Standardized diagnosis and reporting of breast cancer

Standardized terminology developed by the American College of Radiography (ACR) through the Breast-Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) lexicon is used worldwide to describe the findings of the various breast-imaging techniques (mammography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)). A 7-level positive predictive value (PPV) of malignancy classification system (from BI-RADS category 0 to category 6) has been based on this terminology, giving imaging a central role in the diagnostic strategy. This document presents the standardized, compulsory BI-RADS terminology used in breast-imaging reports in 2013 in view of the new edition that will be published at the end of the year.

Current opinion on clip placement after breast biopsy: a survey of practising radiologists in France and Quebec

AIM

To investigate current practice regarding clip placement after breast biopsy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In June 2011, an online survey instrument was designed using an Internet-based survey site (www.surveymonkey.com) to assess practices and opinions of breast radiologists regarding clip placement after breast biopsy. Radiologists were asked to give personal practice data, describe their current practice regarding clip deployment under stereotactic, ultrasonographic, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidance, and describe what steps are taken to ensure quality control with regards to clip deployment.

RESULTS

The response rate was 29.9% in France (131 respondents) and 46.7% in Quebec (50 respondents). The great majority of respondents used breast markers in their practice (92.1% in France and 96% in Quebec). In both countries, most reported deploying a clip after percutaneous biopsy under stereotactic or MRI guidance. Regarding clip deployment under ultrasonography, 38% of Quebec radiologists systematically placed a marker after each biopsy, whereas 30% of French radiologists never placed a marker in this situation, mainly due to its cost. Finally, 56.4% of radiologists in France and 54% in Quebec considered that their practice regarding clip deployment after breast percutaneous biopsy had changed in the last 5 years.

CONCLUSION

There continues to be variations in the use of biopsy clips after imaging-guided biopsies, particularly with regards to sonographic techniques. These variations are likely to decrease over time, with the standardization of relatively new investigation protocols.

Vacuum-assisted biopsies under MR guidance: results of 72 procedures

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging-guided breast vacuum-assisted biopsy (MR-VAB).

METHODS

Of 97 scheduled MR-VAB for single MRI lesions (negative second-look sonography) categorised as BI-RADS 4 or 5, 4 were cancelled (undetected lesion = 2, technical problems = 2). Twenty-one patients lost to follow-up were excluded.

RESULTS

Twenty-three patients (median age 51 years) were at high risk (BRCA1 = 11, BRCA2 = 7, familial risk = 5), 23 had a suspected local recurrence of breast cancer. Seventy-two imaged lesions (focus = 1, mass enhancement = 32, non-mass-like enhancement = 39) were targeted with a 10-gauge VAB probe using MRI guidance, with a median of 18 specimens per lesion (median procedural time 72 min, range 50-131 min) followed by clip placement. In the case of benignity, MRI follow-up was performed (19 patients, median 389 days, range 33-1,592) or mammography (3 patients, median 420 days, range 372-1,354). According to histopathology results, 29 lesions were benign, 10 were high-risk (papillary = 2, radial scar = 1, atypical epithelial hyperplasia = 7) and 33 malignant (ductal carcinoma in situ = 8, invasive cancers = 25). Three false negative results and 3 complications occurred (1 malaise, 1 skin defect, 1 infection).

CONCLUSION

MRI-guided VAB represents an accurate tool for the histological diagnosis of lesions visible only at MRI.

First clinical experience of contrast enhanced digital mammography (CEDM) for the detection of breast carcinomas

Abstract #5001

Purpose: CEDM is a recent development of digital mammography using the intra-venous injection of an iodinated contrast agent in conjunction with a mammography examination. The objective of this paper is to present two techniques developed to perform CEDM examinations, the preliminary clinical experiences and potential clinical applications of this new breast imaging procedure.
 Material and methods: Between 2005 and 2008, 140 consenting women with suspicious findings on mammography and or ultrasonography underwent CEDM using modified full-field digital mammography systems (GE Healthcare, Chalfont St-Giles, UK). A temporal subtraction sequence with acquisition of high-energy images before and after contrast medium injection was used for the first 20 patients. A dual energy technique with acquisition of a pair of low and high-energy images only after contrast medium injection was used for the other 120 patients.
 Results: CEDM, either using temporal or dual energy technique, improved the probability of malignancy and the BIRADS assessment compared to conventional mammography alone. The temporal subtraction technique offered the possibility to analyze the kinetic curve of enhancement of breast lesions, similar to breast MRI. Dual energy technique did not provide information about the kinetic of tumor enhancement but allowed the acquisition of multiples views of the same breast or bilateral examination and was less sensitive to patient motion than temporal CEDM. The potential clinical applications are the determination of the extent of disease, the assessment of recurrent disease, the clarification of mammographically equivocal lesions, the detection of occult lesions on standard mammography, particularly in dense breast, and the monitoring of the response to chemotherapy.
 
 
 
 Conclusion: Initial clinical experience has shown the ability of CEDM to map the distribution of neovasculature induced by cancer using mammography. CEDM should result in a simple way to enhance the detection and the characterization of breast lesions and to provide some prognostic factors of breast carcinomas.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 5001.

[Elastography of the breast: a prospective study of 122 lesions]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate elastography in the characterization of breast nodules.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Elastography (Hitachi, 7.5- to 13-MHz probe; Ueno classification, scores 1-3=benign, 4-5=malignant) was evaluated in 125 subclinical lesions in 114 patients. The results were compared to those of the ACR's BI-RADS sonography categories (benign=2 and 3, malignant=4 and 5) and to the results of the percutaneous samples taken and/or surgery (122 lesions evaluated, 59%<10 mm, 61 cancers, 61 benign lesions).

RESULTS

There were three technical failures (2.4%). The elastography was in agreement with histology for 101 lesions, with 13 false-negative results and eight false-positive results (sensitivity, 78.7%; specificity, 86.9%; PPV, 85.7%; NPV, 80.3%); versus agreement with the BI-RADS classification for 98 lesions with one false-negative result and 23 false-positive results (sensitivity, 98.4%; specificity, 47.5%; PPV, 65.2%; NPV, 96.7%).

CONCLUSION

Elastography is a simple and rapid complementary method that can improve the specificity and the PPV of morphological imaging studies of breast nodules with a low level of suspicion (BI-RADS categories 3 and 4a), which should decrease the rate of unnecessary benign biopsies.

Apport de l’IRM dans la maladie de Paget du sein

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the usefulness of MRI in local staging of Paget disease of the breast.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical, radiological (mammographies, MRI), and histological data were analyzed in six female patients presenting Paget disease of the breast. The criteria for analysis in MRI were the following: morphology of the aureola-nipple plaque (thickening, regularity of the contour) and the type of enhancement after injection of contrast medium (signal intensity/time curve), detection of abnormal enhancing in the mammary gland, and ganglion areas.

RESULTS

None of the patients presented a palpable mass or a suspicious anomaly on mammography. On MRI, the aureola-nipple plaque was morphologically abnormal in four cases, with suspicious enhancement in two cases (two cases of ductal carcinoma in situ) and normal enhancement in two cases (one case of ductal carcinoma in situ). In the two other cases, the aureola-nipple plaque was normal (one case of ductal carcinoma in situ). Distant abnormal enhancement of the aureola-nipple plaque was noted in two cases (one case of ductal carcinoma in situ and one benign lesion).

CONCLUSION

The MRI aspect of the aureola-nipple plaque in Paget disease shows little concordance with the histological results. MRI can be useful in detecting distant lesions when there is no clinical sign nor a suspicious mammography.

[Identification and management of hereditary breast-ovarian cancers (2004 update)]

BACKGROUND

Since the last recommendations, up to 2500 new references had been published on that topic.

METHODOLOGY

On the behalf of the health Minister, the Ad Hoc Committee consisted of 13 experts carried out a first version revisited by five additional experts who critically analyzed the first version of the report.

MAIN UPDATING

Breast and ovarian cancer seem to be associated with fewer deleterious mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2 than previously thought. The screening of ovarian cancer is still not an attractive option while in contrast MRI may be soon for these young women with dense breast, the recommended option for breast cancer screening. The effectiveness of prophylactic surgeries is now well established. French position is to favor such surgeries with regard to a quality of life in line with the expected benefit, and providing precise and standardized process described in the recommendation.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to methodological flaws, the low power and a short follow-up of the surveys, this statement cannot however aspire to a high stability.

Normal and pathological breast, the histological basis

Breast tissue is heterogeneous, associating connective and glandular structures, which grow and change cyclically under hormonal regulation. Hormones are also thought to be the main determinant of the major benign and malignant pathologies encountered in the breast. Benign lesions are more frequent and fibrocystic changes are by far the most common among them. They usually associate different entities, (adenosis, fibrosis, cysts and hyperplasia) but vary in intensity and extension. Thus, their clinical and radiographic presentation is extremely different from one patient to another. Adenofibroma is the most frequent tumour. It also undergoes modifications according to hormonal conditions. About 90% of malignant tumours are primary carcinoma. The incidence of intra-ductal carcinoma has risen dramatically since the development of screening because of its ability to induce calcification. Two mechanisms could be involved in the formation of calcification: one active (tumour cell secretion of vesicles), the other passive (necrotic cell fragments are released). Invasive carcinoma comprises numerous histological types. Stromal reactions essentially determines their shape: a fibrous reaction commonly found in ductal carcinoma creates a stellate lesion while other stroma, inflammatory (medullary carcinoma), vascular (papillary carcinoma) or mucinous determine nodular lesions whose borders push the surrounding tissue. The histological features which give rise to the radiographic pattern will be emphasised.

Use of radiology for the pathologist in the management of breast lesions

Today radiology is an essential step in the pathological analysis of breast biopsies. It is determinant at each stage of the management of non palpable lesions, clusters of microcalcifications and opacities, whether this concerns the needle biopsy or the surgical excision. Firstly, an X-ray is necessary to ensure that the core needle biopsy specimen has been adequately sampled and when samples with microcalcifications are selected by the radiologist, management can be more specific and accurate. In the case of surgical specimens, the X-ray confirms the presence of the radiographic abnormality or the clip indicating the site of the surgical excision which guides sampling. Some radiographic features also provide information on underlying pathologies allowing management to be adapted accordingly. Radiographs are also important to ensure that microscopically detected microcalcifications or lesions exactly correspond to the radiographic abnormality in size and location. The paraffin block can also be X-rayed to select those containing microcalcifications for additional slicing. It is also important to identify the presence of modifications caused by the core needle biopsy (fibrosis, haemorrhage and inflammation) and to carefully recognize displacement of epithelial cells and pseudo-emboli resulting from the needle procedure. Such correlation between radiology and pathology is essential so that appropriate management of the specimen can be adapted and to avoid pitfalls arising from pre-operative procedures.

Quoi de neuf en imagerie du sein ?

In 2004, breast cancer screening will be effective in France. This evolution has a strong impact on our mammographic practice that becomes a real mission of public health. Digital mammography, compared to screen-film mammography, provides the same results for the detection of breast cancer, computer-aided detection systems represent the most relevant application of this technology at this time. The setting up of a quality control will allow the introduction of this technology in screening during 2004. Percutaneous imaging-guided procedures are now currently used for the diagnosis of nonpalpable breast lesions and allow the selection of patients for surgery. These procedures have emphasized the need for a multidisciplinary approach of the patients. Indications of MRI have not changed because of its moderated specificity and no relevant development of interventional-guided procedures. Work on standardization of radiological reports and assessment categories goes on. This classification is already applied for mammography, and new classifications for lesions detected by ultrasound or MRI will be published by the American College of Radiology (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System, 4th edition, available in 2003).

[Interventional radiology in nonpalpable lesions of the breast]

The increasing number of nonpalpable breast lesions found at screening mammography has induced the development of percutaneous imaging-guided procedures to reduce the number of surgical biopsies. After a description of the indications (classification of the American College of Radiology), the different types of sampling procedures (fine needle aspiration, core and large-core biopsies) will be described and the material used also. Depending on the type of breast lesions (mass, clustered microcalcifications), ultrasound--guided and stereotactic--guided biopsies will be explained. Clear information to the patients, efficient quality control and multidisciplinary approach are mandatory for the success of these percutaneous diagnostic procedures.

[Radiologic-pathologic correlations in breast diseases]

The objective of this article is to explain radiologic patterns of benign and malignant breast lesions (masses, microcalcifications) based on histological correlations. The stromal fibrous reaction associated to infiltrating carcinomas is responsible of focal increased density, and architectural distorsion, ultrasound acoustic shadowing; abnormal neoangiogenesis can be detected by Doppler, CT or MR imaging. Invasive carcinomas without spiculated margins are poorly differentiated tumors. Mammographic patterns of microcalcifications depend on their physiopathological process (necrosis, secretion), and the shape of clusters (round, triangular) typifies their anatomical site of origin (lobular, ductal). Less frequent lesions (invasive lobular, mucinous, and medullary carcinomas, radial scar) will be also explained based on radiopathological correlations. Knowledge of radiopathological correlations in breast diseases helps the radiologists to analyze and characterize breast lesions.

[Alternating chemotherapy and hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy in non-metastatic inflammatory breast cancer]

PURPOSE

Based on encouraging results reported in alternating radiotherapy and chemotherapy in inflammatory breast carcinoma, we have tried in this study to optimize locoregional treatment with a hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy schedule alternating with chemotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From May 1991 to May 1995, 54 patients, previously untreated, with non-metastatic inflammatory breast cancer were entered in an alternating protocol consisting of eight courses of combined chemotherapy and two series of loco-regional hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy with a total dose of 66 Gy. Hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy was started after three courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (Adriamycin, Vincristine, Cyclophosphamide, Methotrexate, 5-fluoro-uracile) administered every 21 days +/- G.CSF. The first series delivered 45 Gy/three weeks to the breast, the axillary, subclavicular and internal mammary nodes, with two daily sessions of 1.5 Gy separated by an interval of eight hours; the second series consisted of a boost (21 Gy/14 fractions/10 d) alternating with another regimen of anthracycline-based-chemotherapy (a total of five cycles every three weeks). Hormonal treatment was given to all patients.

RESULTS

Of the 53 patients evaluated at the end of the treatment, 44 (83%) had a complete clinical response, seven (13%) had a partial response (> 50%) and two (4%) had tumoral progression. Of the 51 patients who were locally controlled, 18 (35%) presented a locoregional recurrence (LRR); eight (15%) had to undergo a mastectomy. All the patients but two with LRR developed metastases or died of local progressive disease and 26 (50%) developed metastases. With a median follow-up of 39 months (range: 4-74 months), survival rates at three and five years were respectively, 66 and 45% for overall survival and 45 and 36% for disease-free survival.

CONCLUSION

Alternating a combination of chemotherapy and hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy is a well-tolerated regimen which provides acceptable local control. The systemic dissemination remains the major problem of inflammatory breast carcinoma and further clinical trials using alternative drug regimens are warranted.

MRI of bone marrow disorders

Four factors can be used in MR of bone marrow: fat-water distribution, artifacts induced by bone trabeculae, diffusion, and uptake of contrast media. Fat-water is imaged using T1-weighted spin-echo, short tau inversion recovery (STIR), and fast STIR, in- and out-of-phase gradient echo, and fat pre-saturation sequences; bone trabeculae by gradient echo with long TE; diffusion by single-shot spin-echo. The injection of contrast media is a more easy and efficient way to improve the specificity. The value and limitations of those sequences are discussed in marrow replacements (metastases, lymphoma, leukemia) and in myeloid hyperplasia or depletion.

Unusual radiologic findings in the thorax after radiation therapy

Radiation therapy is used to treat many intrathoracic and chest wall malignancies. A variety of changes may occur after radiation therapy to the thorax. Radiation therapy produces dramatic effects in the lung. Pulmonary necrosis is an uncommon, severe, late complication of adjuvant postoperative radiation therapy. Bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia is a distinct clinicopathologic entity characterized by patchy, migratory, peripheral air-space infiltrates. Radiation therapy can also cause spontaneous pneumothorax, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. In the mediastinum, radiation therapy may cause thymic cysts, calcified lymph nodes, and esophageal injuries. Cardiovascular complications of radiation therapy are often delayed and insidious. Premature coronary artery stenosis occurs after radiation therapy to the mediastinum. Radiation therapy may also give rise to calcifications of the ascending aorta, pericardial disease, valvular injuries, and conduction abnormalities. Women who undergo thoracic irradiation before the age of 30 years have a high risk of developing a second breast cancer. Radiation-induced sarcomas are an infrequent but well-recognized complication of radiation therapy. Other chest wall injuries due to radiation therapy are osteochondroma and rib or clavicle fractures. Knowledge of the imaging features of injuries caused by radiation therapy can prevent misinterpretation as recurrent tumor and may facilitate further treatment.

Gallium scan in the evaluation of post chemotherapy mediastinal residual masses of aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Optimal evaluation of residual masses of non Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) after chemotherapy is of major importance, and gallium scan (GS) is routinely used for this purpose, particularly for mediastinal sites. However, sensitivity and specificity of GS in this setting has been diversely appreciated and needs to be more accurately defined especially if radiotherapy is not planned. A retrospective analysis selected all the patients treated in a single institution for aggressive NHL who presented a residual mass in the mediastinum after chemotherapy and who were evaluated by GS. The value of GS for distinguishing true complete responses (CR) from partial responses (PR) was analyzed in patients who were either submitted to resection of their residual mass or followed up without further treatment after GS. A residual mass with mean perpendicular diameters measuring 4.1 cm x 2.8 cm was found in 42 patients and was GS positive in 8 cases and negative in 34 cases. After GS, radiotherapy was delivered to 10 patients, but 12 patients underwent resection of their residual mass and 20 were followed up without further treatment. In the patients who did not receive radiotherapy, 3 false positive and 6 false negative GS results were disclosed. The specificity and the sensitivity of GS were 88% and 25%, and its positive predictive value and negative predictive value 40% and 78%, respectively. GS was not sufficiently reliable to evaluate post chemotherapy residual masses. Surgical resection of residual masses should be considered particularly in young patients. Patients in true CR should be spared pointless radiotherapy and its late side effects, while patients in PR may benefit from further intensified chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy.

MRI of bone metastases

Some knowledge of MR theory is required to be able to achieve high contrast between bone metastases and normal marrow. Three factors are used in MR to diagnose bone metastases; fat-water distribution, artifacts induced by bone trabeculae, and uptake of contrast medium. Using MR-histological correlations based on specimens of the lumbar spine, and studies of patients, we explain the advantages and limitations of sequences studying fat and water (spin-echo T1, STIR, in- and out-of-phase gradient echo, fat presaturation), bone trabeculae (gradient echo with long TE), and the injection of contrast medium.

[Fine-needle biopsy and core biopsy in nonpalpable breast lesions. How does one judge with mammography?]

Techniques for localizing and sampling subclinical lesions seen on mammograms are reviewed. Localization of the lesion, the equipment used (fine-needle aspiration or core biopsy), and harvesting techniques are discussed, with special emphasis on quality criteria that should be satisfied to ensure optimal histologic performance.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI with subtraction of aggressive soft tissue tumors after resection

OBJECTIVE

To report the application of dynamic contrast-enhanced subtraction MRI for detecting recurrences in aggressive or malignant soft tissue tumors.

DESIGN

The imaging studies consisted of static (T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo) acquisitions, followed by dynamic conventional spin-echo short TR/TE images (at 45 s, 1 min 30 s and 5 min) after a bolus of intravenous contrast medium. Contrast images were subtracted from the precontrast scan on the console.

PATIENTS

Ninety-eight patients were studied who had had aggressive or malignant soft tissue tumors treated by surgery, and were followed up to assess recurrences.

RESULTS

Subtraction MRI characterized recurrences better than routine sequences in 10 patients (1 lesion was seen only with this technique, 6 were better delineated, and 3 inflammatory pseudotumors were identified), and less well in 4 cases.

CONCLUSION

As the number of levels studied on dynamic images is limited, and all but one recurrence were detected on T2-weighted images, it remains logical to start the examination with T2-weighted spin-echo images, and to use the dynamic study only if contrast injection is required.

