OECI TuBaFrost Tumor Biobanking

OECI TuBaFrost harbors a complete infrastructure for the exchange of frozen tumor samples between European countries. OECI TuBaFrost consists of: • A code of conduct on how to exchange human residual samples in Europe • A central database application accessible over the Internet ( www.tubafrost.org ) where data can be uploaded and searched from samples that can be selected and ordered • Access rules with incentives for collectors • Standardization needed to enable the analysis of high quality samples derived from different centers • Virtual Microscopy to support sample selection with difficult pathology

The entire infrastructure was, after completion, which was entirely financed by the European Commission, implemented in the OECI. But so far it has not been used to its capacity. A recent survey held amongst the OECI members shed light on the causes. The main conclusion is that all responders see OECI TuBaFrost as a good platform for exchange of samples, however, the biggest bottleneck found was that potential users are too unfamiliar with the communication between their own biobank tracking system and the TuBaFrost central database application. Therefore, new future plans are drawn. In addition, new infrastructure plans have been developed and the first preparatory steps have been set. For biobanks the BBMRI project has started aiming for Pan-European Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure.

Abstract P4-02-03: Breast biopsy histology relationships with opto-acoustic imaging of breast masses

Purpose: The Imagio® breast imaging system, a diagnostic opto-acoustic (OA) imaging device bearing the CE Mark, is in the U.S. FDA Premarket Approval process. OA provides both functional (relative oxygenation/de-oxygenation) and anatomic (angiogenesis) information that is co-registered and temporally interleaved in real time with gray-scale ultrasound that may improve distinction between benign and malignant masses. OA imaging pathology correlation was performed to elucidate the histologic features of OA features of breast cancers.

Methods and Materials: A multicenter postmarket surveillance and clinical follow-up study was conducted in five Dutch sites in which 209 women with breast masses underwent OA prior to biopsy. Histopathology examination of the biopsies revealed 146 benign masses (mostly fibroadenomas) and 76 malignant masses (mostly invasive ductal carcinomas). For invasive ductal carcinomas, histologic grade and the features used to assess histologic grade (nuclear pleomorphism, tubule formation, and mitotic count) were assessed. For each mass, 5 pre-determined OA features, 3 internal features, and 2 external features were evaluated. The 3 internal scores (vessels, blush, and hemoglobin) and 2 external features (capsular boundary zone and peripheral boundary zone) were separately and collectively summed for testing relationships with traditional histopathology measures using a two-sided Jonckheere-Terpstra test of ordered outcomes. Distribution differences between benign and malignant masses were performed using a Wilcoxon Rank Sum test for each internal, external, and summed total internal, external, and total score.

Results: The mean differences were significantly higher for malignant vs. benign for internal vessels (p=0.0009), internal blush (p=0.0085), external boundary zone (p<0.0001), and external peripheral zone (p<0.0001), but not internal hemoglobin. Mean Total Internal Score, Total External Score, and Total Internal and External Score were all significantly higher (all p<0.01) for malignant vs. benign. Among invasive carcinomas, Total Internal Score and Total Internal and External Score were significantly higher for higher histologic tumor grade (p=0.04, 0.02), significantly higher Total External Score and Total Internal and External Score for higher tubule score (p=0.06, 0.03), slightly higher Total Internal Score and Total Internal and External Score for higher nuclear pleomorphism score (p=0.04, 0.05), and slightly higher Total Internal Score for higher mitotic score (p=0.03).

Conclusion: OA feature summary scores appear to differentiate between benign vs. malignant and correspond to histologic grade and scoring components of histologic grade. The U.S. investigational PIONEER pivotal study (n=2,095) may further confirm these results.

Citation Format: van de Vijver M, Lavin PT, Stavros AT. Breast biopsy histology relationships with opto-acoustic imaging of breast masses [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-02-03.

Abstract OT2-1-03: Preoperative accelerated partial breast irradiation trial (PAPBI); defining radiosensitivity

Background and aim of the study:

A.The ongoing Preoperative Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (PAPBI) trial (NCT01024582) is based on the rationale that three-dimensional conformal external-beam radiation (3D-CRT) leads to more dose homogeneity compared with brachy-or intraoperative radiotherapy (RT). By irradiating preoperatively this can lead to more accurate tumor delineation and smaller irradiated volumes. As the tumor remains in situ during irradiation, more precise delivery of the radiation dose is guaranteed with CT cone beam linear accelerators, avoiding the uncertainties of the original tumor position in the operation cavity as is the case in postoperative RT. Tumor excision 6 weeks after RT removes the high dose volume tissue and can lead to better cosmesis.

B. By assessing tumor response to radiotherapy, an additional goal of the study is to develop a gene expression profile that predicts breast cancer radiosensitivity. This gene signature of breast radiosensitivity would further design optimal treatment strategies for individual breast cancer patients treated with BCT.

