Factors associated with disease upgrading in patients with papillary breast lesion in core-needle biopsy.

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, surgical excision is recommended for benign papillary lesions in core-needle biopsy (CNB) because of their malignant potency. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with disease upgrading to malignancy in patients with benign papillary lesions in CNB. METHODS: A total of 179 female patients were evaluated retrospectively who were diagnosed as having a benign papillary lesion in CNB and underwent a subsequent surgical excision between January 2007 and December 2016. Ultrasonography-guided CNB was performed using a 14-gauge needle gun method. RESULTS: The rate of upgrade to malignancy was 10.6% (7.6% in papillary lesions without atypia vs. 33.3% in papillary lesions with atypia; P=0.001). The univariable analysis revealed that older age at diagnosis (≥50 years old), menopause, lesion size on ultrasonography, palpability, multifocality, and atypia in CNB were associated with upgrading. The multivariable analysis revealed that age ≥50 years (OR, 4.6; 95% CI, 1.5-14.1; P=0.008), lesion size of ≥2 cm (OR, 6.4; 95% CI, 1.9-21.1; P=0.002), and atypia in CNB (OR, 5.1; 95% CI, 1.5-18.2; P=0.011) were significantly associated with upgrading to malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: Upgrading to malignancy in patients with benign papillary lesions in CNB was associated with age ≥50 years, lesion size ≥2 cm, and atypia in CNB.

Omission of axillary lymph node dissection in patients who underwent total mastectomy with 1 or 2 metastatic lymph nodes.

PURPOSE: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is the standard axillary procedure in early breast cancer patients. In a randomized trial, the survival rates were not different when axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) was omitted in patients with 1 or 2 lymph node metastases who underwent breast conserving surgery. This study aimed to compare the outcomes in patients who underwent total mastectomy (TM) with 1 or 2 metastatic nodes according to the types of axillary surgery. METHODS: In total, 79,058 patients registered in the Korean Breast Cancer Society database who underwent TM were included in the analysis. The inclusion criteria were history of TM and SLNB, pathologic T stage 1 or 2, clinically negative axillary lymph nodes, 1 or 2 metastatic axillary lymph nodes, no radiation therapy, and no neoadjuvant therapy. We divided the patients into the SLNB only and SLNB + ALND groups. The groups were matched by propensity scores. We retrospectively analyzed the differences in the overall survival (OS) between the 2 groups. RESULTS: A total of 883 patients were matched in a 1:4 ratio for the SLNB only and SLNB + ALND groups in the cohort from 1999 to 2014. There were no significant differences in OS between the 2 groups (P = 0.413). Subgroup analysis revealed a significant survival benefit in the SLNB + ALND group in the T2 subgroup (P = 0.013). CONCLUSION: OS did not differ between the 2 groups in early breast cancer patients with 1 or 2 metastatic axillary lymph nodes who underwent TM. Omission of ALND may be considered in selected patients.

Comparison of the vessel sealer Extend® with harmonic ACE® in robotic bilateral axillary-breast approach thyroid surgery.

BACKGROUND: Harmonic ACE® (Harmonic) Curved Shears are frequently used for vessel sealing in patients undergoing robotic thyroidectomy. Unlike other robotic devices with articulation, the Harmonic device can only move in a straight-forward direction without articulation. The recently introduced Vessel Sealer Extend® (VSE) provides bipolar sealing and cutting with articulation movement. This study compared the VSE and Harmonic devices in robotic bilateral axillary-breast approach (BABA) thyroid surgery. METHODS: From December 2018 to March 2019, 35 consecutive patients underwent robotic BABA thyroidectomy, 20 using the VSE and 15 using the Harmonic device. Patient characteristics, pathologic results, and clinical outcomes, including complications, were evaluated. RESULTS: The characteristics of patients in the two groups were similar. Surgical time from robot docking to completion of lobectomy was longer in the VSE than in the Harmonic group (45.00±9.52 vs. 39.72±12.76 min; P=0.170). The number of camera cleanings during lobectomy was significantly lower in the VSE group (0.55±0.51 vs. 1.93±1.71; P=0.002). Intraoperative blood loss (53.00±43.29 vs. 28.67±41.03 mL; P=0.102), hospital stay after surgery (3.55±0.95 vs. 3.67±0.90 days; P=0.715), and pain scores on the first (2.85±0.37 vs. 2.93±0.26; P=0.458) and second (2.55±0.51 vs. 2.60±0.51; P=0.775) postoperative days were similar in the VSE and Harmonic groups. No patient experienced vocal cord palsy or postoperative bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: VSE can be safely applied to robotic BABA thyroid surgery.

