Salvage treatment for local recurrence after breast-conserving surgery and radiation as initial treatment for mammographically detected ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

Prognosis of local invasive relapses after carcinoma in situ of the breast: a retrospective study from a population-based registry

PURPOSE

The prognosis of local invasive recurrence (LIR) after prior carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the breast has not been widely studied and existing data are conflicting, especially considering the specific prognosis of this entity, compared to de novo invasive breast cancer (de novo IBC) and with LIR after primary IBC.

METHODS

We designed a retrospective study using data from the specialized Côte d'Or Breast and Gynecological cancer registry, between 1998 and 2015, to compare outcomes between 3 matched groups of patients with localized IBC: patients with LIR following CIS (CIS-LIR), patients with de novo IBC (de novo IBC), and patients with LIR following a first IBC (IBC-LIR). Distant relapse-free (D-RFS), overall survival (OS), clinical, and treatment features between the 3 groups were studied.

RESULTS

Among 8186 women initially diagnosed with IBC during our study period, we retrieved and matched 49 CIS-LIR to 49 IBC, and 46 IBC-LIR patients. At diagnosis, IBC/LIR in the 3 groups were mainly stage I, grade II, estrogen receptor-positive, and HER2 negative. Metastatic diseases at diagnosis were higher in CIS-LIR group. A majority of patients received adjuvant systemic treatment, with no statistically significant differences between the 3 groups. There was no significant difference between the 3 groups in terms of OS or D-RFS.

CONCLUSION

LIR after CIS does not appear to impact per se on survival of IBC.

Repeat Breast-Conserving Surgery Versus Salvage Mastectomy for Ipsilateral Breast Tumour Recurrence After Breast-Conserving Surgery in Breast Cancer Patients: A Meta-Analysis

Background

Salvage mastectomy (SM) is the standard surgery for ipsilateral breast tumour recurrence (IBTR). However, whether repeat breast-conserving surgery (RBCS) is an alternative method remains unclear. We performed a meta-analysis to compare the effects of RBCS and SM after IBTR for breast-conserving surgery (BCS).

Methods

We searched PubMed, Cochrane, Wiley Online and Embase for controlled studies comparing RBCS and SM after IBTR for BCS (published between 1993 and 2019, published in English). Our main endpoints were the secondary local recurrence rate (SLRR), distant metastasis rate (DMR) and overall survival (OS). We used a random-effects model or fixed-effects model for data pooling.

Results

Fifteen of the 424 eligible studies were ultimately included, and all studies were retrospective cohort studies (n=2532 participants). 1) SLRR: The SLRR of RBCS was higher than SM (pooled relative rate (pRR) = 1.87, 95% CI 1.22 - 2.86, P=0.004). Stratified analysis was performed according to whether radiotherapy was performed after salvage surgery (radiotherapy group: 2ndRT, no radiotherapy group: no-2ndRT), and the following results were revealed: pRR=0.43 (95% CI 0.20-0.95, P=0.04) for group 2ndRT; and pRR=2.30 (95% CI 1.72-3.06, P<0.00001) for group no-2ndRT. These results showed that the main cause of heterogeneity was salvage radiotherapy. 2) DMR: No significant difference in the DMR was observed between RBCS and SM (pRR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.37 - 1.01, P=0.05). 3) OS: No significant difference in OS was observed between RBCS and SM (pRR=0.65, 95% CI 0.39 - 1.08, P=0.10).

Conclusions

The SLRR of RBCS was higher than SM for ITBR after BCS, but survival was not affected. RBCS may be used as an alternative for IBTR patients after BCS with strict control for several indications, such as tumor size, recurrence interval and biological behavior, and attaching importance to subsequent salvage radiotherapy and systematic therapy.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Biological Signature DCISionRT Use for DCIS Treatment

BACKGROUND

Currently it remains difficult to identify patients most likely to benefit from radiotherapy (RT) for ductal carcinoma-in-situ (DCIS), thus leading to wide variation in practice patterns. The genomic risk assessment tool DCISionRT (PreludeDX) has been validated to prognosticate recurrence risk and predict RT benefit. We aimed to study the cost-effectiveness analysis comparing DCIS treatments based on DCISionRT testing to traditional clinicopathologic risk factors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A Markov state transition model was constructed to perform a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing breast-conserving surgery with or without RT using DCISionRT testing vs. traditional clinicopathologic risk factors. Clinical parameters were obtained from clinical trial data and cross-validation studies. Cost data were based on 2019 Medicare reimbursement. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated as incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained comparing DCIS treatments using DCISionRT testing to traditional clinicopathologic risk factors and evaluated with a willingness-to-pay threshold of US$100,000 per QALY gained. To account for uncertainty, 1-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Base case analysis showed that DCIS management using DCISionRT testing was a cost-effective strategy, resulting in an ICER of $74,331 per QALY gained compared to clinicopathology-based treatment. Model results were sensitive to a variation of the proportion of genomic-high, low-risk patients receiving RT in DCISionRT testing strategy, and changes in DCISionRT testing cost.

CONCLUSION

DCISionRT testing could potentially be a cost-effective strategy compared to traditional decision making for DCIS treatments, optimizing RT benefit based on an accurate recurrence risk assessment.

Accuracy of Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging Compared to Mammography in the Preoperative Detection and Measurement of Pure Ductal Carcinoma In Situ: A Retrospective Analysis

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) hinders imaging detection due to multifocal appearance and discontinuous growth. Preoperative determination of its extent is therefore challenging. Aim of this study was to investigate the additional benefit of breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to mammography (MG) in the diagnosis of DCIS according to size and grading.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 295 patients with biopsy-proven, pure DCIS. Mean patient age was 57.0 years (27-87 years). All patients obtained MG. Additional MRI was performed in 41.7% (123/295). Mammographic breast density, background parenchymal enhancement (BPE), tumor size and grading were analysed. Tumor size on MG and MRI were compared to histopathological size of the surgical specimen.

RESULTS

Mean tumor size was 39.6 mm. DCIS was occult on MG in 24.4% (30/123) and on MRI in 1.6% (2/123). Size was underestimated by 4.6 mm (mean) mammographically. DCIS was high grade in 54.5% (67/123), intermediate grade in 40.7% (50/123) and low grade in 4.9% (6/123). MG was exact regarding tumor size in low grade DCIS, underestimated intermediate grade DCIS by 1 mm (median) and high grade DCIS by 10.5 mm. MRI overestimated low grade DCIS by 1 mm (median), was exact regarding intermediate grade DCIS and underestimated high grade DCIS by 1 mm. BPE did not influence tumor detection and measurement.

CONCLUSION

MRI outperforms MG in the detection and size estimation of DCIS and can reduce positive margin rates.

