Is the CTS5 a helpful decision-making tool in the extended adjuvant therapy setting?

PURPOSE

The Clinical Treatment Score post-5 years (CTS5) is an easy-to-use tool estimating the late distant recurrence (LDR) risk in patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer after 5 years of endocrine therapy (ET). Apart from evaluating the prognostic value and calibration accuracy of CTS5, the aim of this study is to clarify if this score is able to identify patients at higher risk for LDR who will benefit from extended ET.

METHODS

Prognostic power, calibration, and predictive value of the CTS5 was tested in patients of the prospective ABCSG-06 and -0a6 trials (n = 1254 and 860 patients, respectively). Time to LDR was analyzed with Cox regression models.

RESULTS

Higher rates of LDR in the years five to ten were observed in high- and intermediate-risk patients compared to low-risk patients (HR 4.02, 95%CI 2.26-7.15, p < 0.001 and HR 1.93, 95%CI 1.05-3.56, p = 0.035). An increasing continuous CTS5 was associated with increasing LDR risk (HR 2.23, 95% CI 1.74-2.85, p < 0.001). Miscalibration of CTS5 in high-risk patients could be observed. Although not reaching significance, high-risk patients benefitted the most from prolonged ET with an absolute reduction of the estimated 5-year LDR of - 6.1% (95%CI - 14.4 to 2.3).

CONCLUSION

The CTS5 is a reliable prognostic tool that is well calibrated in the lower and intermediate risk groups with a substantial difference of expected versus observed LDR rates in high-risk patients. While a numerical trend in favoring prolonged ET for patients with a higher CTS5 was found, a significantly predictive value for the score could not be confirmed.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ABCSG-06 trial (NCT00309491), ABCSG-06A7 1033AU/0001 (NCT00300508).

Differential immunomodulatory effects of epirubicin/cyclophosphamide and docetaxel in breast cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Epirubicin/cyclophosphamide (EC) and docetaxel (D) are commonly used in a sequential regimen in the neoadjuvant treatment of early, high-risk or locally advanced breast cancer (BC). Novel approaches to increase the response rate combine this treatment with immunotherapies such as PD-1 inhibition. However, the expected stimulatory effect on lymphocytes may depend on the chemotherapy backbone. Therefore, we separately compared the immunomodulatory effects of EC and D in the setting of a randomized clinical trial.

METHODS

Tumor and blood samples of 154 patients from the ABCSG-34 trial were available (76 patients received four cycles of EC followed by four cycles of D; 78 patients get the reverse treatment sequence). Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, circulating lymphocytes and 14 soluble immune mediators were determined at baseline and at drug change. Furthermore, six BC cell lines were treated with E, C or D and co-cultured with immune cells.

RESULTS

Initial treatment with four cycles of EC reduced circulating B and T cells by 94% and 45%, respectively. In contrast, no comparable effects on lymphocytes were observed in patients treated with initial four cycles of D. Most immune mediators decreased under EC whereas D-treatment resulted in elevated levels of CXCL10, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its soluble receptor (suPAR). Accordingly, only the exposure of BC cell lines to D induced similar increases as compared to E. While treatment of BC cells with E was associated with cell shrinkage and apoptosis, D induced cell swelling and accumulation of cells in G2 phase.

CONCLUSION

The deleterious effect of EC on lymphocytes indicates strong immunosuppressive properties of this combination therapy. D, in contrast, has no effect on lymphocytes, but triggers the secretion of stimulatory proteins in vivo and in vitro, indicating a supportive effect on the immune system. Underlying differences in the induced cell death might be causal. These divergent immunomodulatory effects of epirubicin/cyclophosphamide and docetaxel should be considered when planning future combinations with immunotherapies in breast cancer.

Emergence of immune-related adverse events correlates with pathological complete response in patients receiving pembrolizumab for early triple-negative breast cancer

Based upon results of the KEYNOTE-522 trial and following approval by regulatory authorities, the addition of pembrolizumab to chemotherapy is now the standard-of-care for the treatment of early triple-negative breast cancer (eTNBC) (Clinical stage II-III). Pembrolizumab is a programmed cell death protein 1 monoclonal antibody, known to cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in a significant subset of patients. Real-world data on incidence, type and treatment strategies of irAEs in the setting of eTNBC treatment are sparse. In this multicenterretrospective analysis, we characterized real-world incidence of irAEs and treatment outcomes such as pathological complete response (pCR) from the combination of pembrolizumab and chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment for eTNBC. We found a rate of irAEs of all grades of 63.9% and of 20% for irAEs of grade 3 or higher. In the overall population, a pCR rate of 57.1% was observed. The emergence of irAEs correlated significantly with pCR (72.2% versus 30.8%; p =.03). Discontinuation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy before week 12 correlated significantly with a lower pCR rate. To our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the real-world efficacy and safety of a neoadjuvant combination of chemotherapy and pembrolizumab in eTNBC, demonstrating a significant correlation between irAEs and pCR. Early discontinuation of neoadjuvant therapy due to AEs resulted in a lower pCR rate.

The Impact of Adjuvant Radiotherapy on Immediate Prepectoral Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Immediate prepectoral implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR) rates have increased in recent years owing to improved cosmetic and psychological benefits. However, there is a lack of studies regarding complications rates following adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) among patients undergoing immediate prepectoral IBBR.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective monocentric analysis of a cohort of consecutively treated patients who underwent NSM following immediate prepectoral IBBR at our institution between March 2017 and November 2021. Patient demographics, quality of life, complication rates, and oncological safety were evaluated in the RT and non-RT groups. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Version 24 (IMB Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).

RESULTS

A total of 98 patients were examined: 70 were assigned to have prepectoral IBBR without RT and 28 to the group who had prepectoral IBBR with RT. There was a statistically significant difference in overall capsular contracture rate between the RT and non-RT group (18% vs. 4.3%, p=0.04). The total implant loss in the cohort was 4% (10.7% vs. 1.4%, p=0.05). We obtained a high percentages of all BREAST-Q categories in both groups; however, satisfaction with the breast and sexual well-being was higher in the non-RT group. The three-year overall survivals were 97.4% in the RT group and 98.5% in the non-RT group.

CONCLUSION

Our findings showed that patients in the RT group had a higher rate of capsular contracture and implant loss than those in the non-RT group. However, complication rates were within acceptable range and with accurate preoperative information patients have more benefits from immediate reconstruction showing excellent overall quality of life irrespectively of radiation.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Ptotic versus Nonptotic Breasts in Nipple-sparing Mastectomy and Immediate Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction

In recent years, nipple-sparing mastectomy followed by implant-based breast reconstruction has gained popularity due to improved cosmetic and psychological benefits. However, patients with ptotic breasts remain the main challenge for surgeons, owing to the potential risk of postoperative complications.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed for patients who underwent nipple-sparing mastectomy and prepectoral implant-based breast reconstruction between March 2017 and November 2021. Patient demographics, incidence of complications, and quality of life assessed using the BREAST-Q questionnaire were compared between the two different incisions [inverted-T for ptotic versus inframammary fold (IMF) for nonptotic breasts].

