Quality of recovery scores in deep serratus anterior plane block vs. sham block in ambulatory breast cancer surgery: a randomised controlled trial

Deep serratus anterior plane block has been widely adopted as an analgesic adjunct for patients undergoing breast surgery, but robust supporting evidence of efficacy is lacking. We randomly allocated 40 patients undergoing simple or partial mastectomy with sentinel node biopsy to receive either a pre-operative deep serratus anterior plane block (serratus group) or a placebo injection (sham group), in addition to systemic analgesia. The primary outcome measure was the quality of recovery score at discharge, as assessed by the quality of recovery-15 questionnaire at various time-points. Secondary analgesic outcomes included: pain severity; postoperative opioid consumption; opioid-related side-effects; patient satisfaction up to 7 days postoperatively; and persistent postoperative pain up to 3 months after surgery. All patients who were recruited completed the study. There were no differences in the quality of recovery-15 scores between patients in the serratus and control groups, with mean (SD) scores of 96 (14) and 102 (20) for the control and serratus groups, respectively. We were also unable to detect differences in any of the secondary analgesic outcomes examined. The addition of a deep serratus anterior plane block to systemic analgesia does not enhance quality of recovery in patients undergoing ambulatory breast cancer surgery.

Abstract P5-16-01: Is breast reconstruction safe in women over 70? An analysis of the national surgical quality improvement program (NSQIP) database

Background:Less than 14% of older women undergo post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. A major reason for the low rate is the concern about post-operative complications. A thorough analysis of surgical complications by age group is limited in previous studies. The aim of this study is to determine the surgical complication rates of older women (≥70 years old) with breast cancer who underwent breast reconstruction and compare them to younger women (18–69 years old).

Methods: Data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database were used to identify women with carcinoma in situ and invasive breast cancer who underwent delayed or immediate breast reconstruction (2005-2016). The primary outcome was 30-day post-operative surgical complications; the secondary outcome was 30-day mortality.Patient demographics, comorbidities, and 30-day postoperative complications and mortality rates were compared across age groups and each type of reconstruction.

Results: Of 42,929 women who underwent breast reconstruction, 2,615 (6.1%) were older women. Although compared to young women, older women were more likely to have medical comorbidities their American Society of Anesthesiologists' (ASA) classification was lower.Tumor histology distribution was similar in both groups. Lymph node surgery and neoadjuvant chemotherapy was significantly less frequent among older women. Compared to young women, older women more frequently underwent immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) [n=2,405 (92%) versus n=33,580 (88.3%), p<0.0001] but less frequently underwent delayed breast reconstruction [n=209 (8%) versus n=4,734 (11.7%), p<0.0001]. Prosthesis-based reconstruction was the most common technique in both age groups. Autologous reconstruction was significantly less common amongst older women than young women [n=517 (19.8%) versus n=10,011 (24.8%), p<0.0001]. Older women experienced higher rates of superficial surgical site infection (SSI) [n=69 (2.6%) versus n=716, (1.8%), p=0.002] and urinary tract infection [n=15 (0.6%) versus n=101 (0.3%) p =0.005]. However, the rates of deep SSI, dehiscence, pneumonia, thromboembolism, renal complications, cardiac events, and sepsis were similar between both groups. Older women had significantly lower rates of events of bleeding requiring transfusion [n=27 (1%) versus n=736 (1.8%), p=0.002] and flap failure [n=2 (0.4%) versus n=210 (2.1%), p=0.006). Return to the operating room within 30-days was similar between older and young women [n=171 (6.5%) versus n=2,821 (7.0%,) p=0.4]. Thirty-day deaths were rare events [older n=3 (0.1%) and young n=10 (0.02%), p=0.05].

Conclusions: Overall, 30-day postoperative complications in older women who undergo breast reconstruction are extremely low. Infection rates were slightly higher in the older group however; severe complications such as flap failure, bleeding, reoperation, and death were more common in young women. Age alone did not confer an increased risk of complications after breast reconstruction. Breast reconstruction can be safely offered to older women undergoing breast cancer treatment.

