Short-term autonomy and survival after hepatectomy in the elderly.

AIM: To study morbi-mortality, survival after hepatectomy in elderly patients, and influence on their short-term autonomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study conducted between 2002 and 2017 comparing patients less than 65 years old (controls) to those more than 65 years old (cases) from a prospective database, with retrospective collection of geriatric data. Cases were divided into three sub-groups (65-70 years, 70-80 years and>80 years). RESULTS: Four hundred and eighty-two patients were included. There was no age difference in number of major hepatectomies (P=0.5506), length of stay (P=0.3215), mortality at 90 days (P=0.3915), and surgical complications (P=0.1467). There were more Grade 1 Clavien medical complications among the patients aged over 65 years (P=0.1737). There was no difference in overall survival (P=0.460) or disease-free survival (P=0.108) according to age after adjustment for type of disease and hepatectomy. One-third of patients had geriatric complications. The "home discharge" rate decreased significantly with age from 92% to 68% (P=0.0001). Early loss of autonomy after hospitalization increased with age, 16% between 65 and 70 years, 23% between 70 and 80 years and 36% after 80 years (P=0.10). We identified four independent predictors of loss of autonomy: age>70 years, cholangiocarcinoma, length of stay>10 days, and metachronous colorectal cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients had the same management as young patients, with no difference in surgery or survival, but with an increase in early loss of autonomy.

[CyberKnife and neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast tumors: preliminary results]. / CyberKnife et chimiothérapie néoadjuvante pour les tumeurs du sein localement évoluées : résultats préliminaires.

PURPOSE: CyberKnife((R)) (CK) allows stereotaxic irradiation for thoracic tumor thanks to a tracking system which potential is known for lung tumors. This technique has never been used to treat breast tumors but may have a real potential. PATIENTS AND METHOD: In order to define the interest of treating breast tumors with CK, we have conducted a phase I study with a dose escalation, adding CK to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in view of allowing conservative treatment for patients that will not have surgery in first intent. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy includes six cures, including three of docetaxel and three of FEC. CK treatment is made during the second cure of chemotherapy. Two dose levels are delivered in three fractions: 19.5 and 22.5Gy. Surgery is performed six to eight weeks after the last cure. The primary objective is to define tolerance of stereotactic irradiation concomitant with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast tumors. Skin toxicity is the limiting criterion of the study. The secondary objectives are both histological response and quality of surgery. Here, we are presenting the preliminary results of the 2-dose level. This study participates in the French national grant called Programme hospitalier de recherche clinique (PHRC). RESULTS: No skin toxicity of grade I or more have been find. Surgery was performed as conventional and there was no complication. Pathology exams found one complete response, one lymphangitis and one partial response. CONCLUSION: These preliminary results seem to be promising but need to be confirmed. We carry on the dose escalation study.

Prognostic factors in 1,038 women with metastatic breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) remains palliative. Patients with MBC represent a heterogeneous group whose prognosis and outcome may be dependent on host factors. The purpose of the present study was dual: first, to draw up a list of factors easily available in everyday clinical practice requiring no sophisticated or costly methods and second, to provide results from a large cohort of women who underwent diagnostic and treatment at a single institution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1975 to 2005, a total of 1,038 women with MBC during their follow-up were included in this retrospective analysis. Patients were subsequently assigned to five groups according to the period of metastatic diagnosis. RESULTS: It is shown that age at initial diagnosis, hormonal receptor status and site of metastasis are the most relevant prognostic factors for predicting survival from the time of metastastic occurrence. It is also shown that a metastasis-free interval is an easily and immediately available multifactorial prognostic index reflecting the multiparametric variability of the disease. CONCLUSION: These fundamental observations may assist physicians in evaluating the survival potential of patients and in directing them toward the appropriate therapeutic decision.

[Accelerated partial breast irradiation using interstitial high dose rate brachytherapy: preliminary clinical and dosimetric results after 61 patients]. / Irradiation insterstitielle partielle et accélérée du sein de haut débit de dose: résultats préliminaires cliniques et dosimétriques sur 61 patientes.

