Prognostic value of histopathologic traits independent of stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte levels in chemotherapy-naïve patients with triple-negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND

In the absence of prognostic biomarkers, most patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (eTNBC) are treated with combination chemotherapy. The identification of biomarkers to select patients for whom treatment de-escalation or escalation could be considered remains an unmet need. We evaluated the prognostic value of histopathologic traits in a unique cohort of young, (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy-naïve patients with early-stage (stage I or II), node-negative TNBC and long-term follow-up, in relation to stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) for which the prognostic value was recently reported.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We studied all 485 patients with node-negative eTNBC from the population-based PARADIGM cohort which selected women aged <40 years diagnosed between 1989 and 2000. None of the patients had received (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy according to standard practice at the time. Associations between histopathologic traits and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) were analyzed with Cox proportional hazard models.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up of 20.0 years, an independent prognostic value for BCSS was observed for lymphovascular invasion (LVI) [adjusted (adj.) hazard ratio (HR) 2.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.49-3.69], fibrotic focus (adj. HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.09-2.37) and sTILs (per 10% increment adj. HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.69-0.82). In the sTILs <30% subgroup, the presence of LVI resulted in a higher cumulative incidence of breast cancer death (at 20 years, 58%; 95% CI 41% to 72%) compared with when LVI was absent (at 20 years, 32%; 95% CI 26% to 39%). In the ≥75% sTILs subgroup, the presence of LVI might be associated with poor survival (HR 11.45, 95% CI 0.71-182.36, two deaths). We confirm the lack of prognostic value of androgen receptor expression and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 -low status.

CONCLUSIONS

sTILs, LVI and fibrotic focus provide independent prognostic information in young women with node-negative eTNBC. Our results are of importance for the selection of patients for de-escalation and escalation trials.

Methodological guidance for the evaluation and updating of clinical prediction models: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Clinical prediction models are often not evaluated properly in specific settings or updated, for instance, with information from new markers. These key steps are needed such that models are fit for purpose and remain relevant in the long-term. We aimed to present an overview of methodological guidance for the evaluation (i.e., validation and impact assessment) and updating of clinical prediction models.

METHODS

We systematically searched nine databases from January 2000 to January 2022 for articles in English with methodological recommendations for the post-derivation stages of interest. Qualitative analysis was used to summarize the 70 selected guidance papers.

RESULTS

Key aspects for validation are the assessment of statistical performance using measures for discrimination (e.g., C-statistic) and calibration (e.g., calibration-in-the-large and calibration slope). For assessing impact or usefulness in clinical decision-making, recent papers advise using decision-analytic measures (e.g., the Net Benefit) over simplistic classification measures that ignore clinical consequences (e.g., accuracy, overall Net Reclassification Index). Commonly recommended methods for model updating are recalibration (i.e., adjustment of intercept or baseline hazard and/or slope), revision (i.e., re-estimation of individual predictor effects), and extension (i.e., addition of new markers). Additional methodological guidance is needed for newer types of updating (e.g., meta-model and dynamic updating) and machine learning-based models.

CONCLUSION

Substantial guidance was found for model evaluation and more conventional updating of regression-based models. An important development in model evaluation is the introduction of a decision-analytic framework for assessing clinical usefulness. Consensus is emerging on methods for model updating.

Outcome without any adjuvant systemic treatment in stage I ER+/HER2- breast cancer patients included in the MINDACT trial

BACKGROUND

Adjuvant systemic treatments (AST) reduce mortality, but have associated short- and long-term toxicities. Careful selection of patients likely to benefit from AST is needed. We evaluated outcome of low-risk breast cancer patients of the EORTC 10041/BIG 3-04 MINDACT trial who received no AST.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with estrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative, lymph node-negative tumors ≤2 cm who received no AST were matched 1 : 1 to patients with similar tumor characteristics treated with adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET), using propensity score matching and exact matching on age, genomic risk (70-gene signature) and grade. In a post hoc analysis, distant metastasis-free interval (DMFI) and overall survival (OS) were assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and hazard ratios (HR) by Cox regression. Cumulative incidences of locoregional recurrence (LRR) and contralateral breast cancer (CBC) were assessed with competing risk analyses.

RESULTS

At 8 years, DMFI rates were 94.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) 92.7% to 96.9%] in 509 patients receiving no AST, and 97.3% (95% CI 95.8% to 98.8%) in 509 matched patients who received only ET [absolute difference: 2.5%, HR 0.56 (95% CI 0.30-1.03)]. No statistically significant difference was seen in 8-year OS rates, 95.4% (95% CI 93.5% to 97.4%) in patients receiving no AST and 95.6% (95% CI 93.8% to 97.5%) in patients receiving only ET [absolute difference: 0.2%, HR 0.86 (95% CI 0.53-1.41)]. Cumulative incidence rates of LRR and CBC were 4.7% (95% CI 3.0% to 7.0%) and 4.6% (95% CI 2.9% to 6.9%) in patients receiving no AST versus 1.4% (95% CI 0.6% to 2.9%) and 1.5% (95% CI 0.6% to 3.1%) in patients receiving only ET.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with stage I low-risk breast cancer, the effect of ET on DMFI was limited, but overall significantly fewer breast cancer events were observed in patients who received ET, after the relatively short follow-up of 8 years. These benefits and side-effects of ET should be discussed with all patients, even those at a very low risk of distant metastasis.

Suspended mid-infrared waveguides for Stimulated Brillouin Scattering

We theoretically investigate a new class of silicon waveguides for achieving Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS) in the mid-infrared (MIR). The waveguide consists of a rectangular core supporting a low-loss optical mode, suspended in air by a series of transverse ribs. The ribs are patterned to form a finite quasi-one-dimensional phononic crystal, with the complete stopband suppressing the transverse leakage of acoustic waves, confining them to the core of the waveguide. We derive a theoretical formalism that can be used to compute the opto-acoustic interaction in such periodic structures, and find forward intramodal-SBS gains up to 1750 m^-1W^-1, which compares favorably with the proposed MIR SBS designs based on buried germanium waveguides. This large gain is achieved thanks to the nearly complete suppression of acoustic radiative losses.

Abstract P1-09-04: Association between a breast cancer polygenic risk score and contralateral breast cancer risk

Background

Breast cancer patients are at significant risk of a second contralateral, breast cancer (CBC). Identification of women at high or low CBC risk could improve patient management decisions. Previous research has shown that breast cancer-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) summarized in a polygenic risk score (PRS) predict the risk of a first breast cancer with an odds ratio (OR) per 1 SD of 1.55 (95% confidence interval (95%CI)=1.52-1.58) (77-SNP PRS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between a recently developed PRS and CBC risk.

