Effects of Non-Ablative Solid-State Vaginal Laser (SSVL) for the Treatment of Vulvovaginal Atrophy in Breast Cancer Survivors after Adjuvant Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy: Preliminary Results.

BACKGROUND: One of the side effects of anti-estrogen treatments in breast cancer survivors (BCSs), especially with aromatase inhibitor (AI) treatment, is the frequent appearance of vulvo-vaginal atrophy (VVA). We aim to evaluate the efficacy, safety and feasibility of a new type of non-ablative Solid-State Vaginal Laser (SSVL) treatment in BCSs with VVA. METHODS: A total of 30 BCSs with a history of AI use and symptoms of VVA were treated with a non-ablative SSVL (LASEmaR 1500™-EUFOTON)in this non-randomized pilot study. The effects of the laser have been evaluated at baseline, 10 wk and 24 wk using a visual analogue scale (VAS), the Vaginal Health Index (VHI), the Vulvar Health Index (VuHI), the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the EORTC QLQ-BR23, the Vaginal Maturation Index (VMI) and vaginal pH. RESULTS: At 10-week follow-up vs. baseline there were no statistically significant differences in FSFI, lubrication and EORTC QLQ-BR23. In all the subjective (dyspareunia, VHI, VuHI, FSFI, QLQ) and objective parameters (VMI and pH) there was a statistically significant improvement at the 6-month follow-up. Satisfaction was very high (4.7 out of 5), with 95.7% of patients being satisfied, more than or very satisfied. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results of SSVL treatment of VVA and dyspareunia in BCSs after AI treatment suggest clinical improvement, without relevant side effects and with a high degree of satisfaction.

External validation of a prognostic model based on total tumor load of sentinel lymph node for early breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: A prognostic model based on the results of molecular analysis of sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) is needed to replace the information that staging the entire axilla provided. The aim of the study is to conduct an external validation of a previously developed model for the prediction of 5-year DFS in a group of breast cancer patients that had undergone SLN biopsy assessed by the One Step Nucleic Acid Amplification (OSNA) method. METHODS: We collected retrospective data of 889 patients with breast cancer, who had not received systemic treatment before surgery, and who underwent SLN biopsy and evaluation of all SLN by OSNA. The discrimination ability of the model was assessed by the area under the ROC curve (AUC ROC), and its calibration by comparing 5-years DFS Kaplan-Meier estimates in quartile groups of model predicted probabilities (MPP). RESULTS: The AUC ROC ranged from 0.78 (at 2 years) to 0.73 (at 5 years) in the training set, and from 0.78 to 0.71, respectively, in the validation set. The MPP allowed to distinguish four groups of patients with heterogeneous DFS (log-rank test p < 0.0001). In the highest risk group, the HR were 6.04 [95% CI 2.70, 13.48] in the training set and 4.79 [2.310, 9.93] in the validation set. CONCLUSIONS: The model for the prediction of 5-year DFS was successfully validated using the most stringent form of validation, in centers different from those involved in the development of the model. The external validation of the model confirms its utility for the prediction of 5-year DFS and the usefulness of the TTL value as a prognostic variable.

¿Debemos incorporar la preservación de la fertilidad en el protocolo diagnóstico-terapéutico del cáncer? / Should we incorporate fertility preservation into the diagnostic-therapeutic protocol for cancer?

No disponible

Biopsia del ganglio centinela y quimioterapia neoadyuvante en pacientes con cáncer de mama: nuestra experiencia / Sentinel lymph node biopsy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients: our experience