Results

A total of 98 patients were examined: 62 in the IMF cohort and 36 in the inverted-T cohort. The results demonstrated equivalence in the safety metrics between the two groups, including hematoma (p=0.367), seroma (p=0.552), infection (P = 1.00), skin necrosis (P = 1.00), local recurrence (P = 1.00), implant loss (P = 0.139), capsular contracture (P = 1.00), and nipple-areolar complex necrosis (P = 0.139). The BREAST-Q scores were equally high in both groups.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that inverted-T incision for ptotic breasts is a safe modality with similar complication rates and high aesthetic results compared with IMF incision for nonptotic breasts. A higher rate of nipple-areolar complex necrosis in the inverted-T group, although not significant, should be considered during careful preoperative planning and patient selection.

Abstract P3-06-10: Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and pathological complete response (pCR) rates in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CHT) and pembrolizumab (PEM) for early triple-negative breast cancer (eTNBC)

Background and Significance: Recently, the addition of the immune checkpoint-inhibitor PEM to CHT was shown to increase pCR rates and invasive event-free survival in the Keynote-522 (KN522) trial. Several irAEs are known to occur during use of PEM in various cancer entities. In our multicenter analysis we aimed to identify real-world occurrence rates of irAES and pCR rates in women receiving PEM and CHT, analogously to KN522, for eTNBC treatment. Methods: All patients receiving CHT + PEM for eTNBC treatment at participating centers were followed prospectively and monitored for occurrence of irAEs and neoadjuvant treatment outcome as defined by pCR from October 2020 until data cut-off on September 15th 2022. Only patients who underwent surgery for their primary tumor before data cut-off were included. Results: A total number of 22 patients with available pCR outcomes were included. All patients were female. Median age was 51 years (range 25-72). Mean tumor size at baseline was 29mm (range 10-75). 41% (9/22) of patients exhibited nodal involvement according to baseline radiological findings. Median MIB-1/Ki67 expression at biopsy was 70%. Patients received a median of 8 (range 1-8) neoadjuvant cycles of PEM and exhibited a median duration of CHT of 24 weeks (range 4-24). Neoadjuvant PEM was discontinued in 32% (7/22) of patients. Discontinuation of neoadjuvant treatment before week 18 occurred in 22,7% (5/22) of patients. We report irAE rates of any kind and all grades of 50% (11/22) and of grade 3-4 in 9% of patients (2/22). Steroids were administered in 7/11 patients experiencing irAEs (64%). 8 irAEs occurred during the neoadjuvant treatment phase, 3 during postneoadjuvant treatment with PEM. No grade 5 toxicity was observed. irAEs observed were hypothyroidism (n=3, all grade 2), arthritis (n=3, all grade 2), myocarditis (n=2, one grade 3/one grade 4), and single cases of hepatitis (grade 2), nephritis (grade 3) and pneumonitis (grade 1). 18% (4/22) of patients underwent mastectomy and 36% (8/22) of patients underwent axillary dissection. Lastly, upon definitive surgery of the primary tumor, we observed pCR in 50% (11/22) of cases. Patients who completed &gt;18 weeks of neoadjuvant therapy exhibited a pCR rate of 59% (10/17), whilst patients who completed ≤18 weeks of neoadjuvant therapy reached pCR in 20% of cases (1/5). Conclusion: We report real-world prospective data about irAE as well as pCR rates during eTNBC treatment with PEM and CHT. irAEs occurred in similar rates as observed in KN522, although numerically higher for irAEs of all grades. The pCR rate within our cohort was numerically lower than reported for KN522, most probably due to a low pCR rate observed for 5 of 22 patients included in this analysis who completed ≤18 weeks of neoadjuvant treatment. Looking at our data, we hypothesize that clinical benefit from combination therapy of PEM and CHT depends on reaching an adequate duration of &gt;18 weeks of neoadjuvant treatment.

Citation Format: Maximilian Marhold, Simon Udovica, Kerstin Wimmer, Zsuzsanna Bago-Horvath, Tim Robinson, Florian Fitzal, Kathrin Strasser-Weippl, Rupert Bartsch. Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and pathological complete response (pCR) rates in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CHT) and pembrolizumab (PEM) for early triple-negative breast cancer (eTNBC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-06-10.

Abstract P2-15-05: Prepectoral versus subpectoral implant-based breast reconstruction: A systemic review and meta-analysis

Prepectoral versus subpectoral implant-based breast reconstruction: A systemic review and meta-analysis. Edvin Ostapenko, MD1,2, Larissa Nixdorf, MD1, Yelena Devyatko, MD1, Ruth Exner, MD1, Kerstin Wimmer, MD1, Florian Fitzal, MD1 1Department of General Surgery and Breast Health Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. 2Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania Abstract Background Implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR) is still standard and most popular option for women undergoing breast reconstruction after mastectomy worldwide. Recently, prepectoral IBBR has resurged in popularity, despite limited data comparing prepectoral with subpectoral IBBR. Methods A systematic search of PubMed and Cochrane Library from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2021, was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guideline, data were extracted by independent reviewers. Random and fixed-effect models were applied to obtain pooled proportions and 95% CIs. The Risk of Bias in Nonrandomized Studies- of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool was used for critical appraisal of cohorts and funnels plots, and the Egger bias test were used for evaluating the publication bias. Studies that compared prepectoral IBBR with subpectoral IBBR for breast cancer were included. Results Overall, 15 studies with 3101 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Our results showed that patients receiving prepectoral IBBR experienced fewer capsular contracture (odds ratio [OR], 0.54; 95% CI, 0.32-0.92; P=.02), animation deformity (OR, 0.02; 95% CI, 0.00-0.25; P=.002), and prosthesis failure (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.42-0.80; P=.001). There was no significant difference between prepectoral and subpectoral IBBR in overall complications (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.64-1.09; P=.19), seroma (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.59-2.51; P=.60), hematoma (OR, 0.76 95% CI, 0.49-1.18; P=.22), infection (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.63-1.20; P=.39), skin flap necrosis (OR, 0.70 95% CI, 0.45-1.08; P=.11), and recurrence (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.52-3.39; P=.55). Similarly, no significant difference was found in Breast-Q scores between prepectoral and subpectoral IBBR groups. Conclusion The results of our systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated that prepectoral implant-based breast reconstruction is a safe modality and have similar outcomes with significantly lower rates of capsular contracture, prosthesis failure and animation deformity compared to subpectoral implant-based breast reconstruction. Future research should include randomized clinical trials or well-designed prospective matched studies with adequate follow-up to assess long-term as well as oncologic outcomes between comparative groups. Key Words: immediate implant-based breast reconstruction, breast cancer, outcomes, prepectoral, subpectoral;

Citation Format: Edvin Ostapenko, Larissa Nixdorf, Yelena Devyatko, Kerstin Wimmer, Ruth Exner, Florian Fitzal. Prepectoral versus subpectoral implant-based breast reconstruction: A systemic review and meta-analysis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-15-05.

