Pathological Diagnosis, Work-Up and Reporting of Breast Cancer 1st Central-Eastern European Professional Consensus Statement on Breast Cancer

A Low-Cost Optomechatronic Diffuse Optical Mammography System for 3D Image Reconstruction: Proof of Concept

Background: The development and initial testing of an optomechatronic system for the reconstruction of three-dimensional (3D) images to identify abnormalities in breast tissue and assist in the diagnosis of breast cancer is presented. Methods: This system combines 3D reconstruction technology with diffuse optical mammography (DOM) to offer a detecting tool that complements and assists medical diagnosis. DOM analyzes tissue properties with light, detecting density and composition variations. Integrating 3D reconstruction enables detailed visualization for precise tumor localization and sizing, offering more information than traditional methods. This technological combination enables more accurate, earlier diagnoses and helps plan effective treatments by understanding the patient's anatomy and tumor location. Results: Using Chinese ink, it was possible to identify simulated abnormalities of 10, 15, and 20 mm in diameter in breast tissue phantoms from cosmetic surgery. Conclusions: Data can be processed using algorithms to generate three-dimensional images, providing a non-invasive and safe approach for detecting anomalies. Currently, the system is in a pilot testing phase using breast tissue phantoms, enabling the evaluation of its accuracy and functionality before application in clinical studies.

The prognostic value of histological grade determined after neoadjuvant chemotherapy of breast cancer

Histological grade is a validated prognostic factor of breast cancer but may show alterations following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Its reporting after NACT is recommended by several guidelines, but evidence of its retained prognostic impact is scarce. Patients treated with NACT followed by surgery and having sufficient residual tumour for the determination of grade were analysed for the survival effects of posttreatment grade (yG). Kaplan-Meier analyses and the log-rank test were applied, followed by the univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. The cohort comprised 355 patients with known yG, and 320 of them had also a pretreatment grade available. Pretreatment grade changed in 99/320 (31 %) cases following NACT, and downgrading was more common (n=78/320, 24 %) than upgrading (21/320, 7 %). Among 355 breast cancer patients, those with yG3 (poorly differentiated) tumours (n=155) had worse 5-year relapse-free and overall survival estimates than those with yG2 (n=169) or yG1 (n=31) tumours. This was also substantiated by univariable analysis; however, yG lost its significance in the multivariable model. Post-NACT histological grade has a prognostic impact, but does not seem to be an independent prognosticator in the post-NACT setting; however, these results lend support for its reporting by pathologists after primary systemic treatment.

Glucocorticoid Receptor Isoforms in Breast Cancer Raise Implications for Personalised Supportive Therapies

Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) activation may promote metastasis in oestrogen receptor-negative and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, the role of the GRβ isoform, which has opposing effects to the main isoform, has not been studied in clinical samples. We aimed to analyse the intracellular localisation of total GR and GRβ in vitro using plasmid constructs and fluorescent immunocytochemistry. Additionally, our goal was to perform immunostaining for total GR and GRβ on two cohorts: (i) on 194 clinical breast cancer samples to compare the expression in different molecular subtypes, and (ii) on 161 TNBC samples to analyse the association of GR with survival. We supplemented our analysis with RNA data from 1097 TNBC cases. We found that in the absence of the ligand, GR resided in the cytoplasm of breast cancer cells, while upon ligand activation, it translocated to the nucleus. A negative correlation was found between cytoplasmic GRtotal and Ki67 in luminal A tumours, while the opposite trend was observed in TNBC samples. Tumours with strong lymphoid infiltration showed higher cytoplasmic GRtotal staining compared to those with weaker infiltration. Patients with high nuclear GRtotal staining had shorter progression-free survival in univariate analysis. High cytoplasmic GRβ was a marker for better overall survival in multivariate analysis (10-year overall survival HR [95% CI]: 0.46 [0.22-0.95], p = 0.036). As a conclusions, this study is the first to investigate GRβ expression in breast tumours. Different expression and cellular localisation of GRtotal and GRβ were observed in the context of molecular subtypes, underscoring the complex role of GR in breast cancer. An inverse association between cytoplasmic GRtotal and the Ki67 proliferation index was observed in luminal A and TNBC. Regarding the impact of GR on outcomes in TNBC patients, while cytoplasmic GRβ was associated with a better prognosis, patients with nuclear GRtotal staining may be at a higher risk of disease progression, as it negatively affects survival. Caution should be exercised when using glucocorticoids in patients with nuclear GR staining, as it may negatively impact survival.

