The impact of molecular subtype on breast cancer recurrence in young women treated with contemporary adjuvant therapy.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women younger than 40 years. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) positive subtypes have a particularly poor prognosis in this age group. The purpose of this study was to compare rates of recurrence among breast cancer subtypes in young patients treated with modern adjuvant systemic therapy. A retrospective review of breast cancer patients managed at a major academic breast center between May 2000 and November 2014 was performed. We included 239 women with breast cancer who were diagnosed and treated at age ≤40 years. Clinical, pathological, therapeutic, and outcome data were recorded. Patients were classified into the following molecular subtypes: luminal A/B (estrogen receptor [ER] positive and/or progesterone receptor [PR] positive, and HER2 negative), luminal/HER2 (ER positive and/or PR positive, and HER2 positive), HER2- enriched (ER negative, PR negative, and HER2 positive) and TNBC (ER negative, PR negative, and HER2 negative). Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the study cohort. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to estimate recurrence-free survival (RFS). Median follow-up time was 29 months. Mean age was 34.5 years. Among all patients, 193 (80.8%) were diagnosed with Invasive breast cancer and 46 (19.2%) with ductal carcinoma in situ with or without microinvasion. Subclassification into molecular subtypes was complete for 199 patients among which, 50.7% were classified as luminal A/B, 21.1% luminal/HER2, 12.1% HER2-enriched and 16.1% TNBC. Of the 199 patients, 25.1% received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and 59.2% received adjuvant chemotherapy. Among HER2-positive patients, 81.3% received HER2 directed therapy. Twenty-eight patients (11.7%) had recurrences (13 loco-regional, seven distant, and eight both). At 3 years, the HER2 subtype had the highest RFS 100%, compared to 91.1% in luminal A/B, 85.6% in luminal/HER2 and 81.9% in TNBC. In comparing outcomes among subtypes, the HER2 positive subtype was associated with improved RFS, likely reflecting the impact of HER2 directed therapy. Those young patients with triple-negative subtype continued to have the poorest outcomes.

Association Between Recurrence and Re-Excision for Close and Positive Margins Versus Observation in Patients with Benign Phyllodes Tumors.

BACKGROUND: Breast lesions not sampled prior to surgery or initially diagnosed as fibroepithelial lesions on core biopsy may have a diagnosis of phyllodes tumor (PT) on excision. Historically, re-excision for close or positive margins has been the standard of care. We examined the rate of re-excision for close or positive margins in patients with benign phyllodes and compared recurrence rates among those undergoing re-excision versus observation. METHODS: We identified all patients with phyllodes tumor diagnosed between 2003 and 2013. Operative and surgical pathology reports were reviewed for clinical, pathologic, and follow-up data. RESULTS: Among 246 cases, 216 (88%) were benign PT and 30 (12%) borderline/malignant tumors. In the group of benign PT (n = 216), margins were negative in 64 patients (29.6%), 50 (23%) were close, and 102 (47%) were positive. Of those with close margins, 22 (44%) underwent reexcision and residual benign PT was found in 2 (9%). In patients with positive margins, 45 (44%) had re-excision and residual benign PT was detected in 4 (8.8%). After a median follow-up of 35.5 months, there were 4 (1.9%) recurrences among patients with benign PT. There was no difference in recurrence among patients who had re-excision for positive or close margins versus observation (p = 0.7 and 0.21, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with close or positive margins, there was no significant difference in disease recurrence between patients who underwent reexcision and those who were observed. Based on these results, it may be reasonable to manage these patients conservatively with close follow-up.

Surgical outcomes in women ≥70 years undergoing mastectomy with and without reconstruction for breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 4% of women age 70 will develop breast cancer during the next ten years. Reconstruction has become a standard option for young women undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer, however may not be offered to older women due to the presence of co-morbidities. There is limited data on the outcomes of mastectomy with reconstruction in patient's ≥ 70. This study examines comorbidities and 30-day complication rates in patients ≥70 undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer. METHODS: The American College of Surgeons National Surgery Quality Improvement Program database was used to examine co-morbidities and 30-day complication rates in breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy from 2007 to 2012. Patients were grouped based on age and procedure. Complication rates were characterized using descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon rank sum-test. Variable frequencies were compared using Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: 54,821 patients underwent mastectomy. Among patients ≥70, 11,927 did not have reconstruction, 109 had reconstruction. Among patients <70, 40,755 did not have reconstruction and 2040 had reconstruction. Patients without reconstruction had a significantly higher number of co-morbidities compared to those having reconstruction (P = 0.001). The 30-day complication rate for patients without reconstruction was 4.2% in patients ≥70 compared to 4.4% for those <70 (p = 0.4). In patients with reconstruction, the 30-day complication rate was 6.4% in patients ≥70 compared to 5.6% for those <70 (p = 0.7). CONCLUSION: There was no difference in 30-day complication rate between patients ≥70 and < 70 having mastectomy with and without reconstruction. Similar outcomes among women ≥70 years and younger patients undergoing reconstruction may reflect patient selection based on co-morbidities. With appropriate risk stratification, breast reconstruction may be a safe surgical option for women ≥70 year patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Oncologic Outcomes After Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy.

BACKGROUND: Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) is increasingly used as an alternative to traditional mastectomy because it provides improved aesthetic results. The data on its oncologic safety are limited. The authors' institution has performed NSM during the past 10 years for both oncologic and prophylactic indications. This study aimed to examine oncologic outcomes after NSM for breast cancer. METHODS: The study retrospectively examined all NSM cases managed between July 2007 and July 2013. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the study cohort. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to estimate recurrence-free survival, specifically the 36-month recurrence-free survival proportion. RESULTS: A total of 721 nipple-sparing mastectomies were performed for 413 patients: 45 (10.9 %) to reduce risk and 368 (89.1 %) for breast cancer. In the breast cancer group, 29.8 % of the patients had ductal carcinoma in situ, and 70.2 % had invasive cancer. The mean follow-up time was 32 months (range 0.01-90.2 months). In the breast cancer group, the Kaplan-Meier 3-year recurrence-free survival rate was 93.6 % (95 % confidence interval, 89.9-96.0 %). Eight patients (2.2 %) had locoregional recurrences, including one in the nipple. Nine patients (2.4 %) had distant recurrence, and six patients (1.6 %) had a diagnosis of both local and distant recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: The findings showed a locoregional recurrence rate of 2.2 %, with an overall recurrence rate of 6.3 % for patients undergoing NSM for the treatment of breast cancer. The majority of these recurrences were distant, with one recurrence at the nipple. These results are promising, but a longer follow-up evaluation of this cohort is necessary.