Omission of Axillary Dissection in Node Positive Breast Cancer After Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy

INTRODUCTION

Guidelines recommend axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for ypN + positive patients as patients receiving neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) were excluded from trials omitting ALND in pN + patients. We sought to characterize trends in omission of ALND in patients with ypN + disease.

METHODS

Adult women with invasive breast carcinoma in the National Cancer Database between 2012 and 2019 who received NST (chemotherapy or endocrine) and had ypN + disease were included. Patients were excluded if they did not have definitive surgery within eight months of diagnosis. The primary study outcome was completion of ALND versus omission. Differences in demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment were identified using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models.

RESULTS

In total, 103,121 women were included. Most had cT1 (26%) or cT2 (45%) tumors, cN + disease (71%), and ductal histology (83%). 69% of patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 31% neoadjuvant endocrine without chemotherapy (30% both). ALND was performed in 77% of patients. Omission of ALND became more prevalent each year from 2012 (14%) to 2019 (34%). On multivariate modeling, year of diagnosis, black race, cN status, higher grade, estrogen receptor+/HER2-receptor subtype, and mastectomy were associated with increased prevalence of ALND. Age, Charlson/Deyo comorbidity index score, endocrine versus chemotherapy, and adjuvant radiation were not associated with receipt of ALND.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite guidelines recommending ALND, omission is common in patients with ypN + breast cancer after NST. Omission of ALND increased significantly over time and is associated with clinical and demographic factors. Future study is needed to determine the oncologic safety of this approach.

Analysis of Specimen Mammography with Artificial Intelligence to Predict Margin Status

BACKGROUND

Intraoperative specimen mammography is a valuable tool in breast cancer surgery, providing immediate assessment of margins for a resected tumor. However, the accuracy of specimen mammography in detecting microscopic margin positivity is low. We sought to develop an artificial intelligence model to predict the pathologic margin status of resected breast tumors using specimen mammography.

METHODS

A dataset of specimen mammography images matched with pathologic margin status was collected from our institution from 2017 to 2020. The dataset was randomly split into training, validation, and test sets. Specimen mammography models pretrained on radiologic images were developed and compared with models pretrained on nonmedical images. Model performance was assessed using sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC).

RESULTS

The dataset included 821 images, and 53% had positive margins. For three out of four model architectures tested, models pretrained on radiologic images outperformed nonmedical models. The highest performing model, InceptionV3, showed sensitivity of 84%, specificity of 42%, and AUROC of 0.71. Model performance was better among patients with invasive cancers, less dense breasts, and non-white race.

CONCLUSIONS

This study developed and internally validated artificial intelligence models that predict pathologic margins status for partial mastectomy from specimen mammograms. The models' accuracy compares favorably with published literature on surgeon and radiologist interpretation of specimen mammography. With further development, these models could more precisely guide the extent of resection, potentially improving cosmesis and reducing reoperations.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion in genitourinary clinical trials leading to FDA novel drug approval: An assessment of the FDA center for drug evaluation and research drug trials snapshot

To determine the distribution of race and ethnicity among genitourinary oncology trial participants leading to FDA approval of novel molecular entities/biologics. Secondarily, we evaluated whether the proportion of Black participants in clinical trials increased over time. We quired the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Drug Trials Snapshot (DTS) between 2015 and 2020 for urologic oncology clinical trials leading to FDA approval of novel drugs. Enrollment data was stratified by race and ethnicity. Cochran-Armitage Trend tests were used to examine changes in Black patient participation over years. Nine clinical trials were identified that led to FDA approval of 5 novel molecular entities for prostate and 4 molecular entities for urothelial carcinoma treatment. Trials for prostate cancer included 5202 participants of which 69.8% were White, 4.0% Black, 11.0% Asian, 3.6% Hispanic, <1% American Indian/Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 3% other. Trials in urothelial carcinoma had 704 participants of which 75.1% were male, 80.8% White, 2.3% Black, 2.4% Hispanic, <1% American Indian/Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 5% other. Black participation rates over time did not change for urothelial (P = 0.59) or the combined cancer cohort (P = 0.29). Prostate cancer enrollment trends among Black participant declined over time (P = 0.03). Participants in genitourinary clinical trials leading to FDA approval of novel drugs are overwhelmingly white. Involving stakeholders who represent the needs and interests of underrepresented populations in the design and implementation of clinical trials of novel agents may be a strategy to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion among genitourinary clinical trials.

