Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy among Women with Pathogenic Variants in BRCA1/2: Overall Survival, Racial, and Ethnic Differences

Background

Patients with unilateral breast cancer carrying pathogenic variants in BRCA1/2 have the option to undergo contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM). However, differences in CPM use and survival outcomes following CPM are poorly understood in this high-risk population, in part due to a lack of data from contemporary clinical cohorts. The objective of this study was to evaluate post-CPM overall survival (OS) and related racial/ethnic differences in a contemporary clinical cohort.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of women with a personal history of unilateral breast cancer carrying pathogenic variants in BRCA1/2 who were diagnosed between 1996 and 2012. Genetic test results, self-reported demographic characteristics, and clinical factors were abstracted from electronic medical records.

Results

Of 144 BRCA-positive patients, the majority were White (79.2%, n = 114). Overall, 56.1% (n = 81) of all BRCA1/2 carriers chose to undergo CPM, with no racial/ethnic difference in CPM election (p = 0.78). Of 81 patients who underwent CPM, there is strong evidence of a difference in survival between the racial/ethnic groups, with White patients having the highest OS compared to non-White patients (p = 0.001). Of the 63 patients who did not undergo CPM, there is no racial/ethnic difference in overall survival (p = 0.61). In multivariable cox regression, adjusted for demographic and clinical characteristics, OS was significantly lower among non-Whites than in Whites (HR = 0.39, p = 0.04).

Conclusions

Evaluation of a contemporary clinical cohort of BRCA-positive women with unilateral breast cancer showed no racial/ethnic difference in CPM use, but there was a significant difference in post-CPM overall survival.

High Compliance With Choosing Wisely Breast Surgical Guidelines at a Safety-Net Hospital

BACKGROUND

Professional organizations recently set guidelines for avoiding surgeries of low utility and overutilization for the Choosing Wisely campaign. These include re-excision for invasive cancer close to margins, double mastectomy in patients with unilateral breast cancer, axillary lymph node dissection in patients with limited nodal disease, and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients ≥70 years with early-stage breast cancer. Variable adherence to these recommendations led us to evaluate implementation rates of low-value surgical guidelines at a safety-net hospital.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed breast cancer patients who underwent surgery from 2015 to 2020. Each patient was assessed for eligibility for omission of the listed surgeries. Trends were evaluated by cohorts before and after a fellowship-trained breast surgeon joined the faculty in 2018. Outcomes were compared using Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

Among 195 patients, none underwent re-excision for close margins of invasive cancer. Only 6.7% of patients (3/45) received contralateral mastectomy and 1.8% of eligible patients (3/169) received axillary lymph node dissection. Overall, 60% of patients ≥ 70 years with stage 1 hormone-positive breast cancer (9/15) received SLNB. There was a downward trend from 71% of eligible patients receiving SLNB in 2015-2018 to 50% in 2019-2020.

CONCLUSIONS

De-implementation of traditional surgical practices, deemed as low-value care, toward newer guidelines is achievable even at community hospitals serving a low socioeconomic community. By avoiding overtreatment, hospitals can achieve effective resource allocation which allow for social distributive justice among patients with breast cancer and ensure strategic use of scarce health economic resources while preserving patient outcomes.

Deimplementation of the Choosing Wisely Recommendations for Low-Value Breast Cancer Surgery

Importance

Overtreatment of early-stage breast cancer results in increased morbidity and cost without improving survival. Major surgical organizations participating in the Choosing Wisely campaign identified 4 breast cancer operations as low value: (1) axillary lymph node dissection for limited nodal disease in patients receiving lumpectomy and radiation, (2) re-excision for close but negative lumpectomy margins for invasive cancer, (3) contralateral prophylactic mastectomy in patients at average risk with unilateral cancer, and (4) sentinel lymph node biopsy in women 70 years or older with hormone receptor-positive cancer.

Objective

To evaluate the extent to which these procedures have been deimplemented, determine the implications of decreased use, and recognize possible barriers and facilitators to deimplementation.

Evidence Review

A systematic review of published literature on use trends in breast surgery was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The Ovid, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Cochrane databases were searched for original research with relevance to the Choosing Wisely recommendations of interest. Eligible studies were examined for data about use, and any patient-level, clinician-level, or system-level factors associated with use.