Fistula-Associated Anal Adenocarcinoma: A 20-Year Single-Center Experience

BACKGROUND

Fistula-associated anal adenocarcinoma (FAAC) is a rare consequence in patients with long-standing perianal fistulas. A paucity of data are available for this patient collective, making clinical characterization and management of this disease difficult.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to describe a single-center experience with FAAC patients, their clinical course, and histopathological and molecular pathological characterization.

METHODS

All patients receiving surgery for an anal fistula in 1999-2019 at a tertiary university referral hospital were included in this retrospective analysis. Patients with FAAC were eligible for histopathological analysis, including immunohistochemistry and molecular profiling.

RESULTS

This study included 1004 patients receiving surgical treatment for an anal fistula, of whom 242 had an underlying inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ten patients were diagnosed with a fistula-associated anal carcinoma (1.0%), and six of these patients had an FAAC (0.6%). The mean overall survival of FAAC patients was 24 ± 3 months. FAAC immunohistochemistry revealed positive staining for CK20, CDX2 and MUC2, while stainings for CK5/6 and CK7 were negative. All FAAC specimens revealed microsatellite stability. Molecular profiling detected mutations in 35 genes, with the most frequent mutations being TP53, NOTCH1, NOTCH3, ATM, PIK3R1 and SMAD4.

CONCLUSION

FAAC is rare but associated with poor clinical outcome. Tissue acquisition is crucial for early diagnosis and therapy and should be performed in long-standing, non-healing, IBD-associated fistulas in particular. The immunophenotype of FAAC seems more similar to the rectal-type mucosa than the anal glands.

Study of the N=32 and N=34 Shell Gap for Ti and V by the First High-Precision Multireflection Time-of-Flight Mass Measurements at BigRIPS-SLOWRI

The atomic masses of ^{55}Sc, ^{56,58}Ti, and ^{56-59}V have been determined using the high-precision multireflection time-of-flight technique. The radioisotopes have been produced at RIKEN's Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory (RIBF) and delivered to the novel designed gas cell and multireflection system, which has been recently commissioned downstream of the ZeroDegree spectrometer following the BigRIPS separator. For ^{56,58}Ti and ^{56-59}V, the mass uncertainties have been reduced down to the order of 10 keV, shedding new light on the N=34 shell effect in Ti and V isotopes by the first high-precision mass measurements of the critical species ^{58}Ti and ^{59}V. With the new precision achieved, we reveal the nonexistence of the N=34 empirical two-neutron shell gaps for Ti and V, and the enhanced energy gap above the occupied νp_{3/2} orbit is identified as a feature unique to Ca. We perform new Monte Carlo shell model calculations including the νd_{5/2} and νg_{9/2} orbits and compare the results with conventional shell model calculations, which exclude the νg_{9/2} and the νd_{5/2} orbits. The comparison indicates that the shell gap reduction in Ti is related to a partial occupation of the higher orbitals for the outer two valence neutrons at N=34.

Prepectoral Versus Subpectoral Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction: A Systemic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR) remains the standard and most popular option for women undergoing breast reconstruction after mastectomy worldwide. Recently, prepectoral IBBR has resurged in popularity, despite limited data comparing prepectoral with subpectoral IBBR.

METHODS

A systematic search of PubMed and Cochrane Library from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2021, was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines, data were extracted by independent reviewers. Studies that compared prepectoral with subpectoral IBBR for breast cancer were included.

RESULTS

Overall, 15 studies with 3,101 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Our results showed that patients receiving prepectoral IBBR experienced fewer capsular contractures (odds ratio [OR], 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32-0.92; P = 0.02), animation deformity (OR, 0.02; 95% CI, 0.00-0.25; P = 0.002), and prosthesis failure (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.42-0.80; P = 0.001). There was no significant difference between prepectoral and subpectoral IBBR in overall complications (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.64-1.09; P = 0.19), seroma (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.59-2.51; P = 0.60), hematoma (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.49-1.18; P = 0.22), infection (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.63-1.20; P = 0.39), skin flap necrosis (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.45-1.08; P = 0.11), and recurrence (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.52-3.39; P = 0.55). Similarly, no significant difference was found in Breast-Q scores between the prepectoral and subpectoral IBBR groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated that prepectoral, implant-based, breast reconstruction is a safe modality and has similar outcomes with significantly lower rates of capsular contracture, prosthesis failure, and animation deformity compared with subpectoral, implant-based, breast reconstruction.

Extended p_{3/2} Neutron Orbital and the N=32 Shell Closure in ^{52}Ca

The one-neutron knockout from ^{52}Ca in inverse kinematics onto a proton target was performed at ∼230  MeV/nucleon combined with prompt γ spectroscopy. Exclusive quasifree scattering cross sections to bound states in ^{51}Ca and the momentum distributions corresponding to the removal of 1f_{7/2} and 2p_{3/2} neutrons were measured. The cross sections, interpreted within the distorted-wave impulse approximation reaction framework, are consistent with a shell closure at the neutron number N=32, found as strong as at N=28 and N=34 in Ca isotopes from the same observables. The analysis of the momentum distributions leads to a difference of the root-mean-square radii of the neutron 1f_{7/2} and 2p_{3/2} orbitals of 0.61(23) fm, in agreement with the modified-shell-model prediction of 0.7 fm suggesting that the large root-mean-square radius of the 2p_{3/2} orbital in neutron-rich Ca isotopes is responsible for the unexpected linear increase of the charge radius with the neutron number.

Long-term outcomes of adjuvant denosumab in breast cancer: Fracture reduction and survival results from 3,425 patients in the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled ABCSG-18 trial

507

Background: State-of-the-art adjuvant endocrine therapy with aromatase inhibitors (AI) compromises bone health in postmenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer, increasing fracture incidence. Adjuvant treatment with the anti-RANK ligand denosumab (Dmab) counteracts these side effects and may improve outcomes. We here report the final long-term outcomes of the ABCSG-18 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00556374). Methods: In this prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial, 3,425 postmenopausal patients with early HR+ breast cancer on AI therapy were randomised in 58 trial centers between 2006 and 2013 to receive either Dmab 60 mg or placebo s.c. every 6 months (q6m). The primary endpoint was time to first clinical fracture, secondary disease outcome-related endpoints were disease-free survival (DFS), bone-metastasis free survival (BMFS), and overall survival (OS). In addition to the main endpoint analyses reported previously, exploratory long-term follow-up was conducted in ABCSG-18. Main time-to-event analyses were based on stratified Cox models. Sensitivity analyses accounting for treatment cross-over associated with a late Dmab open-label phase, as well as for receiving any anti-resorptive agents were performed. Results: For this final protocol-defined analysis, median follow-up is 8 years (Q1,3: 6, 9.6), and all patients had ended their randomly assigned double-blind treatment (Dmab 60mg s.c. q6m n = 1711; placebo s.c. q6m n = 1709) for a median of 5 years. DFS was improved in the Dmab group versus the placebo group (309 versus 368 DFS events, hazard ratio (HR) 0.83, 95% CI 0.71-0.97, p = 0.016), resulting in an absolute 9-year DFS difference of 3.5% (79.4% vs 75.9%, respectively). When censoring for late cross-over and use of anti-resorptive agents, the DFS difference was confirmed (HR 0.82, p = 0.010). BMFS was improved by 19 per cent (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.65-1.00, p = 0.047) in the Dmab group, and OS was improved by 20 per cent in the uncensored analysis (127 versus 158 OS events, HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.64-1.01, p = 0.065), and 26 per cent after censoring (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.58-0.94, p = 0.013). The previously reported marked reduction in clinical fractures persisted even long-term, with 201 fractures in the Dmab and 255 fractures in the placebo group (HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.63-0.92, p = 0.004). No new toxicities for this (low) bone-protective dose of adjuvant Dmab were reported, particularly no ONJ occured.. Conclusions: Adjuvant Dmab 60mg every 6 months during AI therapy is safe, and markedly reduces treatment-induced clinical fractures even in the long-term. DFS, BMFS, and OS are improved in this descriptive final long-term analysis of ABCSG-18. Adjuvant denosumab should be considered for routine clinical use in postmenopausal patients with HR+ breast cancer. Clinical trial information: NCT00556374.

