Clinicopathologic analysis of a large series of microinvasive breast cancers

Meta-analysis on axillary lymph node metastasis rate in ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion

OBJECTIVE

To address the question of axillary lymph node staging in ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion (DCIS-MI), we retrospectively evaluated axillary lymph nodes metastasis (ALNM) rate in a cohort of postsurgical DCIS-MI patients. By analyzing these data, we aimed to generate clinically relevant insights to inform treatment decision-making for this patient population.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang Database, Wipe, and China Biomedical Literature Database to identify relevant publications in any language. All the analyses were performed using Stata 16.0 software.

RESULTS

Among the 28 studies involving 8279 patients, the pooled analysis revealed an ALNM rate of 8% (95% CI, 7% to 10%) in patients with DCIS-MI. Furthermore, the rates of axillary lymph node macrometastasis, micrometastasis, and ITC in patients with DCIS-MI were 2% (95% CI, 2% to 3%), 3% (95% CI, 2% to 4%), and 2% (95% CI, 1% to 3%), respectively. Moreover, 13 studies investigated the non-sentinel lymph node (Non-SLN) metastasis rate, encompassing a total of 1236 DCIS-MI cases. The pooled analysis identified a Non-SLN metastasis rate of 33% (95% CI, 14% to 55%) in patients with DCIS-MI.

CONCLUSION

The SLNB for patients with DCIS-MI is justifiable and could provide a novel therapeutic basis for systemic treatment decisions.

Regional Lymph Node Metastasis and Axillary Surgery of Microinvasive Breast Cancer: A Population-Based Study

Microinvasive breast cancer (MBC for short) is a rare entity with the decision of axillary surgery under debate in clinical practice. We aimed to unravel the lymph node metastasis (LNM) rate, axillary surgery, and prognosis of MBC based on 11,692 patients derived from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database between 2003 and 2015. In this retrospective study, 19.5% (2276/11,692) of patients received axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), 80.5% (9416/11,692) received non-ALND. In the total cohort, 10-year breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) was 96.3%, and the LNM rate was 6.4% (754/11,692). Multivariate analyses showed that LNM had the strongest predictive weight (N3, HR 14.200, 95% CI 7.933−25.417; N2, HR 12.945, 95% CI 7.725−21.694; N1, HR 3.05, 95% CI 2.246−4.140, all p < 0.001). Kaplan−Meier analyses showed that ALND did not confer a survival benefit on 10-year BCS in patients with N0 (94.7% vs. 97.1%, p < 0.001) and in patients with 1−2 positive nodes (92.1% vs. 89.5%, p = 0.355), respectively, when compared to non-ALND. Our study demonstrated that the vast majority of MBC have a low LNM rate and excellent prognosis; patients with LNM showed poor prognosis. Assessment of lymph node status is necessary, and non-ALND surgery is required and sufficient for MBC with 0−2 positive nodes.

Low incidence of lymph node metastasis in patients with microinvasive breast cancer: a Korean nationwide study

Purpose

Microinvasive breast cancer (MIBC) is an invasive carcinoma with a tumor dimension not exceeding 1 mm. Owing to its low incidence, the rate of axillary node metastasis and its management are not well established. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of lymph node metastasis (LNM) and identify variables associated with LNM, as well as to evaluate the need for axillary staging in MIBC patients by analyzing nationwide data.

Methods

The Korean Breast Cancer Society registry was searched to identify MIBC patients diagnosed between January 1996 and April 2020. Patients without neoadjuvant chemotherapy experiences, systemic metastasis, and missing or discordant data were eligible for the analysis. The incidence rate of LNM was determined, and variables associated with LNM were identified by multivariable regression analysis.

Results

Of 2,427 MIBC patients identified, 98 (4.0%) had LNM and 12 (0.5%) had N2/3 disease. Type of breast operation (odds ratio [OR], 2.093; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.332–3.290; P = 0.001), age (OR, 2.091; 95% CI, 1.326–3.298; P = 0.002), hormone receptor status (OR, 2.220; 95% CI, 1.372–3.594; P = 0.001), and lymphovascular invasion (OR, 11.143; 95% CI, 6.354–19.540; P < 0.001) were significantly related to LNM.

