Abstract GS3-07: Clinical utility of circulating tumor cell count as a tool to chose between first line hormone therapy and chemotherapy for ER+ HER2- metastatic breast cancer: Results of the phase III STIC CTC trial

Background: In ER+ HER2- metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients, the clinical choice between 1st line hormone therapy (HT, the recommended option) or chemotherapy (CT) is based on the absence of “visceral crisis” or adverse prognostic factors, with no proven/objective criteria. In that context, STIC CTC (NCT01710605) was set up as a strategy trial to test whether circulating tumor cells (CTC) count could help customize the choice between 1st line HT or CT.

Methods: For this multicenter phase 3 non-inferiority trial, the main inclusion criteria were: ER+ HER2- MBC with no prior therapy, PS≤2, no contra-indication to HT or CT and informed consent. The a priori treatment choice (HT or CT) and CTC count (CellSearch®) were obtained in all patients prior to randomization. Patients were randomized 1:1 between clinically-driven choice (CTC count not disclosed, HT or CT administered as decided a priori), or a CTC-driven choice (HT if <5 CTC/7.5ml, CT if ≥5 CTC/7.5ml). The primary objective was treatment efficacy (PFS hazard ratio), non-inferiority being established if the upper bound of the PFS HR 2-sided 90%CI is ≤1.25; secondary objectives included subgroup analyses (CTC status, patient characteristics) and OS.

Results: 761 MBC patients were randomized between 02/2012 and 08/2016. Baseline characteristics: 7.8% of patients had a PS=2, 24.1% had a de novo metastatic disease; 63.3% received prior adjuvant HT and 49.9% prior adjuvant CT; 31.3% had ≥3 metastatic sites. A priori treatments (HT or CT) and CTC count (< or ≥5 CTC/7.5ml) were well balanced between the two arms. After randomization, in the clinically-driven arm, N=267 (72.4%) patients received HT and N=102 (27.6%) CT (as decided a priori). In the CTC-driven arm: (1) the a priori choice of HT was confirmed by a low CTC count in N=181 (67.5%) of patients, while N=87 (32.5%) were switched to CT due to a high CTC count; (2) the a priori choice of CT was confirmed by high CTC count in only N=48 (48%) patients, while N=52 (52%) were switched to HT. The primary endpoint was met, PFS being not inferior in the CTC-driven arm (HR=0.98, 90%CI=[0.84–1.13]). Analyses focusing on discordant subgroups showed that for patients with a priori choice of HT but with high CTC count (leading to a switch to CT in the CTC-arm), PFS was significantly longer in the CTC-driven arm than in the standard arm (HR=0.67, 95%CI=[0.49–0.92]; p=0.01), with a non-significant trend toward longer OS (HR=0.68, 95%CI=[0.44–1.07]; p=0.09). Inversely, for patients with a priori choice of CT but with low CTC count (i.e. de-escalation to HT in the CTC arm), PFS was not statistically different between the two arms.

Conclusion: This trial demonstrates the clinical utility of CTC count as an objective decision tool when considering 1st line therapy in ER+ HER2- MBC. In most patients, CTC count did confirm the a priori clinical choice; however, trial results show that in discrepant cases, CTC count may be trusted for either escalating (i.e. considering CT in patients if high CTC count) or de-escalating (i.e. considering HT in patients if low CTC count) 1st line therapy.

Funding: French National Cancer Institute; Menarini Silicon Biosystems.

Citation Format: Bidard F-C, Jacot W, Dureau S, Brain E, Bachelot T, Bourgeois H, Goncalves A, Ladoire S, Naman H, Dalenc F, Gligorov J, Espie M, Levy C, Ferrero J-M, Loirat D, Cottu P, Dieras V, Simondi C, Berger F, Alix-Panabieres C, Pierga J-Y. Clinical utility of circulating tumor cell count as a tool to chose between first line hormone therapy and chemotherapy for ER+ HER2- metastatic breast cancer: Results of the phase III STIC CTC trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr GS3-07.

Abstract P5-17-05: Outcome of triple negative inflammatory breast cancer (TNIBC) treated with dose-dense dose intense neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), prognostic impact of post NAC lymphovascular invasion and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL)

Background

Inflammatory breast cancers (IBC) particularly triple negative (TN) subtype have poor prognosis. There are few series reporting IBC outcome according to their immunohistochemical profile. We have already shown the efficiency of dose dense dose intense chemotherapy in triple negative breast cancer (1). We report a series of TNIBC treated with dose dense anthracycline cyclophosphamide followed with taxane and analyzed the correlation between pathological complete response (pCR), pre and post NAC TIL, post NAC LVI and disease free survival (DFS).

Methods

Between January 2010 and December 2016, all patients with TNIBC seen at breast cancer disease center, St Louis hospital, Paris, France, were treated with neoadjuvant dose dense dose intense Cyclophophamide (1.2g/m2 d1) - Epirubicin (75mg/m2 d1) q2w (SIM regimen) followed with 12 injections of paclitaxel (80 mg/m2) qw or 4 injections of docetaxel (100 mg/m2) q3w. All patients have histologically proven TN tumors and no evidence of metastases assessed by initial FDG PET Scanner. Mastectomy and axillary clearance was performed after chemotherapy. pCR was defined as no residual invasive tumor in breast and lymph nodes. TIL and lymphovascular invasion were evaluated pre and post NAC by 2 independent anatomopathologists dedicated to breast cancer. Delta TILS was defined as the difference between post chemotherapy and pre chemotherapy TIL.

Results

Thirty TNIBC pts were treated, 28 underwent surgery and 2 progressed during chemotherapy. Median follow-up was 39 months (8 – 86). 9/30 patients (30%) achieved pCR. Median disease free survival (DFS) was 41 months (2 – 86). Median TIL infiltration at diagnosis was 11% (0-60) and dropped to 1% after chemotherapy (0 – 80). Median delta TIL was - 9% (-50% – +40%). TIL increase after chemotherapy was associated with a decrease of DFS (14 months vs not reached ; p = 0,0009). LVI was present on surgical specimens in 12 cases (12/30, 43%; 12/21 non pCR pts 57 %). Presence of LVI after chemotherapy was significantly associated with a decrease of DFS in the whole population (21 months vs not reached ; p = 0.008) and no significantly among the patients without pCR (23 months vs not reached; p = 0.07).

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, it is the best pCR rate reported in TNIBC (2). We showed in this retrospective series of 30 TNIBC that dose dense dose intense chemotherapy is efficient in this population. Presence of lymphovascular invasion and TIL after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in TNIBC are strong prognostic factors associated with DFS. Systematic determination of post NAC TIL and LIV could be a surrogate to propose adjuvant treatment after NAC in TNIBC.