Computer Vision Analysis of Specimen Mammography to Predict Margin Status

Intra-operative specimen mammography is a valuable tool in breast cancer surgery, providing immediate assessment of margins for a resected tumor. However, the accuracy of specimen mammography in detecting microscopic margin positivity is low. We sought to develop a deep learning-based model to predict the pathologic margin status of resected breast tumors using specimen mammography. A dataset of specimen mammography images matched with pathology reports describing margin status was collected. Models pre-trained on radiologic images were developed and compared with models pre-trained on non-medical images. Model performance was assessed using sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). The dataset included 821 images and 53% had positive margins. For three out of four model architectures tested, models pre-trained on radiologic images outperformed domain-agnostic models. The highest performing model, InceptionV3, showed a sensitivity of 84%, a specificity of 42%, and AUROC of 0.71. These results compare favorably with the published literature on surgeon and radiologist interpretation of specimen mammography. With further development, these models could assist clinicians with identifying positive margins intra-operatively and decrease the rate of positive margins and re-operation in breast-conserving surgery.

Racial-ethnic variations in phyllodes tumors among a multicenter United States cohort

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Previous studies have identified racial-ethnic differences in the diagnostic patterns and recurrence outcomes of women with phyllodes tumors (PT). However, these studies are generally limited in size and generalizability. We therefore sought to explore racial-ethnic differences in age, tumor size, subtype, and recurrence in a large US cohort of women with PT.

METHODS

We performed an 11-institution retrospective review of women with PT from 2007 to 2017. Differences in age at diagnosis, tumor size and subtype, and recurrence-free survival according to race-ethnicity.

RESULTS

Women of non-White race or Hispanic ethnicity were younger at the time of diagnosis with phyllodes tumor. Non-Hispanic Other women had a larger proportion of malignant PT. There were no differences in recurrence-free survival in our cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in age, tumor size, and subtype were small. Therefore, the workup of young women with breast masses and the treatment of women with PT should not differ according to race-ethnicity. These conclusions are supported by our finding that there were no differences in recurrence-free survival.

Pathologic complete response and survival after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in cT1-T2/N0 HER2+ breast cancer

Women with small HER2+ breast cancers may have excellent prognosis with adjuvant single-agent chemotherapy and HER2-targeted therapy. The role of de-escalated therapy in the neoadjuvant setting, however, remains uncertain. We conducted a cohort study of adult women with T1-2/cN0 HER2+ breast cancer diagnosed 2013–2016 in the National Cancer Database treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and HER2-targeted therapy. Factors associated with pathologic complete response (pCR) and overall survival were examined. In total, 6994 patients were included, 32% cT1 and 68% cT2. Multi-agent NAC was given to 90% of women while single-agent NAC was given to 10% of women. pCR was achieved in 46% of cT2 patients and 43% of cT1, and in 46% of patients treated with multi-agent versus 38% single agent. Patients receiving multi-agent chemotherapy were younger, had fewer comorbidities, and had higher cT stage and grade. In all patients, pCR was associated with improved survival (p < 0.01). Multi-agent chemotherapy (OR 1.3, p = 0.003), hormone receptor negative (OR 2.6, p < 0.001), higher grade (OR 2.2, p < 0.001), younger age (OR 1.4, p = 0.011), and later year of diagnosis (OR 1.3, p = 0.005) were associated with achieving pCR. Multi-agent chemotherapy was associated with higher likelihood of pCR, but this effect was modest compared to other factors. Single-agent NAC with HER2-directed therapy in selected patients may provide excellent outcome with reduced toxicity, while allowing escalated therapy in the adjuvant setting for patients with residual disease. Prospective studies are needed to determine effects of de-escalation in the neoadjuvant setting on survival and optimal selection strategies.