Methods

We identified 19 studies from the Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC) with follow-up information on participating patients and at least 10 patients diagnosed with CBC. This included 38,228 females of European ancestry diagnosed with first invasive breast cancer since 1990. Genotyping was done using the iCOGS array or OncoArray, with genotypes for SNPs not on the arrays estimated by imputation. We used a 313-SNP PRS, optimized for prediction of overall (first) breast cancer in the BCAC dataset. Metachronous CBC risk by PRS was quantified using univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses stratified by country and adjusted for multiple patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics. We assessed PRS interaction with age, family history, adjuvant systemic therapy, and ER-status.

Results

Median time to develop a CBC (N=1,046) after a first breast cancer was 5.8 years (range 0.3-21.9). Higher PRS was associated with increased CBC risk: hazard ratio (HR) per 1 SD=1.31 (95%CI=1.23-1.39). Patients in the highest and lowest 5% of the PRS had 1.95 fold and 0.67 fold risks of CBC, respectively, compared with patients in the middle quintile. Adjustments for age, year of diagnosis, family history, tumor size, nodal status, ER-status, or treatment (chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, radiotherapy) did not substantially alter these results. We found an interaction with age at first breast cancer diagnosis (Pinteraction=.002); the PRS was associated with an increased CBC risk for patients aged ≥40 years (HR=1.37, 95%CI=1.28-1.47), but not for patients &lt;40 years (HR=1.06, 95%CI=0.93-1.21).

Conclusion

The PRS is predictive for the development of CBC in patients ≥40 years at first breast cancer diagnosis. For this group, the PRS could be incorporated in CBC risk prediction models to help define high and low risk patients, and hence optimize screening and treatment strategies.

Citation Format: Kramer I, Hooning MJ, Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC), Mavaddat N, Canisius S, Keeman R, van den Broek AJ, Steyerberg E, Hauptmann M, Pharoah PD, Easton DF, Hall P, Schmidt MK. Association between a breast cancer polygenic risk score and contralateral breast cancer risk [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 P1-09-04.

Abstract P1-08-09: Breast cancer-related deaths according to grade in ductal carcinoma in situ: A Dutch population-based study on patients diagnosed between 1999 and 2012

Background

The incidence of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) has drastically increased over the past decades. Since DCIS is resected after diagnosis similarly to invasive breast cancer, the natural cause and behaviour of DCIS is not well known. We aimed to determine breast cancer-specific (BCSS) and overall survival (OS) according to grade in DCIS patients after surgical treatment in the Netherlands.

Patients and methods

All DCIS patients diagnosed between 1999-2012 were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Cause of death was obtained from 'Statistics Netherlands'. BCSS and OS were estimated using multivariable Cox regression in the entire cohort and stratified for grade.

Results

In total, 12,256 patients were included, of whom 1,509 (12.3%) presented with grade I, 3,675 (30.0%) with grade II, 6,064 (49.5%) with grade III and 1,008 (8.2%) with an unknown grade. During a median follow-up of 7.8 years, 1,138 (9.3%) deaths were observed, and 179 (1.5%) were breast cancer-related. Of these, 10 patients had grade I, 46 grade II, 95 grade III and 28 an unknown grade. After adjustment for confounding, grade II and III were related to worse BCSS compared to grade I with HRs of 1.92 (95% CI:0.97-3.81) and 2.14 (95% CI:1.11-4.12), respectively. No association between grade and OS was observed.

Conclusion

BCSS and OS rates in DCIS patients are excellent. Since superior rates were observed for low-grade DCIS, and earlier studies have shown that low-grade DCIS have a very low chance on recurrence or upstage to invasive cancer, it seems justified to investigate whether active surveillance may be a balanced alternative for conventional surgical treatment.

Citation Format: van Maaren MC, Lagendijk M, Tilanus-Linthorst MM, de Munck L, Pijnappel RM, Schmidt MK, Wesseling J, Koppert LB, Siesling S. Breast cancer-related deaths according to grade in ductal carcinoma in situ: A Dutch population-based study on patients diagnosed between 1999 and 2012 [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 P1-08-09.

Abstract P4-09-07: Higher risk of metachronous contralateral breast cancer in patients with invasive lobular breast cancer

Background: Risk of metachronous contralateral breast cancer (CBC) is an important health issue in primary breast cancer (PBC) survivors. Individualized CBC risk prediction can help identify patients at high or low risk who may or may not benefit from additional surveillance and treatment. For lobular PBC, inconsistent results have been reported on an association with increased risk of CBC. We investigated CBC risk in lobular versus ductal PBC using a large nationwide dataset and taking into account age at PBC and (neo-)adjuvant systemic therapy effects.

Patients and Methods: We selected women diagnosed between 2003 and 2010 with early invasive lobular, lobular mixed with other types, or ductal PBC from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Categorical and continuous characteristics between the 3 groups were compared using the chi-square statistics and the Kruskal-Wallis test, respectively. Competing risk analyses were applied to determine CBC incidence. Multivariable subdistribution hazard ratios (SHRs) were adjusted for primary tumor stage, age at PBC diagnosis, radiotherapy, (neo-)adjuvant chemotherapy and endocrine therapy.

Results: We selected 74,373 women aged &gt;18 years with lobular (n=8,903), lobular mixed (n=3,512), and ductal (n=62,230) PBC. Women with lobular PBC were older at diagnosis than women with lobular mixed or ductal PBC (61 vs. 58 vs. 58 years, respectively), more often had ER-positive PBC (95.7% vs. 94.1% vs. 79.6%) and were more often systemically treated with only endocrine therapy (30.7% vs. 24.9% vs. 19.7%), while less often treated with only chemotherapy (4.2% vs. 5.3% vs. 15.4%).

Ten-year cumulative CBC incidences in women with lobular, lobular mixed or ductal PBC were 3.2%, 3.6% and 2.8% when treated with systemic therapy (chemotherapy and/or endocrine therapy) and 6.6%, 7.7% and 5.6% without systemic therapy, respectively. Multivariable SHRs were 1.19 (95% CI: 1.05-1.34) for lobular and 1.39 (95% CI: 1.17-1.65) for lobular mixed versus ductal PBC; for women &lt;50 years, risk differences were larger: 1.60 (95% CI: 1.26-2.05) and 1.43 (95% CI: 1.00-2.06), respectively.

Conclusion: Lobular histology and lobular mixed histology are independent risk factors for CBC development, and should be considered as prognostic factors when refining CBC risk prediction models.

