Post-treatment sarcoma in breast cancer patients

Angiosarcoma of the Breast: Overview of Current Data and Multimodal Imaging Findings

Angiosarcoma of the breast is a rare breast cancer, which can arise de novo (primary breast angiosarcoma, PBA) or as a secondary malignancy (secondary breast angiosarcoma, SBA) as a result of a biological insult. In the latter case, it is usually diagnosed in patients with a previous history of radiation therapy following a conserving treatment for breast cancer. Over the years, the advances in early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, with increasing use of breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy (instead of radical mastectomy), brought about an increased incidence of the secondary type. PBA and SBA have different clinical presentations and often represent a diagnostic challenge due to the nonspecific imaging findings. The purpose of this paper is to review and describe the radiological features of breast angiosarcoma, both in conventional and advanced imaging to guide radiologists in the diagnosis and management of this rare tumor.

Five decades of sarcoma care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Early studies of the management of soft tissue sarcoma at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center were influenced by development of robust prospective long-term databases. Increasing capacity for molecular diagnostics has identified a myriad of subtypes with definable natural history. Accurate identification of tissue-specific risk of recurrence and disease-specific survival have increasingly allowed selective use of surgery, radiation therapy, and target-specific cytotoxic and immune therapies.

Clinical and Molecular Insights of Radiation-Induced Breast Sarcomas: Is There Hope on the Horizon for Effective Treatment of This Aggressive Disease?

Radiation-induced breast sarcomas (RIBS) are rare entities representing <1% of all primary breast malignancies, limiting most reports to small retrospective case series. They constitute a heterogeneous group of neoplasms, with high-grade angiosarcoma being the most common subtype. Other sarcoma histotypes, such as undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma and leiomyosarcoma, can also be identified. Radiation-induced breast angiosarcoma (RIBA) has an incidence of approximately 0.1% after breast-conserving therapy and arises mainly from the dermis of the irradiated breast. MYC gene amplification is highly indicative of secondary breast angiosarcomas. Their clinical presentation often mimics benign port-radiation lesions, leading to a delay in diagnosis and a lost window of opportunity for cure. Surgery with negative margins is the mainstay of treatment of localized RIBS. In the case of angiosarcoma, technical difficulties, including multifocality, infiltrative margins, and difficulty in assessing tumor margins, render surgical treatment quite challenging. A limited number of studies showed that adjuvant radiation therapy reduces local recurrences; therefore, it is proposed by many groups for large, high-grade tumors. Chemotherapy has been evaluated retrospectively in a small subset of patients, with some evidence supporting its use in angiosarcoma patients. Approximately half of patients with RIBA will show local recurrence. In the advanced setting, different therapeutic options are discussed in the review, including chemotherapy, antiangiogenic therapy, and immunotherapy, whereas the need for further research on molecular therapeutic targets is pointed out.

RILA blood biomarker as a predictor of radiation-induced sarcoma in a matched cohort study

Purpose

Radiation-induced sarcoma (RIS) is a rare but serious event. Its occurrence has been discussed during the implementation of new radiation techniques and justified appropriate radioprotection requirements. New approaches targeting intrinsic radio-sensitivity have been described, such as radiation-induced CD8 T-lymphocyte apoptosis (RILA) able to predict late radio-induced toxicities. We studied the role of RILA as a predisposing factor for RIS as a late adverse event following radiation therapy (RT).

Patients and methods

In this prospective biological study, a total of 120 patients diagnosed with RIS were matched with 240 control patients with cancer other than sarcoma, for age, sex, primary tumor location and delay after radiation. RILA was prospectively assessed from blood samples using flow cytometry.

Results

Three hundred and forty-seven patients were analyzed (118 RIS patients and 229 matched control patients). A majority (74%) were initially treated by RT for breast cancer. The mean RT dose was comparable with a similar mean (± standard deviation) for RIS (53.7 ± 16.0 Gy) and control patients (57.1 ± 15.1 Gy) (p = .053). Median RILA values were significantly lower in RIS than in control patients with respectively 18.5% [5.5–55.7] and 22.3% [3.8–52.2] (p = .0008). Thus, patients with a RILA >21.3% are less likely to develop RIS (p < .0001, OR: 0.358, 95%CI [0.221–0.599].

Conclusion

RILA is a promising indicator to predict an individual risk of developing RIS. Our results should be followed up and compared with molecular and genomic testing in order to better identify patients at risk. A dedicated strategy could be developed to define and inform high-risk patients who require a specific approach for primary tumor treatment and long term follow-up.

Post-radiation sarcoma: A study by the Eastern Asian Musculoskeletal Oncology Group

The oncologic risk of ionizing radiation is widely known. Sarcomas developing after radiotherapy have been reported, and they are a growing problem because rapid advancements in cancer management and screening have increased the number of long-term survivors. Although many patients have undergone radiation treatment in Asian countries, scarce reports on post-radiation sarcomas (PRSs) have been published. We investigated the feature and prognostic factors of PRSs in an Asian population. The Eastern Asian Musculoskeletal Oncology Group participated in this project. Cases obtained from 10 centers were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with genetic malignancy predisposition syndrome, or who had more than one type of malignancy before the development of secondary sarcoma were excluded. Forty-two high-grade sarcomas among a total of 43 PRSs were analyzed. There were 29 females and 13 males, with a median age of 58.5 years; 23 patients had bone tumors and 19 had soft tissue tumors. The most common primary lesion was breast cancer. The median latency period was 192 months. There were no differences in radiation dose, latency time, and survival rates between bone and soft tissue PRSs. The most common site and diagnosis were the pelvic area and osteosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma for bone and soft tissue PRSs. The median follow-up period was 25.5 months. Five-year metastasis-free and overall survival rates were 14.5% and 16.6%, and 39.1% and 49.6% for bone and soft tissue PRSs. Survival differences depending on initial metastasis and surgery were significant in soft tissue sarcomas. Although this study failed to find ethnic differences, it is the largest review on PRS in an Asian population. As early recognition through long-term surveillance is a key to optimal management, clinicians should take efforts to understand the real status of PRS.

