Rethinking surgical revisions: impact of the MonarchE trial on axillary dissection in hormone-positive HER2-negative early breast cancer patients potentially eligible for abemaciclib

INTRODUCTION

The MonarchE trial explored the use of abemaciclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor, as an adjuvant treatment in high-risk early-stage luminal-like breast cancer. The study's inclusion criteria, especially the N2 status, may require revisiting surgical interventions, including invasive axillary lymph node dissection (ALND)-a procedure that current guidelines generally do not recommend.

METHODS

We conducted a single-centre, retrospective, observational cohort study on non-metastatic breast cancer patients managed from 2002 to 2011, at the Institut Curie. Data collection involved clinical and histological characteristics plus treatment follow-up.

RESULTS

Out of 8715 treated patients, 721 met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 12% (87) were classified as N2 ( ≥ 4 positive lymph nodes), thus eligible for abemaciclib per "node criterion." Tumour size, positive sentinel lymph nodes, and lobular histology showed a significant correlation with N2 status. Approximately 1000 ALNDs would be required to identify 120 N2 cases and prevent four recurrences.

CONCLUSION

The MonarchE trial may significantly affect surgical practices due to the need for invasive procedures to identify high-risk patients for adjuvant abemaciclib treatment. The prospect of unnecessary morbidity demands less invasive N2 status determination methods. Surgical decisions must consider patient health and potential treatment benefits.

Effects of gender and socio-environmental factors on health-care access in oncology: a comprehensive, nationwide study in France

Background

Gender-based disparities in health-care are common and can affect access to care. We aimed to investigate the impact of gender and socio-environmental indicators on health-care access in oncology in France.

Methods

Using the national health insurance system database in France, we identified patients (aged ≥18 years) who were diagnosed with solid invasive cancers between the 1st of January 2018 and the 31st of December 2019. We ensured that only incident cases were identified by excluding patients with an existing cancer diagnosis in 2016 and 2017; skin cancers other than melanoma were also excluded. We extracted 71 socio-environmental variables related to patients' living environment and divided these into eight categories: inaccessibility to public transport, economic deprivation, unemployment, gender-related wage disparities, social isolation, educational barriers, familial hardship, and insecurity. We employed a mixed linear regression model to assess the influence of age, comorbidities, and all eight socio-environmental indices on health-care access, while evaluating the interaction with gender. Health-care access was measured using absolute and relative cancer care expertise indexes.

Findings

In total, 594,372 patients were included: 290,658 (49%) women and 303,714 (51%) men. With the exception of unemployment, all socio-environmental indices, age, and comorbidities were inversely correlated with health-care access. However, notable interactions with gender were observed, with a stronger association between socio-environmental factors and health-care access in women than in men. In particular, inaccessibility to public transport (coefficient for absolute cancer care expertise index = -1.10 [-1.22, -0.99], p < 0.0001), familial hardship (-0.64 [-0.72, -0.55], p < 0.0001), social isolation (-0.38 [-0.46, -0.30], p < 0.0001), insecurity (-0.29 [-0.37, -0.21], p < 0.0001), and economic deprivation (-0.13 [-0.19, -0.07], p < 0.0001) had a strong negative impact on health-care access in women.

Interpretation

Access to cancer care is determined by a complex interplay of gender and various socio-environmental factors. While gender is a significant component, it operates within the context of multiple socio-environmental influences. Future work should focus on developing targeted interventions to address these multifaceted barriers and promote equitable health-care access for both genders.

Funding

None.