Objetivo. Revisar nuestra experiencia en la biopsia selectiva del ganglio centinela (BGC) en pacientes con cáncer de mama operable tratadas con quimioterapia neoadyuvante (QTN). Material y métodos. Estudio prospectivo, enero de 2008/diciembre de 2014, 235 BGC en pacientes con cáncer de mama infiltrante T1-3/N0-1, tratadas con epirrubicina/ciclofosfamida, docetaxel y trastuzumab en Her2/neu positivas. El estatus axilar se estableció por exploración física, ecografía axilar y punción de ganglios sospechosos. El día antes de la cirugía se inyectaron periareolarmente 74-111 MBq de 99mTc-nanocoloide de albúmina. Al finalizar el tratamiento se realizó BGC y linfadenectomía axilar. El GC se analizó por cortes de congelación, hematoxilina-eosina, inmunohistoquímica o one-step nucleic acid amplification. Se determinaron tasa de identificación (Id.GC) y falsos negativos (FN). Resultados. Grupo I BGC pre-QTN pacientes cN0 de inicio: n = 73, Id.GC 97,2% (IC 95% 90,5-99,2). Grupo II 2.a BGC pos-QTN pacientes pN1(gc) de inicio: n = 31, Id.GC 61,3% (IC 95% 43,8-76,3), FN 18,2% (IC 95% 5,1-47,7). Grupo III BGC pos-QTN pacientes cN0 de inicio: n = 54, Id.GC 96,3% (IC 95% 87,5-99,0), FN 9,5% (IC 95% 2,7-28,9). Grupo IV BGC pos-QTN pacientes cN1 de inicio, ycN0 posneoadyuvancia: n = 77, Id.GC 83,1% (IC 95% 73,2-89,8), FN 8,3% (IC 95% 2,9-21,8). Conclusiones. La identificación de la BGC pre-QTN es excelente. En pacientes pN1(gc) al diagnóstico, una 2.a BGC pos-QTN no es válida para su aplicación clínica. La BGC pos-QTN puede realizarse con fiabilidad en pacientes cN0 y cN1 de inicio, con axila clínicamente negativa al finalizar la neoadyuvancia (ycN0), y linfadenectomía axilar si el resultado del GC es positivo o no se identifica en la cirugía, en el ámbito de un equipo multidisciplinar con experiencia (AU)

Aim. To analyze our experience of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients with operable breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Material and methods. A prospective study was conducted between January 2008 and December 2014 in 235 SLNB in patients with infiltrating breast carcinoma T1-3/N0-1 treated with epirubicin/cyclophosphamide, docetaxel and trastuzumab in Her2/neu-positive patients. Axillary evaluation included physical examination and ultrasound, with guided core needle biopsy of any suspicious lymph nodes. The day before surgery, 74-111 MBq of 99mTc-albumin nanocolloid was injected periareolar. Following NAC, patients underwent SLNB and axillary lymph node dissection. SLN were examined with hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemical analysis or one-step nucleic acid amplification. The identification rate (IR) and false-negative rate (FNR) were determined. Results. Group I SLNB pre-NAC in patients cN0 at diagnosis: n = 73, IR 97.2% (95%CI: 90.5-99.2). Group II 2nd SLNB pos-NAC in patients pN1(sn) at diagnosis: n = 31, IR 61.3% (95%CI: 43.8-76.3), FNR 18.2% (95%CI: 5.1-47.7). Group III SLNB pos-NAC in patients cN0 at diagnosis: n = 54, IR 96.3% (95%CI: 87.5-99.0), FNR 9.5% (95%CI: 2.7-28.9). Group IV SLNB pos-NAC in patients cN1 at diagnosis and ycN0 post-treatment: n = 77, IR 83.1% (95%CI: 73.2-89.8), FNR 8.3% (95%CI: 2.9-21.8). Conclusions. The detection rate for SLNB prior to NAC is excellent. A second SLNB after NAC in women with a positive SLN at diagnosis is not useful. SLNB after NAC is feasible in cN0 and cN1 patients at diagnosis, clinically axillary node-negative after therapy (ycN0), with subsequent axillary lymph node dissection if the SLNB is positive or not identified during surgery, when performed by an experienced multidisciplinary team (AU)

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factors as prophylaxis against febrile neutropenia.

Myelosuppression secondary to chemotherapy remains a serious adverse effect of cancer therapy that causes high morbidity and mortality. Several current European and American guidelines recommend consideration of primary prophylaxis with colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) when the risk of febrile neutropenia is higher than 20 %. The main factors associated with a high risk of febrile neutropenia include the chemotherapy regimen, tumor type, and patient-related factors such as old age and/or comorbidities. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the most relevant clinical trials and updated recommendations of the main guidelines on the role of granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) in febrile neutropenia, examining whether the combination of G-CSF with chemotherapy improves overall survival. Future directions for G-CSF use are also discussed.

