Differentiation of mucinous cysts and simple cysts of the liver using preoperative imaging

PURPOSE

Preoperative radiographic differentiation of mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCN) and simple cysts (SLC) of the liver is challenging. Previous data have demonstrated that the finding of septations arising from the cyst wall without indentation on cross-sectional imaging is associated with MCN. We aim to assess whether this radiographic feature is diagnostic of MCN.

METHODS

A prospectively maintained database was queried for patients with a preoperative diagnosis of a cystic liver lesion who subsequently underwent operative intervention. The feature of septations without indentation of the cyst wall was evaluated on cross-sectional imaging obtained within 3 months of operation. Imaging was independently evaluated by three radiologists blinded to pathology and interobserver agreement was compared to assess the diagnostic accuracy of this feature as well as the overall likelihood of the lesion representing a MCN.

RESULTS

There were 95 patients who met inclusion criteria; 80 (84%) had SLC on pathology, while 15 (16%) had MCN. Presence of septa without indentation of cyst wall had high sensitivity (range 80-87%), but low specificity (range 48-66%). Interobserver percent agreement (PA) was 51% [κ = 0.35 (95% CI 0.22-0.47)]. Sensitivity among the three radiologists ranged between 20 and 80% and specificity between 71 and 91% for the likelihood of the lesion representing MCN versus SLC, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.67-0.79; however, interobserver agreement was fair [κ = 0.40 (95% CI 0.25-0.55), PA = 67%].

CONCLUSION

The presence of septations without indentation of cyst wall demonstrates adequate sensitivity to differentiate MCN and SLC. However, there is variability for detection of this feature and therefore, it alone is of limited clinical value.

Tumor-Nipple Distance of ≥ 1 cm Predicts Negative Nipple Pathology After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

As neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer has become more widely used, so has nipple-sparing mastectomy. A common criterion for eligibility is a 1 cm tumor-to-nipple distance (TND), but its suitability after NAC is unclear. In this study, we examined factors predictive of negative nipple pathologic status (NS-) in women undergoing total mastectomy after NAC.

METHODS

Women with invasive breast cancer treated with NAC and total mastectomy from August 2014 to April 2018 at our institution were retrospectively identified. Following review of pre- and post-NAC magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and mammograms, the association of clinicopathologic and imaging variables with NS- was examined and the accuracy of 1 cm TND on imaging for predicting NS- was determined.

RESULTS

Among 175 women undergoing 179 mastectomies, 74% of tumors were cT1-T2 and 67% were cN+ on pre-NAC staging; 10% (18/179) had invasive or in situ carcinoma in the nipple on final pathology. On multivariable analysis, after adjusting for age, grade, and tumor stage, three factors, namely number of positive nodes, pre-NAC nipple-areolar complex retraction, and decreasing TND, were significant predictors of nipple involvement (p < 0.05). The likelihood of NS- was higher with increasing TND on pre- and post-NAC imaging (p < 0.05). TND ≥ 1 cm predicted NS- in 97% and 95% of breasts on pre- and post-NAC imaging, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing TND was associated with a higher likelihood of NS-. A TND ≥ 1 cm on pre- or post-NAC imaging is highly predictive of NS- and could be used to determine eligibility for nipple-sparing mastectomy after NAC.

Accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Biopsy to Verify Breast Cancer Pathologic Complete Response After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial

IMPORTANCE

After neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), pathologic complete response (pCR) is an optimal outcome and a surrogate end point for improved disease-free and overall survival. To date, surgical resection remains the only reliable method for diagnosing pCR.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided biopsy for diagnosing a pCR after NAC compared with reference-standard surgical resection.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Single-arm, phase 1, nonrandomized controlled trial in a single tertiary care cancer center from September 26, 2017, to July 29, 2019. The median follow-up was 1.26 years (interquartile range, 0.85-1.59 years). Data analysis was performed in November 2019. Eligible patients had (1) stage IA to IIIC biopsy-proven operable invasive breast cancer; (2) standard-of-care NAC; (3) MRI before and after NAC, with imaging complete response defined as no residual enhancement on post-NAC MRI; and (4) definitive surgery. Patients were excluded if they were younger than 18 years, had a medical reason precluding study participation, or had a prior history of breast cancer.

