Second malignancies following adjuvant chemotherapy: 6-year results from a Belgian randomized study comparing cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) with an anthracycline-based regimen in adjuvant treatment of node-positive breast cancer patients

A diffuse large B cell lymphoma emerging with breast cancer relapse

The prevalence of secondary cancers associated with the breast cancer treatment has increased, which is due to the administration of cytotoxic/hormonal drugs as well as radiotherapy. A 54-year-old female patient with a history of breast cancer for 4 years and receiving tamoxifen the hematology clinic with fatigue and nosebleed. Laboratory parameters were revealed pancytopenia. The bone marrow biopsy finding was compatible with CD20 positive high-grade B cell lymphoma resembling diffuse large B cell lymphoma. The patient started to receive a chemotherapy. Her hemogram values displayed an improvement after the second cycle. However, interim PET-BT, performed after the fourth cycle, showed an incomplete response in cervical lymphatic nodes. Then, a tru-cut biopsy was performed resulting in breast cancer metastasis. This is an unusual case of secondary-DLBCL presenting with pancytopenia and occuring 4 years after the diagnosis of breast cancer. In conclusion, clinicians should carefully set the dosage of chemotherapy drugs to avoid the long-term side effects associated with such drugs.

Risk and survival of chronic myeloid leukemia after breast cancer: A population-based study

BACKGROUND

We aimed to investigate the risk and survival of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) after breast cancer (BC) diagnosis.

METHODS

We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 'SEER' database. Females, diagnosed with BC between 1992 and 2014, were selected and followed for the development of CML after a 6-month latency period from BC diagnosis. We used the Multiple Primary Standardized Incidence Ratios session of the SEER*Stat software (version 8.3.4) to calculate the Observed/Expected (O/E) ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI). To calculate the overall survival, we performed an unadjusted Kaplan-Meier analysis using the SPSS software.

RESULTS

We included 474,866 females with BC, of which 178 were later diagnosed with CML. We found the risk of CML to increase significantly after BC diagnosis (O/E = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.08-1.45) and the risk was specifically higher within the first 5 years of diagnosis (O/E = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.16-1.8). When the risk was stratified by cancer stage, localized BC was associated with a significant increase in CML risk within 5 years of diagnosis (O/E = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.06-1.82), while regional BC was associated with a significant increase in CML risk after more than 5 years of diagnosis (O/E = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.09-2.25). Moreover, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and presence of hormonal receptors were associated with a significant increase in CML risk in BC patients. The median overall survival of CML after BC was 28 months.

CONCLUSION

Breast cancer patients have an increased risk of developing CML and further investigation is required to establish the causes of this finding.

Secondary bone marrow malignancies after adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer: a report of 2 cases and a review of the literature

PURPOSE

Secondary malignancies are new cancers occurring in patients previously treated with radiation or chemotherapy for a primary tumor. Secondary cancers are not related to the primary tumor, and may develop months or years after cancer treatment: they are usually a result of the first cancer therapy. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy may increase the risk of second cancers, such as skin tumors (basal or squamous cell carcinoma) or acute leukemia.

METHODS

A patient with B-lymphoma and a patient with multiple myeloma, previously treated for breast cancer, are presented.

RESULTS

We report the cases of 2 patients treated with adjuvant therapy for breast cancer who developed secondary bone marrow malignancies 15 years after primary treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

By literature review, these 2 cases do not support the relationship between primary tumor treatment and secondary cancer, but strongly suggest the need for histologic samples when bone metastasis occurred after years from diagnosis of breast cancer. In this setting, the oncologist should take into account a secondary bone marrow tumor before starting treatment for breast cancer.

Cytogenetic outcomes of adjuvant chemotherapy in non-target cells of breast cancer patients

Spontaneous and chemotherapy-induced sister chromatid exchanges (SCES) and lymphocyte proliferation rate index (PRI) in cultured peripheral lymphocytes were evaluated in 30 patients with diagnosed breast cancer before and after adjuvant chemotherapy and in 30 healthy women with no known familial history of breast cancer. Before chemotherapy, the breast cancer patients had a significantly increased background level of SCE, and lowered PRI as compared with the healthy women. Marked inter-individual variations were observed in both endpoints among the patients. Significantly elevated frequency of SCE and depressed PRI were recorded in blood samples collected after the first cycle of chemotherapy, with high inter-individual variations in the responses to the chemotherapy. FAC (5-fluorouracil, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide) protocol was the most genotoxic of the protocols studied, but also AC (adriamycin, cyclophosphamide) and CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil) clearly increased SCE. All protocols significantly retarded lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. Our findings indicate that both SCE and PRI may serve as sensitive biomarkers for the routine detection of critical lesions produced by the administration of antineoplastic drugs in the clinical setting, as well as for possible screening of high-risk individuals among patients who have successfully completed chemotherapy. Human & Experimental Toxicology (2007) 26 , 391—399

Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy in breast cancer: current role and future perspectives

Luminal breast cancer, as defined by oestrogen and/or progesterone expression by immunohistochemistry, accounts for up to 75% of all breast cancers. In this population, endocrine therapy is likely to account for most of the gains obtained with the administration of adjuvant systemic treatment. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy in these patients remains debatable since it is known that only a small fraction of patients will derive meaningful benefit from this treatment whilst the majority will be exposed to significant and unnecessary chemotherapy-related toxicities, in particular the elderly and frail. Therefore, neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) becomes an attractive option for selected patients with hormonal-receptor positive locally advanced breast cancer. In this review, we discuss the current role of NET and future perspectives in the field.

Evaluation of Peripheral Blood Smear for Myelodysplasia in Breast Cancer Patients who Received Adjuvant Antracycline

OBJECTIVE

Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MN) account for approximately 10% to 20% of all cases of AML (acute myeloid leukemia), MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome) and MDS/MPN (myelodysplastic syndrome/myeloproliferative neoplasms), MDS, and MDS/MPN. In our study, we evaluated peripheral blood smear samples and hemogram values in breast cancer patients who were receiving adjuvant anthracycline regimens and were in remission.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 78 patients receiving anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy treatment from Kayseri Research and Training Hospital and Mersin State Hospital were enrolled in the study. Their adjuvant treatments had been completed at least 18 months prior to the study.

RESULTS

Two patients complained of anemia (2.2%) (Hb<11 mg/dl), leukopenia was observed in seven patients (7.7%) (leukocytes<4000/ mm(3)), and thrombocytopenia was observed in four patients (4.4%) (PLT<150.000/mm(3)). In the blood smear samples, the following were observed: ovalomacrocytes (14%), macrocytes (37%), acanthocytes (1%), stomatocytes (12%), teardrops (12%), nucleated erythrocytes (1%), basophilic stippling (14%), and Howell-Jolly bodies (1%). Additionally, hypo-granulation (38%), Pelger-Huet abnormalities (26%), hypersegmentation (20%), immature granulocytes (8%), and blasts (6%) were observed. We also confirmed the presence of giant platelets (50%) and platelet hypogranulation (19%).

CONCLUSION

According to the peripheral blood smear assessments in our study, we suggest that breast cancer patients should be evaluated for MDS in the early stages, starting from month 18, even if the automated blood counts are normal.

Chemotherapy induced microsatellite instability and loss of heterozygosity in chromosomes 2, 5, 10, and 17 in solid tumor patients

Background

The inevitable side effects of the currently used chemotherapy are associated with serious syndromes. Genotoxic effects and consequent genetic instability may play an important role in these syndromes. The aim of the study was to evaluate chemotherapy-related microsatellite instability (MSI), loss of heterozygosity (LOH), and loss of mismatch repair (MMR) expression in solid tumor patients.

Methods

Samples were collected from 117 de novo patients with solid tumors of different origins. Specimens, taken pre- and post-treatment, were screened for MSI and LOH in 10 microsatellite sequences in blood, and expression of five MMR proteins were analyzed in cancer tissues using immunohistochemistry. Statistical analysis included the use of; Fisher’s exact test, Chi Square, and an inter-rater reliability test using Cohen’s kappa coefficient.

Results

Microsatellite analysis showed that 66.7% of the patients had MSI, including 23.1% high-positive MSI and 43.6% low-positive MSI. A large portion (41%) of the patients exhibited LOH in addition to MSI. MSI and LOH were detected in seven loci in which incidence rates ranged from 3.8% positive for Bat-26 to 34.6% positive for Tp53-Alu. Immunohistochemistry revealed that human mutL homolog 1 (hMLH1) expression was deficient in 29.1% of the patients, whereas 18.8%, 23.9%, 13.4%, and 9.7% were deficient for human mutS homolog 2 (hMSH2), P53, human mutS homolog 6 (hMSH6) and human post-meiotic segregation increased 2 (hPMS2), respectively. There was a significant correlation between MSI and LOH incidence in Tp53-Alu, Mfd41, and APC with low or deficient expression of hMLH1, hMSH2, and P53. A significant association between MSI and LOH, and incidence of secondary tumors was also evident.

