Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The results of radiation on the local control of triple receptor-negative breast cancer (negative estrogen [ER], progesterone [PR], and HER-2/neu receptors) was studied. METHODS: Conservative surgery and radiation were used in 753 patients with T1-T2 breast cancer. Three groups were defined by receptor status: Group 1: ER or PR (+); Group 2: ER and PR (-) but HER-2 (+); and Group 3: triple-negative (TN). Factors analyzed were age, menopausal status, race, stage, tumor size, lymph node status, presentation, grade, extensive in situ disease, margins, and systemic therapy. The primary endpoint was 5-year locoregional recurrence (LRR) isolated or total with distant metastases. RESULTS: ER- and PR-negative patients were statistically significantly more likely to be black, have T2 disease, have tumors detectable on both mammography and physical examination, have grade 3 tumors, and receive chemotherapy. There were no significant differences noted with regard to ER- and PR- patients by HER-2 status. There was a significant difference noted in rates of first distant metastases (3%, 12%, and 7% for Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively; P = .009). However, the isolated 5-year LRR was not significantly different (2.3%, 4.6%, and 3.2%, respectively; P = .36) between the 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with TN breast cancer do not appear to be at a significantly increased risk for isolated LRR at 5 years and therefore remain appropriate candidates for breast conservation.

BACKGROUND: We report local recurrence (LR) after breast-conserving surgery and radiation (BCS + RT) for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to determine outcomes for patients aged <or=40 years compared with older women. METHODS: The study included 440 women with DCIS treated from 1978 to 2007. All patients received whole-breast radiotherapy with a boost in 95% of cases. Demographics, characteristics, surgical, and adjuvant treatments were analyzed for an effect on LR. RESULTS: Median age was 56.5 years with 24 patients aged <or=40. Median DCIS size was 0.8 cm. Re-excision was required in 62% of patients, and in 75% of those aged <or=40. Tamoxifen was used in 22%, but only one patient aged <or=40. Median follow-up was 6.8 years. Actuarial LR was 7% (95% confidence interval of 4-11%) at 10 years and 8% (5-14%) at 15 years. There was no difference in LR by age (P = 0.76). CONCLUSIONS: The long-term risk of LR after BCS + RT for DCIS is low, even in patients <or=40 years. This may be due to patient selection for small size, high utilization of re-excision, and radiation boost. Young age may be a smaller contributor to LR risk in DCIS than previously suggested.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the likelihood of complications and cosmetic results among breast cancer patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy (MRM) and breast reconstruction followed by radiation therapy (RT) to either a temporary tissue expander (TTE) or permanent breast implant (PI). Methods and Materials: Records were reviewed of 74 patients with breast cancer who underwent MRM followed by breast reconstruction and RT. Reconstruction consisted of a TTE usually followed by exchange to a PI. RT was delivered to the TTE in 62 patients and to the PI in 12 patients. Dose to the reconstructed chest wall was 50 Gy. Median follow-up was 48 months. The primary end point was the incidence of complications involving the reconstruction. Results: There was no significant difference in the rate of major complications in the PI group (0%) vs. 4.8% in the TTE group. No patients lost the reconstruction in the PI group. Three patients lost the reconstruction in the TTE group. There were excellent/good cosmetic scores in 90% of the TTE group and 80% of the PI group (p = 0.22). On multivariate regression models, the type of reconstruction irradiated had no statistically significant impact on complication rates. Conclusions: Patients treated with breast reconstruction and RT can experience low rates of major complications. We demonstrate no significant difference in the overall rate of major or minor complications between the TTE and PI groups. Postmastectomy RT to either the TTE or the PI should be considered as acceptable treatment options in all eligible patients. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc.

OBJECTIVES: Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a clinical staging based on history and physical findings. Dermal lymphatic invasion (DLI) can occur with or without IBC. We examine how these independently affect outcome in women treated with postmastectomy radiation. METHODS: Four hundred thirty-two patients treated with postmastectomy radiation for invasive mammary cancer were assessed. Kaplan-Meier methodology was used to calculate rates of locoregional recurrence (LRR), distant metastases (DM) and overall survival (OS). Variables entered into univariate and multivariate analysis included T stage, IBC, DLI, estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor status, HER-2/neu status, N stage, extracapsular node extension (ECE), and use of chemotherapy (CT). Median follow-up is 58 months. RESULTS: For all 432 patients, the rate of LRR was 3% and DM 28%. Seven percent are alive with disease (AWD) and 26% are dead of disease (DOD). Thirty-one patients had IBC without DLI, 21 had DLI without IBC, and 18 had both IBC and DLI. For DLI 10% developed LRR, 45% DM, 7.5% are AWD and 50% are DOD. Of patients with IBC, 8% developed LRR, 44% DM, 8% are AWD and 48% DOD. DLI was the only significant independent predictor for LRR (HR 4.8, P < 0.05). Predictors of DM and OS were IBC, > or =4 positive nodes, and CT. CONCLUSIONS: DLI and IBC are independent predictors of poor outcome after postmastectomy radiation. DLI is associated with an increased risk for LRR, and IBC with worse rates of DM and OS. Patients with both features have worse outcome than those with either alone.

