Breast-conserving surgery in locally advanced breast cancer submitted to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Safety and effectiveness based on ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence and long-term follow-up

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence after breast-conserving surgery for locally advanced breast cancer. METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort study was performed in patients with locally advanced breast cancer submitted to breast-conserving surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy based on an adriamycin-cyclophosphamide-paclitaxel regimen. We evaluated the clinical, pathologic, immunohistochemistry, and surgical factors that contribute to ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence and locoregional recurrence. A Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox model were used to evaluate the main factors related to disease-free survival. RESULTS: Of the 449 patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 98 underwent breast-conserving surgery. The average diameter of the tumors was 5.3 cm, and 87.2% reached a size of up to 3 cm. Moreover, 86.7% were classified as clinical stage III, 74.5% had T3-T4 tumors, 80.5% had N1-N2 axilla, and 89.8% had invasive ductal carcinoma. A pathologic complete response was observed in 27.6% of the tumors, and 100.0% of samples had free margins. The 5-year actuarial overall survival rate was 81.2%, and the mean follow-up was 72.8 months. The rates of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence and locoregional recurrence were 11.2% and 15.3%, respectively. Multifocal morphology response was the only factor related to ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence disease-free survival (p=0.04). A multivariate analysis showed that the pathologic response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST)-breast cutoff was the only factor related to locoregional recurrence disease-free survival (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Breast-conserving surgery is a safe and effective therapy for selected locally advanced breast tumors.

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation into Brazilian Portuguese of the Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey version 2.0 (VHNSS 2.0) for the assessment of oral symptoms in head and neck cancer patients submitted to radiotherapy / Tradução e adaptação cultural para o português (Brasil) do instrumento Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey version 2.0 (VHNSS 2.0) para avaliação de sintomas orais em pacientes com câncer de cabeça e pescoço submetidos à radioterapia

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Patients submitted to radiotherapy for the treatment of head and neck cancer have several symptoms, predominantly oral. The Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey version 2.0 is an American tool developed to evaluate oral symptoms in head and neck cancer patients submitted to radiotherapy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to translate the Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey version 2.0 into Brazilian Portuguese and cross-culturally adapt this tool for subsequent validation and application in Brazil. METHODS: A method used for the translation and cultural adaptation of tools, which included independent translations, synthesis of the translations, back-translations, expert committee, and pre-test, was used. The pre-test was performed with 37 head and neck cancer patients, who were divided into four groups, to assess the relevance and understanding of the assessed items. Data were submitted to descriptive statistical analysis. RESULTS: The overall mean of the content validity index was 0.79 for semantic and idiomatic equivalence, and it was higher than 0.8 for cultural and conceptual equivalence. The cognitive interview showed that patients were able to paraphrase the items, and considered them relevant and easily understood. CONCLUSION: The tool was translated and cross-culturally adapted to be used in Brazil. The authors believe this translation is suited for validation.

RESUMO INTRODUÇÃO: Pacientes submetidos à radioterapia para tratamento de câncer de cabeça e pescoço apresentam diversos sintomas, com predominância de sintomas orais. O Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey version 2.0 é um instrumento americano que foi desenvolvido para avaliar sintomas orais em pacientes com câncer de cabeça e pescoço submetidos à radioterapia. OBJETIVO: Traduzir o Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey version 2.0 e adaptá-lo culturalmente para subsequente validação e aplicação no Brasil. MÉTODO: Um método de tradução e adaptação cultural de instrumentos foi utilizado, o qual inclui traduções independentes, síntese das traduções, retrotraduções, comitê de especialistas e pré-teste. O pré-teste foi realizado em 37 pacientes com câncer de cabeça e pescoço divididos em quatro grupos para avaliar a relevância e entendimento dos itens. Dados foram submetidos à análise estatística descritiva. RESULTADOS: A média geral do índice de validade de conteúdo foi 0,79 para as equivalências semânticas e idiomáticas; e maior que 0,8 para as equivalências cultural e conceitual. A entrevista cognitiva mostrou que os pacientes foram capazes de parafrasear os itens e os consideravam relevante e de fácil entendimento. CONCLUSÃO: O instrumento foi traduzido e adaptado culturalmente ao Brasil. Nós acreditamos que esta tradução está apta para a validação.

Quimioterapia neoadjuvante e resposta patológica: coorte retrospectiva / Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and pathologic response: a retrospective cohort

