Rosalind P. Candelaria

Improved Axillary Evaluation Following Neoadjuvant Therapy for Patients With Node-Positive Breast Cancer Using Selective Evaluation of Clipped Nodes: Implementation of Targeted Axillary Dissection

PURPOSE Placing clips in nodes with biopsy-confirmed metastasis before initiating neoadjuvant therapy allows for evaluation of response in breast cancer. Our goal was to determine if pathologic changes in clipped nodes reflect the status of the nodal basin and if targeted axillary dissection (TAD), which includes sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) and selective localization and removal of clipped nodes, improves the false-negative rate (FNR) compared with SLND alone. METHODS A prospective study of patients with biopsy-confirmed nodal metastases with a clip placed in the sampled node was performed. After neoadjuvant therapy, patients underwent axillary surgery and the pathology of the clipped node was compared with other nodes. Patients undergoing TAD had SLND and selective removal of the clipped node using iodine-125 seed localization. The FNR was determined in patients undergoing complete axillary lymphadenectomy (ALND). RESULTS Of 208 patients enrolled in this study, 191 underwent ALND, with residual disease identified in 120 (63%). The clipped node revealed metastases in 115 patients, resulting in an FNR of 4.2% (95% CI, 1.4 to 9.5) for the clipped node. In patients undergoing SLND and ALND (n = 118), the FNR was 10.1% (95% CI, 4.2 to 19.8), which included seven false-negative events in 69 patients with residual disease. Adding evaluation of the clipped node reduced the FNR to 1.4% (95% CI, 0.03 to 7.3; P = .03). The clipped node was not retrieved as an SLN in 23% (31 of 134) of patients, including six with negative SLNs but metastasis in the clipped node. TAD followed by ALND was performed in 85 patients, with an FNR of 2.0% (1 of 50; 95% CI, 0.05 to 10.7). CONCLUSION Marking nodes with biopsy-confirmed metastatic disease allows for selective removal and improves pathologic evaluation for residual nodal disease after chemotherapy.

Second-look us examination of MR-detected breast lesions

To review our institutional experience in using second‐look ultrasound (SLUS) to identify breast lesions initially detected on MR imaging that were indeterminate or suspicious for malignancy.

Breast Ultrasound: Current Concepts

Breast ultrasound plays a major role in the identification, diagnosis, and staging of breast cancer. Gray-scale (brightness mode) is the most common form of ultrasound used in breast imaging (BI); newer techniques such as harmonic imaging, Doppler imaging, three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound, and elasticity imaging have also been employed. Breast lesions that are initially identified on mammography and magnetic resonance imaging can be further characterized with ultrasound. Breast ultrasound can differentiate solid from cystic masses, suspicious from benign lesions, and abnormal from normal lymph nodes. Ultrasound can guide needle biopsy of suspicious breast lesions and lymph nodes. Breast ultrasound can also be valuable when staging breast cancer and can help to determine if there is multifocal or multicentric disease, and also if there is associated regional lymphadenopathy.

Stereotactic breast biopsy: Pitfalls and pearls

Stereotactic breast biopsies have become indispensable and the standard of care for patients in whom screening mammography or tomosynthesis reveals breast lesions suggestive of malignancy. A variety of stereotactic biopsy systems and needle types are now available, which allow more accurate sampling of lesions as well as successful biopsy of lesions in difficult locations in patients of all body habitus. We discuss how to plan, perform, and follow up stereotactic biopsies. Most importantly, we offer suggestions on how to avoid problems and complications and detail how to achieve technical success even in the most challenging cases. Stereotactic biopsy has proven over time to be an accurate and acceptable alternative to surgical biopsy for histopathologic diagnosis of breast abnormalities. Successful performance of this minimally invasive procedure spares women from undergoing potentially deforming and expensive procedures to diagnose breast disease.

