Jinghong Guan

Clinicopathological characteristics and long-term prognosis of screening detected non-palpable breast cancer by ultrasound in hospital-based Chinese population (2001-2014)

Purpose The mainstay modality of breast cancer screening in China is the hospital-based opportunistic screening among asymptomatic self-referred women. There is little data about the ultrasound (US) detected non-palpable breast cancer (NPBC) in Chinese population. Methods We analyzed 699 consecutive NPBC from 1.8-2.3 million asymptomatic women from 2001 to 2014, including 572 US-detected NPBC from 3,786 US-positive women and 127 mammography (MG) detected NPBC from 788 MG-positive women. The clinicopathological features, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared between the US- and MG-detected NPBC. Prognostic factors of NPBC were identified. Results Compared to MG, US could detect more invasive NPBC (83.6% vs 54.3%, p<0.001), lymph node positive NPBC (19.1% vs 10.2%, p=0.018), lower grade (24.8% vs 16.5%, p<0.001), multifocal (19.2% vs 6.3%, p<0.001), PR positive (71.4% vs 66.9%, p=0.041), Her2 negative (74.3% vs 54.3%, p<0.001), Ki67 high (defined as >14%, 46.3% vs 37.0%, p=0.031) cancers and more NPBC who received chemotherapy (40.7% vs 21.3%, p<0.001). There was no significant difference in 10-year DFS and OS between US-detected vs MG-detected NPBC, DCIS and invasive NPBC. For all NPBC and the US-detected NPBC, the common DFS-predictors included pT, pN, p53 and bilateral cancers. Conclusion US could detect more invasive, node-positive, multifocal NPBC in hospital-based asymptomatic Chinese female, who could achieve comparable 10-year DFS and OS as MG-detected NPBC. US would not delay early detection of NPBC with improved cost-effectiveness, thus could serve as the feasible initial imaging modality in hospital-based opportunistic screening among Chinese women.

Prognosis of subtypes of the mucinous breast carcinoma in Chinese women: a population-based study of 32-year experience (1983-2014)

Purpose The heterogeneous nature of the mucinous breast cancer (MBC), with its pure (PMBC) and mixed subtypes (MMBC), calls for precise prognosis assessment. Methods We analyzed 197 consecutive MBC patients, including 117 PMBC and 80 MMBC, who were treated from 1983 to 2014. The clinicopathological features, treatment choice, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared among PMBC, MMBC and MMBC subgroups. Prognostic factors of PMBC and MMBC were identified. Results Compared to PMBC, MMBC had more lymph node metastasis (p = 0.043), Her2 positivity (p = 0.036), high Ki-67 index (defined as>20%, p = 0.026) and anti-Her2 targeted therapy (p = 0.016). The 5-year DFS of PMBC and MMBC were 90.4% and 86.2%, whereas the 5-year OS were 99.0% and 98.7%. No significant difference was found in DFS or OS among all MBC subtypes. High Ki-67 (p = 0.020) appeared as DFS factor in PMBC, while anti-Her2 targeted therapy (p = 0.047) as the DFS predictors in MMBC. Conclusion MMBC manifested similar 5-year survival to PMBC in Chinese woman, suggesting that intra-tumoral heterogeneity might not interfere with MBC short-term prognosis.

TTK is a favorable prognostic biomarker for triple-negative breast cancer survival

Purpose Previous studies demonstrate that threonine and tyrosine kinase (TTK) is overexpressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), but there are conflicting results regarding its effect on TNBC survival. The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic significance of TTK expression in primary TNBC. Results Of 169 consecutive cases eligible for this study, 164 included follow-up information. Cytoplasm and membrane TTK staining was observed in 99.4% of cases, while 5.9% displayed whole cell immunostaining. At a discriminating threshold of 55, elevated TTK expression was associated with prolonged disease free survival (DFS) (p < 0.001) and overall survival (OS) (p = 0.024) in primary TNBC and prolonged DFS in individual basal-like (p = 0.001) and non-basal-like (p = 0.001) TNBC subtypes. In addition, Cox regression analysis demonstrated that elevated TTK expression was an independent prognostic factor for DFS in TNBC (p < 0.001). Methods TTK expression of 169 samples was tested by immunohistochemistry (IHC). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to identify a cutpoint for TTK expression, which was analyzed for its association with patients clinicopathological factors and survival using Chi-square, log-rank, and Cox regression analyses. Conclusions TTK is a favorable prognostic biomarker associated with TNBC survival.