Ductal carcinoma in situ and intraoperative partial breast irradiation: Who are the best candidates? Long-term outcome of a single institution series

AIMS

To report the long-term outcome of a single institution series of pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) treated with accelerated partial irradiation using intraoperative electrons (IOERT).

METHODS

From 2000 to 2010, 180 DCIS patients, treated with quadrantectomy and 21 Gy IOERT, were analyzed in terms of ipsilateral breast recurrences (IBRs) and survival outcomes by stratification in two subgroups. The low-risk group included patients who fulfilled the suitable definition according to American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Guidelines (size ≤2.5 cm, grade 1-2 and surgical margins ≥3 mm) (Suitable), while the remaining ones formed the high-risk group (Non-Suitable).

RESULTS

Eighty-four and 96 patients formed the Suitable and Non-Suitable groups, respectively. In the whole population, the cumulative incidence of IBR at 5, 7 and 10 years was 19%, 21%, and 25%, respectively. In the Suitable group, the cumulative incidence of IBR remained constant at 11% throughout the years, while in the Non-Suitable group increased from 26% at 5 years to 36% at 10 years (p < 0.0001). When hormonal positivity and HER2 absence of expression were added to the selection of the Suitable group, the cumulative incidence of IBR dropped and stabilized at 4% at 10 years. None died of breast cancer. In the whole population, 5-year and 10-year overall survival rate was 98% and 96.5%, respectively, without any difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall and by group IBR rates were high and stricter criteria are required for acceptable local control for Suitable DCIS. Because of the concerns raised, IOERT should not be used in clinical practice.

Evaluating the efficacy of post-surgery adjuvant therapies used for ductal carcinoma in situ patients: a network meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Post-surgery adjuvant therapies are very important for patients suffering from ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). In this study we conducted a network meta-analysis (NMA) to evaluate the efficacy of different post-surgery adjuvant therapies including tamoxifen, anastrozole and radiation therapy (RT) and their combinations (RT+ tamoxifen and RT+ anastrozole).

METHODS

We searched several databases, including Embase, MEDLINE / PUBMED, Cochrane Library, and Science Citation Index, for relevant studies. We then extracted the data from eligible studies in order to perform our NMA. We measured the comparative efficacy of each treatment option based on the calculated odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% credibility interval (95%CrI) for each treatment option. We calculated the surfaces under the cumulative ranking curves (SUCRA) in order to rank the therapies according to their different outcomes.

RESULTS

In this study, local recurrence (LC) was chosen as the primary outcome. Metastasis, contralateral-breast cancer (CBC), ipsilateral-breast cancer (IBC) and death were secondary outcomes. Patients treated with RT and RT + tamoxifen exhibited a lower risk of LC compared with control group (OR=0.54, 95%CrI: 0.40-0.73; OR=0.41, 95%CrI: 0.19-0.90). Patients treated by RT and RT + tamoxifen also exhibited a significantly lower risk of IBC compared with control group (OR=0.55, 95%CrI: 0.37-0.82; OR=0.42, 95%CrI: 0.18-0.99). Results from the SUCRA indicated that RT + anastrozole and RT + tamoxifen were potentially the best adjuvant treatments for patients with DCIS.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the RT + anastrozole and RT + tamoxifen are recommended for their performance and effectiveness.

Multiple cutaneous angiosarcomas after breast conserving surgery and bilateral adjuvant radiotherapy: an unusual case and review of the literature

Breast angiosarcomas (BAs) are rare but serious events that may arise after radiation exposure. Disease outcome is poor, with high risk of local and distant failure. Recurrences are frequent also after resection with negative margins. The spectrum of vascular proliferations associated with radiotherapy in the setting of breast cancer has expanded, including radiation-associated atypical vascular lesions (AVLs) of the breast skin as a rare, but well-recognized, entity. Although pursuing a benign behavior, AVLs have been regarded as possible precursors of postradiation BAs. We report an unusual case of a 71-year-old woman affected by well-differentiated bilateral cutaneous BA, diagnosed 1.9 years after adjuvant RT for synchronous bilateral breast cancer. Whole-life clinical followup is of crucial importance in breast cancer patients.

Post-operative radiotherapy for ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

BACKGROUND

The addition of radiotherapy (RT) following breast conserving surgery (BCS) was first shown to reduce the risk of ipsilateral recurrence in the treatment of invasive breast cancer. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a pre-invasive lesion. Recurrence of ipsilateral disease following BCS can be either DCIS or invasive breast cancer. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have shown that RT can reduce the risk of recurrence, but assessment of potential long-term complications from addition of RT following BSC for DCIS has not been reported for women participating in RCTs.

OBJECTIVES

To summarise the data from RCTs testing the addition of RT to BCS for treatment of DCIS to determine the balance between the benefits and harms.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group Specialised Register (2 June 2011), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2008, Issue 1), MEDLINE (2 June 2011), EMBASE (2 June 2011) and the World Health Organization's International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO ICTRP; 2 June 2011). Reference lists of articles and handsearching of ASCO (2007), ESMO (2002 to 2007), and St Gallen (2005 to 2007) conferences were performed.

SELECTION CRITERIA

RCTs of breast conserving surgery with and without radiotherapy in women at first diagnosis of pure ductal carcinoma in situ (no invasive disease present).

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently assessed each potentially eligible trial for inclusion and its quality. Two authors also independently extracted data from published Kaplan-Meier analysis (survival curves) and reported summary statistics. Data were extracted and pooled for four trials. Data for planned subgroups were extracted and pooled for analysis.There were insufficient data to pool for long-term toxicity from radiotherapy.

MAIN RESULTS

Four RCTs involving 3925 women were identified and included in this review. All were high quality with minimal risk of bias. Three trials compared the addition of RT to BCS. One trial was a two by two factorial design comparing the use of RT and tamoxifen, each separately or together, in which participants were randomised in at least one arm. Analysis confirmed a statistically significant benefit from the addition of radiotherapy on all ipsilateral breast events (hazards ratio (HR) 0.49; 95% CI 0.41 to 0.58, P < 0.00001), ipsilateral invasive recurrence (HR 0.50; 95% CI 0.32 to 0.76, p=0.001) and ipsilateral DCIS recurrence (HR 0.61; 95% CI 0.39 to 0.95, P = 0.03). All the subgroups analysed benefited from addition of radiotherapy. No significant long-term toxicity from radiotherapy was found. No information about short-term toxicity from radiotherapy or quality of life data were reported.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

This review confirms the benefit of adding radiotherapy to breast conserving surgery for the treatment of all women diagnosed with DCIS. No long-term toxicity from use of radiotherapy was identified.