Segunda biopsia del ganglio centinela después de quimioterapia neoadyuvante en pacientes con cáncer de mama, axila negativa y ganglio centinela metastásico al diagnóstico inicial. Resultados preliminares / Second sentinel lymph node biopsy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients with negative axilla and metastatic sentinel lymph node at presentation. Preliminary results

Objetivo. Valorar la validez diagnóstica de una segunda biopsia del ganglio centinela (GC) en pacientes con cáncer de mama operable y axila negativa al diagnóstico, con GC metastásico, tratadas con quimioterapia neoadyuvante (QTN). Pacientes y métodos. Estudio prospectivo realizado en 52 mujeres con cáncer de mama infiltrante (2 bilateral); estadio II-A (cT2N0M0): 50, II-B (cT3N0M0): 4. El estatus axilar se estableció por exploración física, ecografía y punción ecoguiada de los ganglios sospechosos. Pauta QTN: epirrubicina/ciclofosfamida × 4, y docetaxel × 4. El día antes de la cirugía se inyectó periareolarmente 74-111 MBq de nanocoloide de albúmina. El GC se analizó por amplificación de ácido nucleico de un solo paso. Se realizó linfadenectomía axilar en las pacientes con GC positivo al diagnóstico. Resultados. El GC axilar pre-QTN se identificó en el 96,3% de los casos; GC extirpados 1,8 ± 0,8 (rango 1-4). En el 55,8% el resultado del GC fue positivo. Actualmente, 44 pacientes (2 bilateral) han completado el tratamiento. Se ha realizado una segunda biopsia del GC posneoadyuvancia en 22 pacientes: 20 con GC pre-QTN positivo, 2 sin migración axilar preneoadyuvancia. Solo se identificó el GC en el 54,5% de las pacientes; GC resecados 1,5 ± 0,8 (rango 1-3). En 9 de las 10 mujeres sin migración la linfadenectomía axilar fue negativa. En 7 pacientes el GC fue un verdadero positivo, y en 4 de ellas los GC eran los únicos afectados de la axila. En 2 casos el resultado fue falso negativo (22,2%). Conclusiones. Los resultados de una segunda biopsia del GC post-QTN no son adecuados para su aplicación en la práctica clínica (AU)

Aim. To evaluate the accuracy of a second sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in patients with operable breast cancer and clinically negative axilla, with metastatic SLN at diagnosis, treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Patients and methods. A prospective study was performed in 52 women with invasive ductal carcinoma (2 bilateral); stage IIA (cT2N0M0): 50, IIB (cT3N0M0): 4. Axillary evaluation included physical examination and axillary ultrasound, with ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy of any suspicious lymph node. The NAC scheme consisted of epirubicin/cyclophosphamide × 4, and docetaxel × 4. The day before surgery, 74-111 MBq albumin nanocolloid was injected periareolarly. The SLN was analyzed by one-step nucleic acid amplification. Axillary lymph node dissection was performed in patients with positive SLN at presentation. Results. Pre-NAC axillary SLN was identified in 96.3% of the patients. The mean number of extirpated SLN was 1.8 ± 0.8 (range 1-4). In 55.8% of the patients, the SLN was positive. Currently, 44 patients (2 bilateral) have completed NAC and surgical treatment. A second SLN biopsy was performed post-NAC in 22 patients: 20 with positive pre-NAC SLN and 2 without pre-NAC SLN identification. SLN was only identified in 54.5% of cases. The mean number of extirpated SLN was 1.5 ± 0.8 (range 1-3). Non migration occurred in 10 patients, 9 patients without axillary lymph node dissection involvement. In 7 patients, the post-NAC SLN was a true positive and was the only axillary lymph node affected in 4. The false negative rate was 22.2%. Conclusions. A second SLN biopsy after NAC in women with a positive SLN at diagnosis is not a useful option (AU)

Development of active myofascial trigger points in neck and shoulder musculature is similar after lumpectomy or mastectomy surgery for breast cancer.