INTERVENTIONS

Post-NAC MRI-guided biopsy without the use of intravenous contrast of the tumor bed before definitive surgery.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary end point was the negative predictive value of MRI-guided biopsy, with true-negative defined as negative results of the biopsy (ie, no residual cancer) corresponding to a surgical pCR. Accuracy, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and specificity were also calculated. Two clinical definitions of pCR were independently evaluated: definition 1 was no residual invasive cancer; definition 2, no residual invasive or in situ cancer.

RESULTS

Twenty of 23 patients (87%) had evaluable data (median [interquartile range] age, 51.5 [39.0-57.5] years; 20 women [100%]; 13 White patients [65%]). Of the 20 patients, pre-NAC median tumor size on MRI was 3.0 cm (interquartile range, 2.0-5.0 cm). Nineteen of 20 patients (95%) had invasive ductal carcinoma; 15 of 20 (75%) had stage II cancer; 11 of 20 (55%) had ERBB2 (formerly HER2 or HER2/neu)-positive cancer; and 6 of 20 (30%) had triple-negative cancer. Surgical pathology demonstrated a pCR in 13 of 20 (65%) patients and no pCR in 7 of 20 patients (35%) when pCR definition 1 was used. Results of MRI-guided biopsy had a negative predictive value of 92.8% (95% CI, 66.2%-99.8%), with accuracy of 95% (95% CI, 75.1%-99.9%), sensitivity of 85.8% (95% CI, 42.0%-99.6%), positive predictive value of 100%, and specificity of 100% for pCR definition 1. Only 1 patient had a false-negative MRI-guided biopsy result (surgical pathology showed <0.02 cm of residual invasive cancer).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This study's results suggest that the accuracy of MRI-guided biopsy to diagnose a post-NAC pCR approaches that of reference-standard surgical resection. MRI-guided biopsy may be a viable alternative to surgical resection for this population after NAC, which supports the need for further investigation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03289195.

Immunomodulatory Activity of a Colony-stimulating Factor-1 Receptor Inhibitor in Patients with Advanced Refractory Breast or Prostate Cancer: A Phase I Study

PURPOSE

Tumor-associated macrophages correlate with increased invasiveness, growth, and immunosuppression. Activation of the colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R) results in proliferation, differentiation, and migration of monocytes/macrophages. This phase I study evaluated the immunologic and clinical activity, and safety profile of CSF-1R inhibition with the mAb LY3022855.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with advanced refractory metastatic breast cancer (MBC) or metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) were treated with LY3022855 intravenously in 6-week cycles in cohorts: (A) 1.25 mg/kg every 2 weeks (Q2W); (B) 1.0 mg/kg on weeks 1, 2, 4, and 5; (C) 100 mg once weekly; (D)100 mg Q2W. mCRPC patients were enrolled in cohorts A and B; patients with MBC were enrolled in all cohorts. Efficacy was assessed by RECIST and Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Working Group 2 criteria.

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients (22 MBC; 12 mCRPC) received ≥1 dose of LY3022855. At day 8, circulating CSF-1 levels increased and proinflammatory monocytes CD14^DIMCD16^BRIGHT decreased. Best RECIST response was stable disease in five patients with MBC (23%; duration, 82-302 days) and three patients with mCRPC (25%; duration, 50-124 days). Two patients with MBC (cohort A) had durable stable disease >9 months and a third patient with MBC had palpable reduction in a nontarget neck mass. Immune-related gene activation in tumor biopsies posttreatment was observed. Common any grade treatment-related adverse events were fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea, asymptomatic increased lipase, and creatine phosphokinase.

