Michelle Stempel

Clinical Management Factors Contribute to the Decision for Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

PURPOSE To determine whether increasing rates of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) are due to recognition of risk factors for contralateral breast cancer (CBC) or treatment factors related to the index lesion. METHODS From 1997 to 2005, 2,965 patients with stage 0 to III primary unilateral breast cancer underwent mastectomy at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Patients who did and did not undergo CPM within 1 year of treatment for their index cancer were compared to identify independent predictors of CPM. RESULTS The rate of CPM was 13.8% (n = 407), increasing from 6.7% in 1997 to 24.2% in 2005 (P < .0001). Patients with BRCA mutations or prior mantle radiation (n = 52) accounted for 13% of those having CPM. The rate of CPM by surgeon varied from 1% to 26%. Multivariate logistic regression adjusting for surgeon-identified white race (odds ratio [OR] = 3.3), immediate reconstruction (OR = 3.3), family history of breast cancer (OR = 2.9), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at diagnosis (OR = 2.8), age younger than 50 years (OR = 2.2), noninvasive histology (OR = 1.8), and prior attempt at breast conversation (OR = 1.7) to be independent predictors of CPM. CONCLUSION These data suggest that increasing use of CPM is not associated with increased recognition of patients at high risk for CBC. Treatment factors, such as immediate reconstruction, preoperative MRI, and unsuccessful attempts at breast conservation, are associated with increased rates of CPM. Efforts to optimize breast conservation, minimize unnecessary tests, and improve patient education about the low risk of CBC may help to curb this trend.

Eighteen Sensations After Breast Cancer Surgery: A 5-Year Comparison of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy and Axillary Lymph Node Dissection

BackgroundThe aim of this study is to evaluate prevalence, severity, and level of distress of 18 sensations at baseline (3–15 days) and 5 years after breast cancer surgery, and compare sensations after sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) with those after SLNB plus immediate or delayed axillary lymph node dissection (ALND).MethodsA total of 187 patients with breast cancer completed the Breast Sensation Assessment Scale at baseline and at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 60 months after surgery to assess prevalence, severity, and level of distress of sensations. Of these, 133 had SLNB, and 54 had SLNB and ALND. Additionally, of the 187 patients, 141 had breast-conservation therapy and 46 had total mastectomy.ResultsSensations were less prevalent, severe, and distressing after SLNB compared with ALND at baseline and at 5 years. This difference was most evident in those who had breast-conservation therapy. Most sensations after SLNB and ALND, even if prevalent, were not severe or distressing. Some sensations remained notably prevalent at 5 years, including tenderness and twinges after SLNB, and tightness and numbness after ALND. Phantom sensations were frequently reported by mastectomy patients.ConclusionsPrevalence, severity, and level of distress of sensations were lower after SLNB compared with ALND, but some morbidity existed after SLNB. Certain sensations remained highly prevalent in both groups for up to 5 years.

Reoperative Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy after Previous Mastectomy

BACKGROUND Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is the standard of care for axillary staging in breast cancer, but many clinical scenarios questioning the validity of SLN biopsy remain. Here we describe our experience with reoperative-SLN (re-SLN) biopsy after previous mastectomy. STUDY DESIGN Review of the SLN database from September 1996 to December 2007 yielded 20 procedures done in the setting of previous mastectomy. SLN biopsy was performed using radioisotope with or without blue dye injection superior to the mastectomy incision, in the skin flap in all patients. In 17 of 20 patients (85%), re-SLN biopsy was performed for local or regional recurrence after mastectomy. RESULTS Re-SLN biopsy was successful in 13 of 20 patients (65%) after previous mastectomy. Of the 13 patients, 2 had positive re-SLN, and completion axillary dissection was performed, with 1 having additional positive nodes. In the 11 patients with negative re-SLN, 2 patients underwent completion axillary dissection demonstrating additional negative nodes. One patient with a negative re-SLN experienced chest wall recurrence combined with axillary recurrence 11 months after re-SLN biopsy. All others remained free of local or axillary recurrence. Re-SLN biopsy was unsuccessful in 7 of 20 patients (35%). In three of seven patients, axillary dissection was performed, yielding positive nodes in two of the three. The remaining four of seven patients all had previous modified radical mastectomy, so underwent no additional axillary surgery. CONCLUSIONS In this small series, re-SLN was successful after previous mastectomy, and this procedure may play some role when axillary staging is warranted after mastectomy.

Can magnetic resonance imaging be used to select patients for sentinel lymph node biopsy in prophylactic mastectomy

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in the setting of prophylactic mastectomy (PM) remains controversial. In the current study, recent experience with PM was described and the value of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was analyzed in selecting patients for PM with or without SLNB.

Nipple-sparing mastectomy in patients with BRCA1/2 mutations and variants of uncertain significance

Nipple‐sparing mastectomy (NSM) is associated with improved cosmesis and is being performed increasingly. Its role in BRCA mutation carriers has not been well described. This was a study of the indications for, and outcomes of, NSM in BRCA mutation carriers.

Occult malignancy in patients undergoing contralateral prophylactic mastectomy.