Conservative treatment of breast ductal carcinoma in situ: results of an Italian multi-institutional retrospective study

Background

The incidence of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) has increased markedly in recent decades. In the past, mastectomy was the primary treatment for patients with DCIS, but as with invasive cancer, breast-conserving surgery followed by radiation therapy (RT) has become the standard approach. We present the final results of a multi-institutional retrospective study of an Italian Radiation Oncology Group for the study of conservative treatment of DCIS, characterized by a very long period of accrual, from February 1985 to March 2000, and a median follow-up longer than 11 years.

Methods

A collaborative multi-institutional study was conducted in Italy in 10 Radiation Oncology Departments. A consecutive series of 586 women with DCIS histologically confirmed, treated between February 1985 and March 2000, was retrospectively evaluated. Median age at diagnosis was 55 years (range: 29–84); 32 patients were 40 years old or younger. All women underwent conservative surgery followed by whole breast RT. Irradiation was delivered to the entire breast, for a median total dose of 50 Gy; the tumour bed was boosted in 295 cases (50%) at a median dose of 10 Gy.

Results

After a median follow-up of 136 months (range: 16–292 months), 59/586 patients (10%) experienced a local recurrence: invasive in 37 cases, intraductal in 20 and not specified in two. Salvage mastectomy was the treatment of choice in 46 recurrent patients; conservative surgery in 10 and it was unknown in three patients. The incidence of local recurrence was significantly higher in women younger than 40 years (31.3%) (p= 0.0009). Five patients developed distant metastases. Furthermore 40 patients developed a contralateral breast cancer and 31 a second primary tumour in a different site. The 10-year actuarial overall survival (OS) was 95.5% and the 10-year actuarial disease-specific survival (DSS) was 99%.

Conclusions

Our results are consistent with those reported in the literature. In particular it has been defined the importance of young age (40 years or less) as a relevant risk factor for local recurrence. This retrospective multi-institutional Italian study confirms the long term efficacy of breast conserving surgery with RT in women with DCIS.

Outcomes of screening-detected ductal carcinoma in situ treated with wide excision alone

BACKGROUND

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is commonly identified on screening mammography. Standard treatment for localized DCIS is wide local excision (WLE) and adjuvant radiotherapy. This approach represents overtreatment in many cases, where the DCIS would never have become clinically significant, or where less intensive treatment would have been satisfactory. We reviewed the medium-term outcome of a cohort of screen detected DCIS patients treated mainly with WLE without radiotherapy.

METHODS

All patients diagnosed with DCIS at NorthWestern BreastScreen between January 1994 and December 2005 were identified from a prospective database. Demographic, pathological, treatment, and outcome data were collected and analyzed. Survival and local recurrence (LR) rates were determined, and associations between various factors and recurrence were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 422 patients were diagnosed with DCIS. There were 400 patients treated with WLE, and 27 of these received adjuvant radiotherapy. The 5- and 8-year overall and breast cancer specific survival rates were 96.1 and 91.3%, and 99.6 and 99.3%, respectively. The local recurrence rate was 15.4 and 17.1% at 5 and 8 years. Of 56 local recurrences, 34 had WLE after recurrence, 16 of which had adjuvant radiotherapy. No single factor was statistically significantly associated with local recurrence, although combining factors revealed groups where the LR rate was less than 5%.

CONCLUSIONS

Breast cancer specific mortality was very low in this cohort of older patients with screen-detected DCIS. There was a moderate rate of local recurrence that could usually be salvaged with breast conservation. Decisions regarding adjuvant radiotherapy should take these findings into account.

Post-operative radiotherapy for ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

BACKGROUND

The addition of radiotherapy (RT) following breast conserving surgery (BCS) was first shown to reduce the risk of ipsilateral recurrence in the treatment of invasive breast cancer. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a pre-invasive lesion. Recurrence of ipsilateral disease following BCS can be either DCIS or invasive breast cancer. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have shown that RT can reduce the risk of recurrence, but assessment of potential long-term complications from addition of RT following BSC for DCIS has not been reported for women participating in RCTs.

OBJECTIVES

To summarise the data from RCTs testing the addition of RT to BCS for treatment of DCIS to determine the balance between the benefits and harms.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group Specialised Register (January 2008), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2008, Issue 1), MEDLINE (February 2008), and EMBASE (February 2008). Reference lists of articles and handsearching of ASCO (2007), ESMO (2002 to 2007), and St Gallen (2005 to 2007) conferences were performed.

SELECTION CRITERIA

RCTs of breast conserving surgery with and without radiotherapy in women at first diagnosis of pure ductal carcinoma in situ (no invasive disease present).

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently assessed each potentially eligible trial for inclusion and its quality. Two authors also independently extracted data from published Kaplan-Meier analysis (survival curves) and reported summary statistics. Data were extracted and pooled for four trials. Data for planned subgroups were extracted and pooled for analysis.There were insufficient data to pool for long-term toxicity from radiotherapy.

MAIN RESULTS

Four RCTs involving 3925 women were identified and included in this review. All were high quality with minimal risk of bias. Three trials compared the addition of RT to BCS. One trial was a two by two factorial design comparing the use of RT and tamoxifen, each separately or together, in which participants were randomised in at least one arm. Analysis confirmed a statistically significant benefit from the addition of radiotherapy on all ipsilateral breast events (hazards ratio (HR) 0.49; 95% CI 0.41 to 0.58, P < 0.00001), ipsilateral invasive recurrence (HR 0.50; 95% CI 0.32 to 0.76, p=0.001) and ipsilateral DCIS recurrence (HR 0.61; 95% CI 0.39 to 0.95, P = 0.03). All the subgroups analysed benefited from addition of radiotherapy. No significant long-term toxicity from radiotherapy was found. No information about short-term toxicity from radiotherapy or quality of life data were reported.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

This review confirms the benefit of adding radiotherapy to breast conserving surgery for the treatment of all women diagnosed with DCIS. No long-term toxicity from use of radiotherapy was identified.

Current surgery for breast cancer

Surgeons retain the central role in the multidisciplinary care of the breast cancer patient. While technical details of the operations for these patients remain important, effective evidence-based decision making may be even more so. Advances in the methods of breast cancer diagnosis, localization techniques and surgical therapies, as well as the expanded role of the surgeon in breast cancer prevention, radiation therapy and the treatment of distant disease, requires surgeons to stay up to date with the available evidence. Herein, we present a review of the current surgical therapy of invasive breast cancer.

Post-operative radiotherapy for ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

BACKGROUND

The addition of radiotherapy (RT) following breast conserving surgery (BCS) was first shown to reduce the risk of ipsilateral recurrence in the treatment of invasive breast cancer. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a pre-invasive lesion. Recurrence of ipsilateral disease following BCS can be either DCIS or invasive breast cancer. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have shown that RT can reduce the risk of recurrence, but assessment of potential long-term complications from addition of RT following BSC for DCIS has not been reported for women participating in RCTs.