Conclusions

The negative correlation between MMR expression, MSI, and LOH and increased resistance to anti-cancer drugs and development of secondary cancers demonstrates a useful aid in early detection of potential chemotherapy-related side-effects. The diagnostic value demonstrated in our earlier study on breast cancer patients was confirmed for other solid tumors.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12935-014-0118-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Predictive and prognostic value of ER-α36 expression in breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

This study is to investigate the predictive and prognostic value of ER-α36 expression in breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy.

METHODS

ER-α36 expression in 120 breast cancer tumors was assessed by an immunohistochemistry assay. All patients were divided into two groups according to the chemotherapy procedure: group A, 50 patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery; group B, 70 patients who were performed adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery, and they all took at least two cycles of anthracycline-based and/or paclitaxel-based chemotherapy after surgery. The therapy effect on group A patients was evaluated two cycles later by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.0 (RECIST 1.0).

RESULTS

ER-α36 protein was positively expressed in 51 tumor specimens (42.5%) and no correlation was found between the expression of ER-α 36 and the expression of the full-length ER-α (ER-α66), progesterone receptor (PgR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), Ki-67, tumor sizes, and the numbers of lymph node metastasis. Patients with ER-α36 negative expression tumors treated with the neoadjuvant chemotherapy had a higher remission rate [partial response: stable: progressed (n) 25:3:1 vs.11:9:1; P=0.009], a better response (86% vs. 52%; P=0.009), and a more favorable outcomes in triple-negative breast cancer patients compared to ER-α36 positive patients and ER-α36 negative expression was correlated with DFS in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

ER-α36 negative tumors benefit more from neoadjuvant chemotherapy and have better prognosis, which may warrant further studies with larger size of the sample.

Second malignancies after breast cancer: The impact of adjuvant therapy

Second malignant neoplasms (SMNs) are potentially life-threatening late sequelae of the adjuvant therapy for breast cancer (BC). The increased risk of SMNs is associated with adjuvant chemotherapy (development of secondary acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome) and hormonal therapy (risk of uterine cancer secondary to tamoxifen treatment). Previous studies have demonstrated an increased risk of SMNs associated with alkylating agents, topoisomerase-II inhibitors, granulocyte-stimulating factors and estrogen receptor modulators. Furthermore, analytical investigations have demonstrated that BC patients may be at an increased risk of leukemia following chemotherapy. In addition, correlations between an increased dose of hormonal therapy and solid tumor risk have been identified. Considering the ongoing alterations in the treatment of BC, with respect to lowering the daily as well as the cumulative dose of chemo-therapeutic agents, it is anticipated that leukemias will have a considerably lower impact on BC survivors in the future. However, diligent follow-up is required to accurately evaluate the long-term risks associated with chemotherapy.

High incidence of microsatellite instability and loss of heterozygosity in three loci in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: a prospective study

Background

The aim of the study was to evaluate potential chemotherapy-induced microsatellite instability, loss of heterozygosity, loss of expression in mismatch repair proteins and associations with clinical findings in breast cancer patients, especially resistance to chemotherapy and/or development of other tumors in the four years following chemotherapy treatment.

Methods

A comprehensive study of chemotherapy-related effects with a follow-up period of 48 months post treatment was conducted. A total of 369 peripheral blood samples were collected from 123 de novo breast cancer patients. Microsatellite instability and loss of heterozygosity in five commonly used marker loci (including Tp53-Alu of the tumor suppressor gene TP53) were analyzed in blood samples. Sampling was conducted on three occasions; 4–5 weeks prior to the first chemotherapy session (pre-treatment), to serve as a baseline, followed by two consecutive draws at 12 weeks intervals from the first collection. Mismatch repair protein expression was evaluated in cancer tissues using immunohistochemistry for three mismatch-repair related proteins.

Results

A total of 70.7% of the patients showed microsatellite instability for at least one locus, including 18.6% marked as high-positive and 52.1% as low-positive; 35.8% showed loss of heterozygosity in addition to microsatellite instability, while 29.3% exhibited microsatellite stability. The following incidence rates for microsatellite instability and loss of heterozygosity were detected: 39.1% positive for Tp53-Alu, 31.1% for locus Mfd41, and 25.3% for locus Mfd28. A higher occurrence of loss of heterozygosity was noted with alleles 399 and 404 of Tp53-Alu. The mismatch repair protein expression analysis showed that the chemotherapy caused a loss of 29.3% in hMLH1 expression, and 18.7% and 25.2% loss in hMSH2 and P53 expression, respectively. A strong correlation between low or deficient hMSH2 protein expression and occurrence of mismatch repair/loss of heterozygosity events in Mfd41, Tp53-Alu, and Mfd28 was evident. A significant association between mismatch repair/loss of heterozygosity and incidence of secondary tumors was also established.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that microsatellite instability, loss of heterozygosity, and deficiency in mismatch repair may serve as early prognostic factors for potential chemotherapy-related side effects in breast cancer patients.

