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de Boniface J, Appelgren M, Szulkin R, Alkner S, Andersson Y, Bergkvist L, Frisell J, Gentilini OD, Kontos M, Kühn T, Lundstedt D, Offersen BV, Bagge RO, Reimer T, Sund M, Christiansen P, Rydén L, Tvedskov TF. Completion axillary lymph node dissection for the identification of pN2-3 status as an indication for adjuvant CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment: a post-hoc analysis of the randomised, phase 3 SENOMAC trial. Lancet Oncol 2024:S1470-2045(24)00350-4. [PMID: 39121881 DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(24)00350-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In luminal breast cancer, adjuvant CDK4/6 inhibitors (eg, abemaciclib) improve invasive disease-free survival. In patients with T1-2, grade 1-2 tumours, and one or two sentinel lymph node metastases, completion axillary lymph node dissection (cALND) is the only prognostic tool available that can reveal four or more nodal metastases (pN2-3), which is the only indication for adjuvant abemaciclib in this setting. However, this technique can lead to substantial arm morbidity in patients. We aimed to pragmatically describe the potential benefit and harm of this strategy on the individual patient level in patients from the ongoing SENOMAC trial. METHODS In the randomised, phase 3, SENOMAC trial, patients aged 18 years or older, of any performance status, with clinically node-negative T1-T3 breast cancer and one or two sentinel node macrometastases from 67 sites in five European countries (Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, and Sweden) were randomly assigned (1:1), via permutated block randomisation (random block size of 2 and 4) stratified by country, to either cALND or its omission (ie, they had a sentinel lymph node biopsy only). The primary outcome is overall survival, which is yet to be reported. In this post-hoc analysis, patients from the SENOMAC per-protocol population, with luminal oestrogen-receptor positive, HER2-negative, T1-2, histological grade 1-2 breast cancer, with tumour size of 5 cm or smaller were selected to match the characteristics of cohort 1 of the monarchE trial who would only have an indication for adjuvant abemaciclib if found to have 4 or more nodal metastases. The primary study objective was to determine the number of patients who developed patient-reported severe or very severe impairment of physical arm function after cALND (as measured by the Lymphedema Functioning, Disability, and Health [Lymph-ICF] Questionnaire) 1 year after surgery to avoid one invasive disease-free survival event at 5 years with 2 years of adjuvant abemaciclib, using invasive disease-free survival event data from cohort 1 of the monarchE trial. The SENOMAC trial is registered with ClincialTrials.gov, NCT02240472, and is closed to accrual and ongoing. FINDINGS Between Jan 31, 2015, and Dec 31, 2021, 2766 patients were enrolled in SENOMAC and randomly assigned to cALND (n=1384) or sentinel node biopsy only (n=1382), of whom 2540 were included in the per-protocol population. 1705 (67%) of 2540 patients met this post-hoc study's eligibility criteria, of whom 802 (47%) had a cALND and 903 (53%) had a sentinel lymph node biopsy only. Median age at randomisation was 62 years (IQR 52-71), 1699 (>99%) of 1705 patients were female, and six (<1%) were male. Among 1342 patients who responded to questionnaires, after a median follow-up of 45·2 months (IQR 25·6-59·8; data cutoff Nov 17, 2023), patient-reported severe or very severe impairment of physical arm function was reported in 84 (13%) of 634 patients who had cALND versus 30 (4%) of 708 who had sentinel lymph node biopsy only (χ2 test p<0·0001). To avoid one invasive disease-free survival event at 5 years with adjuvant abemaciclib, cALND would need to be performed in 104 patients, and would result in nine patients having severe or very severe impairment of physical arm function 1 year after surgery. INTERPRETATION As a method to potentially identify an indication for abemaciclib, and subsequently avoid invasive disease-free survival events at 5 years with 2 years of adjuvant abemaciclib, cALND carries a substantial risk of severe or very severe arm morbidity and so cALND should be discouraged for this purpose. FUNDING Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Cancer Society, the Nordic Cancer Union, and the Swedish Breast Cancer Association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana de Boniface
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Surgery, Breast Center, Capio St Göran's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Matilda Appelgren
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Surgery, Breast Center, Capio St Göran's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Robert Szulkin
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Cytel, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sara Alkner
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Department of Hematology, Oncology and Radiation Physics, Skåne University Hospital Lund, Lund, Sweden
| | - Yvette Andersson
- Department of Surgery, Vastmanland Hospital Vasteras, Vasteras, Sweden; Centre for Clinical Research, Uppsala University and Region Vastmanland, Vastmanland Hospital Vasteras, Vasteras, Sweden
| | - Leif Bergkvist
- Centre for Clinical Research, Uppsala University and Region Vastmanland, Vastmanland Hospital Vasteras, Vasteras, Sweden
| | - Jan Frisell
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Breast Center Karolinska, Karolinska Comprehensive Cancer Center, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Oreste Davide Gentilini
- Breast Surgery, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milano, Italy
| | - Michalis Kontos
- 1st Department of Surgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Thorsten Kühn
- Die Filderklinik, Breast Center, Filderstadt, Germany; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Dan Lundstedt
- Department of Oncology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Oncology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Birgitte Vrou Offersen
- Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Department of Experimental Clinical Oncology, Danish Center for Particle Therapy, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Roger Olofsson Bagge
- Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Toralf Reimer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Malin Sund
- Department of Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Diagnostics and Intervention-Surgery, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Peer Christiansen
- Department of Plastic and Breast Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lisa Rydén
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Department of Gastroenterology and Surgery, Skåne University Hospital Lund, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Tove Filtenborg Tvedskov
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Breast Surgery, Gentofte Hospital, Gentofte, Denmark
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Carleton N, Radomski TR, Li D, Zou J, Harris J, Hamm M, Wang Z, Saadawi G, Fischer GS, Arnold J, Cowher MS, Lupinacci K, Sabih Q, Steiman J, Johnson RR, Soran A, Diego EJ, Oesterreich S, Tseng G, Lee AV, McAuliffe PF. Electronic Health Record-Based Nudge Intervention and Axillary Surgery in Older Women With Breast Cancer: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial. JAMA Surg 2024:2821213. [PMID: 39018053 PMCID: PMC11255976 DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2024.2407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Importance Choosing Wisely recommendations advocate against routine use of axillary staging in older women with early-stage, clinically node-negative (cN0), hormone receptor-positive (HR+), and HER2-negative breast cancer. However, rates of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in this population remain persistently high. Objective To evaluate whether an electronic health record (EHR)-based nudge intervention targeting surgeons in their first outpatient visit with patients meeting Choosing Wisely criteria decreases rates of SLNB. Design, Setting, and Participants This nonrandomized controlled trial was a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation study with subsequent postintervention semistructured interviews and lasted from October 2021 to October 2023. Data came from EHRs at 8 outpatient clinics within an integrated health care system; participants included 7 breast surgical oncologists. Data were collected for female patients meeting Choosing Wisely criteria for omission of SLNB (aged ≥70 years with cT1 and cT2, cN0, HR+/HER2- breast cancer). The study included a 12-month preintervention control period; baseline surveys assessing perceived acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of the designed intervention; and a 12-month intervention period. Intervention A column nudge was embedded into the surgeon's schedule in the EHR identifying patients meeting Choosing Wisely criteria for potential SLNB omission. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was rate of SLNB following nudge deployment into the EHR. Results Similar baseline demographic and tumor characteristics were observed before (control period, n = 194) and after (intervention period, n = 193) nudge deployment. Patients in both the control and intervention period had a median (IQR) age of 75 (72-79) years. Compared with the control period, unadjusted rates of SLNB decreased by 23.1 percentage points (46.9% SLNB rate prenudge to 23.8% after; 95% CI, -32.9 to -13.8) in the intervention period. An interrupted time series model showed a reduction in the rate of SLNB following nudge deployment (adjusted odds ratio, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.90; P = .03). The participating surgeons scored the intervention highly on acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility. Dominant themes from semistructured interviews indicated that the intervention helped remind the surgeons of potential Choosing Wisely applicability without the need for additional clicks or actions on the day of the patient visit, which facilitated use. Conclusions and Relevance This study showed that a nudge intervention in the EHR significantly decreased low-value axillary surgery in older women with early-stage, cN0, HR+/HER2- breast cancer. This user-friendly and easily implementable EHR-based intervention could be a beneficial approach for decreasing low-value care in other practice settings or patient populations. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06006910.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil Carleton
- Women’s Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Thomas R. Radomski
- Center for Research on Health Care, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Danyang Li
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Jian Zou
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - John Harris
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Megan Hamm
- Center for Research on Health Care, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Ziqi Wang
- Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Gary S. Fischer
- eRecord Ambulatory Decision Support and Analytics, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Jonathan Arnold
- eRecord Ambulatory Decision Support and Analytics, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Michael S. Cowher
- Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kristin Lupinacci
- Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Quratulain Sabih
- Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Jennifer Steiman
- Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Ronald R. Johnson
- Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Atilla Soran
- Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Emilia J. Diego
- Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Steffi Oesterreich
- Women’s Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - George Tseng
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Adrian V. Lee
- Women’s Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Priscilla F. McAuliffe