Comparison between the 4K ultra-high definition (UHD) and high definition (HD) endoscopic systems for transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy.

BACKGROUND: The transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA) is the most recently introduced method of minimally invasive thyroid surgery. To our knowledge, no studies have compared TOETVA outcomes using different laparoscopic systems. This study compared outcomes of TOETVA using conventional high definition (HD) and ultra-high definition (UHD) equipment. METHODS: Medical data and surgery videos of 62 patients who randomized to undergo thyroid lobectomy by TOETVA using an HD or UHD system from August 2018 to April 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Endoscopic procedures were divided into four phases: flap creation to isthmectomy (phase I); strap muscle division to upper pole ligation (phase II); trimming recurrent laryngeal nerve (phase III); and ligation of Berry's ligament to complete resection (phase IV). RESULTS: Of the 62 patients, 28 underwent TOETVA using an HD device and 34 using a UHD device. The clinical characteristics of the two groups were not different. Mean operating time for lobectomy was similar in the HD and UHD groups (44.19±9.94 versus 43.47±12.19 min, P=0.825). The times required for phases I (15.02±5.33 versus 13.67±5.44 min, P=0.397); II (12.89±2.84 versus 13.17±5.22 min, P=0.816); III (9.85±4.36 versus 9.98±4.55 min, P=0.918); and IV (6.43±3.69 versus 6.65±3.45 min, P=0.840) were also similar in the HD and UHD groups. The numbers of retrieved lymph nodes did not differ significantly in the HD and UHD groups (3.26±2.62 versus 3.45±2.81, P=0.807). CONCLUSIONS: Applying a UHD system in TOETVA resulted in outcomes similar to those observed with a conventional HD system. Operation time tended to be lower, especially for flap dissection, and numbers of harvest lymph nodes tended to be higher in the UHD group. Large-scale studies are needed to assess the advantages of the UHD system.

Self-management Needs of Breast Cancer Survivors After Treatment: Results From a Focus Group Interview.

BACKGROUND: Recognition of the importance of self-management (SM) for breast cancer survivors (BCSs) is increasing, but evidence from investigations of their needs focusing on SM is limited. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the SM needs of BCSs who had completed treatment. METHODS: Using a qualitative study design, we interviewed a focus group of 20 BCSs who underwent cancer therapy (mean time since diagnosis 3.4 years) at a university hospital in South Korea. Data were analyzed via conventional content analysis. RESULTS: The focus group interviews revealed 10 subthemes that we organized into 5 themes about the posttreatment SM needs of BCSs: (1) symptom management needs, (2) emotional management needs, (3) information acquisition needs, (4) need for a relationship with healthcare providers, and (5) adaptation needs. Specifically, participants needed to acquire SM skills to relieve symptoms (eg, peripheral neuropathy, insomnia), deal with emotional problems (eg, fear of recurrence, anxiety, depression), and adapt to changes due to cancer treatment (eg, body image, lifestyle, and role changes). In particular, participants expressed a substantial need for a constructive relationship with healthcare providers who, by respecting and communicating with them, would help empower them. Participants placed a high value on building self-confidence for successful SM. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings can contribute to the development of breast cancer survivorship care plans by emphasizing posttreatment SM. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Future SM support intervention for BCSs after treatment should focus on training SM skills, enhancing the survivor-provider relationship, and building survivor self-confidence.

Adding Ovarian Suppression to Tamoxifen for Premenopausal Breast Cancer: A Randomized Phase III Trial.