Abstract P1-02-07: Accuracy and predictive value of resection margin assessment by intraoperative frozen section after neoadjuvant therapy: An analysis of the ABCSG 24 and 34 trials

Data on the accuracy of intraoperative resection margin assessment and its influence on survival after neoadjuvant therapy (NT) are scarce. In the present study, we analyzed the accuracy of resection margin assessment by intraoperative frozen section (IFS) in the prospectively randomized neoadjuvant clinical trials ABCSG 24 and ABCSG 34.164 patients with early breast cancer who received NT within the ABCSG 24 and ABCSG 34 trials between 2005 and 2015, and received IFS resection margin assessment were included in our analysis. Resection margin status by IFS was compared to subsequent FFPE resection margin status, which was considered the gold standard. According to the rate of FFPE-based false-negative and false-positive diagnoses, we determined sensitivity and specificity of IFS. Correlation of IFS diagnosis with definitive FFPE assessment was described by Cohen´s kappa coefficient, the distributional probability was analyzed by McNemar test. The association of patient- and tumor-related factors (menopausal status, residual tumor size, tumor grade, lymph node status, multifocality, DCIS component, lymph vessel invasion, ER/PR/HER2/Ki67 expression and RCB category) with correct IFS diagnosis was analyzed by chi2 test and Fisher´s exact test. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Median age of patients was 55 years. IFS diagnosis for negative margins (no tumor on ink) was correct in 131 (80%) cases, translating into a sensitivity of 0.571 and specificity of 0.877 (false negative rate: 43%, false positive rate 12%). Correlation coefficient for IFS and FFPE diagnosis yielded a Cohen´s kappa value of 0.459. 58 patients (35%) were re-excised during the first operation, in 27 patients (17%), a second surgical intervention was performed. Overall re-excision rates in patients with true positive, false positive and false negative IFS diagnoses were 96%, 93% and 78%, respectively. Rate of second surgical interventions in patients with true positive, false positive and false negative IFS diagnoses were 38%, 7% and 44%, respectively. Correct IFS diagnosis correlated with smaller residual tumor size (p=0.032), lymph node status (p=0.007), HER2 negativity (p=0.049), presence of a DCIS component (p=0.013) and absence of lymph vessel invasion (p=0.007). Despite of re-operation resulting in negative margins, false negative IFS diagnosis was associated with worse recurrence-free survival (p=0.0278). The impact of IFS diagnosis on OS did not reach statistical significance (p=0.0995), although patients with false negative IFS diagnosis showed a shorter OS. IFS assessment of margins after NT displayed high specificity and limited sensitivity in the ABCSG 24 and ABCSG 34 trials. Residual tumor size, lymph node status, HER2 positivity, presence of a DCIS component and lymph vessel invasion correlated with accuracy of IFS. Patients with false negative IFS margin status showed a significantly shorter RFS despite of a second intervention yielding negative margins. Larger studies are needed to confirm the effects of IFS margin assessment on OS. Our data could help to lower rates of subsequent surgical interventions for re-excision after NT and identify patients by the above mentioned tumor characteristics who are at an increased risk of recurrence despite negative margin status.

Citation Format: Karin Rokitte, Kristina Tendl-Schulz, Ulrike Heber, Kerstin Wimmer, Rupert Bartsch, Stephanie Kacerovsky-Strobl, Georg Pfeiler, Günther G. Steger, Christian F. Singer, Dominik Hlauschek, Michael Gnant, Florian Fitzal, Zsuzsanna Bago-Horvath. Accuracy and predictive value of resection margin assessment by intraoperative frozen section after neoadjuvant therapy: An analysis of the ABCSG 24 and 34 trials [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-02-07.

Duration of Adjuvant Aromatase-Inhibitor Therapy in Postmenopausal Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

For postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, the most effective duration for adjuvant therapy with an aromatase inhibitor remains unclear.

METHODS

In this prospective, phase 3 trial, we randomly assigned postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer who had received 5 years of adjuvant endocrine therapy to receive the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole for an additional 2 years (2-year group, receiving a total of 7 years) or an additional 5 years (5-year group, receiving a total of 10 years). The primary end point was disease-free survival. The primary analysis included all the patients who were still participating in the trial and who had no recurrence 2 years after randomization (i.e., when treatment in the 2-year group had ended). Secondary end points were overall survival, contralateral breast cancer, second primary cancer, and clinical bone fracture.

RESULTS

Among the 3484 women who were enrolled in the trial, 3208 remained in the trial without disease progression after the first 2 years of extended anastrozole treatment following randomization. Among these women, disease progression or death occurred in 335 women in each treatment group in the primary-analysis set at 8 years (hazard ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.85 to 1.15; P = 0.90). No between-group differences occurred in most secondary end points, and subgroup analyses did not indicate differences in any particular subgroup. The risk of clinical bone fracture was higher in the 5-year group than in the 2-year group (hazard ratio, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.84).

CONCLUSIONS

In postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer who had received 5 years of adjuvant endocrine therapy, extending hormone therapy by 5 years provided no benefit over a 2-year extension but was associated with a greater risk of bone fracture. (Funded by AstraZeneca and the Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group; ABCSG-16/SALSA ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00295620.).

Pairing Forces Govern Population of Doubly Magic ^{54}Ca from Direct Reactions

Direct proton-knockout reactions of ^{55}Sc at ∼220  MeV/nucleon were studied at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory. Populated states of ^{54}Ca were investigated through γ-ray and invariant-mass spectroscopy. Level energies were calculated from the nuclear shell model employing a phenomenological internucleon interaction. Theoretical cross sections to states were calculated from distorted-wave impulse approximation estimates multiplied by the shell model spectroscopic factors, which describe the wave function overlap of the ^{55}Sc ground state with states in ^{54}Ca. Despite the calculations showing a significant amplitude of excited neutron configurations in the ground-state of ^{55}Sc, valence proton removals populated predominantly the ground state of ^{54}Ca. This counterintuitive result is attributed to pairing effects leading to a dominance of the ground-state spectroscopic factor. Owing to the ubiquity of the pairing interaction, this argument should be generally applicable to direct knockout reactions from odd-even to even-even nuclei.