Conclusion

The incidence of LNM in MIBC patients was only 4.0% in our study, suggesting that de-escalation of axillary surgical interventions could be carefully considered. The indications for axillary staging should be individualized considering tumor volume, age, hormone receptor status, and lymphovascular invasion to improve the quality of life of MIBC survivors.

Axillary staging in ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion: A meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion (DCISM); arguably a more aggressive subtype of DCIS, currently has variable recommendations governing its staging and management in the UK. As a result, there is ongoing controversy surrounding the most appropriate management of DCISM, in particular the need of axillary staging.

METHOD

A search was conducted on the databases MEDLINE and Embase using the keywords: breast, DCISM, microinvasion, "ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion", sentinel lymph node biopsy, SLNB, axillary staging was performed. 23 studies were selected for analysis. Primary outcome was the positivity of metastasis of lymph node; secondary outcome looked at characteristics of DCISM that may affect node positivity.

RESULTS

A total of 2959 patients were included. Significant heterogeneity was observed amongst the studies with regards to metastases (I² = 61%; P < 0.01). Lymph node macrometastases was estimated to be 2%. Significant subgroup difference was not observed between SLNB technique and lymph node macrometastases (Q = 0.74; p = 0.69). Statistical significance was observed between the focality of the DCISM and lymph node macrometastases (Q = 8.71; p = 0.033).

CONCLUSION

Although histologically more advanced than DCIS, DCISM is not linked with higher rates of clinically significant metastasis to axillary lymph nodes. Survival rates are very similar to those seen in cases of DCIS. Current evidence suggests that axillary staging in cases of DCISM will not change their overall management, thus may only be an unnecessary and inconvenient additional intervention considering the majority of DCISM diagnoses are made from post-operative pathology samples. A multidisciplinary team approach evaluating pre-operative clinical and histological information to tailor the management specific to individual cases of DCISM would be a preferred approach than routine axillary staging.

Clinical characteristics of breast ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion: a narrative review

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) with microinvasion (DCIS-MI) is defined as the extension of cancer cells beyond the basement membrane into adjacent tissue with no focus larger than 1 mm or a maximum diameter of less than 1 mm for multiple invasive foci. DCIS-MI constitutes approximately 1% of all breast cancer cases and 5% to 10% of cases of DCIS. The current literature is controversial concerning the clinical prognostic features and management of DCIS-MI. This narrative review described recently reported literature regarding the characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of DCIS-MI.

Role of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Microinvasive Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

Microinvasive ductal carcinoma (DCISM), defined as DCIS with a focus of invasive carcinoma ≤ 1 mm, can be managed similarly to pure DCIS; however, management of the axilla in DCISM has been a subject of debate. Reports in the literature differ on the utility and necessity of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for DCISM. The aim of the present study was to identify risk factors for nodal disease in patients with DCISM, which can help develop a selective approach to SLNB in this patient population.

METHODS

The National Cancer Database was used to select patients with DCISM (pT1mi), diagnosed from 2012 to 2015, who underwent SLNB. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to determine associations between sentinel lymph node metastasis and relevant clinical variables.

RESULTS

Our cohort comprised of 2609 patients with pT1mi who underwent SLNB. Of these, 76 (2.9%) were found to have sentinel lymph node metastases on final pathology. Low/intermediate grade tumors were associated with decreased SLN metastasis (OR 0.50, CI 0.28-0.92). Age and receptor status of the tumor did not have a clear association in predicting SLN metastases.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of sentinel node metastases in DCISM is low at only 2.9% in this national study. Tumor grade was identified as influencing the risk of SLN metastases. This information can factor into shared decision-making for SLNB in patients with DCISM.