Sociodemographic and Clinical Predictors of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in cT1-T2/N0 HER2-Amplified Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

The optimal treatment strategy for small node-negative human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer remains controversial. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy may risk overtreatment, whereas surgery first fails to identify patients with residual disease in need of escalated adjuvant systemic therapy. We investigated patient characteristics associated with receipt of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

METHODS

Adult women with cT1-T2/N0, HER2+ breast cancer between 2013 and 2017 in the National Cancer Database who underwent surgery within 8 months of diagnosis were included. Patients were classified as receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy versus a surgery-first approach. We assessed the sociodemographic and clinical predictors of neoadjuvant chemotherapy versus surgery first and associations between neoadjuvant chemotherapy and breast cancer treatments using multivariable regression models.

RESULTS

We identified 56,784 women, of whom 12,758 (22%) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 29,139 (53%) received adjuvant chemotherapy, 12,907 (24%) received no chemotherapy, and 1980 were missing chemotherapy information. After adjustment, cT2 stage was the strongest predictor of neoadjuvant chemotherapy compared with surgery first. Younger age and later diagnosis year were positively associated with receipt of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In contrast, hormone receptor positivity, Black race, rural county, and government-funded or no health insurance were inversely associated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In multivariable analyses, patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy were more likely to have a mastectomy (vs. lumpectomy) and sentinel lymph node biopsy or no nodal surgery (vs. axillary lymph node dissection). Patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy were more likely to receive multi-agent (vs. single-agent) chemotherapy than those who received adjuvant chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Substantial differences in the utilization of neoadjuvant chemotherapy exist in women with HER2+ breast cancer, which reflect both clinical parameters and disparities. Optimal treatment strategies should be implemented equitably across sociodemographic groups.

Limited Reporting of Histopathologic Details in a Multi-Institutional Academic Cohort of Phyllodes Tumors: Time for Standardization

BACKGROUND

Phyllodes tumors are rare fibroepithelial neoplasms that are classified by tiered histopathologic features. While there are protocols for the reporting of cancer specimens, no standardized reporting protocol exists for phyllodes.

METHODS

We performed an 11-institution contemporary review of phyllodes tumors. Granular histopathologic details were recorded, including the features specifically considered for phyllodes grade classification.

RESULTS

Of 550 patients, median tumor size was 3.0 cm, 68.9% (n = 379) of tumors were benign, 19.6% (n = 108) were borderline, and 10.5% (n = 58) were malignant. All cases reported the final tumor size and grade classification. Complete pathologic reporting of all histopathologic features was present in 15.3% (n = 84) of cases, while an additional 35.6% (n = 196) were missing only one or two features in the report. Individual details regarding the degree of stromal cellularity was not reported in 53.5% (n = 294) of cases, degree of stromal atypia in 58.0% (n = 319) of cases, presence of stromal overgrowth in 56.2% (n = 309) of cases, stromal cell mitoses in 37.5% (n = 206) of cases, and tumor border in 54.2% (n = 298) of cases. The final margin status (negative vs. positive) was omitted in only 0.9% of cases, and the final negative margin width was specifically reported in 73.8% of cases. Reporting of details was similar across all sites.

CONCLUSION

In this academic cohort of phyllodes tumors, one or more histopathologic features were frequently omitted from the pathology report. While all features were considered by the pathologist for grading, this limited reporting reflects a lack of reporting consensus. We recommend that standardized reporting in the form of a synoptic-style cancer protocol be implemented for phyllodes tumors, similar to other rare tumors.