Incidence of acute myeloid leukemia after breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer among women and the leading cause of death among middle-aged women. Early detection by mammography screening and improvement of therapeutic options have increased breast cancer survival rates, with the consequence that late side effects of cancer treatment become increasingly important. In particular, patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy regimens, commonly including alkylating agents and anthracyclines, are at increased risk of developing leukemia, further enhanced by the use of radiotherapy. In the last few years also the use of growth factors seems to increase the risk of secondary leukemia. The purpose of this review is to update epidemiology of therapy-related myeloid neoplasms occurring in breast cancer patients.

Gene-expression profiles, tumor microenvironment, and cancer stem cells in breast cancer: latest advances towards an integrated approach

During the past decade, several high throughput analytical methods for gene-expression profiling have been developed. DNA microarrays and multiplex RT-PCR have been applied in the field of breast-cancer research to establish new molecular taxonomic classifications, or a selected group of genes able to predict the prognosis of the patients and/or their response to chemotherapy. This technology provides an opportunity to refine the anti-neoplastic treatment and avoid the currently observed under- and over-treatment of breast-cancer patients. In parallel, high throughput technologies for gene-expression analysis have been applied to research on cancer stem cells (CSCs) and the tumor microenvironment, offering a wider vision of the molecular processes that influence carcinogenic events, disease development, and the response to the treatment of breast-cancer patients. In this report, we briefly revisit the most relevant genomic studies on breast-cancer prognosis and prediction to introduce the latest advances in tumor dormancy, its implications in the clinical outcome of disease-free patients and its connection with CSCs biology and microenvironment influence in the metastatic process. Finally, we have discussed the contribution of the results of these studies to the design of new experimental strategies oriented towards personalized medicine.

Incidence and susceptibility to therapy-related myeloid neoplasms

Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MN) include acute myeloid leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes arising in patients who have been treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunosuppressive agents or after documented exposure to environmental carcinogen. t-MN are defined according to the primary treatment and the corresponding genetic and molecular lesions. Chromosome(s) 7 and/or 5 monosomies or deletions are typical of alkylating agent-induced AML, while balanced translocations involving chromosome bands 11q23 and 21q22 are associated to preceeding therapy with DNA-topoisomerase II inhibitors. Antimetabolites, and in particular the immunosuppressive agents azathioprine and fludarabine, have also been recently associated to t-MN. Leukemias developing after benzene exposure are similar to t-MN and are characterized by chromosomal aberrations, which have been also observed among otherwise healthy benzene-exposed workers. Individual predisposing factors, including polymorphisms of detoxification and DNA-repair enzymes have been identified. Two genetic variants in key metabolizing enzymes, myeloperoxidase and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase, have been shown to influence susceptibility to benzene hematotoxicity. Combination of polymorphisms impairing detoxification and DNA repair may significantly increase therapy-related myeloid neoplasm risk. Among hematological malignancies, long-term survivors of Hodgkin's lymphoma are exposed to an increased t-MN risk, particularly when receiving MOPP-based and escalated-BEACOPP regimens, and when alkylators are combined to radiotherapy. Patients with lymphoma are at highest risk if total body irradiation followed by autologous stem cell transplantation is used as rescue or consolidation. The addition of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and radiotherapy plays a significant role in t-MN following treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In solid tumors, treatment for breast cancer and germ-cell tumors has been associated with a 1-5% lifetime risk of t-MN.

Secondary hematological malignancies after breast cancer chemotherapy

According to several reports, the 10 year incidence of secondary acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) after systemic chemotherapy is approximately 1.5%. The cumulative risk increases by 0.25--1% for the first 8 years after treatment. We have reported only 6 cases of hematological malignancies (0.3%) after breast cancer chemotherapy in our institute. We detected 2 cases of secondary AML and 1 case of MDS, 19, 52 and 12 months, respectively, after systemic chemotherapy for breast cancer. Published data on the occurrence of secondary hematological malignancies other than AML or MDS in this setting are scarce. We encountered diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, angioimmunoblastic lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma as secondary hematological malignancies after systemic chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Cyclophosphamide enhances human tumor growth in nude rat xenografted tumor models