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a taxa de resposta patológica completa atingida pelas pacientes com diagnóstico de câncer de mama localmente avançado submetidas à quimioterapia neoadjuvante baseada no esquema doxorrubicina/ciclofosfamida seguido de paclitaxel. MÉTODOS: Coorte retrospectiva de pacientes admitidas no Hospital de Câncer de Barretos com câncer de mama localmente avançado entre 2006 e 2008 submetidas ao protocolo de doxorrubicina/ciclofosfamida seguido de paclitaxel (4 ciclos de doxorrubicina 60mg/m² e ciclofosfamida 600mg/m² a cada 21 dias; 4 ciclos de paclitaxel 175mg/m² a cada 21 dias). As seguintes variáveis foram avaliadas: idade, menopausa, performance status, estadiamento clínico inicial, dados antropométricos, quimioterapia (dose - duração), perfil de toxicidade, estadiamento clínico pós-tratamento, cirurgia, resposta patológica completa, sobrevida livre de doença e características anatomopatológicas (tipo e grau histológico, perfil hormonal e comprometimento linfonodal). A análise estatística foi realizada considerando-se o nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: Das 434 pacientes avaliadas, 136 foram excluídas por erro no estadiamento ou por terem recebido outro tipo de quimioterapia. A mediana de idade foi 50 anos, todas com performance status 0-1. A mediana do tamanho clínico inicial do tumor foi 65mm e a mediana do tamanho clínico final do tumor foi 22mm. Apresentaram resposta patológica completa 51 (17,1%) pacientes. Aquelas que apresentavam perfil hormonal negativo ou que eram triplo-negativas (Her-2 e perfil hormonal negativos) tiveram impacto favorável na resposta patológica completa. CONCLUSÃO: Quimioterapia neoadjuvante com doxorrubicina/ciclofosfamida seguidas de paclitaxel ofereceu taxa de resposta patológica completa na população estudada de acordo com a literatura. Pacientes triplo-negativas tiveram maior chance de atingir essa resposta.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the complete pathologic response attained by patients diagnosed with locally advanced breast cancer submitted to neoadjuvant chemotherapy based on the doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide regimen followed by paclitaxel. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of patients with locally advanced breast cancer, admitted to the Hospital de Câncer de Barretos between 2006 and 2008 submitted to the doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide protocol followed by paclitaxel (4 cycles of doxorubicin 60mg/m² and cyclophosphamide 600mg/m² every 21 days; 4 cycles of paclitaxel 175mg/m² every 21 days). The following variables were assessed: age, menopause, performance status, initial clinical staging, anthropometric data, chemotherapy (dose - duration), toxicity profile, post-treatment staging, surgery, pathologic complete response rate, disease-free survival, and pathological characteristics (type and histological degree, hormonal profile and lymph node involvement). Statistical analysis was performed using a 5% level of significance. RESULTS: Of the 434 patients evaluated, 136 were excluded due to error in staging or because they had received another type of chemotherapy. Median age was 50 years, all with performance status 0-1. Median initial clinical size of tumor was 65mm and the median final clinical size of the tumor was 22mm. Fifty-one (17.1%) patients experienced a pathologic complete response. Those with a negative hormonal profile or who were triple-negative (negative Her-2 and hormonal profile) experienced a favorable impact on the pathologic complete response. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel provided a pathologic complete response in the population studied in accordance with that observed in the literature. Triple-negative patients had a greater chance of attaining this response.

Controle de qualidade em rastreamento mamográfico no Brasil: experiência doHospital de Câncer de Barretos / Quality control in mammographic breast cancer screening in Brazil: the Barretos Cancer Hospital experience

O rastreamento mamográfico tem potencial de reduzir o estádio no momento do diagnóstico e, portanto, reduzir a mortalidade por câncer de mama. Cada programa deve estar atrelado a serviços de referência no diagnóstico e no tratamento específico da doença. Os resultados podem ser avaliados conforme indicadores de qualidade, descritos previamente por especialistas, tais como nas orientações da European Breast Cancer Network (EBCN). Parte dos indicadores propostos pela EBCN puderam ser adequadamente analisados nas mulheres com câncer de mama detectado pelo programa de rastreamento mamográfico do Hospital de Câncer de Barretos. A intenção foi detectar falhas, avaliar resultados e propor melhorias ao programa. Alguns desses indicadores, incluindo os relacionados ao diagnóstico, a análise anatomopatológica e o tratamento cirúrgico, foram descritos neste artigo e estiveram alinhados aos recomendados pela EBCN. Isto caracteriza a qualidade de um serviço de mastologia terciário, dedicado no tratamento multidisciplinar do câncer de mama. Entretanto, os intervalos de tempo necessitam ser adaptados à realidade nacional, muito provavelmente, em virtude das características sociais brasileiras. Alguns aspectos principais foram citados, para que futuros programas de rastreamento possam delinear a análise do seu programa de qualidade.

Mammographic screening has the potential to reduce the stage at diagnosis, and thus reduce mortality from breast cancer. Each program should be connected to reference departments in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. The results of a mammographic screening program can be evaluated by means of indicators of quality, previously described by experts such as the guidelines of the European Breast Cancer Network (EBCN). Part of the indicators proposed by EBCN could be properly analyzed in women with breast cancer detected by the mammographic screening program of Barretos Cancer Hospital. The intention was to detect problems, evaluate results, and propose improvements to the program. Some of these indicators, including those related to the diagnosis, pathologic analysis and surgical treatment, are described in this article, and are aligned to the recommended by EBCN. These results reflect the quality of a tertiary breast surgery department dedicated to the multidisciplinary approach of breast cancer. However, the time intervals need to be adapted to the national reality, most likely due to the brazilian social aspects. Some key points were mentioned, in order to assist future screening programs in developing countries to outline the analysis of their quality program.