Citation Format: Akdeniz D, Kramer I, van Deurzen CH, Schaapveld M, Westenend PJ, Voogd AC, Jager A, Steyerberg EW, Sleijfer S, Schmidt MK, Hooning MJ. Higher risk of metachronous contralateral breast cancer in patients with invasive lobular breast cancer [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 P4-09-07.

Abstract PD8-09: Approximately 40% of invasive recurrences after treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ is likely to be a second primary tumor

Background. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a potential precursor of invasive breast cancer, because: DCIS often accompanies invasive breast cancer; its risk factors are similar to those of invasive breast cancer; and genetic markers found in DCIS are similar to the ones found in invasive breast cancer. However, clinical behavior of DCIS is still poorly understood, as there is only limited information on its long-term natural history. Altogether, this makes it difficult to understand the relatedness of DCIS and its subsequent ipsilateral invasive breast cancer (iIBC). Here, we set-up a comparison between primary DCIS and matched subsequent iIBC, by making use of pathological and molecular data.

Patients and methods. For this study, we used a unique series of 155 DCIS cases which developed a subsequent iIBC during a median follow up period of 12.6 years. We assessed histological characteristics, tumor location, estrogen and progesterone receptor status, p16 expression, and HER2 and p53 overexpression. RNA sequencing and copy number sequencing was done on 78 DCIS lesions and 78 matched invasive breast cancer relapses. We determined if the iIBC lesion and DCIS lesion were related, with respect to tumor location, immunohistochemical (IHC) markers, and genomic features.

Results. Based on tumor location and histological grade, &gt;95% of the subsequent invasive breast cancers reflected outgrowth of residual disease. HER2 was the only IHC marker that showed a significant difference in expression between DCIS and matched iIBC: 40% of the HER2 positive DCIS was followed by a HER2 negative invasive recurrence. In addition, RNAseq data was used to classify DCIS and IBC lesions into PAM50 subtypes. 77% of the DCIS IBC pair belonged to the same subtype. The DCIS lesions showed copy number aberrations on typical breast cancer-associated loci. However, when we compared the DCIS with its matched iIBC, we saw in 41% of the cases very distinct copy number profiles, indicating either outgrow of a different tumor subclone or a second primary.

Conclusion. This is the first time that a sound comparison could be made between primary DCIS and its subsequent invasive breast cancer with such a large patient group, integrating pathological and molecular data. Our results strongly suggest that many subsequent iIBCs after treatment of pure DCIS could be considered as second primary breast cancer lesions. To provide definite proof for this, in depth DNA sequencing and heterogeneity studies will be presented at SABCS 2018.

Citation Format: Visser LL, Hoogstraat M, Elshof LE, van de Vijver K, Groen EJ, Almekinders MM, Bierman C, Nieboer F, de Maaker M, Kristel P, Mulder L, Schaapveld M, Schmidt MK, Lips E, Wesseling J. Approximately 40% of invasive recurrences after treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ is likely to be a second primary tumor [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 PD8-09.

Timing of risk reducing mastectomy in breast cancer patients carrying a BRCA1/2 mutation: retrospective data from the Dutch HEBON study

It is expected that rapid genetic counseling and testing (RGCT) will lead to increasing numbers of breast cancer (BC) patients knowing their BRCA1/2 carrier status before primary surgery. Considering the potential impact of knowing one’s status on uptake and timing of risk-reducing contralateral mastectomy (RRCM), we aimed to evaluate trends over time in RRCM, and differences between carriers identified either before (predictively) or after (diagnostically) diagnosis. We collected data from female BRCA1/2 mutation carriers diagnosed with BC between 1995 and 2009 from four Dutch university hospitals. We compared the timing of genetic testing and RRCM in relation to diagnosis in 1995–2000 versus 2001–2009 for all patients, and predictively and diagnostically tested patients separately. Of 287 patients, 219 (76 %) had a diagnostic BRCA1/2 test. In this cohort, the median time from diagnosis to DNA testing decreased from 28 months for those diagnosed between 1995 and 2000 to 14 months for those diagnosed between 2001 and 2009 (p < 0.001). Similarly, over time women in this cohort underwent RRCM sooner after diagnosis (median of 77 vs. 27 months, p = 0.05). Predictively tested women who subsequently developed BC underwent an immediate RRCM significantly more often than women who had a diagnostic test (21/61, 34 %, vs. 13/170, 7.6 %, p < 0.001). Knowledge of carrying a BRCA1/2 mutation when diagnosed with BC influenced decisions concerning primary surgery. Additionally, in more recent years, women who had not undergone predictive testing were more likely to undergo diagnostic DNA testing and RRCM sooner after diagnosis. This suggests the need for RGCT to guide treatment decisions.

Abstract P5-17-06: Prognostic value of method of detection in primary pure DCIS

Background

Population-based mammographic screening programs have led to a substantial increase in incidence of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). We assessed whether the method of detection provides prognostic information among women with DCIS detected through the Dutch screening program (screen-detected DCIS) and those with DCIS not detected within the national screening program (non-screen-detected DCIS). This could have impact on the treatment strategy of screen-detected DCIS as compared to symptomatic DCIS.

Methods

We studied a population-based retrospective cohort comprising 7,106 women aged 49-76 years with primary pure DCIS, who were treated by mastectomy or breast conserving surgery with or without radiotherapy between 1989 and 2004 in the Netherlands. Risk of subsequent ipsilateral and contralateral invasive breast cancer and overall survival among women with screen-detected (n=4,905) and non-screen-detected (n=2,201) DCIS were compared using Cox regression, adjusting for treatment (time-dependent), age (time-scale), diagnosis period and follow-up duration. Because of gradual implementation of the screening program in the Netherlands, we defined two periods based on year of DCIS diagnosis: 1989-1998 (gradual implementation of screening) and 1999-2004 (full coverage of screening).

Results

With a median follow-up of 10.5 years (interquartile range 7.7-14.0 years) 366 ipsilateral (screen-detected DCIS n=234, non-screen-detected DCIS n=132) and 380 contralateral (screen-detected DCIS n=245, non-screen-detected DCIS n=135) invasive breast cancers were diagnosed, and 1,088 of 7,106 women died (screen-detected DCIS n=603, non-screen-detected DCIS n=485). From 1989 to 2004 the number of non-screen-detected DCIS remained stable (mean 140, range 110-187 per year), whereas the number of screen-detected primary pure DCIS increased from 8 in 1989 to 596 in 2004. Ipsilateral invasive breast cancer risk was lower for screen-detected DCIS compared to DCIS not detected within the national screening program, irrespective of DCIS treatment, period of diagnosis, and follow-up duration (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59-0.92, p &lt; 0.01). The prognostic value of method of detection was similar across categories of treatment, period of diagnosis, and follow-up duration. The risk of contralateral invasive breast cancer did not differ between screen-detected DCIS and non-screen-detected DCIS (adjusted HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.71-1.11, p = 0.3) and neither did all-cause mortality (adjusted HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.79-1.04, p = 0.2).

