Transoral versus transfacial surgical approach to maxillary tumors: evaluation of outcomes and perspectives

Neoplasms of the maxilla have multiple different origins and histology, and often extend towards the infratemporal fossa, orbit, or skull base. Extensive resection may be required, often leading to poor esthetic and functional results. Usually, these lesions are removed via a transfacial approach. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of the transoral versus transfacial approach for maxillary tumors. A single-institution retrospective study was conducted on patients with maxillary-midface tumors, treated between January 2009 and December 2019. The patients were divided into two groups according to the surgical approach, transfacial or transoral, and the following outcomes were assessed: extent of the resection based on Brown's classification; postoperative pathology margin assessment; reconstruction technique; esthetic/functional results. A total of 178 patients were included. A satisfactory resection was obtained in both groups, with the transoral cohort achieving a higher rate of clear oncological margins (positive margins: transoral group 3.7% versus transfacial group 6.8%, P = 0.389) and a significantly higher University of Washington Quality of Life score (mean 72.2 versus 67.8, P < 0.001). Even large and invasive tumors can be treated successfully with the transoral approach, avoiding unesthetic facial scars while still providing complete resection of the tumor.

Exceptional responses to PARP inhibitors in patients with metastatic breast cancer in oncologic crisis

PURPOSE

Cancers deficient in homologous recombination DNA repair, such as those with BRCA1 or BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) mutations rely on a pathway mediated by the enzyme poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP). PARP inhibitors (PARPi's) have demonstrated efficacy in treating patients with germline (g)BRCA1/2, somatic (s)BRCA1/2, and gPALB2 mutations in clinical trials. However, patients with a poor performance status (PS) and those with severe organ impairment are often excluded from clinical trials and cancer-directed treatment.

METHODS

We report the cases of two patients with metastatic breast cancer who had poor PS, significant visceral disease, and gPALB2 and sBRCA mutations, who derived significant clinical benefit from treatment with PARP inhibition.

RESULTS

Patient A had germline testing demonstrating a heterozygous PALB2 pathogenic mutation (c.3323delA) and a BRCA2 variant of unknown significance (c.9353T>C), and tumor sequencing revealed PALB2 (c.228_229del and c.3323del) and ESR1 (c.1610A>C) mutations. Patient B was negative for pathologic BRCA mutations upon germline testing, but tumor sequencing demonstrated somatic BRCA2 copy number loss and a PIK3CA mutation (c.1633G>A). Treatment with PARPi's in these two patients with an initial PS of 3-4 and significant visceral disease resulted in prolonged clinical benefit.

CONCLUSION

Patients with a poor PS, such as those described here, may still have meaningful clinical responses to cancer treatments targeting oncogenic drivers. More studies evaluating PARPi's beyond gBRCA1/2 mutations and in sub-optimal PS would help identify patients who may benefit from these therapies.

Predictors of non-receipt of first-line CDK 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) among patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC)

1016

Background: CDK4/6i improve survival outcomes for first-line treatment of patients with hormone receptor positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor-2 negative (HER2-) MBC. Yet, not all eligible patients (pts) receive a first-line CDK4/6i. We sought to describe factors associated with not receiving a first-line CDK 4/6i among MBC pts treated at our institution. Methods: Retrospective cohort of pts with HR+, HER2- MBC diagnosed between May 1, 2015 and June 30, 2019 treated at Johns Hopkins clinic sites in Baltimore City (BCi), Baltimore County (BCo), and Washington DC (DC). Primary outcome was receipt of a first-line CDK 4/6i. Clinical and demographic factors were abstracted from the electronic medical record. Patient zip-code was used to define a low-income neighborhood (LIN) as an area where >10% of households have median income below the federal poverty level. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models (determined using a stepwise model selection approach) were performed to identify factors associated with not receiving a first-line CDK 4/6i. Results: Of the 211 pts in the cohort, 203 (96.2%) were female, 133 (63%) were White, and 53 (25%) were Black. Median age was 58 yrs (range 25-90 yrs). 26% of pts had de novo MBC and 44% had visceral disease at diagnosis. About half, 104 (49%), were privately insured, 83 (49%) had Medicare, and 15 (7.1%) had managed care plans including Medicaid. 118 (56%), 43 (20%), and 50 (24%) pts were treated in BCi, BCo, and DC respectively. 60% (n=126) of pts received a first-line CDK 4/6i and there was a trend of increased utilization over time with 39% of pts receiving first-line CDK4/6i in 2015 and 67% in 2019. On univariate analysis, LIN, clinic site, and year of MBC diagnosis (2015-2017 vs 2018-2019) were associated with first-line CDK4/6i use. The multivariable model included age, race, clinic site, LIN, and year of MBC diagnosis. In this model, pts treated in BCi were 58% less likely to receive first-line CDK 4/6i compared to those treated in BCo (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.18-0.95). Those diagnosed with MBC in 2017 or later were 2.6 times more likely to receive first-line CDK4/6i than those diagnosed prior (OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.45-4.83). Those who lived in a LIN were 39% less likely to receive first-line CDK4/6i vs those in a non-LIN, though this was no longer statistically significant (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.32-1.13). Conclusions: We identified disparities in the use of CDK4/6i for first-line treatment of MBC. Lower use was observed among pts who received care at our urban Baltimore city site with a trend towards lower use among pts from lower-income neighborhoods. These findings highlight potential barriers with accessing oral cancer therapies - cost, patient distrust, and/or systemic bias. Further work is needed to delineate the multi-level factors contributing to these disparities and to develop resources to overcome these barriers and achieve equitable utilization of these drugs.