Value of high-frequency US for preoperative assessment of skin tumors

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of high-frequency ultrasound (US) in the preoperative assessment of skin tumors. A US scanner with a 20-MHz probe was used to visualize and evaluate 70 skin lesions (38 clinically suspected melanomas and 32 suspected basilar cell carcinomas [BCCs]) before surgical resection. A US morphologic study and a Doppler analysis of vascularity were performed for each tumor. Of the 70 tumors, 62 were clearly visualized, including 19 melanomas, 12 nonmalignant nevi, and 31 BCCs. Most lesions were hypoechoic. In 13 of 19 proved melanomas, the difference between the histologic and US measurements was equal to or less than 0.2 mm. Vessels were visualized in melanomas with thicknesses greater than 3 mm. All BCCs were visualized, and in 29% of cases of BCC, tumor size at US was greater than that at clinical examination. High-frequency, high-resolution US is a simple, reliable, noninvasive method for accurate preoperative assessment of skin tumor dimensions. This technique allows surgical planning to be adapted and reexcision to be avoided. However, its role is limited in the differential diagnosis of malignant and benign skin lesions.

[Diagnosis of infraclinical lesions of the breast with dynamic MRI: results of a prospective and multicenter study]

AIM

To determine the accuracy of dynamic contrast-enhanced subfraction MRI to diagnose nonpalpable breast lesions in a prospective multicenter study.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

From June to November 1994, 72 patients had a surgical biopsy for a nonpalpable breast lesion and a preoperative dynamic MR after an informed consent was obtained. MR examinations were performed on 0.5, 1 and 1.5T MR unit. Each center underwent dynamic sequences either in spin or gradient echo in T1 weighted images obtained in less than two minutes before and after injection of Gadolinium-DOTA. The presence/absence of contrast enhancement within two minutes after injection of Gadolinium were considered as positive/negative findings respectively.

RESULTS

These 72 women had mammographic (n = 80) or ultrasonographic lesions (n = 2). Mammograms showed mass (n = 23), asymmetrical density (n = 2), architectural distorsion (n = 8), clustered microcalcifications (n = 47) or was normal (n = 2). Dynamic Breast MR imaging showed early contrast enhancement in 44 malignant lesions (sensitivity: 89.8%) and 13 benign lesions (specificity: 60.6%). Five intraductal carcinoma of comedo (n = 1) or non-comedo (n = 4) type did not demonstrate any early contrast enhancement.

CONCLUSION

This prospective mulcentric study confirms the high sensitivity of dynamic breast MRI whatever the type of MR unit or sequences.

Combined systemic chemoimmunotherapy in advanced diffuse malignant mesothelioma. Report of a phase I-II study of weekly cisplatin/interferon alfa-2a

PURPOSE

To assess the tolerance, toxicity, and antitumoral activity of the weekly combination of cisplatin (CDDP) and interferon alfa-2a (IFNalpha2a) in advanced diffuse malignant mesothelioma (DMM).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-six patients with DMM (23 pleural and three peritoneal), previously untreated, were enrolled onto this study between August 1991 and December 1992. All patients had measurable disease defined by computed tomographic (CT) scan and diagnostic confirmation by histopathology review panel. IFNalpha2a (3 x 10(6) IU subcutaneously on days 1 to 4) and CDDP (60 mg/m2/wk on day 2) were given weekly. Initially planned as a 5-weeks-on/3-weeks-off treatment cycle, poor patient tolerance observed in the first 12 patients treated (group A) led to schedule adaptation with a shorter treatment sequence and prolongation of the rest period (4 weeks on/4 weeks off) in the following 14 patients (group B). At least two cycles were administered to each patient in the absence of tumor progression.

RESULTS

Twenty-six patients were assessable for toxicity and 25 for efficacy (World Health Organization [WHO] criteria). Sixty-eight cycles of IFN/CDDP were given, with a median of three cycles per patient (range, one to five). Toxicity was mainly clinical, with progressive anorexia, asthenia, and prolonged nausea/emesis; these side effects have limited treatment acceptance in many patients. Thrombocytopenia and leukopenia were rarely noted as treatment-limiting toxicities. Objective responses (all partial) were obtained in 10 patients (95% confidence interval [CI], 20% to 60%). The median response duration was 11 months (range, 6 to 18). The median time to progression (TTP) for the whole cohort was 6 months and the median survival time was 12 months (range, 5 to 32). Objective responders had a significantly longer median TTP (21 months) and survival time (25 months) than nonresponders (3 and 8 months, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The results of this pilot phase I-II study show encouraging antitumor activity in this traditionally resistant tumor, even if the specific contribution of IFN remains speculative and needs further clinical research. Our ongoing program is exploring the dose-intensity impact of IFN dose within the same combination.