PURPOSE: Among all the accelerated and partial breast irradiation (APBI) techniques, low then high dose rate, interstitial brachytherapy (HDIB) was the first to be used in this field. This study presents the preliminary clinical and dosimetric results of the APBI using HDIB, performed in Antoine Lacassagne Cancer Center of Nice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From June 2004 to March 2008, 61 patients (37 primary tumors and 24 second conservative treatments after local recurrence) presenting with T1-2 pN0 non-lobular invasive breast carcinoma, underwent lumpectomy with sentinel lymph node dissection and intraoperative tube placement for HDIB. Dose distribution analysis, using dose-volume histograms, was achieved based on a postoperative CT scan. A comparative dosimetric study was performed between optimized (O) and non-optimized (NO) dose distribution. Then, based on conformal index calculation, a novel index was proposed taking into account not only the conformity but also the homogeneity of HDIB implant. An analysis of dose gradient impact on HDIB biological equivalence dose was also conducted. Statistical analysis used T test confirmed by Wilcoxon test for cohort including less than 30 patients. RESULTS: The comparative dosimetric analysis between O and NO dose distributions shown that conformity indexes (conformal index, conformal number, and D90%) were significantly increased after optimization. Improving conformity leads to increasing hyperdosage volumes (V150% and V200%). A new index named conformity and homogeneity index (CHI) including V150% values, modified the conformal index. A total dose of 34 Gy, delivered through HDIB in 10 fractions over five days was biologically equivalent to 41.93 Gy assuming alpha/beta = 4 Gy and 75.76 Gy if the dose gradient was considered in the calculation. CONCLUSIONS: HDIB is considered as one of the best IPAS technique. HDIB allows dose distribution optimization, skin spearing and accurate clinical target volume definition. Furthermore, HDIB dose gradient could play a key role for breast cancer local control.

Early versus late local recurrences after conservative treatment of breast carcinoma: differences in primary tumor characteristics and patient outcome.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether some aspects of patient or tumor characteristics influence the timing of local recurrence (LR) in breast cancer treated conservatively, and to assess the impact of the timing of LR on patient outcome. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients treated with conservative breast surgery followed by radiotherapy for breast carcinoma who developed LR. Out of 2,008 cases treated in our Institute between 1977 and 2002, 180 ipsilateral LR were observed. Of these, 46 LR were observed within 36 months after treatment, called early local recurrence (ELR), 44 developed between 37 and 60 months, called medium local recurrence (MLR), and 90 occurred after 60 months, called late local recurrence (LLR). Patient and tumor characteristics were analyzed in the 2 groups and compared. RESULTS: Primary tumors >20 mm were more frequently found in patients with ELR (31%) than in patients with LLR (17%, p = 0.047). Grade 3 tumors were more often encountered in patients with ELR than in patients with LLR (27 versus 7%, p = 0.0002). Patients with ELR more frequently had tumors with negative estrogen receptors than patients with LLR (37% versus 6%, p < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in the axillary lymph node (LN) status between patients with ELR and those with LLR (35 and 23% of positive LN, respectively, p = 0.24). Tumor size, grade, LN status, hormone receptors and the timing of LR affected the specific survival (SS) from initial surgery. On multivariate analysis, only LN status and the timing of LR retained an independent prognostic value, with an odds ratio of 6.7 for ELR. After LR, the SS was also influenced by all of the above factors, and on multivariate analysis, LN status, hormone receptors and the timing of LR were independent predictors with an odds ratio of SS of 2.50 in case of ELR (p = 0.006). The 5-year SS after LR for ELR, MLR and LLR were 55.8, 74.8 and 79.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Unfavorable tumor characteristics such as big size, high grade, lack of hormone receptors, but not LN status, were associated with ELR. These findings suggest that patients with such aggressive tumor characteristics who do not recur early will have a lower risk of LLR than patients with more favorable factors.

[Sternalis muscle in breast surgery]. / Le muscle sternalis: derrière quel sein se cache-t-il?

The sternalis muscle is a normal anatomic variant, which exists in about 5 to 8% of people. It runs longitudinally superficial to pectoralis major, alongside the sternum. Although the sternalis seems common in cadaveric studies, physicians are not familiar with it, which may lead to confusion in diagnosis. Occasionally, the sternalis may be misinterpreted as a breast mass on mammogramm. In that case, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are useful. We report herein two cases of sternalis muscles encountered during mastectomy.