Conclusion

Women with primary pure DCIS detected through the Dutch screening program had lower risk of subsequent ipsilateral invasive breast cancer, irrespective of DCIS treatment, compared to women whose DCIS was not detected within the national screening program. However, the magnitude of this risk difference does not warrant a different treatment strategy of screen-detected DCIS as compared to non-screen-detected DCIS. Having a screen-detected DCIS was not associated with risk of subsequent contralateral invasive breast cancer and all-cause mortality.

Citation Format: Elshof LE, Schaapveld M, Schmidt MK, van Leeuwen FE, Rutgers EJTh, Wesseling J. Prognostic value of method of detection in primary pure DCIS. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-17-06.

FGF receptor genes and breast cancer susceptibility: results from the Breast Cancer Association Consortium

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women. Genome-wide association studies have identified FGFR2 as a breast cancer susceptibility gene. Common variation in other fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors might also modify risk. We tested this hypothesis by studying genotyped single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and imputed SNPs in FGFR1, FGFR3, FGFR4 and FGFRL1 in the Breast Cancer Association Consortium.

METHODS

Data were combined from 49 studies, including 53 835 cases and 50 156 controls, of which 89 050 (46 450 cases and 42 600 controls) were of European ancestry, 12 893 (6269 cases and 6624 controls) of Asian and 2048 (1116 cases and 932 controls) of African ancestry. Associations with risk of breast cancer, overall and by disease sub-type, were assessed using unconditional logistic regression.

RESULTS

Little evidence of association with breast cancer risk was observed for SNPs in the FGF receptor genes. The strongest evidence in European women was for rs743682 in FGFR3; the estimated per-allele odds ratio was 1.05 (95% confidence interval=1.02-1.09, P=0.0020), which is substantially lower than that observed for SNPs in FGFR2.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that common variants in the other FGF receptors are not associated with risk of breast cancer to the degree observed for FGFR2.

Mammographic screening detects low-risk tumor biology breast cancers

Overdiagnosis of breast cancer, i.e. the detection of slow-growing tumors that would never have caused symptoms or death, became more prevalent with the implementation of population-based screening. Only rough estimates have been made of the proportion of patients that are overdiagnosed and identification of those patients is difficult. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate whether tumor biology can help identify patients with screen-detected tumors at such a low risk of recurrence that they are likely to be overdiagnosed. Furthermore, we wish to evaluate the impact of the transition from film-screen mammography (FSM) to the more sensitive full-field digital mammography (FFDM) on the biology of the tumors detected by each screening-modality. All Dutch breast cancer patients enrolled in the MINDACT trial (EORTC-10041) accrued 2007–2011, who participated in the national screening program (biennial screening ages 50–75) were included (n = 1,165). We calculated the proportions of high-, low- and among those the ultralow-risk tumors according to the 70-gene signature for patients with screen-detected (n = 775) and interval (n = 390) cancers for FSM and FFDM. Screen-detected cancers had significantly more often a low-risk tumor biology (68 %) of which 54 % even an ultralow-risk compared to interval cancers (53 % low-, of which 45 % ultralow-risk (p = 0.001) with an OR of 2.33 (p < 0.0001; 95 % CI 1.73–3.15). FFDM detected significantly more high-risk tumors (35 %) compared to FSM (27 %) (p = 0.011). Aside from favorable clinico-pathological factors, screen-detected cancers were also more likely to have a biologically low-risk or even ultralow-risk tumor. Especially for patients with screen-detected cancers the use of tools, such as the 70-gene signature, to differentiate breast cancers by risk of recurrence may minimize overtreatment. The recent transition in screening-modalities led to an increase in the detection of biologically high-risk cancers using FFDM.

Long-term impact of the 70-gene signature on breast cancer outcome

Several studies have validated the prognostic value of the 70-gene prognosis signature (MammaPrint^R), but long-term outcome prediction of these patients has not been previously reported. The follow-up of the consecutively treated cohort of 295 patients (<53 years) with invasive breast cancer (T1-2N0-1M0; n = 151 N0, n = 144 N1) diagnosed between 1984 and 1995, in which the 70-gene signature was previously validated, was updated. The median follow-up for this series is now extended to 18.5 years. A significant difference is seen in long-term distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) for the patients with a low- and a high-risk 70-gene signature (DMFS p < 0.0001), as well as separately for node-negative (DMFS p < 0.0001) and node-positive patients (DMFS p = 0.0004). The 25-year hazard ratios (HRs) for all patients for DMFS and OS were 3.1 (95 % CI 2.02–4.86) and 2.9 (95 % CI 1.90–4.28), respectively. The HRs for DMFS and OS were largest in the first 5 years after diagnosis: 9.6 (95 % CI 4.2–22.1) and 11.3 (95 % CI 3.5–36.4), respectively. The 25-year HRs in the subgroup of node-negative patients for DMFS and OS were 4.57 (95 % CI 2.31–9.04) and 4.73 (95 % CI 2.46–9.07), respectively, and for node-positive patients for DMFS and OS were 2.24 (95 % CI 1.25–4.00) and 1.83 (95 % CI 1.07–3.11), respectively. The 70-gene signature remains prognostic at longer follow-up in patients <53 years of age with stage I and II breast cancer. The 70-gene signature’s strongest prognostic power is seen in the first 5 years after diagnosis.

Abstract P5-05-05: Lower mitotic activity in BRCA1/2-associated primary breast cancers occurring after risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy

Background Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy reduces breast cancer (BC) risk by about 50% in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers when performed premenopausally. It has been hypothesized that growth activity of BCs originating after risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) is lower. We compared tumor characteristics and growth rates of BRCA1/2-associated primary BCs (PBCs) detected after RRSO with those of tumors originating without RRSO.

Methods From a cohort of 271 female BRCA1/2-associated patients with screen detected BC, 20 BRCA1/2 mutation carriers with PBC detected ≥12 months after RRSO were selected (RRSO group). Controls were 36 BRCA1/2 mutation carriers with PBC detected without RRSO (non-RRSO group) matched for age at PBC diagnosis (± 2.5 years) and for BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation (intended matching ratio 1:2). Tumor growth rates, expressed as tumor volume doubling times (DT), were calculated. Pathology samples were revised for histological subtype, tumor differentiation grade, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 status. Imaging examinations (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), mammography) before and at BC diagnosis were revised.