Mesenchymal Lesions of the Breast: What Radiologists Need to Know

OBJECTIVE

Mesenchymal breast tumors originate from the various components of mammary stroma. The aim of this review is to discuss the clinical presentation, imaging appearance, and management of mesenchymal breast lesions.

CONCLUSION

Although many mesenchymal tumors exhibit characteristic findings on imaging, others show nonspecific characteristics and require tissue biopsy for diagnosis. An awareness of the clinical and imaging presentation is essential in guiding the differential diagnosis and patient management.

The Role of Adjuvant Radiotherapy for a Case of Primary Breast Sarcoma: A Plan Comparison between Three Modern Techniques and a Review of the Literature

A 65-year-old woman, affected by a malignant fibrous histiocytoma (undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma) of the left breast, presented to our department to receive the postoperative radiotherapy. In the absence of prospective and randomized trials and investigations on breast sarcoma irradiation in literature, due to the rarity of this pathology, the role of adjuvant radiotherapy remains unclear. To identify the best radiotherapy technique for this patient, three methods were compared: 3D conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and volumetric arc therapy (VMAT) or RapidArc® (RA). 50 Gy was prescribed to the chest wall and 66 Gy to the tumor bed. Three plans were designed, and target coverage, organs-at-risk sparing, and treatment efficiency were compared. IMRT and RA improved both target coverage and dose uniformity/homogeneity. Planning objective for the lung is always satisfied comparing the different techniques, but the volume receiving 20 Gy drops to 17% by RA compared to 3D-CRT. The heart volume receiving 30 Gy was 10% by IMRT, against 13% and 16% by RA and 3D-CRT. The monitor unit (MU) required by 3D-CRT was 527 MU, followed by RA and IMRT. Treatment time was similar with 3D-CRT and RA but doubled using IMRT. Although all three radiotherapy techniques offered a satisfactory solution, RA and IMRT offer some improvement on target coverage, dose homogeneity, and conformity for this particular case of breast sarcoma.

Pathologic Angiogenesis of Malignant Vascular Sarcomas: Implications for Treatment

Angiosarcoma, epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, and Kaposi sarcoma are classified according to the line of differentiation that these neoplastic cells most closely resemble: the endothelial cell. Although these malignant vascular sarcomas demonstrate immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features typical of this lineage, they vary dramatically in presentation and behavior, reflecting oncologic mechanisms unique to each. Antineoplastic therapies offer significant benefit, but because of the rarity of these cancers, novel therapies are slow to develop, and treatment options for these cancers remain limited. Antiangiogenic approaches that have shown benefit in other malignancies have not fully realized their promise in vascular tumors, suggesting that these tumors do not depend entirely on either angiogenic growth factors or on neighboring endothelia that are affected by these agents. Nonetheless, translational studies have begun to unravel these distinct pathologies, identifying novel translocation products, targets of oncogenic virulence factors, and genomic mutations that hijack angiogenic signaling and drive malignant growth. Concurrently, an elaborate and highly regulated model of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis involving vascular endothelial growth factor–receptor tyrosine kinase and TGF-β and Notch pathways has emerged that informs treatment of these tumors as well as cancer in general. This review summarizes the literature on malignant vascular sarcomas in the context of current models of angiogenesis and, in light of recent clinical trial data, could help clinician-scientists generate novel therapeutic approaches.

Hematologic Malignancies Discovered on Investigation of Breast Abnormalities

OBJECTIVES

Hematological malignancies of the breast share a presentation similar to primary breast carcinomas but differ substantially in therapeutic approach and clinical outcomes. In this study, we investigate the frequency of hematological malignancies, their relative primary and secondary occurrences, and further characterize the distinct histopathologies of these malignancies with a special focus on lymphomas. To our knowledge this is one of the largest and most comprehensive studies of breast hematologic malignancies.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of our institution's pathology database for hematologic neoplasms diagnosed in breast tissue during a period of 22 years (1992-2014). Clinical characteristics, patient history, histologic subtype, and patient outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

We identified 52 cases; 46 lymphomas, 4 plasmacytomas, and 2 myeloid sarcomas. The lymphoma cases were 15 diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs), 14 follicular lymphomas (FLs), 8 marginal zone lymphomas (MZLs), 2 anaplastic large T-cell lymphomas, 2 peripheral T-cell lymphomas-not otherwise specified, 1 each of small lymphocytic lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. In total, 30 cases were primary and 22 cases were secondary to the breast. Primary lymphomas accounted for 60% of lymphomas. Most FLs and almost all MZLs were primary.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary hematological malignancies of the breast are more common than secondary: 58 % versus 42%. This finding is more evident in lymphomas: 63% versus 37%. The most common hematological malignancy in our study was DLBCL, followed by FL and MZL. Most FLs and almost all MZLs were primary. At the same time, the percentage of primary DLBCLs in our study is lower than the percentage reported in previous studies. We suggest that this could be the result of transformation from low-grade lymphomas. Although rare, hematological malignancies of the breast warrant a higher level of clinical suspicion as they present similarly to breast carcinomas but require a substantially different therapeutic approach.

Sporadic Case of Breast Angiosarcoma as a Complication of Radiotherapy Following Breast-Conserving Surgery for Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

Angiosarcomas are highly aggressive and malignant blood vessel tumors. Rarely, angiosarcomas develop in the breast following conservative therapy, namely radiotherapy.

CASE REPORT

A 70-year-old female patient presented with dark purple discoloration of the skin of the right breast. 6 years earlier, the patient had undergone conservative surgery for invasive ductal carcinoma of the right breast. According to the breast-conserving surgery protocol, the patient had been treated with radiotherapy to the residual breast tissue. The patient's annual mammograms and ultrasound findings were normal. The skin lesion was superficially localized mostly at the border between the upper and lower medial quadrants of the breast (between 2 and 4 o'clock) and above the areola. The borders were uneven; the dimensions were 7 cm × 4 cm. The mammogram was classified as Breast Imaging Report and Data System (BI-RADS) 2. Ultrasound examination showed a well-vascularized structure, although the etiology was unclear. A tissue biopsy revealed angiosarcoma. The patient underwent radical simplex mastectomy. Following surgery, the patient underwent chemotherapy. Tests excluded metastases for a follow-up period of 5 years.

