Abstract P3-03-29: Evaluation of a direct reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification method without RNA extraction (direct RT-LAMP) for the detection of lymph node metastasis in early breast cancer

Backgroud: The detection of lymph node metastasis by reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification method (RT-LAMP) had been studied previously. Even though, RT-LAMP method provides improved performance compared to intraoperative histology sentinel lymph node (SLN) evaluation, direct RT-LAMP method without RNA extraction can be more efficient and easily accessible process. Therefore, we evaluated the performance and efficacy of a direct reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (direct RT-LAMP) assay for visual detection of CK19, CK20, and CEA mRNAs to identify lymph node metastasis in patients with early breast cancer.

Methods: A total of 92 lymph nodes dissected from 40 patients with breast cancer were collected at the breast cancer center of Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital between November 2015 and February 2016. All of the samples were analyzed by direct RT-LAMP assay and routine histopathology examination. Cutoff values to distinguish metastasis and nonmetasis were determined by measuring cytokerain 19 (CK19) mRNA in histopathologically positive and negative lymph node using direct RT-LAMP.

Results: We set the cutoff value of direct RT-LAMP assay for CK 19 mRNA at 1ng to distinguish status of LN metastasis. The sensitivity and specificity of the RT-LAMP assay were 85.7% and 100%, respectively. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 100% and 94.4%.

Conclusion: Direct RT-LAMP assay can allow detection of SLN metastasis in breast cancer patients intraoperatively with a good sensitivity through cost-effective and time–saving manner.

Citation Format: Lee IH, Jung J, Lee S, Lee J, Lee RK, Park H, Jung J, Kang J, Chae Y. Evaluation of a direct reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification method without RNA extraction (direct RT-LAMP) for the detection of lymph node metastasis in early breast cancer [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 P3-03-29.

Abstract P6-05-10: MicroRNA-137 inhibits cancer progression by targeting DEL-1 in triple negative breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231

Background: This study aimed to investigate the function of microRNA-137 in Del-1 expression in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells and tissues.

Methods: The Del-1 mRNA and microRNA levels were measured using a qRT-PCR in breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231, MCF7, SK-BR3, and T-47D) and tissues from 20 patients with TNBC. The effects of miR-137 on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were determined using MTT, wound healing, and Matrigel Transwell assays.

Results: microRNA-137 (miR-137) levels were remarkably low and Del-1 mRNA expression was higher in MDA-MB-231 cells as compared to other breast cancer cell lines. The luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-137 binds directly at the 3¢-UTR of Del-1 and that Del-1 expression was downregulated by miR-137 mimics and rescued by its inhibitors. Furthermore, miR-137 inhibited the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, among the 30 TNBC specimens, miR-137 was downregulated (p <0.0001) and the level of Del-1 in plasma was significantly elevated as compared to normal controls (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions: In conclusion, miR-137 regulates Del-1 expression in TNBC via directly binding to the Del-1 gene, and thereby affects cancer progression. This suggests that miR-137 may be a new therapeutic biomarker for patients with TNBC.

Keywords: Del-1, triple negative breast cancer, miR-137, biomarker

Citation Format: Chae YS, Baek DW, Lee IH, Lee SJ, Lee RK, Lee J, Jung J, Park H, Jeong J-H, Kang J, Park J. MicroRNA-137 inhibits cancer progression by targeting DEL-1 in triple negative breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231 [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 P6-05-10.

Abstract P4-14-04: Time course changes in serum FSH, estradiol, and menstruation restoration in premenopausal patients with breast cancer taking adjuvant tamoxifen after completing chemotherapy: A report from the ASTRRA study

BACKGROUND

Assessment of restoration of ovarian function after chemotherapy is critical with respect to the initiation of different types of endocrine treatment in young high risk breast cancer patients

METHODS

In total, 1289 women who remained premenopausal or resumed premenopausal status after chemotherapy were randomized to receive 5 years of tamoxifen or 5 years of tamoxifen plus 2 years of ovarian suppression. The patients who did not resume menstruation were followed up for 2 years with tamoxifen treatment after finishing chemotherapy. Prospectively collected consecutive post-chemotherapy hormone and menstruation data were available for 705 breast cancer patients who enrolled tamoxifen-only treatment group or did not resume menstruation during follow up. This analysis evaluated the proportion of patients with pre-menopausal FSH levels (<30 mIU/ml), E2 levels (340 pg/ml), and menstruation at any time point during treatment with tamoxifen.