Results Median age at PBC diagnosis was 52 years (range 35-67). MRI detected more BC than mammography in the RRSO-group as compared to the non-RRSO group (83% vs. 39%, P = 0.02). Tumor size at diagnosis was smaller in the RRSO group (11.0 mm vs. 17.0 mm, P = 0.01). Mitotic activity indexes (MAI) in the RRSO and non-RRSO group were 12 vs. 22 mitotic counts/2 mm2 (P = 0.02). No significant differences in differentiation grade, ER and HER2 status were found. PR-status was more often positive in the RRSO group without reaching statistical significance (38% vs. 13%, P = 0.07). Median DT in the RRSO group was 124 days (range 89-193) and 93 days (range 54-253) in the non-RRSO group (P = 0.47).

Conclusion BC occurring after RRSO in BRCA mutation carriers features a lower MAI, suggesting a less aggressive biological behavior. When confirmed in larger series, this may have consequences for BC screening protocols for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers after RRSO.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P5-05-05.

Abstract P5-16-02: Risk of subsequent ipsilateral invasive breast cancer after a primary diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ

Background

Since the introduction of population-based mammography screening the incidence of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast (DCIS) has increased dramatically and concerns about overdiagnosis and overtreatment have been raised. DCIS is considered to be a precursor lesion of most invasive breast cancer, but the challenge remains to distinguish the progressive from the clinically indolent, i.e. harmless lesions. Therefore, we aim to assess the risk of developing a subsequent ipsilateral invasive breast cancer after a first cancer diagnosis of primary DCIS in a large cohort as a first step to solve this clinical dilemma.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study using a nationwide cohort comprising 12,721 women with a first cancer diagnosis of breast carcinoma in situ in the Netherlands between 1 January 1989 and 31 December 2004 and follow-up data up to 31 December 2010, extracted from the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR). Women who had bilateral breast disease, a diagnosis other than pure DCIS, and patients who received chemo- or hormonal therapy for their DCIS were excluded, as well as patients who had any other previous cancer diagnosis except for non-melanoma skin carcinoma. Using data from NCR and PALGA, the Dutch Pathology Registry, information about treatment and outcomes was collected and analysed. Outcome was defined as a subsequent ipsilateral invasive breast cancer as first invasive recurrence. Women who had a contralateral invasive breast cancer first, were censored at this diagnosis date. Invasive recurrence rates were compared by age and treatment groups using Cox regression. Women were divided into three age groups: women who were within the age group eligible for participation in the Dutch screening programme, and women who were either younger or older.

Results

A total number of 10,276 women with pure DCIS were included. After a median follow-up of 11.6 years, 520 first ipsilateral invasive recurrences were identified. Preliminary results show that approximately half of the women were treated with breast-conserving surgery (BCS), and the other half underwent a mastectomy. Of the patients who underwent BCS, about half received additional radiotherapy (RT). The age-adjusted hazard ratio for ipsilateral invasive breast cancer in BCS only versus BCS + RT was 2.49 (95% CI: 1.99 – 3.12) and in mastectomy versus BCS + RT 0.32 (95% CI: 0.24 - 0.43). After adjusting for treatment, risk of subsequent ipsilateral invasive breast cancer was higher for women who were younger than the invitation age range for screening when diagnosed compared to women within the age group eligible for the Dutch screening programme (HR = 1.86; 95% CI: 1.51 – 2.29).

Conclusion

This unique nationwide DCIS cohort shows that young women and women treated with BCS only have an increased risk of developing a subsequent ipsilateral invasive breast cancer after a first cancer diagnosis of primary DCIS. Using this cohort with a large number of women with subsequent ipsilateral invasive breast cancer, we will subsequently evaluate the concordance of features of the primary DCIS and the subsequent invasive breast cancer, and the association of characteristics of the DCIS with the risk of developing invasive ipsilateral breast cancer.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P5-16-02.

Inferior survival for young patients with contralateral compared to unilateral breast cancer: a nationwide population-based study in the Netherlands

To compare overall survival between women with unilateral breast cancer (UBC) and contralateral breast cancer (CBC). Women with UBC (N = 182,562; 95 %) and CBC (N = 8,912; 5 %) recorded in the Netherlands Cancer Registry between 1989 and 2008 were included and followed until 2010. We incorporated CBC as a time-dependent covariate to compute the overall mortality rate ratio between women with CBC and UBC. Prognostic factors for overall death were examined according to age at first breast cancer. Women with CBC exhibited a 30 % increase in overall mortality (Hazard Ratio (HR), 95 % Confidence Interval: 1.3, 1.3-1.4) compared with UBC, decreasing with rising age at diagnosis of first breast cancer (<50 years: 2.3, 2.2-2.5 vs. ≥70 years: 1.1, 1.0-1.1). Women older than 50 years at CBC diagnosis and diagnosed 2-5 years after their first breast cancer exhibited a 20 % higher death risk (1.2, 1.0-1.3) compared to those diagnosed within the first 2 years. In women younger than 50 years, the HR was significantly lower if the CBC was diagnosed >5 years after the first breast cancer (0.7, 0.5-0.9). The prognosis for women with CBC significantly improved over time (2004-2008: 0.6, 0.5-0.7 vs. 1989-1993). Women with CBC had a lower survival compared to women with UBC, especially those younger than 50 years at first breast cancer diagnosis. A tailored follow-up strategy beyond current recommendations is needed for these patients who, because of their age and absence of known familial risk, are currently not invited for population-based screening.

Outcome of BRCA1- compared with BRCA2-associated ovarian cancer: a nationwide study in the Netherlands

BACKGROUND

Recent studies suggested an improved overall survival (OS) for BRCA2- versus BRCA1-associated epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), whereas the impact of chemotherapy is not yet clear. In a nationwide cohort, we examined the results of primary treatment, progression-free survival (PFS), treatment-free interval (TFI), and OS of BRCA1 versus BRCA2 EOC patients.

METHODS

Two hundred and forty-five BRCA1- and 99 BRCA2-associated EOC patients were identified through all Dutch university hospitals. Analyses were carried out with the Pearson's Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier, and Cox regression methods.

RESULTS

BRCA1 patients were younger at EOC diagnosis than BRCA2 patients (51 versus 55 years; P < 0.001), without differences regarding histology, tumor grade, and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage. Complete response rates after primary treatment, including chemotherapy, did not differ between BRCA1 (86%) and BRCA2 patients (90%). BRCA1 versus BRCA2 patients had a shorter PFS (median 2.2 versus 3.9 years, respectively; P = 0.006), TFI (median 1.7 versus 2.8 years; P = 0.009), and OS (median 6.0 versus 9.7 years; P = 0.04). Differences could not be explained by age at diagnosis, FIGO stage or type of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

PFS and OS were substantially longer in BRCA2- than in BRCA1-associated EOC patients. While response rates after primary treatment were similarly high in both groups, TFI, as surrogate for chemosensitivity, was significantly longer in BRCA2 patients.