This review examined the 60 years of progress made in treating breast cancer from the unique perspective of the reader of Cancer, with a specific emphasis on the evolution of radiation therapy, constituting a survey of the published articles in each decade, and the standards of treatment and controversies of their times that they portray, in 3 major areas: radiation as an adjuvant therapy to mastectomy, radiation for internal mammary lymph node treatment, and radiation with breast-conserving surgery as an alternative to mastectomy.

BACKGROUND: Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is known to be a risk factor for the development of invasive breast cancer. Debate continues as to whether LCIS is also a precursor lesion. We hypothesized that, if LCIS were a precursor, its presence in the lumpectomy specimen, particularly at the margin, could increase local recurrence (LR) after breast-conserving therapy (BCT). METHODS: 2894 patients treated with BCT for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), stage I or II breast cancer between 1/80 and 5/07 were identified. Patients with DCIS or invasive cancer at the margins or those receiving neoadjuvant therapy were excluded. Group A had 290 patients with LCIS in the lumpectomy; 84 had LCIS at the final margin. Group B included 2604 patients with no evidence of LCIS. RESULTS: Median patient age in group A and B was 57 and 58 years, respectively (P = 0.05); 12% and 13%, respectively, of patients in group A and B had margins <2 mm (P = NS). The histologic distribution of tumor types in group A was lobular in 47.2%, ductal in 34.5%, DCIS in 11.4%, and other invasive histologies in 6.9%, compared with 4.1%, 76.3%,13.6%, and 6.0% for group B, respectively (P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference between the groups in tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage. The crude rate of LR was 4.5% in group A and 3.8% in group B (P = NS). Five- and 10-year actuarial LR rates for LCIS at the margin were 6% and 6%, 1% and 15% for LCIS present but not at the margin, and 2% and 6% for no LCIS (P = NS), for group A and B, respectively. In multivariate analysis, menopausal status and adjuvant therapy use were significant predictors of LR. LCIS, either in the specimen or at the margin, was not significantly associated with LR. CONCLUSION: Presence of LCIS, even at the margin, in BCT specimens does not have an impact on LR. Re-excision is not indicated if LCIS is present or close to margin surfaces. These findings do not support consideration of LCIS as a precursor to the development of invasive lesions.

PURPOSE: Gemcitabine is effective in the treatment of pancreatic cancer and is a potent radiosensitizer. This study assessed safety and efficacy of full-dose gemcitabine administered before and during concurrent three-dimensional conformal radiation (3D-CRT) in patients with nonmetastatic pancreatic cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During cycles 1 and 3, patients received gemcitabine at 1,000 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 of each 21-day cycle. Cycle 2 included the same dose of gemcitabine on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle with concurrent 3D-CRT at 36 Gy, administered in 15 fractions of 2.4 Gy, over 3 weeks. Resectable patients underwent surgery 4 to 6 weeks after treatment. The primary objective was evaluation of toxicity. Tumor response, CA 19-9, and 1-year survival were also assessed. RESULTS: Forty-one patients enrolled at six institutions between April 2002 and October 2003. Among the 39 treated patients, the most common toxicities were grade 3 neutropenia (12.8%), grade 3 nausea (10.3%), and grade 3 vomiting (10.3%). The response rate was 5.1% and disease control rate was 84.6%. Mean post-treatment CA 19-9 levels (228 +/- 347 U/mL) were significantly (P = .006) reduced compared with pretreatment levels (1,241 +/- 2,124 U/mL). Thirteen (81%) of 16 patients initially judged resectable, three (33%) of nine borderline-resectable patients, and one (7%) of 14 unresectable patients underwent resection after therapy. One-year survival rates were 73% for all patients, 94% for resectable patients, 76% for borderline-resectable patients, and 47% for unresectable patients. CONCLUSION: Full-dose gemcitabine with concurrent radiotherapy was well tolerated and active. Evaluation of this regimen in a larger, randomized trial for patients with resectable or borderline-resectable disease may be warranted.

This review examined the 60 years of progress made in treating breast cancer from the Unique perspective of the reader of Cancer, with a specific emphasis oil the evolution of radiation therapy, constituting a survey of the published articles in each decade, and the standards of treatment and controversies of their times that they portray, in 3 major areas: radiation as all adjuvant therapy to mastectomy, radiation for internal mammary lymph node treatment, and radiation with breast-conserving surgery as all alternative to mastectomy.