Shape Changes in the Mirror Nuclei ^{70}Kr and ^{70}Se

We studied the proton-rich T_{z}=-1 nucleus ^{70}Kr through inelastic scattering at intermediate energies in order to extract the reduced transition probability, B(E2;0^{+}→2^{+}). Comparison with the other members of the A=70 isospin triplet, ^{70}Br and ^{70}Se, studied in the same experiment, shows a 3σ deviation from the expected linearity of the electromagnetic matrix elements as a function of T_{z}. At present, no established nuclear structure theory can describe this observed deviation quantitatively. This is the first violation of isospin symmetry at this level observed in the transition matrix elements. A heuristic approach may explain the anomaly by a shape change between the mirror nuclei ^{70}Kr and ^{70}Se contrary to the model predictions.

Global variation in postoperative mortality and complications after cancer surgery: a multicentre, prospective cohort study in 82 countries

BACKGROUND

80% of individuals with cancer will require a surgical procedure, yet little comparative data exist on early outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared postoperative outcomes in breast, colorectal, and gastric cancer surgery in hospitals worldwide, focusing on the effect of disease stage and complications on postoperative mortality.

METHODS

This was a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for primary breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer requiring a skin incision done under general or neuraxial anaesthesia. The primary outcome was death or major complication within 30 days of surgery. Multilevel logistic regression determined relationships within three-level nested models of patients within hospitals and countries. Hospital-level infrastructure effects were explored with three-way mediation analyses. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03471494.

FINDINGS

Between April 1, 2018, and Jan 31, 2019, we enrolled 15 958 patients from 428 hospitals in 82 countries (high income 9106 patients, 31 countries; upper-middle income 2721 patients, 23 countries; or lower-middle income 4131 patients, 28 countries). Patients in LMICs presented with more advanced disease compared with patients in high-income countries. 30-day mortality was higher for gastric cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (adjusted odds ratio 3·72, 95% CI 1·70-8·16) and for colorectal cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (4·59, 2·39-8·80) and upper-middle-income countries (2·06, 1·11-3·83). No difference in 30-day mortality was seen in breast cancer. The proportion of patients who died after a major complication was greatest in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (6·15, 3·26-11·59) and upper-middle-income countries (3·89, 2·08-7·29). Postoperative death after complications was partly explained by patient factors (60%) and partly by hospital or country (40%). The absence of consistently available postoperative care facilities was associated with seven to 10 more deaths per 100 major complications in LMICs. Cancer stage alone explained little of the early variation in mortality or postoperative complications.

INTERPRETATION

Higher levels of mortality after cancer surgery in LMICs was not fully explained by later presentation of disease. The capacity to rescue patients from surgical complications is a tangible opportunity for meaningful intervention. Early death after cancer surgery might be reduced by policies focusing on strengthening perioperative care systems to detect and intervene in common complications.

FUNDING

National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit.

Sequential Nature of (p,3p) Two-Proton Knockout from Neutron-Rich Nuclei

Twenty-one two-proton knockout (p,3p) cross sections were measured from neutron-rich nuclei at ∼250  MeV/nucleon in inverse kinematics. The angular distribution of the three emitted protons was determined for the first time, demonstrating that the (p,3p) kinematics are consistent with two sequential proton-proton collisions within the projectile nucleus. Ratios of (p,3p) over (p,2p) inclusive cross sections follow the trend of other many-nucleon removal reactions, further reinforcing the sequential nature of (p,3p) in neutron-rich nuclei.

Two-Neutron Halo is Unveiled in ^{29}F

We report the measurement of reaction cross sections (σ_{R}^{ex}) of ^{27,29}F with a carbon target at RIKEN. The unexpectedly large σ_{R}^{ex} and derived matter radius identify ^{29}F as the heaviest two-neutron Borromean halo to date. The halo is attributed to neutrons occupying the 2p_{3/2} orbital, thereby vanishing the shell closure associated with the neutron number N=20. The results are explained by state-of-the-art shell model calculations. Coupled-cluster computations based on effective field theories of the strong nuclear force describe the matter radius of ^{27}F but are challenged for ^{29}F.

Metastable States of ^{92,94}Se: Identification of an Oblate K Isomer of ^{94}Se and the Ground-State Shape Transition between N=58 and 60

Here we present new information on the shape evolution of the very neutron-rich ^{92,94}Se nuclei from an isomer-decay spectroscopy experiment at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory at RIKEN. High-resolution germanium detectors were used to identify delayed γ rays emitted following the decay of their isomers. New transitions are reported extending the previously known level schemes. The isomeric levels are interpreted as originating from high-K quasineutron states with an oblate deformation of β∼0.25, with the high-K state in ^{94}Se being metastable and K hindered. Following this, ^{94}Se is the lowest-mass neutron-rich nucleus known to date with such a substantial K hindrance. Furthermore, it is the first observation of an oblate K isomer in a deformed nucleus. This opens up the possibility for a new region of K isomers at low Z and at oblate deformation, involving the same neutron orbitals as the prolate orbitals within the classic Z∼72 deformed hafnium region. From an interpretation of the level scheme guided by theoretical calculations, an oblate deformation is also suggested for the ^{94}Se_{60} ground-state band.

Publisher's Note: Direct Lifetime Measurements of the Excited States in ^{72}Ni [Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 122502 (2016)]

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.122502.

Differential effects of epirubicin and docetaxel on the immune system in patients with breast cancer (BC)

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Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with epirubicin/cyclophosphamid (EC) followed by docetaxel (D) is currently a standard of care therapy in women with early, high-risk breast cancer (BC). New approaches aim to improve the outcome by combining chemo- with immunotherapy. It is therefore of great interest if chemotherapeutics differ in their effect on the immune system and if some substances are superior combination partners than others. Methods: 79 BC patients, who participated in the ABCSG-34 trial, were included. 39 patients were treated with 6 cycles of EC followed by 6 cycles of D and 40 received the reverse sequence (D→EC). Blood was collected before and after 6 cycles. The plasma levels of a variety of immune mediators were determined by multiplex bead array assay. The response to therapy was measured by Residual Cancer Burden (RCB)-score. A score of ≤1.36 was determined as good response. Lymphocyte activation was assessed after stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) by flow cytometric analysis of IFNgamma. Additionally, lymphocytes of 6 healthy probands were stimulated with PHA and treated with E or D. The stimulation was quantified by measuring cluster formation after 5 days. Further, a human BC cell line (SK-BR3) was treated with E or D. The induced cell death was determined morphologically as well as by flow cytometry after staining of phosphatidylserine, Sub-G1 DNA and active caspase-3. Results: The treatment of BC patients with 6 cycles of EC resulted in a decrease of lymphocyte stimulation whereas 6 cycles of D had no effect. The plasma levels of most immune mediators decreased significantly after six cycles EC when compared to baseline. Under the influence of D, the effect was much weaker. The changes of Eotaxin and OPG during the first 6 cycles of D correlated with the RCB-score in the reverse group. A decrease in Eotaxin (p = 0.0136) or in OPG (p = 0.0487) correlated with good response. The in vitro lymphocyte stimulation assay showed that E and D have similar inhibitory effects on lymphocytes.The annexin V/PI analysis confirmed that E more often leads to apoptotic cell death in SK-BR3 cells than D (E:53% vs. D:14%). SK-BR3 cells formed more often polyploid cells when treated with D. This suggests that D induces a regulated form of necrosis whereas E apoptosis. Conclusions: This study is the first to compare the immunomodulatory effect of E and D in BC patients. E inhibits lymphocyte activation in vitro and in vivo and suppresses many soluble immune mediators. This suggests that it is not suited for combination with immunotherapies. D showed a much weaker effect.