Abstract P3-02-01: Mammographic Screening: Good Prognosis Tumor Biology in Screen-detected Breast Cancers

Introduction After the introduction of population-based screening breast cancer incidence increased while breast cancer mortality declined. Our previous analyses suggested screen detection might be associated with a higher likelihood of a biologically low risk or even ultralow risk tumor assessed by the 70-gene signature (MammaPrint™). (Ultralow 70-gene signature defined as indexscore &gt; 0.6, no distant metastasis observed at 5 years in the original 78 patients with no adjuvant systemic treatment.) The aim of this study is to determine the proportion of biologically low and ultralow risk tumors among the screen-detected tumors. Second, to evaluate the impact of analog versus the more sensitive digital screening technique on the biology of tumors detected.

Methods All Dutch breast cancer patients enrolled in the MINDACT trial (EORTC-10041) accrued 2007–2011, who were invited for the Dutch screening program (biennial, age 50–75), were included (n = 1381). The proportions of 70-gene signature high, low and ultralow risk were calculated for patients with screen detected (n = 694), interval (n = 366), and symptomatic, non-screening (n = 321) carcinomas, taking into account analog vs. digital technology. Co-variants, such as age, tumor size, histological type, ER, progesterone receptor (PgR) and HER2/neu-oncoprotein (ERBB2) will be included in a multinominal logistic regression model to assess both confounding and effect modification by technology type; these data are pending and will be available during SABCS 2012.

Results Among the screen-detected tumors, 33% had a high risk 70-gene signature tumor and 67% had a low risk tumor (table 1). A significant difference was seen between the screen-detected carcinomas and interval carcinomas (p X2 test = 0.001) in all 70-gene signature risk groups. Among the screen detected carcinomas, 41.5% was detected using analog mammography and 58.5% was detected using digital mammography. Analog mammography detected 26.4% high risk, 31.9% low risk and 41.7% ultralow risk tumors. This is significantly different using digital mammography (p X2 test = 0.001), which detected 37.7% high risk, 32.8% low risk and 29.6% ultralow risk tumors.

Dielectric antennas--a suitable platform for controlling magnetic dipolar emission

Plasmonic nanoparticles are commonly used to tune and direct the radiation from electric dipolar emitters. Less progress has been made towards understanding complementary systems of magnetic nature. However, it has been recently shown that high-index dielectric spheres can act as effective magnetic antennas. Here we explore the concept of coupling dielectric magnetic antennas with either an electric or magnetic dipolar emitter in a similar fashion to the purely electric systems reported previously. We investigate the enhancement of radiation from systems comprising admixtures of these electric and magnetic elements and perform a full study of its dependence on the distance and polarization of the emitter with respect to the antenna. A comparison to the plasmon antennas reveals remarkable symmetries between electric and magnetic systems, which might lead to novel paradigms in the design of nanophotonic devices that involve magnetic activity.

S4-2: The Risk of Contralateral Breast Cancer in BRCA1/2 Carriers Compared to Non-BRCA1/2 Carriers in an Unselected Cohort

Background: Women who survived their first breast cancer have a higher risk to develop a new primary tumor in the contralateral breast than the risk of women in the general population to develop a first breast cancer. Especially women who carry a germline mutation in either the BRCA1 or the BRCA2 gene face a high lifetime risk of developing a synchronous or metachronous bilateral breast cancer. It is important to provide precise risk estimates of contralateral breast cancer and identify factors which predict the risk of CBC in this group of high risk women. To answer these questions, we looked at the effect of BRCA1/2-carriership and its interaction with other factors on the risk to develop a CBC in an unselected cohort of breast cancer patients. Materials and methods: We collected clinico-pathological, treatment and follow-up data for 4856 patients with unilateral, invasive breast cancer, diagnosed under the age of 50, between 1970 and 2003, in ten different hospitals throughout The Netherlands. Germline DNA was isolated from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue and patients were tested for the most prevalent pathogenic BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in The Netherlands. DNA and clinical data were coded before the analyses. All second primary breast tumors in the contralateral breast diagnosed more than 3 months after the diagnosis of the first breast cancer were considered as events. Preliminary results from life-table analysis and Cox Proportional Hazard models adjusted for age at diagnosis are shown here. Further statistical analyses will include competing risk analysis.

Results: In 4856 patients genotyped for BRCA1/2 mutations, 206 (4.2%) carriers were identified. During a median follow-up of 9.8 years (range 0–38), 9% of the patients developed a CBC, resulting in a cumulative 15-year risk for CBC of 10.4% (95% CI = 9.25−11.7) for non-carriers and 35.4% (95% CI = 25.9−46.9) for carriers of a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation (HR = 4.04 (95% CI = 2.88−5.68)). Patients carrying a BRCA1/2 mutation who were diagnosed under the age of 40 with their first breast cancer experienced a cumulative 15-year risk for CBC of 52.4% (95% CI = 36.4−70.3) versus 21.3% (95% CI = 12.0−36.0) in those over the age of 40 (HR = 0.30 (95% CI = 0.14−0.65)). Furthermore, BRCA1/2 mutation carriers with a triple negative first tumor had a cumulative risk for CBC of 43.6 (95% CI = 25.1−67.7), in contrast, BRCA1/2 mutation carriers with a non-triple negative first tumor had a cumulative risk for CBC of 13.4% (95% CI = 4.21−38.4) (HR = 0.24 (95% CI = 0.07−0.86)). Age at diagnosis and triple negative status were not found to be predictors of the risk of CBC in non-carriers (HR = 0.81 (95% CI = 0.53−1.24) and HR = 1.49 (95% CI = 0.91−2.41) respectively).

Discussion: In this study we identified subgroups of patients with a high risk to develop a CBC after their first breast cancer. Guidelines about treatment decisions and screening for follow-up should take into account these high risk subgroups to provide even better information and counseling for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers.

On behalf of more than 20 involved authors of the BOSOM study from 10 different hospitals and institutions throughout The Netherlands.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr S4-2.