Findings

Concordant with recommendations, national rates of axillary lymph node dissection for patients with limited nodal disease have decreased by approximately 50% (from 44% in 2011 to 30% to 34% in 2012 and 25% to 28% in 2013), and national rates of lumpectomy margin re-excision have decreased by nearly 40% (from 16% to 34% before to 14% to 18% after publication of a consensus statement). Conversely, national rates of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy continue to rise each year, accounting for up to 30% of all mastectomies for breast cancer (range in all mastectomy cases: 2010-2012, 28%-30%; 1998, <2%), and rates of sentinel lymph node biopsy in women 70 years or older with low-risk breast cancer are persistently greater than 80% (range, 80%-88%). Factors associated with high rates of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy use are younger age, white race, increased socioeconomic status, and the availability of breast reconstruction; limited data exist on factors associated with high rates of sentinel lymph node biopsy in women 70 years or older. Successful deimplementation of axillary lymph node dissection and lumpectomy margin re-excision were associated with decreased costs and improved patient-centered outcomes.

Conclusions and Relevance

This review demonstrates variable deimplementation of 4 low-value surgical procedures in patients with breast cancer. Addressing specific patient-level, clinician-level, and system-level barriers to deimplementation is necessary to encourage shared decision-making and reduce overtreatment.

Prospective Study of Psychosocial Outcomes of Having Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy Among Women With Nonhereditary Breast Cancer

Purpose The incidence of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) has continued to increase. We prospectively examined psychosocial outcomes before and up to 18 months after surgery in women who did or did not have CPM. Methods Women with unilateral, nonhereditary breast cancer completed questionnaires before and 1, 6, 12, and 18 months after surgery. Primary psychosocial measures were cancer worry and cancer-specific distress. Secondary measures were body image, quality of life (QOL), decisional satisfaction, and decisional regret. Results A total of 288 women (mean age, 56 years; 58% non-Hispanic white) provided questionnaire data, of whom 50 underwent CPM. Before surgery, women who subsequently received CPM had higher cancer distress ( P = .04), cancer worry ( P < .001), and body image concerns ( P < .001) than women who did not have CPM. In a multivariable repeated measures model adjusted for time, age, race/ethnicity, and stage, CPM was associated with more body image distress ( P < .001) and poorer QOL ( P = .02). There was a significant interaction between time point and CPM group for cancer worry ( Pinteraction < .001), suggesting that CPM patients had higher presurgery cancer worry, but their postsurgery worry decreased over time and was similar to the worry of patients who did not have CPM. QOL was similar between CPM groups before surgery but declined 1 month after surgery and remained lower than patients who did not have CPM after surgery ( Pinteraction = .05). Conclusion These results may facilitate informed discussions between women and their physicians regarding CPM. Fear and worry may be foremost concerns at the time surgical decisions are made, when women may not anticipate the adverse future effect of CPM on body image and QOL.

Society of Surgical Oncology Breast Disease Working Group Statement on Prophylactic (Risk-Reducing) Mastectomy

Over the past several years, there has been an increasing rate of bilateral prophylactic mastectomy (BPM) and contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) surgeries. Since publication of the 2007 SSO position statement on the use of risk-reducing mastectomy, there have been significant advances in the understanding of breast cancer biology and treatment. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the current literature as a resource to facilitate a shared and informed decision-making process regarding the use of risk-reducing mastectomy.

Contralateral risk reducing mastectomy in Non-BRCA-Mutated patients

The use of contralateral risk reducing mastectomy (CRRM) is indicated in women affected by breast cancer, who are at high risk of developing a contralateral breast cancer, particularly women with genetic mutation of BRCA1, BRCA2 and P53. However we should consider that the genes described above account for only 20-30% of the excess familiar risk. What is contralaterally indicated when genetic assessment results negative for mutation in a young patient with unilateral breast cancer? Is it ethically correct to remove a contralateral "healthy" breast? CRRM rates continue to rise all over the world although CRRM seems not to improve overall survival in women with unilateral sporadic breast cancer. The decision to pursue CRRM as part of treatment in women who have a low-to-moderate risk of developing a secondary cancer in the contralateral breast should consider both breast cancer individual-features and patients preferences, but should be not supported by the surgeon and avoided as first approach with the exception of women highly worried about cancer. Prospective studies are needed to identify cohorts of patients most likely to benefit from CRRM.

Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy for Women with T4 Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

The use of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) for women with unilateral breast cancer is increasing. The authors were interested in assessing whether this trend extended to patients with T4 disease.

METHODS

We identified 92 patients from our prospective breast surgery registry with unilateral clinical T4 M0 disease who underwent mastectomy at our institution from October 2008 to July 2015. Patient, tumor, and treatment variables were compared between patients who did and those who did not undergo CPM, and the reasons patients elected CPM were ascertained.