CONCLUSIONS

LY3022855 was well tolerated and showed evidence of immune modulation. Clinically meaningful stable disease >9 months was observed in two patients with MBC.

PET-CT for Evaluating Breast Cancer Yields Incidental Finding in the Lung

BACKGROUND

A woman aged 75 years presented with a palpable left axillary lymph node. Mammography showed a spiculated mass in the left breast, demonstrated by biopsy to be triple-negative breast cancer. A positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scan was performed to evaluate the extent of the cancer and revealed an unrelated nonmetastatic, synchronous carcinoid in the left lung. The patient was a nonsmoker and presented with no symptoms of lung disease.

DISCUSSION

Advanced imaging modalities used to evaluate the extent of locally advanced breast cancer have been a keystone in decreasing cancer mortality rates. Mammography is considered the gold standard for breast disease evaluation, but sonography is a valuable modality for correlating suspicious findings and evaluating lesions that might not be visible on mammograms. When a breast biopsy confirms metastasis to the axillary lymph nodes, PET-CT is the modality of choice for cancer staging and ruling out distant metastases.

CONCLUSION

Imaging tools used to evaluate breast cancer can help determine whether distant metastasis has occurred and in rare cases can help discover other primary cancers. The patient in this case study was 1 of the few patients with an incidental finding of a second nonmetastatic primary malignancy in the lung detected using PET-CT. The risks associated with advanced imaging include exposing patients to additional tests and potentially invasive procedures based on the results. However, in some instances, imaging results can alter the treatment plan and increase survival rates. Further empirical research and case studies are needed to identify clinical outcomes for patients with a second primary cancer.

Response rates of hepatic arterial infusion pump therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer liver metastases refractory to all standard chemotherapies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the role of hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) liver metastases (LM) refractory to oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and fluorouracil-based treatments.

METHODS

A search identified patients with mCRC treated after tumor progression on at least three standard systemic therapies.

RESULTS

One hundred and ten patients met criteria for inclusion (i.e., progression on at least three standard agents). Fifty seven patients had LM-only and 53 patients had LM and low volume extrahepatic metastases (LME). Patients with LM-only and LME had a response rate (RR) of 33% and 36%, median survival of 20 months and 11.4 months, respectively. Patients with LM-only had progression free survival of 6 months and hepatic progression free survival of 7.56 months. In a secondary analysis, 46 patients were RECIST-refractory to all standard therapies: LM-only (n = 24) and LME (n = 22). LM-only and LME had a RR of 29% and 36%, and median survival 17.2 months and 9.1 months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with refractory mCRC LM can achieve a response to HAI resulting in antitumor activity and improvement in survival. Responses are rarely seen in such heavily treated patients with systemic therapy alone, suggesting a regional directed approach is useful. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:655-663. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Diffusion-Weighted MRI: Detection and Evaluation of Treatment Response

Differentiating between cancerous tissue and healthy liver parenchyma could represent a challenge with the only conventional Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging. Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) exploits different tissue characteristics to conventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) sequences that enhance hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) detection, characterization, and post-treatment evaluation. Detection of HCC is improved by DWI, infact this technology increases conspicuity of lesions that might otherwise not be identified due to obscuration by adjacent vessels or due to low contrast between the lesion and background liver. It is important to remember that DWI combined with contrast-enhanced MRI has higher sensitivity than DWI alone, and that some patients are not eligible for use of contrast on CT and MRI; in these patients DWI has a prominent role. MRI has advanced beyond structural anatomic imaging to now showing pathophysiologic processes. DWI is a promising way to characterize lesions utilizing the inherent contrast within the liver and has the benefit of not requiring contrast injection. DWI improves detection and characterization of HCC. Proposed clinical uses for DWI include: assessing prognosis, predicting response, monitoring response to therapy, and distinguishing tumor recurrence from treatment effect. Ideally, DWI will help risk stratify patients and will participate in prognostic modeling.