Local Recurrences After Conservative Treatment of Ductal Carcinoma-In-Situ of the Breast Without Radiotherapy: The Effect of Age

Clinical presentations and outcomes of young women aged <40 yrs with Ductal carcinoma in situ

INTRODUCTION

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in young women is rare and not well studied. Since they do not qualify for mammographic screening, they are more likely to present with symptoms. Young women have also been associated with poorer outcomes, but it is unknown whether presentation mode affects outcome. We aimed to compare characteristics of DCIS patients <40 years of age presenting with symptoms versus those without, and determine whether presentation mode affects recurrence.

METHODS

Pure DCIS patients aged <40 years were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical presentation, pathology and recurrence data were collected. Statistical analysis was performed to investigate the correlation of presentation mode with outcomes.

RESULTS

40 patients with 41 cases were included. The mean age at diagnosis was 32.3 years (range 17-39). 73.2% and 26.8% presented with symptoms or abnormal imaging respectively. Of the cases who presented with symptoms, 86.7%, 10.0% and 3.3% had palpable lump, nipple discharge or breast pain, respectively. The average tumor size was 22.0 mm (range 2.0-86.9) and 12.2 mm (range 3-25) for patients who presented with symptoms and non-symptomatic group, respectively. Cases presenting with symptoms were statistically associated with higher grade (p = 0.0090). On median follow-up of 85 months, there were 3 (7.3%) recurrences, which were not statistically associated with presentation mode.

CONCLUSION

Young women with DCIS tend to present with symptoms, with breast lump as the commonest symptom. Symptomatic patients tend to be associated with grade III tumours, compared to non-symptomatic patients. On long-term follow-up, mode of presentation was not statistically associated with recurrence.

A single-center study on total mastectomy versus skin-sparing mastectomy in case of pure ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

INTRODUCTION

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) accounts for 15% of all breast cancers and generally, the prognosis is good if treated optimally. The standard treatment includes breast conservative surgery along with adjuvant radiotherapy. Skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) preserves the breast skin envelope but its oncological safety poses a few concerns. Moreover, no DCIS-specific studies have compared the local recurrence (LR) rate following total mastectomy (TM) or SSM. We evaluated the LR rate in DCIS patients who underwent either TM or SSM.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study on women who underwent mastectomy with or without immediate breast reconstruction or secondary reconstruction for pure DCIS of the breast. All patients treated at Institut Bergonié by mastectomy for DCIS from January 1990 to December 2010 were included. LR and overall survival (OS) rates were estimated.

RESULTS

The study population included 399 patients who were categorized into two groups, 207 in the TM group and 192 in the SSM group. At 10 years of follow-up, the LR rate was 0.97% in the TM group and 1.04% in the SSM group (p = NS). The OS of the entire population was 94.7% [95% CI; 91.6-96.7], 92.8% [95% CI, 87.9-95.8] for the TM group and 96.8% [95% CI, 91.6-98.8] for the SSM group.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, the LR rate following mastectomy is low, regardless of the surgical technique used, with an excellent OS at 10 years.

Effective treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ with a HER-2- targeted alpha-particle emitting radionuclide in a preclinical model of human breast cancer

The standard treatment for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast is surgical resection, followed by radiation. Here, we tested localized therapy of DCIS in mice using the immunoconjugate ²²⁵Ac linked-trastuzumab delivered through the intraductal (i.duc) route. Trastuzumab targets HER-2/neu, while the alpha-emitter ²²⁵Ac (half-life, 10 days) delivers highly cytotoxic, focused doses of radiation to tumors. Systemic ²²⁵Ac, however, elicits hematologic toxicity and at high doses free ²¹³Bi, generated by its decay, causes renal toxicity. I.duc delivery of the radioimmunoconjugate could bypass its systemic toxicity. Bioluminescent imaging showed that the therapeutic efficacy of intraductal ²²⁵Ac-trastuzumab (10-40 nCi per mammary gland; 30-120 nCi per mouse) in a DCIS model of human SUM225 cancer cells in NSG mice was significantly higher (p<0.0003) than intravenous (120 nCi per mouse) administration, with no kidney toxicity or loss of body weight. Our findings suggest that i.duc radioimmunotherapy using ²²⁵Ac-trastuzumab deserves greater attention for future clinical development as a treatment modality for early breast cancer.

