Clinicopathologic profile of breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy at HUCFF/UFRJ

Introduction: The objective of this study is to describe the profile of patients from a public institution, submitted to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), comparing the verified pathological response with literature data. Methods: Observational retrospective cohort study on breast cancer patients diagnosed between September 2001 and October 2018 and treated with NACT at Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho (HUCFF/UFRJ), located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The adopted neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen was based on anthracycline and docetaxel. Results: A total of 133 patients were evaluated. The average age in this group was 54 years (28-86), 49 women (37%) were under 50 years old. The following distribution by molecular subtype was observed: overexpression or amplification of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2+) (13 women, 26.6%), Luminal (19 women, 38.8%), and Triple-negative (TN) (17 women, 34.6%). The HER2+ and TN subtypes had a higher incidence of cases between 40-49 years and 50-59 years. As for the initial staging, 34% were IIIA; 26%, IIB; and 19%, IIIB. Only one patient did not undergo surgery after NACT, 33 (24.8%) underwent conservative surgery, and 99 patients (74.4%) underwent mastectomy. Regarding the axillary approach, 41 (31%) underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy and 88 (66%) had an indication for lymphadenectomy. In the anatomopathological evaluation of the surgery, 12 (9.1%) patients obtained a pathologic complete response (pCR) and 113 (84.9%), partial or no response to chemotherapy. Conclusion: This research enabled the identification of clinicopathologic characteristics and outcome of patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy in a public university service. The predominance of advanced tumors was observed, stressing the need for public health policies for the screening of breast cancer as well as the guarantee of timely treatment for diagnosed cases. The data somewhat reflect the difficulty that the public sector encounters to carry out the most appropriate treatment. The authors expect that this article, by analyzing the profile and the adopted treatment in real-life cases and in a public university institution, can contribute to the improvement of breast cancer treatment in Brazil.

Descarga papilar: relação com o câncer de mama e estratégias para a sua abordagem / Nipple discharge: relation with breast cancer and its approach

A descarga papilar está presente em 5% das mulheres e ocorre em razão de causas fisiológicas, doenças benignas da mama e câncer de mama. Algumas das lesões benignas da mama estão relacionadas a um maior risco de desenvolvimento de patologia maligna mamária. A papilar para a avaliação desse sintoma mamário e sua relação com as lesões benignas importância da descarga papilar está na possibilidade de essa condição associar-se a câncer de mama. Uma avaliação clínica detalhada é fundamental para a determinação da abordagem terapêutica da paciente com descarga papilar. Foram avaliadas 23 pacientes do Serviço de Mastologia do Instituto Fernandes Figueira/Fiocruz submetidas à exérese de árvore ductal em virtude de descarga e com o câncer de mama. Das 23 pacientes analisadas, o resultado histopatológico foi de lesão benigna não proliferativa em 26,1%, lesão proliferativa sem atipias em 60,8%, hiperplasia ductal com atipias em 8,7% e câncer em 4,4%. Os resultados demonstraram que em 69,5% dos casos a histopatologia foi de lesão proliferativa de mama, que, apesar de benigna, apresenta maior risco de desenvolvimento do câncer de mama. Apesar de a descarga papilar estar na maioria dos casos relacionada à doença mamária benigna, em alguns casos esta se associa a um risco aumentado de câncer de mama. É fundamental ressaltar que pode haver uma relação entre a descarga papilar e o câncer de mama, embora este não seja a correspondência histopatológica mais freqüente da descarga papilar.

Nipple discharge is present in 5% of women and occurs due to physiological causes, benign breast disease and breast cancer. Some of benign breast lesions are associated with a higher risk of malignant breast diseases development. The importance of nipple discharge is the possibility of this condition to be associate with breast cancer. A detailed clinical evaluation is fundamental to determinate the therapeutic approach of a patient with nipple discharge. Twenthy-three patients from the Mastology Department of Fernandes Figueira Institute/Fiocruz were submitted to removal of central mammary ducts due to nipple discharge for evaluation of this symptom and its relationship with benign breast lesions and breast cancer. The histopathological results from 23 patients that have been analysed were not proliferative benign breast lesions in 26.1%, proliferative lesions without atypias in 60.8%, atypical ductal hyperplasia in 8.7% and 4 cancer in 4,4%. The results proved 69.5% of proliferative breast lesions thats presents a higher risk of breast cancer development. Although nipple discharge is associated in most of the cases with benign breast diseases sometime it is related to a higher risk of breast cancer. It is important to emphasize that it could be a relation between nipple discharge and breast cancer even if it is not the most frequent, histopathological correspondence of nipple discharge.

A contribuição dos genes BRCA na predisposição hereditária ao câncer de mama / BRCA genes contribution in the hereditary predisposition for breast cancer

Aproximadamente 20 % dos casos de câncer de mama familiar estão associados a um dos genes de susceptibilidade hereditária para câncer de mama e ovário, BRCA1 e BRCA2. Recentes trabalhos têm demonstrado o mecanismo de ação destes genes com funções estabelecidas na manutenção da integridade do genoma e no controle da recombinação homóloga. A história familiar, a bilateralidade, o acometimento precoce e achados histopatológicos específicos são fatores sugestivos da presença de mutações nestes genes. Esta revisão sumariza alguns destes conhecimentos, na tentativa de colocá-los no contexto atual das funções destes genes.

Approximately 20% of the cases related to familiar breast cancer are associated to one gene of hereditary susceptibilityfor breast and ovarian cancer, BRCA1 and BRCA2. Recent works have demonstrated the mechanism of action of these genes, with functions well established for maintaining the genome integrity and for controlling homologatesrecombination. Familiar history, bilaterality, precocious diseases, as well as specific histopathologic results areindicative factors of the presence of mutation in these genes. This literature review summarizes some of thisknowledge, trying to understand them in the current functional context of these genes.