- Women’s Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Carleton N, Saadawi G, McAuliffe PF, Soran A, Oesterreich S, Lee AV, Diego EJ. Use of Natural Language Understanding to Facilitate Surgical De-Escalation of Axillary Staging in Patients With Breast Cancer. JCO Clin Cancer Inform 2024; 8:e2300177. [PMID: 38776506 PMCID: PMC11180980 DOI: 10.1200/cci.23.00177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Natural language understanding (NLU) may be particularly well equipped for enhanced data capture from the electronic health record given its examination of both content-driven and context-driven extraction. METHODS We developed and applied a NLU model to examine rates of pathological node positivity (pN+) and rates of lymphedema to determine whether omission of routine axillary staging could be extended to younger patients with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+)/cN0 disease. RESULTS We found that rates of pN+ and arm lymphedema were similar between patients age 55-69 years and ≥70 years, with rates of lymphedema exceeding rates of pN+ for clinical stage T1c and smaller disease. CONCLUSION Data from our NLU model suggest that omission of sentinel lymph node biopsy might be extended beyond Choosing Wisely recommendations, limited to those older than 70 years and to all postmenopausal women with early-stage ER+/cN0 disease. These data support the recently reported SOUND trial results and provide additional granularity to facilitate surgical de-escalation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil Carleton
- Women's Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA
- Magee Women's Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA
| | | | - Priscilla F McAuliffe
- Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Atilla Soran
- Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Steffi Oesterreich
- Women's Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA
- Magee Women's Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Adrian V Lee
- Women's Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA
- Magee Women's Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Emilia J Diego
- Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
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Heidinger M, Weber WP. Axillary Surgery for Breast Cancer in 2024. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1623. [PMID: 38730576 PMCID: PMC11083357 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16091623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Axillary surgery for patients with breast cancer (BC) in 2024 is becoming increasingly specific, moving away from the previous 'one size fits all' radical approach. The goal is to spare morbidity whilst maintaining oncologic safety. In the upfront surgery setting, a first landmark randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the omission of any surgical axillary staging in patients with unremarkable clinical examination and axillary ultrasound showed non-inferiority to sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy (SLNB). The study population consisted of 87.8% postmenopausal patients with estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative BC. Patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer and up to two positive SLNs can safely be spared axillary dissection (ALND) even in the context of mastectomy or extranodal extension. In patients enrolled in the TAXIS trial, adjuvant systemic treatment was shown to be similar with or without ALND despite the loss of staging information. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), targeted lymph node removal with or without SLNB showed a lower false-negative rate to determine nodal pathological complete response (pCR) compared to SLNB alone. However, oncologic outcomes do not appear to differ in patients with nodal pCR determined by either one of the two concepts, according to a recently published global, retrospective, real-world study. Real-world studies generally have a lower level of evidence than RCTs, but they are feasible quickly and with a large sample size. Another global real-world study provides evidence that even patients with residual isolated tumor cells can be safely spared from ALND. In general, few indications for ALND remain. Three randomized controlled trials are ongoing for patients with clinically node-positive BC in the upfront surgery setting and residual disease after NACT. Pending the results of these trials, ALND remains indicated in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Heidinger
- Breast Surgery, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland;
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Walter P. Weber
- Breast Surgery, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland;
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
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5
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Williams AD, Ruth K, Shaikh SS, Vasigh M, Pronovost MT, Aggon AA, Porpiglia AS, Bleicher RJ. Should patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer and one or two positive sentinel nodes undergo axillary dissection to determine candidacy for adjuvant abemaciclib? Cancer 2024; 130:1052-1060. [PMID: 38018862 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The monarchE trial demonstrated improved outcomes with the use of adjuvant abemaciclib in patients with high-risk hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer defined as ≥4 positive lymph nodes (+LNs) or one to three +LNs with one or more additional high-risk features (HRFs). The proportion of patients with one or two positive sentinel lymph nodes (+SLNs) without HRFs who had ≥4 +LNs at the time of completion axillary lymph node dissection (cALND), and who therefore qualified for receipt of abemaciclib, was investigated. METHODS Females with pathologically node-positive nonmetastatic HR+/HER2- breast cancer stratified by the number of +SLNs and +LNs and the presence of one or more HRFs were identified from the National Cancer Database (2018-2019). The proportion of patients meeting the criteria for abemaciclib both before and after ALND was assessed. RESULTS Of the 22,048 patients identified, 1578 patients underwent upfront surgery, had one or two +SLNs without HRFs, and went on to cALND. Only 213 (13%) of these patients had ≥4 +LNs; thus, cALND performed solely to determine abemaciclib candidacy would have constituted surgical overtreatment in 1365 patients (87%). When stratified by the number of +SLNs, only 10% of those with one +SLN and 24% of those with two +SLNs had ≥4 +LNs after cALND, which meets the criteria for abemaciclib. CONCLUSIONS Patients with one +SLN without HRFs are unlikely to have ≥4 +LNs and should not be subjected to the morbidity of ALND in order to inform candidacy for abemaciclib. An individualized multidisciplinary discussion should be undertaken about the risk:benefit ratio of ALND and abemaciclib for those with two +SLNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin D Williams
- Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Karen Ruth
- Biostatistics Facility, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Saba S Shaikh
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mahtab Vasigh
- Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mary T Pronovost
- Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Allison A Aggon
- Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andrea S Porpiglia
- Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Richard J Bleicher
- Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Carleton N, Saadawi G, McAuliffe PF, Soran A, Oesterreich S, Lee AV, Diego EJ. Use of natural language understanding to facilitate surgical de-escalation of axillary staging in patients with breast cancer. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.02.03.24302095. [PMID: 38370730 PMCID: PMC10871380 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.03.24302095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Natural language understanding (NLU) may be particularly well-equipped for enhanced data capture from the electronic health record (EHR) given its examination of both content- and context-driven extraction. We developed and applied a NLU model to examine rates of pathological node positivity (pN+) and rates of lymphedema to determine if omission of routine axillary staging could be extended to younger patients with ER+/cN0 disease. We found that rates of pN+ and arm lymphedema were similar between patients 55-69yo and ≥70yo, with rates of lymphedema exceeding rates of pN+ for clinical stage T1c and smaller disease. Data from our NLU model suggest that omission of SLNB might be extended beyond Choosing Wisely recommendations, limited to those over 70 years old, to all postmenopausal women with early-stage ER+/cN0 disease. These data support the recently-reported SOUND trial results and provide additional granularity to facilitate surgical de-escalation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil Carleton
- Women’s Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Magee Women’s Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Priscilla F. McAuliffe
- Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA, USA
| | - Atilla Soran
- Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA, USA
| | - Steffi Oesterreich
- Women’s Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Magee Women’s Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Adrian V. Lee
- Women’s Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Magee Women’s Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Emilia J. Diego
- Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA, USA
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Rocco N, Ghilli M, Curcio A, Bortul M, Burlizzi S, Cabula C, Cabula R, Ferrari A, Folli S, Fortunato L, Frittelli P, Gentilini O, Grendele S, Grassi MM, Grossi S, Magnoni F, Murgo R, Palli D, Rovera F, Sanguinetti A, Taffurelli M, Tazzioli G, Terribile DA, Caruso F, Galimberti V. Is routine axillary lymph node dissection needed to tailor systemic treatments for breast cancer patients in the era of molecular oncology? A position paper of the Italian National Association of Breast Surgeons (ANISC). EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY 2024; 50:107954. [PMID: 38217946 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2024.107954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND De-escalation of axillary surgery in breast cancer (BC) management began when sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) replaced axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) as standard of care in patients with node-negative BC. The second step consolidated ALND omission in selected subgroups of BC patients with up to two macrometastases and recognized BC molecular and genomic implication in predicting prognosis and planning adjuvant treatment. Outcomes from the recent RxPONDER and monarchE trials have come to challenge the previous cut-off of two SLN in order to inform decisions on systemic therapies for hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor type-2 (HER2) negative BC, as the criteria included a cut-off of respectively three and four SLNs. In view of the controversy that this may lift in surgical practice, the Italian National Association of Breast Surgeons (Associazione Nazionale Italiana Senologi Chirurghi, ANISC) reviewed data regarding the latest trials on this topic and proposes an implementation in clinical practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS We reviewed the available literature offering data on the pathological nodal status of cN0 breast cancer patients. RESULTS The rates of pN2 status in cN0 patients ranges from 3.5 % to 16 %; pre-surgical diagnostic definition of axillary lymph node status in cN0 patients by ultrasound could be useful to inform about a possible involvement of ≥4 lymph nodes in this specific sub-groups of women. CONCLUSIONS The Italian National Association of Breast Surgeons (ANISC) considers that for HR + HER2-/cN0-pN1(sn) BC patients undergoing breast conserving treatment the preoperative workup should be optimized for a more detailed assessment of the axilla and the technique of SLNB should be optimized, if considered appropriate by the surgeon, not considering routine ALND always indicated to determine treatment recommendations according to criteria of eligibility to RxPONDER and monarch-E trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Rocco
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
| | - Matteo Ghilli
- Breast Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Marina Bortul
- SSD Chirurgia Senologica e Breast Unit, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, Trieste, Italy Naples, Italy
| | - Stefano Burlizzi
- UOSD Chirurgia Senologica, Ospedale "A. Perrino", Brindisi, Italy