PURPOSE: The addition of ovarian function suppression (OFS) for 5 years to tamoxifen (TAM) for treatment of premenopausal patients with breast cancer after completion of chemotherapy has beneficial effects on disease-free survival (DFS). This study evaluated the efficacy of adding 2 years of OFS to TAM in patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer who remain in a premenopausal state or resume ovarian function after chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We enrolled 1,483 premenopausal women (age ≤ 45 years) with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer treated with definitive surgery after completing adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Ovarian function was assessed every 6 months for 2 years since enrollment on the basis of follicular-stimulating hormone levels and vaginal bleeding history. If ovarian function was confirmed to be premenopausal at each visit, the patient was randomly assigned to complete 5 years of TAM alone (TAM-only) group or 5 years of TAM with OFS for 2 years that involved monthly goserelin administration (TAM + OFS) group. DFS was defined from the time of enrollment to the time of the first event. RESULTS: A total of 1,293 patients were randomly assigned, and 1,282 patients were eligible for analysis. The estimated 5-year DFS rate was 91.1% in the TAM + OFS group and 87.5% in the TAM-only group (hazard ratio, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.48 to 0.97; P = .033). The estimated 5-year overall survival rate was 99.4% in the TAM + OFS group and 97.8% in the TAM-only group (hazard ratio, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.10 to 0.94; P = .029). CONCLUSION: The addition of 2 years of OFS to TAM significantly improved DFS compared with TAM alone in patients who remained premenopausal or resumed ovarian function after chemotherapy.

Psychometric Evaluation of a Korean Version of the Cancer Survivors' Self-efficacy Scale.

BACKGROUND: Self-efficacy has become the target outcome of many self-management interventions for cancer survivors. However, no measurement is available that can be used to measure cancer-specific self-efficacy in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to cross-culturally evaluate the reliability and validity of a Korean version of the Cancer Survivors' Self-Efficacy Scale (CSSES-K). METHODS: We translated the original version of the CSSES (11 items) and created a Korean version. We then conducted a validation study with 204 cancer survivors who had completed their primary treatment. We conducted psychometric evaluation using item analysis, factorial construct validity (exploratory factor analysis and confirmative factor analysis), hypothesis testing construct validity, and internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's α). RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis revealed 2 subscales for which model fitting was appropriate-"self-efficacy for managing health problems" (5 items) and "self-efficacy for seeking help and support" (5 items). Hypothesis testing construct validity was confirmed showing significant moderate correlations between the CSSES-K and general self-efficacy (r = 0.511, P < .001), anxiety (r = -0.596, P < .001), depression (r = -0.554, P < .001), and health-related quality of life (r = 0.586, P < .001). The internal consistency of the CSSES-K of total scale and subscales was high (Cronbach's α = .86-.92). CONCLUSIONS: The results supported that the CSSES-K was valid and reliable in measuring self-efficacy among Korean cancer survivors after cancer treatment. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Our findings suggest that the CSSES-K can be effectively used for measuring self-efficacy in Korean cancer survivors.

The Usefulness of Intraoperative Circumferential Frozen-Section Analysis of Lumpectomy Margins in Breast-Conserving Surgery.

PURPOSE: Intraoperative frozen-section analysis of the lumpect-omy margin during breast-conserving surgery (BCS) is an excellent method in obtaining a clear resection margin. This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of intraoperative circumferential frozen-section analysis (IOCFS) of lumpectomy margin during BCS for breast cancer, and to find factors that increase the conversion into mastectomy. METHODS: From 2007 to 2011, 509 patients with breast cancer underwent IOCFS during BCS. The outer surfaces of the shaved lumpectomy margins were evaluated. A negative margin was defined as no ink on the tumor. All margins were evaluated using the permanent section analysis. RESULTS: Among the 509 patients, 437 (85.9%) underwent BCS and 72 (14.1%) finally underwent mastectomy. Of the 483 pathologically confirmed patients, 338 (70.0%) were true-negative, 24 (5.0%) false-negative, 120 (24.8%) true-positive, and 1 (0.2%) false-positive. Twenty-four patients (4.7%) among total 509 patients had undetermined margins as either atypical ductal hyperplasia or ductal carcinoma in situ in the first IOCFS. The IOCFS has an accuracy of 94.8% with 83% sensitivity, 99.7% specificity, 93.4% negative predictive value, and 99.2% positive predictive value. Sixty-three cases (12.4%) were converted to mastectomy, the first intraoperatively. Of the 446 (87.6%) patients who successfully underwent BCS, 64 patients received additional excisions and 32 were reoperated to achieve clear margin (reoperation rate, 6.3%). Twenty-three of the reoperated patients underwent re-excisions using the second intraoperative frozen section analysis, and achieved BCS. Nine cases were additionally converted to mastectomy. No significant differences in age, stage, and biological factors were found between the BCS and mastectomy cases. Factors such as invasive lobular carcinoma, multiple tumors, large tumor, and multiple excisions increased the conversion to mastectomy. CONCLUSION: The IOCFS analysis during BCS is useful in evaluating lumpectomy margins and preventing reoperation.