Ductal carcinoma in situ: an overview

Advances in methods used to diagnose breast cancer have resulted in the increased detection of ductal carcinoma in situ; most of these are detected by screening mammograms and are confirmed by core needle biopsy. Currently, classification schemas are moving toward a molecular approach. Treatment options for patients with ductal carcinoma in situ are multiple and take into consideration end points such as local, regional or distant recurrence, overall survival and quality of life. Treatment methods continue to be controversial and debated in the oncology community. The quality of local control is multifactorial and depends on adequate surgical clearance, biological characteristics of the tumor, clinical presentation and the possibility of radiation therapies.

Association between patient and tumor characteristics with clinical outcomes in women with ductal carcinoma in situ

We synthesized the evidence of the association between patient and tumor characteristics with clinical outcomes in women with ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast. We identified five randomized controlled clinical trials and 64 observational studies that were published in English from January 1970 to January 2009. Younger women with clinically presented ductal carcinoma in situ had higher risk of ipsilateral recurrent cancer. African Americans had higher mortality and greater rates of advanced recurrent cancer. Women with larger tumor size, comedo necrosis, worse pathological grading, positive surgical margins, and at a higher risk category, using a composite prognostic index, had worse outcomes. Inconsistent evidence suggested that positive HER2 receptor and negative estrogen receptor status were associated with worse outcomes. Synthesis of evidence was hampered by low statistical power to detect significant differences in predictor categories and inconsistent adjustment practices across the studies. Future research should address composite prediction indices among race groups for all outcomes.

Ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast in younger women: a subgroup of patients at high risk

BACKGROUND

After breast conservative treatment (BCT), young age is a predictive factor for recurrence in patients with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) of the breast. The purpose of this study was to evaluate predictive factors for recurrence and outcomes in these younger women (under 40 years) treated for pure DCIS.

METHODS

From 1974 to 2003, 207 cases were collected in 12 French Cancer Centers. Median age was 36.3 years and median follow-up 160 months. Seventy four (35.8%) underwent mastectomy, 67 (32.4%) lumpectomy alone and 66 (31.9%) lumpectomy plus radiotherapy.

RESULTS

37 recurrences occurred (17.8%): 14 (38%) were in situ and 23 (62%) invasive. After BCT, the overall rate of recurrence was 27% (33% in the lumpectomy plus radiotherapy group vs. 21% in the lumpectomy alone group). Comedocarcinoma subtype (p = 0.004), histological size more than 10 mm (p = 0.011), necrosis (p = 0.022) and positive margin status (p = 0.019) were statistically significant predictive factors for recurrence. The actuarial 15-year rates of local recurrence were 29%, 42% and 37% in the lumpectomy alone, lumpectomy and whole breast radiotherapy and lumpectomy + whole breast radiotherapy with additional boost groups respectively. After recurrence, the 10-year overall survival rate was 67.2%.

CONCLUSION

High recurrence rates (mainly invasive) after BCT in young women with DCIS are confirmed. BCT in this subgroup of patients is possible if clear and large margins are obtained, tumor size is under 11 mm and necrosis- and/or comedocarcinoma-free.

Intraoperative evaluation of breast tumor margins with optical coherence tomography

As breast cancer screening rates increase, smaller and more numerous lesions are being identified earlier, leading to more breast-conserving surgical procedures. Achieving a clean surgical margin represents a technical challenge with important clinical implications. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is introduced as an intraoperative high-resolution imaging technique that assesses surgical breast tumor margins by providing real-time microscopic images up to 2 mm beneath the tissue surface. In a study of 37 patients split between training and study groups, OCT images covering 1 cm(2) regions were acquired from surgical margins of lumpectomy specimens, registered with ink, and correlated with corresponding histologic sections. A 17-patient training set used to establish standard imaging protocols and OCT evaluation criteria showed that areas of higher scattering tissue with a heterogeneous pattern were indicative of tumor cells and tumor tissue in contrast to lower scattering adipocytes found in normal breast tissue. The remaining 20 patients were enrolled into the feasibility study. Of these lumpectomy specimens, 11 were identified with a positive or close surgical margin and 9 were identified with a negative margin under OCT. Based on histologic findings, 9 true positives, 9 true negatives, 2 false positives, and 0 false negatives were found, yielding a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 82%. These results show the potential of OCT as a real-time method for intraoperative margin assessment in breast-conserving surgeries.