Breast Cancer and Mediastinal Hodgkin's Lymphomas: Multidisciplinary Discussion

Treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) has evolved, with modern treatments combining less toxic chemotherapy and radiation, leading to improved long-term disease-free survival. However, there is a higher chance of second cancer, especially breast cancer, following effective HL treatment. The impact of reduced radiation doses and volumes, as well as the use of advanced irradiation techniques, on the risk of second malignancy is not clear. According to medical organizations, the history of chest irradiation is a relative contraindication to breast preservation therapy for women with initial breast cancer, leading to a paradigm of mastectomy. This article proposes a discussion between radiation oncologists and surgeons to review major trials and recent developments on the prevalence of breast cancer following HL therapy, the risk of contralateral cancer, the feasibility of breast conserving surgery (BCS), as well as breast reconstruction modalities.

Impact of ERAS in breast reconstruction with a latissimus dorsi flap, compared to conventional management

BACKGROUND

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs are associated with improved management, reduced hospital stays, and lower complication rates.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of ERAS on mean length of stay (LOS) and postoperative morbidity in breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi flap (LDF) compared with conventional recovery program.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

All patients operated by LDF between December 2014 and October 2020: those managed before April 2018, when the ERAS protocol was introduced, were included in the "no ERAS" group, and beyond in the "ERAS" group.

RESULTS

Out of 193 patients, 129 were included in the "ERAS" group and 64 in the "no ERAS" group. There was a significant difference between the two groups in LOS (4.2 ± 1.5 days in the "ERAS" group vs. 5.4 ± 1.9 days in the "no ERAS" group; p < 0.001), high-grade complications at 30 days (9.3% in the "ERAS" group vs. 25% in the "no ERAS" group; p = 0.01), reintervention rate (13.9% vs. 26.6%, respectively; p = 0.02), and 30-day rehospitalization rate (6.2% in the "ERAS" group vs. 15.6% in the "no ERAS" group; p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

The ERAS protocol has a positive impact on breast reconstruction with LDF without generating additional adverse effects. These results support the democratization of these programs for breast reconstruction surgery.

Impact of the Area of Residence of Ovarian Cancer Patients on Overall Survival

Survival disparities persist in ovarian cancer and may be linked to the environments in which patients live. The main objective of this study was to analyze the global impact of the area of residence of ovarian cancer patients on overall survival. The data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. We included all the patients with epithelial ovarian cancers diagnosed between 2010 and 2016. The areas of residence were analyzed by the hierarchical clustering of the principal components to group similar counties. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was then fitted to evaluate the independent effect of each predictor on overall survival. We included a total of 16,806 patients. The clustering algorithm assigned the 607 counties to four clusters, with cluster 1 being the most disadvantaged and cluster 4 having the highest socioeconomic status and best access to care. The area of residence cluster remained a statistically significant independent predictor of overall survival in the multivariable analysis. The patients living in cluster 1 had a risk of death more than 25% higher than that of the patients living in cluster 4. This study highlights the importance of considering the sociodemographic factors within the patient's area of residence when developing a care plan and follow-up.

Breast MRI Analysis for Surgeons Using Virtual Reality: Real-life Applications, Clinical Case Reports

Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer and cancer mortality among women worldwide. Surgery is the primary therapeutic strategy of BC in most of the cases. Efficient carcinologic and aesthetic resection requires breast surgeons to accurately understand medical images. Virtual reality (VR) is a promising avenue to improve surgical diagnosis and planning by producing high-precision images. Hereafter we report three cases of patients for which using AVATAR medical device for 3D visualization with VR would have helped to decide surgical strategy and adapt surgical procedure. The three cases are real-life examples of using the VR-AVATAR medical device for breast cancer surgery treatment: evaluation of the tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, decision for breast conservative or radical treatment, decision for loco-regional treatment in metastatic setting. Through these three real-life cases, we describe the potential impact of VR-AVATAR medical device use in clinical daily practice in breast cancer surgery. It seems like a useful tool, easy to use, providing high-quality images, helping with surgery planning and decisions.