Metastatic axillary node ratio predicts recurrence and poor long-term prognosis in patients with advanced stage IIIC (pN3) breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Patients with stage IIIC breast cancer are classified as having pathologic nodal stage 3 (pN3) according to the 7th American Joint Committee on Cancer Tumor Node Metastasis (AJCC TNM) staging system. However, the prognosis of patients with this stage is still highly variable. This study was carried out to investigate the validity of metastatic axillary lymph node ratio (mALNR) as a predictor of long-term prognosis in stage IIIC breast cancer. METHODS: Medical records of 297 patients who underwent surgery with more than level II axillary dissection for breast cancer and who were diagnosed with pN3 by pathology between 1990 and 2010, were reviewed. Clinicopathologic variables were evaluated as prognostic factors of disease-free and overall survival by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: A preliminary analysis revealed the cutoff value of mALNR to be 0.65 (Low65 group vs. High65 group). The mean mALNR was 0.62 (0.16-1.0) and was the most significant independent predictor of disease-free and overall survival on multivariate analysis. The rates of recurrence were significantly different according to mALNR (Low65, 40.3%; High65, 63.0%; P < 0.001). The 10-year disease-free (Low65, 57.0%; High65, 35.0%) and overall (Low65, 64.2%; High65, 38.3%) survival rates decreased significantly with increased mALNR (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with stage IIIC breast cancer can be subdivided into subgroups with significantly different long-term prognoses. Our data suggest that the mALNR is an independent risk factor of recurrence and mortality. The mALNR is a valuable prognostic factor to predict the long-term prognosis of stage IIIC breast cancer patients.

Basic Facts of Breast Cancer in Korea in 2014: The 10-Year Overall Survival Progress.

We, the Korean Breast Cancer Society (KBCS), present the facts and the trends of breast cancer in Korea in 2014. Data on the total number of newly diagnosed patients was obtained from the Korea Central Cancer Registry database, other data were collected from the KBCS online registry database, and the overall survival data of patients were updated from Statistics Korea. A total of 21,484 female patients were newly diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014. The crude incidence rate and the age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) of breast cancer in female patients, including carcinoma in situ, were 83.4 cases and 63.9 cases per 100,000 women, respectively. The ASR showed an annual increase of 6.1% from 1999 to 2014; however, although the increase of the ASR had slowed since 2008, the incidence rate itself continuously increased. The proportion of early breast cancer increased consistently, and the pathological features changed accordingly. While breast-conserving surgery was mainly performed, the proportion of total mastectomy was slightly increased. The total number of breast reconstruction surgeries increased rapidly. The 5-year and 10-year overall survival rates for all stages of breast cancer patients were 91.2% and 84.8%, respectively. The overall survival rate of Korean patients with breast cancer was extremely high, compared with other developed countries. Thus, we consider that the clinical characteristics of breast cancer have changed over the past decade. A nationwide registry data will contribute to a better understanding of the characteristics of breast cancer in Korea.