The effect of the immunomodulatory chemotherapeutic agent cyclophosphamide (CTX) on tumor growth was investigated in primary and metastatic intracerebral and subcutaneous rat xenograft models. Nude rats were treated with CTX (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) 24 hours before human ovarian carcinoma (SKOV3), small cell lung carcinoma (LX-1 SCLC), and glioma (UW28, U87MG, and U251) tumor cells were inoculated subcutaneously, intraperitoneally, or in the right cerebral hemisphere or were infused into the right internal carotid artery. Tumor development was monitored and recorded. Potential mechanisms were further investigated. Only animals that received both CTX and Matrigel showed consistent growth of subcutaneous tumors. Cyclophosphamide pretreatment increased the percentage (83.3% vs 0%) of animals showing intraperitoneal tumors. In intracerebral implantation tumor models, CTX pretreatment increased the tumor volume and the percentage of animals showing tumors. Cyclophosphamide increased lung carcinoma bone and facial metastases after intra-arterial injection, and 20% of animals showed brain metastases. Cyclophosphamide transiently decreased nude rat white blood cell counts and glutathione concentration, whereas serum vascular endothelial growth factor was significantly elevated. Cyclophosphamide also increased CD31 reactivity, a marker of vascular endothelium, and macrophage (CD68-positive) infiltration into glioma cell-inoculated rat brains. Cyclophosphamide may enhance primary and metastatic tumor growth through multiple mechanisms, including immune modulation, decreased response to oxidative stress, increased tumor vascularization, and increased macrophage infiltration. These findings may be clinically relevant because chemotherapy may predispose human cancer subjects to tumor growth in the brain or other tissues.

Primary anaplastic large cell lymphoma of the breast arising in reconstruction mammoplasty capsule of saline filled breast implant after radical mastectomy for breast cancer: an unusual case presentation

BACKGROUND

Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) of the breast represents 0.04-0.5% of malignant lesions of the breast and accounts for 1.7-2.2% of extra-nodal NHL. Most primary cases are of B-cell phenotype and only rare cases are of T-cell phenotype. Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a rare T-cell lymphoma typically seen in children and young adults with the breast being one of the least common locations. There are a total of eleven cases of primary ALCL of the breast described in the literature. Eight of these cases occurred in proximity to breast implants, four in relation to silicone breast implant and three in relation to saline filled breast implant with three out of the eight implant related cases having previous history of breast cancer treated surgically. Adjuvant postoperative chemotherapy is given in only one case. Secondary hematological malignancies after breast cancer chemotherapy have been reported in literature. However in contrast to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the association between lymphoma and administration of chemotherapy has never been clearly demonstrated.

CASE PRESENTATION

In this report we present a case of primary ALCL of the breast arising in reconstruction mammoplasty capsule of saline filled breast implant after radical mastectomy for infiltrating ductal carcinoma followed by postoperative chemotherapy twelve years ago.

CONCLUSION

Primary ALK negative ALCL arising at the site of saline filled breast implant is rare. It is still unclear whether chemotherapy and breast implantation increases risk of secondary hematological malignancies significantly. However, it is important to be aware of these complications and need for careful pathologic examination of tissue removed for implant related complications to make the correct diagnosis for further patient management and treatment. It is important to be aware of this entity at this site as it can be easily misdiagnosed on histologic grounds and to exclude sarcomatoid carcinoma, malignant melanoma and pleomorphic sarcoma by an appropriate panel of immunostains to arrive at the correct diagnosis of ALCL.

Acute myeloid leukemia after breast cancer: a population-based comparison with hematological malignancies and other cancers

BACKGROUND

Clinical trials frequently report acute myeloid leukemia (AML) as a complication of adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer (BC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective population-based study investigated AML risk after a prior BC diagnosis and compared the results with women after a prior diagnosis of hematological malignancies (HM), other cancers combined (OCC), and the age-matched Australian female population.

RESULTS

Women with a prior BC diagnosis had 2.56 times the risk of developing AML compared with the Australian female population (P<0.001). AML risk was also elevated after prior HM and OCC diagnoses (4.73, P<0.001, and 1.70, P<0.001, respectively). Although the incidence of AML rose sharply with age in all cohorts, the age-specific relative risk was highest in the 30- to 49-age-group and decreased with increasing age. AML risk increased with the duration of follow-up but there was no change of risk during the 23 years of this study.

CONCLUSION

AML risk was elevated after a prior diagnosis of BC but there was no evidence of an increasing risk of AML after a BC diagnosis or, in any of the other cancer cohorts, during this era of expansion of the evidence base for more intensive treatments.

DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients during combined chemotherapy for breast cancer

Combined chemotherapy is used for the treatment of a number of malignancies such as breast cancer. The target of these antineoplastic agents is nuclear DNA, although it is not restricted to malignant cells. The aim of the present study was to assess DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of breast cancer patients subjected to combined adjuvant chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide, FEC), using a modified comet assay to detect DNA single-strand breaks (SSB) and double-strand breaks (DSB). Forty-one female patients with advanced breast cancer before and after chemotherapy and 60 healthy females participated in the study. Alkaline and neutral comet assays were performed in PBLs according to a standard protocol, and DNA tail moment was measured by a computer-based image analysis system. Breast cancer patients before treatment had higher increased background levels of SSB and DSB as compared to healthy women. During treatment, a significant increase in DNA damage was observed after the 2nd cycle, which persisted until the end of treatment. Eighty days after the end of treatment the percentage of PBLs with SSB and DSB remained elevated, but the magnitude of DNA damage (tail moment) returned to baseline levels. There was no correlation between PBL DNA damage and response to chemotherapy. DNA-SSB and DSB in PBLs are present in cancer patients before treatment and increase significantly after combined chemotherapy. No correlation with response to adjuvant chemotherapy was found. Biomonitoring DNA damage in PBLs of cancer patients could help prevent secondary effects and the potential risks of developing secondary cancers.

Anthracyclines, mitoxantrone, radiotherapy, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor: risk factors for leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome after breast cancer

PURPOSE

To determine the risk factors for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) after breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a case-control study among women treated for breast cancer between 1985 and 2001 in French general hospitals, cancer centers, or clinics. We included 182 AML and MDS patients and 534 matched controls. Breast cancer characteristics, type of treatment, and family history of cancer were compared in both groups.

RESULTS

The risk of AML/MDS was increased after topoisomerase-II inhibitor-based chemotherapy (P < 10-16) and was higher for mitoxantrone-based chemotherapy than for anthracycline-based chemotherapy (relative risk [RR] = 15.6; 95% CI, 7.1 to 34.2; and RR = 2.7; 95% CI, 1.7 to 4.5, respectively). After adjustment for other treatment components, the risk of AML/MDS in patients who received radiotherapy was multiplied by 3.9 (95% CI, 1.4 to 10.8) but was not increased by alkylating agents. Patients receiving granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) support had an increased risk of AML/MDS (RR = 6.3; 95% CI, 1.9 to 21), even when controlling for chemotherapy doses. Similar results were obtained when AML and MDS were considered separately.

CONCLUSION

This large case-control study demonstrates that the risk of AML/MDS is much higher with mitoxantrone-based chemotherapy than with anthracyclines-based chemotherapy in a population of women recently treated for breast cancer. The risk of AML/MDS associated with mitoxantrone must be kept in mind when using this drug to treat diseases other than breast cancer (eg, prostate cancer or multiple sclerosis). In addition, our study suggests the need to monitor the long-term effects of G-CSF therapy.

Increased risk of acute myeloid leukaemia after treatment for breast cancer

This study evaluates the risk of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in patients treated for breast cancer. We included all 6360 breast cancer patients that were recorded at the Geneva Cancer Registry between 1970 and 1999. Patients were followed for AML occurrence until December 2000. We calculated standardized incidence ratios of AML and identified factors modifying the risk of AML by multivariate Cox analysis. Twelve (0.2%) patients developed AML. In general, patients treated for breast cancer had a 3.5-fold (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.8-6.0) increased risk of developing AML compared with the general population. In particular, patients who were older than 70 years at breast cancer diagnosis and those treated with radiotherapy (with or without chemotherapy) had a significantly increased risk of developing AML. This population-based study confirms that radiotherapy increases the risk of AML. Due to the relatively low number of women treated with chemotherapy without radiotherapy and due to the infrequency of the disease, the question of whether chemotherapy alone increases this risk of AML cannot yet be answered.

Results of two randomized trials evaluating adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy in 1146 patients with early breast cancer

Two randomized trials evaluated the effect of 6 courses of anthracycline-based chemotherapy in early breast cancer. A total of 1146 patients were included: 311 high-risk node-negative premenopausal patients and 835 high-risk node-negative or node-positive postmenopausal patients. Patients were randomized after surgery to receive either no chemotherapy (control group) or 6 courses of anthracycline-based chemotherapy (CT group). Postmenopausal patients received adjuvant tamoxifen for at least two years. Radiotherapy was delivered after completion of chemotherapy in the CT group. The 10-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 60% in the control group and 65% in the CT group (log-rank test, p = 0.01). The 10-year distant metastasis rates were 28% and 23% (p = 0.02), and the 10-year local recurrence rates were 12% and 10%, respectively (p = 0.24). Chemotherapy was significantly less effective in post-menopausal patients with estrogen receptor-positive tumors. Adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy yielded a significant benefit for DFS by lowering the risk of distant metastases. After up to 10 years of follow-up, deferring radiotherapy after chemotherapy did not compromise local control.