A Clinical Feasibility Trial for Identification of Exceptional Responders in Whom Breast Cancer Surgery Can Be Eliminated Following Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy

Objective: To determine the accuracy of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and vacuum-assisted core biopsy (VACB) in assessing the presence of residual cancer in the breast after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST). Summary Background Data: Pathologic complete response (pCR) rates after NST have improved dramatically, suggesting that surgery might be avoided in some patients. Safe avoidance of surgery would require accurate confirmation of no residual invasive/in situ carcinoma. Methods: Forty patients with T1-3N0-3 triple-negative or HER2-positive cancer receiving NST were enrolled in this single-center prospective trial. Patients underwent ultrasound-guided or mammography-guided FNA and VACB of the initial breast tumor region before surgery. Findings were compared with findings on pathologic evaluation of surgical specimens to determine the performance of biopsy in predicting residual breast disease after NST. Results: Median initial clinical tumor size was 3.3 cm (range, 1.2–7.0 cm); 16 patients (40%) had biopsy-proven nodal metastases. After NST, median clinical tumor size was 1.1 cm (range, 0–4.2 cm). Nineteen patients (47.5%) had a breast pCR and were concordant with pathologic nodal status in 97.5%. Combined FNA/VACB demonstrated an accuracy of 98% (95% CI, 87%–100%), false-negative rate of 5% (95% CI, 0%–24%), and negative predictive value of 95% (95% CI, 75%–100%) in predicting residual breast cancer. VACB alone was more accurate than FNA alone (P = 0.011). Conclusions: After NST, image-guided FNA/VACB can accurately identify patients with a breast pCR. Based on these results, a prospective clinical trial has commenced in which breast surgery is omitted in patients with a breast pCR after NST according to image-guided biopsy.

Radiologic Mapping for Targeted Axillary Dissection: Needle Biopsy to Excision.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article is to describe the feasibility and safety of a multidisciplinary approach to imaging-guided axillary staging that facilitates personalized, less invasive surgical management of the axilla through targeted axillary dissection in patients with biopsy-proven nodal metastasis undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION Axillary nodal status, critical in breast cancer staging, affects prognosis and treatment. As the paradigm shifts toward minimally invasive therapy, a clip marker is placed in the biopsied metastatic node for patients with N1-N2 disease undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy to facilitate targeted axillary dissection of the clipped node. This node is typically localized with a radioactive seed at sentinel lymph node dissection to determine whether further axillary surgery is warranted.

Incremental cancer detection using breast ultrasonography versus breast magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients

OBJECTIVE To compare the incremental cancer detection rate (ICDR) using bilateral whole-breast ultrasonography (BWBUS) vs dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in patients with primary breast cancer. METHODS A retrospective database search in a single institution identified 259 patients with breast cancer diagnosed from January 2011 to August 2014 who underwent mammography, BWBUS and MRI before surgery. Patient characteristics, tumour characteristics and lesions seen on each imaging modality were recorded. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for each modality were calculated. ICDRs according to index tumour histology and receptor status were also evaluated. The effect of additional cancer detection on surgical planning was obtained from the medical records. RESULTS A total of 266 additional lesions beyond 273 index malignancies were seen on at least 1 modality, of which 121 (45%) lesions were malignant and 145 (55%) lesions were benign. MRI was significantly more sensitive than BWBUS (p = 0.01), while BWBUS was significantly more accurate and specific than MRI (p < 0.0001). Compared with mammography, the ICDRs using BWBUS and MRI were significantly higher for oestrogen receptor-positive and triple-negative cancers, but not for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive cancers. 22 additional malignant lesions in 18 patients were seen on MRI only. Surgical planning remained unchanged in 8 (44%) of those 18 patients. CONCLUSION MRI was more sensitive than BWBUS, while BWBUS was more accurate and specific than MRI. MRI-detected additional malignant lesions did not change surgical planning in almost half of these patients. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE BWBUS may be a cost-effective and practical tool in breast cancer staging.

Performance of Mid‐Treatment Breast Ultrasound and Axillary Ultrasound in Predicting Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy by Breast Cancer Subtype