FOXA1 and adaptive response determinants to HER2 targeted therapy in TBCRC 036

Inhibition of the HER2/ERBB2 receptor is a keystone to treating HER2-positive malignancies, particularly breast cancer, but a significant fraction of HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancers recur or fail to respond. Anti-HER2 monoclonal antibodies, like trastuzumab or pertuzumab, and ATP active site inhibitors like lapatinib, commonly lack durability because of adaptive changes in the tumor leading to resistance. HER2+ cell line responses to inhibition with lapatinib were analyzed by RNAseq and ChIPseq to characterize transcriptional and epigenetic changes. Motif analysis of lapatinib-responsive genomic regions implicated the pioneer transcription factor FOXA1 as a mediator of adaptive responses. Lapatinib in combination with FOXA1 depletion led to dysregulation of enhancers, impaired adaptive upregulation of HER3, and decreased proliferation. HER2-directed therapy using clinically relevant drugs (trastuzumab with or without lapatinib or pertuzumab) in a 7-day clinical trial designed to examine early pharmacodynamic response to antibody-based anti-HER2 therapy showed reduced FOXA1 expression was coincident with decreased HER2 and HER3 levels, decreased proliferation gene signatures, and increased immune gene signatures. This highlights the importance of the immune response to anti-HER2 antibodies and suggests that inhibiting FOXA1-mediated adaptive responses in combination with HER2 targeting is a potential therapeutic strategy.

Contemporary Multi-Institutional Cohort of 550 Cases of Phyllodes Tumors (2007-2017) Demonstrates a Need for More Individualized Margin Guidelines

PURPOSE

Phyllodes tumors (PTs) are rare breast neoplasms, which have little granular data on margins. Current guidelines recommend ≥ 1 cm margins; however, recent data suggest narrower margins are sufficient, and for benign PT, a negative margin may not be necessary.

METHODS

We performed an 11-institution contemporary (2007-2017) review of PT practices. Demographics, surgical, and histopathologic data were captured. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association of select covariates with local recurrence (LR).

RESULTS

Of 550 PT patients, the majority underwent excisional biopsy (55.3%, n = 302/546) or lumpectomy (wide excision) (38.5%, n = 210/546). Median tumor size was 30 mm, 68.9% (n = 379) were benign, 19.6% (n = 108) borderline, and 10.5% (n = 58) malignant. Surgical margins were positive in 42% (n = 231) and negative in 57.3% (n = 311). A second operation was performed in 38.0% (n = 209) of the total cohort, including 51 patients with an initial negative margin (82.4% with < 2 mm), and 157 with an initial positive margin, with residual disease only found in six (2.9%). Notably, 32.0% (n = 74) of those with an initial positive margin did not undergo a second operation, among whom only 2.7% (n = 2) recurred. Recurrence occurred in 3.3% (n = 18) of the total cohort (n = 15 LR, n = 3 distant), at median follow-up of 36.7 months. LR (all PT grades) was not reduced with wider negative margin width (≥ 2 mm v < 2 mm: odds ratio [OR] = 0.39; 95% CI, 0.07 to 2.10; P = .27) or final margin status (positive v negative: OR = 0.96; 95% CI, 0.26 to 3.52; P = .96).

CONCLUSION

In current practice, many patients are managed outside of current guidelines. For the entire cohort, a wider margin width was not associated with a reduced risk of LR. We do not recommend re-excision of a negative margin for benign PT, regardless of margin width, as a progressively wider surgical margin is unlikely to reduce LR.

Germline Genetic Mutations in a Multi-center Contemporary Cohort of 550 Phyllodes Tumors: An Opportunity for Expanded Multi-gene Panel Testing

BACKGROUND

A paucity of data exists regarding inherited mutations associated with phyllodes tumors (PT); however, some are reported (TP53, BRCA1, and RB1). A PT diagnosis does not meet NCCN criteria for testing, including within Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (TP53). We sought to determine the prevalence of mutations associated with PT.

METHODS

We performed an 11-institution review of contemporary (2007-2017) PT practice. We recorded multigenerational family history and personal history of genetic testing. We identified patients meeting NCCN criteria for genetic evaluation. Logistic regression estimated the association of select covariates with likelihood of undergoing genetic testing.

