A multi-center investigation of breast-conserving surgery based on data from the Chinese Society of Breast Surgery (CSBrS-005)

Spatial and temporal changes of breast-conserving surgery rates and its influential factors among Chinese patients with breast cancer from 2013 to 2019: a registry-based study

OBJECTIVE

Our study aims to evaluate the spatial and temporal changes of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) rates and influential factors of BCS in Guangdong Province, China.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

This registry-based cohort study analysed the data of patients of all age groups, from the medical record cover page, which was mandatorily collected for inpatients by the Health Administrative Department of Guangdong Province, China. Patients with non-metastatic breast cancer, who underwent breast surgery between 2013 and 2019, were included.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

We analysed the BCS rate in Guangdong Province between 2013 and 2019. Logistic regression was applied to investigate the association between patient-level influential factors and BCS, respectively. We used restricted cubic spline regression to model the non-linear association between hospital volume rank with BCS rate. Linear regression was used to evaluate the association between city-level parameters with BCS rate of each city.

RESULTS

A total of 93 521 patients with non-metastatic breast cancer, who underwent breast surgery, were included in the analyses. Among them, 10 949 (11.7%) had BCS, with the BCS rates increasing from 0.8% in 2013 to 19.2% in 2019. Patients who were older (vs <40 years, 40-49 years: adjusted OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.68 to 0.76; 50-59 years: 0.51, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.54; ≥60 years: 0.37, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.40) and married (vs unmarried, 0.64, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.70) were less likely to undergo BCS. Patients who were employed (vs unemployed, 1.58, 95% CI 1.49 to 1.68), received cross-city surgery (vs local surgery, 1.37, 95% CI 1.31 to 1.44), lived in a high-income city (vs low-income city, β=4.40, 95% CI 1.55 to 7.24) or in a city with a higher number of physicians per 100 000 residents (0.57, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.82) were more likely to receive BCS.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This study suggests a significant increase in BCS rates from 2013 to 2019 in Guangdong, China. Promotion of BCS is needed, particularly among older patients, lower-volume hospitals and economically underdeveloped areas. Healthcare system should be prepared to support the increased awareness of seeking BCS among younger patients with breast cancer by improving the availability of radiotherapy, multidisciplinary team and patients' education programme.

Revisiting surgical margins for invasive breast cancer patients treated with breast conservation therapy - Evidence for adopting a 1 mm negative width

Clinical trials have demonstrated conclusively the non-inferiority of breast-conserving surgery followed by breast radiation therapy (BCT) compared with mastectomy for the treatment of early-stage invasive breast cancer (BC). The definition of the required surgical margin to ensure adequate removal of the cancer by BCT to obtain an acceptable low local recurrence (LR) rate remains controversial. Meta-analyses published by Houssami et al. in 2010 and 2014 demonstrated significantly lower LR rates for patients with a negative margin compared with those with positive (ink on tumour) or close (defined as ≤1 mm or ≤2 mm) margins. Neither meta-analysis addressed whether 'no ink on tumour' was adequate to define a negative margin because of a lack of data. Nevertheless, in 2014, the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) and the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) with advice from pathologists reviewed these data together and published guidelines recommending that a margin of 'no ink on tumour' was sufficient to define a clear margin in BCT. Subsequently, clinical practice has varied with some national and international bodies endorsing 'no ink on tumour', whilst others have recommended a ≥1 mm margin as acceptable margins for BCT. A more recent meta-analysis conducted by Bundred and colleagues in 2022 did have sufficient data to compare 'no ink on tumour' and 1 mm and concluded that 1 mm rather than 'no ink on tumour', should be used as a minimum negative margin, and recommended that international guidelines be revised. The current review presents a balanced assessment of the evidence relating margin width and local recurrence after BCT. This review concludes that guidelines should consider re-defining a negative margin as ≥1 mm rather than 'no ink on tumour' in the context of BCT, recognising there will be variation to tailor therapy for any individual patient situation to ensure optimal patient care.

Breast-conserving surgery is associated with a lower incidence of suicide among females with breast cancer in the United States: a population-based retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

With comparable overall survival and local recurrence rates with mastectomy, breast-conserving surgery (BCS) has become the cornerstone of therapy for breast cancer; however, the difference in the incidence of suicide between BCS and mastectomy among breast cancer survivors remains unclear. This study evaluated the mortality risk from suicide among breast cancer survivors and compared suicide risk between BCS and mastectomy using a population-based cohort.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Female patients newly diagnosed with first primary breast cancer, recorded in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database, were included. Standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and cumulative mortality rate from suicide among those who underwent BCS and mastectomy were compared.