OBJECTIVES

To summarise the data from RCTs testing the addition of RT to BCS for treatment of DCIS to determine the balance between the benefits and harms.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group Specialised Register (January 2008), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2008, Issue 1), MEDLINE (February 2008), and EMBASE (February 2008). Reference lists of articles and handsearching of ASCO (2007), ESMO (2002 to 2007), and St Gallen (2005 to 2007) conferences were performed.

SELECTION CRITERIA

RCTs of breast conserving surgery with and without radiotherapy in women at first diagnosis of pure ductal carcinoma in situ (no invasive disease present).

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently assessed each potentially eligible trial for inclusion and its quality. Two authors also independently extracted data from published Kaplan-Meier analysis (survival curves) and reported summary statistics. Data were extracted and pooled for four trials. Data for planned subgroups were extracted and pooled for analysis.There were insufficient data to pool for long-term toxicity from radiotherapy.

MAIN RESULTS

Four RCTs involving 3925 women were identified and included in this review. All were high quality with minimal risk of bias. Three trials compared the addition of RT to BCS. One trial was a two by two factorial design comparing the use of RT and tamoxifen, each separately or together, in which participants were randomised in at least one arm. Analysis confirmed a statistically significant benefit from the addition of radiotherapy on all ipsilateral breast events (hazards ratio (HR) 0.49; 95% CI 0.41 to 0.59, P < 0.00001) and ipsilateral DCIS recurrence (HR 0.64; 95% CI 0.41 to 1.01, P = 0.05). Pooled analysis for invasive recurrence did not reach statistical significance. All the subgroups analysed benefited from addition of radiotherapy. No significant long-term toxicity from radiotherapy was found. No information about short-term toxicity from radiotherapy or quality of life data were reported.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

This review confirms the benefit of adding radiotherapy to breast conserving surgery for the treatment of all women diagnosed with DCIS. No long-term toxicity from use of radiotherapy was identified.

Clinical presentation and surgical quality in treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

To assess quality of surgical treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and to compare teaching and non-teaching hospitals that constitute the Comprehensive Cancer Centres of the Middle Netherlands (IKMN), we retrospectively reviewed 499 patients with 502 DCIS lesions treated in the period 1989-2002. In teaching hospitals fewer patients presented with clinical symptoms compared to non-teaching hospitals (15% versus 24.0%, p = 0.01). Finally, 65% of patients underwent breast-conserving surgery and 35% of patients a mastectomy (no significant differences between the two types of hospitals). In teaching hospitals 19% of the patients had a disease-involved or unknown surgical margins versus 13% in non-teaching hospitals (p = 0.04). Twenty patients (4%) received radiation therapy postoperatively with no differences between teaching and non-teaching hospitals (p = 0.98). Quality of surgical treatment is the most important prognostic factor in treatment of DCIS. The quality of excisions should be improved and the exact status of margins should be recorded in pathology reports.

Magnetic resonance imaging of ductal carcinoma in situ: what is its clinical application? A review

BACKGROUND

After breast-conserving surgery of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast or invasive breast carcinoma with an extensive intraductal component, tumor-positive surgical margins are frequently found. Therefore, the extent of the intraductal disease needs to be accurately determined preoperatively.

METHODS

Data for this review were identified by search of PubMed. Reference lists of selected articles were cross-searched for additional literature.

RESULTS

DCIS is accurately detected with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but the typical malignant features are inconsistently seen and most often in high-grade DCIS or in DCIS with a small invasive component. The histopathologic extent of DCIS is more accurately demonstrated with MRI. However, overestimation due to benign proliferative lesions does frequently occur. An improved depiction of DCIS could lead to improved preoperative staging. Conversely, the identification of more extensive disease on MRI could give rise to unnecessary interventions. Therefore, MRI should be used carefully and preferable in specialized and experienced centers.

CONCLUSION

[corrected] To date, there is no evidence that the use of MRI improves outcomes (ie, decreases recurrence rates) in patients with DCIS.

The feasibility of a second lumpectomy and breast brachytherapy for localized cancer in a breast previously treated with lumpectomy and radiation therapy for breast cancer

PURPOSE

With accumulating evidence supporting partial-breast irradiation, we conducted a Phase I/II study to evaluate the role of a second conservative surgery and brachytherapy for patients presenting with a local recurrence/new primary in a breast who has previously undergone a lumpectomy and external radiation therapy for breast cancer.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Fifteen patients with a localized lesion in the breast have undergone a second lumpectomy and received low-dose-rate brachytherapy on protocol. The first 6 patients received a dose of 30Gy. With no unacceptable acute toxicity observed, the brachytherapy dose was increased to 45Gy. Three patients received adjuvant chemotherapy and 8 patients are on antiestrogen therapy.

RESULTS

The median time interval between the primary breast cancer diagnosis and the second cancer event in the ipsilateral breast is 94 months (range, 28-211). With a median followup of 36 months after brachytherapy, the 3-year Kaplan-Meier overall survival, local disease-free survival and mastectomy-free survival are 100% and 89%, respectively. There was no Grade 3/4 fibrosis or necrosis observed. All patients had baseline asymmetry due to the breast volume deficit from the second lumpectomy. With breast asymmetry as a given, the cosmetic result observed in all patients has been good to excellent.

CONCLUSIONS

Early results suggest low-complication rates, high rate of local control and freedom from mastectomy. Additional studies are needed to establish whether a second lumpectomy and breast brachytherapy are an acceptable alternative to mastectomy for patients presenting with a localized cancer in a previously irradiated breast.

Residual disease after re-excision for tumour-positive surgical margins in both ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma of the breast: The effect of time

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

To assess the effect of time on finding residual breast cancer in re-excision specimens after non-radical breast-conserving surgery for both DCIS and invasive breast carcinoma.

METHODS

315 breast-conserving surgical procedures with tumour-positive margins were retrospectively reviewed. The significance of association between the presence of finding residual tumour in the re-excision specimen and mean time interval was calculated with Student's t-test. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to assess the independent relative risk of time on presence of residual tumour.

RESULTS

Residual tumour was found in 240 (76.2%) of the re-excision specimens. For primary invasive carcinomas time was a risk-reducing factor for finding residual disease (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.82-0.98, P = 0.01). If invasive carcinoma was transected, the absence of residual disease was significantly related with a longer mean time interval (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.95-0.99, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

An increased time interval between primary surgery and re-excision for tumour-positive surgical margins for invasive carcinoma is associated with a decreased incidence of finding residual tumour. This could be explained by inflammatory responses after surgical trauma. For DCIS there was no influence of time on finding residual tumour, which could be explained by a more protective microenvironment of DCIS or re-growth of surviving malignant cells.