| | - Carlo Cabula
- Chirurgia Senologica Azienda Ospedaliera Brotzu, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Roberta Cabula
- Cagliari University Hospital, Surgery Unit, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alberta Ferrari
- SSD Chirurgia Tumori eredo-famigliari, SC Chirurgia Generale 3, Senologia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico san Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Secondo Folli
- SC di Chirurgia Oncologica-Senologia, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Lucio Fortunato
- Breast Center, San Giovanni-Addolorata Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Frittelli
- UOC Chirurgia senologica, Ospedale Isola Tiberina Gemelli Isola, Rome, Italy
| | - Oreste Gentilini
- Breast Unit, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Grendele
- Breast Surgery, Department of Functional Oncology, Alto Vicentino Hospital, Santorso, Vicenza, Italy
| | | | | | - Francesca Magnoni
- Division of Senology, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Murgo
- Chirurgia Senologica, IRCCS Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Dante Palli
- UOC di Chirurgia Generale ad Indirizzo Senologico-Breast Unit AUSL Piacenza, Italy
| | - Francesca Rovera
- S.S.D. Breast Unit - Ospedale Universitario, Varese, Italy; Dipartimento di Medicina e Innovazione Tecnologica, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Alessandro Sanguinetti
- SSD Chirurgia della Mammella - Dipartimento di Chirurgia, Azienda Ospedaliera "S.Maria", Terni, Italy
| | - Mario Taffurelli
- Breast Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Policlinico di Sant'Orsola, Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | - Francesco Caruso
- Breast Unit, Humanitas Istituto Clinico Catanese, Misterbianco, (CT), Italy; National Association of Breast Surgeons (ANISC), Italy
| | - Viviana Galimberti
- Division of Senology, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
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8
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Xu LY, Zhao J, Wang X, Jin XY, Wang BB, Fan YY, Pei XH. Non-sentinel lymph node metastases risk factors in patients with breast cancer with one or two sentinel lymph node macro-metastases. Heliyon 2023; 9:e21254. [PMID: 37964832 PMCID: PMC10641163 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 59 % of patients with breast cancer with one or two sentinel lymph nodes (1-2 SLN) macrometastases do not benefit from axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), which may also incur morbidities. It is necessary to evaluate the association between various clinicopathological characteristics and non-sentinel lymph node metastases (non-SLNM) in patients with breast cancer with 1-2 SLN macrometastases, and determine whether they 1-2 should avoid ALND. Eight electronic literature databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journal, Wanfang, and Chinese Biomedical Literature) were searched from their inception to June 30, 2023, and two reviewers independently extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias. Association strength was summarized using odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI). Heterogeneity was accounted for using a subgroup analysis. Publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots and Egger's test. There were 25 studies with 8021 participants, and 27 potential risk factors were evaluated. The risk factors for non-SLNM in patients with 1-2 SLN macrometastatic breast cancer include the following: factors of primary tumor: multifocality (OR (95 % CI (2.63 (1.96, 3.54))), tumor size ≥ T2 (2.64 (2.22, 3.14)), tumor localization (upper outer quad) (2.06 (1.23, 3.43)), histopathological grade (G3) (2.45 (1.70, 3.52)), vascular invasion (VI) (2.60 (1.35, 4.98)), lymphovascular invasion (LVI) (2.87 (1.80, 4.56)), perineural invasion (PNI) (3.16 (1.18,8.43)). Factors of lymph nodes: method of SLNs detected (blue dye) (3.85 (1.54, 9.60)), SLN metastasis ratio ≥0.5 (2.79 (2.24, 3.48)), two positive SLNs (3.55, (2.08, 6.07)), zero negative SLN (3.72 (CI 2.50, 4.29)), extranodal extension (ENE) (4.69 (2.16, 10.18)). Molecular typing: Her-2 positive (2.08 (1.26, 3.43)), Her-2 over-expressing subtype (1.83 (1.22, 2.73)). Factors of examination/inspection: axillary lymph nodes (ALNs) positive on imaging (3.18 (1.68, 6.00)), cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) (4.01 (2.33,6.89)), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (2.13 (1.32-3.43)). This review identified the risk factors for non-SLNM in patients with 1-2 SLN macrometastatic breast cancer. However, additional studies are needed to confirm the above findings owing to the limited number and types of studies included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu-yan Xu
- The Third affiliated hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- The Third affiliated hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- The Third affiliated hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Xin-yan Jin
- Center for Evidence-Based Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Bei-bei Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Ying-yi Fan
- The Third affiliated hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Xiao-hua Pei
- The Xiamen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Xiamen 361001, China
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9