Short-term outcome after ventral hernia repair using self-gripping mesh in sublay technique - A retrospective cohort analysis

BACKGROUND

Hernia repair in sublay technique is widely accepted for ventral hernias, as it appears to be advantageous in terms of complication and recurrence rates. Self-gripping meshes are increasingly used for hernia repair with retromuscular mesh positioning. However, real-life data on the safe use in that specific indication are still lacking. The purpose of this study is the evaluation of short-term postoperative outcome of self-gripping versus conventional non-self-gripping meshes in sublay hernia repair.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective analysis assessed patients undergoing ventral hernia repair in sublay technique between January 2011 and July 2018 at the Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna. 244 consecutive patients were eligible for final analysis. Patients were grouped according to the utilized mesh. Baseline characteristics and peri-as well as postoperative outcome was assessed.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups. Median follow-up was 11 months (IQR 3-30). The overall complication rate (28.3% versus 13.7%, p = 0.005) due to an increased rate of seromas (17.3% versus 6.8%, p = 0.013) and surgical site infections (12.6% versus 4.3%, p = 0.021) was significantly higher in patients with a self-gripping mesh. Significantly more patients with a self-gripping mesh needed a surgical intervention (21.3% versus 9.4%, p = 0.011).

CONCLUSION

In sublay ventral hernia repair, the use of self-gripping meshes is associated with a higher overall complication rate and an increased rate of complication-associated surgical interventions when compared to non-self-gripping mesh placements.

Impact of Surgical Margins in Breast Cancer After Preoperative Systemic Chemotherapy on Local Recurrence and Survival

Background

While “no tumour on ink” is an accepted margin width for R₀ resection in primary surgery, it’s unclear if it’s oncologically safe after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Only limited data demonstrate that surgery within new margins in cases of a pathological complete response (pCR) is safe. We therefore investigated the influence of different margins and pCR on local recurrence and survival rates after NAC.

Methods

We retrospectively analysed data of 406 women with invasive breast cancer, treated with NAC and breast-conserving therapy between 1994 and 2014 in two certified Austrian breast health centres. We compared R ≤ 1 mm, R > 1 mm and RX (pCR) for local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).

Results

After a median follow-up of 84.3 months, the 5-year LRFS (R ≤ 1 mm: 94.2%, R > 1 mm: 90.6%, RX: 95.0%; p = 0.940), the 5-year DFS (R ≤ 1 mm: 71.9%, R > 1 mm: 74.1%, RX: 87.2%; p = 0.245) and the 5-year OS (R ≤ 1 mm: 85.1%, R > 1 mm: 88.0%, RX: 96.4%; p = 0.236) did not differ significantly between narrow, wide, nor RX resections. Regarding DFS and OS, a negative nodal status reduced the hazard ratio significantly.

Conclusion

There is no significant difference in LRFS, DFS and OS comparing close, wide or unknown margins after pCR. We suggest that resection in new margins after NAC is safe according to “no tumour on ink”. Resection of the clipped area in cases of pCR is emphasized.

Circulating biomarkers of cell death

Numerous disease states are associated with cell death. For many decades, apoptosis and accidental necrosis have been assumed to be the two ways how a cell can die. The recent discovery of additional cell death processes such as necroptosis, ferroptosis or pyroptosis revealed a complex interplay between cell death mechanisms and diseases. Depending on the particular cell death pathway, cells secrete distinct molecular patterns, which differ between cell death types. This review focusses on released molecules, detectable in the blood flow, and their potential role as circulating biomarkers of cell death. We elucidate the molecular background of different biomarkers and give an overview on their correlation with disease stage, therapy response and prognosis in patients.

Quasifree Neutron Knockout from ^{54}Ca Corroborates Arising N=34 Neutron Magic Number

Exclusive cross sections and momentum distributions have been measured for quasifree one-neutron knockout reactions from a ^{54}Ca beam striking on a liquid hydrogen target at ∼200  MeV/u. A significantly larger cross section to the p_{3/2} state compared to the f_{5/2} state observed in the excitation of ^{53}Ca provides direct evidence for the nature of the N=34 shell closure. This finding corroborates the arising of a new shell closure in neutron-rich calcium isotopes. The distorted-wave impulse approximation reaction formalism with shell model calculations using the effective GXPF1Bs interaction and ab initio calculations concur our experimental findings. Obtained transverse and parallel momentum distributions demonstrate the sensitivity of quasifree one-neutron knockout in inverse kinematics on a thick liquid hydrogen target with the reaction vertex reconstructed to final state spin-parity assignments.

Retrospective single-center outcome analysis of neoadjuvant and palliative treatment with dual trastuzumab and pertuzumab in HER2-positive breast cancer

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Background: Her2-positive (Her2pos) breast cancer (BCa) is the second most lethal subtype of BCa. The treatment of Her2-positive BCa was revolutionized due to the dual use of trastuzumab and pertuzumab (T+P) in recent years both in the neoadjuvant and the palliative setting. Although several years have passed after initial approval of these drugs, single-center outcome data as reported by clinicians is sparse. In this retrospective study, we set to assess outcomes measures at our institution, Austria’s largest academic hospital, for the use of T+P in early and metastasized BCa. Methods: We acquired records on combined pertuzumab and trastuzumab orders from our intramural drug order software (CATO, Cato Research, Durham, NC, USA) for the time period of May 2013 to March 2018. Further, using electronic patient histories, we described both the neoadjuvant and palliative patient groups by assessment of body weight/size, tumor stage, histology including immunohistochemistry (IHC), lines of oncological therapies received, ejection fraction (EF) drops>10%, deaths and most importantly the outcomes measures pathological complete response (pCR, neoadjuvant cohort) rate and progression-free survival (PFS, palliative cohort). Results: 120 breast cancer patients were given dual therapy with T+P. The neoadjuvant cohort contained 63 patients, while the palliative cohort included 57 patients. All patients included were female. Full histology including IHC data was available for 47 of 63 patients in the neoadjuvant cohort and 30 of 57 patients in the palliative cohort. BMI was 25.6 and 23.3, respectively, on average. The mean age was 54 years in the neoadjuvant and 56 years in the palliative cohort. 73.6% (39/53) and 65.9% (29/44) of tumors were ER positive as determined by IHC. While neoadjuvant patients obtained an average of 6.5 cycles, patients within the palliative cohort received a mean of 17.3 cycles of T+P. 0 and 17 deaths were observed in the respective cohorts. Data on pCR and PFS was available for 95.2% and 91.2% of patients, respectively. The pCR rate within the neoadjuvant cohort was 46.7% (28/60), and mean PFS across all treatment lines of the palliative cohort was 10.2 months. Conclusions: We report retrospective single-center outcome data for the combined use of trastuzumab and pertuzumab in both early and metastatic Her2pos BCa in line with previously published data.