Ductal carcinoma in situ--current management

This article summarizes the modern evidence-based management of ductal carcinoma in situ. The data addressing the surgical issues, including indications for mastectomy and the use of sentinel node biopsy, are presented. The randomized trials examining the role of radiation therapy after breast-conserving surgery and the use of tamoxifen in ductal carcinoma in situ are discussed. Factors to consider in developing a management strategy for the individual patient are elucidated in the final section.

Recurrent Cancer After Breast-Conserving Surgery with Radiation Therapy for Ductal Carcinoma in Situ: Mammographic Features, Method of Detection, and Stage of Recurrence

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of our study was to determine the mammographic appearance, detection method, and stage of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence in women treated with breast-conserving surgery and whole-breast radiation therapy for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Following institutional review board approval, records of women treated with breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy for DCIS who developed an ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence from 1981 to 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. Multiinstitutional database records showed 513 women were treated, of whom 42 (8.2%) developed local recurrence. Study criteria were fulfilled and complete records were available for 32 women. Mean age at initial diagnosis was 49 years (range, 26-73 years).

RESULTS

Of the 32 patients included in our study, 31 (97%) recurrences were mammographically apparent. Twenty-nine (91%) of 32 were diagnosed exclusively by mammography. Mammographic findings at recurrence were calcifications in 24 (75%) of 32, mass in six (19%) of 32, and distortion in one (3%) of 32. The mean time to recurrence was 4.5 years. Twelve (40%) of 30 had the recurrence in a remote quadrant from the original cancer. Recurrences were DCIS in 17 (53%) of 32, DCIS with microinvasion in six (19%) of 32, invasive ductal cancer in three (9%) of 32, invasive lobular cancer in two (6%) of 32, and mixed DCIS and invasive cancer in four (13%) of 32. Six (67%) of nine patients with invasive cancer (excluding microinvasion) had tumors smaller than 1 cm. Ninety-one percent of recurrences were minimal cancers. All recurrences were stage 0 or 1.

CONCLUSION

Mammography successfully detected ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence, predominantly as calcifications or masses, after breast-conserving surgery with radiation therapy for DCIS in 97% of cases. The recurrences were located at variable distances from the lumpectomy site. Ninety-one percent of recurrences were minimal cancers and all were early stage, connoting excellent prognosis.

Variations in treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast: A population-based study in the East Netherlands

AIMS

Differences in treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast were analysed for a geographically defined population in the East Netherlands.

METHODS

Data from the Cancer Registry of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre East Netherlands were analysed for treatment of DCIS in the period between January 1989 and December 2003. The study population consisted of 800 female patients with a first diagnosis of DCIS of whom 798 underwent surgical treatment. The distribution of tumour characteristics and treatment were compared for several time periods.

RESULTS

Surgical treatment was specified for 648 patients: 51% underwent breast-conserving surgery. The proportion of patients treated with breast-conserving surgery increased: 43% in the period 1994-1998 and 55 after 1999 (p<0.01). An axillary staging procedure was performed in 149 patients (19%), of whom 2 (1%) had tumour-involved lymph nodes. Of patients treated with breast-conserving surgery, 133 (40%) received radiation therapy: 7% in the period 1994-1998 compared to 62% after 1999 (p<0.01). Patients (60%) of 50 years or younger were treated with mastectomy compared to 44% in patients aged 50-69 years and 50% in patients of 70 years and older (p<0.01). The rate in use of radiation therapy after breast-conserving surgery was comparable to both age groups.

CONCLUSION

This study shows variability in the treatment of DCIS in a geographically defined region. Approximately half of all patients were treated with mastectomy and 19% underwent an axillary staging procedure; this may represent aggressive, unwarranted treatment. In contrast, 38% of patients treated with breast-conserving surgery were not treated with radiation therapy after 1999, which may represent under-treatment.

p53 overexpression is a predictor of local recurrence after treatment for both in situ and invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast

BACKGROUND

Several biological markers have been related to prognosis in mammary ductal carcinoma. The aim of the study was to determine biological markers that could predict local recurrence following treatment for all stages of primary operable ductal carcinoma of the breast.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A consecutive series of patients treated for pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS, n = 110) and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC, n = 243) was studied. Twenty-three patients with DCIS were excluded because of lack of original paraffin embedded tissue. All patients had been treated between July 1996 and December 2001. Median follow-up was 49.8 mo. From the original paraffin embedded tumors, tissue microarrays (TMAs) were constructed. On these TMAs, immunohistochemistry was performed for estrogen-receptor (ER), progesterone-receptor (PR), Her2/neu, p53, and cyclin D1. Main outcome was the event of LR. All analyses were stratified for diagnosis (DCIS or IDC) and pathological grade.

RESULTS

In univariate analyses, Her2/neu overexpression (hazard ratio [HR] 3.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-8.7, P = 0.032) and p53 overexpression (HR 3.5, 95% CI 1.3-9.3, P = 0.014) were associated with LR in patients treated for both DCIS and IDC. In multivariate analysis, p53 overexpression (HR 3.0, 95% CI 1.1-8.2, P = 0.036 and HR 4.4, 95% CI 1.5-12.9, P = 0.008) and adjuvant radiotherapy (HR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.8, P = 0.026) were independent common predictors of LR in patients who had received treatment for both DCIS and IDC.

CONCLUSIONS

p53 overexpression is a common predictor of LR following treatment for all stages of primary operable ductal carcinoma of the breast. This marker may help in planning optimal treatment and follow-up.

Partial irradiation of the breast: Old challenges, new solutions

Breast-conserving treatment, characteristically consisting of surgical removal of the tumor and post-operative whole breast irradiation, is nowadays considered as the standard therapeutic approach for most women with stage I/II, invasive breast cancer. Recently, a number of institutions started investigating the feasibility and safety of novel approaches in radiotherapy, modulating concomitantly treatment time and irradiation volume. Whilst this strategy is still under investigation, recent clinical studies on accelerated partial breast irradiation with intra-operative radiotherapy or high conformality irradiation strongly suggest that the way patients with early breast cancer are irradiated should be revisited.

Local Recurrences After Conservative Treatment of Ductal Carcinoma-In-Situ of the Breast Without Radiotherapy: The Effect of Age

BACKGROUND

The main goal in treatment of ductal carcinoma-in-situ (DCIS) of the breast is to prevent local recurrences. Radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery has been shown to decrease the recurrence rate, although whether all patients should be treated with radiotherapy remains a topic of debate. The aim of this study was to assess the local recurrence rate after conservative surgical treatment of DCIS without radiotherapy and to identify risk factors for local recurrence.