Availability and geographic access to breast cancer pathology services in Ghana

INTRODUCTION

Breast cancer poses a significant health challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Ghana, where late-stage diagnoses and limited healthcare access contribute to elevated mortality rates. This study focuses on the crucial role of pathology and laboratory medical (PALM) services in the timely diagnosis of breast cancer within Ghana.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of hospitals was completed from November 2020 to October 2021, with 94.8% of identified in-country hospitals participating. Pathology service-related parameters assessed included whether pathology was available for the diagnosis of breast cancer on-site or via external referral, the number of pathology personnel, additional breast cancer diagnostic capabilities including estrogen and progesterone and/or HER2 testing, and the time from biopsy to patients receiving their results. Geospatial mapping was used to identify areas of limited access.

RESULTS

Of the 328 participating hospitals, 136 (41%) reported breast cancer pathology services, with only 6 having on-site capabilities. Pathology personnel, comprising 15 consultants and 15 specialists, were concentrated in major referral centers, particularly in Greater Accra and Kumasi. An assessment of referral patterns suggested that 75% of the population reside within an hour of breast cancer pathology services. Among the 136 hospitals with access to breast cancer pathology, only a limited number reported that results included ER/PR (38%) and HER2 testing (33%).

CONCLUSION

Ghana has been able to ensure significant pathology service availability through robust referral pathways with centralized labs. Despite this, difficulties persist with the majority of pathology results not including hormone receptor testing which is important in providing tumor specific treatment.

Combining Molecular and Traditional Prognostic Factors: A Holistic Approach to Breast Cancer Prognostication

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with various morphologies and molecular features, and it is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in developed countries. According to the literature, we currently lack both prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The most important prognostic factors are disease stage and Nottingham grade. We conducted a retrospective analysis involving 273 patients with BC who underwent neoadjuvant therapy before proceeding to curative surgical treatment between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2023. Pathological procedures were conducted at the Department of Pathology, Emergency County Hospital of Targu Mureș, Romania. A statistical analysis was performed. Regarding the relationship between Nottingham grade and Ki67, grade I was associated with a Ki67 of less than 14. The relationship between tumor grade and luminal was similar (p = 0.0001): Grade I was associated with luminal A. Regarding TNM stage, it was statistically significantly correlated with TILs (p = 0.01) and RCB (p = 0.0001). Stages III and IV were associated with a high RCB and poor prognosis. Regarding the prognostic value, Nottingham grade 3 and TNM stages III and IV were correlated with low overall survival and disease-free survival, with poor prognosis, and, among the molecular variables, RCB played the most important prognostic role.

Pathology and resection margins following mastectomy prior to immediate breast reconstruction

Risk of local recurrence (LR) (and even distant disease-free survival) after mastectomy is associated with margin status. Furthermore, the vast majority of LR are located at the anterior (superficial) margin. Margins in mastectomy are considered anatomical borders and not true resection margins; such a conception may erroneously lead to underestimation of the risk of LR after mastectomy. If dissection is accurate along the fascia, only skin, subcutaneous tissue and minimal residual breast gland tissue (rBGT) are expected to remain in the patient. However, the subcutaneous fascia is an inconsistent anatomical structure that may be absent in almost half of patients. Studies and routine clinical practice suggest that resection may frequently, though often focally, be within the breast glandular tissue leaving various amounts of rBGT. Such areas may be nidus for subsequent de novo or recurrent premalignant or malignant disease. There is no consensus on handling of close/positive margins and intervention is extrapolated from studies on breast conserving surgery with subsequent radiotherapy. Handling of a close/positive margin is complicated by poor correlation between the ex vivo findings on the specimen and the attempt to relocate the area of concern in a patient with reconstructed breasts. In this clinical practice review, we strongly advocate for reporting of the lesion-to-margin distance in mastectomies to collect further evidence on the association between LR and margin status.

Unravelling heterogeneous effects of cancer‑associated fibroblasts on poor prognosis markers in breast cancer EM‑G3 cell line: In vitro‑targeted treatment (anti‑IL-6, anti‑VEGF-A, anti‑MFGE8) based on transcriptomic profiling