References

1. Giacchetti S, et al. Long-term survival of advanced triple-negative breast cancers with a dose-intense cyclophosphamide/anthracycline neoadjuvant regimen. Br J Cancer. 2014;110:1413.

2. Masuda H, Brewer TM, Liu DD, Iwamoto T, Shen Y, Hsu L, et al. Long-term treatment efficacy in primary inflammatory breast cancer by hormonal receptor- and HER2-defined subtypes. Ann Oncol. 2014;25:384–91.

Citation Format: Campedel L, Binasker A, Blanc-Durand P, Becourt S, Ledoux F, Cuvier C, Gardnair C, Teixeira L, de Roquancourt A, Espie M, Giacchetti S. Outcome of triple negative inflammatory breast cancer (TNIBC) treated with dose-dense dose intense neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), prognostic impact of post NAC lymphovascular invasion and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-17-05.

Patients' preference of trastuzumab administration (subcutaneous versus intravenous) in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: Results of the randomised MetaspHer study

HannaH (NCT00950300) and PrefHer (NCT01401166) studies validated the subcutaneous (H-s.c.) formulation of trastuzumab as effective and safe as intravenous (H-i.v.) and highly preferred by patients in early breast cancer. The present randomised MetaspHer trial (NCT01810393) is the first study assessing patient's preference in metastatic setting.

METHODS

Patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who completed a first line chemotherapy with trastuzumab and achieved a long-term response lasting more than 3 years were randomised to receive 3 cycles of 600-mg fixed-dose adjuvant H-s.c., followed by 3 cycles of standard H-i.v., or the reverse sequence. Primary end-point was overall preference for H-s.c. or H-i.v. at cycle six, assessed by Patient Preference Questionnaire (PPQ). Secondary end-points included healthcare professional (HCP) satisfaction; safety and tolerability; quality of life.

RESULTS

Hundred and thirteen patients were randomised and treated. H-s.c. was preferred by 79/92 evaluable intent-to-treat patients (85.9%, 95% confidence interval [CI; 78.8-93.0]; p < 0.001), 13/92 preferred H-i.v. (14.1%, 95% CI [7.0-21.3]). HCPs were most satisfied with H-s.c. (56/88 available data, 63.6%, [53.6-73.7]). On the safety population, adverse events occurred in 73 (67.6%) and 49 (44.1%) patients during the H-s.c. and H-i.v. periods, respectively; 7 (6.5%) and 4 (3.6%) were grade ≥ III, 3 (2.8%) and 2 (1.8%) were serious.

CONCLUSION

The safety was consistent with the known H-i.v. and H-s.c. profiles without safety concern raised. Definitively, patients preferred H-s.c. as reported in early stage by PrefHer study.

Abstract P2-02-17: T-DM1 in HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer patients with HER2-amplified circulating tumor cells: Current status of the CirCe T-DM1 phase II trial

Background: Liquid biopsy can reassess key therapeutic targets in metastatic breast cancer. Several studies showed that a low albeit significant rate of metastatic breast cancer initially considered as HER2-negative can be reclassified as HER2-positive by systematic biopsy procedures. We report here the current status of the CirCe T-DM1 trial [NCT01975142] which aims to demonstrate the clinical utility of HER2 status reassessment on circulating tumor cells (CTCs).

Methods: The first step of the trial consists in CTC count and HER2/CEP17 FISH on detected CTCs (CellSearch, Janssen Diagnostics) in patients (pts) with measurable disease progressing after the second line of chemotherapy. Pts with amplified CTCs (HER2/CEP17 ratio equal or higher than 2.2) are eligible to the treatment step of the study in two distinct cohorts: low CTC count (1 or 2 HER2-amplified CTCs) and high CTC count (3 and more HER2-amplified CTCs). In the treatment step has a Simon's two stage design, the anti-HER2 antibody-drug conjugate T-DM1 being administered until tumor progression. The primary objective of the trial is the confirmed response rate (RECIST). This trial is supported by Roche.

Results: CirCe T-DM1 has been initiated in 10 centers in France. As of June 2015, 105 metastatic breast cancers pts considered as HER2-negative were screened. 29 pts (27%) had no CTC detected, 68 pts (65%) had at least 1 CTC detected with no HER2 amplification, and 8 pts (8%) exhibited HER2-amplified CTCs. Among the 8 pts, 1 pt had 5 HER2-amplified CTC, 2 pts had 2 HER2-amplified CTC and 5 pts had 1 HER2-amplified CTC. HER2/CEP17 ratios among HER2-amplified CTCs ranged from 2.5 to 7. Five of the 8 pts were treated by T-DM1. One objective confirmed partial tumor response has been observed (20%).

Conclusion: The accrual is ongoing; the first efficacy assessment will occur after having treated 14 pts. This innovative trial highlights the promise and the complexity of liquid biopsy-based programs in the era of precision medicine: scarcity of the target, reliability and reproducibility of the target assessment, major efficacy when the target is matched to the appropriate drug.

Citation Format: Bidard F-C, Romieu G, Jacot W, Cottu P, Dieras V, Lerebours F, Servent V, Luporsi E, Lortholary A, Tubiana-Mathieu N, Espie M, Bollet M, Bourgeois H, Renaud N, Pelissier S, Armanet S, Baeten K, Pierga J-Y. T-DM1 in HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer patients with HER2-amplified circulating tumor cells: Current status of the CirCe T-DM1 phase II trial. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-02-17.

Optimally tolerated dose of lapatinib in combination with docetaxel plus trastuzumab in first-line treatment of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer

BACKGROUND

This phase IB, open-label, dose-escalation study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and optimally tolerated regimen (OTR) of lapatinib in combination with docetaxel and trastuzumab in patients with previously untreated stage IV metastatic breast cancer (MBC) tumors overexpressing human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Evaluated dose regimens included lapatinib (500-1500 mg/day), docetaxel (triweekly; 60-100 mg/m&sup2;), and trastuzumab (weekly; 2 mg/kg fixed dose); prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was included with regimens with ≥750 mg/day lapatinib. End points included OTR and safety/tolerability (primary), overall response rate (ORR), and pharmacokinetics (secondary).

RESULTS

None of the patients (N = 53) experienced dose-limiting toxic effects (DLTs) at the highest dose level; thus, the OTR of lapatinib with 100 mg/m(2) docetaxel was not determined. Common adverse events included diarrhea, nausea, alopecia, fatigue, and rash; grade 3/4 (≥2 patients) were neutropenia, diarrhea, leukopenia, peripheral neuropathy, and rash. Seven patients had DLTs (cycle 1). In 45 patients with measurable disease confirmed by bone scan, investigator-assessed ORR was 31%; without bone scan, confirmation was 64%; 8 patients without measurable disease were evaluated as stable. Lapatinib/docetaxel plasma concentrations were positively associated with complete response.

CONCLUSIONS

Lapatinib/docetaxel/trastuzumab is a feasible and well-tolerated treatment of untreated HER2-positive stage IV MBC. Two lapatinib/docetaxel OTR doses were recommended (1250 mg/75 mg/m&sup2;; 1000 mg/100 mg/m&sup2;).

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

NCT00251433.

Contraception after breast cancer: a retrospective review of the practice among French gynecologists in the 2000's

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION

To describe the French practices regarding contraception after breast cancer in the 2000's.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 2,500 forms were sent to gynecologists practicing in France. Inclusion criteria were premenopausal patients who had a history of breast cancer and who had been prescribed contraception after diagnosis. Between June 1, 2002 and January 1, 2003, 197 evaluable responses were retrieved.

RESULTS

The median age of the sample was 38.5 years. The most commonly used form of contraception was an intrauterine device (n = 144, 73.1%). Hormonal contraception was prescribed for 42 patients (21.3%), and other methods were used in 29 patients (14.7%) (Condoms n = 14, tubal sterilization n = 7, and others n = 8). Recurrence occurred in 27 patients (13%); 2.9% in the progestin group, 16.3% in the IUD group, and 14.8% with the other methods).

CONCLUSIONS

It is necessary to evaluate current contraception practices after breast cancer to evaluate the efficacy and safety of contraception in these patients.

Abstract P6-07-10: Healthcare resource used in metastatic HER2+ breast cancer patients initiating an oral anticancer treatment

Background: Data on the healthcare resource used among patients treated with oral anticancer treatments (OAT) are not well known and may be assumed to be different from patients receiving treatments including an intravenous (IV) treatment. We compared treatment patterns of patients exclusively treated with OAT to that of patients receiving oral and IV anticancer treatments in HER2+ metastatic Breast Cancer (mBC) patients.

Methodology: A prospective observational multicenter study was conducted in France among 284 HER2+ mBC patients, treated by 68 oncologists, initiating a treatment including an OAT. Data were collected on clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, adherence, quality-of-life and healthcare resources upon treatment initiation, and then every three months over a maximum follow-up period of 9 months. The analysis was conducted on 211 patients for which the information was available on the entire follow-up period. Among them 117 were treated with OAT only and 94 with an oral + IV anticancer treatment.

Results:

Patients treated with OAT only received more frequently concomitant treatments, especially hormonal-therapy (33.3% versus 11.7% for patients receiving oral + IV treatment, p = 0,001). The number of healthcare professional consultations was significantly different between the two groups (p = 0,017) with a higher percentage of consultations for the OAT group excepted for psychiatrists/psychologists and nutritionists/dieticians consultations. The prescription of supportive care treatments did not vary significantly between the two groups (p&gt;0.05).

Treatments & consultations for each group OAT only (n = 117)Oral + IV (n = 94)p-value (1)Concomitant treatment (2), % (n)  0,001Hormonal-therapy (HT)33.3% (39)11.7% (11) Radiotherapy (RT)16.2% (19)17.0% (16) Neither RT nor HT55.6% (65)76.6% (72) Supportive care treatments % (n)  0.737Bisphosphonates29.1% (34)35.1% (33) Antiemetics36.8% (43)40.4% (38) Erythropoietin16.2% (19)21.3% (20) Analgesics17.9% (21)12.8% (12) Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor8.5% (10)10.6% (10) Consultations with other healthcare professionals, % (n)  0.017General Practitioners66.7% (78)60.6% (57) Nurse of which51.3% (60)35.1% (33) * Visiting Nurse31.6% (37)21.3% (20) * Practice Nurse17.1% (20)13.8% (13) * Unspecified15.4% (18)12.8% (12) Radiologist41.9% (49)36.2% (34) Psychiatrist / Psychologist36,8% (43)40.4% (38) Physiotherapist38,5% (45)17.0% (16) Radiotherapist28.2% (33)14.9% (14) Nutritionists / Dietician16.2% (19)28.7% (27) Gynaecologist6.8% (8)3.2% (3) (1) : Chi-2 test. The p-values were calculated on the category and not for each item. (2) : Patients receiving HT and RT concomitantly were counted both as HT and RT.

Conclusions:

The results of this study show that patients with HER2+ mBC treated exclusively with OAT have significantly higher healthcare professionals’ outpatient consultations to manage their disease knowing that patients receiving IV treatment may consume more hospital resources related to the administration of the product such as hospitalizations. These data tend to confirm the greater involvement of general practitioners and nurses in the care of patients treated orally as these patients require more support to manage their treatment.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P6-07-10.

Abstract P6-05-06: Clinical Presentation of Molecular Apocrine Subgroup of Breast Cancer: A Rather Aggressive Group of Tumor

Background: Estrogen receptor negative (ER-) breast cancer represents 30% of breast cancers. This heterogeneous group comprises at least the basal and HER2+ subgroups. Recent data, as well as our own, has observed that the HER2+ subtype is highly heterogeneous. Several teams have identified a new “apocrine” molecular subgroup of cancer, characterized by androgen receptor (AR) expresion in an ER-context. Here, we have retrospectively identified, based on a transcriptionnal signature, these apocrine molecular tumours and described their clinical presentation and evolution.

Material and Methods:

We retrospectively identified 60 patients treated in St Louis Hospital (Paris) from 1995 to 2008 and presenting the signature of the molecular apocrine subgroup (ERA-, AR+, FOXA1+) by Q-RT-PCR.

Results:

Mean age at diagnosis was 53,5 y.o. Tumours size were T2 or more in 78% cases. Histological types were ductal invasive with intraductal component (n=22), histological apocrine (n=3), and paget disease (n=4). Tumor grade was 3 in 68%, and 2 in 21%, with lymphovascular invasion in 37%. Excluding patients receiving neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, lymph node status was negative in 41%, and positive in 52% (1 to 3, 32%, more than 4N+, 20%). By immunohistochemistry 97.4% were PR-and 58.72% overexpressed HER2.

Surgery was conservative in 46%, and 48% patients underwent mastectomy. Sixteen patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (27%), 41 received adjuvant chemotherapy (68%), 16 received hormonal therapy (27%), and

16 received trastuzumab (27%). With a median follow up of 60 months, 34 events (local recurrence n=9, contralateral n=3, distant metastasis n=22), and 13 deaths occurred. Median disease free survival was 48 months.

Discussion:

In this cohort of apocrine molecular carcinomas, tumor phenotypes appears to be rather aggressive, with a high proportion of poor prognosis factors (grade SBR3, lymphovascular invasion, node involvement), and are generally well-correlated to a poor clinical outcome in this population that received heterogeneous treatments. Further data are needed to precisely characterise this particular breast cancer subtype, notably patients who are not eligible to Herceptin-based regimen.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-05-06.

Correlation between 18F Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) Uptake and Tumor Characteristics in Locally Advanced Breast Cancers

Background: This study analysed the correlation between [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake, assessed by positron emission tomography (PET), and prognostic factors in locally advanced breast cancersMaterial and Methods: All locally advanced breast cancers seen at Saint Louis hospital and treated with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) have a FDG PET after core needle biopsy and before chemotherapy. We correlated the tumor characteristics: T-stage, histological grade, estrogen and progesterone receptors, c-erbB2 over-expression (immuno-histochemistry determination) and P53 (determinate on frozen biopsies by the FASAYmethod) to FDG standardized uptake value (SUV max). The statistics tests used are student test (comparison of 2 means) and kendall correlation.Results: From June 2006 to April 2009, 91 patients with locally advanced breast tumors have both PET scan and frozen tissue before NAC. Median age at diagnosis is 48 (26-81) and 45 % are post menopausal.Conclusion: This study indicates that FDG-PET uptake is correlated with the phenotype of breast tumours. Over-expression of c-erbB2 does not influence FDG uptake. Triple negative tumours and p53 mutated tumors have a high initial SUV which can reflect their aggressiveness and their chemotherapy sensitivity. The knowledge of SUV uptake according to tumor characteristics allows a better understanding of the role of FDG-PET in the prediction of neoadjuvant chemotherapy response.Patients characteristicsPtes characteristicsNumber of patients (%)Tumor size: T2/T3/T438 (41)/32 (35)/21(23)Lymph nodes N0/N1/N232 (35)/46 (50.5)/13 (14 )Invasive ductal carcinoma/invasive lobular carcinoma/miscellaneous82 (90 )/5 (5 )/3 (3)Histological grade/ 1/2/37 (7 )/49 (54)/35 (38)ER + / ER-58 (64 )/33 (36)PR+ /PR-35 (38) /56 (61)C-erbB2 +++15 (16 )Triple negative22 (24 )P53 ( 64 ptes) mutated/wild type32 (50)/32 (50) 

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 5010.

The Role of FDG PET for Early Prediction of Response after Two Cycles of Epirubicin + Cyclophosphamide Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer

Background: Previous studies showed a possible role of Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG PET) in monitoring response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in breast cancer patients. Most studies, however, mixed various chemotherapy protocols. We assessed the ability of FDG PET to predict response after two cycles of epirubicin + cyclophosphamide (EC) and compared it with histopathological response as determined by the Sataloff scale after completion of chemotherapy.Material and Methods: From 07/2007 to 05/2009, 54 patients seen at Saint Louis hospital underwent FDG PET at baseline and after the second cycle of NACT. We present data for the first 22 consecutive patients for whom pathology data are available. Standard chemotherapy treatment was four cycles of epirubicin + cyclophosphamide followed by four cycles of docetaxel. The study was performed according to the guidelines of the institutional ethical committee. The standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of FDG was measured with a PET-CT instrument at baseline and after the second cycle of chemotherapy. The change in SUV was expressed as Δ SUVmax (%) = 100 X (2nd cycle SUVmax - baseline SUVmax)/baseline SUVmax. A Δ SUVmax cutoff value of -45% was used to differentiate metabolic responders and non-responders. Histopathological response was assessed on fresh surgical specimens (mastectomy or lumpectomy) by an experienced pathologist and graded according to the scale established by Sataloff: total or near-total therapeutic effect (grade A), more than 50% therapeutic effect but less than total or near-total effect (grade B), less than 50% therapeutic effect but visible effect (grade C), or no therapeutic effect (grade D). For the analysis, grades A and B were considered as histopathological responders and grades C and D were as non-responders.Results: Initial T-stage was T2 in 12 cases, T3 in 6 cases and T4 in 4 cases. There were 21 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma and 1 case of invasive lobular carcinoma. Mean SUVmax in initial PET was 7.22 (ranges from 2.7 to 18.5) and mean SUVmax after 2 cycles of chemotherapy was 4.77 (1.4-15.3). Breast-conserving surgery was performed in 12 patients and mastectomy in 10 patients. Nine (41%) of 22 patients were classified as histopathologic responders and 13 (59%) as non-responders. PET after two cycles of NACT revealed 9 patients (41%) as responders and 13 (59%) as non-responders. Among 9 metabolic responders, 7 were true positive, and 2 were false positive. Among 13 metabolic non-responders, 11 were true negative, and 2 were false negative. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of FDG PET after two cycles of NACT were 78%, 85%, 78%, 85% and 82% respectively.Discussion: NACT has proved useful in stage II and III breast cancer, to reduce tumour volume, increasing the chance of breast-conserving surgery. In order to minimize adverse effects of NACT, non-responders must be identified as early as possible. Our preliminary results on a small series of patients show that FDG PET can differentiate responders from non-responders with good accuracy after two cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with EC.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 5009.

Nonpalpable Breast Lesions in a Breast Care Unit: Prospective Analysis on 2708 Consecutive Cases

Background: Breast cancer screening increases the detection of nonpalpable breast lesions, These lesions raise specific concerns, involving radiological imaging, biopsy techniques, and pathological analysis. The objective of the study is to evaluate the management of nonpalpable breast lesions in a breast disease unit.Material and Methods: From 2001 to 2007, 2708 nonpalpable breast lesions were prospectively evaluated by a multidisciplinary team. Radiologic lesions were detected by mammography alone (71,5%), ultrasonography (27,90%), MRI (0,20%). All lesions were classified according to the BI RADS classification. Three hundred and nine (309) core needle biopsies were performed, 807 vacuum assisted biopsies, and 521 open breast biopsies. The pathologic results were correlated with surgery, rebiopsy or long-term imaging follow up.Results: The pathologic results showed 33 % of malignant lesions (DCIS, invasive carcinoma), 9 % of high risk lesions (atypical ductal or lobular hyperplasia, lobular carcinoma in situ) and 58 % of benign lesions. The prevalence of cancer as a function of BI-RADS was: BI-RADS 0 : 2,6% (4/152), BI-RADS 2: 0% (0/55), BI-RADS 3: 2,3% (17/740), BI-RADS 4: 23,4% (352/1502) et BI-RADS 5 : 78,7% (185/235). Twelve of 152 (7,9 %) high risk lesions were upgraded to malignant lesions and 34/211 DCIS (16,1%) were upgraded to invasive carcinoma after surgery. Diagnostic performance rates exhibited the following results: agreement rate=96,6%, sensibility=96,2%, overall underestimation rate=12,6%, and false-negative rate=1,6%.Table 1: Diagnostic performance of core needle biopsy, vacuum assisted biopsy, open breast biopsy core needle biopsy%vacuum assisted biopsy%open breast biopsy%Totaln=309 807 521 1637Pathologic results       benign21970,9%48960,6%23444,9%942 (57,5%)High risk82,6%728,9%6813,1%148 (9,0%)malignant8226,5%24630,5%21942,0%547 (33,4%)Diagnostic performance       sensibility80/8297,6%228/24593,1%217/21999,1%525/546 (96,2%)agreement304/30998,4%762/80794,4%515/52198,8%1581/1637 (96,6%)high risk underestimate1/616,7%10/7713,0%1/691,4%12/152 (7,9%)DCIS underestimate3/650,0%27/12421,8%4/814,9%34/211 (16,1%)overall underestimate rate4/1330,8%37/20118,4%5/1503,3%46/364 (12,6%)false negative rate1/821,2%7/2462,8%1/2190,5%9/547 (1,6%) After vacuum assisted biopsy, one-step surgery was performed in 82,9% and after core needle biopsy in 68,4%.Conclusion: This kind of quality evaluation in community practice should be encouraged. Management of those lesions continuously evolves with the widespread of RMI and new biopsy techniques. Efforts should be made in exploring imaging-pathologic discrepancies, and in identifying predictive factors of invasion on biopsies. We currently perform a focused analysis on lesions that required two surgical steps despite a prior biopsy, in order to point out new ways to improve our practices.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 6020.

All-oral combination of oral vinorelbine and capecitabine as first-line chemotherapy in HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer: an International Phase II Trial

BACKGROUND

This multicentre, international phase II trial evaluated the efficacy and safety profile of a first-line combination of oral vinorelbine plus capecitabine for women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

METHODS

Patients with measurable, HER2-negative disease received, as a first line in metastatic setting, 3-weekly cycles of oral vinorelbine 80 mg m(-2) (after a first cycle at 60) on day 1 and day 8, plus capecitabine 1000 mg m(-2) (750 if >or=65 years of age) twice daily, on days 1-14. Treatment was continued until progression or unacceptable toxicity.

RESULTS

A total of 55 patients were enrolled and 54 were treated (median age: 58.5 years). Most (78%) had visceral involvement and 63% had received earlier (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy. The objective response rate (RECIST) in 49 evaluable patients was 51% (95% confidence interval (CI), 36-66), including complete response in 4%. The clinical benefit rate (response or stable disease for >or=6 months) was 63% (95% CI, 48-77). The median duration of response was 7.2 months (95% CI, 6.4-10.2). After a median follow-up of 41 months, median progression-free survival was 8.4 months (95% CI, 5.8-9.7) and median overall survival was 29.2 months (95% CI, 18.2-40.1). Treatment-related adverse events were manageable, the main grade 3-4 toxicity was neutropaenia (49%); two patients experienced febrile neutropaenia and three patients had a neutropaenic infection (including one septic death). A particularly low rate of alopaecia was observed.

CONCLUSION

These results show that the all-oral combination of oral vinorelbine and capecitabine is an effective and well-tolerated first-line regimen for MBC.

All-oral combination of oral vinorelbine (NVBo) and capecitabine (X) in HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC): latest results of a multicenter, international phase II trial with a median follow-up of 37.7 months

Abstract #6125

Background: Combination chemotherapy regimens are widely considered among the standards in the management of MBC. Oral therapy is an attractive option for many patients. The all-oral regimen of NVBo and X is active with good tolerability in MBC. We report an updated analysis of efficacy and safety from an international phase II study of NVBo plus X.&#x2028; Methods: Main eligibility criteria included: measurable HER2-negative, CT-naive MBC, relapse ≥ 6 months after completing (neo)adjuvant CT, Karnofsky PS ≥ 70%, age ≥ 18 years. Study treatment: 3-weekly cycles of NVBo 80 mg/m2 (after a first cycle at 60) d1 and d8, plus X 1000 (750 if ≥ 65 years) mg/m2 twice-daily d1-14. Treatment was continued until progression or unacceptable toxicity.&#x2028; Results: 55 pts were enrolled and 54 were treated: median age: 58.5 years (41% ≥ 65); prior (neo)adjuvant CT in 63%; type of CT: anthracycline 67%, anthracycline + taxane 18%, CMF 15%; visceral involvement in 78%; &gt; 2 metastatic sites in 46%. Median 7 cycles (range 1-58); median relative dose intensity: NVBo 87%, X 87%; NVBo escalated to the recommended dose of 80 mg/m2 in 91% of pts. G3/4 NCI CTC v2 adverse events: (n=53) neutropenia 49% of pts, (n=54) vomiting 9%, stomatitis 7%, asthenia 7%, febrile neutropenia 6%, infection with G3/4 neutropenia 6%, nausea 4%, diarrhoea 4%, hand-foot syndrome 4%, thrombosis/embolism 4%. Efficacy (n=46 evaluable pts): objective response rate (RECIST) 52% (95% CI [37-67]), CR 2%, PR 50%, SD 28%, PD 20%, disease control (CR+PR+ SD ≥ 6 months) 63% (95% CI [48-77]). Median duration of response was 7.2 months (95% CI [6.0-11.7]). With a median follow-up of 37.7 months, median progression-free survival was 8.4 months (95% CI [5.8-9.7]) and median overall survival was 30.1 months (95% CI [18.2- 40.1]). 21 of the 54 pts treated in the study are still alive.&#x2028; Conclusion: These results show that the all-oral combination of NVBo and X is an effective and well-tolerated first-line poly-chemotherapy regimen for MBC. A retrospective analysis has been made between pts with &lt; or ≥ 65 years (efficacy and safety) and results will be presented during the meeting.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 6125.

An international phase II study of an all-oral combination of oral vinorelbine (NVBo) and capecitabine (X) in HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC)

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Background: Oral chemotherapy (CT) is attractive for patients (pts) with MBC. The all-oral regimen of NVBo and X is active with good tolerability in MBC. We report efficacy and safety data from an international phase II study of NVBo plus X. Methods: Main eligibility criteria included: measurable HER2-negative, CT-naive MBC, relapse ≥6 months after completing (neo)adjuvant CT, Karnofsky PS ≥70%, age ≥18 years. Study treatment: 3-weekly cycles of NVBo 60 mg/m2 (cycle 1) or 80 mg/m2 (from cycle 2) d1 and d8, plus X 1,000 (750 if ≥ 65 years) mg/m2 twice-daily d1–14. Treatment was continued until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Results: 55 pts were enrolled: median age: 58.5 years (41% ≥65); prior (neo)adjuvant CT in 63%; type of CT: anthracycline 67%, anthracycline + taxane 18%, CMF 15%; visceral involvement in 78%; >2 metastatic sites in 46%. Median 6 cycles; median relative dose intensity: NVBo 88%, X 87%; NVBo dose escalated to 80 mg/m2 in 94% of pts. G3/4 NCI CTC v2 adverse events (n=54): neutropenia 44% of pts, vomiting 9%, febrile neutropenia 7%, stomatitis 7%, asthenia 7%, infection with G3/4 neutropenia 4%, nausea 4%, diarrhea 4%, hand-foot syndrome 4%, thrombosis/embolism 4%. Efficacy (n=48 evaluable pts): objective response rate (RECIST) 44% (95% CI [29–59]), CR 2%, PR 42%, SD 35%, PD 21%, disease control (CR+PR+SD ≥6 months) 56%. Median time to objective response was 2.9 months. Because of short follow-up, progression-free survival, overall survival and duration of response data are not yet available. Conclusion: The all-oral combination of NVBo and X is an effective and well-tolerated first-line therapy for MBC. Based on these results and the high convenience of oral CT, evaluation of this regimen vs i.v. combinations in a randomized trial is ongoing.

[Table: see text]

High-dose sequential epirubicin and cyclophosphamide with peripheral blood stem cell support for advanced breast cancer: results of a phase II study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a high-dose intensity and high-dose density multicycle epirubicin and cyclophosphamide regimen with peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) and haematopoietic growth factor (G-CSF) support in advanced breast cancer patients. From August 1994 to September 1999, 56 breast cancer patients (8 stage IIIB and 48 stage IV) received 205 courses of cyclophosphamide 3 g x m(-2) and epirubicin 100 mg x m(-2) every 14 days. G-CSF 5 microg x kg(-1) x day(-1) was administered from day 3 to neutrophil recovery. 4 courses were planned. PBSC were collected after course 1, and reinfused after courses 3 and 4, with > or = 2 x 10(6) CD34+ PBSC x kg(-1) required for each reinfusion. 48 patients (86%) received all 4 planned courses. Early withdrawal was consecutive to infectious complications (n = 4), severe asthenia (n = 3), haemorrhagic cystitis (n = 1). A median number of 10.8 x 10(6) CD34+ PBSC x kg(-1) (range, 3-80) was harvested with 1 or 2 apheresis in 48 patients (94%). Median relative dose intensity was 91.3% (range, 72-102%). Grade 4 neutrophil toxicity was observed in 100% of patients. Febrile neutropenia was observed in 40% of courses (median duration 2 days). Red blood cells and platelets had to be transfused in 54% and 27% of courses, respectively. There were no toxic deaths. Objective response rate was 69% in stage IV patients (31/45 evaluable pts), with a 16% complete response rate. Their median progression-free and overall survivals were 22.5 and 37 months, respectively. This epirubicine-containing high-dose regimen appeared feasible, albeit with high toxicity. Time-related progression parameters exceed commonly reported ones. Controlled studies of upfront sequential high-dose chemotherapy are still needed to evaluate its real benefit.

Gastric metastases from breast cancer: a retrospective series of 12 patients

Although well described in the literature, gastric metastases are often misdiagnosed in patients with breast cancer. The accuracy of diagnosis is critical because systemic therapy is beneficial, affording symptom palliation and an opportunity to avoid an unnecessary gastrectomy.

[Carcinoma arising within mammary fibroadenomas. A study of six patients]

We report six cases of carcinomas arising within fibroadenomas. Fibroadenoma is a benign neoplasm occurring in young women. Its association with carcinomas is unfrequent and particularly reported in older women. Few data are available on the histologic features of fibroadenomas harboring malignant lesions. In this study, most cases of fibroadenomas showed cysts, sclerosing adenosis, epithelial calcifications or papillary apocrine changes. These fibroadenomas are classified as complex and are a long-term risk factor for breast cancer. The complex fibroadenoma may be specific of fibroadenoma associated with carcinoma.

Optimizing chemotherapy for patients with advanced breast cancer

Chemotherapy is offered to almost all patients with metastatic breast cancer. Optimization of treatment has four major goals: (1) To improve access to chemotherapy. Orally active chemotherapy is an attractive option for those patients when access to hospital is limited by financial considerations, long journeys or patient reluctance. In the past, only alkylating agents (cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, melphalan) could be administered orally. The activity (first- and second-line) of Xeloda (capecitabine) with limited side effects and the development of oral vinorelbine and anthracyclines should improve access to chemotherapy and also concentrate further interest on treatment with long-term administration of cytotoxic agents. (2) To improve response rates and duration in first-line treatment. Response rates have been increased by the use of combinations of taxoids and anthracyclines and/or alkylating agents and/or fluoropyrimidines (>60-70% with complete remission in 10-15% of patients). There is increasing interest in sequential use of active agents or combinations at their optimal doses. Nevertheless, such 'induction regimen' fail to prolong response duration (rarely longer than 9-12 months). The use of less-toxic maintenance chemotherapy regimens increases response duration and disease-free survival. Such maintenance regimens could be used on an outpatient basis and will be further simplified by the availability of active oral agents such as the novel fluoropyrimidine Xeloda. (3) To increase cure rates. This can only be considered with first-line treatment in selected patients (long disease-free interval, minimal number of visceral sites and ability to tolerate high-dose chemotherapy). The completed studies with high-dose chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell support have, in fact, shown only a minimal effect on cure rates. Incorporation of very active agents such as taxoids and use of multicycle high-dose therapy may improve these results. (4) To offer alternative active regimens in second and subsequent metastatic progression. Taxoids, vinorelbine and, more recently, Xeloda all achieve a 20-40% response rate in these situations. The reintroduction of agents previously used for adjuvant or first-line therapy can also be considered.

High-dose epirubicin and cyclophosphamide every two weeks as first-line chemotherapy for relapsing metastatic breast cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Metastatic breast cancer remains incurable with conventional chemotherapy. For any specific chemotherapy, higher dose intensity may be achieved with either increased doses per cycle, or shortened intervals between courses, or both. We demonstrate here the feasibility and encouraging results of a high-dose combination regimen administered every two weeks.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Women with metastatic breast cancer were treated every 14 days for 6 courses with 75 mg/m2 epirubicin and 1200 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide, followed by conventionally-delivered (q 3-4 weeks) chemotherapy. The treatment was to be resumed regardless of the neutrophil count, except in instances of febrile neutropenia. Prophylactic oral antibiotherapy was given, while hematopoietic growth factors and stem cell support were not employed.

RESULTS

Eighty-six patients were treated between May 1986 and June 1995. Their median age was 43 years (26-69). Grade 3-4 neutrophil toxicity was observed after 86% of the courses, resulting in febrile neutropenia in 5%-18% of the patients, and the rehospitalization of 5%-10%. The median given/planned dose intensity was 97% (79-106). The objective response rate in 84 evaluable patients was 54% (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 43-65), with a complete response rate of 11%, and a 14% rate of outright progression. Median progression-free survival was 16 months and median overall survival 32 months. Multivariate analysis retained previous adjuvant chemotherapy as a negative survival prognostic factor.

CONCLUSIONS

This dose-intensive anthracycline-based regimen is feasible with manageable morbidity despite pronounced myelotoxicity, and yields encouraging survival rates.

[Breast cancer: new therapeutic strategies]

NEED FOR NEW CHEMOTHERAPY AGENTS: Metastasic breast cancer is an excellent model for studying anticancer agents: chemotherapy or hormonotherapy or compounds modifying the organism's response. If no adjuvant treatment is given after locoregional treatment of breast cancer, metastasis will develop within 10 years in 30% of the patients free of initial nodal invasion and within 5 years in 50% of the patients with initial nodal invasion. ADJUVANT TREATMENTS: Hormonotherapy and chemotherapy reduce mortality due to breast cancer by 10%. New adjuvant agents have been recently introduced. Taxans (docetaxel, paclitaxel) are the most active molecules since antracyclines. New aromataase inhibitors include letrozole and anastrozole. Their efficacy has been demonstrated in phase II and phase III trials, allowing their experimentation as adjuvant treatments.

[Clinical activity spectrum of irinotecan]

Irinotecan (CPT11), a topoisomerase I inhibitor, is a new cytotoxic agent with a broad spectrum of clinical activity. Two main schedules have been studied and produce similar activity and side-effects: the "european" one--350 mg/m2 every 21 days-, and the "japanese-north american" one where CPT11 is given at a weekly dose of 100-120 mg/m2 for 4 consecutive weeks followed by a 2 week rest period. Activity was initially characterized in advanced colorectal cancers; response rates, disease free-survival and overall survival were 11%, 7-10 months and 8-11 months in patients failing fluoropyrimidine based chemotherapy--statistically improved as compared to best supportive care and infusional fluorouracil-, and 20-30% in patients not previously treated. An interesting activity with response rates of 20-22% (increased to 65% in combination with CDDP) has been shown in relapsed cervix carcinomas; in gastric carcinomas response rates of 20% have been shown, reaching 48% in combination with CDDP. Response rates of 20-22%, increased to 40-60% when irinotecan was associated to CDDP have been reported in non small cell lung cancer and esophagal carcinomas. Further studies are needed for other GI tract cancers, ovarian and head and neck carcinomas while minimal or no clinically meaningful activity has been reported in advanced breast cancer, and haematological malignancies. Irinotecan can be combined to fluoropyrimidines, raltitrexed, cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin, to gemcitabine, etoposide, vinorelbine and taxanes with flexible schedules (weekly, every 2 weeks, every 21 days. Most of these combinations have an additive or supra additive activity. Its mechanism of action, the spectrum of activity and the acceptable risk-benefit ratio point to irinorecan as a major advance in the field of cytotoxic anticancer therapy.

Is p53 a protein that predicts the response to chemotherapy in node negative breast cancer?

The role of p53 in modulating apoptosis has suggested that it may affect efficacy of anti cancer agents. For this reason, we have evaluated p53 alterations in 282 consecutive patients with infiltrating node-negative breast cancer who underwent primary surgery and were randomized either to CMF (Cyclophosphamide 400 mg/m2, Fluorouracil 400 mg/m2, and Methotrexate 40 mg/m2) or control arm (no adjuvant therapy) from 1980 to 1989. p53 alterations were analyzed by immunohistochemistry using DO7 MoAb, revealed by immunoperoxidase technique, and quantitated in term of percentage of positive cells. We observed a positive staining in 24% of the tumors. Among them, 10% had a positive staining in more than 75% of the cells. There was a highly significant association between the proportion of positive cells and histologic grade of the infiltrating ductal carcinomas (p<0.004). However, there was no association with age, tumor size, hormone receptor content, or vascular embolism. There was a trend but no significant relationship between positive staining and overall survival either in each arm of the trial or in the overall population. Interestingly, we observed a higher relative risk of local relapse after conservative therapy in the boosted area in the group of mutated p53 (RR=4.41; p<0.0005). We conclude that, in this node-negative breast tumor population, alteration of p53 cannot predict the response to the chemotherapy. However, it may represent a useful marker of risk of local relapse and of radio resistance.

Efficacy and tolerance of vinorelbine and fluorouracil combination as first-line chemotherapy of advanced breast cancer: results of a phase II study using a sequential group method

PURPOSE

To assess the antitumor efficacy and safety profile of the combination of Fluorouracil (5FU) and vinorelbine given as first-line therapy to patients with advanced breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

As defined in the seven consecutive steps of a phase II group sequential design, 63 patients received 5FU 750 mg/m2/d for 5 consecutive days as a continuous infusion and vinorelbine 30 mg/ m2 on days 1 and 5 as a short intravenous (I/V) infusion every 3 weeks.

RESULTS

Forty-one of 63 patients achieved an objective response, which allowed us to discontinue the study and reject a response rate less than 50% with a statistical power of 90%. The unbiased estimate of the response rate was 61.6%. Response rate did not differ significantly according to the following: (1) type of prior adjuvant therapy (none, n = 23; without anthracycline, n = 6; with anthracyline, n = 34); (2) site of metastatic disease; and (3) number of metastatic sites. The median time to progression was 8.4 months. The median response duration was 12.3 months, and the median duration of complete response (CR), from the first assessment of CR, was 7.3 months. The median overall survival time was 23 months (28.1 months for patients with a CR). The main toxicities (grades 3 and 4) were neutropenia (90% of patients), infection (12.7%), mucositis (37%), and constipation (9.5%). Nevertheless, treatment could be given on an outpatient basis to the majority of patients, and the median relative dose-intensity was 86%.

CONCLUSION

This phase II study, which used a group-sequential design, shows that the combination of 5FU and vinorelbine is an active and tolerable regimen for the treatment of first metastatic progression of breast cancer. It provides an alternative regimen for patients who have previously received anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy or in whom anthracyclines cannot be used.

[Breast cancer during pregnancy. Epidemiology--diagnosis--prognosis]

The association "breast cancer and pregnancy" is rare. The hypervascularisation of the pregnant breast, the role of hormones, the immunological factors have been incriminated. The rate of diagnosis is often too late because of the changes in the pregnant breast. Among the investigations, besides mammogram, the interest of ultrasound examination especially cyto-punction is underlined. Prognosis appears more severe because the delay in diagnosis and the young age of patients. However that is true for N+ patterns, and not for N- cases. We detail the experience of the Centre des Maladies du Sein de l'Hôpital Saint-Louis which concerns 15 cases.

[Chemoprevention of cancers]

Cancer chemoprevention needs carefully controlled clinical trials, definition of study populations and well selected chemopreventive agents. Randomized clinical trials are on going. We tried to summarize studies in the head and neck, lung, stomach, oesophagus, skin, bladder and cervix regions.

[Prevention of breast cancer: what are the other possibilities under study besides tamoxifen chemoprevention?]

Tamoxifen and retinoids are actually studied for breast cancer chemoprevention. The role of fat intake, vitamins, selenium, alcohol consumption and progestins are reviewed in view of prevention trials.

Dysgerminoma in a pure 45,X Turner syndrome: report of a case and review of the literature

There is a high risk of neoplasm in dysgenetic gonads. Classically, in Turner syndrome, only patients with 45, X/46, XY mosaicism karyotype or with a fragment of Y chromosome (45, X+mar) are at risk of developing gonadal tumor. A case of a dysgerminoma arisen on the dysgenetic gonad of a 45, X Turner patient in the absence of Y chromosome material at cytogenetic and molecular biology analysis is reported. Five cases of gonadal tumor with a pure 45, X chromosome constitution have been previously reported in the literature. In these cases only cytogenetic analysis was performed. This is the first case of an ovarian tumor in a 45, X Turner syndrome in which the presence of Y material can be ruled out by an extensive molecular analysis of the blood and the tumor.

Megestrol acetate in advanced breast carcinoma

Hormonal therapy of breast cancer is the oldest treatment in advanced disease. Durable remissions can be obtained with a wide variety of hormonal manipulations. Oophorectomy was first used to reduce endogenous hormonal levels. Surgical procedures have been supplanted by drugs that reduce hormone secretion or block steroid hormone activity. Tamoxifen is the agent most widely used because of few side effects. Agonists can also be effective. Estrogens, androgens, and progestins have the same level of activity as surgical ablation or drug antagonists (20-40% overall response rate). More than 2,000 patients with advanced breast cancer worldwide have been treated with megestrol acetate in clinical trials. Reports of the trials show a response rate of 27%. In randomized trials, efficacy of megestrol acetate is comparable with tamoxifen and with other hormonal treatments. At the standard dose of 160 mg/day, the major side effect is weight gain. Studies are ongoing to evaluate if high doses of megestrol acetate may increase the response rate with acceptable toxicity.

p53 mutations and overexpression in locally advanced breast cancers

Alterations in the p53 gene were analysed in 39 patients with locally advanced breast cancers (LABCs) (stage III-IV) with inflammatory signs in most cases (UICC stage T4d = 32 patients) by molecular and immunohistochemical (IHC) approaches. All patients were included in the same therapy protocol. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a single-strand conformational polymorphism migration technique (SSCP), the presence of mutations in exons 2-11, covering the entire coding sequence of the p53 gene, was evaluated. Using the mouse specific anti-human p53 monoclonal antibody (PAb 1801), we also looked for overexpression of the p53 protein in tissue sections. In 16 cases shifted bands were reproducibly identified by PCR-SSCP, and all but one (localised to exon 10) were in exons 5-8, the usual mutational hotspots. Fifteen of these 16 samples were sequenced and 14 of the suspected mutations (36%) were confirmed. Most of them (12) were single nucleotide substitutions, and transitions were more frequent (eight cases) than transversions (four cases). Fourteen of the tumour samples were positively stained with the monoclonal antibody PAb 1801, 11 with nuclear staining only, two with mixed cytoplasmic and nuclear staining and one with cytoplasmic staining only. Staining patterns were very heterogeneous in terms of the percentage of positive cells (10-75%) and their distribution in the tissue section (isolated foci or dispersed cells). In 11 of the 14 mutated cases a positive immunostaining was observed. The presence of a p53 mutation was significantly associated with larger tumour diameter (chi 2 = 7.490, P = 0.0062) and the presence of clinical metastases (stage IV) (chi 2 = 10.113, P = 0.0015). A non-statistically significant trend of association was observed between p53 mutation, negative oestrogen receptors and lower response rate to therapy. Our results in this group of patients and the heterogeneity of the staining of tumour cells in tissue sections suggest that p53 mutations could be a late event in this non-familial form of breast cancer.

[Metastatic eye neoplasms. Review of the literature apropos of 4 cases]

Malignant disease metastatic to the eye is a common entity afflicting hundred patients each year. Breast carcinoma is the most common carcinoma responsible for ocular metastases with an estimated range probably closer to 30% and prevalence of 11.000 women by year in United-States. Breast carcinoma is followed by lung cancer and adenocarcinoma of an unknown primary. The diagnosis should be suspected in patient with history of carcinoma and a decreased visual acuity or any other visual symptom. The most useful diagnostic techniques include direct ophthalmoscopy, ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The cornerstone of treatment of ocular metastases remains radiation therapy. The overall response rates of earlier diagnosis, according to measurement of visual acuity, may be ranged from 72 to 94%. Early diagnosis and treatment of those lesions are a primary concern to maximize the quality of life until death of patients with metastatic disease. We report four cases of women with breast cancer metastatic to the eye.