Our aim was to describe the differences in the presence of myofascial trigger points (TrPs) in neck and shoulder muscles after 2 surgery approaches for breast cancer: mastectomy or lumpectomy. Thirty-two women (mean age: 50 ± 7 years) who received lumpectomy, 16 women (mean age: 48 ± 10 years) who had received mastectomy after breast cancer, and 16 women (mean age: 49 ± 9 years) with breast cancer who had not received either surgical treatment, participated. Myofascial TrPs in the upper trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, levator scapulae, scalene, infraspinatus and pectoralis major muscles were bilaterally explored by an assessor blinded to the women's condition. TrPs were considered active when palpation reproduced local and referred pain symptoms recognized by the patient as familiar pain symptoms. The number of active TrPs within mastectomy (mean ± SD: 4.6 ± 1) and lumpectomy (mean ± SD: 4.5 ± 1) groups was significantly higher (P < 0.001) as compared to the control group (mean ± SD: 1.1 ± 1.3), but not significantly different between them (P = 0.641). Women who received either lumpectomy or mastectomy showed similar distribution of active TrPs and a higher prevalence of active TrPs as compared to the control group. Active TrPs in the pectoralis major muscle were the most prevalent in both surgery groups The number of active TrPs was weakly correlated with neck (r(s) = 0.385; P = 0.029) and shoulder/axillary (r(s) = 0.397; P = 0.024) pain intensity within the lumpectomy, but not the mastectomy group. This study found active TrPs in neck and shoulder musculature in women who had received lumpectomy or mastectomy. The induced local and referred pain pattern from active TrPs reproduced neck and shoulder/axillary symptoms and pain patterns in women after breast cancer surgery. Few active TrPs were found in a control group of women with breast cancer who had not received any surgical treatment.

Altered pattern of cervical muscle activation during performance of a functional upper limb task in breast cancer survivors.

OBJECTIVE: Shoulder and neck impairments are the most common symptoms in breast cancer survivors. Disturbances in motor control patterns of the cervical musculature may play a relevant role in breast cancer. Our aim was to analyze the differences in cervical muscle behavior between breast cancer survivors and healthy women during a functional upper limb task. DESIGN: A case-control cohort study was conducted. Electromyographic (EMG) activity from the sternocleidomastoid (SCM), upper trapezius (UT), and deltoid muscles was recorded in 15 breast cancer survivors and 15 matched controls. Root-mean-square EMG amplitude was calculated during a functional upper limb task. RESULTS: The repeated-measures analysis revealed significant differences between groups for EMG amplitude of the right UT (P < 0.01), left UT (P = 0.047), and right SCM (P < 0.05) muscles but not for the left SCM (P = 0.250) or both deltoid (left, P = 0.195; right, P = 0.401) muscles. Breast cancer survivors exhibited significant greater EMG amplitude for both UT muscles at 10 secs (both sides, P = 0.01), 60 secs (both sides, P < 0.05), and 120 secs (both sides, P < 0.05) and for the right SCM muscle at 10 secs (P = 0.009), 60 secs (P = 0.013), and 120 secs (P = 0.004) compared with controls. The intensity of shoulder pain had a significant effect on EMG amplitude of the affected UT muscle within breast cancer survivors. CONCLUSIONS: The current study shows that breast cancer survivors exhibit greater activation of both UT and SCM muscles during an upper limb task compared with controls, which may contribute to the development of neck and shoulder impairments in this patient population.

A woman with reddish nodule on the skin of the breast.

A 54-year-old woman presented a peri-areolar nodule located in the skin of the right breast. Clinical examination showed a 6 x 5 cm exophytic, lobed, ulcerated, and bleeding nodule. The patient reported that the tumor had grown gradually over a period of 3 months. The patient had been diagnosed 8 years prior to presentation with infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the right breast (pT2NO). This tumor was treated with partial mastectomy (conservative surgery) and lymph node dissection, then subsequently received 30 tangent field radiotherapy sessions to the breast for a total dose of 45 Gy. The rest of her cutaneous exam was normal. There was no family history of any similar tumor.

