Prognostic Value of "Basal-like" Morphology, Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Multi-MAGE-A Expression in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

"Basal-like" (BL) morphology and the expression of cancer testis antigens (CTA) in breast cancer still have unclear prognostic significance. The aim of our research was to explore correlations of the morphological characteristics and tumor microenvironment in triple-negative breast carcinomas (TNBCs) with multi-MAGE-A CTA expression and to determine their prognostic significance. Clinical records of breast cancer patients who underwent surgery between January 2017 and December 2018 in four major Croatian clinical centers were analyzed. A total of 97 non-metastatic TNBCs with available tissue samples and treatment information were identified. Cancer tissue sections were additionally stained with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) Ventana (SP142) and multi-MAGE-A (mAb 57B). BL morphology was detected in 47 (49%) TNBCs and was associated with a higher Ki-67 proliferation index and histologic grade. Expression of multi-MAGE-A was observed in 77 (79%) TNBCs and was significantly associated with BL morphology. Lymphocyte-predominant breast cancer (LPBC) status was detected in 11 cases (11.3%) and significantly correlated with the Ki-67 proliferation index, increased number of intratumoral lymphocytes (itTIL), and PD-L1 expression. No impact of BL morphology, multi-MAGE-A expression, histologic type, or LPBC status on disease-free survival was observed. Our data suggest that tumor morphology could help identify patients with potential benefits from CTA-targeting immunotherapy.

Anthracyclines in the treatment of early breast cancer friend or foe?

Standard chemotherapy for early breast cancer consists generally of an anthracycline - taxane - based regimen, preferably in sequence. Anthracyclines are among the most active cytotoxic drugs against breast cancer. Nevertheless, benefits attained by the use of the more potent anthracycline schedules must be balanced against increased short - and long - term toxicity, and treatment options must be individualized for each patient. Authors review available data regarding anthracycline efficacy and toxicity in the early breast cancer setting and the potential directions for future research.

[CANCER PATIENTS FOLLOW-UP ­ CROATIAN SOCIETY OF MEDICAL ONCOLOGY CLINICAL GUIDELINES Part I: breast cancer, uterine cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer]. / PRACENJE ONKOLOSKIH BOLESNIKA ­ KLINICKE PREPORUKE HRVATSKOG DRUSTVA ZA INTERNISTICKU ONKOLOGIJU HLZ-a 1. dio: rak dojke, rak tijela maternice, rak vrata maternice, rak jajnika.

Treatment of oncological patients must be based upon multidisciplinary approach, and takes place in specialized oncological centers. By the end of a specific oncological treatment further follow-up is managed mostly by the ­oncologists, but the role of the general practitioners becomes more important every day and therefore should be precisely defined. Nowadays, most of the existing follow-up guidelines are not based on prospective studies, but on the experts ­opinion of a particular oncological center or specialists. The aim of the Croatian Society of Medical Oncology (CSMO) with these recommendations is to standardise and rationalise the diagnostic procedures algorithm in the follow-up of oncological patients after primary treatment.

CANCER PATIENTS FOLLOW-UP ­ CROATIAN SOCIETY OF MEDICAL ONCOLOGY CLINICAL GUIDELINES Part I: breast cancer, uterine cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer. / PRACENJE ONKOLOSKIH BOLESNIKA ­ KLINICKE PREPORUKE HRVATSKOG DRUSTVA ZA INTERNISTICKU ONKOLOGIJU HLZ-a 1. dio: rak dojke, rak tijela maternice, rak vrata maternice, rak jajnika

Treatment of oncological patients must be based upon multidisciplinary approach, and takes place in specialized oncological centers. By the end of a specifi c oncological treatment further follow-up is managed mostly by the oncologists, but the role of the general practitioners becomes more important every day and therefore should be precisely defi ned. Nowadays, most of the existing follow-up guidelines are not based on prospective studies, but on the experts opinion of a particular oncological center or specialists. The aim of the Croatian Society of Medical Oncology (CSMO) with these recommendations is to standardise and rationalise the diagnostic procedures algorithm in the follow-up of oncological patients after primary treatment.