Inclusion citeria:

Patients 60 years or older with a cT< = 3cm, ductal carcinoma (no in situ component), unifocal on mammogram and MRI, pN0(sn) (sentinel node procedure before RT), will be treated by preoperative RT (CTV = GTV + 2 cm, 10 × 4 Gy IMRT/VMAT over two weeks). Six weeks after pre-operative RT, a wide local excision will be performed. Skin toxicity and fibrosis is scored using EORTC/RTOG criteria. Patients are followed during RT and on a 3-monthly basis. Cosmesis is scored and photographs are taken for analysis (BCCT.core project score).

To study radiosensit ivity, gene expression profiling from RNA and DNA isolated from biopsies (mRNA gene expression profiles, the miRNA expression profiles and the DNA copy number changes) taken of the tumor before radiotherapy and at time of surgery will be correlated with response to radiotherapy, defined as pathologic response at the time of the lumpectomy. Response of the tumor will be evaluated by MRI scan and PET (before radiotherapy and before surgery) and classical pathology.

Endpoint :

The main objective is to investigate the impact of a short fractionated schedule given preoperatively on cosmesis and breast fibrosis. Therefore, it is anticipated that the percentage of moderate or severe fibrosis will decrease from 27% as found in the boost arm of the EORTC boost-no boost trial to 15% (Collette et al EJC 2008). The total sample size of 120 patients will provide in excess of 80% power to detect the difference between the null hypotheses (a rate of fibrosis of 27%) and the alternative hypothesis (a rate of fibrosis of 15%) with an exact binomial test at 0.05 2-sided significance level. In addition, the 2-sided 95% confidence interval for the proportion of patients without local recurrence will extend 0.035 from the observed proportion for an expected proportion of 96%. An additional objective is to build a classifier (genomic or proteomic or any kind of molecular signature) to identify responders and non-responders. A total of 120 patients will be included in the study. The main analysis will include 60 patients in the training set and 60 in the validation set.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr OT2-1-03.

ONCOPOOL - a European database for 16,944 cases of breast cancer

ONCOPOOL is a retrospectively compiled database of primary operable invasive breast cancers treated in the 1990s in 10 European breast cancer Units. Sixteen thousand and nine hundred and forty four cases were entered, with tumours less than 5 cm diameter in women aged 70 or less (mean age 55).

DATA

Data were date of birth, mode of diagnosis, pathology (size, lymph node status, grade, type, lympho-vascular invasion and hormone receptor) and therapies and outcome measures: first local, regional or distant recurrences, contralateral primary, date and cause of death.

TUMOUR CHARACTERISTICS

Mean diameter 1.8 cm, 66% lymph node negative, 24% 1-3 lymph nodes involved and 10% had 4 or more involved. Grade 1, 29%; Grade 2, 41%; and Grade 3, 30%. Polynomial relationships were established between grade, stage and size. Seventy-five percent were oestrogen receptor (ER) positive. ER closely related to grade.

OUTCOMES

Overall Survival was 89% at 5 years from diagnosis, 80% 10 years and 73% 15 years; Breast Cancer-Specific survivals were 91%, 84% and 79%. Survival strongly related to the Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI). Cases detected at screening had 84% 10-year survival, those presenting symptomatically 76%. ER positive cases treated with adjuvant hormone therapy had a reduction in risk of death of 13% over those not receiving adjuvant therapy (p=0.000). ER negative cases treated with chemotherapy showed a risk reduction of 23% over those not receiving chemotherapy (p=0.000).

Integrative Molecular Profiling of Triple Negative Breast Cancers Identifies Potential Therapeutic Targets Including Amplifications of FGFR2

Triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) have a relatively poor prognosis emphasising the need to identify new subtype specific target therapies. Based on the concept of oncogene addiction, we searched for potential therapeutic targets by identifying genes consistently over-expressed when amplified in TNBC. Fifty six TNBCs were subjected to high resolution tiling path microarray-based comparative genomic hybridisation (aCGH); out of these cases, 24 were also subjected to genome-wide microarray-based mRNA expression analysis. TNBCs showed a high level of genetic instability, with recurrent regions of amplification (>4 copies) included multiple regions on 1q and 8q, 3q25, 10p14, 10q26, 13q34, 15q26 and 19q12-19q13. Integration of aCGH and expression data revealed 38 genes that were significantly overexpressed when amplified. This list includes known oncogenes and potential therapeutic targets, such as MCL1 (1q21.2), FGFR2 (10q26.3), BUB3 (10q26.3), RAB20 (13q34), PKN1 (19p13.12), and NOTCH3 (19p13.12). To validate FGFR2 as a therapeutic target, we screened a panel of cell lines, by western blotting and aCGH, and identified two TNBC cell lines with FGFR2 amplification. In these cell lines FGFR2 was constitutively active in a ligand independent manner, and RNA interference-mediated silencing of FGFR2 selectively decreased survival of cell lines harbouring FGFR2 amplification. Likewise FGFR2 amplified cell lines were highly sensitive to FGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor PD173074 (IC50 <20nM). Treatment with PD173074 induced apoptosis in amplified cell lines, as did treatment with PI3 kinase inhibitors LY294002 and BEZ-235 suggesting that apoptosis resulted from inhibition of AKT signalling. Examination of publically available CGH data sets confirmed FGFR2 amplification in 4% (5/124 95%CI 1.3-9.2%) of TNBC, with no cases of FGFR2 amplification in other subtypes (0/150, p=0.02). Our results suggest that FGFR2 amplification is a therapeutic target in a small subset of TNBCs.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 3147.