CONCLUSION

Angiosarcomas that develop after radiotherapy following breast-conserving surgery are sporadic, but it is important to take this possible incident into consideration during treatment.

Grade and Prognosis in Localized Primary Angiosarcoma

BACKGROUND

Primary angiosarcoma of the breast (PAOB) is rare and institutional series have provided conflicting data on the effect of grade on prognosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using a case listing session of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 (1973-2010) we examined outcomes for patients with PAOB. Analyses were conducted with SEER*Stat 8.1.2, Microsoft Excel 2007, and GraphPad Prism 6. Comparisons were made using the Fisher exact test and log rank test (Mantel-Cox); P values were 2-sided.

RESULTS

Two hundred twenty-six women with PAOB were identified; median age was 49 (range, 15-107) years and 82% (185) were white. Seventy-two percent (162) had localized disease, 15% (34) regional disease, 7% (16) distant disease, and 6% (14) had unknown staging. Fourteen percent (32) had Grade 1, 24% (55) Grade 2, 30% (68) Grade 3 disease, and grade was unknown in 32% (72) of patients. Median overall survival (OS) for patients with localized, regional, and distant disease was 172, 24, and 16 months, respectively (P < .001). Median OS for patients with localized Grade 1 and 2 disease was not reached versus 36 months for Grade 3 disease (P < .001); 3-year OS was 89% (78) versus 47% (32). There was a strong trend for patients with Grade 3 disease to undergo mastectomy (44%, n = 30 vs. 23%, n = 20; P = .070) and 24% (55) of all patients received radiation. Radiation did not improve survival for localized Grade 1 and 2 disease (P = .676), or Grade 3 disease (P = .589); surgery and grade subgroups were too small for meaningful comparisons regarding radiation.

CONCLUSION

Histologic grade is a significant predictor of survival for patients with localized PAOB. Regardless of grade, adjuvant radiation did not confer a survival benefit for patients with localized disease.

Primary Angiosarcoma of the Breast: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Angiosarcoma of the breast (ASB) is a rare but aggressive tumor with very poor prognosis. It is important to recognize this tumor early and to distinguish between primary and secondary ASB. While mammograms frequently miss these lesions, ultrasound and MRI show promise as imaging modalities. In spite of characteristic features described on pathology, misdiagnosis is common, with over 35% tumors initially thought to be benign. We present the case of a 32-year-old woman with a history of bilateral reduction mammoplasty who presented with a non-tender lump in her right breast. After repeated aspirations and biopsies, a diagnosis of primary ASB was made. She underwent bilateral simple mastectomies followed by adjuvant chemo-therapy and radiation. While surgery is the mainstay of treatment, roles of radiation and chemo-therapy are still evolving; we review the literature and discuss the decision pathways for diagnosis and management of this rare tumor.

Optimal management of sarcomas of the breast: an update

Breast sarcomas are rare mesenchymal-derived breast tumors. The small number of patients, the different histological subtypes, and the variation in clinical practice impairs the ability to draw firm practice recommendations. Patient management is often extrapolated from other soft tissue sarcomas, mostly of the extremities in which more clinical data is available. Surgical resection with negative margins is the goal of treatment, irrespective of the surgical procedure; the implication of radiation and chemotherapy is variable. Further advances in treatment should follow the assembly of breast sarcoma patients in specific cancer networks in specialized sarcoma referral centers. The characterization of molecular pathways active in tumorogenesis of these tumors may pave the way for the application of novel therapeutic agents.

A prospective analysis of 100 consecutive lymphovenous bypass cases for treatment of extremity lymphedema

BACKGROUND

The authors prospectively evaluated the efficacy of lymphovenous bypass in patients with lymphedema secondary to cancer treatment.

METHODS

The authors prospectively enrolled 100 consecutive patients with extremity lymphedema secondary to cancer treatment. Sixty-five patients underwent lymphovenous bypass with indocyanine green fluorescent lymphangiography. Evaluation included qualitative assessment and quantitative volumetric analysis before and 3, 6, and 12 months after bypass.

RESULTS

Lymphovenous bypass was performed in 89 upper extremities and 11 lower extremities. For upper extremity lymphedemas, the mean preoperative volume differential was 32 percent. Symptom improvement was reported by 96 percent of patients and quantitative improvement was noted by 74 percent. The overall mean volume differential reduction was 33 percent at 3 months, 36 percent at 6 months, and 42 percent at 12 months after surgery. The mean volume differential reductions at 3, 6, and 12 months after lymphovenous bypass in patients with stage 1 or 2 lymphedema (58, 52, and 61 percent, respectively) were significantly larger than those in the patients with stage 3 or 4 lymphedema (12, 16, and 17 percent, respectively). Eleven bypasses were performed in seven patients with lower extremity lymphedema, with a mean preoperative volume differential of 38 percent. Only four (57 percent) of these patients reported symptom improvement; postoperative volume measurements were available for only two of these four.

CONCLUSIONS

Lymphovenous bypass can be effective in reducing lymphedema severity, particularly in patients with early-stage upper extremity lymphedema. Indocyanine green lymphangiography accurately identified functional lymphatic vessels and may have a role in objectively assessing lymphedema severity and patient selection.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, IV.

Sarcomas of the breast

Sarcomas of the breast are a rare group of heterogeneous mesenchymal tumors accounting for less than 1% of all breast malignancies. Owing to the rarity of the disease, current knowledge is mostly based on numerous case reports and relatively small retrospective series; unlike epithelial breast cancer, there is no high level evidence to support a standard of care for primary and/or adjuvant therapy. To overcome this relative shortage of data, most therapeutic strategies for breast sarcoma are extrapolated from current treatment for soft tissue sarcoma in other locations, mainly of the extremities and thoracic wall. In general, the therapeutic approach to sarcoma of the breast should be based on a multidisciplinary strategy including surgery, radiation to improve local control and systemic chemotherapy in selected patients. This review discusses the results of the key larger retrospective studies including data on incidence, etiology, presentation, diagnosis, management and prognosis of this challenging rare disease entity.

