Level III dissection in locally advanced breast cancer following neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is the most common female cancer in India, and 30-60% of patients present with locally advanced breast cancer. Level III clearance is routinely performed in India in locally advanced breast cancer following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, even in clinical complete response. We analysed our data of patients with locally advanced breast cancer post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy who have undergone level III clearance to identify any subgroup in which level III dissection can be avoided. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of female patients with locally advanced breast cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and underwent breast surgery including level III nodal clearance between June 2016 and May 2018. Data collected included age, menopausal status, TNM stage at presentation, grade, estrogen, progesterone, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status, response to treatment, post-chemotherapy stage and final histopathology. Uni- and multivariate analysis was undertaken. RESULTS: Data from 200 patients was analysed. The level III positivity rate was 15.5%. The clinical complete response rate was 43%, of which 41% had pathological complete response. A significant association was present between level III node positivity and pathological T stage (p=0.03). No association was seen between level III positivity and any other studied variables. In the subset of patients with cT3N1 and cT2N2, level III positivity was seen in only 3/49 (6.1%) and 1/31 (3%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Level III positivity rate is high and so cannot be avoided in locally advanced breast cancer following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. None of the preoperative factors predict for level III positivity. Level III positivity in cT3N1 and cT2N2 is low and these subgroups require further studies.

Factors affecting health related quality of life of rectal cancer patients undergoing surgery.

Maintaining quality of life (QOL) is one of the important aims of cancer treatment. Quality of life of a cancer patient is affected by various factors, which may be disease related, patient related, or treatment related. To study changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) brought about by treatment of rectal cancer and factors affecting the changes using Malayalam translation of FACT-C (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal) Questionnaire. Also to detect the minimally important clinical changes (MICC) in health-related quality of life of patients with carcinoma rectum, who have undergone surgery. Forty-five patients diagnosed with carcinoma rectum, who have undergone curative surgery, were studied. HRQOL was assessed at baseline 2 weeks after surgery and 3 months after surgery. The changes in scores were correlated with various demographic factors like age, sex, marital status, number of children, number of married children, and education and occupation of the patient and spouse. Also the treatment-related factors like presence of stoma, presence of morbidity, previous treatment, stage of disease, and administration of chemotherapy before and after surgery were correlated. All the subscales of FACT-C tool, except emotional well-being, were significantly reduced 2 weeks after surgery and increased slightly above pre-treatment level 3 months after surgery. The Chronbach α values were 0.88, 0.89 and 0.86 on three occasions, respectively, establishing internal validity of the test. Baseline HRQOL scores were better in males compared to females. Among the various subscales, the drops in SWB, FWB, FACT-G, total Score and TOI were significant (P < .05).There were no significant differences in scores between patients who have undergone open surgery and minimally invasive surgery or patients who had permanent colostomy versus no colostomy. The HRQOL scores after surgery reduced 2 weeks after surgery and improved above pre-surgical levels 3 months after surgery. The approach of surgery (minimally invasive versus open) or presence or absence of permanent colostomy didn't make any significant change in HRQOL. But since the sample size of the study was small, we need further larger studies to arrive at definite conclusions.

Limb sparing surgery in soft tissue sarcoma of extremities: an Indian perspective.

This is a retrospective study of 57 patients with extremity soft tissue sarcomas treated at Gujarat Cancer Research Institute, Gujarat, India from January 2005 to December 2007. It aims to review the feasibility of limb sparing surgery for extremity soft tissue sarcoma in Indian population. Twenty-eight percent (28%) of tumors were located in the upper limbs and 72% in the lower extremities. The goal of treatment was limb salvage if feasible. The treatment consisted of amputation in 17 (30%) and local wide excision i.e. limb salvage surgery (LSS) in 40 (70%) patients. The most common histology was pleomorphic sarcoma (21%). Sixty-four percent (64%) of the patients were treated with surgery alone, 32% with surgery plus radiation and 4% with surgery plus systemic chemotherapy. Inadequate margins were present in 12% of the patients. All the patients were followed up for at least 2 years. Recurrence in the form of local and distant occurred in 39% of the patients. Local recurrence occurred in 18% of the patients who underwent LSS and in 35% of those who underwent amputation. Pulmonary metastasis was detected in 16% of patients. The 2 year mortality was 10.5% with the most common etiology being lung metastasis and the most common histology being leiomyosarcoma. We concluded that limb salvage surgery for soft tissue sarcoma is feasible in the Indian population (70%) although the rate is lower than that of world literature at 90%.