Widespread mechanical pain hypersensitivity as a sign of central sensitization after breast cancer surgery: comparison between mastectomy and lumpectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differences in widespread pressure pain hypersensitivity after two surgery approaches for breast cancer: mastectomy or lumpectomy. DESIGN: A cross-sectional blinded study. SETTING: Widespread pressure pain hypersensitivity has been suggested as a sign of central sensitization. No study has previously investigated the presence of widespread pain pressure hypersensitivity after breast cancer surgery. PATIENTS: Twenty-one women (age: 52±9 years old) who had received lumpectomy after breast cancer, 21 women (mean age: 50±10 years old) who had received mastectomy surgery after breast cancer, and 21 healthy women (age: 51±10 years old) participated. OUTCOME MEASURES: Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were bilaterally assessed over C5-C6 zygapophyseal joint, deltoid muscle, second metacarpal, and the tibialis anterior muscle. RESULTS: Women with mastectomy had greater intensity of neck (t= -2.897; P=0.006) and shoulder/axillary (t= -2.609; P=0.013) pain as compared with those who received lumpectomy. The results showed that PPT were significantly decreased bilaterally over the C5-C6 zygapophyseal joint, deltoid muscle, second metacarpal, and tibialis anterior muscle in both lumpectomy and mastectomy groups as compared with healthy women in all points (P<0.001), without differences between both breast cancer groups (P=0.954). No significant differences in the magnitude of PPT levels between both breast cancer groups were found (all, P>0.450). PPT levels over some areas were negatively associated with the intensity of pain in the mastectomy, but not lumpectomy, group. CONCLUSION: The current study found widespread pressure pain hyperalgesia in women who received breast cancer surgery suggesting central spreading sensitization. The degree of central sensitization was similar between lumpectomy and mastectomy surgery.

Utilidad de la tomografía por emisión de positrones en el manejo de los cánceres de cuerpo de útero / Utility of positron emission tomography in the management of uterine body cancer

En la actualidad, la estadificación de los tumoresdel cuerpo uterino es esencialmente quirúrgica. Noexiste consenso ni protocolos definidos para elseguimiento de este tipo de neoplasias. Lastécnicas de diagnóstico por imagen son solicitadasa criterio del clínico, habitualmente ante lasospecha de recurrencia, recidiva o diseminaciónde la enfermedad. Las técnicas de imagenestructural (tomografía computarizada y resonanciamagnética) presentan ciertas limitaciones para ladetección de recurrencias. La tomografía poremisión de positrones es una técnica de imagenfuncional cuya utilidad se ha demostrado enmultitud de neoplasias, que está suscitando ungran interés en los últimos tiempos en el campo dela oncología ginecológica. Se ha realizado unanálisis de los resultados de la bibliografíacientífica disponible sobre la utilidad de estatécnica en los carcinomas endometriales y lossarcomas de útero, tanto en su diagnóstico inicialcomo en su seguimiento

Currently, uterine body tumors are basicallysurgically staged. Established consensus or definedprotocols for the follow up of these neoplasms arelacking. Imaging techniques are usually requestedbased on the clinician’s criteria, usually suspicionof disease recurrence or progression. Structuralimaging techniques, such as computed tomographyor magnetic resonance imaging, present somelimitations in the detection of recurrent disease.Positron emission tomography is a functionalimaging technique with proven utility inneoplasms. In the last few years, interest in thistechnique has grown in the field of gynecologiconcology. We performed a literature review on theutility of positron emission tomography in the evaluation of endometrial cancers and uterinesarcomas, both in initial diagnosis and follow-up

Positron emission tomography with 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose in the evaluation of postoperative endometrial cancer patients

Objective To evaluate the usefulness of positron emission tomography with 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG-PET) in the follow-up of endometrial cancer patients with suspicion of recurrence due to elevated serum tumour markers and suggestive conventional imaging findings. Material and methods A retrospective review was conducted of 17 FDG-PET studies performed in 11 patients with a previous diagnosis of endometrial cancer (6 patients underwent 2 studies) between April 2002 and October 2005. Mean age of patients was 63.4 yrs (range, 52-69 yrs), and mean time since diagnosis was 56 months (range, 11 months - 12 yrs). Initially, 7 patients were in stage I, 3 in stage III, and 1 in stage IV (FIGO classification). Histologically, they corresponded to 8 endometrioid and 3 non-endometrioid cancers. Results FDG-PET showed infradiaphragmatic uptake in three patients and disseminated disease in seven; findings were negative in one patient. Computed tomography (CT, n=7) or magnetic resonance (MRI, n=7) images revealed infradiaphragmatic lesions in five patients and visceral lesions in two. All patients showed elevated serum tumour markers (CA125, n=9; CA19.9, n=2; CA15.3, n=2). FDG-PET results modified the information provided by conventional imaging techniques in seven patients and provided no additional information in the remaining four. There was histological confirmation of lesions in two patients. Nine patients were clinically followed up, including imaging studies (mean follow-up, 8.7 months; range, 3-20 months).