Selection of an early biomarker for vascular normalization using dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasonography to predict outcomes of metastatic patients treated with bevacizumab.

BACKGROUND: Dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (DCE-US) has been used for evaluation of tumor response to antiangiogenic treatments. The objective of this study was to assess the link between DCE-US data obtained during the first week of treatment and subsequent tumor progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients treated with antiangiogenic therapies were included in a multicentric prospective study from 2007 to 2010. DCE-US examinations were available at baseline and at day 7. For each examination, a 3 min perfusion curve was recorded just after injection of a contrast agent. Each perfusion curve was modeled with seven parameters. We analyzed the correlation between criteria measured up to day 7 on freedom from progression (FFP). The impact was assessed globally, according to tumor localization and to type of treatment. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 20 months. The mean transit time (MTT) evaluated at day 7 was the only criterion significantly associated with FFP (P = 0.002). The cut-off point maximizing the difference between FFP curves was 12 s. Patients with at least a 12 s MTT had a better FFP. The results according to tumor type were significantly heterogeneous: the impact of MTT on FFP was more marked for breast cancer (P = 0.004) and for colon cancer (P = 0.025) than for other tumor types. Similarly, the differences in FFP according to MTT at day 7 were marked (P = 0.004) in patients receiving bevacizumab. CONCLUSION: The MTT evaluated with DCE-US at day 7 is significantly correlated to FFP of patients treated with bevacizumab. This criterion might be linked to vascular normalization. AFSSAPS NO: 2007-A00399-44.

Evaluation of axillary involvement by ultrasound-guided lymph node biopsy: A prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the accuracy of pre-operative ultrasound (US) alone and associated with a fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) or a core needle biopsy (CNB) in the diagnosis of axillary node involvement in patient with breast cancer. The secondary study objective was to determine if this US±FNAC or CNB can lead to the adequate axillary surgery in cN0 and cN1 patient. METHODS: A total of 121 consecutive women with stage cT1 to cT2, cN0/cN1, invasive breast cancer were prospectively identified at our institution between February 2, 2013 and August 30, 2013. The sensitivity, specificity, VPP, NPV were calculated, with confidence intervals, using the definitive histological result of the sentinel node biopsy (SLNB) or axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) as the baseline. RESULTS: Twenty-seven CNB and 2 FNAC were performed. For the whole series, the sensitivity and the specificity of US alone were 48.7% [36-59%] and 89% [83-94%]. For US±FNAC or CNB, the sensitivity and the specificity were 35.9% [26-38%] and 98.8% [94-100%]. Seven women with cN1 clinical examination had SLNB, which permit to decrease the number of ALND of 16.3%. It would have avoided unnecessary SLNB, prompting immediate ALND in 9 patients with cN0 axillae, which means a reduction of SLNB of 8.6%. US±FNAC or CNB lead to the adequate surgery in 72.7% of cases. CONCLUSION: US±CNB or FNAC is also a relatively efficient and safe test and should be considered routinely. It allowed triaging patients to the well axillary surgery (SLNB or ALND).

Maximum and mean bladder dose defined from ultrasonography. Comparison with the ICRU reference in gynaecological brachytherapy.

The reference bladder dose for gynaecological intracavitary brachytherapy (BT), as defined by the ICRU 38 Report, is often criticised as it is seldom representative of the highest bladder dose nor it gives an idea of the area exposed to a significant dose. Since November 1990, ultrasound measurements are routinely made in order to determine the actual dose delivered to the bladder of each patient. The technique was as follows. (1) the bladder is filled up with 150-200 cm3 of sterile isotonic saline. (2) The intrauterine position of the tube is checked. (3) The bladder anatomy is controlled. (4) Points of measurements are identified: ICRU bladder reference, minimum distance between bladder mucosa, uterine tube and other similar measurements taken every 15 mm along the radio-active line. Maximum and mean doses are calculated at the sagittal plane. Measurements are performed by moving the transducer along the skin of the patient and included in the calculation of dose distribution. Doses delivered to each relevant point are compared. This enables determination to be made of the differences between the ICRU and the doses actually observed at the bladder wall with aid of ultrasonography. BT applications were checked in 58 patients (69 measurements). The method was feasible in all cases. The comparison between ICRU dose from orthogonal films and the ICRU dose from ultrasonography resulted in a 90% accuracy. The maximum and mean doses for utero-vaginal BT are higher than the ICRU dose in 75% of cases (range, 2-8). Measurements are now abandoned for vaginal applications as the ICRU dose only could be measured.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Role of microbiopsy in diagnostic and therapeutic approach of mammary suspect microcalcification]. / Place de la microbiopsie dans la prise en charge des microcalcifications mammaires suspectes.