HER2 amplification level is not a prognostic factor for HER2-positive breast cancer with trastuzumab-based adjuvant treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Trastuzumab-based therapy is a standard, targeted treatment for HER2-positive breast cancer in the adjuvant setting. However, patients do not benefit equally from it and the association between HER2 amplification level and patients survival remains controversial. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted by incorporating all available evidence to evaluate the association between disease free survival (DFS) and HER2 amplification level. Results Three cohort studies involving 1360 HER2-positive breast cancer patients stratified by HER2 amplification magnitude were eligible for meta-analysis. The combined HRs for DFS were 1.05 (95% CI: 0.80−1.36, p = 0.74) and 0.97 (95% CI: 0.73−1.29, p = 0.83) for HER2 gene copy number (GCN) and HER2/CEP 17 ratio. No evidence of heterogeneity or public bias was found. Methods Databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), were searched for eligible literature. HER2 amplification level was evaluated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in terms of gene copy number (GCN) and HER2/CEP17 ratio. Hazard ratios (HRs) for DFS with 95% confidence interval (CI) according to the amplification level of HER2 were extracted. The outcomes were synthesized based on a fixed-effects model. Conclusions HER2 amplification level is not a prognostic factor for HER2-positive breast cancer with trastuzumab-based targeted therapy in the clinical adjuvant setting.

Clinical characteristics, classification and surgical treatment of periductal mastitis

BackgroundnThis study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of periductal mastitis (PDM), propose the practical clinical classification system and evaluate the results of different surgical treatments in different type of PDM patients.nnnMethodsnA retrospective study was carried out at department of breast surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China. A total of 152 patients with the diagnosis of PDM were reviewed from March 2012 to December 2016. All of the patients underwent surgery. Data were collected regarding clinical manifestation, treatment, and outcomes.nnnResultsnThe median age was 36 years. A subareolar breast mass was the most frequent symptom. The most common clinical manifestations were mass (98.0%), rubefaction (41.1%), nipple retraction (36.8%), abscess (36.8%), skin ulceration (25.7%), and mammary duct fistula (19.1%). Fourteen (9.2%) patients were recurrent PDM at first hospitalization. Eight (5.3%) patients had prolactinoma. Five (3.3%) patients were taking antipsychotic medications. Only four (2.6%) patients were smokers. Eight patients were highly suspected to be breast cancer before surgery. A four-type classification system was first proposed according to clinical manifestations. The different surgeries in each category were evaluated. After 3 years median follow-up, 11 (7.2%) patients got recurrence including two initial recurrent PDM.nnnConclusionsnPeriductal mastitis is a distinct benign breast condition of unknown etiology. Mass, abscess and fistula are most common manifestations of the disease. Wide surgical excision, fistulectomy and extended excision with transfer of a random breast dermo-glandular flap (BDGF) are effective surgical modalities for different type of PDM.

Comparison of sentinel lymph node biopsy guided by blue dye with or without indocyanine green in early breast cancer

There were limited data available for a head‐to‐head comparison of the identification rate and survival between the combined method of indocyanine green fluorescence and blue dye versus the traditional blue dye alone method for sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy.