Receptor Conversion in Breast Cancer Metastases

Background: Since breast cancer metastases are not usually biopsied due to their often inaccessible locations, choice of systemic treatment for metastatic breast cancer is usually based on tissue characteristics of the primary tumor, as determined by immunohistochemistry. However, pilot studies have shown that the immunophenotype of breast cancer metastases may be different from that of the primary tumor (“receptor conversion”). This means that many metastatic patients may not get the appropriate systemic treatment. The pilot studies published so far are however small and methodologically suboptimal as original staining data of the primary tumors were often used, and decalcified bone metastases were included that may give rise to false negative immunohistochemistry. Therefore, definite conclusions that may chance clinical practice could not be drawn. The aim of this study was therefore to study receptor conversion for ERα, PR, and HER2 in a large group of (non-bone) breast cancer metastases, restaining all primary tumors and metastases with current optimal immuno-histochemical methods.Methods: A group of 150 distant breast cancer metastases from different distant sites (79 skin, 33 liver, 22 lung, and 16 brain) was immunohistochemically stained for ERα, PR, and HER2, and receptor expression was compared to that of the primary tumor.Results: Receptor conversion for ERα, PR and HER2 occurred in 6%, 27.4% and 2.7% of the 150 patients, respectively. Conversion was mainly from positive to negative for ER and PR, and from negative to positive for HER2. Receptor conversion seemed to occur especially in liver metastases (ER 9.1%, PR 36.4%, HER2 6.1%) while brain metastases showed no conversion for ER and HER2.Conclusion: Receptor conversion in breast cancer metastases indeed occurs, is rare for ER and HER2, but is more frequent for PR, and may be most outspoken in liver metastases. This underlines the importance of having breast cancer metastases frequently biopsied when possible. Alternatively, molecular imaging strategies are warranted for sites that are difficult to biopsy.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 4145.

Different effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor expression on prognosis of estrogen receptor positive versus triple-negative invasive ductal breast carcinoma

3546

Background: The insulin-like growth factor type 1 receptor (IGF-1R) is involved in progression and sensitivity to systemic treatment of breast cancer. Moreover, targeted inhibition of IGF-1R is likely to be beneficial in systemic treatment. However, it is unknown how to select patients for IGF-1R targeted therapy. Therefore, we studied the relation between IGF-1R expression and prognosis in invasive ductal breast carcinomas. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was performed on tumor tissue of a consecutive cohort of 429 female patients treated for operable primary invasive ductal breast carcinoma. TMA sections were stained with antibodies against IGF1-R, insulin receptor (IR), ER, PR, HER-2, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and phosphorylated-Akt (p-Akt). Cytoplasmic and membranous IGF-1R staining were scored separately, as the relevance of IGF-1R cellular localization is yet unknown. Associations between IGF-1R expression with clinical and tumor characteristics were evaluated in a multivariate Cox regression model. To study in more detail the prognostic role of IGF-1R expression in triple negative invasive ductal carcinomas (TN IDCs), 51 TN IDCs from the series described above were combined with 64 TN IDCs from an independent dataset with similar patient and clinico-pathological characteristics. Results: Patients with tumors expressing both ER and cytoplasmic IGF-1R have a longer disease free survival (HR = 0.20; 95% CI 0.07 - 0.63; p-value = 0.006) and breast cancer specific survival (HR = 0.20, 95% CI 0.07 - 0.63, p-value = 0.002), independent of other known prognostic factors. Conversely, in the combined series of 105 TN IDCs, cytoplasmic IGF-1R expression was associated with a shorter disease free survival (HR = 2.29; 95% CI 1.08 - 4.48, p-value = 0.03). In a multivariate model including known prognostic factors, cytoplasmic IGF-1R expression was nearly significantly related to a shorter disease free survival (HR 2.06; 95% CI 0.95 - 4.47; p = 0.07). Conclusions: The favorable versus unfavorable association with prognosis of IGF-1R expression in ER positive versus TN IDCs may provide new opportunities to select patients for IGF-1R targeted therapy.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Benefit of the 70-gene profile for widely used guidelines: an answer to increased selection for adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer

Abstract #1084

Introduction:
 Risk assessment for breast cancer patients differs substantially among treatment guidelines. The NCCN, St.Gallen, Adjuvant!Online, and Dutch 2008 guidelines are less restrictive in comparison to the 2004 Dutch guidelines and Nottingham Prognostic Index, when selecting patients for adjuvant systemic treatment. The Dutch Institute for Healthcare Improvement (CBO) has introduced slight changes in the concept 2008 guidelines. Adjuvant systemic treatment is only advised when the absolute 10-years survival benefit is 5% or more. The new recommendations for adjuvant systemic treatment are based on survival tables used in the Adjuvant! software. The changes affect only node-negative patients aged 35 years: since 2008 patients with G2/G3 tumors >1cm or every tumor >2cm are advised to undergo adjuvant systemic therapy, while in 2004 this was the case for tumors G3>1cm, G2>2cm or every tumor >3cm.
 Patients and Methods:
 Risk was assessed for 427 lymph-node negative (LNN) patients in the prospective RASTER-study (Bueno-de-Mesquita, 2007) and 151 LNN patients in the NEJM-series (van de Vijver, 2002). Clinical risk was calculated using the 2004 and 2008 Dutch guidelines. Genetic risk was assigned according to the result of the Amsterdam 70-gene signature. Survival analyses were done according to the univariate Kaplan-Meier-method.
 Results:
 Instead of 57% in 2004, in 2008 only 24% of patients were assigned to clinical low risk in the RASTER study, and 141 patients (33%) changed from low to high risk (p<0.001). The rate of discordant findings between clinical assessment and 70-gene signature increased from 30% in 2004 to 41% in 2008 (p<0.001, table 1). Similar results were obtained for the 151 patients of the NEJM-series (30% and 35% discordance for the 2004 and 2008 CBO guidelines, respectively). At 10 years follow-up, differences between the high and low risk categories according to the 2004, 2008 guidelines and the 70-gene profile, were best predicted by the latter: distant-disease-free survival (DDFS) log-rank p=0.002, p=0.11 and p<0.001 respectively.
 
 Conclusion:
 As adjuvant systemic treatments become more effective, guidelines become less restrictive, resulting in more patients being selected for adjuvant therapy. Since newer treatment guidelines do not better predict survival, the magnitude of the 70-gene profiles benefit, which is defined as proportion of patients in whom over- and undertreatment can be avoided, depends on present guidelines for risk assessment and shows a remarkable increase.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 1084.

Microarray-based determination of ER, PR and HER2 receptor status: validation and comparison with IHC assessments

Abstract #3007

Background
 In breast cancer patients the level of expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 is predictive for prognosis and/or treatment response. However, differences in assessment methods and interpretation can substantially affect the accuracy and reproducibility of the results. Previously, we have determined the association between immunohistochemistry (IHC) and mRNA levels for ER, PR and HER2, and have confirmed the accuracy of microarray readout on >400 samples. In the current study we describe the use of this microarray based readout on prospectively collected samples. We compared these readouts with multiple IHC and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) assessments generated in various hospitals and a CLIA-certified reference laboratory and developed a microarray based test called TargetPrint™.
 Methods
 Gene expression data for ER, PR and HER2 were obtained by analysis of 100 breast carcinomas that have been collected prospectively within the RASTER study. Samples were stratified as receptor positive or negative using thresholds for ER, PR and HER2 mRNA levels. IHC assessment was performed (1) according to local standards of the hospital from where the sample originated, (2) by the central laboratory of the Netherlands Cancer Institute, and (3) at an independent reference laboratory using FDA-approved procedures and ASCO/CAP guidelines. A tumor was classified positive for ER and PR when ≥10% of tumor cells showed positive staining. HER2 IHC status was scored as 0, 1+, 2+ or 3+; a score of 3+ was considered positive. In case of 2+ samples, a FISH was performed to assess final HER2 amplification status. The cohort used in this study was pre-selected to include about two-third ER and PR positive samples and one-third HER2 positive samples.
 Results
 Multiple microarray readouts were highly reproducible (Pearson correlation 0.991) and resulted in 67, 61 and 39 percent positive samples for ER, PR and HER2, respectively. Comparison of microarray results with IHC (including FISH for HER2) performed at the three centers indicated highly similar results for receptor readout with a concordance of 92, 93 and 92% for ER; 84, 81 and 86% for PR; and 93, 95 and 94% for HER2. Overall misclassification rates between microarray and IHC readout were low for ER (0.08) and HER2 (0.06) and quite low for PR (0.14), and were comparable to the misclassification rates between the three IHC methods.
 Conclusion
 A microarray-based assessment of ER, PR and HER2 in relation to mRNA levels gives results comparable to multiple IHC methods and FISH and provides an objective and more quantitative assessment of tumor receptor status than IHC alone. Using TargetPrint™ for microarray readouts for hormone and HER2 receptor in addition to standard IHC will improve molecular characterization of breast cancer tissue.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 3007.