BACKGROUND The primary objective was to determine whether mid-treatment ultrasound measurements of index breast tumors and index axillary nodes of different cancer subtypes associate with residual cancer burden (RCB). METHODS Patients with invasive breast cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and had pre-treatment and mid-treatment breast and axillary ultrasound were included in this single-institution, retrospective cohort study. Linear regression analysis assessed associations between RCB with (a) change in index breast tumor size, (b) change in index node size, and (c) absolute number of abnormal nodes at mid-treatment. Multivariate linear regression was used to calculate best-fit models for RCB. RESULTS One hundred fifty-nine patients (68 triple negative breast cancer [TNBC], 45 hormone receptor [HR]+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 [HER2]-, and 46 HR-/HER2+) were included. Median age at diagnosis was 50 years, range 30-76. Median tumor size was 3.4 cm, range 0.9-10.4. Pathological complete response/RCB-I rates were 36.8% (25/68) for TNBC patients, 24.4% (11/45) for HR+/HER2- patients, and 71.7% (33/46) for HR-/HER2+ patients. Linear regression analyses demonstrated associations between percent change in tumor ultrasound measurements at mid-treatment with RCB index score in TNBC and HR+/HER2- (p < .05) but not in HR-/HER2+ (p > .05) tumors and an association between axillary ultrasound assessment of number of abnormal nodes at mid-treatment with RCB index score across all subtypes (p < .05). CONCLUSION Performance characteristics of breast ultrasound associated with RCB vary by cancer subtype, whereas the performance characteristics of axillary ultrasound associated with RCB are consistent across cancer subtype. Breast and axillary ultrasound may be valuable in monitoring response to neoadjuvant therapy. The Oncologist 2017;22:394-401 IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The differential performance characteristics of breast ultrasound by molecular subtype and the consistent performance characteristics of axillary ultrasound across molecular subtypes can have clinical utility in monitoring response to neoadjuvant therapy.

American college of radiologycompliant short protocol breast MRI for high-risk breast cancer screening: A prospective feasibility study

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of a short protocol for screening breast MRI that is noninferior to standard-of-care (SOC) MRI in image quality that complies with American College of Radiology accreditation requirements. SUBJECTS AND METHODS In a prospective feasibility trial, 23 women at high risk underwent both an initial SOC MRI examination that included axial iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation (IDEAL) and T1-weighted volume imaging for breast assessment (VIBRANT) dynamic contrast-enhanced sequences and a separate short breast MRI protocol comprising a fast spin-echo (FSE) triple-echo Dixon T2 sequence for T2-weighted imaging and a 3D dual-echo fast spoiled gradient-echo two-point Dixon sequence for dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging from October 1, 2015, through May 2, 2016. Image quality assessment was performed by three radiologists, who scored the images for fat saturation, artifact severity, and quality of normal anatomic structures. Enhancing lesions were evaluated according to BI-RADS MRI features. Quantitative analysis was performed by measuring the signal intensity of anatomic areas in each patient. RESULTS The mean acquisition time for short-protocol breast MRI was 9.42 minutes and for SOC MRI was 22.09 minutes (p < 0.0001). The mean table times were 13.92 and 35.87 minutes (p < 0.0001). Compared with the FSE triple-echo Dixon T2 short-protocol breast MRI sequence, the IDEAL SOC MRI sequence had significantly worse motion artifact (p < 0.01) and fat saturation (p = 0.04). The other parameters did not differ significantly. Quantitative analysis showed that the FSE triple-echo Dixon T2 sequence had more effective fat saturation and higher tissue contrast. All five lesions were given the same assessments by the readers, and at BI-RADS lesion morphologic ranking, identical high image quality scores were assigned to both the VIBRANT and 3D dual-echo fast spoiled gradient-echo 2-point Dixon sequences. CONCLUSION Short-protocol breast MRI comprising a T2-weighted sequence and a fast dynamic sequence with less than 10-minute acquisition time is feasible and has image quality at least equivalent to that of an SOC MRI protocol with a > 20-minute mean acquisition time. Larger studies comparing the cancer detection rate, sensitivity, and specificity of each imaging protocol are needed to determine whether short-protocol breast MRI can replace SOC MRI to screen patients at high breast cancer risk.

Abstract P5-16-30: Feasibility trial for identification of patients for eliminating breast cancer surgery following neoadjuvant systemic therapy