The role of the addition of ovarian suppression to tamoxifen in young women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer who remain premenopausal or regain menstruation after chemotherapy (ASTRRA): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial and progress.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian function suppression (OFS) has been shown to be effective as adjuvant endocrine therapy in premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. However, it is currently unclear if addition of OFS to standard tamoxifen therapy after completion of adjuvant chemotherapy results in a survival benefit. In 2008, the Korean Breast Cancer Society Study Group initiated the ASTRRA randomized phase III trial to evaluate the efficacy of OFS in addition to standard tamoxifen treatment in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients who remain or regain premenopausal status after chemotherapy. METHODS: Premenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer treated with definitive surgery were enrolled after completion of neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy. Ovarian function was assessed at the time of enrollment and every 6 months for 2 years by follicular-stimulating hormone levels and bleeding history. If ovarian function was confirmed as premenopausal status, the patient was randomized to receive 2 years of goserelin plus 5 years of tamoxifen treatment or 5 years of tamoxifen alone. The primary end point will be the comparison of the 5-year disease-free survival rates between the OFS and tamoxifen alone groups. Patient recruitment was finished on March 2014 with the inclusion of a total of 1483 patients. The interim analysis will be performed at the time of the observation of the 187th event. DISCUSSION: This study will provide evidence of the benefit of OFS plus tamoxifen compared with tamoxifen only in premenopausal patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer treated with chemotherapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT00912548 . Registered May 31 2009. Korean Breast Cancer Society Study Group Register KBCSG005 . Registered October 26 2009.

The Basic Facts of Korean Breast Cancer in 2013: Results of a Nationwide Survey and Breast Cancer Registry Database.

The Korean Breast Cancer Society (KBCS) has reported a nationwide breast cancer data since 1996. We present a comprehensive report on the facts and trends of breast cancer in Korea in 2013. Data on the newly diagnosed patients in the year 2013 were collected from 99 hospitals by using nationwide questionnaire survey. Clinical characteristics such as stage of cancer, histologic types, biological markers, and surgical management were obtained from the online registry database. A total of 19,316 patients were newly diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. The crude incidence rate of female breast cancer including carcinoma in situ was 76.2 cases per 100,000 women. The median age at diagnosis was 50 years, and the proportions of postmenopausal women with breast cancer accounted for more than half of total patients. The proportion of early breast cancer increased consistently, and the pathologic features have changed accordingly. Breast-conserving surgery was performed in more cases than total mastectomy in the year. The total number of breast reconstruction surgeries markedly increased approaching 3-fold in last 11 years. According to annual percentile change of invasive cancer incidence, the incidence increased rapidly until 2010. And thereafter the increase of it became steadier. For ductal carcinoma in situ, the incidence consistently increased during the same period without any joinpoint. Analysis of nationwide registry data will contribute to defining of the trends and characteristics of breast cancer in Korea.

Short-term outcomes of immediate breast reconstruction using an implant or tissue expander after mastectomy in breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Mastectomy is an optional surgical management of breast cancer, but it can cause significant adverse reactions. Breast reconstruction is a concern in post-mastectomy recovery. We assessed the oncologic safety and patient satisfaction following immediate breast reconstruction using an implant or tissue expander. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent reconstruction with an implant or tissue expander immediately after mastectomy. Seventy-seven patients underwent breast reconstruction at a general hospital breast cancer center from January 2008 to December 2010. Fourteen patients were excluded due to loss at follow-up, so 63 patients were included in this study. Questionnaires were sent to all patients to assess patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Mean age was 44.1 years (range 29-64). After a median follow-up period of 22.4 months, there was 1 case of locoregional recurrence, 1 case of distant metastasis, and an overall breast cancer-specific survival of 100 %. Overall rate of major complications, such as nipple areolar complex (NAC) necrosis and implant removal, was 11.1 % (7 patients). Of the 10 patients who had NAC necrosis, 6 patients improved after observation and 4 patients had NAC excision. Three patients had their implant removed due to severe infection, leakage, and dissatisfaction, respectively. There were 32 cases of total mastectomy (TM), 12 cases of skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM), and 19 cases of NAC-sparing mastectomy (NSM). According to the questionnaire, 84.1 % were satisfied with the general operational result and 77.8 % with the cosmetic result. Of the 31 patients who received conservative surgery, 87.1 % were satisfied with the general result and 83.9 % with the cosmetic result. CONCLUSIONS: Immediate breast reconstruction using an implant after mastectomy was technically feasible and oncologically safe. In addition, the reconstruction resulted in a relatively high rate of patient satisfaction. Further long-term studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Prognostic Role of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Node-Negative (N0), Triple-Negative (TN), Medullary Breast Cancer (MBC) in the Korean Population.