RESULTS

Of the 92 patients, 33 (36 %) underwent a CPM, including 25 of 55 patients (45 %) with inflammatory breast cancer. Immediate breast reconstruction was performed for 11 of the 92 patients (12 %), including 4 CPM patients. Pathology showed benign findings in all 33 CPM cases, including 3 patients with atypical hyperplasia. The primary reason for CPM reported by the patients included fear of occult current or future breast cancer in 12 cases (36 %), symmetry in 11 cases (33 %), avoidance of future chemotherapy in 5 cases (15 %), deleterious BRCA mutation in 2 cases (6 %), contralateral benign breast disease in 2 cases (6 %), and medical oncologist recommendation in 1 cases (3 %). Patients selecting CPM were younger and more likely to have undergone BRCA testing.

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial rate of CPM was observed among women undergoing mastectomy for unilateral T4 breast cancer despite the considerable risk of mortality from their index cancer. The reasons for selection of CPM paralleled those reported for patients with early-stage disease. The most common motivation was fear of occult current or future breast cancer and included the desire to avoid further chemotherapy.

Redefining Risk and Benefit: Understanding the Decision to Undergo Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

Rates of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) among unilateral breast cancer patients are rapidly increasing; however, there are little data documenting the decision-making process of patients with no known BRCA mutations, who elect this more aggressive treatment. We conducted semistructured interviews with nine newly diagnosed patients who elected CPM over other surgical options. Using grounded theory, we analyzed interview data to identify influential decision-making factors by prevalence and intensity across participants. Decision-making factors included subjective evaluations of risk and benefit, avoidance of future breast cancer surveillance and accompanying worry, and desire to maintain (or improve) breast appearance. Based solely on survival benefit, the decision to undergo CPM might be viewed as unnecessary or even misguided. However, our findings show the importance of psychosocial factors in patients' assessments of risk and benefit, and support the need for additional patient-provider communication regarding these factors.

A retrospective analysis of breast cancer subtype based on ER/PR and HER2 status in Ghanaian patients at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana

Background

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease composed of multiple subgroups with different molecular alterations, cellular composition, clinical behaviour, and response to treatment. This study evaluates the occurrence of the various subtypes and their clinical and pathological behaviour in the Ghanaian breast cancer population at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).

Methods

Retrospective review of case notes of patients who had completed treatment for breast cancer at the KBTH within the last 5 years was conducted between April 2011 and March 2012. Subtypes were determined by immunohistochemistry classification based on expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2).

Result

A total of 165 cases contributed to this study. The mean age at diagnosis was 52.5 ± 12.1 years. Tumour size ranged from 0.8 cm to 15 cm with a mean of 4.9 ± 2.8 cm and median of 4 cm. Tumour grade was Grade I 8.3 %, Grade II 60.8 % and Grade III 30.8 %. ER, PR and HER2/neu receptor positivity was 32.1, 25.6 and 25.5 % respectively. Almost half (49.4 %) of the study population had triple negative tumours. Luminal A, luminal B and non-luminal HER2 were 25.6, 12.2, and 12.8 % respectively. No statistically significant association was seen between subtype and tumour size, tumour grade, lymph node status and age at diagnosis.

Conclusion

Triple negative tumour is the most occurring subtype in the Ghanaian breast cancer population treated at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. Lack of association seen between subtypes and their clinical and pathological behaviour could be due to small sample size.

Increasing mastectomy rates-the effect of environmental factors on the choice for mastectomy: a comparative analysis between Canada and the United States

PURPOSE

Unilateral mastectomy (UM) and contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) for early-stage breast cancer (ESBC) have been increasing. Numerous etiological factors for this rise have been suggested, including increasing use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and reconstruction, surgeon's preference, and patient's choice. We conducted a qualitative study to explore what role the surgeon and their practice environment play in the increasing rates.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with general surgeons to explore their current approach to treating ESBC and their experience with women requesting mastectomy. Purposive sampling identified surgeons across Ontario, Canada, and the United States (US). Constant comparative analysis identified key concepts.

RESULTS

Data saturation was achieved after 45 interviews. 'The effect of external factors on rising mastectomy rates' was the dominant theme. All surgeons described increasing mastectomy rates over the last 5 years, and all surgeons discussed breast-conserving therapy (BCT) and UM as equivalent options. However, US surgeons discussed reconstruction early in the consultation process, reflecting legislative requirements. In contrast, Ontario surgeons discussed reconstruction only when a patient was considering mastectomy. Ontario surgeons often recommended BCT, whereas US surgeons rarely made a direct recommendation regarding the extent of surgery. Neither US nor Canadian surgeons recommended the use of UM + CPM in average-risk ESBC, and all surgeons described women initiating this request. MRI use and access to immediate breast reconstruction also impacted the choice for mastectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of MRI, access to reconstruction, and legislative requirements regarding information disclosure, appeared to influence the surgical consultation process and the patient's request for CPM.