Citation Format: Angarita FA, McCready DR, Cil T. Is breast reconstruction safe in women over 70? An analysis of the national surgical quality improvement program (NSQIP) database [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-16-01.

Abstract P3-12-02: Intraoperative radiotherapy outcomes in early-stage breast cancer: A study in elderly Canadian women

Objective. Breast-conserving therapy with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) is currently the standard of care for women with early breast cancer. Our aim was to determine if early-stage breast cancers treated with lumpectomy and primary intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) have comparable local recurrence rates. This is the first study examining the Canadian experience with IORT.

Methods. Patients who underwent breast-conserving therapy with pre-pathology IORT between 2007- 2017 were retrospectively identified. The primary outcome measure was ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBRT). A time to event analysis was performed; Kaplan-Meier estimates report the fraction of patients living free of recurrence. Secondary outcomes included acute and chronic wound complications.

Results. 106 patients with a median age of 70 (IQR 65-75) were included. Median follow-up was 33 months. The majority of patients had screen-detected (94.3%), estrogen-receptor positive (96.2%), HER2neu negative (93.4%), invasive ductal carcinomas (92.5%). Only 50 (47.6%) were prescribed adjuvant endocrine blockade. IBTR occurred in 5 (4.7%) patients. Five and ten-year local recurrence-free rates were 0.95 and 0.81, respectively. The superficial skin infection rate was 9.4%. Acute symptomatic seromas occurred in 23 (21.7%), while only 10 (9.4%) persisted chronically.

Conclusion. In this cohort of Canadian post-menopausal women treated with breast-conserving surgery and IORT, the IBTR approached 5%. Despite selection of low-risk patients, the local recurrence rate is higher than what is reported in the literature with EBRT. The low rates of prescribed adjuvant systemic therapy may have contributed to this outcome.

Citation Format: Elmi M, Tigert A, Escallon J, Zagorski B, Leong W, Vranic M, Fyles A, Vitkin A, Cil T, McCready D. Intraoperative radiotherapy outcomes in early-stage breast cancer: A study in elderly Canadian women [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-12-02.

Pertuzumab, trastuzumab and taxane-based treatment for visceral organ metastatic, trastuzumab-naïve breast cancer: real-life practice outcomes

PURPOSE

In this study, we aimed to describe the real-life practice outcomes of pertuzumab-trastuzumab-taxane (PTT) combination in visceral organ metastatic, trastuzumab-naive breast cancer (BC) patients.

METHODS

This study was conducted by Turkish Oncology Group and included 317 patients' data from 36 centers.

RESULTS

Median age was 51 (22-82). Median PFS was 28.5 months, while median OS was 40.3 months. Patients with brain metastases (n: 13, 4.1%) had worse PFS (16.8 m vs. 28.5 m; p = 0.002) and OS (26.7 m vs. 40.3 m; p = 0.009). Patients older than 65 years of age (n: 42, 13.2%) had significantly lower OS results (19.8 m vs. 40.3 m; p = 0.01). Two hundred sixty-eight patients (86.7%) received docetaxel while 37 patients (11.7%) received paclitaxel. PFS and OS were similar between taxane groups. In eight patients (2.5%), 5-40% ejection fraction decrement from baseline was detected without any clinical sign of heart failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Our RLP trial included only visceral metastatic, trastuzumab-naïve BC patients including cases with brain involvement who received PTT combination in the first-line treatment. Regardless of negative prognostic characteristics, our results are in parallel with pivotal trial. Further strategies for brain metastasis should be developed to improve outcomes despite encouraging results with PTT treatment. Taxane selection can be personalized and endocrine maintenance may further improve outcomes after taxanes were discontinued. To our knowledge, this is the largest scale real-life clinical practice study of pertuzumab-trastuzumab-taxane therapy to date.