RESULTS

A total of 1 190 991 patients with newly diagnosed first primary breast cancer were included in the study, of whom 56.5% underwent BCS and 36.1% underwent mastectomy. During the follow-up period, 667 suicides were recorded. Patients who underwent mastectomy exhibited significantly higher suicide mortality than the general population [mortality rate, 8.16 per 100 000 person-years; SMR 1.18 (95% CI 1.05-1.33)], while there was no significant difference in suicide rate between patients who underwent BCS and the general population [SMR 0.92 (95% CI 0.83-1.02)]. Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that BCS, compared with mastectomy, was associated with a significantly decreased risk of suicide among females with breast cancer [hazard ratio 0.80 (95% CI 0.68-0.95); P = 0.009].

CONCLUSION

BCS was associated with a significantly lower incidence of suicide among females with breast cancer. BCS offers a compelling option for improving the quality of life and self-esteem of patients with cancer and provides a novel perspective on cancer management.

Retrospective Analysis: Preserving More Subcutaneous Tissue Shows no Increase the Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence

BACKGROUND

Radical mastectomy remains the cornerstone procedure for the treatment of breast cancer (BC). However, traditional radical surgeries often lead to complications such as local numbness, pulling sensations, and atrophy of the pectoralis major muscle. In contrast, BC radical surgeries that preserve more tissue have shown potential in reducing these complications. This retrospective study aims to analyze case data from our institution, focusing on the methods of surgeries that preserve more tissue and evaluating the safety and reliability of the follow-up results.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study was conducted on cases diagnosed with BC between May 2018 and July 2019 at our institution. The cases were divided into three different surgical groups and followed up for a period of 5 years. The follow-up results were then discussed within each group.

RESULTS

A total of 315 cases diagnosed with BC underwent regular follow-ups. The statistical analysis revealed an average age of 45 years and an average tumor size slightly over 2.2 cm, with early-stage BC (Stage I and II) accounting for 90.2% of the cases. The overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival times in the group undergoing total mastectomy with tissue preservation were comparable to those in the traditional radical mastectomy group and the breast-conserving plus radiotherapy group. Moreover, the complication rate, particularly the incidence of chest wall numbness and pulling sensations, was lower in the total mastectomy with tissue preservation group compared to the traditional radical mastectomy group. The overall average follow-up time was 64.4 months, with a recurrence and metastasis rate of 15.6% and an OS rate of 92.7%.

CONCLUSION

Based on our follow-up results, total mastectomy with more tissue preservation demonstrates comparable efficacy to breast-conserving surgery and traditional radical mastectomy. It can reduce some complications associated with traditional radical mastectomy and is beneficial for subsequent immediate and delayed breast reconstruction. This approach may be suitable for most patients with early to mid-stage breast cancer who do not wish to undergo breast-conserving surgery.

Trends in Disparities and Transitions of Treatment in Patients With Early Breast Cancer in China and the US, 2011 to 2021

Importance

Breast cancer treatment has profoundly improved in China recently. However, trends in disparities and transitions of treatment in early-stage cancer between China and the US are not well known.

Objective

To identify changes for patients with early breast cancer by using large databases from China and the US.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This multicenter cross-sectional study used the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology Breast Cancer (CSCO BC) database from hospitals in 13 provinces in China and the Flatiron Health (hereinafter referred to as Flatiron) database from more than 280 community oncology clinics in the US. Patients with stage I to III breast cancer diagnosed from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2021, were included. Data were analyzed from June 10 to December 1, 2022.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The distribution of age, clinical stage, and cancer subtypes at diagnosis were examined overall and by year. The mean annual percent change (MAPC) from 2011 to 2021 in systemic therapy and surgery was also analyzed.

Results

A total of 57 720 patients with early breast cancer were screened from the CSCO BC (n = 45 970) and Flatiron (n = 11 750) databases. The median age at diagnosis in China among the 41 449 patients included in the age analysis was 47 (IQR, 40-56) years; in the US, the median age was 64 (IQR, 54-73) years. Among patients with clinical stage data in the CSCO BC (n = 22 794) and Flatiron (n = 4413) databases, the proportion of stage I cancer was 7250 (31.8%) vs 2409 (54.6%); stage II cancer, 10 043 (44.1%) vs 1481 (33.6%); and stage III cancer, 5501 (24.1%) vs 523 (11.9%). The proportion of hormone receptor-positive cancer in China was 69.8%, lower than that in the US (87.5%). For patients with ERBB2 (formerly HER2 or HER2/neu)-positive cancer, the proportion in China (30.2%) was higher than that in the US (15.6%). For neoadjuvant therapy, the annual rate increased from 247 of 1553 (15.9%) to 200 of 790 (25.3%) in China, with an MAPC of -4.4% (95% CI, -50.6% to 85.0%; P = .89). For patients with ERBB2-positive cancer, the proportion treated with trastuzumab in early-stage cancer in China increased significantly, with an MAPC of 22.1% (95% CI, 17.4%-26.9%; P < .001), and overtook that in the Flatiron database since 2017 (1684 [68.5%] vs 550 [62.5%]; P < .001).

