Jieqiong Liu

Comparison of ER/PR and HER2 statuses in primary and paired liver metastatic sites of breast carcinoma in patients with or without treatment

PurposeThe aim of this study was to determine whether estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) statuses between primary tumors and paired liver metastatic localizations of breast carcinoma were modified by treatment or during the natural metastatic process.MethodsER, PR, and HER2 expressions were analyzed on paired tissue specimens taken from the primary and the liver metastatic tumors in breast cancer patients. The first group included 46 women who presented with T1–T4, N0–N3, M0 breast carcinoma when first diagnosed and were treated by neoadjuvant therapy or directly underwent surgery, then received postoperative treatment and developed liver metastasis several months/years later. The second group included 12 patients with liver metastatic breast carcinoma when first diagnosed for breast cancer. HER2 status was determined by immunohistochemistry as well as fluorescence in situ hybridization.ResultsAmong the 46 patients in the first group, the ER/PR and HER2 statuses (when considered as a whole histological subtype) were changed between primary tumor and liver metastatic lesions in 12 patients (26.1%). While ER and PR status were modified in 14 (30.4%) and 25 (54.3%) patients, respectively, there were only 5 (10.9%) cases showed a discrepancy in the HER2 status. In the second group, the ER/PR and HER2 statuses (when considered as a whole subtype) were consistent between primary and liver metastatic tumor in 10 of 12 (83.3%) patients. ER, PR, and HER2 statuses were modified in 0 of 12 (0%), 4 of 12 (33.3%), and 1 of 12 (8.3%) cases, respectively.ConclusionsER/PR and HER2 statuses between primary and liver metastatic lesions of breast carcinoma can be modified after treatment but are stable in most cases during the natural metastatic process.

HER-2 positive breast cancer is associated with an increased risk of positive cavity margins after initial lumpectomy

BackgroundThe effect of breast cancer subtype on margin status after lumpectomy remains unclear. This study aims to determine whether approximated breast cancer subtype is associated with positive margins after lumpectomy, which could be used to determine if there is an increased risk of developing local recurrence (LR) following breast-conserving surgery.MethodsWe studied 1,032 consecutive patients with invasive cancer who received lumpectomies and cavity margin (CM) assessments from January 2003 to November 2012. The following data were collected: patient age, cT stage, pT stage, grade, status of CM, lymph node status, menopausal status, ER, PR, HER-2, and Ki67, as well as the presence of extensive intraductal component (EIC) and lymphovascular invasion (LVI). A χ2 test was used to compare categorical baseline characteristics. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate associations between pathologic features of CM status. Kaplan-Meier actuarial cumulative rates of LR (ipsilateral in-breast) were calculated.ResultsA total of 7,884 pieces of marginal tissue were collected from 1,032 patients, and 209 patients had positive CMs. Of the patients tested, 52.3% had luminal A subtype, 14.9% were luminal B, 12.8% were luminal-HER-2, 8.1% were HER-2 enriched, and 11.8% were triple negative. Univariate analysis showed that EIC (P <0.001), LVI (P = 0.026), pN stage (N1 vs. N0: P = 0.018; N3 vs. N0: P <0.001), and luminal B (P = 0.001) and HER-2 (P <0.001) subtypes were associated with positive CMs. Multivariable analysis indicated that only EIC (P <0.001), pN stage (P = 0.003), and HER-2 subtype (P <0.001) were significantly correlated with positive CMs. On multivariable analysis, HER-2 subtype was an independent prognostic factor in LR (P = 0.031).ConclusionsThe HER-2 subtype was the predictive factor most associated with positive CMs and an independent prognostic factor for LR. This result suggests that the increased risk of LR in HER-2 breast cancer is due to an increased microscopic invasive tumor burden, which is indicated by margin status after lumpectomy.

Patterns and prognostic value of lymph node dissection for resected perihilar cholangiocarcinoma

Lymph node metastasis is a major prognostic factor for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC). However, prognostic significance of extent of node dissection, lymph node ratio (LNR), and number and location of positive nodes remain unclear. We aimed to evaluate whether node status, LNR, or number or location of positive nodes are independent factors for staging in PHC and to determine the minimum requirements for node examination.