RESULTS

Of 550 PT patients, 59.8% (n = 329) had a close family history of cancer, and 34.0% (n = 112) had ≥ 3 family members affected. Only 6.2% (n = 34) underwent genetic testing, 38.2% (n = 13) of whom had only BRCA1/BRCA2 tested. Of 34 patients tested, 8.8% had a deleterious mutation (1 BRCA1, 2 TP53), and 5.9% had a BRCA2 VUS. Of women who had TP53 testing (N = 21), 9.5% had a mutation. Selection for testing was not associated with age (odds ratio [OR] 1.01, p = 0.55) or PT size (p = 0.12) but was associated with grade (malignant vs. benign: OR 9.17, 95% CI 3.97-21.18) and meeting NCCN criteria (OR 3.43, 95% confidence interval 1.70-6.94). Notably, an additional 86 (15.6%) patients met NCCN criteria but had no genetic testing.

CONCLUSIONS

Very few women with PT undergo germline testing; however, in those selected for testing, a deleterious mutation was identified in ~ 10%. Multigene testing of a PT cohort would present an opportunity to discover the true incidence of germline mutations in PT patients.

The Prognostic Value of Axillary Staging Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Inflammatory Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) has historically been characterized by high rates of recurrence and poor survival; however, there have been significant improvements in systemic therapy. We sought to investigate modern treatment of IBC and define the yield and prognostic significance of axillary lymph nodes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

METHODS

Women with clinical stage T4d, N0-N3, M0 IBC from 2012 to 2016 in the National Cancer Database were included. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression were used to assess mortality by receptor subtype and nodal status.

RESULTS

We identified 5265 patients; 37% hormone receptor (HR) +/HER2 - , 19% HR +/HER2 + , 18% HR -/HER2 + , and 26% triple-negative, and 5-year overall survival was 51.6%. Only 34% were treated according to guidelines with NAC, modified radical mastectomy, and adjuvant radiation. Pathologically positive lymph nodes (ypN +) after NAC varied by subtype and clinical nodal status (cN) ranging from 82% in cN + HR +/HER2 - patients to 19% in cN0 HR -/HER2 + patients. ypN + strongly correlated with survival in all subtypes with the most pronounced impact in HR +/HER2 + patients, with 90% 5-year overall survival in ypN0 versus 66% for ypN + (HR 4.29, 95% CI 1.58-11.70, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Five-year survival in M0 IBC is 51.6%. Positive nodes after NAC varied by subtype and clinical N status but is sufficiently high and provided meaningful prognostication in all subtypes to support continued routine pathologic assessment. Future study is warranted to identify reliable, less morbid, methods of staging the axilla in IBC patients appropriate for deescalation of axillary surgery.

Reflector Localization of Breast Lesions and Parameters Associated with Positive Surgical Margins in Women Undergoing Breast Conservation Surgery

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate our experience with reflector localization of breast lesions and parameters influencing surgical margins in patients with a malignant diagnosis.

METHODS

A retrospective institution review board-approved review of our institutional database was performed for breast lesions preoperatively localized from September 1, 2016, through December 31, 2017. Wire localizations were excluded. From electronic medical records and imaging, the following data was recorded: breast density, lesion type and size, reflector placement modality and number placed, reflector distance from lesion and skin, excision of lesion and reflector, tissue volume, margin status, and final pathology. Statistical analysis was performed with a Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney test, and logistic regression. P < 0.05 was significant.

RESULTS

A total of 111 reflectors were deployed in the breasts of 103 women with 109 breast lesions. Ninety (81.1%) reflectors were placed under mammographic guidance and 21 (18.9%) under US. The lesions consisted of 68 (62.4%) masses, 17 (15.6%) calcifications, 2 (1.8%) architectural distortions, and 22 (20.2%) biopsy markers. Fourteen (21.2%) of 66 cases with a preoperative malignant diagnosis had a positive surgical margin. Final pathology, including 6 lesions upgraded to malignancy on excision, demonstrated 72 (66.0%) malignant, 22 (20.2%) high-risk, and 15 (13.8%) benign lesions. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed no statistically significant parameters (lesion type or size, placement modality, reflector distance to skin or lesion, specimen radiography or pathology) were associated with a positive surgical margin.

CONCLUSION

Reflector localization is an alternative to wire localization of breast lesions. There were no lesion-specific or technical parameters affecting positive surgical margins.