Management of Breast Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Stage- and Subtype-Specific Approach

The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly changed delivery of cancer care. Many nonurgent surgeries are delayed to preserve hospital resources, and patient visits to health care settings are limited to reduce exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Providers must carefully weigh risks and benefits of delivering immunosuppressive therapy during the pandemic. For breast cancer, a key difference is increased use of neoadjuvant systemic therapy due to deferral of many breast surgeries during the pandemic. In some cases, this necessitates increased use of genomic tumor profiling on core biopsy specimens to guide neoadjuvant therapy decisions. Breast cancer treatment during the pandemic requires multidisciplinary input and varies according to stage, tumor biology, comorbidities, age, patient preferences, and available hospital resources. We present here the Johns Hopkins Women's Malignancies Program approach to breast cancer management during the COVID-19 pandemic. We include algorithms based on tumor biology and extent of disease that guide management decisions during the pandemic. These algorithms emphasize medical oncology treatment decisions and demonstrate how we have operationalized the general treatment recommendations during the pandemic proposed by national groups, such as the COVID-19 Pandemic Breast Cancer Consortium. Our recommendations can be adapted by other institutions and medical oncology practices in accordance with local conditions and resources. Guidelines such as these will be important as we continue to balance treatment of breast cancer against risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and infection until approval of a vaccine.

Endocrine therapy in breast cancer: the neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and metastatic approach

OBJECTIVES

To review the rationale for endocrine therapy in the neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and metastatic breast cancer setting and to highlight clinical considerations unique to this treatment.

DATA SOURCES

Contemporary literature, clinical guidelines, and national statistics.

CONCLUSION

Endocrine therapy represents an important strategy in the management of both early and advanced hormone positive breast cancer. Additional research is required to better define the role of neoadjuvant therapy and the optimal duration of treatment.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Nurses play a pivotal role in the identification and management of endocrine therapy-associated symptoms. Prompt symptom intervention may improve therapy adherence and ultimately, may improve long-term disease outcomes.

Initiation of exemestane in two warfarin-treated patients leading to elevation and variability of INR

Aromatase inhibitors are sometimes chosen for adjuvant therapy in post-menopausal breast cancer patients with a history of venous thromboembolism over an antiestrogen due to the lower risk of venous thromboembolism associated with aromatase inhibitors compared to antiestrogens. We report two cases where patients on warfarin therapy had an increase in their international normalized ratio with the initiation of exemestane therapy. Initially, the patients also showed international normalized ratio variability possibly due to variable absorption of exemestane. We suggest patients being treated with warfarin and exemestane concomitantly need close monitoring and education in order to decrease the risk of adverse events that could be associated with this possible interaction. To our knowledge, there are no similar reported cases in the literature.

Stabilization of bone marrow infiltration by metastatic breast cancer with continuous doxorubicin

Complete bone marrow infiltration with profound pancytopenia is very uncommon in breast cancer. Bone marrow metastasis can frequently occur following development of metastatic breast cancer. However, bone marrow failure as the herald of this disease is not typically seen. Very limited data exists as to the safest and most efficacious manner to treat patients with profound pancytopenia due to metastatic solid tumor involvement. In this case, the patient’s thrombocytopenia was particularly worrisome, requiring daily platelet transfusions. There was also concern that cytotoxic chemotherapy would exacerbate the patient’s thrombocytopenia and increase bleeding risk. The patient’s dramatic response to chemotherapy with full platelet recovery is also highly unusual. For our patient, continuous doxorubicin successfully “unpacked” the bone marrow despite a low baseline platelet level, and without increasing the need for more frequent platelet transfusion or risk of catastrophic bleeding. Given the rarity of this presentation, it is currently unknown if the majority of similar patients experience near full recovery of hematopoietic function after initiation of appropriate systemic treatment for metastatic disease.

Improved upper limits on the stochastic gravitational-wave background from 2009-2010 LIGO and Virgo data

Gravitational waves from a variety of sources are predicted to superpose to create a stochastic background. This background is expected to contain unique information from throughout the history of the Universe that is unavailable through standard electromagnetic observations, making its study of fundamental importance to understanding the evolution of the Universe. We carry out a search for the stochastic background with the latest data from the LIGO and Virgo detectors. Consistent with predictions from most stochastic gravitational-wave background models, the data display no evidence of a stochastic gravitational-wave signal. Assuming a gravitational-wave spectrum of Ω_{GW}(f)=Ω_{α}(f/f_{ref})^{α}, we place 95% confidence level upper limits on the energy density of the background in each of four frequency bands spanning 41.5-1726 Hz. In the frequency band of 41.5-169.25 Hz for a spectral index of α=0, we constrain the energy density of the stochastic background to be Ω_{GW}(f)<5.6×10^{-6}. For the 600-1000 Hz band, Ω_{GW}(f)<0.14(f/900  Hz)^{3}, a factor of 2.5 lower than the best previously reported upper limits. We find Ω_{GW}(f)<1.8×10^{-4} using a spectral index of zero for 170-600 Hz and Ω_{GW}(f)<1.0(f/1300  Hz)^{3} for 1000-1726 Hz, bands in which no previous direct limits have been placed. The limits in these four bands are the lowest direct measurements to date on the stochastic background. We discuss the implications of these results in light of the recent claim by the BICEP2 experiment of the possible evidence for inflationary gravitational waves.