Influence of factors on mammographic density in premenopausal Chinese women

Mammographic density is an independent strong risk factor for breast cancer. However, the influence of factors on mammographic density in premenopausal women remains unclear. In the Southern Professional Women Breast Cancer Screening Project, we assessed the associations between mammographic density and its influential factors using multivariate logistic regression in premenopausal women adjusting for BMI, age, duration of breastfeeding, number of live births, and breast size. A total of 1699 premenopausal women aged 27 to 57 years, who had been screened by mammography, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Overall, 85.2% were categorized as having dense breasts (BI-RADS density 3 and 4) and 14.8% as having fatty breasts (BI-RADS density 1 and 2). In multivariate and logistic regression analysis, only BMI and age were significantly negatively correlated with mammographic density in premenopausal women (P<0.001). No significant associations between mammographic density and number of deliveries, breastfeeding duration, education level, family history of breast cancer, as well as breast size and sleep quality, were identified in the study. Age and BMI are negatively associated with mammographic density in premenopausal Chinese women. Information on the influential factors of mammographic density in premenopausal women might provide meaningful insights into breast cancer prevention.

Comparison of the Therapeutic Efficacy of the Early and the Delayed Use of Vinorelbine-Based Regimens for Patients with Advanced Breast Cancer.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of vinorelbine-based regimens as first-, second- and more-line therapies in advanced breast cancer (ABC) and to analyze the best timing of vinorelbine treatment. Methods: A total of 71 ABC patients were retrospectively reviewed. Of these, 35 patients were treated with vinorelbine-based regimens as first-line chemotherapy, and 36 patients were treated with vinorelbine-based regimens as second-line or more-line therapy. The primary end point of the study was progression-free survival (PFS). Results: No difference was found in baseline characteristics between the two groups (p > 0.1 for all comparisons). There was a significant difference in the objective response rate (ORR; p = 0.006) and clinical benefit rate (CBR; p = 0.013) between the first-line group and the second- or more-line groups. In the vinorelbine first-line group, the ORR was 68.6% (24 patients), and in the second-line or more-line groups the ORR was 36.1% (13 patients). A significant difference in PFS between the first-line group and the second-line or more-line groups was also observed (p = 0.030). The median PFS in the overall population was 6.3 ± 1.32 months (95% CI 3.69-8.90). The median PFS was 11.1 ± 3.76 months (95% CI 3.73-18.47) in the first-line group compared with 5.2 ± 1.35 months (95% CI 2.54-7.85) in the second-line or more-line groups. In patients treated with vinorelbine-trastuzumab combination as the first-line therapy, a complete response was observed in 1 patient (12.5%) and partial response in 5 patients (62.5%), giving an ORR of 75.0%. Progressive disease was observed in 1 patient (12.5%), and stable disease in 1 patient (12.5%), leading to a CBR of 87.5%. The median PFS was 13.8 ± 2.75 months (95% CI 8.42-19.18), and median OS was 37.0 ± 11.6 months (95% CI 14.18-59.82). No significant difference was found in overall survival (OS) between the groups (p = 0.612). Conclusion: For ABC patients, no significant difference in median OS was found between the early use and delayed use of vinorelbine-based regimens, but the short-term efficacy and PFS of vinorelbine-based regimens were significantly better in the early use group than in the delayed use group.

Risk of second breast cancers after lobular carcinoma in situ according to hormone receptor status

Background Although subsequent breast cancer risk after primary lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) has been studied intensively, whether the risk of second breast cancer after first LCIS varies with hormone receptor (HR) status of primary tumor remains unclear. Methods We identified 10,304 women with primary pure unilateral LCIS between 1998 and 2007 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) 18 Registries. Kaplan–Meier estimates of 5 or 10-year probabilities of second ipsilateral breast cancers (IBCs) and contralateral breast cancers (CBCs) were calculated. Multivariable Cox proportional model was performed to identify impact of HR status of primary LCIS, and other demographic, clinicopathologic or treatment characteristics on risk of second IBCs or CBCs. Results Of the 10,304 women with primary LCIS included in this study, 9949 (96.5%) patients had HR+ tumors, and 355 (3.5%) had HR- tumors. Multivariable-adjusted analyses showed that although there was no difference in risk of total second IBCs between women with HR+ and HR- LCIS (P = 0.152), patients with HR+ LCIS had a statistically lower risk of second invasive IBCs compared to those with HR- LCIS (hazard ratio 0.356, 95% CI 0.141–0.899, P = 0.029). Women with primary HR+ LCIS had lower risks of both second total and invasive CBCs compared to those with HR- LCIS (total CBCs: hazard ratio 0.340, 95% CI 0.228–0.509, P<0.001; invasive CBCs: hazard ratio 0.172, 95% CI 0.108–0.274, P<0.001). Additionally, black women had a 2-fold risk of developing subsequent total IBCs than white women (P = 0.028). Conclusions This population-based study demonstrated that the risk of second breast cancers was significantly increased in women with HR- first LCIS compared to those with HR+ LCIS. These findings warrant intensive surveillance for second breast cancers in HR- LCIS survivors.