An aCGH classifier derived from BRCA1-mutated breast cancer and benefit of high-dose platinum-based chemotherapy in HER2-negative breast cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer cells deficient for BRCA1 are hypersensitive to agents inducing DNA double-strand breaks (DSB), such as bifunctional alkylators and platinum agents. Earlier, we had developed a comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) classifier based on BRCA1-mutated breast cancers. We hypothesised that this BRCA1-like(CGH) classifier could also detect loss of function of BRCA1 due to other causes besides mutations and, consequently, might predict sensitivity to DSB-inducing agents.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We evaluated this classifier in stage III breast cancer patients, who had been randomly assigned between adjuvant high-dose platinum-based (HD-PB) chemotherapy, a DSB-inducing regimen, and conventional anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Additionally, we assessed BRCA1 loss through mutation or promoter methylation and immunohistochemical basal-like status in the triple-negative subgroup (TN subgroup).

RESULTS

We observed greater benefit from HD-PB chemotherapy versus conventional chemotherapy among patients with BRCA1-like(CGH) tumours [41/230 = 18%, multivariate hazard ratio (HR) = 0.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.04-0.43] compared with patients with non-BRCA1-like(CGH) tumours (189/230 = 82%, HR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.50-1.20), with a significant difference (test for interaction P = 0.006). Similar results were obtained for overall survival (P interaction = 0.04) and when analyses were restricted to the TN subgroup. Sixty-three percent (20/32) of assessable BRCA1-like(CGH) tumours harboured either a BRCA1 mutation (n = 8) or BRCA1 methylation (n = 12).

CONCLUSION

BRCA1 loss as assessed by CGH analysis can identify patients with substantially improved outcome after adjuvant DSB-inducing chemotherapy when compared with standard anthracycline-based chemotherapy in our series.

Neural crest lineage segregation: a blueprint for periodontal regeneration

During the recent decade, the periodontal attachment apparatus has become one of the premier areas of the body for the development of novel tissue-engineering strategies. In the present review, we describe a developmental biology approach to characterize current concepts in periodontal regeneration and to discuss strategies for future applications in periodontal therapies. To decipher the developmental make-up of the periodontal region, we have followed the path of the migratory neural crest, since it gives rise to periodontal progenitor tissues, which in turn are subjected to the influence of diverse craniofacial extracellular matrices and peptide growth factors. Based on this developmental perspective, we have conducted a systematic analysis of the factors, progenitor cells, and matrices used in current periodontal tissue-engineering approaches. We propose that the developmental history of a tissue is a highly instructive design template for the discovery of novel bioengineering tools and approaches.

A trial of consent procedures for future research with clinically derived biological samples

Background:

The aims of this study were to determine which consent procedure patients prefer for use of stored tissue for research purposes and what the effects of consent procedures on actual consenting behaviour are.

Methods:

We offered 264 cancer patients three different consent procedures: ‘one-time general consent’ (asked written informed consent), ‘opt-out plus’ (had the opportunity to opt out by a form), or the standard hospital procedure (control group). The two intervention groups received a specific leaflet about research with residual tissue and verbal information. The control group only received a general hospital leaflet including opt-out information, which is the procedure currently in use. Subsequently, all patients received a questionnaire to examine their preferences for consent procedures.

Results:

In all, 99% of patients consented to research with their residual tissue. In the ‘one-time consent’ group 85% sent back their consent form. Patients preferred ‘opt-out plus’ (43%) above ‘one-time consent’ (34%) or ‘opt-out’ (16%), whereas 8% indicated that they did not need to receive information about research with residual tissues or be given the opportunity to make a choice.

Conclusions:

The ‘opt-out plus’ procedure, which places fewer demands on administrative resources than ‘one-time consent’, can also address the information needs of patients.

Validation of the web-based tool Adjuvant! in 5,381 Dutch breast cancer patients

11090

Background: Adjuvant! is a web-based tool that calculates individualized 10-year survival probability and estimates the benefit of adjuvant systemic therapy based on age, co-morbidity, tumor size, tumor grade, number of involved lymph nodes and estrogen-receptor status. The Adjuvant! model was constructed using observed overall survival (OS) for women diagnosed with breast cancer between 1988 and 1992 recorded in the US SEER registry (surveillance, epidemiology and end results) and has not yet been validated in any European series. It is of interest to see whether intrinsic characteristics of tumors and survival of Dutch patients may differ from those in the US. Methods: For this validation all patients who were treated at the Netherlands Cancer Institute for primary breast cancer between 1987 and 1998 were selected according to the following criteria: T1–3 tumor, N0–3, M0, definitive primary surgery, complete axillary staging, and no prior malignancies. Follow-up for OS was complete for >99% of the patients until at least February 2007 (median follow-up 11.7 years). Clinicopathological characteristics as mentioned above and adjuvant treatment data were entered into Adjuvant! version 8.0 for each individual, blinded to the clinical outcome, to calculate predicted 10-year outcomes. Results: In this hospital-based cohort of 5381 patients, all known prognostic factors were significant predictors of overall survival. Across all patients, the 10-year OS was excellently predicted by Adjuvant! (predicted OS - observed OS=0.2%; p=n.s.). Also, for most relevant clinicopathological subgroups the differences between predicted and observed OS were within 2%. Adjuvant underestimated the OS in patients with tubular type of breast cancer (predicted - observed = -6.8; p<0.01); presently, histology is not incorporated in Adjuvant!. Conclusions: Adjuvant! accurately predicts 10-year OS for common tumor types in this first large scale European validation study and is of use for adjuvant treatment-decision making.

[Table: see text]

Effect of azotemia on serum N-terminal proBNP concentration in dogs with normal cardiac function: a pilot study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate amino-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration in dogs with renal dysfunction and normal cardiac structure and function.

ANIMALS

Eight dogs with renal disease, 23 healthy control dogs.

METHODS

Serum NT-proBNP concentration was measured in healthy dogs and dogs with renal disease using an ELISA validated for use in dogs. Affected dogs were eligible for inclusion if renal dysfunction was diagnosed based on urinalysis and serum chemistry, and if they were free of cardiovascular disease based on physical exam, systolic blood pressure, and echocardiography.

RESULTS

The geometric mean serum NT-proBNP concentration was significantly higher in dogs with renal disease (617 pmol/L; 95% CI, 260-1467 pmol/L) than in healthy control dogs (261 pmol/L; 95% CI, 225-303 pmol/L; P=0.0014). There was a modest positive correlation between NT-proBNP and BUN and creatinine. Median NT-proBNP concentration was not significantly different between groups when indexed to BUN (median NT-proBNP:BUN ratio; renal, 14.2, IQR, 3.93-17.7 vs. control, 16.3, IQR, 9.94-21.2; P=0.29) or creatinine (median NT-proBNP:creatinine ratio; renal, 204, IQR, 72.6-448 vs. control, 227, IQR, 179-308; P=0.67).