Abstract PS1-66: Current practice in implant-based breast reconstruction: A french long-term follow-up study

Background: There is a lack of data on the use of breast implants and the path of patients reconstructed after breast cancer in France. This study aims to identify the paths of patients reconstructed by breast implant in France and assess their impact on survival, but also estimate the quality of the reconstruction, determined by early removal or replacement of implants.Methods : We performed a multicentric retrospective cohort study on women who underwent immediate or delayed implant-based reconstruction after curative or prophylactic mastectomy between 2002 and 2010 in three French private health institutions of public interest.Results : We identified 9 care pathways according to the type of disease, the type of surgery, the addition or not of adjuvant radiotherapy, and the timing of reconstruction. Theses courses concern 2,499 patients, and 3,191 breasts on which at least one implant has been placed. Five implant brands were mainly used during this period: PIP, Mentor, Allergan, Sebbin, and Perthese - with a total of 4,106 implants. The median of follow-up is 6 years [0 ;12 ;1]. The number of implants per breast is significantly different according to the reconstruction pathways (p&lt;0.001). The overall survival and removal incidence of implants are significantly different according to the differents profiles of reconstruction (Log-Rank test: p &lt;0.001).Conclusion : The profiles of patients reconstructed by implants are very heterogeneous, according to their disease, their surgery, the adjunction of adjuvant radiotherapy, and the reconstruction time. This leads to very differents overall survival and breast implants removal rates. By identifying specific pathways despite the heterogeneity of the population, this study makes it possible to identify patients at risk more precisely and to have a more global vision on implant reconstruction in France in the 2000s, over a decade of PIP breast implant use.

Citation Format: Lea Pauly, Benoit Couturaud, Fabien Reyal. Current practice in implant-based breast reconstruction: A french long-term follow-up study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Virtual Symposium; 2020 Dec 8-11; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS1-66.

Abstract PS1-65: What lessons can be learned from the poly implant prothese scandal ? A french retrospective study

Background : Silicone breast implants from the French manufacturer Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) were recalled from the French market after the use of a non-medical silicone filler has been established. The systematic explantation of the implants had been proposed to women with PIP implants in France, a preventive measure concerning approximately 30,000 patients.Objectives : This study aimed to evaluate the consequences of having at least one PIP breast implant on overall and disease-free survival after breast reconstruction for cancer or prophylactic surgery.Materials and Methods : We performed a multicentric retrospective cohort study on women who underwent immediate or delayed implant-based reconstruction after curative or prophylactic mastectomy between January 01,2002 and March 30,2010 in three French private health institutions of public interest. These dates correspond respectively to the arrival of PIP breast implants on the French market and the decision to withdraw them by the French government. The primary endpoints were disease-free and overall survival, depending on whether or not having a PIP breast implant used during breast reconstruction of prophylactic surgery.Results : We identified 2499 patients with the use of 4106 breast implants between 2002 and 2010.The median age of cancer diagnosis was 47 years (19-77). This patient population selected for breast reconstruction had good prognosis criteria (77% T1 and 68% N0). PIP was the most common brand used between 2002 and 2010 and represented 45% of all breast implants (1764 implants). PIP has been preferentially used in courses with immediate breast reconstruction. On the 1764 PIP, 1408 (80%) were removed, mainly after the preventive measure recommending systematic explantation. Censored data on March 30, 2010, showed that the incidence of PIP implants removal is lower than other brands (Log-rank test : p&lt;0.001). Overall survival of patients who had at least on PIP was no different from that of patients who never had a PIP (Log-rank test : p=0.2). Disease-free survival was also similar between these two populations (Log-rank test : p=0.12).Conclusion : We did not identify any increase in local-regional recurrence or overall mortality associated with the use of PIP.

Citation Format: Lea Pauly, Benoit Couturaud, Fabien Reyal. What lessons can be learned from the poly implant prothese scandal ? A french retrospective study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Virtual Symposium; 2020 Dec 8-11; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS1-65.