RESULTS

During 5 years of tamoxifen treatment after chemotherapy for premenopausal breast cancer patients, 62% of patients resumed menstruation. Menstruation returned in 92% of patients under 35 years old but only in 31% of patients over 45 years old. Ovarian function, defined by serum FSH and E2 levels, resumed in 94% and 65% of patients, respectively, over 5 years. Most patients achieved ovarian function restoration during the first 2 years after chemotherapy, with 47.1% resuming menstruation and 86.2% and 50.3% achieving pre-menopausal FSH and E2 levels, respectively, in the first 2 years. Clinical factors related to menstruation restoration were younger age (HR = 6.38, 95% CI 1.33-3.47), 6 month hormone profile after chemotherapy (FSH<30: HR=1.67, 95% CI 1.28-2.17; E2 >40: HR=2.96, 95% CI 2.25-3.89), and anthracycline without taxane chemotherapy (HR=1.63, 95% CI 1.25-2.13).

CONCLUSIONS

During 5 years of tamoxifen treatment after chemotherapy, half of patients experienced menstruation restoration, including most very young patients under 35 years. The majority of patients experienced menstruation restoration in the first 2 years of tamoxifen treatment.

Citation Format: Kim HJ, Noh WC, Nam SJ, Park B-w, Lee ES, Im SA, Jung YS, Yoon JH, Kang SS, Park KH, Lee S-J, Jung J, Lee MH, Cho SH, Kim SY, Kim H-A, Han S-H, Han W, Hur MH, Ahn SH. Time course changes in serum FSH, estradiol, and menstruation restoration in premenopausal patients with breast cancer taking adjuvant tamoxifen after completing chemotherapy: A report from the ASTRRA study [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 P4-14-04.

[Surgical revision for complications after gamma3-nailing osteosynthesis of proximal humeral fractures : Follow-up series of 1500 patients]

BACKGROUND

The γ‑nailing system is a widespread intramedullary therapeutic option that has been used for intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures since the late 1980s; however, some reports from the 1990s describing femoral shaft fractures questioned the indications for this system in simple fracture types. Due to increasing numbers of patients treated with this system, the complication rate is continuously falling as confirmed by many recent studies.

OBJECTIVE

Between 2008 and 2013 a total of 1500 operations using the γ‑nailing system were performed at this traumatology department. The standard 200 mm nail was used in 1290 cases and the extended system available from 340 to 440 mm in 210 cases. The aim of this study was to record the excellent results using the standard γ‑nailing system and to confirm the indications of the long intramedullary nailing system (Gamma3®) also for use in complex intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

All 1500 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Information on epidemiological data, intraoperative and postoperative complications and patient outcome was retrieved from the digital patient medical history. All available radiographs were assessed by a single traumatologist.

RESULTS

The results showed a low complication rate of 5% for surgical complications, mainly caused by cutting out in 34.66%, followed by hematomas in 21.33% and fractures of the nail in 16%. A comparison of the standard and long nailing systems could be carried out, showing a complication rate of 3.64% for the standard system compared to 13.33% for the long γ‑nail system.

CONCLUSION

The γ‑nailing system is a safe treatment option for trochanteric femoral fractures and failure of the implant is associated with high biomechanical forces in unstable fractures. A low complication rate is linked to a thorough surgical technique under consideration of a correct positioning of the implant.

Non-percolating small metallic clusters and sharp suppression of metallicity in RE0.55Sr0.45Mn1−xRuxO3manganites

The origin of the anomalous sharp phase transition from a ferromagnetic metal into a ferromagnetic insulator has been investigated in ruthenium (Ru)-doped RE_0.55Sr_0.45Mn_1−xRu_xO₃(0 ≤x≤ 0.25) manganites (RESRMO) with RE(A-site) = Sm, Eu and Gd.