TuBaFrost 6: Virtual microscopy in virtual tumour banking

Many systems have already been designed and successfully used for sharing histology images over large distances, without transfer of the original glass slides. Rapid evolution was seen when digital images could be transferred over the Internet. Nowadays, sophisticated Virtual Microscope systems can be acquired, with the capability to quickly scan large batches of glass slides at high magnification and compress and store the large images on disc, which subsequently can be consulted through the Internet. The images are stored on an image server, which can give simple, easy to transfer pictures to the user specifying a certain magnification on any position in the scan. This offers new opportunities in histology review, overcoming the necessity of the dynamic telepathology systems to have compatible software systems and microscopes and in addition, an adequate connection of sufficient bandwidth. Consulting the images now only requires an Internet connection and a computer with a high quality monitor. A system of complete pathology review supporting bio-repositories is described, based on the implementation of this technique in the European Human Frozen Tumor Tissue Bank (TuBaFrost).

TuBaFrost 5: multifunctional central database application for a European tumor bank

Developing a tissue bank database has become more than just logically arranging data in tables combined with a search engine. Current demand for high quality samples and data, and the ever-changing legal and ethical regulations mean that the application must reflect TuBaFrost rules and protocols for the collection, exchange and use of tissue. To ensure continuation and extension of the TuBaFrost European tissue bank, the custodianship of the samples, and hence the decision over whether to issue samples to requestors, remains with the local collecting centre. The database application described in this article has been developed to facilitate this open structure virtual tissue bank model serving a large group. It encompasses many key tasks, without the requirement for personnel, hence minimising operational costs. The Internet-accessible database application enables search, selection and request submission for requestors, whereas collectors can upload and edit their collection. Communication between requestor and involved collectors is started with automatically generated e-mails.

TuBaFrost 1: Uniting local frozen tumour banks into a European network: an overview

TuBaFrost is the consortium responsible for the creation of a virtual European human frozen tumour tissue bank: a collection of high quality frozen residual, accurately classified tumour tissue samples, which are stored in European cancer centres and universities. This virtual tissue bank, searchable on the internet, has rules for access and use, and a code of conduct to comply with the various legal and ethical regulations in European countries. The easy accessibility and the European scale of the bank will result in the availability of a large number of samples even of rarer tumour types. Standardisation of collection, storage and quality control throughout the network is achieved minimising inter-institutional variability. A website providing access to upload, search and request samples is a key tool of the tissue bank. The search engine makes use of virtual microscopy. An overview of the development of the European virtual frozen tissue bank infrastructure is described in this paper. The various key aspects are described in more detail in a series of articles to appear in this Journal.

TuBaFrost 4: access rules and incentives for a European tumour bank

When designing infrastructure for a networked virtual tumour bank (samples remain at the collector institutes and sample data are collected in a searchable central database), it is apparent that this can only function properly after developing an adequate set of rules for use and access. These rules must include sufficient incentives for the tissue sample collectors to remain active within the network and maintain sufficient sample levels in the local bank. These requirements resulted in a key TuBaFrost rule, stating that the custodianship of the samples remains under the authority of the local collector. As a consequence, the samples and the decision to issue the samples to a requestor are not transferred to a large organisation but instead remain with the collector, thus allowing autonomous negotiation between collector and requestor, potential co-authorship in publications or compensation for collection and processing costs. Furthermore, it realises a streamlined cost effective network, ensuring tissue visibility and accessibility thereby improving the availability of large amounts of samples of highly specific or rare tumour types as well as providing contact opportunities for collaboration between scientists with cutting edge technology and tissue collectors. With this general purpose in mind, the rules and responsibilities for collectors, requestors and central office were generated.

TuBaFrost 2: Standardising tissue collection and quality control procedures for a European virtual frozen tissue bank network

Tumour Bank Networking presents a great challenge for oncological research as in order to carry out large-scale, multi-centre studies with minimal intrinsic bias, each tumour bank in the network must have some fundamental similarities and be using the same standardised and validated procedures. The European Human Frozen Tumour Tissue Bank (TuBaFrost) has responded to this need by the promotion of an integrated platform of tumour banks in Europe. The operational framework for TuBaFrost has drawn upon the best practice of standard workflows and operating procedures employed by members of the TuBaFrost project and key initiatives worldwide.

Alterations in the p53 pathway and prognosis in advanced ovarian cancer: a multi-factorial analysis of the EORTC Gynaecological Cancer group (study 55865)

PURPOSE

The study was designed to determine independent prognostic variables in suboptimally debulked advanced ovarian cancer patients entered in the randomised phase III study EORTC 55865.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Retrospectively collected paraffin blocks from 169 patients with stages IIb-IV epithelial ovarian cancer, taken at primary debulking surgery, were analysed. All patients were treated with cyclophosphamide and cisplatin (CP), and followed up for a median of 10 years. Expression of p53, bcl-2, P21, Ki-67 and HER-2 status was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

RESULTS

Expression of p21, a downstream effector of the p53 gene, was found to be a favourable prognostic factor for survival (HR 0.58, CI 0.36-0.94, p=0.025) in addition to FIGO stage (HR 1.54, CI 1.08-2.21, p=or<0.02). For progression free survival (PFS), both p21 (HR 0.52) and Ki-67 (HR 0.6) were significant factors.

CONCLUSION

P21 overexpression is a positive prognostic factor for survival and PFS in advanced ovarian carcinoma with residual lesions of more than 1 cm.

Locally advanced/inflammatory breast cancers treated with intensive epirubicin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy: are there molecular markers in the primary tumour that predict for 5-year clinical outcome?

BACKGROUND

Locally advanced and/or inflammatory breast cancer (LABC) is a heterogeneous disease. Molecular markers may help to understand this heterogeneity. This paper reports the results of a study assessing the potential prognostic or predictive value of HER-2, p53, cyclinD1, MIB1, ER and PgR expression by immunohistochemistry from patients included in an EORTC-NCIC-SAKK trial.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 448 patients with a cytological or histological diagnosis of LABC were randomised into a trial comparing two anthracycline-based neoadjuvant regimens. Chemotherapy was followed by standard locoregional therapy. Survival was comparable in both arms. We collected and analysed centrally paraffin-embedded tumour specimens from 187 (72.5%) of 258 patients that had a histological diagnosis.

RESULTS

Of the patients included in this molecular marker study 114 relapsed and 91 died. In the multivariate analysis p53 positivity was associated with a shorter progression-free survival [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.96; 95% CI 1.33-2.91; P = 0.0008) and a shorter overall survival (HR = 1.98; 95% CI 1.28-3.06; P = 0.002). PgR positivity predicted for a longer overall survival (HR = 0.54; 95% CI 0.35-0.83; P = 0.0045).

CONCLUSIONS

p53 was an independent factor predicting for survival. In order to clarify whether p53 is a pure prognostic and/or a predictive factor, a phase III trial is being conducted (EORTC 10994/BIG 00-01 study) using functional assay in yeast from frozen tumour samples.

The activity of raltitrexed (Tomudex) in malignant pleural mesothelioma: an EORTC phase II study (08992)

We investigated the activity and toxicity of raltitrexed (Tomudex) as a single agent treatment in patients with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) in a multicentre phase II European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) study. This study enrolled chemonaíve patients with histologically-confirmed measurable MPM. Raltitrexed was administered at the dose of 3 mg/m(2) intravenous (i.v.) bolus on an outpatient basis every 3 weeks. A maximum of eight cycles was planned in cases with an absence of progression or unacceptable toxicity. 24 patients received a total of 104 courses. 5 patients (20.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 7.1-42.2%) had a partial response (PR), which was confirmed by an independent radiology committee. Toxicity was mild, with diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and neutropenia as the major side-effects, but not exceeding grade 3 toxicity. We conclude that raltitrexed has activity as a single agent in the treatment of MPM, and that further studies with this drug in MPM are warranted.

Comparison of surveillance and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in Stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumors

OBJECTIVES

To compare retrospectively the treatment results of surveillance and primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) of patients with clinical Stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis (NSGCT) in two institutions in The Netherlands.

METHODS

From 1982 to 1994, 90 consecutive patients with clinical Stage I NSGCT were prospectively entered in a surveillance protocol in Amsterdam (group 1). In the same period, 101 patients with clinical Stage I NSGCT underwent primary RPLND in Nijmegen (group 2). Both patient populations were comparable for patient age, presence of vascular invasion, and embryonal cell components in the primary tumor. All patients in group 1 with relapse, except for 2, were treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. All patients in group 2 with vital tumor in the RPLND specimen were treated with two adjuvant courses of combined chemotherapy (cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin).

RESULTS

In group 1, at a median follow-up of 7.7 years, 23 patients (26%) had relapse. The median time to relapse was 12 months. Relapses were located retroperitoneally (n = 18, 78%), in the lung (n = 3, 13%), scrotally (n = 1, 4%), and combined in the liver, lung, and pleura (n = 1, 4%). After treatment of relapses (chemotherapy in 21 and/or surgery in 11), only 1 patient died of disseminated disease. A disease-free survival rate of 98.5% was achieved at the median follow-up. The main toxicities consisted of short-lasting leukopenia, accompanied by infection (13%). Four patients reported cardiovascular and four neuropathy complaints. In group 2, the median follow-up was 6.9 years. In 31 patients (30.7%), vital tumor was found retroperitoneally; after two courses of combined chemotherapy, none of them had a relapse. Seven patients with pathologic Stage I disease (6.4%) had a pulmonary relapse within 1 year after surgery. No retroperitoneal relapses were found. After chemotherapy, 6 patients with relapse were salvaged, and 1 died of disseminated disease. The disease-specific survival rate in group 2 was 98% at the median follow-up. The most frequent surgical complications were lymphocele (n = 3), small bowel obstruction (n = 3), and abdominal pain (n = 3). The antegrade ejaculation rate was 94%.