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Although dramatically increased survival rates of early diagnosed cases have been observed, late diagnosed patients and metastatic cancer may still be considered fatal. The present study's main focus was on cancer‑associated fibroblasts (CAFs) which is an active component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) regulating the breast cancer ecosystem. Transcriptomic profiling and analysis of CAFs isolated from breast cancer skin metastasis, cutaneous basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma unravelled major gene candidates such as IL6, VEGFA and MFGE8 that induced co‑expression of keratins‑8/‑14 in the EM‑G3 cell line derived from infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma. Western blot analysis of selected keratins (keratin‑8, ‑14, ‑18, ‑19) and epithelial‑mesenchymal transition‑associated markers (SLUG, SNAIL, ZEB1, E‑/N‑cadherin, vimentin) revealed specific responses pointing to certain heterogeneity of the studied CAF populations. Experimental in vitro treatment using neutralizing antibodies against IL-6, VEGF‑A and MFGE8 attenuated the modulatory effect of CAFs on EM‑G3 cells. The present study provided novel data in characterizing and understanding the interactions between CAFs and EM‑G3 cells in vitro. CAFs of different origins support the pro‑inflammatory microenvironment and influence the biology of breast cancer cells. This observation potentially holds significant interest for the development of novel, clinically relevant approaches targeting the TME in breast cancer. Furthermore, its implications extend beyond breast cancer and have the potential to impact a wide range of other cancer types.

SENODAY: A New Perspective of Handling Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the feasibility of a same day breast cancer diagnosis and management protocol, consequently decreasing time to treatment and immediately reassuring patients with benign diagnosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 60 women underwent breast exam during SENODAY in our cancer center between January 2020 and December 2022. Patients are first seen by a breast surgeon who mentions whether the patient's history and physical exam are suspicious of malignancy. Patients are then sent to the radiologist who performs a complete radiologic assessment, classifies the lesions, and performs a biopsy when necessary. The specimen is sent to the pathologist who uses the imprint cytology technique to obtain a preliminary diagnosis. Effective counseling is established in case of breast cancer diagnosis.

RESULTS

Among 60 women, 25 patients were reassured by breast imaging and 35 underwent histopathological analysis (17 patients with a 1-day protocol and 18 with the standard definitive technique). Clinical examination was found to have a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 89.47%. The positive predictive value was 80 % and the negative predictive value was 100%. However, we did not find a strong correlation between imaging and definitive pathology. Moreover, on imprint cytology, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 100%. Finally, the mean time-to-treat was 28.6 days.

CONCLUSIONS

SENODAY reassured 68.3% of patients. It also offered effective counseling and a treatment plan to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients within 1 day. Same day histological diagnosis by imprint cytology is effective and feasible with an excellent accuracy.

ONEST (Observers Needed to Evaluate Subjective Tests) Analysis of Stromal Tumour-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (sTILs) in Breast Cancer and Its Limitations

Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) reflect antitumour immunity. Their evaluation of histopathology specimens is influenced by several factors and is subject to issues of reproducibility. ONEST (Observers Needed to Evaluate Subjective Tests) helps in determining the number of observers that would be sufficient for the reliable estimation of inter-observer agreement of TIL categorisation. This has not been explored previously in relation to TILs. ONEST analyses, using an open-source software developed by the first author, were performed on TIL quantification in breast cancers taken from two previous studies. These were one reproducibility study involving 49 breast cancers, 23 in the first circulation and 14 pathologists in the second circulation, and one study involving 100 cases and 9 pathologists. In addition to the estimates of the number of observers required, other factors influencing the results of ONEST were examined. The analyses reveal that between six and nine observers (range 2-11) are most commonly needed to give a robust estimate of reproducibility. In addition, the number and experience of observers, the distribution of values around or away from the extremes, and outliers in the classification also influence the results. Due to the simplicity and the potentially relevant information it may give, we propose ONEST to be a part of new reproducibility analyses.

Radiotherapy of Breast Cancer-Professional Guideline 1st Central-Eastern European Professional Consensus Statement on Breast Cancer

The international radiotherapy (RT) expert panel has revised and updated the RT guidelines that were accepted in 2020 at the 4th Hungarian Breast Cancer Consensus Conference, based on new scientific evidence. Radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) is indicated in ductal carcinoma in situ (stage 0), as RT decreases the risk of local recurrence (LR) by 50-60%. In early stage (stage I-II) invasive breast cancer RT remains a standard treatment following BCS. However, in elderly (≥70 years) patients with stage I, hormone receptor-positive tumour, hormonal therapy without RT can be considered. Hypofractionated whole breast irradiation (WBI) and for selected cases accelerated partial breast irradiation are validated treatment alternatives to conventional WBI administered for 5 weeks. Following mastectomy, RT significantly decreases the risk of LR and improves overall survival of patients who have 1 to 3 or ≥4 positive axillary lymph nodes. In selected cases of patients with 1 to 2 positive sentinel lymph nodes axillary dissection can be substituted with axillary RT. After neoadjuvant systemic treatment (NST) followed by BCS, WBI is mandatory, while after NST followed by mastectomy, locoregional RT should be given in cases of initial stage III-IV and ypN1 axillary status.