Impact of Extent of Lymphadenectomy on Survival in Patients With Endometrial Cancer: A Matched Cohort Study

BACKGROUND/AIM

This study aimed to determine whether a pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy (PPAL) improves survival compared with a pelvic lymphadenectomy (PL) in patients with endometrial cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data from all women operated for endometrial cancer between 1998 and 2013 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database. Women treated with PL were matched with those treated with PPAL according to age and risk of recurrence. The primary endpoint was disease-specific survival (DSS).

RESULTS

A total of 1015 patients who underwent PL were matched with 1015 patients who underwent PPAL. The 3-year DSS probabilities for patients at intermediate- and high-risk (IHR) of recurrence were similar in the PPAL group and the PL group. Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors indicated that in patients with an IHR of recurrence, PPAL did not reduce the risk of death compared with PL.

CONCLUSION

For patients with an IHR of recurrence, the extent of lymphadenectomy does not impact DSS.

Impact of Sociodemographic Characteristics on the Quality of Care in the Surgical Management of Endometrial Cancer: An Analysis of a National Database in the United States

INTRODUCTION

Quality of care is an emerging concern, notably in oncology. The aim of the present study was to identify the sociodemographic factors influencing the quality of care in the USA concerning the surgical management of endometrial cancer (EC) through the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database using already published Belgian quality indicators (QI).

METHODS

Using the SEER database 1988-2013, we identified 151,752 patients treated for EC. Six QI were extracted from a Belgian study on quality of care in EC because of their applicability to the SEER. These QI evaluated only the surgical management. We examined the association between sociodemographic characteristics and quality of care with a logistic regression model. We compared our results with those defined as theoretical target by the Belgian initiative and considered a QI to be accurately met if >80% of the population met the indicator, moderately met between 50 and 80%, and poorly met under 50%.

RESULTS

Concerning the 6 surgical QIs, one was accurately met, 3 were moderately met, and 2 were poorly met. For example, 73% of the patients with a high-risk EC underwent a pelvic lymphadenectomy. Age over 75 years old, black ethnicity, lower-income group, without partner, and uninsured had a negative impact on adherence to QIs.

CONCLUSION

Demographic discrepancies persist in the surgical management of EC, impacting evidence-based care.

Nutritional situation of elderly nursing home residents

Malnutrition in institutionalized elderly is of individual and public concern since it negatively affects health outcome and quality of life and is often preventable. Over the past years several studies have examined the prevalence of malnutrition in institutionalized elderly and reported greatly diverse results. The purpose of the present literature review is to give an overview of the current knowledge about the nutritional situation of institutionalized elderly having specific regard to the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition and nutrition-related problems. Based on a literature search and additional articles from the files of the authors, observational studies with relatively unselected populations reporting figures for the prevalence of malnutrition and/or the prevalence of nutrition-related problems (e. g. poor appetite, chewing or swallowing problems, eating dependency or poor intake) and published between 1990 and 2006 were considered. Relevant information was extracted and compiled. A total of 42 eligible studies with 41 to 6832 participants were found. BMI was the most frequently used parameter for nutritional assessment with mean values mostly between 21 and 24 kg/m(2). Eight studies applied a cut-off value of 20 kg/m(2) and reported between 10% and 50% low values. Weight loss was reported in 7 studies with prevalence rates between 5 and 41%, reduced serum albumin (< 35 g/L) in 10 studies with prevalence rates between 0 and 50%. According to the MNA (12 studies) malnutrition was observed in 2 to 38% and a risk of malnutrition in 37 to 62%. Nutritional problems were reported in 17 studies, again with great variability between the studies. In physically and mentally capable study populations malnutrition was relatively unfrequent. Prevalence rates were highest in studies with great proportions of disabled and severely impaired residents. It can be concluded that malnutrition is generally widespread in institutionalized elderly. Prevalence rates vary according to the parameters and cut-off values used for nutritional assessment and according to the population under study. Future studies should carefully characterize their participants and use standardized nutritional assessment tools in order to achieve better comparability of study results as up to now.