BACKGROUND: Despite the favorable prognosis for medullary breast cancer (MBC), the guidelines for the use of adjuvant chemotherapy for MBC have not been clearly established. This study investigated the prognostic role of adjuvant chemotherapy in Korean patients with node-negative (N0), triple-negative (TN) MBC patients. METHODS: We included data from 252 patients with N0 TN MBC, obtained from the Korean Breast Cancer Registry database. Patients were categorized as those who did not undergo adjuvant chemotherapy (group I) or those who did (group II). Clinicopathological characteristics, breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS), and overall survival (OS) were compared between the groups. In addition, a subgroup analysis for survival based on tumor size was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 252 N0 TN MBC patients with tumor sizes >1 cm who were diagnosed between April 1997 and March 2011 were enrolled. The median age was 44.95 years (range, 25-72 years), and the median follow-up period was 93.94 months (range, 23-195 months). Overall, the BCSS and OS in group II (97.3% and 97.3%, respectively) were significantly better compared with those in group I (89.2% and 86.2%, respectively). In the subgroup analysis, in patients with tumors >2 cm in size, those in group II had significant better BCSS and OS (97.5% and 97.5%, respectively) compared with those in group I (78.3% and 73.9%, respectively). In contrast in those with tumors 1-2 cm in size, there were no significant differences in BCSS and OS between the groups (both 97.1% for group I, and 95.2% and 92.9%, respectively for group II). Multivariate analysis revealed that adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved BCSS (P = 0.009) and OS (P = 0.007), but only for patients with larger tumors (>2 cm). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with N0 TN MBC, adjuvant chemotherapy had a significant clinical survival benefit, but only in those with tumors >2 cm.

Evaluation of the Survival Benefit of Different Chemotherapy Regimens in Patients with T1-2N0 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the survival benefit of different adjuvant chemotherapy regimens in patients with T1-2N0 triple-negative breast cancer. METHODS: Of 67,321 patients who were registered in the Korean Breast Cancer Society nationwide database between January 1999 and December 2008, 4,033 patients with T1-2N0 triple-negative breast cancer were included. The overall survival of patients who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy was compared with those treated with adjuvant anthracycline and cyclophosphamide (AC), 5-fluorouracil, anthracycline, and cyclophosphamide (FAC), or cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF). RESULTS: The median follow-up was 52.5 months. Chemotherapy was used in 87.4% of patients; it was used more commonly in patients with T2 tumors, those who were younger, had a higher histologic grade, and who showed lymphovascular invasion. The 5-year cumulative overall survival rate was 95.4%. Younger age, breast-conserving surgery, and adjuvant chemotherapy were significantly associated with improved overall survival. The 5-year cumulative overall survival rate of patients who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy and those treated with AC, FAC, and CMF were 92.5%, 95.9%, 95.3%, and 95.9%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, the administration of any adjuvant chemotherapy regimen was significantly associated with improved overall survival (p=0.038). No significant difference in survival benefit was observed among the three different treatment groups. CONCLUSION: A standard adjuvant chemotherapy regimen with the least drug-related toxicity might be a reasonable treatment for patients with T1-2N0 triple-negative breast cancer.

Erratum: The Basic Facts of Korean Breast Cancer in 2011: Results of a Nationwide Survey and Breast Cancer Registry Database.

[This corrects the article on p. 99 in vol. 17, PMID: 25013429.].

The Basic Facts of Korean Breast Cancer in 2012: Results from a Nationwide Survey and Breast Cancer Registry Database.