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Weber WP, Matrai Z, Hayoz S, Tausch C, Henke G, Zimmermann F, Montagna G, Fitzal F, Gnant M, Ruhstaller T, Muenst S, Mueller A, Lelièvre L, Heil J, Knauer M, Egle D, Sávolt Á, Heidinger M, Kurzeder C. Association of Axillary Dissection With Systemic Therapy in Patients With Clinically Node-Positive Breast Cancer. JAMA Surg 2023; 158:1013-1021. [PMID: 37466971 PMCID: PMC10357358 DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2023.2840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Importance The role of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) to determine nodal burden to inform systemic therapy recommendations in patients with clinically node (cN)-positive breast cancer (BC) is currently unknown. Objective To address the association of ALND with systemic therapy in cN-positive BC in the upfront surgery setting and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Design, Setting, and Participants This was a prospective, observational, cohort study conducted from August 2018 to June 2022. This was a preplanned study within the phase 3 randomized clinical OPBC-03/TAXIS trial. Included were patients with confirmed cN-positive BC from 44 private, public, and academic breast centers in 6 European countries. After NACT, residual nodal disease was mandatory, and a minimum follow-up of 2 months was required. Exposures All patients underwent tailored axillary surgery (TAS) followed by ALND or axillary radiotherapy (ART) according to TAXIS randomization. TAS removed suspicious palpable and sentinel nodes, whereas imaging-guidance was optional. Systemic therapy recommendations were at the discretion of the local investigators. Results A total of 500 patients (median [IQR] age, 57 [48-69] years; 487 female [97.4%]) were included in the study. In the upfront surgery setting, 296 of 335 patients (88.4%) had hormone receptor (HR)-positive and Erb-B2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2; formerly HER2 or HER2/neu)-negative disease: 145 (49.0%) underwent ART, and 151 (51.0%) underwent ALND. The median (IQR) number of removed positive lymph nodes without ALND was 3 (1-4) nodes compared with 4 (2-9) nodes with ALND. There was no association of ALND with the proportion of patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy (81 of 145 [55.9%] vs 91 of 151 [60.3%]; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.72; 95% CI, 0.19-2.67) and type of systemic therapy. Of 151 patients with NACT, 74 (51.0%) underwent ART, and 77 (49.0%) underwent ALND. The ratio of removed to positive nodes was a median (IQR) of 4 (3-7) nodes to 2 (1-3) nodes and 15 (12-19) nodes to 2 (1-5) nodes in the ART and ALND groups, respectively. There was no observed association of ALND with the proportion of patients undergoing postneoadjuvant systemic therapy (57 of 74 [77.0%] vs 55 of 77 [71.4%]; aOR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.43-1.70), type of postneoadjuvant chemotherapy (eg, capecitabine: 10 of 74 [13.5%] vs 10 of 77 [13.0%]; trastuzumab emtansine-DM1: 9 of 74 [12.2%] vs 11 of 77 [14.3%]), or endocrine therapy (eg, aromatase inhibitors: 41 of 74 [55.4%] vs 36 of 77 [46.8%]; tamoxifen: 8 of 74 [10.8%] vs 6 of 77 [7.8%]). Conclusion Results of this cohort study suggest that patients without ALND were significantly understaged. However, ALND did not inform systemic therapy recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter P. Weber
- Breast Center, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Zoltan Matrai
- Hamad Medical Corporation, Dept of Oncoplastic Breast Surgery, Doha, Qatar
| | | | | | - Guido Henke
- Department of Radiation Oncology, St Gallen Cantonal Hospital, St Gallen, Switzerland
- Breast Center, St Gallen Cantonal Hospital, St Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Frank Zimmermann
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Clinic of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Giacomo Montagna
- Breast Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Florian Fitzal
- Department of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Gnant
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Ruhstaller
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Tumor and Breast Center Eastern Switzerland, St Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Simone Muenst
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Mueller
- Competence Center of SAKK, Bern, Switzerland
- Breast Center, Cantonal Hospital Winterthur, Winterthur, Switzerland
| | - Loïc Lelièvre
- Breast Center, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jörg Heil
- Breast Center Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Knauer
- Tumor and Breast Center Eastern Switzerland, St Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Egle
- Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group, Vienna, Austria
- Breast Cancer Center Tirol, Department of Gynecology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ákos Sávolt
- Department of Breast and Sarcoma Surgery, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Martin Heidinger
- Breast Center, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Kurzeder
- Breast Center, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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10
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Beltran-Bless AA, Kacerovsky-Strobl S, Gnant M. Explaining risks and benefits of loco-regional treatments to patients. Breast 2023; 71:132-137. [PMID: 37634470 PMCID: PMC10472006 DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2023.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment for early-stage breast cancer is complex, requiring multidisciplinary care with a multitude of treatment options available for each patient. Coupled with the rising importance of shared decision-making, patient-physician conversations are progressively more complicated. These conversations require frank disclosure of risks and benefits of the different treatment modalities in a way that is individualized for each patient and simple to understand. In most patients, breast conserving therapy with radiation should be presented as the gold-standard local treatment given similar long-term and improved quality of life outcomes. De-escalation is currently at the forefront of research in loco-regional treatments, and further investigations are required to best determine the optimal patient populations for reduced sentinel lymph node sampling, omission of sentinel lymph node biopsy altogether and omission of radiation treatment. For future trials, better endpoints need to be established considering patient-centered outcomes as well as recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana-Alicia Beltran-Bless
- Division of Medical Oncology and Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Stephanie Kacerovsky-Strobl
- Breast Health Center, St. Francis Hospital, Vienna, Austria; Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Michael Gnant
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group, Vienna, Austria.