Background: Contemporary improved neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) for breast cancer may result in a pathologic complete response (pCR) in up to 60% of patients (pts) yet imaging alone has a poor negative predictive value to determine which pts might be spared surgery . This study was designed to evaluate the hypothesis that percutaneous image guided biopsy after NST can accurately identify patients who may forgo surgery. Methods: Prospective single-center IRB approved study of 34 pts with clinical T1-3 N0-3 triple-negative (TN, n=23) or HER2-positive (n=11) invasive ductal cancer who received standard NST and consented for ultrasound/mammography guided vacuum-assisted core biopsy (VACB) and fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy prior to standard surgery. Main outcome measures included accuracy, false-negative rate (FNR), and negative predictive value of image guided biopsy in predicting residual disease after NST. Breast pCR was defined as no residual DCIS or invasive disease. Final biopsy showing atypia and/or suspicion of residual disease was recorded as positive. Results : Median initial maximum tumor size based on imaging and physical exam was 3 cm (1.2-7 cm) and 47.1% had FNA/core biopsy proved nodal metastases. Final median maximum residual tumor size after NST was 0.9 cm (0-4.2 cm) with 94.1% having no palpable abnormality. Median number of VACB (9G) removed following NST was 10 (4-14) and was performed by stereotactic (67.6%) or ultrasound (32.4%) guidance. Overall, a breast pCR occurred in 18 (52.9%) of pts and breast pathologic response was concordant with nodal pathologic response in 33 (97%) of pts (1 pt with a breast pCR had 1/15 nodes with metastases). Overall, VACB combined with FNA following NST had a 100% (95% CI 89.7-100) accuracy, 0% FNR (95% CI 0-20.6), and 100% (95% CI 81.5-100) negative predictive value for determination of residual breast disease. Grade 1 adverse events which resolved from biopsy (bleeding, hematoma, bruising) occurred in 6 pts (17.6%). Conclusions : High rates of pCR among pts with TN/HER2-positive breast cancer receiving NST occur in a significant proportion of pts. The use of image guided VACB/FNA can identify pts after NST where significant residual disease is unlikely. Based on these results, an IRB approved clinical trial will shortly commence for pts with T1-2 TN/HER2-positive breast cancer with documented image guided biopsy proved pCR after NST to be followed by standard definitive whole-breast radiotherapy without surgery. Background: Contemporary improved neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) for breast cancer may result in a pathologic complete response (pCR) in up to 60% of patients (pts) yet imaging alone has a poor negative predictive value to determine which pts might be spared surgery . This study was designed to evaluate the hypothesis that percutaneous image guided biopsy after NST can accurately identify patients who may forgo surgery. Methods: Prospective single-center IRB approved study of 34 pts with clinical T1-3 N0-3 triple-negative (TN, n=23) or HER2-positive (n=11) invasive ductal cancer who received standard NST and consented for ultrasound/mammography guided vacuum-assisted core biopsy (VACB) and fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy prior to standard surgery. Main outcome measures included accuracy, false-negative rate (FNR), and negative predictive value of image guided biopsy in predicting residual disease after NST. Breast pCR was defined as no residual DCIS or invasive disease. Final biopsy showing atypia and/or suspicion of residual disease was recorded as positive. Results : Median initial maximum tumor size based on imaging and physical exam was 3 cm (1.2-7 cm) and 47.1% had FNA/core biopsy proved nodal metastases. Final median maximum residual tumor size after NST was 0.9 cm (0-4.2 cm) with 94.1% having no palpable abnormality. Median number of VACB (9G) removed following NST was 10 (4-14) and was performed by stereotactic (67.6%) or ultrasound (32.4%) guidance. Overall, a breast pCR occurred in 18 (52.9%) of pts and breast pathologic response was concordant with nodal pathologic response in 33 (97%) of pts (1 pt with a breast pCR had 1/15 nodes with metastases). Overall, VACB combined with FNA following NST had a 100% (95% CI 89.7-100) accuracy, 0% FNR (95% CI 0-20.6), and 100% (95% CI 81.5-100) negative predictive value for determination of residual breast disease. Grade 1 adverse events which resolved from biopsy (bleeding, hematoma, bruising) occurred in 6 pts (17.6%). Conclusions : High rates of pCR among pts with TN/HER2-positive breast cancer receiving NST occur in a significant proportion of pts. The use of image guided VACB/FNA can identify pts after NST where significant residual disease is unlikely. Based on these results, an IRB approved clinical trial will shortly commence for pts with T1-2 TN/HER2-positive breast cancer with documented image guided biopsy proved pCR after NST to be followed by standard definitive whole-breast radiotherapy without surgery. Citation Format: Kuerer HM, Rauch GM, Krishnamurthy S, Adrada BE, Caudle AS, DeSnyder SM, Santiago L, Lucci A, Hobbs BP, Gilcrease M, Hwang R, Candelaria RP, Chavez Mac-Gregor M, Arribas E, Moseley T, Teshome M, Miggins MV, Smith BD, Valero V, Hunt KK, Yang WT. Feasibility trial for identification of patients for eliminating breast cancer surgery following neoadjuvant systemic therapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-16-30.