Survival Outcomes of Early-Stage Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer in Elderly Women

BACKGROUND

Elderly women (≥ 70 years old) form a significant proportion of patients affected by breast cancer (BC); however, the treatment decisions for this patient population are complicated, owing to the presence of comorbidities, limited life expectancy, reduced tolerability of therapy, and limited enrollment in clinical trials. A growing body of evidence suggests equivalent outcomes in elderly patients with hormone receptor-positive early-stage breast cancer receiving primary endocrine therapy only or surgery with subsequent endocrine therapy. Whether these results are reproduced in the larger BC population outside of a clinical trial currently remains unclear.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Women ≥ 70 years old diagnosed with early-stage invasive breast cancer between January 2008 and December 2013 with tumor size T1 or T2, minimal nodal involvement (N0 and N1), and estrogen and/or progesterone receptor positivity who started endocrine therapy within a year of diagnosis were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked datasets. Endocrine therapy was identified using outpatient prescription fills for anastrozole, exemestane, fulvestrant, letrozole, raloxifene, tamoxifen, and toremifene; the first fill date was used as the treatment initiation date. Surgical intervention included either breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy. Women who received chemotherapy were excluded. Trends in the use of primary endocrine therapy only were assessed using Poisson regression. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression was used to estimate the association between undergoing surgery within a year of diagnosis and 5-year all-cause mortality, after adjusting for patient demographics, comorbidities, and clinical cancer characteristics. Similar methods were used to assess 5-year cancer-specific mortality, where noncancer mortality was treated as a competing risk.

RESULTS

Overall, 8784 women were included in the analysis: 8006 (91%) received surgery with endocrine therapy and 778 (9%) received primary endocrine therapy alone. The proportion of women not receiving surgery remained consistent between 2008 and 2013 (p = 0.10). The 5-year mortality was 11% (n = 619), and 19% of all deaths were due to cancer causes (n = 117). After adjustment, 5-year mortality was lower among women undergoing surgery (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.47-0.74, p < 0.0001). Similar results were found when looking at 5-year cancer-specific mortality (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.30-0.90, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly breast cancer patients with early-stage hormone-receptor-positive disease receiving primary surgical intervention plus endocrine therapy may have significantly improved survival than those receiving primary endocrine therapy alone. This study suggests the importance of surgical intervention for elderly breast cancer patients and warrants further investigation and comprehensive geriatric assessment to identify subsets of elderly breast cancer patients who may benefit significantly from surgical intervention.

Trends in Surgical Axillary Management in Early Stage Breast Cancer in Elderly Women: Continued Over-Treatment

INTRODUCTION

In the past two decades, three prospective randomized trials demonstrated that elderly women with early stage hormone positive breast cancer had equivalent disease-specific mortality regardless of axillary surgery. In 2016, the Choosing Wisely campaign encouraged patients and providers to reconsider the role of axillary surgery in this population. We sought to identify factors that contribute to adopting non-operative management of the axilla in these patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of women ≥ 70 years old with cT1/T2, hormone positive invasive ductal carcinoma who underwent partial or total mastectomy, with/without axillary surgery, and did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy from the National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2015. We used multivariable log-binomial regression to model the risk of undergoing axillary surgery across region, care setting, and Charlson-Deyo scores, and analyzed temporal trends using Poisson regression. From 2004 to 2015, 87,342 of 99,940 women who met inclusion criteria (83%) had axillary surgery. Over time, axillary surgery increased from 78% to 88% (p < 0.001). This rise was consistent across region (p = 0.81) and care setting (p = 0.09), but flattened as age increased (p < 0.001). Omitting axillary surgery was more likely in patients treated in New England (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.86, 0.89) and patients ≥ 85 (RR 0.66, 95% CI 0.65, 0.67).

CONCLUSIONS

Axillary surgery continues to be the preferred option of axillary management in elderly women with early stage, clinically node negative, hormone-positive, invasive breast cancer despite no survival benefit. Identifying factors to improve patient selection and dissemination of current recommendations can improve adoption of current evidence on axillary surgery in the elderly.