Acupuncture in the treatment of upper-limb lymphedema: results of a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Current treatments for lymphedema after breast cancer treatment are expensive and require ongoing intervention. Clinical experience and our preliminary published results suggest that acupuncture is safe and potentially useful. This study evaluates the safety and potential efficacy of acupuncture on upper-limb circumference in women with lymphedema.

METHODS

Women with a clinical diagnosis of breast cancer−related lymphedema (BCRL) for 0.5-5 years and with affected arm circumference ≥2 cm larger than unaffected arm received acupuncture treatment twice weekly for 4 weeks. Affected and unaffected arm circumferences were measured before and after each acupuncture treatment. Response, defined as ≥30% reduction in circumference difference between affected/unaffected arms, was assessed. Monthly follow-up calls for 6 months thereafter were made to document any complications and self-reported lymphedema status.

RESULTS

Among 37 enrolled patients, 33 were evaluated; 4 discontinued due to time constraints. Mean reduction in arm circumference difference was 0.90 cm (95% CI, 0.72-1.07; P < .0005). Eleven patients (33%) exhibited a reduction of ≥30% after acupuncture treatment. Seventy-six percent of patients received all treatments; 21% missed 1 treatment, and another patient missed 2 treatments. During the treatment period, 14 of the 33 patients reported minor complaints, including mild local bruising or pain/tingling. There were no serious adverse events and no infections or severe exacerbations after 255 treatment sessions and 6 months of follow-up interviews.

CONCLUSIONS

Acupuncture for BCRL appears safe and may reduce arm circumference. Although these results await confirmation in a randomized trial, acupuncture can be considered for women with no other options for sustained arm circumference reduction. Cancer 2013;119:2455-2461. © 2013 American Cancer Society.

Other primary malignancies in breast cancer patients treated with breast conserving surgery and radiation therapy

BACKGROUND

Our purpose was to examine the incidence and impact on survival of other primary malignancies (OPM) outside of the breast in breast cancer patients and to identify risk factors associated with OPM.

METHODS

Patients with stage 0-III breast cancer treated with breast conserving therapy at our center from 1979 to 2007 were included. Risk factors were compared between patients with/without OPM. Logistic regression was used to identify factors that were associated with OPM. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated.

RESULTS

Among 4,198 patients in this study, 276 (6.6 %) developed an OPM after breast cancer treatment. Patients with OPM were older and had a higher proportion of stage 0/I disease and contralateral breast cancer compared with those without OPM. In a multivariate analysis, older patients, those with contralateral breast cancer, and those who did not receive chemotherapy or hormone therapy were more likely to develop OPM after breast cancer. Patients without OPM had better overall survival. The SIR for all OPM sites combined after a first primary breast cancer was 2.91 (95 % confidence interval: 2.57-3.24). Significantly elevated risks were seen for numerous cancer sites, with SIRs ranging from 1.84 for lung cancer to 5.69 for ovarian cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that breast cancer patients have an increased risk of developing OPM over the general population. The use of systemic therapy was not associated with increased risk of OPM. In addition to screening for a contralateral breast cancer and recurrences, breast cancer survivors should undergo screening for other malignancies.

Long-term outcomes in patients with radiation-associated angiosarcomas of the breast following surgery and radiotherapy for breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Radiation-associated angiosarcoma (RAAS) is a devastating disease occasionally observed in breast cancer patients treated with radiation. Due to its rarity, our knowledge-of disease risk factors, epidemiology, treatment, and outcome-is extremely limited. Therefore, we sought to identify clinicopathologic factors associated with local and distant recurrence and disease-specific survival (DSS).

METHODS

Radiation-associated angiosarcoma was defined as pathologically confirmed breast or chest wall angiosarcoma arising within a previously irradiated field. A comprehensive search of our institutional tumor registry (1/1/93 through 2/28/11) was used to identify patients (n = 95 females). Patient, original tumor, RAAS treatment, and outcome variables were retrospectively retrieved and assembled into a database.

RESULTS

The median follow-up for all RAAS patients was 10.3 (range, 2.4-31.8) years. The latency period following radiation exposure ranged from 1.4 to 26 (median, 7) years. One-year and 5-year DSS rates were 93.5 and 62.6 %, respectively. Reduced risk of local recurrence was observed in patients who received chemotherapy (P = 0.0003). In multivariable analysis, size was found to be an independent predictor of adverse outcome (P = 0.015).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that RAAS exhibits high recurrence rates. It also highlights the need for well-designed, multicenter, clinical trials to inform the true utility of chemotherapy in this disease.

Postradiation sarcoma: morphological findings on fine-needle aspiration with clinical correlation

BACKGROUND

The current study was conducted to describe the clinical features and presentation, cytomorphological characteristics with histological correlation, and prognosis of patients who undergo fine-needle aspiration (FNA) for postradiation sarcoma (PRS).

METHODS

A retrospective review was performed of 13 individual patients who were pooled from the FNA services of 3 academic institutions between 2001 and 2012. Cases were reviewed for the primary tumor, radiation history, latency period, and other distinguishing clinical features. The frequency of the various cytological preparations as well as the use of immunohistochemistry (IHC) on this material were reviewed. The cytopathology diagnosis was compared with the resection diagnosis, and the survival time was reviewed.

RESULTS

The median age of the patients was 61 years (range, 35 years-94 years) and no significant gender predilection was noted. The median latency period was 11 years (range, 5 years to > 50 years). Patients generally presented with large tumors (median, 8 cm [range, 3 cm-12 cm]), and the median survival was 14 months (range, 6 months-46 months). Nine of 13 patients died of their disease and 1 was lost to follow-up. The tumors were morphologically heterogeneous. IHC played an important role in excluding other diagnoses in those cases in which sufficient material was available.

CONCLUSIONS

PRS is a morphologically heterogeneous entity that can be diagnosed by FNA. It is a diagnosis of exclusion that requires a history of therapeutic radiation and often requires IHC to rule out locally recurrent malignancy.

Surgical management of lymphedema: past, present, and future

Recent advances in surgical management of lymphedema have provided options for patients who have failed conservative management with manual lymphatic massage and/or compression garments. The purpose of this review is to provide a historical background to the surgical treatment of lymphedema and how these options have evolved over time. In addition, we aim to delineate the various types of surgical approaches available, indications for surgery, and reported outcomes. Our goal is to increase awareness of these options and foster research to improve their outcomes.

Soft tissue sarcoma diagnosed subsequent to lymphoma is associated with prior radiotherapy and decreased survival

BACKGROUND

Cancer survivors are at increased risk for second malignancies, and vigilance is thus required. The authors sought to determine whether there was an association among lymphoma, sarcoma, and the associated treatments for these diseases.

METHODS

From the authors' prospective soft tissue sarcoma (STS) database of 8240 patients, they identified 112 patients with STS and lymphoma treated from 1982 to 2009 who had complete follow-up data. They examined the importance of the initial diagnosis in patients with both STS and lymphoma, in addition to determining the role of radiation therapy, a known inducer of sarcoma.

RESULTS

Review of their sarcoma, gastric, urology, breast, and gynecology databases revealed that lymphoma (95%) or leukemia (5%) occurred in 1.6% of STS patients in comparison to 0.5% of patients in the other databases (P < .01; odds ratio, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 2.6-3.8). Patients diagnosed with STS only were more likely to die of disease at 10 years compared with those with STS and lymphoma (P = .006), but this difference was not significant when patients presenting with recurrence or metastases were excluded. Among patients with lymphoma and STS, lymphoma was the first diagnosis in 71% of patients. Median survival after STS diagnosis was shorter when lymphoma was the initial diagnosis (67 vs 170 months, P = .002), and these patients were more likely to have radiation-associated STS (44% vs 3%, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

There was a 3-fold higher incidence of lymphoma in STS patients compared with other solid tumors. The poor prognosis of those diagnosed with both STS and lymphoma was most likely a consequence of prior irradiation.

Postirradiation sarcoma: clinicopathologic features and role of chemotherapy in the treatment strategy

Purpose. An analysis of the clinicopathologic features and treatment of patients was performed to guide evaluation and management of postirradiation sarcoma. Patients and Methods. Between 1994 and 2001, 25 patients with postirradiation sarcoma were treated in one center with different chemotherapy, mainly in neoadjuvant setting (19). Tumors for which these patients received radiotherapy initially were mainly breast carcinoma (for 15 patients). The postirradiation sarcomas were of different histopathologic forms, most frequently osteosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, and angiosarcoma. Results. Of the 25 patients, 19 were initially treated with chemotherapy. Nine of 19 pretreated patients achieved clinical partial response (RP = 47%). Leiomyosarcomas were good responders (3/4) and undifferentiated sarcoma (3/5). Responders were more often treated with MAID (6/8). Eight of the 9 responders underwent surgery. Two patients achieved complete histological response. Seven of the 9 good responders are alive with a median follow up of 24 months. For all treated patients, median follow up 24 months (6-84 months), overall survival and disease free survival were, respectively, 17/25 (68%), and 14/25 (56%). Conclusion. From our data, postirradiation sarcoma should not be managed differently from primary sarcoma. Chemotherapy has to be included in the treatment plan of postirradiation sarcoma, in future studies.

Diagnosis and therapy in children with lymphoedema

Introduction

Lymphoedema (LE) is a disorder characterized by persistent swelling caused by impaired lymphatic drainage because of various aetiologies, including lymphatic injury and congenital functional or anatomical defects.

Objective

Literature review and expert opinion about diagnosis and treatment of LE in children.

Results

LE is rare in children, with a prevalence of about 1.15/100,000 persons, 20 years old. The management of LE in children differs considerably from adults in terms of origin, co-morbidity and therapeutic approach. The objective of this presentation is to discuss practical issues related to clinically relevant information on the diagnosis, aetiology, work-up and treatment of LE in children. In contrast to adults, who usually experience secondary LE because of acquired lymphatic failure, most cases in children have a primary origin. The diagnosis can be made mainly on the basis of careful personal and family history, and physical examination. LE in children can be part of a syndrome if there are other concomitant phenotypic abnormalities and if a genetic defect is recognizable. Treatment of LE is mostly conservative utilizing decongestive LE therapy including compression therapy, directed exercises, massage and skincare. In the neonate, initial observation alone may be sufficient, as delayed lymphatic development and maturation can result in spontaneous improvement. The role of parents is crucial in providing the necessary input.

Conclusion

We present a review emphasizing a practical approach to treating a child with LE according to current publications and our own experience.

Radiation induced malignant histiocytoma of the contralateral breast following treatment of breast cancer: a case report and review of the literature

: Radiation therapy (XRT) is an important modality for treatment of breast cancer. Its use has occasionally resulted in the development of secondary malignancies.We describe this interesting case of a 46-year-old woman who developed malignant fibrous histiocytoma in the contralateral breast 6 years after a lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy for infiltrating ductal carcinoma. The role of XRT in the treatment of breast carcinoma and development of Radiation induced Sarcoma (RIS) is examined.RIS has a current incidence of 0.03% to 0.2% in patients undergoing XRT for breast carcinoma. The role of XRT in the development of RIS has been clearly demonstrated. Clinical presentations vary, and diagnosis is commonly delayed. Treatment consists of wide surgical excision. Development of RIS has an average latency of over 10 years and correlates with the dose and technique of XRT. Breast conserving surgery followed by irradiation is becoming increasingly popular leading to an increasing number of sarcomas. Because of post-irradiation changes, detection of a new lesion is difficult, resulting in delayed diagnosis and poor prognosis in these patients. However, the benefit of XRT far outweighs the risk of RIS and should not affect the decision to treat these patients with this modality.

Primary angiosarcomas of the breast

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the study was to describe the clinicopathologic characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with primary breast angiosarcoma.

METHODS

The institutional database was searched to identify breast angiosarcoma patients seen between 1965 and 2002. Survival outcomes were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test was used to compare groups. Cox proportional hazards models were used for multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

In all, 69 patients were identified. Median follow-up was 40 months (range, 0-413 months). Median age was 46. Median tumor size at diagnosis was 5.5 cm. Thirteen (18.8%) patients received prior radiation for invasive breast carcinoma. Most patients underwent total mastectomy with (41%) or without (45%) axillary dissection. Regional metastasis to axillary lymph nodes was rare. There were 38 recurrences and 27 deaths. The 5-year overall (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 61% (95% confidence interval [CI], 49%-76%) and 44% (95% CI, 33%-58%) with estimated medians of 100 and 37 months, respectively. In Cox proportional hazards models, OS and RFS were significantly associated only with T size and not with patient age, prior radiation, or chemotherapy administration. Of 29 patients treated with chemotherapy at recurrence, there were 4 complete and 10 partial responses (48%) with an anthracycline-ifosfamide or gemcitabine-taxane combination.

CONCLUSIONS

Breast angiosarcoma is frequently advanced at diagnosis and has a tendency for local-regional recurrence. A significant number of responses to chemotherapy was observed in the metastatic setting. These data suggest that a multidisciplinary therapeutic approach should be employed in high-risk patients with large primary tumors.

Radiation induced angiosarcoma a sequela of radiotherapy for breast cancer following conservative surgery

Radiation induced angiosarcomas (RIA) can affect breast cancer patients who had radiotherapy following conservative breast surgery. They are very rare tumors and often their diagnosis is delayed due to their benign appearance and difficulty in differentiation from radiation induced skin changes. Therefore it is very important that clinicians are aware of their existence. We report here a case of RIA followed by discussion and review of literature.

Good outcome after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and extended surgical resection for a large radiation-induced high-grade breast sarcoma

This article is a case report of a high grade, radio-induced, breast malignant fibrous histiocytoma (undifferentiated high grade pleomorphic sarcoma), which developed in a 44-year old female, seven years after breast conservative surgery and radiotherapy for a T1N0M0 invasive left breast ductal carcinoma. The sarcoma presented as a fast growing tumour, 9.5 cm in the largest diameter, with skin, left breast, chest wall muscle and rib invasion.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was performed with epirubicin and ifosfamide. Extended radical surgery according to oncological standards and soft tissue reconstruction were carried out. Despite bad prognostic features of high grade and large invasive sarcoma, the patient is currently, after 44 months of follow up, without local recurrence, or metastases, exceeding the 12.8-month mean recurrence period and mortality rate for these tumours larger than 8.1 cm (± 1.2 cm) as described in the literature.

Radiation dose and risk of soft tissue and bone sarcoma after breast cancer treatment

BACKGROUND

To quantify the risk of soft tissue and bone sarcomas after breast cancer according to the doses and technical modalities of irradiation.

METHODS

We followed a cohort of 6597 breast-cancer patients for 8.3 years on average. The number of soft tissue and bone sarcomas was compared to the expected number based on the incidence rates in the general French population. We also estimated the risk of sarcoma according to the radiation dose received at site of the sarcoma in a nested case control study of 14 breast-cancer patients who subsequently developed a sarcoma and 98 controls matched for age at diagnosis of breast cancer, period of initial treatment and length of follow-up.

RESULTS

In the cohort-study, 12 women who had initially received radiotherapy treatment developed a bone or soft tissue sarcoma during the follow-up period. The expected number of cases during this period was 1.7 (SIR = 7.0, 95% CI: 3.7-11.7) and the mean annual excess incidence during the same period was 21 per 100,000 person-years. The 15-year cumulative incidence of sarcoma was 0.28% (95% CI: 0.10-0.45%). In the case-control study, all the 14 cases had received at least 11.8 Gray at the site of the sarcoma, which was always located in the irradiated field or in the upper ipsilateral extremity of the arm. A dose-effect relationship was observed (p < 0.001). The best fit was obtained for a quadratic dose-response relationship, without a negative exponential term for cell killing at high doses. The risk of sarcoma was 30.6 higher for doses of more than 44 Gray than for doses of less than 15 Gray.

CONCLUSIONS

High doses of radiation strongly increase the risk of bone and soft tissue sarcoma.

Sternal resection and reconstruction for primary malignant tumors

BACKGROUND

Primary malignant sternal tumors (PMST) are locally aggressive and their optimal surgical management still continues to evolve.

METHODS

From 1986 to 2002, 38 patients (25 females/13 males) underwent radical resection of PMST. This series included 33 sarcomas, 17 of which had been radiation-induced, 3 hematologic tumors, and 2 carcinomas. Seventeen were high-grade tumors. Nine patients had received preoperative chemotherapy. Twelve patients required extensive skin excision. Eight total, seven subtotal, and 23 partial sternectomies were performed. Resection was extended to the anterior chest-wall in 4 patients, lung in 4, brachiocephalic vein in 3, superior vena cava in 2, and pericardium in 1. In 36 patients, chest wall stability was obtained by Marlex (n = 21) or Vicryl (n = 2) mesh and polytetrafluoroethylene patch (n = 13), with methylmethacrylate reinforcement in 12 patients. Soft tissue coverage was done by the pectoralis major muscles with skin advancement in 25 patients, a myocutaneous flap in 11, a breast transposition in 1, and a skin flap in 1. Omentoplasty was performed in 3 patients.

RESULTS

One patient died from pneumonia. Two patients needed a tracheostomy after total sternectomy. No flap-related complication was observed. Four local septic complications required removal of the composite prosthesis with reoperations. Local recurrence occurred in 9 patients, 7 patients having a repeat resection. Metastases developed in eight. The 5-year overall and disease-free survival was 66% and 53%, respectively. The histologic grade of sarcomas was a survival predictor (high grade versus others p = 0.035).

CONCLUSIONS

Wide resection of PMST is necessary to minimize local recurrence. Large sternal defects are safely reconstructed with a musculocutaneous flap. We suggest that the use of methylmethacrylate should be limited to reconstruction after total sternectomy.

Long-term survival after radical operations for cancer treatment-induced sarcomas: how two survivors invite reflection on oncologic treatment concepts

Extent and radicality of surgical oncologic treatment has changed in the past 30 years. Two patients with node-positive breast cancer are presented, who underwent (total or radical) mastectomy with lymphadenectomy and postoperative radiation 24 and 40 years ago. A radiation-associated sarcoma of the parascapular soft tissue developed in one patient 9 years after treatment; the other one sought treatment for a lymphedema-associated Stewart-Treves lymphangiosarcoma 16 years after initial therapy. Both patients underwent a forequarter amputation for their treatment-associated high-grade sarcoma. Both are currently alive and cancer-free 15 and 24 years after amputation. These reports remind us that radical locoregional treatment can cure some solid cancers in the absence of systemic therapy; that such extensive treatment may induce significant disability or secondary malignancies long-term; that even advanced treatment-associated sarcomas can be cured with aggressive resection; that today's multimodality therapy approaches and appropriate patient selection have rendered such extensive locoregional treatment for many tumors obsolete or unnecessary; and that if no effective alternative treatment exists and organ or limb preservation is not feasible, an aggressive resection approach for high-grade cancer should not be discounted unless systemic failure is certain or imminent.