[Predictive factors of local recurrence of in situ intraductal carcinoma. Apropos of 217 cases]. / Facteurs prédictifs de récidives locales de carcinomes canalaires in situ. A propos de 217 cas.

The authors have reviewed 217 cases of pure intraductal carcinomas with a mean follow-up of 98 months (with 2 deaths out of 31 recurrences from which 35% into adenocarcinomas). The data concerning the diagnosis, the tumor size, the pathological type, the surgical treatment, more of less associated to radiation therapy are detailed. The aim of this work was to give a more reliable way or approaching the recurrence rate (31/217) to be able to apply a more conservative treatment to these cases. The lymph node dissection and removal seams to be useless in the in situ carcinomas. Concerning the tumor size, the local tumors can be treated by conservative surgical procedures and do not get any benefit from radiotherapy. The opposite is true concerning more largely invasive tumor. Concerning the histology, the non-comedocarcinomatous tumors get less benefit from radiotherapy than the comedocarcinomatous type. The study of the tumor limits and the reliquats seem to be useful. The treatment chosen and applied remains the major prognostic element in the probability of recurrence.

[A comparative study of 4 sequential first-line chemotherapy protocols in locally advanced breast cancer]. / Etude comparative de 4 protocoles successifs de chimiothérapie première dans le cancer du sein localement avancé.

Between 1977 and 1994, our center administered successively 4 different chemotherapy regimens to 242 evaluable patients with locally advanced breast cancer. Patients with inflammatory signs were excluded. Sixty-eight patients were treated by AVCF (A (adriamycine) + V (vincristine) + C (cytoxan) + F (5FU)), 47 by AECF (A + E (vindesine) + C + F), 81 by CAFP (C + A + F + P (prednisone)) and 46 by AN (A + N (vinorelbine)). The mean number of cycle was 3. One hundred and twenty-five patients (52.5%) responded to chemotherapy and we recorded 35 complete response (14.7%). The response rates at the different combinations were respectively: AVCF: 29.4%, AECF: 53.2%, CAFP: 64.9%, AN: 65.2%, and were independent of tumor size, grade and receptor status. The response rate at the AVCF regimen was significantly worse than the others (p = 0.0005). Breast conserving surgery was performed in 31 patients (14%) and 17 patients (8%) had a complete response. Among the 35 patients with complete response, 21 were treated by radiotherapy alone. Local recurrence occurred in 19 patients (7.9%) and 96 (40%) had advanced disease. The mean follow-up of AVCF regimen was 150 months, 115 months for AECF, 111 for CAFP and 42 months for AN. The disease-free survival and the overall survival were significantly better with AECF, CAFP and AN regimens (DFS p < 0.04, OS p < 0.02). Survival was better in those patients with an objective response (p = 0.002) or with non-affected axillary node at the time of surgery. Our study showed already that AVCF combination was significantly lower than AECF, CAFP, AN in terms of response rate, disease-free survival and overall survival. Waiting the results of randomized studies about the impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on survival, we look for chemotherapy regimen improving the rate of conservative surgery.

[Intra-epithelial cancer of the cervix uteri. Epidemiological and therapeutic evolution. Apropos of 207 cases]. / Cancer intra-épithélial du col utérin. Evolution épidémiologique et thérapeutique. A propos de 207 cas.

Through a retrospective study of 207 CIN III of the cervix uteri, with a medial follow-up of 6 years, the authors are showing the evolution in the management of that pathology. Different reasons are invoked: 1) the practice of systematic Papanicolaou smears reveals dysplasia of the cervix in younger women, justifying treatments that preserve obstetrical future; 2) the histological classification is now well established, the old terminologies is being replaced by the international term of CIN III. 3) the colposcopy can localize the transformation zone, allowing more conservative treatments. The treatment of reference was initially hysterectomy and is now conization for non-menopausal women; but this conservative evolution is not yet finished.

[Thoughts on the role of celiosurgery in patients with major obesity]. / Réflexions sur la place de la coelio-chirurgie chez les obèses majeurs.

