Funda Meric-Bernstam

Breast conservation after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: A prognostic index for clinical decision-making

The appropriate selection criteria for breast‐conserving therapy (BCT) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy are poorly defined. The purpose of the current report was to develop a prognostic index to help refine selection criteria and to serve as a general framework for clinical decision‐making for patients treated by this multimodality approach.

Improving local control with breast-conserving therapy: a 27-year single-institution experience.

The risk of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) after breast‐conserving therapy (BCT) is associated with treatment and tumor‐related variables, such as surgical margin status and the use of systemic therapy, and these variables have changed over time. Correspondingly, the authors of the current study hypothesized that the contemporary multidisciplinary management of breast carcinoma would lead to an improvement in IBTR rates after BCT.

Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy: Predictors of significant histologic findings

Women with unilateral breast carcinoma are at increased risk for developing contralateral breast carcinoma (CBC). The authors sought to identify predictors of malignant or moderate to high‐risk histologic findings in contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) specimens, and to determine the efficacy of CPM.

Clinical outcome of patients with lymph node-negative breast carcinoma who have sentinel lymph node micrometastases detected by immunohistochemistry

The ideal pathologic assessment of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in patients with breast carcinoma remains controversial. The authors evaluated how detailed assessment of SLNs using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and serial sectioning would affect treatment decisions and outcomes in patients with breast carcinoma who had negative SLNs on standard hematoxylin and eosin staining.

Intramammary lymph node metastases are an independent predictor of poor outcome in patients with breast carcinoma

Breast carcinoma with intramammary lymph node (intraMLN) metastases is considered to be Stage II disease, even in the absence of axillary lymph node involvement. Nonetheless, little is known regarding the clinical significance of intraMLN metastases. The goals of the current retrospective analysis were to elucidate the clinical relevance of intraMLN metastases and to assess the relation between such metastases and outcome in patients with breast carcinoma.

Physician recommendations regarding tamoxifen and patient utilization of tamoxifen after surgery for ductal carcinoma in situ.

To date, the impact of the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) B‐24 trial reported in 1999 on the use of tamoxifen after surgery for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is unknown. The current study was designed to evaluate the impact of NSABP B‐24 on current practices at a comprehensive cancer center.

Predictors of systemic recurrence and disease‐specific survival after ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence

In patients with breast carcinoma, ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) after breast‐conserving therapy (BCT) is an independent predictor of systemic recurrence and disease‐specific survival (DSS). However, only a subgroup of patients with IBTR develop systemic recurrences. Therefore, the management of isolated IBTR remains controversial. The objective of the current study was to identify determinants of systemic recurrence and DSS after IBTR.

Potential Applicability of Balloon Catheter-Based Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation after Conservative Surgery for Breast Carcinoma

Balloon catheter–based accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) is an alternative to whole‐breast external‐beam irradiation during breast‐conserving therapy (BCT) for breast carcinoma, but it is limited by the size of the segmental mastectomy cavity. There are scant data on the average or optimal volume of resection (VR) in BCT. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the percentage of patients who would be eligible for balloon catheter–based APBI based on the selection criteria of the American Society of Breast Surgeons and the surgical VR.

Lower and central tumor location correlates with lymphoscintigraphy drainage to the internal mammary lymph nodes in breast carcinoma

Radiation to the internal mammary chain (IMC) may be indicated for breast carcinoma patients with positive axillary sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) and lymphoscintigraphic evidence of drainage to the IMC. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of IMC drainage in patients with positive axillary SLNs.

Impact of concurrent proliferative high-risk lesions on the risk of ipsilateral breast carcinoma recurrence and contralateral breast carcinoma development in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ treated with breast-conserving therapy

The purpose of the study was to determine the risk of ipsilateral breast carcinoma recurrence (IBCR) and contralateral breast carcinoma (CBC) development in patients with a concurrent diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) with atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH), or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS).