Abstract P6-19-03: Overexpression of FOXM1 is a potential prognostic marker in male breast cancer

Background

The Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) transcription factor is known to play an important role in the development and progression of many cancer types including breast cancer. The important role of FOXM1 in cancer affirms its significance for clinical use and therapeutic intervention. Elevated expression of FOXM1 in female breast cancer correlates with undifferentiated tumor phenotype and negative clinical outcome. However, whether FOXM1 has any indication for prognosis in male breast cancer (MBC) patients is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the expression levels of FOXM1 in MBC and to identify the relationship between FOXM1 expression and patient survival.

Methodsl

Immunohistochemical analysis for FOXM1 was performed in a total of 80 male breast cancer specimens, all with linked clinical outcome data. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards analysis were used to relate FOXM1 expression to clinicopathological variables and overall survival (OS).

Results

We observed high expression of the FOXM1 protein in 39 % of MBC samples (31/80). FOXM1 overexpression was significantly associated with higher histological grade (p=0.05), lymph node metastasis (p=0.04), tumor size (p=0.05), and estrogen receptor expression (p=0.04). Patients with FOXM1 expression had a significantly poorer overall survival than those without FOXM1 expression (p=0.02). Multivariate analyses indicated that FOXM1 positivity was an independent prognostic factor for OS (p=0.03).

Conclusion

These results show that FOXM1 may represent a novel MBC marker with prognostic significance that could be included into the limited marker panels for MBC.

Citation Format: Rahal K, Abdeljaoued S, Bettaieb I, Bouzaiene H, Adouni O, Miladi S, Goucha A, Bouaziz H, Makhlouf R, Hechiche M, Benna F, Boussen H, El May A, Gamoudi A. Overexpression of FOXM1 is a potential prognostic marker in male breast cancer. [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 P6-19-03.

Apparent Decline in Inflammatory Breast Cancer Incidence in Tunisia Associated with Improved Socioeconomic Conditions

Aim: Numerous publications since the 1970s have reported an apparently high frequency of IBC in Tunisia affecting up to 50% of breast cancer patients. In the past 20 years, 3 complete national population-based cancer registries have provided more precise information about breast cancer (BC) incidence. Moreover, IBC diagnostic criteria moved from the French classification of aggressive or rapidly progressing breast cancer (RPBC) also designated as "pousee evolutive" (PEV) to the current system of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). In this study we reviewed a series of publications and recent data from the Tunisian Breast Cancer Registries to evaluate the gradual changes in IBC and non-IBC and relate the findings to improvements in the general economic situation in this country.Methods: All indexed Tunisian publications regarding RPBC and IBC since 1970 were compiled and their data were compared to recent data from the Tunisian Cancer Registries. These findings were compared to reports on changing breast cancer patterns in Tunisia overall.Results: Trends in Tunisian BC were compared to the original report of RPBC from Tunisia's National Cancer Institute, the Institut Salah Azaiz, which noted 340 of 581 (58.5%) consecutive breast cancer patients had RPBC which included 282 (48.5%) PEV 3 patients clinically indistinguishable from IBC in the United States. In 6 subsequent series including 700 to 1400 patients affected by BC published from 1985 to 2008, the relative percentage of IBC patients gradually decreased to 30.3%, 6.2% and 5.7% associated with a concurrent increase in the incidence of breast cancer nationwide. Registry data and hospital-based studies have shown also a progressive decrease in mean clinical tumor size in the past four decades from 60mm to 40mm and a discordant tumor size between private patients and public patients, the latter having significantly larger tumors at diagnosis. This trend, compatible with the early observation of a rural predominance of RPBC and a gradual increase in gross national product supports other etiuologic studies indicating a strong environmental determinant. for IBC.Conclusion: These data support a number of studies indicating that environmental factors, including poorer socioeconomic conditions, prolonged breast feeding, and obesity may be risk factors for IBC, and indicate the importance of environmental factors in the etiology of this disease.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 2077.

[Breast cancer in Tunisia: epidemiologic characteristics and trends in incidence]

The goal of this study is to analyze certain epidemiologic characteristics of breast cancer in Tunisia and to foresee the consequences that will arise from the trends in incidence of this cancer. Data obtained from the North-Tunisia Cancer Registry (NTCR) and from the Salah AZAIZ Institute (SAI) Registry is used to estimate the different incidence rates and to compare these rates with those of other countries. In 15 years the crude incidence rate for breast cancer in the North Tunisia almost doubled to reach 21.5 cases/100,000 women per year during 1994-1998. The high rate of this cancer among women younger than 35 years (11%) could be related to a relatively low incidence among post-menopausal women. The clinical profile of breast cancer remains quite alarming: 40.2% of cases have a tumor with a clinical diameter equal or greater than 5 cm. Birth cohort effect, also know as the generation effect, is expected to lead to an increase of cancer incidence in the future. The rather high number of young cases is a source of additional cost on social and financial level. The priority is now to solve the problem of late diagnosis it has aggravated the prognosis of this cancer in Tunisia.

[Radio-histological correlation of microcalcifications of the breast: a Tunisian center experience]

PURPOSE

Evaluation of surgical biopsy for mammary microcalcifications, in Tunisian patients according to the American College of Radiology's recommandations (ACR).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

[corrected] 100 patients treated in Salah Azaiez Institute from January 2005 to December 2006, who underwent surgical biopsy for breast microcalcifications The diagnosis was based on mammography associated in 60% of the cases, to ultra-sonography. We correlated biopsies results to ACR classification.

RESULTS

123 surgical biopsies are related to ACR 3 lesions in 72 cases (58.5%) ACR 4 in 39 cases (32%) and ACR 5 in 14 case (11.5%). The histological examination showed malignant lesions in 4 cas/72 ACR3 (5.5%), 19/39 ACR4 (48.7%) and 10 among the ACR5 (71.4%).

CONCLUSION

Our preliminary study introduces a diagnostic approach of mammary microcalcifications, that are usually infra-clinic lesions, in a general context of breast tumors detected with an average size of more than 3 cm.

Endometrial stromal sarcoma presenting as a cystic abdominal mass

Endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) is rarely localized in extrauterine sites if metastasis or local extension of the primary uterine tumour are excluded, and diagnosis can be delayed because of the unusual site. We report a case of abdominal ESS in a 45-year-old woman who presented with an abdominal complaint. Ultrasound of the abdomen showed a large multiloculated cystic mass. The complete excision of the tumour revealed ESS arising in endometriosis. The tumour expressed hormonal receptors and the patient was administered hormonal therapy. ESS has a better prognosis than the sarcoma that is part of differential diagnosis, and is associated with endometriosis in about one-half of cases.

[Malignant degeneration of benign cystic teratoma of the ovary with synchronous mediastinal teratoma. A case report]

Squamous cell carcinoma arising in mature cystic teratoma of the ovary is an uncommon complication occurring usually in elderly woman. We present an unusual case of a post-menopausal woman with a synchronous mediastinum teratoma. While ovary tumor was symptomatic, mediastinal teratoma was an incidental finding. To the best of our knowledge, this association is the first to be reported in literature.

[Secondary breast cancer after treatment for Hodgkin's disease. About seven cases]

OBJECTIVE

Therapeutic results of Hodgkin disease (HD) have improved by the use of combined radio-chemotherapy. However, this association can increase the risk of on-term effects including secondary cancers. In a retrospective study, we collected secondary breast cancer (BC) in patients previously treated with chemoradiotherapy for Hodgkin disease at Salah-Azaïz institute of Tunis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 1975 and 2003, seven patients (six women and one man) treated for HD subsequently developed BC. Mean age at diagnosis of HD was 21 years (12-29). The first treatment was combined chemotherapy (MOPP-ABVD) and radiotherapy for all patients. Radiotherapy was delivered with cobalt 60 with large fields. The median dose was 41.3 Gy (2 Gy/fraction in 6 patients and 3.3 Gy in one).

RESULTS

The breast tumours occurred after a median delay of 204 months (132-276). According to the TNM classification, we showed two stage T2, one stage T3, two stage T4b and two stage T4d. The mean clinical size was 47 mm (25-80 mm). All patients had infiltrating carcinoma. Axillary node histological involvement was found in 6 cases. All patients were treated by mastectomy and chemotherapy. Only one patient had a locoregional irradiation. Median survival was 26.5 months (12-48). Four patients died and three are still alive at respectively 24, 31 and 144 months.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

According to the previous data, breast cancer represents 6.3 to 9% of all second cancers occurring after HD treatment. We conclude that especially young women and girls treated for HD should be carefully monitored. We suggest that secondary BC be sometimes treated by conservative radiosurgical approach.

Schwannome mammaire bénin: à propos de deux cas

Schwannoma is a rare nervous tumor developed on schwan cells. Only 22 cases of breast schwannoma have been published since 2005. It usually appears as a breast lump having clinical and radiological characteristics suggestive of kindness. Its diagnosis is histological. Its treatment is surgical. Through two observations and a review of the literature we would try to remind the characteristics of this tumor.

[Pelvic pseudotumoral actinomycosis with multisegmental lumbosacral root failure. A case report]

We report a case of pseudotumoral pelvic actinomycosis with lumbosacral spinal involvement in a 21 year-old woman. The radiological work-up showed a pseudotumoral left ovarian lesion extended to sacral spine, which involved the fifth lumbar vertebra. Diagnosis of actinomycosis was established in histopathological examination of the tubo-ovarian mass under laparotomy. After four months of treatment with ofloxacin and rifampicin evolution was marked by improvement of general health and infection, associated to a progressive recovery of motricity of the lower limbs. Early diagnosis of pelvic actinomycosis may prevent the occurrence of rare but severe neurological complications of this disease.

[Giant retroperitoneal liposarcoma. One case report]

INTRODUCTION

Retroperitoneal Liposarcoma is a rare and primary malignancy developed from mesenchymal tissue. It's generally unique and shows an only one histologic component. We report a case of multicentric and synchronous liposarcoma (intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal) and with different histologic types.

EXEGESES

A 53-year old man presented with abdominal pain, increased abdominal girth and weight loss. Physical examination revealed two abdominal masses. Computed tomography scan showed a very large retroperitoneal mass displacing the left kidney, digestive loops and vessels. The patient underwent surgery. One enormous mass of the left renal lodge measuring 50 cm, a retroduodenal mass measuring 15 cm and a nodule of the coecum were removed. Histological examination of the mass of the left renal lodge revealed mixed type liposarcoma (dedifferentiated and myxoid). Histological examination of the retroduodenal mass and of the nodule of the coecum revealed well-differentiated liposarcoma.

CONCLUSION

Pathological, therapeutic and prognostic aspects of abdominal liposarcoma will be reviewed in this article.

[Evaluation of implantable sites in medical oncology in Tunisia. Prospective study of 205 cases]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the insertion and use of implantable central venous accesses in medical oncology at the Institute Salah Azaïz.

METHODS

From January 1992 to June 2000, 205 patients including 179 adults (118F/61M) and 26 children aged 7 months to 72 years (mean 37 years) required the insertion of an implantable port (IP). Tumoral pathology was dominated by metastatic breast carcinoma (93/179), digestive cancer (42/179) and paediatric cancer (26 cases).

RESULTS

Excluding 3 initial failures, we inserted 205 IP for 202 patients. The supraclavicular anatomic way (Yoffa) was used in 156/205 cases and the subclavicular (Aubaniac) for the resting 32 cases with a jugular conversion in 17 cases. Initial complications were represented by 6 arterial puncture (2.9%), 3 pneumothorax (1.5%) and 1 catheter migration in the right pulmonary artery. Median life duration of the material was 210 days (3 to 1460 days) for adults and 185 days (3 to 1460 ays) for children. Mean life duration for the 205 IP was 240 days +/- 239 (3 to 1460 days) with a total of 49,200 IP-days. We explanted 17 IP for infection (8 cases), cutaneous ulceration (8 cases) and actinomycin extravasation (1 case). We observed 6 cases (2.9%) of subclavian and jugular thrombosis treated by anticoagulants and conservation management of the port. Presently, 58 patients are alive with IP in place.

CONCLUSION

Implantable ports represent a useful option in medical oncology for patients treated with prolonged chemotherapy and adjuvant treatments such as antibiotics, transfusion. This method allows a good comfort for the patients and also the treating team but requires a prealable training for the nursing team.

[Peritoneal pseudomyxoma associated with an ovarian and appendicular mucinous tumor]

The authors report a case of pseudomyxoma peritonei associated with an appendicular and ovarian mucinous tumor. They emphasize the rarity of bilateral ovarian and appendicular involvement and they discuss the problem of the origin of the primary tumor and evaluation of the prognosis.

[Primary leiomyosarcoma of the small intestine in a child]

BACKGROUND

Leiomyosarcomas of the digestive tract are very rare in children. They must be differentiated from benign tumors (leiomyoma, schwannoma...) and from other malignant tumors, sometimes with the aid of immuno-histochemical study.

CASE REPORT

A five-year old girl suffered from an abdominal mass associated with fever and alteration of the general condition. An ileal tumor, 8 cm in diameter, was resected. Histological and immunohistochemical studies (anti-vimentin antibodies, anti-actin antibodies and PS100) confirmed the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma. Uncomplete adjuvant chemotherapy failed to prevent relapse of the tumor.

CONCLUSION

This case confirms the bad prognosis of such a tumor.

[Struma ovarii. Three malignant cases and one benign case]

Four cases of struma ovarii were seen among 308 ovarian tumors removed surgically at the Salah Azaiz Institute, Tunis, Tunisia, between 1980 and 1989. This yields an occurrence rate of 1.3%, which is comparable to previously publishes rates (0.3% to 2%). One of the four tumors was malignant. Malignant transformation of struma ovarii is very rare (5% to 10%). The histologic diagnosis of malignancy is difficult, particularly in well-differentiated follicular forms. The prognosis is relatively favorable even in patients with metastases. Based on their personal experience and on a review of the literature, the authors discuss the diagnosis, management, and outcome of struma ovarii, in particular with malignant transformation.

[Breast angiosarcoma. Five case reports]

The authors report 5 cases of breast angiosarcoma collected in the Salah Azaiz Institute of Tunis, the only oncology center in this country, between 1969 and 1990. They enumerated 4,000 malignant breast tumors during this period; i.e. an incidence of 1.25%, higher than that in the world literature (0.4%). The mean age of patients was 44. Three were post-menopausal, and two were of childbearing age, one of whom was pregnant. This rare tumor is virtually limited to women. Affection is scarce, it affect's almost exclusively women. It generally present as a painless, ill-defined mass, without regional lymphadenopathy. The diagnosis of angiosarcoma is difficult since the histologic appearance is sometimes identical to that of a hemangioma. Hence the value of very thorough histologic examination of the entire operative specimen. Treatment is based upon mastectomy. The usefulness of adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy is uncertain. The prognosis remains gloomy despite early diagnosis and treatment. The authors attempt in this study to identify the various features of this serious and uncommon condition, based upon the rare published cases in the world literature.

Inflammatory symptoms in breast cancer. Correlations with growth rate, clinicopathologic variables, and evolution

Based on two pretreatment evaluations, doubling time (DT) was calculated in 75 cases of invasive breast cancer (BC). The cases studied were more or less equally distributed between three DT groups: fast-growing tumors (DT less than 90 days), intermediate cases (DT between 90 and 180 days), and slow-growing tumors (DT greater than 180 days. A correlation was found to exist between DT and patient age and, to an even greater extent, between DT and pathologic prognostic indicators such as histologic grading and nuclear grade. Inflammatory symptoms were not associated with DT, but were closely related to the size of the tumor and regional lymph node involvement. The date of detection of distant metastases depended heavily on the DT of the BC:BC with shorter DT = earlier metastatic spread. The presence of inflammatory signs was also decisive: within each DT category, inflammatory BC metastases were both more frequent and precocious.