Risk of acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome in trials of adjuvant epirubicin for early breast cancer: correlation with doses of epirubicin and cyclophosphamide

PURPOSE

We reviewed follow-up of patients treated in 19 randomized trials of adjuvant epirubicin in early breast cancer to determine incidence, risk, and risk factors for subsequent acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The patients (N = 9,796) were observed from the start of adjuvant treatment (53,080 patient-years). Cases of AML or MDS (AML/MDS) were reported, with disease characteristics. Incidence and cumulative risk were compared for possible risk factors, for assigned regimens, and for administered cumulative doses of epirubicin and cyclophosphamide.

RESULTS

In 7,110 patients treated with epirubicin-containing regimens (92% of whom also received cyclophosphamide), 8-year cumulative probability of AML/MDS was 0.55% (95% CI, 0.33% to 0.78%). The risk of developing AML/MDS increased in relation to planned epirubicin dose per cycle, planned epirubicin dose-intensity, and administered cumulative doses of epirubicin and cyclophosphamide. Patients with administered cumulative doses of both epirubicin and cyclophosphamide not exceeding those used in standard regimens (</= 720 mg/m(2) and </= 6,300 mg/m(2), respectively) had an 8-year cumulative probability of developing AML/MDS of 0.37% (95% CI, 0.13% to 0.61%) compared with 4.97% (95% CI, 2.06% to 7.87%) for patients administered higher cumulative doses of both epirubicin and cyclophosphamide.

CONCLUSION

Patients treated with standard cumulative doses of adjuvant epirubicin (</= 720 mg/m(2)) and cyclophosphamide (</= 6,300 mg/m(2)) for early breast cancer have a lower probability of secondary leukemia than patients treated with higher cumulative doses. Increased risk of secondary leukemia must be considered when assessing the potential benefit to risk ratio of higher than standard doses.

Secondary leukemia after epirubicin-based adjuvant chemotherapy in operable breast cancer patients: 16 years experience of the French Adjuvant Study Group

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate incidence and risk factors of secondary leukemia after adjuvant epirubicin-based chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Among eight French Adjuvant Study Group trials, 3653 patients were assessable: 2603 received epirubicin; 682 received hormonotherapy; and 368 had no systemic treatment. Chemotherapy was FEC regimen in 85% of cases (fluorouracil 500 mg/m2, epirubicin 50, 75 or 100 mg/m2, cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2, three or six cycles). Epirubicin cumulative dose was <300 mg/m2 in 1045 patients; 300-600 mg/m2 in 1187; and > or =600 mg/m2 in 286, followed by radiotherapy in 96% of cases. The median follow-up was 104 months.

RESULTS

Eight cases of leukemia occurred in epirubicin-exposed patients and one in non-exposed patients. After 9 years, the risk of developing a leukemia was 0.34% (95% confidence interval 0.11-0.57) in epirubicin-exposed patients. In patients receiving chemotherapy, leukemia subtypes were: AML2 (two), AML3 (one), AML4 (three) and ALL (two). None of the classically recognized risk factors was significantly correlated with the occurrence of a leukemia.

CONCLUSION

Irrespective of the dose, the incidence of secondary leukemia after adjuvant epirubicin-based chemotherapy was low. After a long follow-up, the benefit/risk ratio for early breast cancer patients remained in favor of epirubicin-based adjuvant chemotherapy: eight cases (0.31%) occurred, and in some of them, treatment causality could be debatable.

State of the science: molecular classifications of breast cancer for clinical diagnostics

Over the past few years, the study of genomics has embarked on developing gene expression-based classifications for tumors-an initiative that promises to revolutionize cancer medicine. High-throughput genomic platforms, such as microarray and SAGE, have found gene expression signatures that correlate to important clinical parameters used in current staging and are providing additional information that will improve standard of care. Although implementing a molecular taxonomy for prognosis and treatment would likely benefit cancer patients, there remain significant obstacles to using these assays within the current diagnostic framework. Since most genomic assays are being performed from fresh tissue, there is a need to either change the practice of formalin-fixing and paraffin-embedding tissue or adapting the assays for use on degraded RNA specimens. To date, even the most mature data sets, such as molecular classifications for breast cancer, still fall short of the number of patients needed to generalize the results to treating large populations. To implement these assays in large scale, there will need to be standardization of sample procurement, preparation, and analysis. Certainly, the greatest improvements in patient care will come through tailored therapies as genomics is coupled with clinical trials that randomize cohorts to different treatments. This manuscript reviews the current standards of care, presents progress that is being made in the development of genomic assays for breast cancer and discusses options for implementing these new tests into the clinical setting.

