated (r = 0.93). Both correlated positively with the tumor size, c-erbB2, and p53 expression, and negatively with patient age, hormone receptor content, and pS2 immunostaining. In the univariate analysis, Ki-S11 and Ki-S4 scores, nodal status, tumor size, tumor grade, and progesterone receptor content strongly predicted both overall and metastasis-free survival (p < 0.00001). Estrogen receptor status, p53, and c-erbB2 were of minor significance. Concerning overall survival, multivariate Cox regression analysis selected a Ki-S4 score >25% (p < 0.00001) next to the nodal status, and before tumor size, progesterone receptor content, and patient age. Independent predictors of the occurrence of distant metastases were nodal status, Ki-S4, tumor size, grade 1, and progesterone receptor negativity, in that order. The Ki-S11 score was of independent prognostic significance only if examined as a continuous variable. We conclude that topoisomerase IIalpha expression as assessed by monoclonal antibody Ki-S4 may add valuable information to current prognostic models for breast cancer. Its predictive value appears to be essentially related to the proliferative activity of tumor cells.

[Large core of nonpalpable breast lesions]. / Microbiopsies des lésions mammaires non palpables.

The development of breast cancer screening has radically changed the diagnostic approach to breast lesions. Stereotactic large-core breast biopsy was developed to reduce the number of unnecessary surgical excisional biopsies in the increasing number of patients with doubtful or suspicious mammogram findings. The methods used to evaluate this new technique are discussed, as well as results in terms of efficacy, factors that may influence efficacy, and difficulties in interpreting large-core biopsies. Recommendations regarding the harvesting and interpretation of stereotactic large-core biopsies are made.

[Recurrence after treatment of breast intraductal carcinoma]. / Les récidives après traitement des carcinomes intracanalaires du sein.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of local recurrence of intraductal carcinoma of the breast with a large series and a review of literature. METHODS: We present a retrospective study of 331 cases treated for intraductal carcinoma of the breast. Only patients with at least 5 years follow-up were selected. We were specially interested in recurrence risk factors. In these patients with a long follow-up; pathology was reevaluated with new investigation technique. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 109 months, 40 local recurrences were observed; these lesions were invasive in 23 cases. Only one patient had recurrence after mastectomy. For the others, they had lumpectomy associated with radiotherapy in 12 cases. Histologic features, grade and therapeutic options were evaluated as risk factors of local recurrence. CONCLUSION: Follow-up after lumpectomy for intraductal carcinoma was studied. The status of tumor margins was important; irradiation appeared useful, specially in case of high grade carcinoma but further large prospective randomized studies are needed. The use of prognostic index is interesting, but there are still unanswered questions.

Obvious peritumoral emboli: an elusive prognostic factor reappraised. Multivariate analysis of 1320 node-negative breast cancers.

This study was conducted to determine the prognostic influence of obvious peritumoral vascular emboli as prospectively determined by a simple routine slide examination in patients with operable node-negative breast cancer. Obvious peritumoral emboli (OPE) were defined by the presence of neoplastic emboli within unequivocal vascular lumina (including both lymphatic spaces and blood capillaries) in areas adjacent to but outside the margins of the carcinoma. OPE were assessed routinely on 5 microns thick haematoxylin and eosin-stained sections for each of 1320 primary operable node-negative breast cancers from 1975 to 1992 at our institution. OPE and other prognostic variables (tumour size, SBR grade, oestrogen and progesterone receptor status) were correlated to overall survival (OS) and metastasis-free interval (MFI) by means of univariate and multivariate analysis with a median follow-up of 103 months. OPE were found in 19.5% of tumours. In univariate analysis, OPE were related to tumour size (P = 6.3 x 10(-5)) and histologic grade (P = 4.9 x 10(-7)). Statistically significant correlations were found with OS (P = 4.6 x 10(-5)) and MFI (P = 6.4 x 10(-9)). Furthermore, in multivariate analysis, OPE was an independent prognostic variable, the most predictive factor for MFI (P = 7.7 x 10(-7)) before tumour size and grade, and was second after tumour grade for OS (P = 0.002). This study on a large unicentric series and with a long follow-up confirms the prognostic significance of vascular emboli in patients with operable node-negative breast carcinoma. Importantly, vascular emboli were found to be accurately detectable by a simple routine and non-time-consuming method. Therefore, such obvious vascular emboli should be considered as an important cost-effective, prognostic variable in patients with node-negative breast carcinoma.

Primary chemotherapy in breast invasive carcinoma: predictive value of the immunohistochemical detection of hormonal receptors, p53, c-erbB-2, MiB1, pS2 and GST pi.

