Secondary breast angiosarcoma: A multicentre retrospective survey by the national Italian association of Breast Surgeons (ANISC)

Neoadjuvant Reirradiation for Radiation Therapy-Associated Angiosarcoma of the Breast

PURPOSE

Radiation-associated angiosarcoma of the breast (RAASB) is a rare side effect after breast radiation and has been associated with poor outcomes. At this time, there is no consensus regarding management of RAASB, and the role of reirradiation remains controversial. We present our modern institutional outcomes in managing RAASB with incorporation of neoadjuvant hyperfractionated reirradiation.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Patients identified were treated between 2016 and 2020 with inclusion of any histologically proven RAASB without metastatic disease at diagnosis, while excluding those with a history of radiation therapy outside of the breast/chest wall or other sarcoma histologies. Major wound complications were defined as requiring wound care and/or wound vacuum or return to the operating room for wound repair at any time after surgery.

RESULTS

Eight patients were identified, and the median follow-up was 34 months. Median time to RAASB development was 8 years from initial radiation therapy. With respect to RAASB management, all underwent surgery and neoadjuvant reirradiation therapy, and all but 1 patient received taxol-based chemotherapy. At last follow-up, 7 patients remained free of disease, and 1 patient died with distant disease. With respect to acute toxicity after reirradiation, all patients developed at least acute grade 2 toxicities. Five of the 8 patients developed a major wound complication.

CONCLUSIONS

Our institutional analysis suggests excellent local control and survival outcomes for RAASB treated with neoadjuvant hyperfractionated reirradiation, surgery, and taxol-based chemotherapy. However, major wound complications represent a major challenge with this approach. Future studies should consider how best to improve the therapeutic ratio while maintaining high rates of local control and survival.

Renal pelvis metastasis following surgery for breast angiosarcoma: a case report and literature review

Renal metastasis of breast angiosarcoma is rare. This article reports the medical records of a patient diagnosed with breast angiosarcoma who underwent radical mastectomy and was found to have multiple lung metastases 3 years after surgery and renal pelvic metastasis 4 years after surgery. The patient underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy and sleeve resection of the intramural segment of the ureter, and postoperative pathology and immunohistochemical staining confirmed the diagnosis of renal pelvic metastasis of breast angiosarcoma. The patient received anlotinib for lung metastases following surgery and was followed up for 4 months after surgery. Currently, the patient has symptoms of coughing and hemoptysis but no other discomfort. The diagnosis and treatment of this rare malignant tumor remain challenging.

Latissimus Dorsi Flap Revisited: Coverage of Large Chest Wall Defects Following Mastectomy for Locally Advanced Breast Carcinoma and Angiosarcoma

BACKGROUND

 The latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap (LDMF) remains a significant tool in the armamentarium of the oncoplastic breast surgeon. Despite declining popularity for reconstruction, owing to the increasing use of implants and free flaps, it still has an important role in certain salvage situations and as a flap to cover large defects. We report our experience with the use of LDMF for immediate coverage of large mastectomy defects when options are limited.

METHODS

 Retrospective series of prospectively collected patient records. Patient and tumour characteristics, length of stay, and post-operative and oncologic outcomes are reported. Patients with angiosarcoma were discussed at tertiary sarcoma centres as per national guidelines. Operations were carried out by oncoplastic breast surgeons. The case series was approved by the institutional information governance department in line with institutional requirements for patient data sharing. All patients provided written consent for photography. Descriptive statistics were used to report findings. Median (IQR) was used for continuous variables.

RESULTS

 Six women were included, with a median age of 62.5 years, from December 2019 to October 2022. Follow-up ranged from 15 to 49 months. Median tumour size was 72.5 (16.25) mm. Four patients had locally advanced breast carcinoma (LABC), and two had breast angiosarcoma. The donor site and chest wall defects were closed primarily in all cases. Median length of stay was three nights. All mastectomy wounds healed without issues and any delay to their adjuvant treatment. One patient had a minor latissimus dorsi (LD) donor site wound breakdown managed conservatively. Three patients had adjuvant radiotherapy after surgery. Four patients, one after high-grade angiosarcoma and three after aggressive breast carcinoma, had a locoregional recurrence or distant metastases and succumbed within 20 months of surgery.