METHODS

A total of 499 female patients with 502 DCIS lesions treated in the period 1989 to 2002 were retrospectively reviewed. Survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and differences were tested by using the log-rank test. The association of variables with local recurrence was analyzed by using the chi2 test.

RESULTS

Treatment constituted of lumpectomy in 329 patients (65%). Thirty-eight patients (8%) had disease-positive margins, and for 41 patients (8%) the margin status was not known. Eighty tumors recurred, for a local recurrence rate of 13% after 4 years compared with 17% for patients treated with breast-conserving surgery only. Risk factors for ipsilateral recurrences were younger age (< 50 years), treatment with breast-conserving surgery only, and presence of disease-involved surgical margins.

CONCLUSIONS

Conservative treatment of DCIS results in high recurrences rates, and outcomes can be improved by performing more radical surgery. Because radiotherapy has been shown to be effective in preventing recurrent disease, and, to date, no subgroups have been identified in which radiation can be omitted, its use is recommended, especially in younger patients.

Skin Angiosarcoma Arising in an Irradiated Breast: Case-Report and Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Angiosarcoma (AS) is a rare, invasive malignancy originating from endothelial cells caused by many different clinical situations. AS following radiotherapy for breast cancer after conservative surgery is a rare but well-known association.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this article is to describe a case of AS after breast conserving surgery and to review the literature to date.

RESULTS

We report the case of an 84-year-old woman who developed AS four years after she was subjected to quadrantectomy for invasive ductal cancer, followed by 30 tangent field radiotherapy sessions. She presented with a one-month history or red papular skin eruptions on the operated breast. Skin lesions were submitted for biopsy, and they were positive for AS. The patients was subjected to surgical excision of the remaining breast including all AS lesions. She is alive with no evidence of disease after 10 months follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Post-radiotherapy AS is rare neoplasm, but it should be considered in the case of patients with red lesions after breast conserving surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy.

Ductal Carcinoma in Situ: Trends in Geographic, Temporal, and Demographic Patterns of Care and Survival

While long-term prognosis is excellent, treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) remains controversial and inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to track geographic and temporal patterns of care for women diagnosed with DCIS, and analyze subsequent cancer-specific risk of mortality. Subjects for this study were 41,245 women diagnosed with primary DCIS in the National Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program from 1973 through 2000. Variables analyzed included patient age, year of diagnosis, SEER site of residence at the time of diagnosis, treatment (surgery, radiation), race, age, and hormone (estrogen and progesterone) receptor status. The percentage of women diagnosed with DCIS out of the total number of women diagnosed with breast cancer increased steadily between 1973 and 2000, with the largest increase occurring around 1985. Breast conserving surgery (BCS) utilization increased over time for each SEER site to the current proportions, ranging from 49.5% in Utah to 76.9% in Connecticut. Younger women were significantly more likely to receive mastectomy and had significantly lower risk of death. Women receiving BCS who also had radiation therapy (RT) had a significantly lower risk of death, although those receiving mastectomy had the lowest risk of death. Black women and Asian/Pacific island women were significantly more likely to receive BCS, although black women were less likely to receive follow-up RT and had a significantly increased risk of death. Racial and age differences in the treatment of DCIS resulted in significantly disparate rates of survival, which should be considered in public health programming. Mastectomy utilization resulted in improved survival, although additional studies may elucidate the interaction of treatment with patient age.

Factors associated with local recurrence and cause-specific survival in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast treated with breast-conserving therapy or mastectomy

PURPOSE

We reviewed our institution's experience treating patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast to determine risk factors for ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) and cause-specific survival (CSS) after breast-conserving therapy (BCT) or mastectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between 1981 and 1999, 410 cases of DCIS (405 patients) were treated at our institution; 367 were managed with breast-conserving surgery (54 with lumpectomy alone and 313 with adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) [median dose, 45 Gy]). Of these 313 patients, 298 received also a supplemental boost of RT to the lumpectomy cavity (median dose, 16 Gy). Forty-three patients underwent mastectomy; 2 (5%) received adjuvant RT to the chest wall. A true recurrence/marginal miss (TR/MM) IBTR was defined as failure within or adjacent to the tumor bed in patients undergoing BCT. Median follow-up for all patients was 7 years (mean: 6.1 years).

RESULTS

Thirty patients (8.2%) experienced an IBTR after BCT (25 [8%] after RT, 5 [9.3%] after no RT), and 2 patients (4.7%) developed a chest wall recurrence after mastectomy. Of the 32 local failures, 20 (63%) were invasive (18/30 [60%] after BCT and 2/2 [100%] after mastectomy), and 37% were DCIS alone. Twenty-four (80%) of the IBTRs were classified as TR/MM. The 10-year freedom from local failure, CSS, and overall survival after BCT or mastectomy were 89% vs. 90% (p = 0.4), 98% vs. 100% (p = 0.7), and 89% vs. 100% (p = 0.3), respectively. Factors associated with IBTR on Cox multivariate analysis were younger age (p = 0.02, hazard ratio [HR] 1.06 per year), electron boost energy < or = 9 MeV (p = 0.03, HR 1.41), final margins < or = 2 mm (p = 0.007; HR, 3.65), and no breast radiation (p = 0.002, HR 5.56). On Cox univariate analysis for BCT patients, IBTR, TR/MM failures, and predominant nuclear Grade 3 were associated with an increased risk of distant metastases and a reduced CSS.

CONCLUSIONS

After treatment for DCIS, 10-year rates of local control, CSS, and overall survival were similar after mastectomy and BCT. Young age (<45 years), close/positive margins (< or = 2 mm), no breast radiation, and lower electron boost energies (< or = 9 MeV) were associated with IBTR. Local failure and predominant nuclear Grade 3 were found to have a small (4%-12%) but statistically significantly negative impact on the rates of distant metastasis and CSS. These results suggest that optimizing local therapy (surgery and radiation) is crucial to improve local control and CSS in patients treated with DCIS.