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11
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Morganti S, Bychkovsky BL, Poorvu PD, Garrido-Castro AC, Weiss A, Block CC, Partridge AH, Curigliano G, Tung NM, Lin NU, Garber JE, Tolaney SM, Lynce F. Adjuvant Olaparib for Germline BRCA Carriers With HER2-Negative Early Breast Cancer: Evidence and Controversies. Oncologist 2023:7175048. [PMID: 37210568 DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyad123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In the OlympiA study, 1 year of adjuvant olaparib significantly extended invasive disease-free survival and overall survival. The benefit was consistent across subgroups, and this regimen is now recommended after chemotherapy for germline BRCA1/2 mutation (gBRCA1/2m) carriers with high-risk, HER2-negative early breast cancer. However, the integration of olaparib in the landscape of agents currently available in the post(neo)adjuvant setting-ie, pembrolizumab, abemaciclib, and capecitabine-is challenging, as there are no data suggesting how to select, sequence, and/or combine these therapeutic approaches. Furthermore, it is unclear how to best identify additional patients who could benefit from adjuvant olaparib beyond the original OlympiA criteria. Since it is unlikely that new clinical trials will answer these questions, recommendations for clinical practice can be made through indirect evidence. In this article, we review available data that could help guide treatment decisions for gBRCA1/2m carriers with high-risk, early-stage breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Morganti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of New Drugs and Early Drug Development, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Brittany L Bychkovsky
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Genetics and Prevention Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Philip D Poorvu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ana C Garrido-Castro
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anna Weiss
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Caroline C Block
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ann H Partridge
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Giuseppe Curigliano
- Division of New Drugs and Early Drug Development, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Nadine M Tung
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nancy U Lin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Judy E Garber
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Genetics and Prevention Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sara M Tolaney
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Filipa Lynce
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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12
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Freitas GBD, Mota BS, Maesaka JY, Pinheiro CC, de Lima LGCA, Soares JM, Baracat EC, Filassi JR. Measurement of extracapsular extension in sentinel lymph node as a possible predictor of residual axillary disease in breast cancer. Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2023; 78:100216. [PMID: 37201303 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinsp.2023.100216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The presence of Extracapsular Extension (ECE) in the Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) is still a doubt in the literature. Some studies suggest that the presence of ECE may be related to a greater number of positive axillary lymph nodes which could impact Disease Free Survival (DFS) and Overall Survival (OS). This study searches for the clinical significance of the ECE. METHODS Retrospective cohort comparing the presence or absence of ECE in T1-2 invasive breast cancer with positive SLNB. All cases treated surgically at the Cancer Institute of the State of São Paulo (ICESP) between 2009 and 2013 were analyzed. All patients with axillary disease in SLNB underwent AD. OUTCOMES Identify the association between the presence and length of ECE and additional axillary positive lymph nodes, OS and DFS between both groups. RESULTS 128 patients with positive SLNB were included, and 65 had ECE. The mean metastasis size of 0.62 (SD = 0.59) mm at SLNB was related to the presence of ECE (p < 0.008). The presence of ECE was related to a higher mean of positive sentinel lymph nodes, 3.9 (± 4.8) vs. 2.0 (± 2.1), p = 0.001. The median length of follow-up was 115 months. The OS and DFS rates had no differences between the groups. CONCLUSION The presence of ECE was associated with additional positive axillary lymph nodes in this study. Therefore, the OS and DFS were similar in both groups after 10 years of follow-up. It is necessary for additional studies to define the importance of AD when SLNB with ECE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Boufelli de Freitas
- Setor de Mastologia da Disciplina de Ginecologia do Departamento de Obstetricia e Ginecologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 251; 4o andar Secretária Cirúrgica, São Paulo, SP 01246-000, Brazil
| | - Bruna Salani Mota
- Setor de Mastologia da Disciplina de Ginecologia do Departamento de Obstetricia e Ginecologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 251; 4o andar Secretária Cirúrgica, São Paulo, SP 01246-000, Brazil.
| | - Jonathan Yugo Maesaka
- Setor de Mastologia da Disciplina de Ginecologia do Departamento de Obstetricia e Ginecologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 251; 4o andar Secretária Cirúrgica, São Paulo, SP 01246-000, Brazil
| | - Cintia Cardoso Pinheiro
- Setor de Mastologia da Disciplina de Ginecologia do Departamento de Obstetricia e Ginecologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 251; 4o andar Secretária Cirúrgica, São Paulo, SP 01246-000, Brazil
| | - Luiz Guilherme Cernaglia Aureliano de Lima
- Setor de Mastologia da Disciplina de Ginecologia do Departamento de Obstetricia e Ginecologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 251; 4o andar Secretária Cirúrgica, São Paulo, SP 01246-000, Brazil
| | - José Maria Soares
- Setor de Mastologia da Disciplina de Ginecologia do Departamento de Obstetricia e Ginecologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 251; 4o andar Secretária Cirúrgica, São Paulo, SP 01246-000, Brazil
| | - Edmund Chada Baracat
- Setor de Mastologia da Disciplina de Ginecologia do Departamento de Obstetricia e Ginecologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 251; 4o andar Secretária Cirúrgica, São Paulo, SP 01246-000, Brazil
| | - José Roberto Filassi
- Setor de Mastologia da Disciplina de Ginecologia do Departamento de Obstetricia e Ginecologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 251; 4o andar Secretária Cirúrgica, São Paulo, SP 01246-000, Brazil
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13