Electron beam induced tunneling magnetoresistance in spatially confined manganite bridges

Certain manganites exhibit rich and technologically relevant transport properties which can often be attributed to the existence and changes of the intrinsic electronic phase competition within these materials. Here we demonstrate that a scanning electron beam can be used to artificially create domain configurations within La_0.3Pr_0.4Ca_0.3MnO₃ thin film microbridges that results in novel magneto-transport effects. In particular, the electron beam preferentially produces insulating regions within the narrow film and can be used to create a configuration consisting of ferromagnetic metallic domains separated by a potential barrier. This arrangement enables the spin-dependent tunneling of charge carriers and can produce large switching tunneling magnetoresistance effects which were initially absent. Hence, this work describes a new and potentially powerful method for engineering the electronic phase domains in manganites to generate functional transport properties that are important for spintronic devices.

Short communication: Antioxidative and antibacterial activities on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli O157:H4 in milk with added ginseng marc extract fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum KCCM 11613P

Ginseng marc, a by-product of the extraction of fresh ginseng, is known to have bioactive compounds, but is frequently discarded as agriculture waste. The objectives of our study were to assess the antioxidative activity of fermented ginseng marc extract using Lactobacillus plantarum KCCM 11613P and to evaluate antibacterial activity of fermented milk with added ginseng marc extract during fermentation. After 24 h of fermentation of ginseng marc extract, the viable cell number was increased to 7.7 ± 0.1 log cfu/mL, and the pH and total titratable acidity were 4.2 ± 0.4 and 0.6% lactic acid, respectively. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of fermented ginseng marc extract increased by 32.4 and 23.3%, respectively. Higher antioxidative activity of fermented ginseng marc extract was obtained in the β-carotene bleaching, ferric-reducing ability of plasma, and ferric thiocyanate assays than the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazy assay. However, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazy scavenging effect decreased due to lowered pH. During production of fermented milk with ginseng, inhibition rate of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were 9.7 and 2.3%, respectively. The present study shows the possibilities of Lactobacillus plantarum KCCM 11613P used as a fermentation strain and ginseng marc used as a functional supplement in milk.

Abstract P2-01-36: Ex vivo shear-wave elastography of axillary lymph nodes predicting nodal metastasis in patients with primary breast cancer: A pilot study

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of shear-wave elastography using breast ultrasonography in identifying metastasis of removed sentinel lymph nodes during the operation for treatment of breast cancer.

Background: Conventional method for identification of sentinel nodal metastasis is time and cost consuming. The optimal method for identification of nodal status is important.

Methods: Excised sentinel lymph nodes during the operation were prospectively examined with the elastography. Metastatic status of lymph nodes was confirmed with permanent histology. Only macrometastasis was regarded as positive. Elastic values measured by the ex vivo elastography and nodal characteristics were analyzed to correlate with nodal metastasis.

Results: A total of 274 lymph nodes harvested from 68 breast cancer patients at Gangnam Severance Hospital from May 2014 to April 2015 were included this study. There was the difference of elastic values between nodes with and without metastasis (mean stiffness, 41.6 kPa and 17.4 kPa, P < 0.001). Mean sizes of metastatic nodes (range 0.36-2.59 cm) were significantly larger than that of non-metastatic nodes (1.0 cm versus 0.75 cm, P < 0.001). Moreover, there was a correlation between the size of metastatic nodes which ranged from 0.7 to 21.5 mm with a median of 7 mm and nodal stiffness (correlation coefficient of mean stiffness, r = 0.431). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) by the mean stiffness was 0.794. The combination of size of nodes, mean stiffness and ratio made AUC of 0.856.

Conclusions: In our study, ex vivo shear-wave elastography of sentinel lymph nodes was a feasible method to predict metastasis. Through the validation study, ex vivo elastography could be helpful to determine metastasis of sentinel lymph nodes during the operation.

Keywords Breast cancer; Elastography; Lymph node metastasis.

Citation Format: Lim JW, Lee HW, Park JT, Ahn SG, Jung J. Ex vivo shear-wave elastography of axillary lymph nodes predicting nodal metastasis in patients with primary breast cancer: A pilot study [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 P2-01-36.