Antonio Luiz Frasson

Inducible heat shock protein 70 expression as a potential predictive marker of metastasis in breast tumors

Abstract Heat shock protein (Hsp)–peptide complexes purified from tumors can prime the immune system against tumor antigens, but how they contribute to the generation of immune responses against naturally occurring tumors is unknown. Murine tumors expressing high amounts of Hsp70 are preferentially rejected by the immune system, suggesting that low Hsp70 expression is advantageous for tumor growth in the host. To determine whether Hsp70 was differentially expressed in human tumors, inducible Hsp70 expression was quantitatively (by Western blot) and qualitatively (by immunohistology) analyzed in 53 biopsies of tumor and normal breast tissue. The mean expression of inducible Hsp70 was significantly higher in tumor compared with normal tissue (U = 899.0; P = 0.0033). However, a significant negative association of the amount of Hsp70 expressed by tumor tissue was found with metastasis (r2 = −0.309; P = 0.05). After 3 years, follow-up analysis determined that 7 of the 53 patients relapsed, and 5 died. Hsp70 expression in tumor (but not normal) cells was significantly lower in relapse patients and patients with metastatic disease than in patients with no relapse or metastasis. Together, these observations support the hypothesis that Hsp70 plays a role in tumor expansion in vivo, and tumors that downregulate it may be able to evade immunosurveillance and grow.

A prática do auto-exame das mamas em mulheres de uma comunidade universitária

Current statistical data point to high rates of prevalence and death among women undergoing breast cancer (INCA, 2004). This issue could be minimized through the self exam practice, since this procedure is considered a facilitating element in early diagnosis. This research aimed at knowing the practice of breast self-exam in women, representing the population of PUCRS, wich is a university. A mixed methodology was used (quantitative and qualitative) and as a tool, semi-structural questionnaire was applied in a sample of 215 women. The results show that only 25 percent of researched women refer to the habit of practicing breast self-exam periodically as a preventive care. The study also enhanced that all women recognize the importance of this practice however, many times they don’t know how to do it or don’t remember to do it and many other times they do it in an inappropriate way (related to frequency).

Neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer treatment: an expert panel recommendation from the Brazilian Society of Breast Surgeons 2018

PurposeBreast cancer neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) consists of the administration of cytotoxic and targeted drugs prior to breast surgery, with the objective of reducing the tumor burden to allow breast conservation. NAC also aims to improve long-term treatment outcomes such as disease-free and overall survival. To optimize clinical practice with the best available evidence for breast cancer patients in the setting of neoadjuvant treatment, the Brazilian Society of Breast Surgeons (Sociedade Brasileira de Mastologia—SBM) held a consensus conference to develop this guideline.MethodsTwenty-two questions addressing relevant breast cancer neoadjuvant treatment were previously formulated. The voting panel comprised 25 specialists from the SBM. A consensus was established if there was 75% agreement. If there was less concordance, after discussion, the consensus was determined by a 51% concordance.ResultsThe recommendations were based on the best level of scientific evidence and the opinion from breast cancer experts, when no such research data were available.ConclusionThis manuscript provides updated guidance according to the views of the SBM’s experts for the clinical practice of breast cancer surgeons. This manuscript depicts the summarized recommendations for NAC treatment.

Immune risk profile of elderly women with breast cancer: the first 37 cases

AIMS: To evaluate the immune risk profile of elderly women with breast cancer and to assess whether this can be a reliable predictor to determine types of treatment and oncologic follow-up. METHODS: We assessed the CD4+/CD8+ ratio in peripheral blood cell, as well as serology for cytomegalovirus, of 37 women who were aged 60 years or more at the time they were diagnosed with breast cancer/. They all had surgical treatment at the Breast Center from Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul. Those with positive serology for HIV, or immuno-suppressed due to organ transplant, as well as those who had neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Data was analyzed according to axillary involvement, tumor size, tumor immunohistochemical profile and occurrence of adverse events (axillary relapse, local relapse and/or metastases) RESULTS: The mean value of CD4+/CD8+ ratio was 1.72 (min. 1.1, max. 2.32) and cytomegalovirus serology was positive in all subjects. Comparing the groups, patients with positive axillary metastases (n=10) had a CD4+/CD8+ ratio greater than in those with negative axillary metastases (p=0.04). No statistically significant difference was detected regarding the size and immunohistochemical profile of the tumor. Two adverse events occurred at a mean follow-up of 14 months (one axillary relapse and one bone metastasis), when an increase in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The CD4+/CD8+ ratio appear to increase in cases of breast cancer with worst prognosis. As far as was possible to search, these are the first data on CD4+ and CD8+ peripheral blood of elderly women with breast cancer. A longer follow-up will determine the value of these cells as a prognostic and/or predictive marker.

Skin Sparing Mastectomy and Adenomastectomy: Follow Up of the First 93 Cases

INTRODUCTION: Surgical treatment of breast cancer has evolved considerably in recent years with the development of the concepts of immediate breast reconstruction, prophylactic mastectomy and symetrization. Based on these concepts the techniques of skin-sparing mastectomy and adenomastectomy (subcutaneous mastectomy with nipple areola complex – NAC - preservation) are rising as important options in clinical practice. The published data shows good cosmetic results, although there are no randomized studies comparing the safety of this procedure in breast cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The performance of skin-sparing mastectomy and adenomastectomy began in 2006 in Centro de Mama da PUC/RS, Brazil. The objectives of this study are to describe the sociodemographic profile, tumor characteristics and outcome of the first 93 cases operated between 2006 and 2010. Inclusion criteria were female gender, surgical conditions to preserve skin and / or NAC, obtain free surgical margins and desire of the patient. Follow up of the patients was filled in a form with demographic information, surgical, pathologic, adjuvant treatment and adverse events. RESULTS: As inclusion criteria, were selected to participate in this study 93 patients, mean age at diagnosis of 44.5 years (23-70 years). The mean follow-up was 62 months. The surgery was unilateral in 36 cases (38%) and bilateral in 57 cases (61%). of these, 14 patients (15%) underwent skin sparing mastectomy, 4 patients (5%) underwent bilateral different procedure (skin sparing mastectomy on one side and adenomastectomy on the other side); and most, 75 patients (80%), underwent a adeno-mastectomy. The immediate breast reconstruction was performed in all cases, using silicon prothesis in 72 (77%) and expanders in the others 21 patients (23%). Thirty one patients of our group were pTis. The others 62 patients (66%) presented with invasive lesions with an average tumor size of 2.3 cm (0.2 - 7.1 cm); Chemotherapy was neoadjuvant in 11 patients (17.7%) and adjuvant in 38 patients (61.2%). Hormone therapy was indicated in 52 cases (83.8%), 12 patients (19.3%) received anti-Her 2 therapy and radiotherapy was applied in 42 cases (67.7%). To evaluate the results of follow-up, 6 patients were excluded from analysis because the indication of the surgery was a recurrent tumor. So, 87 patients with a primary tumor at a mean follow up of 62 months were analised. In this period there were 5 (5.5%) local recurrences, 2 located in the NAC and 1 (1.1%) single distant metastase in the bone. All patients are alive. CONCLUSIONS: Skin-sparing mastectomy and adenomastectomy appears to be oncologically safe. In this study the overall recurrence rate is in keeping with previous studies. The role of postoperative radiotherapy to avoid local recurrence has to be defined in larger studies.