Prominence of Pairing in Inclusive (p,2p) and (p,pn) Cross Sections from Neutron-Rich Nuclei

Fifty-five inclusive single nucleon-removal cross sections from medium mass neutron-rich nuclei impinging on a hydrogen target at ∼250  MeV/nucleon are measured at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory. Systematically higher cross sections are found for proton removal from nuclei with an even number of protons as compared to odd-proton number projectiles for a given neutron separation energy. Neutron removal cross sections display no even-odd splitting, contrary to nuclear cascade model predictions. Both effects are understood through simple considerations of neutron separation energies and bound state level densities originating in pairing correlations in the daughter nuclei. These conclusions are supported by comparison with semimicroscopic model predictions, highlighting the enhanced role of low-lying level densities in nucleon-removal cross sections from loosely bound nuclei.

How Robust is the N=34 Subshell Closure? First Spectroscopy of ^{52}Ar

The first γ-ray spectroscopy of ^{52}Ar, with the neutron number N=34, was measured using the ^{53}K(p,2p) one-proton removal reaction at ∼210  MeV/u at the RIBF facility. The 2_{1}^{+} excitation energy is found at 1656(18) keV, the highest among the Ar isotopes with N>20. This result is the first experimental signature of the persistence of the N=34 subshell closure beyond ^{54}Ca, i.e., below the magic proton number Z=20. Shell-model calculations with phenomenological and chiral-effective-field-theory interactions both reproduce the measured 2_{1}^{+} systematics of neutron-rich Ar isotopes, and support a N=34 subshell closure in ^{52}Ar.

First Spectroscopy of the Near Drip-line Nucleus ^{40}Mg

One of the most exotic light neutron-rich nuclei currently accessible for experimental study is ^{40}Mg, which lies at the intersection of the nucleon magic number N=28 and the neutron drip line. Low-lying excited states of ^{40}Mg have been studied for the first time following a one-proton removal reaction from ^{41}Al, performed at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory of RIKEN Nishina Center with the DALI2 γ-ray array and the ZeroDegree spectrometer. Two γ-ray transitions were observed, suggesting an excitation spectrum that shows unexpected properties as compared to both the systematics along the Z=12, N≥20  Mg isotopes and available state-of-the-art theoretical model predictions. A possible explanation for the observed structure involves weak-binding effects in the low-lying excitation spectrum.

Decoherence of collective motion in warm nuclei

Collective states in cold nuclei are represented by a wave function that assigns coherent phases to the participating nucleons. The degree of coherence decreases with excitation energy above the yrast line because of coupling to the increasingly dense background of quasiparticle excitations. The consequences of decoherence are discussed, starting with the well studied case of rotational damping. In addition to superdeformed bands, a highly excited oblate band is presented as a new example of screening from rotational damping. Suppression of pair correlation leads to incoherent thermal M1 radiation, which appears as an exponential spike (LEMAR) at zero energy in the γ strength function of spherical nuclei. In deformed nuclei a Scissors Resonance appears and LEMAR changes to damped magnetic rotation, which is interpreted as partial restoration of coherence.

Abstract P4-12-03: Tailoring screening to individual risk decreases the cost and improves the value of screening

Introduction:

Health care spending rose from 5% to 17.8% of GDP between 1960 and 2015. Clinicians and researchers must engage in increasing health care value – better outcomes at less cost. Personalized screening is one such opportunity. The Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute recently funded WISDOM (Women Informed to Screen Depending On Measures of risk), a randomized trial to tests the safety and efficacy of basing starting age, stopping age, frequency and modality of breast cancer screening on individual risk (Clinical Trials Identifier NCT02620852). The personalized arm of WISDOM integrates genetic testing into the risk algorithm. Funding for the clinical services of WISDOM (genetic test, risk assessment, high-risk counseling) are expected to be covered ( health plans, insurers). Risk determines the frequency, time to initiate screening and drives cost of downstream screening services. The cost of genetic testing is now less than $250, comparable to a mammogram. The WISDOM study model brings payers, policy makers, provider, technology, and advocate partners together to generate evidence to see if risk based screening is as safe, less morbid, preferred by women, promotes prevention, and has greater health care value. Health plans need to know the value proposition, thus we evaluated financial implications of coverage for risk-based screening.

Methods:

A model was developed to compare costs and benefits of risk-based vs. current screening practices from the perspective of a health plan. Modeled cohorts resembled a screening population with risk determining screening interval for the risk-based model, and average time between mammograms determining the interval for the model of current screening practices. Model parameters were gathered from published literature, national databases, early findings from WISDOM and health plan claims data. Sensitivity analysis was performed on all parameters, including costs of clinical services, screening rates, and health plan turnover. The clinical services specific to WISDOM use a fixed-fee schedule, and not varied in the model. All other costs were conservative, based on Medicare rates and published literature.

Results:

We estimated that over five years, risk-based screening is at worst cost neutral with potential for savings of up to $215 per participant. Based on current trial enrollment, we estimated that 30 per 1,000 health plan enrollees would join, resulting in an upfront cost of $6,000 for WISDOM-specific services, primarily the genetic test, and $600 in ongoing costs after Year 1. However, the health plan would save on mammogram and work up costs as participants would receive an average of 2-3 fewer mammograms over five years. Savings are sensitive to the age of participants, cost of mammograms, and savings increase over time. Per participant, five-year savings of $300 and $35 for those aged 40-49 and 65-74 respectively, and increased costs of $30 for those aged 50-64. Overall, an upfront investment of $6,000 per 1,000 health plan enrollees (30 participants) yields $3,800 in five-year savings.

Conclusion:

Personalized screening could provide cost savings and has the potential to increase health care value. Enrollment in the Wisdom study is ongoing and results will be reported in 5 years.

Citation Format: Wimmer K, Stover Fiscalini A, Eklund M, DiGiorgio K, Naeim A, Athena and Wisdom Investigators, Esserman L. Tailoring screening to individual risk decreases the cost and improves the value of screening [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-12-03.

Optimal duration of adjuvant endocrine therapy: how to apply the newest data

Background:

The benefit of 5 years of adjuvant endocrine therapy for women with hormone receptor-positive (HR⁺) breast cancer (BC) is beyond discussion. Nevertheless, the risk of recurrence of luminal BC persists for 15 years or more after diagnosis. Consequently, approaches of extended adjuvant therapy have been investigated in large clinical trials, with the ultimate aim of further reducing the risk of recurrence in patients with HR⁺ BC.

Methods:

A review of recently published trial data is presented to provide a solid basis for discussion. A discussion of the side effects of long-term endocrine treatment, multigenetic tests aiming to identify patients at particular risk, and an outlook for further promising targets are additional aims of this review.