The significance of the Van Nuys prognostic index in the management of ductal carcinoma in situ

BACKGROUND

Debate regarding the benefit of radiotherapy after local excision of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) continues. The Van Nuys Prognostic Index (VNPI) is thought to be a useful aid in deciding which patients are at increased risk of local recurrence and who may benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy (RT). Recently published interim data from the Sloane project has showed that the VNPI score did significantly affect the chances of getting planned radiotherapy in the UK, suggesting that British clinicians may already be using this scoring system to assist in decision making. This paper independently assesses the prognostic validity of the VNPI in a British population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted of all patients (n = 215) who underwent breast conserving surgery for DCIS at a single institution between 1997-2006. No patients included in the study received additional radiotherapy or hormonal treatment. Kaplan Meier survival curves were calculated, to determine disease free survival, for the total sample and a series of univariate analyses were performed to examine the value of various prognostic factors including the VNPI. The log-rank test was used to determine statistical significance of differential survival rates. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to analyze the significance of the individual components of the VNPI. All analyses were conducted using SPSS software, version 14.5.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was 53 months (range 12-97, SD19.9). Ninety five tumours were high grade (44%) and 84 tumours exhibited comedo necrosis (39%). The closest mean initial excision margin was 2.4 mm (range 0-22 mm, standard deviation 2.8) and a total of 72 tumours (33%) underwent further re-excision. The observed and the actuarial 8 year disease-free survival rates in this study were 91% and 83% respectively. The VNPI score and the presence of comedo necrosis were the only statistically significant prognostic indicators (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This follow-up study of 215 patients with DCIS treated with local excision and observation alone is one of the largest series in which rates of recurrence are unaffected by radiation therapy, hormone manipulation or chemotherapy. It has afforded us the opportunity to assess the prognostic impact of patient and tumour characteristics free of any potentially confounding treatment related influences. The results suggest that the VNPI can be used to identify a subset of patients who are at risk of local recurrence and who may potentially benefit from RT.

[Ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast (DCIS) under 40: a specific management?]

Ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast (DCIS) is rare in younger women, accounting for about 4% of all cases of DCIS in France, and tends to be diagnosed by clinical findings or casually, after plastic surgery. After breast conserving treatment, young age ( less than 40) is a predictive factor of relapses in patients with DCIS. Age may serve as one more parameter that should be considered in the complex decision-making process necessary to create a treatment plan for a woman with DCIS. Breast conservative treatment (BCT) could be used if: margins are free and more than 10 mm; if DCIS size is less than 11 mm and DCIS is free of necrosis and comedocarcinoma. Mastectomy ought to be proposed in case of: multifocal DCIS, or DCIS size more than 30 mm; invaded margins after re-excision; radiotherapy contraindicated; small breasts and patient choice. Immediate breast reconstruction should be proposed for patients with all the poor predictive factors. In other cases, treatment procedure will be explained to the patient and the treatment will be chosen by the patient in consultation with the medical team (radiologist, surgeon, pathologist and oncologist). Radiotherapy with boost or hormonotherapy with tamoxifen should not be used routinely but may be proposed individually.

Local Recurrences After Different Treatment Strategies for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ of the Breast: A Population-Based Study in the East Netherlands

PURPOSE

Outcomes after different treatment strategies for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast were analyzed for a geographically defined population in the East Netherlands.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A total of 798 patients with a first diagnosis of DCIS between January 1989 and December 2003 were included and their medical records were reviewed. Survival rates for ipsilateral recurrences were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to evaluate the prognostic significance of different variables.

RESULTS

The 5-year recurrence-free survival was 75% for breast conserving surgery (BCS) alone (237 patients) compared with 91% for BCS followed by radiation therapy (RT; 153 patients) and 99% for mastectomy (408 patients, p < 0.01). Independent risk factors for local recurrences were treatment strategy, symptomatically detected DCIS, and presence of comedo necrosis. Margin status reached statistical significance only for patients treated by BCS (hazard ratio, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-4.0) whereas significance of other prognostic variables did not change.

CONCLUSIONS

In a defined population outside a trial setting, RT after BCS for DCIS lowered recurrence rates. Besides the use of RT, a microscopically complete excision of DCIS is essential. This is especially true for patients with symptomatically detected DCIS and with tumors that contain comedo necrosis, as these groups are at particular high risk for recurrent disease.