PATI: Patient accessed tailored information: A pilot study to evaluate the effect on preoperative breast cancer patients of information delivered via a mobile application

OBJECTIVES

The information needs of cancer patients are highly variable. Literature suggests an improved ability to modulate personalised stress, increased patient involvement with decision making, greater satisfaction with treatment choices and reduced anxiety levels in cancer patients who have access to information. The aim of this project was to evaluate the effects of a mobile information application on anxiety levels of patients undergoing surgery for breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An application was developed for use with Apple iPad containing information on basic breast cancer biology, different treatments used and surgical techniques. Content and face validity studies were performed. A randomized control trial was designed, with a 1:2 allocation. Data collected include basic demographics and type of surgery. Questionnaires used included: the HADS, Mini-MAC, information technology familiarity and information satisfaction.

RESULTS

A total of 39 women participated. 13 women had access to an iPad containing additional information and 26 women acted as controls. The mean age was 54 and technology familiarity was similar among both groups. Anxiety and depression scores at seven days were significantly lower in control patients without access to the additional information provided by the mobile application (p = 0.022 and 0.029 respectively).

CONCLUSION

Anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients is both multifactorial and significant, with anxiety levels directly correlating with reduced quality of life. Intuitively, information should improve anxiety levels, however, we have demonstrated that surgical patients with less information reported significantly lower anxiety. We advise the thorough testing and auditing of information initiatives before deployment.

An International Multicenter Review of the Malignancy Rate of Excised Papillomatous Breast Lesions

BACKGROUND

Papillary lesions of the breast are a relatively rare, but heterogeneous group ranging from benign to atypical and malignant. Debate exists regarding the optimal management of these lesions. In the absence of more accurate risk-stratification models, traditional management guidelines recommend surgical excision, despite the majority of lesions proving benign. This study sought to determine the rate of malignancy in excised breast papillomas and to elucidate whether there exists a population in which surgical excision may be unnecessary.

METHODS

A multicenter international retrospective review of core biopsy diagnosed breast papillomas and papillary lesions was performed between 2009 and 2013, following institutional ethical approval. Patient demographics, histopathological, and radiological findings were recorded. All data was tabulated, and statistical analysis performed using Stata.

RESULTS

A total of 238 patients were included in the final analysis. The age profile of those with benign pathology was significantly younger than those with malignant pathology (p < 0.001). Atypia on core needle biopsy was significantly associated with a final pathological diagnosis of malignancy (OR = 2.73). The upgrade rate from benign core needle biopsy to malignancy on the final pathological sample was 14.4 %; however, only 3.7 % had invasive cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

This international dataset is one of the largest in the published literature relating to breast papillomas. The overall risk of malignancy is significantly associated with older age and the presence of atypia on core needle biopsy. It may be possible to stratify higher-risk patients according to age and core needle biopsy findings, thereby avoiding surgery on low-risk patients.

Contribution of low-molecular weight heparin addition to concomitant chemoradiotherapy in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme

PURPOSE

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common brain tumor in adults and has a very aggressive course. Median survival is as short as 2 years with standard treatment (chemoradiotherapy followed by adjuvant temozolomide). The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) addition to concomitant chemoradiotherapy in the treatment of GBM.

METHODS

All patients with newly diagnosed GBM between March 2004-May 2009 were evaluated. After surgical intervention (total, subtotal resection or only biopsy) all of them were treated with concomitant chemoradiotherapy (2 Gy daily, 5 days a week, 30 fractions, total tumor dose 60 Gy; and 75 mg/m² temozolomide, 7 days a week), followed by adjuvant temozolomide (6 cycles, 150-200 mg/m², 5 days every 28 days), with or without LMWH (4000 IU/day, 7 days a week, concomitant with radiotherapy) because of risk of thrombosis. The primary endpoint was the determination of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS); secondary endpoints were 1- and 2-year OS survival.