Primary chemotherapy in operable breast invasive carcinoma enables tumour reduction and conservative surgery. In order to search for one or more biological factors capable of predicting tumour behaviour under primary chemotherapy, and subsequent patient survival, an immunohistochemical study was performed with specific antibodies to p53, c-erbB-2 (Her-2/neu), Mib1 (antiKi-67), pS2, GST pi, oestrogen receptors (ERs) and progesterone receptors (PRs). Core biopsies, obtained before primary chemotherapy, were available from a series of 128 breast invasive carcinomas treated between January 1985 and April 1989, with a median follow-up of 93.3 months. Univariate statistical analysis showed that negative ER detection by immunohistochemistry (IHC) was highly correlated with chemosensitivity (P = 0.001). A high percentage of Mib1-positive tumour cells (> 40%), as well as initial tumour size less than 4 cm, were also correlated with tumour responsiveness to chemotherapy (P = 0.009 and P = 0.03). By multivariate analysis IHC-ER, Mib1 and initial tumour size were independent predictors, the last parameter being the most important. Concerning subsequent patient survival, c-erbB-2 overexpression, as detected by IHC, was significant with respect to overall survival (OS) (P = 0.0006), disease-free interval (DFI) (P = 0.03) and metastasis-free interval (MFI) (P = 0.008) by univariate analysis. Furthermore, c-erbB-2 was the major independent prognostic factor for OS and MFI by multivariate analysis.

The prognostic value of c-erbB2 in primary breast carcinomas: a study on 942 cases.

To assess the practical prognostic value of c-erbB2, we performed a study on 942 invasive ductal carcinomas treated with primary surgery between 1980 and 1986 in our center. We evaluated its expression by immunohistochemistry in paraffin-embedded tissue using a polyclonal antipeptide antibody. Of 942 tumors, 229 (24%) showed a positive membrane staining. We observed a significant association between c-erbB2 and Scarff-Bloom-Richardson grading (p < 0.0001) and a negative correlation between c-erbB2 and both estrogen and progesterone receptors (p < 0.0001). In our analysis, with respect to overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS), and metastasis-free survival (MFS), c-erbB2 was statistically significant (p < or = 0.0001) for the whole group and the node-positive subgroup. In multivariate analysis, c-erbB2 appeared to be an independent variable for RFS and MFS in the node-negative group. However, in our hands, c-erbB2 had a poor prognostic value in comparison with the classical prognostic variables such as histological grade, nodal status (N), hormonal receptor status (estrogen and progesterone receptors), and tumor size, and it did not supersede the classical parameters.

Immunohistochemical determination of pS2 in invasive breast carcinomas: a study on 942 cases.

To assess the practical prognostic value of pS2, we evaluated its expression by immunohistochemistry in paraffin-embedded tissue from 942 previously untreated invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC) resected in our center between 1980 and 1986. Positive staining of tumor cells was found in 684 cases (73%), but most of the tumors contained only a small amount of positive cells. There was a negative correlation between pS2 and tumor size (p = 0.01) and histological grade (p < 0.0001), and a positive correlation between pS2 and hormonal receptor status (p < 0.001). With respect to overall survival, pS2 positivity was associated with a better prognosis for the whole group and the node-positive sub-group. However, in terms of relapse and metastasis, pS2 was not significant. Furthermore, in multivariate analysis including tumor size, nodal status, histological grade, ER status, PR status, chemotherapy, hormonal treatment, and pS2, the latter appears to be of no prognostic value.

Prognostic value of p53 in breast invasive ductal carcinoma: an immunohistochemical study on 942 cases.

P53 immunohistochemical detection using DO7 antibody on 942 cases of previously untreated breast invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) with a median follow up of 117.9 months (89 to 160) was performed. Three hundred and three (32%) tumors were positive. All positive tumors were taken into account, positivity ranging from 1 to 100% of tumoral cells. The Chi square test showed significant negative correlation between p53 positivity and age (p = 0.01), estrogen receptor status (p < 0.0001), and progesterone receptor status (p = 0.0005), and significant positive correlation with tumor grade according to the Scarff, Bloom and Richardson system (SBR Grade) (p < 0.0001). There was no significant association with tumor size or nodal status. Concerning the univariate analysis, in the whole group and node-positive group (n = 544) p53 positivity was highly significant for overall survival (OS) (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0003), disease-free interval (DFI) (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0005), and metastasis-free interval (MFI) (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0003). In the node-negative group (n = 398), p53 was significant with respect to OS (p = 0.01) and DFI (p = 0.04). P53 positivity came out as an independent prognostic parameter in the multivariate analysis in the whole group and the node-positive group, though of minor significance compared to axillary lymph node status, SBR grade, progesterone receptor status and tumor size.