Rare complication of breast cancer irradiation: postirradiation osteosarcoma

Radiation-induced osteosarcoma is a rare complication of radiation therapy for breast cancer. The authors present a 60-year-old patient in whom osteosarcoma of the chest wall developed 5 years after modified radical mastectomy and radiation therapy for breast cancer. One year after resection of the chest osteosarcoma, metastasis to the contralateral axillary lymph nodes developed and these were removed. Radiation-induced osteosarcoma is difficult to treat and has a poor prognosis, thus early diagnosis is necessary for optimal treatment.

The location of contralateral breast cancers after radiation therapy

Radiation therapy following conservative surgery results in scattered radiation to the contralateral breast, with higher doses to the medial breast and lower doses laterally. The purpose of the current study is to determine whether the location of contralateral breast cancers developing following breast conserving surgery and radiation is indicative of radiation-induced malignancies. The charts of 1,755 patients treated with conservative surgery and radiation therapy between 1970 and 1998 were reviewed. Fifty-nine patients who developed a contralateral malignancy following conservative surgery and radiation therapy and who had complete information and documentation of the location of the second lesion served as the primary focus of the current study. The location of the contralateral malignancy was compared with the location of the primary tumors of the overall patient population. The location of breast cancers developing in the contralateral breast following breast conserving therapy and radiation was not consistent with radiation-induced malignancies. Specifically, there was not a preponderance of medially located tumors in patients developing contralateral breast cancers following radiation. There was a slight excess of central lesions that cannot be explained by higher doses of radiation. The location of breast cancers in the contralateral breast following conservative surgery and radiation is not indicative of radiation-induced lesions. These data should be reassuring to women considering breast conserving surgery and radiation.

Lymphangiosarcoma (Stewart-Treves syndrome) in postmastectomy patients

Stewart-Treves syndrome (STS) is a rare but aggressive upper extremity lymphangiosarcoma in postmastectomy patients. Unfamiliarity with this disease and the innocuous appearance of the tumor often lead to delayed diagnosis. A comprehensive search of the databases at a single tertiary-care academic institution revealed only 3 cases of STS in the last 63 years. The latency time between breast cancer treatment and diagnosis of STS was 11 to 21 years. Survival after diagnosis of STS ranged from 8 to 15 months. One patient underwent radical surgery. The extensive lymphangiosarcoma in the other 2 patients precluded surgical resection and they underwent chemotherapy. All patients had adjuvant radiation therapy at the time of the original breast cancer resection. This report includes a discussion of the epidemiology, etiology, presentation, treatment, and prognosis of STS.

Sarcoma after radiation therapy: retrospective multiinstitutional study of 80 histologically confirmed cases. Radiation Therapist and Pathologist Groups of the Fédération Nationale des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer

PURPOSE

To evaluate the best strategy for treatment of sarcoma that occurs after radiation therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Records were retrospectively reviewed for 80 patients with a confirmed histologic diagnosis of sarcoma that occurred after radiation therapy performed during 1975-1995. The patients were treated for breast cancer (n = 33, 42%), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 9, 11%), cervical cancer (n = 9, 11%), benign lesions (n = 4, 5%), or other tumors (n = 25, 31%). Sarcoma occurred after a mean latency of 12 years (range, 3-64 years), with most (70%) developing in the soft tissue. Treatment included surgery (28 patients), surgery and chemotherapy (18 patients), chemotherapy only (15 patients), and radiation therapy (14 patients).

RESULTS

By the end of the study, 51 patients were dead, including 46 due to sarcoma. Median survival was 23 months. Overall survival rates at 2 and 5 years, respectively, were 69% and 39% for patients treated with surgery, 10% and 0% for those treated with chemotherapy, and 52% and 35% for those treated with surgery and chemotherapy (P =.001). The 2- and 5-year rates for survival without recurrence were 54% and 32%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The results confirm the beneficial effect of surgery. Further study is needed to explore the roles of combined treatments.

Second malignancies after treatment of early-stage breast cancer: lumpectomy and radiation therapy versus mastectomy

PURPOSE

To determine the risk of second malignancies after lumpectomy and radiation therapy (LRT), and to compare it with that in a similar cohort of early-stage breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy without radiation (MAST).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between January 1970 and December 1990, 1,029 breast cancer patients at our institution underwent LRT. A cohort of 1,387 breast cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment by mastectomy (MAST), and who did not receive postoperative radiation during the same time period, served as a comparison group. Second malignancies were categorized as contralateral breast versus nonbreast. In the cohort of patients undergoing LRT, a detailed analysis was carried out with respect to age, disease stage, smoking history, radiation therapy technique, dose, the use of chemotherapy or hormone therapy, and other clinical and/or pathologic characteristics.

RESULTS

As of March 1999, the median follow-up was 14.6 years for the LRT group and 16 years for the MAST group. The 15-year risk of any second malignancy was nearly identical for both cohorts (17.5% v 19%, respectively). The second breast malignancy rate at 15 years was 10% for both the MAST and LRT groups. The 15-year risk of a second nonbreast malignancy was 11% for the LRT and 10% for the MAST group. In the subset of patients 45 years of age or younger at the time of treatment, the second breast and nonbreast malignancy rates at 15 years were 10% and 5% for patients undergoing LRT versus 7% and 4% for patients undergoing mastectomy (P, not statistically significant). In the detailed analysis of LRT patients, second lung malignancies were associated with a history of tobacco use. There were fewer contralateral breast tumors in patients undergoing adjuvant hormone therapy, although this did not reach statistical significance. The adjuvant use of chemotherapy did not significantly affect the risk of second malignancies.