Objective:To identify factors that predict for occult malignancy or high-risk lesions (HRL) in the contralateral breast among women undergoing contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM). Background:A growing number of women are choosing to undergo CPM, yet the benefit of this procedure for the average woman with breast cancer remains uncertain. The identification of reliable predictors of occult malignancy or HRL in the contralateral breast may aid in selecting patients most likely to benefit from CPM. Methods:Patients undergoing mastectomy with CPM for their first diagnosis of unilateral stage 0 to III breast cancer were retrospectively identified (1997–2005). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors predictive of HRL and/or occult contralateral breast cancer (CBC). Results:Among 2965 patients, 407 (13%) underwent CPM. Occult CBC was identified in 24 (6%) patients, and 114 (28%) had an HRL. On univariate analysis, multifocality/multicentricity of the index cancer was the only factor associated with occult malignancy in the CPM (OR 2.88, P = 0.04). On multivariate analysis, patient age and progesterone receptor positivity of the index cancer were associated with finding either malignancy or a HRL in the CPM. Conclusions:The diagnosis of multifocality/multicentricity invasive index cancer was associated with occult malignancy in the CPM; however, lack of standardized definitions and differences in pathologic evaluation limit the application of this finding in the preoperative setting. Until reliable predictors for occult disease are identified, the low rates of occult CBC do not support the use of CPM in average-risk women with newly diagnosed breast cancer.

The effect of metformin on breast cancer outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes

Observational data suggest that metformin use decreases breast cancer (BC) incidence in women with diabetes; the impact of metformin on BC outcomes in this population is less clear. The purpose of this analysis was to explore whether metformin use influences BC outcomes in women with type 2 diabetes. Prospective institutional databases were reviewed to identify patients with diabetes who received chemotherapy for stages I–III BC from 2000 to 2005. Patients diagnosed with diabetes before or within 6 months of BC diagnosis were included. Males and those with type I, gestational, or steroid‐induced diabetes were excluded. Patients were stratified based on metformin use, at baseline, defined as use at time of BC diagnosis or at diabetes diagnosis if within 6 months of BC diagnosis. Kaplan–Meier methods were used to estimate rates of recurrence‐free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and contralateral breast cancer (CBC). We identified 313 patients with diabetes who received chemotherapy for BC, 141 (45%) fulfilled inclusion criteria and 76 (54%) used metformin at baseline. There were no differences in clinical presentation or tumor characteristics between metformin users and nonusers. At a median follow‐up of 87 months (range, 6.9–140.4 months), there was no difference in RFS (P = 0.61), OS (P = 0.462), or CBC (P = 0.156) based on metformin use. Five‐year RFS was 90.4% (95% CI, 84–97) in metformin users and 85.4% (95% CI, 78–94) in nonusers. In this cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes receiving systemic chemotherapy for invasive BC, the use of metformin was not associated with improved outcomes.

Surgical management of the axilla: do intramammary nodes matter?

BACKGROUND The therapeutic significance of intramammary lymph nodes is uncertain. The purpose of this study was to identify the appropriate surgical management of the axilla in intramammary node-positive patients undergoing sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy. METHODS A retrospective review of consecutive patients staged between September 1996 and December 2004 was performed. Intramammary node identification and pathologic findings were compared with the status of axilla. RESULTS Among 7,140 patients, intramammary nodes were identified in 151 (2%). Positive intramammary nodes were identified in 36 patients (24%). Axillary disease was identified in 61% of intramammary node-positive patients. No additional axillary disease was identified when axillary lymph node dissection was performed in intramammary node-positive patients with negative axillary SLN biopsy results. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that completion axillary lymph node dissection may be based on the status of axillary SLN biopsies in clinically node negative patients when intramammary lymph node metastases are identified in the breast specimens.

Number of lymph nodes removed in sentinel lymph node-negative breast cancer patients is significantly related to patient age and tumor size: a new source of bias in morbidity assessment?

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has been well‐established for axillary lymph node staging for patients with breast cancer. For lymph node‐negative patients, planned “backup” axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is rarely indicated. Among patients with negative SLNs, the authors observed variation by tumor size and patient age in the total number of lymph nodes removed (SLNs plus non‐SLNs). They hypothesized that this variation is an unrecognized source of bias for studies examining the morbidity of SLN biopsy.

Patients with a history of epithelial ovarian cancer presenting with a breast and/or axillary mass.

OBJECTIVE A breast and/or axillary mass in a patient with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) may be due to an EOC breast metastasis or a second primary breast cancer. We sought to review our experience with patients with a history of EOC presenting with a breast and/or axillary mass to determine if clinical features differed between these entities. METHODS Between 1/90 and 10/07, 29 women with epithelial EOC presented with a breast or axillary mass, including 10 patients with EOC metastatic to the breast and/or axilla and 19 patients with a second primary breast cancer following their original EOC diagnosis. Clinicopathologic factors/survival were retrospectively abstracted from medical records. RESULTS The mean EOC disease-free survival (DFS) was 14.9 mo versus 77.4 mo (P<0.001) for patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer metastatic to the breast and/or axilla and patients with a second primary breast cancer, respectively. Similarly, the mean interval between diagnosis of EOC and the breast and/or axillary event was 31.2 mo versus 70.7 mo for those patients who had metastatic recurrent EOC and those patients with breast cancer (P=0.02). Patients with a second primary breast cancer were more likely to be diagnosed on mammogram and have a family history of breast and ovarian carcinoma than patients with metastatic EOC to the breast and/or axilla (14/19 [73.7%] versus 2/9 [22.8%], P=0.02; and 12/18 [66.7%] versus 2/10 [20%], P=0.05, respectively). Median overall survival for patients with EOC metastasis was 26 mo but was not yet reached for those patients with a second primary breast cancer. On univariate analysis, an ovarian cancer DFS of 12 mo or more and the performance of breast/axillary surgery were associated with a significantly longer overall survival (P=0.01 and 0.02, respectively), whereas an elevated CA125 level at the time of the breast/axilla event and the presence of EOC metastases to the breast and axilla were significant negative predictors of survival (P=0.01 and 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION The interval between EOC diagnosis and the breast and/or axilla event, an elevated CA125 level, and a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer may help differentiate patients with metastatic EOC to the breast and/or axilla from those patients with a second primary breast cancer. The presence of a metastatic EOC portends a poor prognosis.