RESULTS

30 patients (13 patients in the group non receiving LMWH (LMWH-) and 17 patients in the group receiving LMWH (LMWH+)) were included in the study. Median age was 54 years (range 24-75). Median PFS was 57 and 38 weeks in LMWH+ and LMWH- groups, respectively (p=0.068). Median OS was 69 and 44 weeks (p=0.095), 1-year OS survival 84.6 and 41.2% (p=0.016), and 2-year OS survival 38.5 and 5.9% in LMWH+ and LMWH-, respectively (p=0.061). No significant difference was noted between the two groups for grade 3-4 toxicity (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Better PFS, OS and 2-year OS survival were obtained in present study with the addition of LMWH to concomitant chemoradiation for GBM but without statistical significance. One-year OS survival was statistically significant favoring the LMWH group. The addition of LMWH did not increase temozolomide toxicity.

Parathyroid Hormone as a Marker for the Differential Diagnosis of Acute and Chronic Renal Failure

It is often difficult to distinguish acute renal failure clinically from chronic renal failure, especially in patients who do not have records of their medical history. We investigated the magnitude of iPTH increase in ARF and the potential role of iPTH as a marker for differential diagnosis of ARF and CRF in new patients referred to our renal unit. We prospectively analyzed 122 (ARF n = 64, CRF n = 58) patients referred to our renal unit with serum creatinine higher than 2 mg/dL. ROC curve analysis was performed to investigate role of iPTH for differentiating ARF from CRF. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of iPTH in discrimination of ARF and CRF were calculated. There was no statistically significant difference regarding the means of age, sex distribution, and serum chemistry between patients with ARF or CRF. But serum iPTH (p < 0.0001) levels were lower in patients with ARF than in those with CRF. A cutoff, set at 170 pg/mL for iPTH to discriminate patients with CRF, yielded a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 89%. This study confirms that the iPTH measurement is of clinical value in differentiating acute from chronic renal failure.

Reduced folat carrier gene status in colorectal, gastric, and pancreatic cancer

e13540

Background: Folates play a key role in one-carbon metabolism essential for the biosynthesis of purines, thymidylate and hence DNA replication. Folates and antifolates which cannot traverse membranes must use specific transport systems for their cellular uptake. Antifolates such as raltitrexed and pemetrexed which will be used for gastrointestinal system cancer patients treatment are divalent anions which predominantly use the reduced folate carrier (RFC) for their cellular uptake. The aim of this prospective study; was documenting RFC gene status in gastric, colorectal and pancreatic cancers in southeast region of Turkey. Methods: We were evaluated homozygote, heterozygote mutations of RFC (SLC19A1) and wild type of RFC in new diagnosis gastric, colorectal and pancreas cancer patients who presented at the medical oncology and gastroenterology divisions of the Dicle University Hospital in Turkey between the dates August 2007 and October 2008 in southeast region of Turkey. Results: We were evaluated gene status of RFC in 62 (50%) colorectal, 45 (36.3%) gastric and 17 (13.7%) pancreatic cancer patients. In colorectal cancer patients group; 28 (45.9%), 19 (31.1%), 14 (23%), in gastric cancer 29 (64.4%), 7 (15.6%), 9 (20%), in pancreatic cancer 11 (64.7%), 2 (11.8%), 4 (23.5%) heterozygote, homozygote and wild type gene status, respectively. These results have no statistically significant (p=0.209) in three different gastrointestinal cancer types. Conclusions: New generation antifolat chemotherapeutic drugs such as pemetrexed which is multitargeted antifolat and enters the cells via the RFC system has demonstrated activity in gastrointestinal cancers. We think that antifolat drugs will be used in colorectal, gastric and pancreatic cancer patients in standard treatment protocols and RFC gene status will be an important of antifolat drugs activity in these tumors.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Clinical significance of elevated antinuclear antibody test in patients with Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a single center experience

AIM

There is an increased risk of lymphoma subsequent to autoimmune conditions. Autoimmune disorders may occur in the course of lymphomas. In this study, the association of autoimmunity and related autoantibodies within non-Hodgkin's (NHL) and Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) patients has been investigated.