CONCLUSIONS

Excellent treatment results in terms of disease-free survival can be achieved in Stage I NSGCT with both surveillance and primary RPLND. Patients with pathologic Stage II disease adjuvantly treated with chemotherapy did not have any relapse and consequently all survived. Most complications after both treatment strategies are reversible. The choice of treatment should be based on balanced information and not on dogmatic principles.

Surveillance can be the standard of care for stage I nonseminomatous testicular tumors and even high risk patients

PURPOSE

We investigate the results of a surveillance program for stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumors to validate a surveillance policy, and furthermore improve it by analyzing diagnostic instruments and identifying prognostic factors for relapse.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 1982 to 1994, 90 patients with stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumors entered a surveillance protocol after orchiectomy. Patients with relapse were treated with cisplatin based chemotherapy. A statistical analysis of possible prognostic factors for relapse was performed.

RESULTS

Relapse occurred in 23 (26%) patients. Disease specific survival was 98.9%, and 1 patient died of tumor. Most relapses were located in retroperitoneal lymph nodes only (78%). Tumor markers were the most important indicators of relapse. However, in 22% of patients with relapse abdominal x-ray of lymphangiographic contrast showed the first sign of relapse. Computerized tomography located all but 1 relapse. Vascular invasion (p = 0.0001), tumor size (p = 0.0341) and presence of immature teratoma (p = 0.0154) were significantly predictive of relapse with the multivariate analysis, percentage embryonal carcinoma only by univariate analysis (p = 0.032). The relapse rate was highest (52%) when vascular invasion was present.

CONCLUSIONS

With surveillance for stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumors, excellent treatment results can be achieved that are comparable to primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Tumor markers and computerized tomography are highly reliable for detecting relapse. Lymphangiography is still of staging value. Pathological factors may influence the choice of adjuvant treatment. However, relapse risks of 50% to 60% are maximally achieved with presently available prognostic factors, and so sparing morbidity of adjuvant treatment by a surveillance protocol remains a feasible option even in these patients.

A study of the value of p53, HER2, and Bcl-2 in the prediction of response to doxorubicin and paclitaxel as single agents in metastatic breast cancer: a companion study to EORTC 10923

This study assesses the potential value of the tumor markers p53, HER2, and Bcl-2 in predicting the clinical response to doxorubicin and paclitaxel as single agents in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. The primary tumors of 114 patients in the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer 10923 trial were assessed by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies; the results were correlated with clinical response to therapy. HER2 was positive in 24% of patients, p53 was positive in 25% of patients, and Bcl-2 was positive in 49% of patients. There was no correlation between the expression of any of the markers and the clinical response to either agent. Although methodologically limited, this study does not support the use of p53, HER2, or Bcl-2 to assist the selection of anthracycline versus taxane in metastatic breast cancer.

The case for completing the lymphadenectomy when positive lymph nodes are found during radical hysterectomy for cervical carcinoma

BACKGROUND

In the present study we report on the results of a retrospective study on the effect on survival of the pelvic lymphadenectomy in a group of 294 patients with stage Ia2-IIa cervical carcinoma treated by radical hysterectomy from 1984 through 1996 at the Leiden University Medical Center.

METHODS

Lymphadenectomy was called 'complete' when lymph node bearing tissue had been removed from 5 or 6 lymph node stations and 'not-complete' when this was the case in 1-4 stations.

RESULTS

A radical hysterectomy was carried out in 294 patients. In 63 patients positive lymph nodes were found. Patients with positive nodes showed poorer 5 year survival: 64.5% compared to 90% in patients with negative nodes. In the univariate analysis the following factors were found to affect the presence of node metastases in a statistically significant way: age, tumor size, depth of infiltration, vaso-invasion, surgical margins, parametrial infiltration, stage and place of referral. In 63 patients with positive nodes, a complete lymphadenectomy was carried out in 23 patients, and in 40 patients the procedure was incomplete. All 63 patients were treated by adjuvant radiation therapy; those with complete lymphadenectomy had significantly less recurrences (25%) compared to those with incomplete lymphadenectomy (56%): the relative risk (RR) was 2.9 (95% ci: 1.3-6.7), p=0.012. After adjustment for other prognostic factors including tumor size, depth of infiltration and parametrial involvement, the complete lymphadenectomy showed an independent effect on disease free survival: RR= 3.2 (95% ci: 1.3-7.7), p=0.011. Prognostic factors were not significantly different for patients with complete or incomplete lymphadenectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

From the results of this study, although retrospective and non randomized, it can be concluded that to complete removal of lymph nodes in combination with radical hysterectomy seems to have a beneficial effect on prognosis in case of positive nodes. The policy of aborting the procedure when lymph node metastases are found in frozen section should be questioned.