CONCLUSION

 The LDMF can be a reliable option for the primary closure of large post-mastectomy wounds. Its use can lead to timely wound healing, allowing patients to undergo adjuvant treatment without delay. However, the overall oncologic outcomes in patients with LABC and angiosarcoma are poor due to the underlying aggressive tumour biology. Long-term outcomes are to be interpreted with caution due to the small number of patients with diverse pathologic features.

Multidisciplinary Management of Phyllodes Tumours and Breast Sarcoma: A Cross-sectional Survey of Clinical Practice across the UK and Ireland

AIMS

Phyllodes tumours and breast sarcomas are uncommon tumours and their rarity poses significant challenges in diagnosis and management. This cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the multidisciplinary clinical practice for these tumours across the UK and Ireland, with the aim of identifying gaps in knowledge and providing direction for establishing national guidelines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An international survey was adapted and circulated to breast and/or sarcoma surgeons and oncologists in the UK and Ireland through national organisations. Multidisciplinary team (MDT) responses were analysed anonymously.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight MDTs participated in this study, predominately from high-volume units (85.5%). Although only 43% of the surveyed units were part of a trust that holds a sarcoma MDT, 68% of units managed malignant phyllodes and angiosarcoma, whereas 64.5% managed soft-tissue sarcoma of the breast. Across all subtypes, axillary surgery was recommended by 14-21% of the MDTs and the most recommended resection margins for breast surgery were 'no tumour on ink' in benign phyllodes (39%) and 10 mm in the remaining subtypes (25-29%). Immediate breast reconstruction was supported by 11-18% of MDTs for breast sarcoma subtypes, whereas 36% and 32% advocated this approach in benign and borderline phyllodes tumours, respectively. Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy were recommended by up to 29% and 11% of the MDTs, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study demonstrate a wide variation in clinical practice across the surveyed MDTs. As only 28 MDTs participated in our study, with under-representation from low-volume units, our results might be an underestimation of the variability in practice across the UK and Ireland. This multi-institutional study sheds light on controversial aspects in the management of phyllodes tumours and breast sarcoma, identifies the need for national guidelines to inform best practice, and calls for the centralisation of the management of breast sarcoma within specialist centres.

Clinicopathological analysis and prognostic treatment study of angiosarcoma of the breast: a SEER population-based analysis

INTRODUCTION

Breast angiosarcoma is a rare malignancy of endovascular origin, accounting for less than 1% of all mammary cancers. Our aim was to explore clinicopathological features and the factors associated with prognosis.

METHODS

We extracted information from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) for all patients with breast angiosarcoma between 2004 and 2015. Chi-square analysis was used to compare the clinicopathological features in all patients. Overall survival (OS) was assessed using the Kaplan and Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the factors associated with prognosis.

RESULTS

A total of 247 patients were included in the analyses. The median OS of patients with primary breast angiosarcoma (PBSA) and secondary breast angiosarcoma (SBAB) was 38 months and 42 months, respectively. The 1-, 3- and 5-year OS with PBSA was 80%, 39%, and 25%, respectively, and the 1-, 3- and 5-year OS with SBAB was 80%, 42%, and 34%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor size (p = 0.001), tumor grade (p < 0.001), tumor extension (p = 0.015), and tumor spread (p < 0.001) were statistically significant factors for OS. Partial mastectomy with radiation (HR = 0.160, 95% CI, 0.036-0.719, p = 0.016), partial mastectomy with chemotherapy (HR = 0.105, 95% CI, 0.011-1.015, p = 0.052), and partial mastectomy (HR = 0.125, 95% CI, 0.028-0.583, p = 0.007) were related to significantly better OS outcomes in primary angiosarcoma.

CONCLUSION

Primary breast angiosarcoma has a better clinical phenotype than secondary breast angiosarcoma. Although overall survival was not statistically significant, primary breast angiosarcoma was better than secondary breast angiosarcoma with systemic therapy. Depending on the outcome of survival, partial mastectomy is effective in treating primary breast angiosarcoma.

Combined Hyperthermia and Re-Irradiation in Non-Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

This systematic literature review summarizes clinical studies and trials involving combined non-ablative hyperthermia and re-irradiation in locoregionally recurrent cancer except breast cancer.

METHODS

One database and one registry, MEDLINE and clinicaltrials.gov, respectively, were searched for studies on combined non-ablative hyperthermia and re-irradiation in non-breast cancer patients. Extracted study characteristics included treatment modalities and re-irradiation dose concepts. Outcomes of interest were tumor response, survival measures, toxicity data and palliation. Within-study bias assessment included the identification of conflict of interest (COI). The final search was performed on 29 August 2022.