[Lymphoid depletion type 4 Hodgkin disease. Anatomoclinical review of 35 cases]. / Maladie de Hodgkin type 4 à déplétion lymphoïde. Révision anatomoclinique de 35 cas.

The pathological material of 35 patients with Hodgkin's disease lymphocyte-depletion type (type 4) is reviewed with an immunohistochemistry study on paraffin-embedded sections. The new pathologic data are compared with clinical features. These 35 patients are 4.7% of 742 previously untreated patients managed in this institution from 1960 to 1991. The diagnosis of 31 of the 35 patients was rectified, 17 to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (12 unclassifiable and five anaplastic Ki-1 positive) and 14 to another type of Hodgkin's disease (six nodular sclerosis and eight mixed cellularity). In four cases, the pathologic material was neither sufficient nor satisfactory to allow a clear-cut distinction between Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The analysis of clinical data before and after pathological revision did not show any difference in clinical features, either between Hodgkin's disease "type 4" and other types (1, 2 or 3) or between cases with Hodgkin's disease and those with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. There is, however, a significant male predominance for Hodgkin's disease versus non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (P = 0.029, exact Fisher test), and B symptoms in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (P = 0.056), whereas B symptoms are commonly seen in advanced stages of Hodgkin's disease. It is emphasized that all Hodgkin's disease of lymphocyte-depletion type should be reviewed and discussed before any treatment, and this diagnosis actually means non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or other types of Hodgkin's disease.

Malignant adenomyoepithelioma of the breast. An immunohistochemical, cytophotometric, and ultrastructural study of a case with lung metastases.

Adenomyoepithelioma of the breast is a rare tumor that, on the basis of histologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural features, has a bicellular pattern of epithelial and myoepithelial cells regularly distributed in tubular structures. Until now, this tumor was thought to be a benign or low-grade malignant lesion because of possible local recurrences (7 recurrent cases of 60 in the literature). Only one of these cases had nodal involvement, thereby suggesting the possible malignancy of this lesion. This paper reports the first documented case of malignant adenomyoepithelioma with lung metastases presenting the same biphasic pattern as the primary tumor.

Prognostic significance of breast cancer axillary lymph node micrometastases assessed by two special techniques: reevaluation with longer follow-up.

Special techniques such as serial macroscopic sectioning (SMS) or immunohistochemical staining (IH) improve the detection rate of micrometastases but this detection is of value only if it improves the prediction of recurrence and survival. We first studied the prognosis of 120 patients with a single micrometastasis detected by SMS in a series of 1,680 primary operable breast carcinoma with a median follow-up of 7 years. A significant difference in recurrence (P = 0.005) and in survival (P = 0.0369) was found between node-negative patients and those with one single SMS micrometastasis, but SMS micrometastases were not a predicting factor by multivariate analyses according to the Cox model. We then studied the prognostic significance of patients with a micrometastasis detected by IH in node-negative carcinoma: 37 micrometastases from a series of 89 invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) and 13 single micrometastases from a series of 129 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). In the ILC group, IH micrometastases had no prognostic value (median follow-up: 9.3 years). In the IDC group, IH micrometastases were correlated with recurrences (P = 0.01) and were the most significant predicting factor, but were less correlated with survival (median follow-up: 15.6 years). Three main points emerge from this study: (1) SMS micrometastases have a prognostic significance and macroscopic sectioning is recommended as a routine technique not requiring excessive work. (2) IH micrometastases in infiltrating lobular carcinoma have no prognostic significance. (3) The value of IH is debatable in infiltrating ductal carcinoma, since the technique is of principal use in predicting recurrences. It should therefore be carefully assessed vs other prognostic factors currently under study.

[Dedifferentiated liposarcoma. A clinico-pathologic study of 6 cases]. / Liposarcome dédifférencié. Etude anatomoclinique de 6 cas.

During a period of 15 years, 6 cases of dedifferentiated liposarcomas were found among 542 cases of adult soft tissue sarcomas, 77 of which were liposarcomas. They were huge tumors of the retroperitoneum, containing distinct areas of well-differentiated liposarcoma most often of sclerosing type and malignant fibrous histiocytoma or undifferentiated sarcoma most often of high grade malignancy. Immunohistochemistry on the dedifferentiated component showed a positivity with anti-vimentin and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin in 5 cases and with anti-alpha smooth muscular actin in 4 cases. Three patients developed local recurrence and a fourth one quickly died with bone metastasis. Other types of dedifferentiated sarcomas, the process of dedifferentiation and links between malignant fibrous histiocytoma and dedifferentiated sarcomas are discussed.