Is coelioscopic surgery an interesting way in massive obese patients? This is well established concerning the post-operative benefit, with a decreased risk of pulmonary and thrombo-embolic complications. But technical difficulties are not well described, whereas we encountered some: incomplete retraction of intra-abdominal organs, weakness and hemorrhagic tendency of the tissues, and most of all an insufficient pneumoperitoneum in all patients preventing sometime the surgical procedure. We analyse those obstacles to propose solutions when the laparoscopic way seems better regarding to the post-operative risk. We study their predictive factors, the best one being the thickness of the abdominal anterior wall, whereas the body weigh is an inadequate factor.

[Second conservative radiosurgical treatment for ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence]. / Second traitement conservateur radiochirurgical dans les récidives locales du cancer du sein.

PURPOSE: Currently, radical mastectomy represents the gold standard for ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence. However, we already showed that a second conservative treatment was feasible combining lumpectomy plus low-dose rate interstitial brachytherapy. In this study, we reported the preliminary results of a second conservative treatment using a high-dose rate brachytherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From June 2005 to July 2009, 42 patients presenting with an ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence underwent a second conservative treatment. Plastic tubes were implanted intra-operatively at the time of the lumpectomy. After a post-implant CT scan, a total dose of 34 Gy in 10 fractions over 5 consecutive days was delivered through an ambulatory procedure. The toxicity evaluation used the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v3.0. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 21 months (6-50 months), median age at the time of the local recurrence was 65 years (30-85 years). The median delay between the primary and the recurrence was 11 years (1-35 years). The location of the recurrence was in the tumor bed for 22 patients (52.4%), in the same quadrant for 14 patients (33.3%) and unknown for six patients (14.3%). The median tumor size of the recurrence was 12 mm (2-30 mm). The median number of plastic tubes and plans were nine (5-12) and two (1-3) respectively. The median CTV was 68 cm(3) (31.2-146 cm(3)). The rate of second local control was 97%. Twenty-two patients (60%) experienced complications. The most frequent side effect consisted in cutaneous and sub-cutaneous fibrosis (72% of all the observed complications). CONCLUSION: A second conservative treatment for ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence using high-dose rate brachytherapy appears feasible leading to encouraging results in terms of second local control with an acceptable toxicity. Considering that a non-inferiority randomized trial comparing mastectomy versus second conservative treatment could be difficult to perform, what proof level will be necessary to achieve in order to change the medical procedures?

[Closure of the abdominal wall after removal of a mucocutaneous flap from the transverse rectus abdominis for breast reconstruction. Apropos of 48 cases. Review of the literature]. / Fermeture de la paroi abdominale après prélèvement musculo-cutané pour TRAM. A propos de 48 cas. Revue de la littérature.

In view of the good results of breast reconstruction with the transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap, we used this method in 48 patients, but we observed abdominal complications, which are difficult to accept for cosmetic surgery. Hartrampf, one of pioneers of this technique, reports a very low complication, rate by closing the abdominal wall without the use of prosthetic mesh. However his results are not reproducible as numerous authors, following his technique, have reported abdominal hernias and now use prosthetic reinforcement. In the light of our experience, we analyse these complications, not only hernias, but also abdominal weakness, indicating a new operation in some cases (6/9). The quality and duration of the follow-up (52 months) accounts for the fairly high complication rate. A review of literature examines the various means of abdominal wall closure and their results. The functional injury of muscular harvesting must also be considered, especially in sports women.

[Apropos of 49 transverse rectus abdominis muscle flap (TRAM) in carcinologic and reconstructive surgery]. / A propos de quarante-neuf TRAM en chirurgie carcinologique et réparatrice.

The C.A.C. de Nice reconstructive surgery unit presents their experience of TRAM pedicled flap (41 cases) or free flap (8 cases). The technical details, complications and sequelae are analysed for the entire series of flaps with particular attention to the problems of the abdominal wall and the respective advantages of the two techniques. The applications of TRAM essentially concern breast reconstruction (41 cases) in women with large breasts and not desiring an implant or a contralateral procedure. TRAM is compared to other procedures (latissimus dorsi, implant, greater omentum) which the authors consider to be valid alternatives. The other indications are reconstructive, either for the chest wall (5 cases) or inguinoperineal (3 cases) for defects in an irradiated region.