Intraperitoneal photodynamic therapy: comparison of red and green light distribution and toxicity

The aim of this study was to compare red (652 nm) and green (514 nm) light for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of the peritoneal cavity with emphasis on light distribution and toxicity. Red-light PDT was limited by intestinal toxicity and it was hypothesized that less penetrating green light would allow higher light doses to be used in the peritoneal cavity. Female non-tumor-bearing rats were photosensitized with mTHPC (meta-tetrahydroxyphenylchlorin, Foscan) intravenously or intraperitoneally and the peritoneum was illuminated using a minimally invasive technique. For both red and green light, the time of illumination was varied to give the required dose. Light fluence rate was measured in situ at multiple sites within the abdominal cavity. The toxicity experiments were carried out with a total of 160 J incident red or 640 J incident green light and a drug dose of 0.15 mg/kg Foscan. For red light a mean fluence rate of 55.2 +/- 38.5 mW cm-2 was measured, with a peak fluence rate of 128 mW cm-2 on the intestines. For green light the mean and peak fluence rates were 8.2 +/- 9.0 (i.e. including zero fluence rate measurements) and 28 mW cm-2, respectively. Intestines were most vulnerable to red light illumination. The intravenous injection route resulted in increased toxicity for red light, but for green light there were no major differences between intravenous and intraperitoneal routes. The 4 h interval between drug and illumination resulted in very little toxicity for both wavelengths. We conclude that for intraperitoneal PDT green light allows higher light doses than red light, but the light distribution over the peritoneum is much less favorable and may not be suitable for whole peritoneal illumination using a minimal-access technique.

E-cadherin is a tumour/invasion suppressor gene mutated in human lobular breast cancers

Compelling experimental evidence exists for a potent invasion suppressor role of the cell-cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin. In addition, a tumour suppressor effect has been suggested for E-cadherin. In human cancers, partial or complete loss of E-cadherin expression correlates with malignancy. To investigate the molecular basis for this altered expression we developed a comprehensive PCR/SSCP mutation screen for the human E-cadherin gene. For 49 breast cancer patients the occurrence of tumour-specific mutations in the E-cadherin gene was examined. No relevant DNA changes were encountered in any of 42 infiltrative ductal or medullary breast carcinoma samples. In contrast, four out of seven infiltrative lobular breast carcinomas harboured protein truncation mutations (three nonsense and one frameshift) in the extracellular part of the E-cadherin protein. Each of the four lobular carcinomas with E-cadherin mutations showed tumour-specific loss of heterozygosity of chromosomal region 16q22.1 containing the E-cadherin locus. In compliance with this, no E-cadherin expression was detectable by immunohistochemistry in these four tumours. These findings offer a molecular explanation for the typical scattered tumour cell growth in infiltrative lobular breast cancer.

Differentiation-dependent expression of provirus-activated int-1 oncogene in clonal cell lines derived from a mouse mammary tumor

The int-1 mammary oncogene is frequently activated by proviral insertion in mouse mammary tumors. To characterize the target cell for the oncogenic action of int-1, we have isolated permanent cell lines with distinct morphologies and differentiation characteristics, starting from a tumor with a rearranged int-1 gene. Polygonal cells had retained many differentiation markers of epithelial cells and produced adenocarcinomas upon transplantation in syngenic mice. Sphere-forming-cuboidal cells are poorly differentiated and produced anaplastic tumors. Cuboidal and elongated cells were negative for epithelial markers. Cuboidal cells were poorly tumorigenic, but elongated cells produced highly malignant sarcoma-like tumors. In all lines, the int-1 gene was identically rearranged due to insertion of proviral DNA of the Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus, but the expression of int-1 varied with the state of differentiation of the cells. Polygonal cells contained relatively high levels of int-1 RNA, which were not influenced by steroid hormones. In the sphere-forming-cuboidal cells, expression of int-1 was low but inducible by dexamethasone. In the cuboidal and elongated cells no expression of int-1 was detectable, showing that the continued expression of int-1 was not required for progression to more malignant cells. By immunoprecipitation, two int-1 protein species, of 42 and 40 kD were identified in polygonal and in sphere-forming-cells but not in the culture media.

Amplification of the neu (c-erbB-2) oncogene in human mammmary tumors is relatively frequent and is often accompanied by amplification of the linked c-erbA oncogene

We investigated alterations in the structure and expression of oncogenes in mammary tumors and mammary tumor-derived cell lines. In 16 of 95 samples, we detected amplification of the human neu oncogene, also known as c-erB-2, accompanied by overexpression in the tumors from which intact RNA could be isolated. In 10 of these DNAs, the linked oncogene c-erbA was also amplified, whereas another gene on human chromosome 17, p53, was present in normal copy numbers. Overexpression of c-erbA could not be detected in the tumors analyzed. The relatively high frequency of neu amplification points to a functional role in human breast cancer. Coamplification of the c-erbA oncogene could contribute to this disease as well but is most likely fortuitous.