Nodal positivity decreases with age in women with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Despite data demonstrating the safety of omitting axillary surgery in older women with early-stage breast cancer, the incidence of axillary surgery remains high. It was hypothesized that the prevalence of nodal positivity would decrease with advancing age.

METHODS

The National Cancer Data Base was used to construct a cohort of adult women with early-stage, clinically node-negative, estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative breast cancer treated between 2013 and 2015. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between age and nodal positivity, and this was stratified by the axillary surgery category. Modified Poisson regression was used to estimate the proportion of women receiving adjuvant therapy according to age and nodal status.

RESULTS

The incidence of axillary surgery among women aged 70 and older (n = 51,917) remained high nationwide (86%). There was a significant decrease in nodal positivity with advancing age in women with early-stage, ER+, clinically node-negative breast cancer from the youngest cohort up to patients aged 70 to 89 years, and this was independent of histologic subtype (ductal vs lobular), race, comorbidities, and socioeconomic factors. Overall, less than 10% of women aged 70 or older who underwent surgery had node-positive disease, regardless of axillary surgery type, and almost 95% of node-positive patients aged 70 or older were at pathological stage N1mi or N1.

CONCLUSIONS

Axillary surgery may be safely omitted for many older women with ER+, clinically node-negative, early-stage breast cancer. Nodal positivity declines with advancing age, and this suggests varied biology in older patients versus younger patients.

Are You on the Right Platform? A Conjoint Analysis of Social Media Preferences in Aesthetic Surgery Patients

BACKGROUND

Social media has become an indispensable tool for patients to learn about aesthetic surgery. Currently, procedure-specific patient preferences for social media platforms and content are unknown.

OBJECTIVES

The authors sought to evaluate social media preferences of patients seeking aesthetic surgery.

METHODS

We utilized a choice-based conjoint analysis survey to analyze the preferences of patients seeking 3 common aesthetic procedures: breast augmentation (BA), facial rejuvenation (FR), and combined breast/abdominal surgery (BAB). Participants were asked to choose among social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Tumblr, YouTube), information extent (basic, moderate, comprehensive), delivery mechanism (prerecorded video, live video, photographs, text description), messenger (surgeon, nurse/clinic staff, patient), and option for interactivity (yes/no). The survey was administered using an Internet crowdsourcing service (Amazon Mechanical Turk).

RESULTS

A total of 647 participants were recruited: 201 in BA, 255 in FR, and 191 in BAB. Among attributes surveyed, participants in all 3 groups (BA, FR, BAB) valued social media platform as the most important (30.9%, 33.1%, 31.4%), followed by information extent (23.1%, 22.9%, 21.6%), delivery mechanism (18.9%, 17.4%, 18%), messenger (16%, 17%, 17.2%), and interactivity (11.1%, 9.8%, 11.8%). Within these attributes, Facebook ranked as the preferred platform, with comprehensive information extent, live video as the delivery mechanism, and surgeon as the messenger as most preferred.

CONCLUSIONS

The choice of social media platform is the most important factor for patients, and they indicated a preference for comprehensive information delivered by the surgeon via live video on Facebook. Our study elucidates social media usage in common aesthetic populations, which can help improve aesthetic patient outreach.

Multi-omic Dissection of Oncogenically Active Epiproteomes Identifies Drivers of Proliferative and Invasive Breast Tumors

Proliferative and invasive breast tumors evolve heterogeneously in individual patients, posing significant challenges in identifying new druggable targets for precision, effective therapy. Here we present a functional multi-omics method, interaction-Correlated Multi-omic Aberration Patterning (iC-MAP), which dissects intra-tumor heterogeneity and identifies in situ the oncogenic consequences of multi-omics aberrations that drive proliferative and invasive tumors. First, we perform chromatin activity-based chemoproteomics (ChaC) experiments on breast cancer (BC) patient tissues to identify genetic/transcriptomic alterations that manifest as oncogenically active proteins. ChaC employs a biotinylated small molecule probe that specifically binds to the oncogenically active histone methyltransferase G9a, enabling sorting/enrichment of a G9a-interacting protein complex that represents the predominant BC subtype in a tissue. Second, using patient transcriptomic/genomic data, we retrospectively identified some G9a interactor-encoding genes that showed individualized iC-MAP. Our iC-MAP findings represent both new diagnostic/prognostic markers to identify patient subsets with incurable metastatic disease and targets to create individualized therapeutic strategies.

