Predictive and Prognostic Value of Tumor- Infiltrating Lymphocytes for Pathological Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Background: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) reflect the antitumor response of the host. This study aimed to assess the value of TILs in predicting pathological response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and survival outcomes in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). METHODS: A retrospective analysis conducted between February 2012 and December 2015. Patients with stage I, II, and III TNBC patients were enrolled. TILs were assessed in haematoxylin and eosin-stained sections from true cut needle biopsies before NAC. According to international TILs working group, we had three groups; low (0-10%), intermediate (11-59%), and high TILs (= 60%). RESULTS: A total of 159 patients was included, 56% were premenopausal and 76.1% were less than 60 years. The main bulk of patients had histological grade III, high Ki 67, and high TILs (74.2%, 84.3%, and 72.3%), respectively. The pre-treatment high TILs was significantly correlated with high Ki-67 (p = 0.001), pCR (p<0.001), and late relapse (p<0.001). Other clinico-pathological features such as age, menopausal status, tumor size, histological grade, lymph node involvement and lympho-vascular invasion weren't significantly correlated with TILs levels. 71.3% of enrolled patients having high TILs achieved pCR, vs 27.8% in the intermediate group and 30.8% in low group. After a median follow-up of 45.3 months, patients with high TILs were significantly associated with longer DFS and OS as compared to intermediate and low TILs (27.2 vs 15.9 vs11.4 months for DFS and 70.2 vs 34.3 vs 27.6 months for OS)p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-treatment level of TILs had a predictive and prognostic value in TNBC patients receiving NAC. TILs may be integrated into the basic laboratory for TNBC prognostication as a credible biomarker.

Sinus laser closure (SiLaC) versus Limberg flap in management of pilonidal disease: A short-term non-randomized comparative prospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Fistula Laser Closure (FiLAC) is a method that was originally applied in the treatment of perianal fistulas. Because of promising results, diode lasers were later on used to treat pilonidal sinus disease in a method called sinus Laser Closure (SiLaC). The aim of this study is to compare between SiLaC and Limberg flap in management of pilonidal disease. METHODS: A prospective, nonrandomized comparative study. A short-term follow-up of 71 patients with pilonidal disease was analyzed (24 operated on using the SiLaC technique and 47 using the Limberg technique). With a primary outcome is healing rate and recurrence and a secondary outcome is other measures i.e. complications, hospital stay and postoperative pain. RESULTS: The median operative time in the SiLaC group was 26.45 ± 5.41 min (20-35 min) and in the Limberg group 58.63 ± 7.42 min (50-75 min). In the SiLaC group, the primary healing was achieved in 23 out of 24 patients (95.8%) with a total complication rate of 20.83%. There were two cases of recurrence after initial healing in each group. CONCLUSION: Sinus laser Closure (SiLaC) is comparable to Limberg flap technique in the terms of healing rate and recurrence with better outcome regarding operative time, hospital stay and post-operative pain.

Surgery for Complicated Stomal Prolapse: Is the Altemeier Technique an Option? A Report of Three Cases / Cirurgia para prolapso de estoma complicado: A técnica de Altemeier é uma opção? Um relato de três casos

Abstract Introduction The incidence of stomal prolapse ranges from 2% to 22%. The risk factors include colostomy, the short length of the stoma, obesity, emergency surgery, and the improper (or even absence of) marking of the preoperative site for the stoma. Complicated stomal prolapse associated with severe mucosal irritation, ischemic changes, or bleeding requires surgical intervention. Objective To describe the use of the Altemeier technique in the management of cases of complicated prolapsed stoma after failure of the local medical measures and manual reduction. Methods Case series of three patients with past history of abdominoperineal resection of rectal cancer and permanent end colostomy presented with irreducible prolapse of the stoma. After the failure of the local measures and manual reduction, urgent surgical intervention using the modified Altemeier technique was necessary. Results The modified Altemeier technique is simple, presents low risk of operative and postoperative complications, besides enabling an early recovery, with a lower risk of recurrence during the first 6 months after the repair. Conclusion Themodified Altemeier technique may be a valid therapeutic modality in the setting of complicated prolapsed stoma.

Resumo Introdução A incidência de prolapso de estoma varia de 2 a 22%. Os fatores de risco incluem colostomia, comprimento curto do estoma, obesidade, cirurgias de emergência, e marcação não adequada (ou atémesmo ausente) do sítio pré-operatório para o estoma. Prolapso de estoma complicado e associado a irritação grave de mucosa, alterações isquêmicas, ou sangramento requer intervenção cirúrgica. Objetivo Descrever o uso da técnica de Altemeier para o manejo de prolapso de estoma complicado após fracasso das medidas médicas locais e da redução manual. Métodos Série de casos de três pacientes com histórico de ressecção abdominoperineal de câncer retal e colostomia terminal permanente apresentaram prolapso irredutível do estoma. Com o fracasso das medidas locais e da redução manual, fezse necessária intervenção cirúrgica de emergência usando a técnica de Altemeier modificada. Resultados A técnica de Altemeier modificada é simples e apresenta risco baixo de complicações operatórias e pós-operatórias, além de possibilitar uma recuperação precoce, com menor risco de recorrência durante os 6 primeiros meses após o reparo. Conclusão A técnica de Altemeier modificada pode ser uma modalidade terapêutica válida em casos de prolapso de estoma complicado.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Correlation between Androgen Receptor Expression and Pathological Response.

BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence that the response to chemotherapy may be affected by Androgen Receptor (AR) expression suggesting that triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) AR+ and quadruple negative breast cancer (QNBC) subtypes may have different diseases behavior. METHODOLOGY: We retrospectively estimated the predictive value of the AR expression in stage II and stage III TNBC patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and correlated with the rate of pathological response (pCR). RESULTS: Of 89 TNBC patients, 29 patients (32.6%) were TNBC AR+ and 60 patients (67.4) were QNBC. Most of the patients were less than 60 years old. Of note, approximately 62% in the QNBC group were less than 40 years old compared with 39 % in the TNBC AR+ group. The Ki-67 expression was higher in the QNBC in comparison with TNBC AR+ being 86.7% and 65.5%, respectively. QNBC subgroup showed higher rates of pCR compared with TNBC; 60% and 24%, respectively. Higher Ki-67 expression, higher grade, and lymph node involvement were statistically significantly correlated with the rate of pCR in the QNBC group (p=0.02, p=0.04, and p=0.03, respectively). In contrast, no significant association was observed between pCR and clinical-pathological features in the TNBC AR+ group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that the AR expression in TNBC may be applied as a predictive marker for NAC. TNBC AR+ had a lower rate of pCR compared with QNBC, suggesting that this subtype may have a partial chemoresistance.