Clinic-Pathological Features of Breast Ductal Carcinoma in Situ with Micro-Invasion

Background: To investigate the differences of clinic-pathological features among ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), ductal carcinoma in situ with micro-invasion (DCIS-MI) and early invasive carcinoma (IDC) in stage T1.Methods: From January 2014 to December 2018, 308 cases DCIS, DCIS-MI 92 cases and 111 cases of T1a, 343 cases of T1b, and 1032 cases of T1c were investigated in a retrospective analysis. The population and clinic-pathological characteristics including age, menstrual status, surgical mode, lymph node status and molecular markers were compared in each group. Survival rate of all patients were followed-up for 5 years.Results: Compared with DCIS-MI group, the higher breast-conserving rate and lower lymph node metastasis rate in the DCIS group were shown in the DCIS-MI group (p < .05). There were no significant differences in tumor diameter, number of tumors, ER, PR, HER2 and Ki67 expression, molecular typing, (p > .05). The expression of Ki67 in T1a, T1b and T1c groups increased gradually with elevated grades (p < .05). The proportion of HER2-positive patients in DCIS-MI group was significantly higher than that in T1a-b-c (p < .05). There were no significant differences in DFS and OS between the 3 groups (p > .05).Conclusions: The clinic-pathological features of DCIS-MI are similar to those of DCIS and T1a, but significantly different from T1c.

A Nomogram to Predict Factors Associated with Lymph Node Metastasis in Ductal Carcinoma In Situ with Microinvasion

INTRODUCTION

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) with foci of invasion measuring ≤ 1 mm (DCISM), represents < 1% of all invasive breast cancers. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has been a standard component of surgery for patients with invasive carcinoma or extensive DCIS. We hypothesize that selective performance of SLNB may be appropriate given the low incidence of sentinel node (SN) metastasis for DCISM. We investigated the clinicopathologic predictors for SN positivity in DCISM, to identify which patients might benefit from SLNB.

METHODS

A retrospective review of the National Cancer Database was performed for cases from 2012 to 2015. Clinical and tumor characteristics, including SN results, were evaluated, and Pearson's Chi square tests and logistic regression were performed.

RESULTS

Of 7803 patients with DCISM, 306 (4%) had at least one positive SN. Patients with positive SNs were younger, more often of Black race, had higher-grade histology and larger tumor size, and were more likely to have lymphovascular invasion (LVI; all p < 0.001). In an adjusted model, the presence of LVI was associated with the highest odds ratio (OR) for node positivity (OR 8.80, 95% confidence interval 4.56-16.96).

CONCLUSIONS

Among women with DCISM, only 4% had a positive SN. Node positivity was associated with more extensive and higher-grade DCIS, and the presence of LVI was strongly correlated with node positivity. Our data suggest that LVI is the most important factor in determining which patients with DCISM will benefit from SN biopsy.

The prognostic significance of co-existence ductal carcinoma in situ in invasive ductal breast cancer: a large population-based study and a matched case-control analysis

Background

To evaluate the prognostic significance of co-existence ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in invasive ductal breast cancer (IDC) compared with pure IDC.

Methods

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was searched to identify unilateral IDC cases between 2004 and 2015, which were grouped into pure IDC and IDC with DCIS component (IDC-DCIS). Comparisons of the distribution of clinical-pathological characteristics the two groups were performed using Pearson's chi-square. Breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared across RS groups using the log-rank statistic. Cox models were fitted to assess the factors independently associated with survival. A 1:1 matched case-control analysis was conducted with each clinical-pathological characteristic matched completely.

Results

A total of 98,097 pure IDC cases (39.6%) and 149,477 IDC-DCIS cases (60.4%) were enrolled. IDC-DCIS patients were presented with less aggressive characteristics such as lower proportion of histologic grade III (34.2% vs. 42.2%, P<0.001), ER negative (16.8% vs. 26.1%, P<0.001) and PR negative (26.5% vs. 35.7%, P<0.001) disease and higher proportion of T1 cases (68.7% vs. 58.2%, P<0.001) compared with pure IDC patients. Co-existence DCIS was an independent prognostic factor for BCSS and OS in the whole cohort. According to the multivariate analysis, it was an independent favorable prognostic factor among ER positive cases, but an independent negative prognostic factor among ER negative cases based on the matched cohort.

Conclusions

Co-existence DCIS showed quite different prognostic significance among ER positive and negative disease.