Salvage treatment for local or local-regional recurrence after initial breast conservation treatment with radiation for ductal carcinoma in situ

The present study evaluated the outcome of salvage treatment for women with local or local-regional recurrence after initial breast conservation treatment with radiation for mammographically detected ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS; intraductal carcinoma) of the breast. The study cohort consisted of 90 women with local only first failure (n=85) or local-regional only first failure (n=5). The histology at the time of recurrence was invasive carcinoma for 53 patients (59%), non-invasive carcinoma for 34 patients (38%), angiosarcoma for one patient (1%), and unknown for two patients (2%). The median follow-up after salvage treatment was 5.5 years (mean=5.8 years; range=0.2-14.2 years). The 10-year rates of overall survival, cause-specific survival, and freedom from distant metastases after salvage treatment were 83%, 95%, and 91%, respectively. Adverse prognostic factors for the development of subsequent distant metastases after salvage treatment were invasive histology of the local recurrence and pathologically positive axillary lymph nodes. These results demonstrate that local and local-regional recurrences can be salvaged with high rates of survival and freedom from distant metastases. Close follow-up after initial breast conservation treatment with radiation is warranted for the early detection of potentially salvageable local and local-regional recurrences.

Locally recurrent breast cancer after conservation therapy

BACKGROUND

Today, the majority of small invasive and noninvasive breast cancers are treated with breast conservation therapy (BCT). The incidence of local-regional recurrence (LRR) after BCT for stage 0, I, and II patients ranges between 5% and 22%.

METHODS

A literature search for BCT, local recurrence, and regional recurrence was performed. Data from over 50 articles pertaining to the characteristics, risk factors, detection, management, and prognosis of these patients with LRR after BCT were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Positive margins, high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), young age, and the absence of radiation therapy after BCT increase the risk for LRR. Prognosis at LRR is impacted by invasive versus noninvasive histology, size and stage, method of detection, and involvement of skin and/or axillary lymph nodes. The standard treatment is salvage mastectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

The prognosis for LRR after BCT is favorable compared with patients with postmastectomy chest wall recurrence.

Long-term outcome after breast-conservation treatment with radiation for mammographically detected ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

BACKGROUND

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is detected most commonly on routine screening mammography in the asymptomatic patient, and has a long natural history. The objective of the current study was to determine the long-term outcome after breast-conservation surgery followed by definitive breast irradiation for women with mammographically detected DCIS of the breast.

METHODS

In total, 1003 women with unilateral, mammographically detected DCIS of the breast underwent breast-conserving surgery followed by definitive breast irradiation. These women were treated in 10 institutions in North America and Europe. The median follow-up was 8.5 years (mean, 9.0 years; range, 0.2-24.6 years).

RESULTS

The 15-year overall survival rate was 89%, and the 15-year cause-specific survival rate was 98%. The 15-year rate of freedom from distant metastases was 97%. In total, there were 100 local failures (10%) in the treated breast. The 15-year rate of any local failure was 19%, and the 15-year rate of local only first failure was 16%. Patient age > or = 50 years at the time of treatment and negative final pathology margins from the primary tumor excision both were associated independently with a lower risk of local failure in univariate analysis (P = 0.00062 and P = 0.024, respectively) and in multivariate analysis (P = 0.00057 and P = 0.0026, respectively). For favorable subgroups of patients age > or = 50 years or with negative resection margins, the 10-year risk of local failure was < or = 8%.

CONCLUSIONS

The current results support the use of breast-conserving surgery followed by definitive breast irradiation for the treatment of patients with mammographically detected DCIS of the breast. Patient age > or = 50 years at the time of treatment and negative resection margins both were associated independently with a decreased risk of local failure.

Workshop on Partial Breast Irradiation: State of the Art and the Science, Bethesda, MD, December 8-10, 2002

Breast conserving surgery followed by radiation therapy has been accepted as an alternative to mastectomy in the management of patients with early-stage breast cancer. Over the past decade there has been increasing interest in a variety of radiation techniques designed to treat only the portion of the breast deemed to be at high risk for local recurrence (partial-breast irradiation [PBI]) and to shorten the duration of treatment (accelerated partial-breast irradiation [APBI]). To consider issues regarding the equivalency of the various radiation therapy approaches and to address future needs for research, quality assurance, and training, the National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, Radiation Research Program, hosted a Workshop on PBI in December 2002. Although 5- to 7-year outcome data on patients treated with PBI and APBI are now becoming available, many issues remain unresolved, including clinical and pathologic selection criteria, radiation dose and fractionation and how they relate to the standard fractionation for whole breast irradiation, appropriate target volume, local control within the untreated ipsilateral breast tissue, and overall survival. This Workshop report defines the issues in relation to PBI and APBI, recommends parameters for consideration in clinical trials and for reporting of results, serves to enhance dialogue among the advocates of the various radiation techniques, and emphasizes the importance of education and training in regard to results of PBI and APBI as they become emerging clinical treatments.

Carcinome canalaire in situ du sein

OBJECTIVE

This study assesses the results of "current clinical practice" among 882 women treated in nine French Cancer Centers from 1985 to 1995 for pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast.

METHOD

Median age was 53 years (range 21-87); 177 (20%) patients underwent mastectomy (M), 190 (22%) conservative surgery alone (CS) and 515 (58%) conservative surgery with radiotherapy (CS + RT).

RESULTS

The crude 7-year local relapse (LR) rates were 2%, 31% and 13% among the M, CS and CS+RT subgroups (p<0.0001). All four LR after M were invasive as well as 31 (52%) out of 59 and 40 (61%) out of 66 in the CS and CS+RT groups. Distant metastases occurred in 1%, 3% and 1% of the three treatment groups. No LR factors were found in the M group. Among women treated with CS, the 7-year LR rates were 36%, 31% and 30% among women aged 40 or less, 41 to 60 and 61 or more (NS). For women treated by CS+RT, the LR rates in these age subgroups were 33%, 13% and 8%, respectively (p<0.0001). Patients with negative, positive or uncertain margins had 7-year LR rates of 26%, 56% and 29% respectively if treated with CS (p=0.02) and 11%, 23% and 9% if treated with CS+RT (p=0.0008). RT reduced LR rates by 65% in all histological subgroups, but more particularly in comedocarcinoma and mixed cribriform/papillary subgroups. The 7-year rate of contralateral breast cancer was 7%, identical in all subgroups.

CONCLUSION

Mastectomy remains the safest treatment for women with DCIS, with a 98% 7-year control rate. After conservative surgery, RT reduces very significantly LR rates, according to the NSABP B-17 and EORTC 10853 randomized trial results. The RT benefit is present in all clinical/histological subgroups, but its magnitude varies. Young age (<40 years) and incomplete excision are the most important LR risk factors.

Ductal carcinoma in situ

DCIS is a heterogeneous disease whose natural history is poorly defined. Screening mammography has increased the detection rate of DCIS, but we remain unable to identify cases of DCIS that will not progress to invasive carcinoma during an individual's lifetime. Genomics holds great promise in this regard, but prospective studies with long-term follow-up will be needed before concluding that a subset of DCIS is clinically insignificant. The varying intensity of treatment options for DCIS, ranging from mastectomy to excision, RT, and tamoxifen to excision alone, reflects the uncertainty about the natural history of DCIS as well as differing physician values regarding the impact of local recurrence. The extent of DCIS within the breast is the major determinant of whether the patient is a candidate for a breast-conserving approach, and contraindications to the use of breast conservation treatment and to the use of irradiation have been defined. The clinical decision-making process in DCIS would benefit greatly from improvements in our ability to convey information about the long-term risks and benefits of therapy, as well as the tradeoffs in health-related quality of life, to patients, and to incorporate their preferences into the decision-making process.