RESULTS

Twenty-three articles were included in the final analysis, reporting on 603 patients with eight major tumor types. Twelve articles (52%) were retrospective studies. Only one randomized trial was identified. No COI statement was declared in 11 studies. Four of the remaining twelve studies exhibited significant COI. Low study and patient numbers, high heterogeneity in treatment modalities and endpoints, as well as significant within- and across-study bias impeded the synthesis of results.

CONCLUSION

Outside of locoregionally recurrent breast cancer, the role of combined moderate hyperthermia and re-irradiation can so far not be established. This review underscores the necessity for more clinical trials to generate higher levels of clinical evidence for combined re-irradiation and hyperthermia.

Breast Sarcoma Incidence Rate: A National Study in Iran

Background: Breast sarcomas are a group of rare and non-epithelial malignancies that account for less than 1% of breast cancers. There are few epidemiologic studies on this type of cancer due to its rarity. Methods: In this study, the database of the Iran National Cancer Registry (INCR) from March 2009 to March 2014 was used to calculate the age-specific incidence rate for breast sarcoma in Iran. Moreover, age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) for pathologic subtypes, pathologic grades, and different regions of the country were determined. Results: Totally, 258 breast sarcoma patients were included in this study in Iran. The ASR of breast sarcoma was 1.17 (95% CI: 1.02, .32) and 0.60 (95% CI: 0.52, 0.67) per million person-years for women and the total population, respectively. ASR was 0.03 (95%CI: 0.01, 0.06) per million person-years for male patients. The highest age-specific incidence rate for malignant phyllodes was observed among patients aged 55 to 59 years (1.0; 95% CI: 0.5, 1.5), and for other sarcomas, it was found among those aged 70 to 74 years (0.9; 95% CI: 0.2, 1.6). The most prevalent pathologic grade of sarcoma was grade 3 with an ASR of 0.40 (95% CI: 0.34, 0.46) per million person-years. Conclusions: Compared to western countries, Iran has a lower incidence of breast sarcoma in women, a higher incidence rate in men, and older onset age. As in other countries, malignant phyllodes tumors and angiosarcomas are the most common subtypes. In addition, breast sarcoma incidence rates in different grades are similar across countries.

Radiation-Associated Angiosarcoma of the Breast and Chest Wall Treated with Thermography-Controlled, Contactless wIRA-Hyperthermia and Hypofractionated Re-Irradiation

Simple Summary

This retrospective study reports on 10 patients with radiation-associated angiosarcoma of the breast and chest wall treated during the past decade. In this rare disease local control is highly dependent on the extent of surgery. Further treatment options are urgently needed. Re-iradiation in combination with localized hyperthermia should be considered for adjuvant and definitive treatment of nonresectable radiation-associated angiosarcomas. The presented hypofractionated re-irradiation schedule with 5 × 4 Gy once per week immediately following wIRA-hyperthermia is a promising option to further reduce the radiation dose recommended so far. This could reduce side effects without compromising local control.

Abstract

Background: Radiation-associated angiosarcoma of the breast (RAASB) is a rare, challenging disease, with surgery being the accepted basic therapeutic approach. In contrast, the role of adjuvant and systemic therapies is a subject of some controversy. Local recurrence rates reported in the literature are mostly heterogeneous and are highly dependent on the extent of surgery. In cases of locally recurrent or unresectable RAASB, prognosis is very poor. Methods: We retrospectively report on 10 consecutive RAASB patients, most of them presenting with locally recurrent or unresectable RAASB, which were treated with thermography-controlled water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) superficial hyperthermia (HT) immediately followed by re-irradiation (re-RT). Patients with RAASB were graded based on their tumor extent before onset of radiotherapy (RT). Results: We recorded a local control (LC) rate dependent on tumor extent ranging from a high LC rate of 100% (two of two patients) in the adjuvant setting with an R0 or R2 resection to a limited LC rate of 33% (one of three patients) in patients with inoperable, macroscopic tumor lesions. Conclusion: Combined HT and re-RT should be considered as an option (a) for adjuvant treatment of RAASB, especially in cases with positive resection margins and after surgery of local recurrence (LR), and (b) for definitive treatment of unresectable RAASB.