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ChaC dissects tumor heterogeneity for identifying oncogenic-active proteins

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An oncogenic-active G9a-interactome represents the invasive tumor in a tissue

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iC-MAP identifies multi-omics aberrations that drive invasive tumors

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Patient-specific iC-MAP of select interactor genes are of prognostic value

TBCRC 036: Window of opportunity clinical trial reveals adaptive kinome reprogramming in single and combination HER2-targeting in breast cancer (BrCa)

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Background: HER2 targeting is challenging due to heterogeneity in response and resistance. Adaptive kinome reprogramming (AKRP) is a resistance mechanism to kinase-targeted therapy (Rx) in TNBC ( Cancer Discovery2017). We studied AKRP in HER2+ BrCa by comparing transcriptome and kinome profiles before and after Rx with FDA-approved anti-HER2 drugs and combinations: trastuzumab (T), pertuzumab (P), T+P, or T+ lapatinib (T+L). Profiling was by RNA sequencing (RNAseq) and multiplexed inhibitor beads coupled with mass spectrometry (MIB/MS). MIB affinity-purification selectively enriches the functional kinome ( > 250 kinases per sample) for identification/quantification by MS. Methods: Eligible patients (pts) had biopsy then randomization to: T (8 mg/kg iv), P (840 mg iv), T+P (same doses), or T+L (8mg/kg iv x1, 1000 mg po/d) 7 days before breast surgery. RNAseq and MIB/MS on paired pre- and post-Rx samples were analyzed using DESeq2 (comparison of mean difference in log2fold change (post/pre)) and MaxQuant (kinome response profiling) software. Results: Of 23 evaluable pts, we obtained informative paired RNAseq data in 13 (5 T, 3 P, 3 T+P, 2 T+L), and identified distinct expression responses (padj≤0.05) between Rx arms, such as FGFR4 increase in P vs T or T+P. All samples had HER2 enrichment by RNAseq. Kinome response profiling from 11 pts (3 T, 3 P, 4 T+P, 2 T+L) revealed consistent increases in MIB binding (abundance a/o activity) of several tyrosine kinases regardless of Rx, including immune-related kinases SYK, IRAK4, FGR, and FES. Other kinases, such as p90Rsk and GSK3B, exhibited increased binding in response to T and T+P, but not P alone. While not quantifiable in every sample due to detection limits, HER2 inhibition was observed by loss of MIB binding in select post-Rx versus pre-Rx comparisons. Conclusions: HER2 inhibition upregulates and activates specific receptor tyrosine kinases in tumor cells as well as alterations that may reflect changes in the immune compartment. HER2+ BrCa exhibit plasticity, characterized by distinct expression and kinome profile changes within 1 week of initiating Rx, and reprogramming in both immune responses and BrCa cells. Clinical trial information: NCT01875666.

Correlation of radiographic and pathologic findings of dermal lymphatic invasion in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

HNSCC that involves the skin is able to invade the dermal lymphatic system. Currently there is no way to identify patients with dermal lymphatic invasion preoperatively. The purpose of this study is to determine whether CT can predict dermal lymphatic invasion. Medical records, CT scans, and corresponding histopathologic slides were reviewed of HNSCC patients with skin resected as part of their treatment. Dermal lymphatic invasion was defined radiographically as linear reticulations of the dermis and subcutaneous fat adjacent to the tumor. Twelve patients were identified with imaging suggestive of dermal lymphatic invasion. The corresponding pathology slides showed only 1 of the 12 patients had dermal lymphatic invasion, whereas the other 11 specimens showed peritumoral inflammation without evidence of tumor invasion. This study demonstrates that the linear areas of reticulation are most commonly caused by peritumoral inflammation and are not due to dermal lymphatic invasion.