PURPOSE: To determine the sensibility, the specificity, the positive and negative predictive values of microcalcifications detection by core needle biopsy and intra-operative pathologic examination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hundred and one patients (between 1998 and 1999) were investigated in this retrospective study. The initial presentation was breast microcalcifications without palpable tumour. The mean age of patients was 55 (34-79) years. Mammography was performed in 3 standard projections. All suspect microcalcifications were recommended for surgical excision. In the others cases, 5 core biopsies were taken of the lesion. Needle guidance was accomplished by means of either dedicated stereotaxic device or ultrasound equipment. All biopsies were performed with a biopsy device fitted with 14 G needles. The mean follow-up period was 3 years. RESULTS: Clinical or surgical follow-up was available in 101 lesions. Only 4 benign lesions did not have surgery. The 97 remaining were subsequently excised. Pathologic study showed cancer in 38 (39%) lesions, carcinoma in-situ in 14 lesions, and benign disease in 45 lesions. There was 1 false-negative biopsy. The specificity and sensitivity of percutaneous biopsy diagnosis were 73,6 and 93,7% respectively. Intra-operative pathologic diagnoses were concordant in 77% of 30 cases. Discordance occurred in 2 cases of atypical hyperplasia with a single false-negative result for a carcinoma that led to an additional surgical procedure. Positive and negative predictive values of intra-operative pathologic diagnosis were 82 and 100% respectively. CONCLUSION: Needle biopsy findings are accurate and allow definitive therapeutic surgery, including mastectomy.

[Radiological evaluation of the tumour response after lung stereotactic radiotherapy]. / Évaluation radiologique de la réponse tumorale après radiothérapie pulmonaire en conditions stéréotaxiques.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy is the treatment of choice for medically non-operable T1-T2 N0M0 non-small cell lung cancer or for slowly growing lung metastases with no evolutive primary tumour. Lung stereotactic radiotherapy provides an excellent local control rate, higher than 80%. Nevertheless, although the clinical toxicity rate is less than 5%, postradiation radiological reactions surrounding the tumour, called "radiological radiation pneumonitis", are very frequent, which makes it difficult to evaluate the tumour response. Firstly, this review describes the lesions of acute and chronic radiation pneumonitis and the CT images suggesting a local recurrence. Then, we evaluated the place of PET after stereotactic body radiotherapy in the follow-up period. Finally, we suggest an algorithm helping physicians in the follow-up of such treated patients.

Pre-operative systemic (neo-adjuvant) therapy with trastuzumab and docetaxel for HER2-overexpressing stage II or III breast cancer: results of a multicenter phase II trial.

BACKGROUND: Trastuzumab plus chemotherapy has become the standard of care for women with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive metastatic breast cancer. Trastuzumab-based pre-operative systemic (neo-adjuvant) therapy (PST) also appears promising, warranting further investigation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with HER2-positive, stage II/III non-inflammatory, operable breast cancer requiring a mastectomy (but who wished to conserve the breast) received weekly trastuzumab and 3-weekly docetaxel for six cycles before surgery. The primary end point was pathological complete response (pCR) rate, determined from surgical specimens. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were enrolled. The majority (79%) had T2 tumors, with 42% being N1/2. Twenty-nine patients completed six cycles of therapy and one patient withdrew prematurely due to progressive disease. A complete or partial objective clinical response was seen in 96% (73% and 23%, respectively) of patients. Surgery was performed in 30 patients, breast conserving in 23 (77%). In an intention-to-treat analysis, tumor and nodal pCR was seen in 14 (47%) patients. Treatment was generally well tolerated. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in 85% of patients while febrile neutropenia was encountered in 18%. Only three patients withdrew prematurely due to toxicity. No symptomatic cardiac dysfunction was reported. CONCLUSIONS: PST with trastuzumab plus docetaxel achieved promising efficacy, with a high pCR rate and good tolerability, in women with stage II or III HER2-positive breast cancer.