Systemic chemotherapy induces microsatellite instability in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of breast cancer patients

Introduction

Systemic chemotherapy is an important part of treatment for breast cancer. We conducted the present study to evaluate whether systemic chemotherapy could produce microsatellite instability (MSI) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell fraction of breast cancer patients.

Methods

We studied 119 sequential blood samples from 30 previously untreated breast cancer patients before, during and after chemotherapy. For comparison, we also evaluated 20 women who had no relevant medical history (control group).

Results

In 27 out of 30 patients we observed MSI in at least one sample, and six patients had loss of heterozygosity. We found a significant correlation between the number of MSI events per sample and chemotherapy with alkylating agents (P < 0.0001). We also observed an inverse correlation between the percentage of cells positive for hMSH2 and the number of MSI events per sample (P = 0.00019) and use of alkylating agents (P = 0.019).

Conclusion

We conclude that systemic chemotherapy may induce MSI and loss of heterozygosity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from breast cancer patients receiving alkylating agents, possibly mediated by a chemotherapy-induced decrease in the expression of hMSH2. These effects may be related to the generation of secondary leukaemia in some patients, and may also intensify the genetic instability of tumours and increase resistance to treatment.

Phase I clinical and pharmacokinetic study of BBR 3576, a novel aza-anthrapyrazole, administered i.v. every 4 weeks in patients with advanced solid tumors: a phase I study group trial of the Central European Society of Anticancer-Drug Research (CESAR)

BBR 3576 is a novel aza-anthrapyrazole with limited potential for cardiotoxicity in preclinical models. This phase I clinical and pharmacokinetic study was performed to determine the maximum tolerated dose, the dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and the pharmacokinetic profile of BBR 3576 administered i.v. as a 1-h infusion repeated every 4 weeks. In total, 27 patients were treated at doses starting from 1 to 150 mg/m2. The dose levels 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 90, 125 and 150 mg/m2 were investigated in one, three, one, three, two, one, three, four, three and six patients, respectively. The DLT was a grade 3 stomatitis at 150 mg/m2. At this dose level as well as at 125 mg/m2, neutropenia grade 3 and 4 were frequently seen, but not reaching the criteria for DLT. Time to neutrophil nadir was about 2 weeks and recovery took place within 1 week. Other bone marrow toxicities were mild; lymphopenia was also observed. No significant drug-induced cardiotoxicity was observed. The plasma concentration versus time curves of BBR 3576 showed a biexponential profile with a linear kinetic behavior. A very large volume of distribution, a high plasma clearance and long elimination half-lives were calculated. Renal unchanged drug excretion was less than 10% and therefore a minor excretion route. No objective antitumor responses were found. On the basis of this study, the recommended dose for phase II studies is 150 mg/m2, although the maximum tolerated dose as per protocol definition was not reached. This trial showed that BBR 3576 has a manageable toxicity profile on a 4-week schedule. Phase II studies have started in patients with solid tumors, as suggested by preclinical data in different in vivo model systems.

Maintaining treatment of locally advanced breast cancer

Locally advanced breast cancer is a specific clinic entity, comprising various degrees of breast cancer local and regional extension. This term is applied to nonmetastatic large primary tumors (including inflammatory breast carcinoma), with or without extensive regional lymph node involvement, with a rapid or slow evolution, and usually with poor prognosis. This clinical presentation of mammary carcinoma is common in developing countries (30% to 60%), but also with a remarkable incidence in developed countries (10% to 20%). During many decades patients were treated with radical surgery or radiation therapy and with their combination, but always with poor results. The inclusion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment enabled more favorable treatment results. The mortality from disseminated disease is the main problem in these patients, inducing the question of need for additional postoperative adjuvant systemic therapy. For steroid receptor positive patients hormonotherapy is a convenient choice of maintaining treatment. In endocrine non-responsive tumors, the role of postoperative chemotherapy is doubtful, having in mind preoperative chemotherapy and cumulative toxic effects. New trials including the large number of patients are necessary to obtain the definite answer whether the maintaining chemotherapy is useful but today it seems that additive postoperative treatment is not more efficient than preoperative alone.