Conclusion:

Extended adjuvant therapy seems beneficial in reducing distant relapse and contralateral BC for a selected group of patients with HR⁺ BC, particularly if aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are used after initial tamoxifen therapy. However, patients with lower risk of recurrence and initial AI therapy may suffer more from side effects than benefit from extended therapy.

Constitutional mismatch repair deficiency in a healthy child: On the spot diagnosis?

Constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD) is a rare, recessively inherited childhood cancer predisposition syndrome caused by biallelic germline mutations in one of the mismatch repair genes. The CMMRD phenotype overlaps with that of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), since many patients have multiple café-au-lait macules (CALM) and other NF1 signs, but no germline NF1 mutations. We report of a case of a healthy 6-year-old girl who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of NF1 with >6 CALM and freckling. Since molecular genetic testing was unable to confirm the diagnosis of NF1 or Legius syndrome and the patient was a child of consanguineous parents, we suspected CMMRD and found a homozygous PMS2 mutation that impairs MMR function. Current guidelines advise testing for CMMRD only in cancer patients. However, this case illustrates that including CMMRD in the differential diagnosis in suspected sporadic NF1 without causative NF1 or SPRED1 mutations may facilitate identification of CMMRD prior to cancer development. We discuss the advantages and potential risks of this CMMRD testing scenario.

Shape Evolution in Neutron-Rich Krypton Isotopes Beyond N=60: First Spectroscopy of ^{98,100}Kr

We report on the first γ-ray spectroscopy of low-lying states in neutron-rich ^{98,100}Kr isotopes obtained from ^{99,101}Rb(p,2p) reactions at ∼220  MeV/nucleon. A reduction of the 2_{1}^{+} state energies beyond N=60 demonstrates a significant increase of deformation, shifted in neutron number compared to the sharper transition observed in strontium and zirconium isotopes. State-of-the-art beyond-mean-field calculations using the Gogny D1S interaction predict level energies in good agreement with experimental results. The identification of a low-lying (0_{2}^{+}, 2_{2}^{+}) state in ^{98}Kr provides the first experimental evidence of a competing configuration at low energy in neutron-rich krypton isotopes consistent with the oblate-prolate shape coexistence picture suggested by theory.

Gamma Decay of Unbound Neutron-Hole States in ^{133}Sn

Excited states in the nucleus ^{133}Sn, with one neutron outside the double magic ^{132}Sn core, were populated following one-neutron knockout from a ^{134}Sn beam on a carbon target at relativistic energies at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory at RIKEN. Besides the γ rays emitted in the decay of the known neutron single-particle states in ^{133}Sn additional γ strength in the energy range 3.5-5.5 MeV was observed for the first time. Since the neutron-separation energy of ^{133}Sn is low, S_{n}=2.402(4)  MeV, this observation provides direct evidence for the radiative decay of neutron-unbound states in this nucleus. The ability of electromagnetic decay to compete successfully with neutron emission at energies as high as 3 MeV above threshold is attributed to a mismatch between the wave functions of the initial and final states in the latter case. These findings suggest that in the region southeast of ^{132}Sn nuclear structure effects may play a significant role in the neutron versus γ competition in the decay of unbound states. As a consequence, the common neglect of such effects in the evaluation of the neutron-emission probabilities in calculations of global β-decay properties for astrophysical simulations may have to be reconsidered.

Isomeric Character of the Lowest Observed 4^{+} State in ^{44}S

Previous experiments observed a 4^{+} state in the N=28 nucleus ^{44}S and suggested that this state may exhibit a hindered E2-decay rate, inconsistent with being a member of the collective ground state band. We populate this state via two-proton knockout from a beam of exotic ^{46}Ar projectiles and measure its lifetime using the recoil distance method with the GRETINA γ-ray spectrometer. The result, 76(14)_{stat}(20)_{syst}  ps, implies a hindered transition of B(E2;4^{+}→2_{1}^{+})=0.61(19) single-particle or Weisskopf units strength and supports the interpretation of the 4^{+} state as a K=4 isomer, the first example of a high-K isomer in a nucleus of such low mass.

Are There Signatures of Harmonic Oscillator Shells Far from Stability? First Spectroscopy of ^{110}Zr

The first measurement of the low-lying states of the neutron-rich ^{110}Zr and ^{112}Mo was performed via in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy after one proton removal on hydrogen at ∼200  MeV/nucleon. The 2_{1}^{+} excitation energies were found at 185(11) keV in ^{110}Zr, and 235(7) keV in ^{112}Mo, while the R_{42}=E(4_{1}^{+})/E(2_{1}^{+}) ratios are 3.1(2), close to the rigid rotor value, and 2.7(1), respectively. These results are compared to modern energy density functional based configuration mixing models using Gogny and Skyrme effective interactions. We conclude that first levels of ^{110}Zr exhibit a rotational behavior, in agreement with previous observations of lighter zirconium isotopes as well as with the most advanced Monte Carlo shell model predictions. The data, therefore, do not support a harmonic oscillator shell stabilization scenario at Z=40 and N=70. The present data also invalidate predictions for a tetrahedral ground state symmetry in ^{110}Zr.

Connections between constitutional mismatch repair deficiency syndrome and neurofibromatosis type 1

Constitutional mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency (CMMRD) is a rare childhood cancer susceptibility syndrome resulting from biallelic germline loss-of-function mutations in one of the MMR genes. Individuals with CMMRD have high risk to develop a broad spectrum of malignancies and frequently display features reminiscent of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Evaluation of the clinical findings of genetically proven CMMRD patients shows that not only multiple café-au-lait macules but also any of the diagnostic features of NF1 may be present in a CMMRD patient. This phenotypic overlap may lead to misdiagnosis of CMMRD patients as having NF1, which impedes adequate management of the patients and their families. The spectrum of CMMRD-associated childhood malignancies includes high-grade glioma, acute myeloid leukaemia or rhabdomyosarcoma, also reported as associated with NF1. Reported associations between NF1 and these malignancies are to a large extent based on studies that neither proved the presence of an NF1 germline mutation nor ruled-out CMMRD in the affected. Hence, these associations are challenged by our current knowledge of the phenotypic overlap between NF1 and CMMRD and should be re-evaluated in future studies. Recent advances in the diagnostics of CMMRD should render it possible to definitely state or refute this diagnosis in these individuals.

Two-Proton Radioactivity of ^{67}Kr

In an experiment with the BigRIPS separator at the RIKEN Nishina Center, we observed two-proton (2p) emission from ^{67}Kr. At the same time, no evidence for 2p emission of ^{59}Ge and ^{63}Se, two other potential candidates for this exotic radioactivity, could be observed. This observation is in line with Q value predictions which pointed to ^{67}Kr as being the best new candidate among the three for two-proton radioactivity. ^{67}Kr is only the fourth 2p ground-state emitter to be observed with a half-life of the order of a few milliseconds. The decay energy was determined to be 1690(17) keV, the 2p emission branching ratio is 37(14)%, and the half-life of ^{67}Kr is 7.4(30) ms.