Conclusions and Relevance

The findings of this cross-sectional study suggest that disparities in treatment of early breast cancer narrowed between China and the US during the study period. The rapid growth of trastuzumab treatment in China was suggestive of differential access to targeted ERBB2 therapy.

Research on body image cognition, social support and illness perception in breast cancer patients with different surgical methods

In parallel with the rapid rise in breast cancer incidence, there is also a noticeable rise in the number of patients who experience persistent negative body image cognition after breast cancer surgery. This study aimed to explore the differences in illness perception, social support, and body image cognition among breast cancer patients with different surgical methods, and the correlation, regression, and mediation among the three variables. The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) and the Body Image Cognition after Breast Cancer Questionnaire (BIBCQ) were used to evaluate breast cancer patients’ illness perception, social support and body image cognition. Data analyses were performed by descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation, and linear regression. The mediation was explored by the PROCESS V3.3. The study found that breast cancer patients undergoing radical mastectomy (RM) and modified radical mastectomy (MRM) demonstrated more negative illness perception, body image cognition, and lower social support compared with the patients receiving nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM; p < 0.05). The subscale cognitive representation (CR) of BIPQ was strongly positively correlated with BIBCQ (p < 0.05). Illness perception positively predicted body image cognition (p < 0.01), while social support negatively predicted body image cognition. Social support partially mediated illness perception and body image cognition, exhibiting a positive role in post-operative body image cognition.

Improved Survival after Breast-Conserving Therapy Compared with Mastectomy in Stage I-IIA Breast Cancer

Simple Summary

The majority of patients with breast cancer are suitable for either breast-conserving therapy, consisting of breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy, or mastectomy alone. In the present study, we compared survival outcomes in 1360 patients affected with early-stage breast cancer (stage I-IIA) according to the type of local treatment. We confirmed that patients treated with breast-conserving therapy had a lower rate of local, regional, and distant disease recurrences, and at least equivalent overall survival compared to those treated with mastectomy alone. Our results add to previous research showing a potential benefit of breast-conserving therapy when compared to mastectomy in patients suitable for both treatments at baseline.

Abstract

In the current study, we sought to compare survival outcomes after breast-conserving therapy (BCT) or mastectomy alone in patients with stage I-IIA breast cancer, whose tumors are typically suitable for both locoregional treatments. The study cohort consisted of 1360 patients with stage I-IIA (T1–2N0 or T0–1N1) breast cancer diagnosed between 2001 and 2013 and treated with either BCT (n = 1021, 75.1%) or mastectomy alone (n = 339, 24.9%). Median follow-ups for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 6.9 years (range, 0.3–15.9) and 7.5 years (range, 0.2–25.9), respectively. Fifteen (1.1%), 14 (1.0%) and 48 (3.5%) patients experienced local, regional, and distant relapse, respectively. For the whole cohort of patients, the estimated 5-year DFS and OS were 96% and 97%, respectively. After stratification based on the type of local treatment, the estimated 5-year DFS for BCT was 97%, while it was 91% (p < 0.001) for mastectomy-only treatment. Inverse probability of treatment weighting matching based on confounding confirmed that mastectomy was associated with worse DFS (HR 2.839, 95% CI 1.760–4.579, p < 0.0001), but not with OS (HR 1.455, 95% CI 0.844–2.511, p = 0.177). In our study, BCT was shown to have improved disease-specific outcomes compared to mastectomy alone, emphasizing the important role of adjuvant treatments, including postoperative radiation therapy, in patients with early-stage breast cancer at diagnosis.

Factors Associated With Surgical Modality Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients with Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

The breast-conserving surgery (BCS) rate for patients with breast cancer in China is much lower than that in Europe and the United States. This study aimed to identify factors affecting the choice of surgical modality following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with breast cancer in northwest China.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients who underwent mastectomy or BCS after NAC for invasive breast cancer from January 2013 to December 2017 were enrolled in the study. Single-factor and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to identify the association between the type of surgery and demographic characteristics or clinical pathological factors of patients.

RESULTS

This study enrolled 916 patients. Among them, 191 patients (20.9%) and 725 patients (79.1%) underwent BCS and mastectomy, respectively. Patients with high education were less likely to undergo mastectomy compared with patients with less education (P < .001; odds ratio [OR] = 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35-0.71). Patients with cT3 tumors were nearly six times more likely to undergo mastectomy compared with patients with cT1 tumors (P = .003; OR = 5.74; 95% CI, 2.07-15.97). Moreover, patients older than 50 years of age (P < .001; OR = 2.84; 95% CI, = 1.93-4.16) were more likely to be offered mastectomy. No association between the type of surgery and pathological complete response (P = .351) was observed.

CONCLUSION

Pretreatment clinical disease size remains a strong predictor of surgical management, whereas response to NAC appeared to play no role in the surgical decision, suggesting that the potential surgical benefits of NAC may be still under-recogonized in northwest China.