Quality of life improvement with allergen immunotherapy treatment in patients with rhinoconjunctivitis in real life conditions. Results of an observational prospective study (ÍCARA)

Summary

Objectives. Evaluate the changes in quality of life of patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (AR), with or without asthma, after one-year treatment with allergen immunotherapy. Methods. This was an observational prospective multicenter study. RQLQ questionnaire and VAS scale to assess treatment satisfaction were used. Impact on AR and asthma was also analyzed. Any adverse reaction was recorded. Results. 127 patients were recruited. Mean values in RQLQ decreased from 2.61 to 1.34 points, reflecting a statistically and clinically significant improvement (p minor 0.01). The percentage of asthmatic patients decreased significantly (p minor 0.01). Mean value of patients' satisfaction was 7.24 (SD = 1.90). Only 11 patients presented systemic reactions (9.17%), none of them serious. Conclusions. One-year AIT treatment significantly increases QoL in patients with AR. Moreover, high patients' satisfaction values were reported, together with an adequate safety profile.

Synchronization of Optomechanical Nanobeams by Mechanical Interaction

The synchronization of coupled oscillators is a phenomenon found throughout nature. Mechanical oscillators are paradigmatic examples, but synchronizing their nanoscaled versions is challenging. We report synchronization of the mechanical dynamics of a pair of optomechanical crystal cavities that, in contrast to previous works performed in similar objects, are intercoupled with a mechanical link and support independent optical modes. In this regime they oscillate in antiphase, which is in agreement with the predictions of our numerical model that considers reactive coupling. We also show how to temporarily disable synchronization of the coupled system by actuating one of the cavities with a heating laser, so that both cavities oscillate independently. Our results can be upscaled to more than two cavities and pave the way towards realizing integrated networks of synchronized mechanical oscillators.

Abstract P2-08-08: Isolated ipsilateral local recurrence of breast cancer: Predictive factors and prognostic impact

Background

Tumour features associated with isolated invasive breast cancer ipsilateral local recurrence (ILR) after breast conservative treatment (BCT) and consequences on overall survival (OS) are still debated. The aim of our study was to examine predictive factors of isolated ILR after BCT with in sano resection and whole breast irradiation as well as the impact of such an ILR on overall survival in a large multi-institutional cohort.

Methods

Patients were retrospectively identified from a large cohort of 23,375 consecutive patients who underwent BCT for invasive breast cancer in 16 cancer centres. End-points were ILR rate and OS. The impact of ILR on OS was assessed through multivariate analysis by logistic regression and Cox model, adjusted on ERs/Grade status (ERs+/Grade 1, ERs+/Grade 2, ERs+/Grade 3 and ERs-) and then on tumour subtypes.

Results

Of 15,570 patients, ILR rate was 3.1%. Cumulative ILR rates differed according to ERs/grade (ERs+/Grade2: HR=1.42, p=0.010; ERs+/Grade3: HR=1.41, p=0.067; ERs-: HR=2.14, p<0.0001), endocrine therapy (HR=2.05, p<0.0001) and age<40-years old (HR=2.28, p=0.005) in multivariate analysis. When multivariate analysis was adjusted on tumour subtype, the latter was the only independent factor. OS-after-ILR was significantly different according to ILR-free intervals (HR=4.96 for ILR-free interval between 2-5-years and HR=9.00 when <2-years, in comparison with ≥5-years).

Impact of free interval time on OS among patients with ILR and among all patients  p-valueHRInfSupILRno ILR 1   <2 years0.0172.2551.1594.388 2-5 years0.0012.451.423.89 ≥5 years0.1030.5550.2741.126Tumor subtypesLuminal A G1 1   Luminal A G20.0031.4311.1321.810 Triple negative<0.00012.6992.0553.544 Luminal B ER-<0.00013.1952.4144.229 Luminal B ER+0.021.6081.0762.401 HER2+<0.00012.2791.4523.579

Conclusion

ERs/Grade status, lack of endocrine therapy and tumour subtypes predict isolated ILR risk in patients treated with BCT. Short ILR-free-intervals represent a strong pejorative factor for OS. These results may help selecting initial treatment as well as tailoring ILR systemic chemotherapy.

Citation Format: Houvenaeghel G, de Nonneville A, Cohen M, Classe J-M, Reyal F, Mazouni C, Chopin N, Martinez A, Daraï E, Coutant C, Colombo P-E, Gimbergues P, Chauvet M-P, Azuar A-S, Rouzier R, Tunon de Lara C, Murraciole X, Agostini A, Gonçalves A, Lambaudie E. Isolated ipsilateral local recurrence of breast cancer: Predictive factors and prognostic impact [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-08-08.

Alternative methodological approach to randomized trial for surgical procedures routinely used

BACKGROUND

In medical oncology, changes in practices are almost always based on randomized trials but medical history shows that it is different in surgical oncology. In the past, many surgical procedures were routinely performed without a rigorous evaluation of the risk-benefit. To highlight the complexity of developing randomized surgical trials, disquisitions on methodology presented in the medical literature. This is particularly true when we consider breast reconstruction after surgical treatment for breast cancer. It is illusory to perform and conduct a randomized clinical trial (RCT) when a surgical procedure is routinely used by most surgeons.

METHODS

As a case study, we present the scientific rationale and the design of the MAPAM01 trial which evaluates the security of the nipple sparing mastectomy. Other alternative approaches, such as propensity score and CUSUM, are presented.

RESULTS

In this situation, to design surgical trials using alternative methodological approaches present a particularly important challenge both for surgeons and methodologists. Alternative approach to randomized trials can be useful to evaluate surgical procedures routinely used.

CONCLUSION

Close collaboration between surgeons and methodologists is needed to propose appropriate and well-designed surgical trials.