Clinical Outcomes for Primary and Radiation-Associated Angiosarcoma of the Breast with Multimodal Treatment: Long-Term Survival Is Achievable

BACKGROUND

The optimal management of primary angiosarcoma (PAS) and radiation-associated angiosarcoma (RAAS) of the breast remains undefined. Available data show persistently poor survival outcomes following treatment with surgery or chemotherapy alone. The objective of this study was to evaluate long-term outcomes in patients treated with multimodality therapy.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with stage I-III PAS or RAAS of the breast were identified from our local tumor registry (2010-2020). Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment were collected. Primary outcomes were local recurrence (LR), distant recurrence (DR), and median overall survival (OS). A secondary outcome was pathologic complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Mann-Whitney U, chi-squared, or Fisher exact tests were used to analyze data. Kaplan-Meier curves compared OS for PAS and RAAS.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients met inclusion criteria, including 11 (50%) with RAAS and 11 (50%) with PAS. Compared to PAS patients, RAAS patients were older and had more comorbidities. For RAAS patients, median time from radiation to diagnosis was 6 years (IQR: 5-11). RAAS patients were more likely to have a pCR to NAC (40% vs. 20%, p = 0.72). RAAS patients had a higher LR rate (43% vs. 38%, p = 0.83), and PAS patients were more likely to develop a DR (38% vs. 0%, p = 0.07). Median OS was 81 months in PAS patients and 90 months in RAAS patients (p = 1.00).

DISCUSSION

Long-term survival can be achieved in patients with PAS and RAAS who undergo multimodality treatment. NAC can result in pCR. The long-term clinical implications of pCR warrant further investigation.

Angiosarcomas: histology, immunohistochemistry and molecular insights with implications for differential diagnosis

Angiosarcomas (AS) represent a heterogenous group of tumors with variable clinical presentation. AS share an important morphologic and immunohistochemical overlap with other sarcomas, hence the differential diagnosis is challenging, especially in poorly-differentiated tumors. Although molecular studies provide significant clues, especially in the differential diagnosis with other vascular neoplasms, a thorough hematoxylin and eosin analysis remains an essential tool in AS diagnosis. In this review, we discuss pathological and molecular insights with emphasis on implications for differential diagnosis in cutaneous, breast, soft tissue and visceral AS.

Multidisciplinary Management of Angiosarcoma - A Review

Angiosarcomas (AS) are a diverse group of soft tissue sarcomas, arising from blood and lymphatic vessels. They frequently present in the elderly, and in patients with previous radiation or lymphedema. A wide range of genetic derangements contribute to their development, and AS histology is often high-grade in keeping with aggressive disease biology. The clinical presentation, while often innocuous, is marked by its infiltrative and aggressive nature, with a proclivity for metastatic spread, and outcomes are often poor. Surgery is performed for localized, resectable cases. A multidisciplinary approach, appropriately employing surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or potentially recently approved immune-oncology agents, can result in positive outcomes.

Sarcoma of the breast: breast cancer history as etiologic and prognostic factor-A population-based case-control study

Purpose

Sarcomas of the breast account for about 1% of all breast malignancies. The aim of this national survey was to explore etiologic and prognostic factors.

Methods

Utilizing national Swedish registers, all patients registered with mesenchymal tumors in the breast during the period 1993–2013 (n = 344) were identified and compared to up to ten age and gender matched controls. Cancer history was retrieved for cases and controls. Conditional Poisson regression models were used for calculation of odds ratios.

Results

Previous breast cancer was overrepresented among patients with angiosarcoma. The highest risk occurred ≥ 5 years after treatment for breast cancer (OR 73.9, 95% confidence interval, CI, 25.4–215; P < 0.001). An increase in incidence of angiosarcoma was observed during the study period (1.10, 95% CI 1.05–1.16; P < 0.001). The overall incidence of breast sarcoma increased from 1.52 to 2.04 cases per million per year. Angiosarcoma of the breast was associated with a significant excess mortality compared to age-matched controls (HR 4.65, 95% CI 3.01–7.19; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Angiosarcoma increased in incidence and displayed a more severe clinical course, with significantly shorter survival. The strong association between a history of breast cancer 5 years or more prior to the diagnosis of angiosarcoma points to radiotherapy as a contributing factor.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s10549-020-05802-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.