METHODS

The study enrolled 119 patients affected by NHL and 60 patients affected by HL for the presence of autoantibodies and autoimmune diseases. Afterwards, the results between the two lymphoma groups have been confronted.

RESULTS

Autoimmune diseases were diagnosed in eight (6.7%) patients with NHL and three patients with HL (5%) (P=0.651). Thirty-four (28.5%) patients with NHL and 14 (23.3%) patients with HL displayed autoantibody positivity (P=0.083). As regards HL cases, antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were detected in 12 (20%) and anti PM-Scl in two patients (3.3%). None the patients had anti Jo-1, anti Scl-70, anti Sm, anti nRNP/Sm, anti single-stranded DNA (anti-ssDNA), anti double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), antihistones, antinucleosomes, anti SS-A, anti SS-B or anti CENP-B autoantibodies. In patients affected by NHL ANA was detected in 16 (13.4%), anti SS-A and anti SS-B in two (1.7%), anti CENP-B in eight (6.7%) and anti PM-Scl in eight patients (6.7%). None of the patients had anti Jo-1, anti Scl-70, anti Sm, anti nRNP/Sm, anti ssDNA, antihistones or antinucleosome antibodies. There was a statistically significant difference between patients with HL and NHL in terms of anti CENP-B positivity (P=0.040).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, ANA and related autoantibodies can frequently be detected during lymphoma treatment. However, the majority of lymphoma patients with positive ANA did not display autoimmune diseases, demonstrating the lack of a strict correlation between the presence of ANA and autoimmune diseases.

A simple way to estimate mean plasma glucose and to identify Type 2 diabetic subjects with poor glycaemic control when a standardized HbA1c assay is not available

AIMS

To evaluate the relationship between HbA(1c) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and postprandial plasma glucose (PPG) levels, and to estimate the mean plasma glucose (mPG) derived from FPG and PPG that would predict Type 2 diabetic subjects with poor glycaemic control.

METHODS

FPG, PPG and HbA(1c) values from 565 Type 2 diabetic patients (247 men and 318 women) were recorded. Linear regression analysis and Pearson's correlation was used to determine the relationship between HbA(1c), FPG and PPG. FPG and PPG were included as explanatory variables of HbA(1c) in linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

The American Diabetes Association's objective of achieving an HbA(1c) level < 7.0% was obtained in 26.2% of the patients. The coefficients of FPG and PPG which determined HbA(1c) were similar. Therefore, mPG was calculated using the equation (FPG + PPG)/2. Pearson's correlation coefficient for HbA(1c) and FPG, PPG and mPG were 0.723 (P < 0.0001), 0.734 and 0.761 (P < 0.0001), respectively. A mPG cut-off value of 10 mmol/l predicted an HbA(1c) > 7% in the whole population, with a sensitivity of 84.2% and specificity of 80.4%. The area was high (0.90) in receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis performed to examine the performance of mPG to predict HbA(1c) > 7%.

CONCLUSIONS

The mPG derived from FPG and PPG correlates strongly with HbA(1c). We therefore suggest that using a cut-off of 10 mmol/l for mPG may be appropriate in diabetes management in the primary-care setting, where most management of Type 2 diabetes occurs.

A tale of two syndromes: ovarian hyperstimulation and abdominal compartment

Abdominal compartment syndrome complicated severe ovarian hyperstimulation in a 35 year old woman with multiple bowel resections due to Crohn's disease. Pain from ovarian enlargement necessitated hospital admission. Despite intravenous fluid administration and heparin prophylaxis, ilio-femoral deep vein thrombosis developed. Treatment by intravenous heparin was complicated by repeated intra-ovarian bleeding, anaemia and acute renal failure requiring haemodialysis. Intra-abdominal pressures were elevated. After placement of an inferior vena caval filter and discontinuation of heparin, there was slow spontaneous recovery without surgery.