CONCLUSION

There seems to be no increased risk of second malignancies in patients undergoing LRT using modern techniques, compared with MAST. Continued monitoring of these patient cohorts will be required in order to document that these findings are maintained with even longer follow-up periods. With nearly 15 years median follow-up periods, however, these data should be reassuring to women who are considering LRT as a treatment option.

Overexpression of VEGF 121 in immortalized endothelial cells causes conversion to slowly growing angiosarcoma and high level expression of the VEGF receptors VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 in vivo

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF or vascular permeability factor) is an important angiogenic factor that is up-regulated in numerous benign and malignant disorders, including angiosarcoma, hemangiomas, and solid tumors. To determine the functional role of VEGF in the development of endothelial tumors, we expressed primate VEGF 121 in an endothelial cell line, MS1, derived from primary murine cells by immortalization with a temperature-sensitive SV40 large T antigen. This cell line expresses the VEGFR-2 (Flk-1/Kdr) receptor for VEGF. Expression of VEGF 121 led to the development of slowly growing endothelial tumors, which were histologically well-differentiated angiosarcomas. The angiosarcomas generated from MS1 VEGF cells demonstrated up-regulation of the VEGF receptors VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-1 (Flt-1) in vivo compared with benign hemangiomas generated from MS1 cells. Treatment of these cells with the VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor SU 1498 led to decreased expression of ets-1, a transcription factor which has been shown to be stimulated by VEGF. These results suggest that high level expression of VEGF in endothelial cells may result in malignant transformation. This transformation process likely involves both autocrine and paracrine pathways.

Role of surgery in the management of postmastectomy extremity angiosarcoma (Stewart-Treves syndrome)

Stewart-Treves syndrome (STS) is the rare occurrence of angiosarcoma in a setting of postmastectomy upper extremity lymphedema. A collective comparison of outcomes following various initial treatment options in STS has not previously been reported. We reviewed 160 cases of STS reported in the literature since 1966. We analyzed the relationship between initial treatment and survival in all 92 of these patients for whom detailed treatment and outcome data had been reported. There was no significant difference in survival comparing those initially treated with wide excision (n = 16) and those treated with amputation (n = 45) (P = 0.40). Even in the setting of initial surgical treatment, overall long-term survival was poor (<40%). There have been even fewer long-term survivors among those treated initially with regional chemotherapy (n = 7) or radiation therapy (n = 24). An update on STS and a discussion of recent advances in the understanding of its molecular pathogenesis that may result in future treatment improvements are presented.

Stewart-Treves syndrome after treatment for breast cancer

This study reviews 3 cases of angiosarcoma of the upper extremity after mastectomy and radiotherapy for breast cancer (Stewart-Treves syndrome). Angiosarcoma was diagnosed an average 14 years (from 6.5 to 26 years) after treatment for breast cancer. Presenting signs included a red raised lesion, a palpable mass, a blister appearance (in one case). Two of our three patients underwent surgical treatment: one patient underwent local excision followed by chemotherapy, and the other patient wide excision, followed by external beam radiotherapy. Local recurrence occurred in one of these two patients and was followed by the development of lung metastases. The second patient who had treatment is free of disease without problems. The third patient refused any treatment and died 5 months later. The purpose of this article is to add to the literature 3 new cases of Stewart-Treves syndrome and to discuss some specific problems of this rare tumour.

Adult soft tissue sarcoma

BACKGROUND

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a group of anatomically and histologically diverse tumours. They account for about 1% of adult malignancies, and about 50% of patients diagnosed with sarcoma eventually die of the disease. These tumours are grouped together because of shared biological characteristics and treatment responses.

METHODS

A review of the key literature on STS was undertaken, complemented by data taken from the prospectively accumulated database of 3442 patients treated for STS at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) from July 1982 to December 1997.

RESULTS

Despite advances in knowledge of the molecular genetics of STS, the aetiology in most cases remains elusive. Management has been gradually refined over the last two decades. Core biopsy usually provides enough material for diagnosis. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging provide a similar amount of information, which is usually adequate for surgical planning. Amputation as standard treatment for extremity lesions has been replaced by limb-sparing surgery in about 90% of patients. The role of adjuvant radiation has been further defined: it has been shown to be unnecessary for completely excised tumours less than 5 cm in diameter, but effective in decreasing local recurrence for others. Adjuvant chemotherapy has been controversial for many years. Recent meta-analysis of randomized trial results has found a small reduction in local and distant relapse, and a trend to better overall survival. Recurrent or metastatic disease should be completely excised if possible.

CONCLUSIONS

Soft tissue sarcoma requires multidisciplinary care tailored to the individual patient and tumour for optimal results.

Feasibility of breast conservation therapy in metachronous or synchronous bilateral breast cancer

BACKGROUND

The optimal management of contralateral breast cancer (CC) in patients previously treated with breast-conserving therapy (BCT) is unclear, as is whether these patients continue to choose BCT as the preferred treatment of their second breast cancer.

METHODS

Of 1328 patients treated with BCT at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center between 1958 and 1994, 63 developed a contralateral breast cancer. We reviewed the charts of these patients retrospectively, and standard demographic and treatment variables were evaluated. Survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and subgroups by chi2 analysis.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine percent of the patients had a family history of breast cancer. First breast cancers were detected by patient or physician in 67% of cases and by mammogram in 17% of cases, compared to 59% and 36%, respectively, of CC (P = .04). Median time to development of CC was 61 months. Sixty percent of the initial tumors were AJCC stage 0 or I with a median size of 2 cm, whereas 74% of the CC were stage 0 or I (P = .02), with a median size of 1.5 cm. Eighty-seven percent of patients chose BCT for treatment of CC. There were few treatment-related complications. Recurrence rates were not significantly different from those of patients undergoing BCT for the initial cancer (P = .47), and 5- and 10-year actuarial survival rates after the first cancer were 93% and 76%, respectively. Median follow-up was 134 and 56 months from the time of diagnosis of the initial cancer and CC, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Because contralateral breast cancer often is detected at an early stage, there are few treatment-related complications, and the risk of recurrence is no different from that for the initial cancer, BCT is an acceptable and desirable option for appropriately selected patients with metachronous or synchronous bilateral breast cancers.