The Korean Breast Cancer Society has constructed a nationwide breast cancer database through utilization of an online registration program. We have reported the basic facts about breast cancer in Korea in 2012, and analyzed the changing patterns in the clinical characteristics and management of breast cancer in Korea over the last 10 years. Data on patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer were collected for the year 2012 from 97 hospitals and clinics nationwide using a questionnaire survey, and from the online registry database. A total of 17,792 patients were newly diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012. The crude incidence rate of female breast cancer, including invasive cancer and in situ cancer, was 70.7 cases per 100,000 women. The median age at diagnosis was 51 years, and the proportion of postmenopausal women was higher than that of premenopausal women among those diagnosed with breast cancer. The proportion of cases of early breast cancer increased continuously, and breast-conserving surgery was performed in more cases than total mastectomy in that same year. The total number of breast reconstruction surgeries increased approximately 3-fold over last 10 years. The 5-year overall survival rate for all stages of breast cancer patients was extremely high. The clinical characteristics of breast cancer have changed in ways that resulted in high overall survival over the past 10 years in Korea, and the surgical management of the disease has changed accordingly. Analysis of nationwide registry data will contribute to a better understanding of the characteristics of breast cancer in Korea.

Validation of risk assessment models for predicting the incidence of breast cancer in korean women.

PURPOSE: The Gail model is one of the most widely used tools to assess the risk of breast cancer. However, it is known to overestimate breast cancer risk for Asian women. Here, we validate the Gail model and the Korean model using Korean data, and subsequently update and revalidate the Korean model using recent data. METHODS: We validated the modified Gail model (model 2), Asian American Gail model, and a previous Korean model using screening patient data collected between January 1999 and July 2004. The occurrence of breast cancer was confirmed by matching the resident registration number with data from the Korean Breast Cancer Registration Program. The expected-to-observed (E/O) ratio was used to validate the reliability of the program, and receiver operating characteristics curve analysis was used to evaluate the program's discriminatory power. There has been a rapid increase in the incidence of breast cancer in Korea, and we updated and revalidated the Korean model using incidence and mortality rate data from recent years. RESULTS: Among 40,229 patients who were included in the validation, 161 patients were confirmed to have developed breast cancer within 5 years of screening. The E/O ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were 2.46 (2.10-2.87) for the modified Gail model and 1.29 (1.11-1.51) for the Asian American Gail model. The E/O ratio and 95% CI for the Korean model was 0.50 (0.43-0.59). For the updated Korean model, the E/O ratio and 95% CI were 0.85 (0.73-1.00). In the discriminatory power, the area under curve and 95% CI of the modified Gail model, Asian American Gail model, Korean model and updated Korean model were 0.547 (0.500-0.594), 0.543 (0.495-0.590), 0.509 (0.463-0.556), and 0.558 (0.511-0.605), respectively. CONCLUSION: The updated Korean model shows a better performance than the other three models. It is hoped that this study can provide the basis for a clinical risk assessment program and a future prospective study of breast cancer prevention.

The basic facts of korean breast cancer in 2011: results of a nationwide survey and breast cancer registry database.

Breast cancer is the second most frequent malignancy in Korean women, with a continuously increasing incidence. The Korean Breast Cancer Society has constructed a nationwide breast cancer database through an online registration program. The aim of the present study was to report the fundamental facts on Korean breast cancer in 2011, and to analyze the changing patterns in clinical characteristics and breast cancer management in Korea over the last 10 years. Data on newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, including the total number of cases, age, stage, and type of surgery, for the year 2011 were collected from 84 hospitals and clinics nationwide using a questionnaire survey. Additional data relating to the changing patterns of breast cancer in Korea were collected from the online breast cancer registry database and analyzed. According to nationwide survey data, a total of 16,967 patients were newly diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011. The crude incidence of female breast cancer, including invasive cancer and in situ cancer, was 67 cases per 100,000 women. Analysis of the survey and registry data gave equivalent results in terms of age distribution, stage, and type of surgery. The median age at diagnosis was 50 years, and the proportion of postmenopausal women (51.3%) was higher than that of premenopausal women (48.7%) with breast cancer. The incidence of stage 0 and stage I breast cancer increased continuously over the last 10 years (56.3% in 2011), and breast conserving surgery (65.7%) was performed more frequently than total mastectomy (33.8%). The total number of breast reconstruction surgeries increased approximately 8-fold. We conclude that the clinical characteristics of breast cancer have changed over the past 10 years in Korea, and surgical management has changed accordingly. Analysis of nationwide registry data will contribute to a better understanding of the characteristics of breast cancer in Korea.