Biological response to hormonal manipulation in oestrogen receptor positive ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

Adjuvant antioestrogen therapy with tamoxifen is recommended for all women following breast-conserving surgery for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to reduce local recurrence, despite 50% of lesions being oestrogen receptor (OR) negative. We have investigated the response to hormone manipulation in DCIS by studying changes in epithelial proliferation and progesterone receptor (PR) expression as surrogate molecular markers of treatment effects in DCIS of known OR status. Women were identified who had undergone diagnostic core biopsy followed by surgery for DCIS 14-41 days later. Ki67 (a measure of epithelial cell proliferation) and PR expression were determined by immunohistochemistry on paired paraffin sections of the core biopsy and operative specimens for each patient, with OR and HER-2 measured on the operative specimen. Women were divided into three groups according to whether they had changed hormone therapy (stopped hormone replacement therapy (HRT), group 1), continued taking HRT (group 2) or were not taking HRT (group 3) between core biopsy and surgery. In OR-positive (but not in OR-negative) DCIS after oestrogen withdrawal (group 1), a fall in the mean cell proliferation (P&<0.01) was observed. A fall in PR expression between core biopsy and surgery was also seen in this group (P=0.02). No change in either mean cell proliferation or PR expression was seen in the other two groups in OR-positive or -negative DCIS. The fall in proliferation and PR expression occurred regardless of HER-2 status. In conclusion, a biological response to hormone manipulation is only seen in OR-positive DCIS tumours. Any clinical value of antioestrogen therapy is likely to be restricted to this group.

Value of the Van Nuys Prognostic Index in prediction of recurrence of ductal carcinoma in situ after breast-conserving surgery

BACKGROUND

The Van Nuys Prognostic Index (VNPI), an algorithm based on tumour size, tumour grade, presence of necrosis and excision margin width, is claimed to predict local recurrence after breast-conserving surgery for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The aim of this study was to examine the validity of the VNPI in a UK population.

METHODS

Clinicopathological data, including VNPI subgroups, for 237 patients who had breast-conserving operations for DCIS were examined. Multivariate data analysis was performed using a Cox regression model to examine the independence and relative importance of different variables in predicting recurrence, and to compare the data with those used in derivation of the VNPI.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 47 months. There were 37 ipsilateral local recurrences. Excision margin width (P < 0.001) and tumour grade (by Van Nuys grading (P = 0.014) or simple nuclear grading (P = 0.004)) were the only independent risk factors for local recurrence. Excision margin width had three times more power than grade in predicting local recurrence. Subgrouping data by VNPI score predicted recurrence-free survival (P < 0.001), but stratified 78 per cent of patients into a group with a moderate risk of local recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Excision margin width is the most important predictor of local recurrence after breast-conserving surgery for DCIS. The VNPI lacked discriminatory power for guiding further patient management.

Repeat lumpectomy for patients with ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence after breast-conserving surgery. Preliminary results

In this study, we assessed the appropriateness of conducting repeat lumpectomy for ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) based on the characteristics of recurrence after primary breast conserving surgery (BCS). Of 41 patients who had developed IBTR from October 1986 to June 2000 at our institute, 11 underwent mastectomy of the remaining breast and 30 underwent repeat lumpectomy. The 5-year overall survival rate at a median follow-up of 43 months after salvage surgery was 90.9% for the mastectomy group and 90.0% for the lumpectomy group. The 5-year distant disease-free survival rate was 70.1% for the mastectomy group and 83.0% for the lumpectomy group. The survival rates were remarkably high in both treatment groups, with no significant difference between them. IBTRs in the majority of our patients were small lesions less than 1 cm in diameter. They did not feature lymphatic invasion and had low histological grade. Compared with that of primary lesions, the malignancy of recurrent tumors was not increased in many patients. In contrast to these preferable features, 9 of 30 patients who underwent repeat lumpectomy developed second local relapse within 3 years after salvage operation. Young age (<or=35 years), positive family history and omission of adjuvant systemic therapy were found to exhibit trends as a discriminate for further local recurrences. In view of the relatively good prognosis of IBTRs and excellent results of repeat lumpectomy, we consider this method a treatment option that deserves serious consideration if we can select the patients who will not likely develop second local relapse.

Age at diagnosis and outcome for women with ductal carcinoma-in-situ of the breast: a critical review of the literature

PURPOSE

Patients younger than 35 to 45 years old at the time of diagnosis of invasive breast cancer have been found to have a worse prognosis than older patients in many studies. However, the impact of patient age at diagnosis on the outcome of treatment with either lumpectomy and radiation therapy (RT) or mastectomy for patients with ductal carcinoma-in-situ (DCIS) of the breast has not been extensively analyzed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Articles addressing the effect of patient age at diagnosis on the outcome of treatment of DCIS with lumpectomy and RT or mastectomy were identified through the MEDLINE and CancerLit databases and reference lists of relevant articles. Studies were reviewed to determine the impact of patient age at diagnosis on clinical and pathologic features of DCIS, the influence of age on outcome after lumpectomy and RT, and the impact of age on outcome after mastectomy.

RESULTS

DCIS in younger patients more frequently contains adverse prognostic pathologic factors and extends over a greater distance in the breast than in older patients. In series with adequate follow-up, younger patients treated with lumpectomy and RT had a significantly higher rate of local recurrence than older patients, especially for invasive local recurrences. Some studies have suggested that careful attention to margin status and excising larger volumes of tissue can reduce this difference substantially. No available data show that younger patients have better long-term cancer-free survival rates if treated by mastectomy rather than lumpectomy and RT.

CONCLUSION

Successful treatment of younger patients with DCIS with lumpectomy and RT requires careful attention to patient evaluation, selection, and surgical technique. When this is done, age at diagnosis should not be a contraindication to breast-conserving therapy.

Breast imaging and the conservative treatment of breast cancer

Breast conservation, where appropriate, offers effective treatment for breast cancer while preserving the breast. The increased use of mammographic screening has led to increased detection of small, curable breast cancers that are amenable to breast-conserving surgery. Mammography and other imaging modalities, such as sonography and MRI, assist in the determination of the appropriateness of breast conservation and in the differentiation of recurrence from benign sequelae of treatment.