Association of striking life events with primary breast cancer in 265 Chinese women: a case-control study

The current case-control study investigated the relationship between striking life events and breast cancer in Chinese women. A total of 265 primary breast cancer patients and 265 controls were enrolled with matching for age and completed questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis was used. Thirty-nine breast cancer patients reported striking life events and twenty-four of the controls reported striking life events. The number of striking life events was significantly greater in patients (p = 0.04). It indicated a striking life event led to a 1.726-fold increased HR (95% CI 1.005-2.965, p < 0.05) for breast cancer with adjustment for age, and a 1.811-fold increased HR (95% CI 1.021 - 3.212, P < 0.05) with adjustment for age, BMI, and late age at menopause. High BMI (OR: 1.680, 95% CI: 1.258-2.196, p < 0.05) and a family history of breast cancer (OR: 2.244, 95% CI: 1.065-4.729, p < 0.05, respectively) increased the risk of breast cancer, and late age at menopause decreased the risk for breast cancer (OR: 0.513, 95% CI: 0.303-0.868, p < 0.05). Our findings indicate a significant association between striking life events and breast cancer in Chinese women, especially in the subpopulation with high BMI or family history of breast cancer.The current case-control study investigated the relationship between striking life events and breast cancer in Chinese women. A total of 265 primary breast cancer patients and 265 controls were enrolled with matching for age and completed questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis was used. Thirty-nine breast cancer patients reported striking life events and twenty-four of the controls reported striking life events. The number of striking life events was significantly greater in patients (p = 0.04). It indicated a striking life event led to a 1.726-fold increased HR (95% CI 1.005-2.965, p < 0.05) for breast cancer with adjustment for age, and a 1.811-fold increased HR (95% CI 1.021 - 3.212, P < 0.05) with adjustment for age, BMI, and late age at menopause. High BMI (OR: 1.680, 95% CI: 1.258-2.196, p < 0.05) and a family history of breast cancer (OR: 2.244, 95% CI: 1.065-4.729, p < 0.05, respectively) increased the risk of breast cancer, and late age at menopause decreased the risk for breast cancer (OR: 0.513, 95% CI: 0.303-0.868, p < 0.05). Our findings indicate a significant association between striking life events and breast cancer in Chinese women, especially in the subpopulation with high BMI or family history of breast cancer.

Concurrent administration of trastuzumab and anthracyclines as adjuvant regimen for HER2-positive breast cancer: a randomised controlled trial

Background The regimen of concurrent administration of trastuzumab and anthracyclines in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer has never been evaluated prospectively for fear of cardiac toxicity. Methods Patients with HER2-positive operable breast cancer were randomised to receive adjuvant treatment with concurrent or sequential administration of trastuzumab and anthracyclines. Cardiac monitoring was scheduled at baseline and every 3 months after the first dose of trastuzumab. The primary study endpoint was cardiac safety. Secondary endpoints were disease-free and overall survival. Results From 2011 to 2014, 201 participants were enrolled and randomised. The median follow-up time was 42 months. Nineteen patients (19.4%) in the concurrent group and 22 patients (22.4%) in the sequential group met the criteria for cardiac events with non-significant difference (P=0.598). There was no difference in the mean LVEF between the two groups at the baseline and at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 months after the first dose of trastuzumab. No case of congestive heart failure or cardiac death occurred. The differences between the efficacies of the two regimens, defined by disease-free or overall survival, were not significant. Conclusions Concurrent administration of trastuzumab and anthracyclines is a safe adjuvant regimen and it provides evidence for further clinical trials.

A rare mixed breast cancer of intraductal and solid papillary with tubular carcinoma histotypes in a young woman

Mixed breast cancer, especially of uncommon breast cancer histotypes, is rare, limiting our understanding of the disease and influencing diagnostic and management outcomes. We report a case of mixed breast cancer, with features of intraductal and solid papillary and tubular carcinomas, which appeared in a young patient. Physical examination, ultrasonography, molybdenum target mammography, and histopathology were performed for a definitive diagnosis. Tumor resection followed by radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy was selected as the therapeutic strategy, and the patient was followed up thrice post treatment. We discuss the detailed diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up, together with a literature review of mixed breast cancer, to help optimize clinical management of mixed breast cancer.