Utilization of neoadjuvant chemotherapy varies in the treatment of women with invasive breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has made it possible for some women to be successfully treated with breast conservation therapy (BCT ) who were initially considered ineligible. Factors related to current practice patterns of NAC use are important to understand particularly as the surgical treatment of invasive breast cancer has changed. The goal of this study was to determine variations in neoadjuvant chemotherapy use in a large multi-center national database of patients with breast cancer.

METHODS

We evaluated NAC use in patients with initially operable invasive breast cancer and potential impact on breast conservation rates. Records of 2871 women ages 18-years and older diagnosed with 2907 invasive breast cancers from January 2003 to December 2008 at four institutions across the United States were examined using the Breast Cancer Surgical Outcomes (BRCASO) database. Main outcome measures included NAC use and association with pre-operatively identified clinical factors, surgical approach (partial mastectomy [PM] or total mastectomy [TM]), and BCT failure (initial PM followed by subsequent TM).

RESULTS

Overall, NAC utilization was 3.8%l. Factors associated with NAC use included younger age, pre-operatively known positive nodal status, and increasing clinical tumor size. NAC use and BCT failure rates increased with clinical tumor size, and there was significant variation in NAC use across institutions. Initial TM frequency approached initial PM frequency for tumors >30-40 mm; BCT failure rate was 22.7% for tumors >40 mm. Only 2.7% of patients undergoing initial PM and 7.2% undergoing initial TM received NAC.

CONCLUSIONS

NAC use in this study was infrequent and varied among institutions. Infrequent NAC use in patients suggests that NAC may be underutilized in eligible patients desiring breast conservation.

Breast tissue expander-related infections: perioperative antimicrobial regimens

OBJECTIVE

The rate of postmastectomy tissue expander (TE) infection remains excessively high, ranging between 2% and 24%. We hypothesized that current perioperative antimicrobial regimens utilized for breast TE reconstruction may be outdated as a result of recent changes in microflora and susceptibility patterns.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We reviewed the records of all patients who had a TE reconstructive procedure and developed a definite breast TE infection between 2003 and 2010 at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Antimicrobials were stratified into 3 groups: systemic perioperative, local irrigation, and oral immediate postoperative antimicrobials. These were considered discordant if they did not target the isolated organisms, while a breakthrough infection was defined as an infection that occurred despite concordant antimicrobial coverage.

RESULTS

Overall, 75 patients with a definite TE infection were identified. The most common organisms identified were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (29%), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (15%), and gram-negative rods (26%). The use of systemic perioperative antimicrobials was deemed discordant in 51% of the cases. Although 79% of the patients received broad-spectrum perioperative local antimicrobial irrigation, 63% developed a breakthrough infection. Even though 61% received oral postoperative prophylactic antimicrobials, 63% of the times they were deemed discordant.

CONCLUSIONS

Contrary to the proven effectiveness of a single dose of perioperative antibiotics, the common use of local antimicrobial irrigation and prolonged postoperative oral antibiotics appears to be an inadequate component of our preventive armamentarium. Also, because methicillin-resistant staphylococcal and pseudomonal infections occurred approximately 60% of the time, at institutions that have observed an increase of these organisms, it may be prudent that perioperative antimicrobials target these microorganisms.

Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy in an Asian population: a single institution review

BACKGROUND

Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) removes the non-diseased breast in women who have unilateral breast cancer. This reduces the incidence of contralateral breast cancer, and potentially improves survival in high risk patients. Such surgical risk-reduction strategy is increasingly being adopted in the United States, despite a decreasing incidence of contralateral breast cancer. The use of CPM in an Asian population is yet unknown. We present the first Asian report on CPM rates and trends in Singapore, the country with the highest incidence of breast cancer in Asia.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all patients who had breast cancer surgery from 2001 to 2010 at the largest healthcare system in Singapore was performed. Patient demographics and tumour characteristics were analysed with regards to type of surgery performed. Factors associated with CPM were identified.

RESULTS

From 2001 to 2010, a total of 5130 patients underwent oncological breast surgery. A decreasing trend of mastectomies (82.7%-70.8%), an upward trend of breast conserving surgery (BCS) (17.3%-29.2%) and an increasing trend in CPM (0.46%-1.25%) is observed. Patients who opted for CPM are likely to be younger (48.4 ± 9.4 years), married (60%), parous (56.7%), with no family history of breast/ovarian cancer (66.7%), and diagnosed at an earlier stage. The rate of synchronous occult breast malignancy was found to be 10% (n = 30), and these were in patients who were of a low cancer-risk profile.

