Heejung Chae

FcrR3A-158 Polymorphism and Stromal Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Survival among Patients with Metastatic HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Receiving Trastuzumab-Based Treatment

Purpose The prognosis of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer has markedly improved since the introduction of trastuzumab. We aimed to evaluate the association between stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (sTIL) or FcrR polymorphisms and survival among patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who were treated with trastuzumab. Methods A total of 56 women with recurrent or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who received the trastuzumab-taxane combination as first-line treatment were included in this retrospective analysis. The single-step multiplex allele-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction technique was employed for FcrR3A genotyping. sTILs were identified via immunohistochemical analysis of surgical (n=34, 60.7%) or biopsy specimens of metastatic lesions (n=22, 39.3%). Results We classified patients based on the sTIL level (≤10% [n=44] or >10% [n=12]); high sTIL counts were more commonly observed in patients with hormone receptor-negative tumors than in those with hormone receptor-positive tumors (34.8% vs. 12.1%, p=0.02). There was a significant association between high sTIL levels and longer progression-free survival in comparison to low sTIL levels (median, 28.4 months vs. 16.8 months; p=0.03). With regard to the FcrR3A-158 genotype, patients were classified into the Phenylalanine/Phenylalanine group (23 patients, 41.1%), Phenylalanine/Valine group (23 patients, 41,1%), or Valine/Valine group (10 patients, 17.9%); these classifications were not associated with clinical outcomes. Conclusion High sTIL expression may be associated with better efficacy of trastuzumab-containing therapy in patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. However, this finding warrants further evaluation in the larger population.

Prognostic implications of hepatitis B virus infection in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma treated with first-line gemcitabine plus cisplatin

Purpose: Hepatitis B virus infection is a well-known risk factor for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. However, its prognostic impact has rarely been investigated in advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Methods: Between April 2010 and May 2015, 296 patients with unresectable or metastatic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma who received gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GemCis) were categorized into a hepatitis B virus group (n=62; 21%) and a non-hepatitis B virus group (n=234; 79%). Clinicopathological features and survival outcomes were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Results: The median age of patients was 59 years (range, 27–78). The median overall survival with first-line GemCis was 9.4 months (95% CI 8.4, 10.4). Compared to the non-hepatitis B virus group, the hepatitis B virus group was younger (median age, 57 vs. 61 years, P = 0.001), mainly male (74% vs. 57%, P = 0.02), and had lower frequency of elevated cancer antigen (CA) 19-9 (34% vs. 59%, P = 0.001) and alkaline phosphatase (43% vs. 61%, P = 0.01). In a univariate analysis, the hepatitis B virus infection showed a marginal relationship with poor overall survival compared to the non-hepatitis B virus infection (median, 8.3 vs. 10.0 months; P=0.13). A multivariate analysis of potential prognostic factors revealed a significant association with poor overall survival in the hepatitis B virus group (hazard ratio (HR) =1.50, P = 0.02). Initial metastatic disease (vs. recurrent/unresectable disease; HR=1.50), metastatic sites ⩾ 2 (vs. 0–1; HR=1.51), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ⩾ 2 (vs. 0–1; HR=1.93), elevated total bilirubin (vs. normal; HR=1.83), and low albumin (vs. normal; HR=1.52) were significantly related to an unfavorable overall survival. Conclusions: This study suggests that the hepatitis B virus infection may be associated with distinctive clinicopathological characteristics and poor outcome in advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma treated with GemCis.

Simple uterovaginal anastomosis for cervicovaginal atresia diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging: A report of two cases

This report describes the use of a simple transvaginal surgical method to connect the uterus with the lower vagina in patients with cervicovaginal atresia. We report two girls presenting with primary amenorrhea and cyclic abdominal pain. The girls had similar magnetic resonance imaging findings that revealed markedly enlarged uteri containing blood and no structures resembling a cervix or upper vagina. We performed transvaginal uterovaginal anastomosis with no perioperative or postoperative complications. After surgery, the patients had regular menstrual cycles and one started sexual activities with no complaints. The remarkable finding was the natural increase in the vaginal depth after surgery. This simplified transvaginal uterovaginal anastomosis technique, with its promising anatomical results, might be a treatment for cervicovaginal atresia.