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Heidinger M, Knauer M, Tausch C, Weber WP. Tailored axillary surgery - A novel concept for clinically node positive breast cancer. Breast 2023; 69:281-289. [PMID: 36922305 PMCID: PMC10034500 DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2023.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Axillary surgery in patients with breast cancer has been a history of de-escalation; however, surgery for clinically node-positive breast cancer remained at the dogmatic level of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). In these patients, currently the only way to avoid ALND is neoadjuvant systemic treatment (NST) with nodal pathologic complete response (pCR) as diagnosed by selective lymph node removal. However, pCR rates are highly dependent on tumor biology, with luminal tumors being most present yet showing the lowest pCR rates. Therefore, the TAXIS trial is investigating whether in clinically node-positive patients, either with residual disease after NST or in the upfront surgical setting, ALND can be safely omitted. All patients undergo tailored axillary surgery (TAS), which includes removal of the biopsied and clipped node, the sentinel lymph nodes as well as all palpably suspicious nodes, turning a clinically positive axilla into a clinically negative. Feasibility of TAS was recently confirmed in the first pre-specified TAXIS substudy. TAS is followed by axillary radiotherapy to treat any remaining nodal disease. Disease-free survival is the primary endpoint of this non-inferiority trial, and morbidity as well as quality of life are the main secondary endpoints, with ALND being known for having a relevant negative impact on both. Currently, 663 of 1500 patients were randomized; accrual completion is projected for 2025. The TAXIS trial stands out in including clinically node-positive patients in both the neoadjuvant and upfront surgery setting, thereby investigating surgical de-escalation at the far-end of the risk spectrum of patients with breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Heidinger
- Breast Center, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Michael Knauer
- Breast Center Eastern Switzerland, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | | | - Walter P Weber
- Breast Center, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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14
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Banys-Paluchowski M, Rubio IT, Ditsch N, Krug D, Gentilini OD, Kühn T. Real de-escalation or escalation in disguise? Breast 2023; 69:249-257. [PMID: 36898258 PMCID: PMC10017412 DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2023.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The past two decades have seen an unprecedented trend towards de-escalation of surgical therapy in the setting of early BC, the most prominent examples being the reduction of re-excision rates for close surgical margins after breast-conserving surgery and replacing axillary lymph node dissection by less radical procedures such as sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). Numerous studies confirmed that reducing the extent of surgery in the upfront surgery setting does not impact locoregional recurrences and overall outcome. In the setting of primary systemic treatment, there is an increased use of less invasive staging strategies reaching from SLNB and targeted lymph node biopsy (TLNB) to targeted axillary dissection (TAD). Omission of any axillary surgery in the presence of pathological complete response in the breast is currently being investigated in clinical trials. On the other hand, concerns have been raised that surgical de-escalation might induce an escalation of other treatment modalities such as radiation therapy. Since most trials on surgical de-escalation did not include standardized protocols for adjuvant radiotherapy, it remains unclear, whether the effect of surgical de-escalation was valid in itself or if radiotherapy compensated for the decreased surgical extent. Uncertainties in scientific evidence may therefore lead to escalation of radiotherapy in some settings of surgical de-escalation. Further, the increasing rate of mastectomies including contralateral procedures in patients without genetic risk is alarming. Future studies of locoregional treatment strategies need to include an interdisciplinary approach to integrate de-escalation approaches combining surgery and radiotherapy in a way that promotes optimal quality of life and shared decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie Banys-Paluchowski
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Schleswig Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Isabel T Rubio
- Breast Surgical Unit, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nina Ditsch
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - David Krug
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital of Schleswig Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Thorsten Kühn
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Interdisciplinary Breast Center, Die Filderklinik, Filderstadt, Germany.
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15
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Thompson JL, Wright GP. Contemporary approaches to the axilla in breast cancer. Am J Surg 2023; 225:583-587. [PMID: 36522219 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2022.11.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Over the past decade, axillary management in breast cancer has fundamentally shifted. The former notion that any degree of axillary nodal involvement warrants axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) has been challenged. Following publication of the ACOSOG Z0011 trial, national trends demonstrated significant reductions in ALND performance. Axillary radiotherapy in lieu of ALND is a consideration for select patients with a positive sentinel lymph node, while ongoing studies are investigating the role of adjuvant regional radiotherapy in women with positive nodes prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Efforts toward de-escalation of axillary surgery continue to evolve, as do the indications for sentinel node biopsy omission in select subsets of patients. This review highlights the recent advances and neoteric approaches to local therapy of the axilla in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Thompson
- Spectrum Health Medical Group Comprehensive Breast Clinic, 145 Michigan Street NE, Suite 4400, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA; Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Department of Surgery, 15 Michigan Street NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA.
| | - G Paul Wright
- Spectrum Health Medical Group Comprehensive Breast Clinic, 145 Michigan Street NE, Suite 4400, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA; Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Department of Surgery, 15 Michigan Street NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA; Spectrum Health Medical Group, Division of Surgical Oncology, 145 Michigan Street NE, Suite 5500, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA.
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16
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LeVasseur N, Gelmon KA. Prognostic Tests in Early-Stage Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer: An Opportunity to Refine Personalized Cancer Care. J Clin Oncol 2023; 41:1816-1819. [PMID: 36701650 DOI: 10.1200/jco.22.02863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie LeVasseur
- Department of Medical Oncology, BC Cancer and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Karen A Gelmon
- Department of Medical Oncology, BC Cancer and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Feinberg JA, Axelrod D, Guth A, Maldonado L, Darvishian F, Pourkey N, Goodgal J, Schnabel F. Radar reflector guided axillary surgery in node positive breast cancer patients. Expert Rev Med Devices 2022; 19:791-795. [DOI: 10.1080/17434440.2022.2139177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Deborah Axelrod
- Department of Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amber Guth
- Department of Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Nakisa Pourkey
- Department of Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jenny Goodgal
- Department of Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Freya Schnabel
- Department of Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
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