CONCLUSIONS

This retrospective study reflects an increasing incidence of breast cancer in Singapore, with a decrease in mastectomies, and an increase in BCS and CPM rates, similar to Western data. Similar to Western populations, the Asian woman who opts for CPM is likely to be young and have an earlier stage of breast cancer. In contrast, the Asian woman is likely to have no family history of breast or ovarian cancers. Commonly cited reasons for increased CPM rates such as the increased availability of genetic counselling and pre-operative MRI evaluation, along with wide use of reconstruction, do not feature as dominant factors in our population, suggesting that the Asian patients may have different considerations when electing for CPM.

Mastectomy trends for early-stage breast cancer: a report from the EUSOMA multi-institutional European database

INTRODUCTION

Recent single-institution reports have shown increased mastectomy rates during the last decade. Further studies aiming to determine if these reports could be reflecting a national trend in the United States of America (US) have shown conflicting results. We report these trends from a multi-institutional European database.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Our source of data was the eusomaDB, a central data warehouse of prospectively collected information of the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists (EUSOMA). We identified patients with newly diagnosed unilateral early-stage breast cancer (stages 0, I or II) to examine rates and trends in surgical treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 15,369 early-stage breast cancer cases underwent surgery in 13 Breast Units from 2003 to 2010. Breast conservation was successful in 11,263 cases (73.3%). Adjusted trend by year showed a statistically significant decrease in mastectomy rates from 2005 to 2010 (p = 0.003) with a progressive reduction of 4.24% per year. A multivariate model showed a statistically significant association of the following factors with mastectomy: age < 40 or ≥ 70 years, pTis, pT1mi, positive axillary nodes, lobular histology, tumour grade II and III, negative progesterone receptors and multiple lesions.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates that a high proportion of patients with newly diagnosed unilateral early-stage breast cancer from the eusomaDB underwent breast-conserving surgery. It also shows a significant trend of decreasing mastectomy rates from 2005 to 2010. Moreover, our study suggests mastectomy rates in the population from the eusomaDB are lower than those reported in the US.

Increasing rates of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy - a trend made in USA?

BACKGROUND

Numerous recent studies conducted in the USA reported a considerable rise in the rates of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) in early-stage breast cancer (BC). However, this aggressive surgical approach only showed an evidence-based improvement in prognosis for a small subgroup of high-risk BC patients. We present the first European study reporting CPM rates in an unselected cohort of patients with BC.

PATIENTS & METHODS

The data of 881 patients (≤ 80 years) who underwent surgery for stage I-III BC from 1995 to 2009 at the University of Basel Breast Center was analyzed.

RESULTS

CPM was performed in 23 of 881 patients (2.6%). Of the entire patient population, 37.5% underwent ipsilateral mastectomy and of those, only 7.0% chose to undergo CPM. Importantly, there was no trend over time in the rate of CPM. Women who chose CPM were significantly younger (54 vs. 60 years, p < 0.001), had more often a positive family history (39.1% vs. 24.4%, p = 0.032) and tumors of lobular histology (30.5% vs. 13.9%, p = 0.035).

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis of CPM rates in BC patients, conducted at a European University breast center, does not show the considerably rising CPM rates observed in the USA. We hypothesize that different medico-social and cultural factors, which are highlighted by a different public perception of BC and a different attitude toward plastic surgery, determine the varying CPM rates between the USA and Europe.

Changes in mastectomy rates at a Brazilian public hospital over 20 years (1989 to 2008)

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE

Recently, breast-conserving surgery (BCS) has been replacing mastectomy for breast cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in mastectomy and BCS rates and the factors relating to these shifts.

DESIGN AND SETTING

A retrospective study in a Brazilian public hospital.

METHODS

Pathological records from female patients who underwent surgery for breast cancer at Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (HC-UFMG), between 1989 and 2008 were reviewed. The mastectomy and BCS rates were calculated. The chi-square test was used to assess factors associated with type of surgical treatment and to compare trends in treatment type over the years. Logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

From 1989 to 2008, 2050 breast cancer surgical specimens were received in our service, corresponding to 1973 patients; 1324 (64.6%) of them were from mastectomy and 726 (35.4%) from BCS. A shift from mastectomy towards BCS was observed (P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, earlier year of surgery (P < 0.001), larger tumor size (P < 0.001), having at least one positive axillary lymph node (P < 0.001) and patients' age greater than 68 years (P = 0.007) were predictors of mastectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a shift from mastectomy towards BCS in our institution over the years. This may reflect consolidation of BCS (plus radiotherapy) as an equivalent treatment to mastectomy in terms of survival and a shift to earlier diagnosis for the disease.