[Ductal in situ carcinoma: is it ethical to consider the breast conserving therapy as a standard?]

[Conservative treatment of breast cancer: experience of a Tunisian team]

En Tunisie, le cancer du sein touche des femmes jeunes avec une taille moyenne au moment du diagnostic à 5 cm. Ces particularités font que la chirurgie radicale reste prédominante. Nous présentons dans ce travail l'expérience de notre équipe en matière de chirurgie conservatrice du cancer du sein. Le but de ce travail est d’évaluer les résultats de ce traitement. Etude rétrospective longitudinale, sur une période de 75 mois. Nous avons inclus toutes les patientes ayant bénéficié d'un traitement conservateur pour une tumeur maligne du sein. Ont été analysés: les caractéristiques épidémiologiques, les aspects radiologiques et histologiques. Le suivi des malades s'est basé sur la détection des récidives. Nous avons évalué le résultat esthétique à la fin de la radiothérapie. Le traitement conservateur a été réalisé dans 23.8% des cas. Le taux de récidives locales était de 6.8% avec une corrélation significative pour une taille tumorale > 30 mm (p= 0.009), l'association d'une composante intracanalaire (p= 0.035), le statut triple négatif (p= 0.003) et des marges d'exérèse < 5mm sans recoupes per-opératoires (p = 0.045). Les facteurs suivants étaient significativement liés au risque de survenue de métastases à distance: le statut triple négatif (p= 0.003), taille tumorale > 30mm (p = 0.006) et l'atteinte ganglionnaire (p = 0.001). Le résultat esthétique était satisfaisant dans 90% des cas. L'augmentation du nombre de patientes pouvant bénéficier d'une chirurgie conservatrice, doit passer impérativement par le développement et la promotion du diagnostic précoce et du dépistage par la mammographie.

Role of the radiotherapy boost on local control in ductal carcinoma in situ

Ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast is associated with low mortality rates, but local relapse is a matter of concern in this disease. Risk factors for local relapse include young age, close or positive margins, and tumor necrosis. Whole breast irradiation following breast-conserving surgery for ductal carcinoma in situ significantly reduces the risk of local relapse as compared to breast-conserving surgery alone. Studies point to similar outcomes between breast-conserving surgery plus radiotherapy and mastectomy, in the absence of extensive disease. A complementary boost to the surgical bed improves outcomes for patients with invasive breast cancer. However, the effect of this strategy has never been prospectively reported for ductal carcinoma in situ. Two randomized controlled trials assessing this issue are ongoing. This paper represents an update on available literature about radiotherapy for DCIS with a special focus on the role of a radiotherapy boost to the tumor bed.

Focal degeneration of aged or injured myoepithelial cells and the resultant auto-immunoreactions are trigger factors for breast tumor invasion

The development of breast cancer is believed to be a multi-step process, sequentially progressing from normal to hyperplastic, to in situ, and to invasive stages. The progression from the in situ to invasive stage is believed to be triggered primarily, if not solely, by the overproduction of proteolytic enzymes by cancer cells, which cause degradation of the basement membrane. This theory is consistent with data derived from studies with cell cultures or animal models, while results from recent worldwide clinical trials with a variety of proteolytic enzyme inhibitors have been very disappointing, casting doubt on the validity of the enzyme theory. Based on our recent studies, we propose that breast tumor invasion is triggered by the following mechanisms and events: (1) the predisposition of genetic abnormalities in ME cell replenishment-related genes or other insults results in elevated focal degeneration of ME cells in some individuals; (2) the degradation products of ME cells or diffusible molecules of epithelial cells attract infiltration of immunoreactive cells (IRC) into the affected sites; (3) the direct physical contact between IRC and degenerated ME cells results in the discharge of digestive enzymes from IRC, causing focal disruptions in the ME cell layer; (4) focal disruptions in a given ME cell layer result in a localized loss of tumor suppressors and paracrine inhibitory function, a focal increase of permeability for oxygen, nutrients, and growth factors, and a localized increase of leukocyte infiltration, which facilitate the monoclonal proliferation of tumor progenitors, forming a biologically more aggressive cell cluster overlying the disrupted ME cell layer; (5) the direct physical contact between the newly formed cell cluster and stromal cells stimulates the production of tenascin and other invasion-associated molecules that facilitate tissue remodeling, angiogenesis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, providing a favorable micro-environment for proliferation and invasion. Our hypothesis differs from the enzyme theory in the stage of tumor invasion, the cellular origin of invasive lesions, the significance of IRC and stromal cells, and the potential approaches for treatment and prevention. If confirmed, our hypothesis could facilitate the early detection of specific individuals at increased risk to develop invasive breast cancer. More importantly, our hypothesis may facilitate development of novel approaches, including stimulating ME cell growth, neutralizing ME cell degradation products, manipulating the types and extent of IRC infiltration, and controlling the extent of stromal reactions, to combat tumor invasion.

[Retrospective analysis of 108 ductal carcinomas in situ of the breast treated by radiosurgery association]

PURPOSE

To evaluate survival and prognostic factors of 108 patients with clinically or mammographically detected ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), treated from 1980 to 1996 by complete local excision followed by external irradiation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The median age was 51 (range 37-80). All the patients underwent surgery consisting of a wide resection of the mammary gland harbouring the tumour. The surgical specimens were sent to the pathologists to get information on histology and margin clearance; all the slides were reviewed by one of us to assess the tumoral diameter. External beam therapy was delivered within 8 weeks after surgery. The prescribed irradiation dose was 50 Gy in 25 fractions to be given in 5 weeks. The median duration of follow-up was 93 months (range 40-173).

RESULTS

There were nine patients with local recurrence (8.3%); three patients had local recurrence of DCIS and six patients developed invasive breast cancer. The treatment of local recurrence consisted of mastectomy with or without axillary dissection (eight cases) and quadrantectomy (one case). The 5-year and 10-year ipsilateral recurrence-free rate was respectively 92 and 89%. The 10-year cause specific survival was 100%. In univariate analysis, size>or=10 mm, age<45 years old and margin status were significant P=0,02, P=0,03, P=0,005; margin status was significant in multivariate analysis (P<0,02).

CONCLUSION

These results are in keeping with those of the literature. They could be improved by the mass screening campaign, which is going on since January 1990 among women aged 50-74 years.