CONCLUSION

Dogs with renal disease had significantly higher mean serum concentration of NT-proBNP than control dogs. Renal function should be considered when interpreting NT-proBNP results as concentrations may be falsely elevated in dogs with renal dysfunction and normal cardiac function. The effect of renal disease was lessened by indexing NT-proBNP to BUN or creatinine. Future studies in dogs with both renal and heart disease are warranted.

Opt-out plus, the patients' choice: preferences of cancer patients concerning information and consent regimen for future research with biological samples archived in the context of treatment

AIMS

The aims of this study were to determine: (1) which consent procedures patients prefer for future medical research with tissue stored following surgery; (2) the percentage of patients who choose not to provide consent for research with their stored tissue; (3) the reasons given for denying such tissue use.

METHODS

Patients (n = 103) from the Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre, an academic hospital in The Netherlands, who had recently undergone surgery for breast or colorectal cancer were mailed a questionnaire about preferences for consent regimens.

RESULTS

Seventy-six patients (74%) completed the questionnaire. Only two patients (3%) chose not to provide consent for research with their stored tissue. The majority of patients (60%) preferred an "opt-out plus" procedure that included receiving active, verbal information to "one-time general consent" (11%) or to an "opt-out" procedure without verbal notification (5%). Only 3% indicated a wish to be asked for consent for each new research project and 21% did not know what they preferred or had no preference. There were no significant associations observed between preference for the various consent regimens and age, sex, educational level or personal sense of ownership of the stored tissue.

CONCLUSION

Patients prefer an opt-out plus procedure that includes the provision of explicit, verbal and written information. Less than 5% of patients decline to consent to the use of their stored tissue for research purposes.

c-Myc overexpression is strongly associated with metaplasia-dysplasia-adenocarcinoma sequence in the esophagus

We aim to determine the expression of the proto-oncogene c-Myc in patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma, and to evaluate the prevalence of such expression in relation to the metaplasia-dysplasia-adenocarcinoma sequence. BE develops as a result of a severe esophageal mucosa injury from gastroesophageal reflux. BE is a premalignant lesion and plays an important role in the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Several genetic alterations have been identified in the process that transforms a normal cell into a tumorous one. In the development of human tumors, one of the most important genes is the proto-oncogene c-Myc. The c-Myc protein expression was determined by immunohistochemical analysis in four different groups: 31 patients with normal tissue, 43 patients with BE without dysplasia, 11 patients with dysplasia in BE and 37 patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma. The material was obtained from esophageal biopsies or the dissection of patient esophagectomy specimens. Demographic and endoscopic data (sex, age, race and intestinal metaplasia extension), and morphologic and histopathologic tumor characteristics (deep tumor invasion, lymph node status, and tumor differentiation) were analyzed. The c-Myc expression was assessed using the Immunoreactive Scoring System (IRS). Overexpression of c-Myc was found in only 9.6% of normal tissue specimens, 37.2% of Barrett's esophagus, 45.5% of BE patients with dysplasia and 73% of adenocarcinoma samples, with significant statistical difference among these groups. No correlation was identified when the c-Myc expression was compared with morphologic and histologic tumor features or endoscopic data. However, linear correlation of c-Myc overexpression along the metaplasia-dysplasia-adenocarcinoma sequence was observed. This study demonstrates a significant increase in the expression of c-Myc in Barrett's esophagus, dysplasia and adenocarcinoma in relation to the control group, as well as a linear progression of this gene expression in this sequence. These results point out the importance of this marker in the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma from BE.

Risk reduction of contralateral breast cancer and survival after contralateral prophylactic mastectomy in BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers

The clinical outcome of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) in women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation and a personal history of invasive breast cancer is unknown. We identified a cohort of 148 female BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers (115 and 33, respectively) who previously were treated for unilateral invasive breast cancer stages I–IIIa. In all, 79 women underwent a CPM, while the other women remained under intensive surveillance. The mean follow-up was 3.5 years and started at the time of CPM or at the date of mutation testing, whichever came last, that is, on average 5 years after diagnosis of the first breast cancer. One woman developed an invasive contralateral primary breast cancer after CPM, whereas six were observed in the surveillance group (P<0.001). Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy reduced the risk of contralateral breast cancer by 91%, independent of the effect of bilateral prophylactic oophorectomy (BPO). At 5 years follow-up, overall survival was 94% for the CPM group vs 77% for the surveillance group (P=0.03), but this was unexpectedly mostly due to higher mortality related with first breast cancer and ovarian cancer in the surveillance group. After adjustment for BPO in a multivariate Cox analysis, the CPM effect on overall survival was no longer significant. Our data show that CPM markedly reduces the risk of contralateral breast cancer among BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers with a history of breast cancer. Longer follow-up is needed to study the impact of CPM on contralateral breast cancer-specific survival. The choice for CPM is highly correlated with that for BPO, while only BPO leads to a significant improvement in overall survival so far.

[Genetic research with stored human tissue: a coding procedure with optimal use of information and protection of privacy]

To answer research questions concerning the course of disease and the optimal treatment of hereditary breast cancer, genetic typing together with the clinical and tumour characteristics of breast cancer patients are an important source of information. Part of the incidence of breast cancer can be explained by BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline mutations, which with current techniques can be retrospectively analysed in stored, paraffin-embedded tissue samples. In view of the implications of BRCA1- or BRCA2-carrier status for patients and other family members and the lack of clear legal regulations regarding the procedures to be followed when analysis is performed on historical material and no individual informed consent can be asked from the patients, an appropriate procedure for coding such data or rendering it anonymous is of great importance. By using the coding procedure described in this article, it becomes possible to follow and to work out in greater detail the guidelines of the code for 'Proper secondary use of human tissue' of the Federation of Biomedical Scientific Societies and to use these valuable databases again in the future.

Determinants of weight and length of Indonesian neonates

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the determinants of neonatal weight and length.

DESIGN

From 16-20 week of pregnancy, 366 mothers of the neonates had participated in the community-based study to investigate the effect of weekly supplementation during pregnancy with iron and vitamin A on infant growth. Women from five villages were allocated randomly to receive two tablets each containing 60 mg iron as ferrous sulphate and 250 micro g folic acid (n=121) or two tablets each containing 2400 RE vitamin A in addition to the same amount of ferrous sulphate and folic acid (n=122). A third ('daily') group (n=123) participating in the national iron supplementation programme was recruited from four neighbouring villages.

RESULTS

Neonatal weight and length did not differ between the two weekly groups and between the weekly iron group and the 'daily' group. Iron and vitamin A status during pregnancy did not influence neonatal weight and length significantly. Boys were 100 g heavier and 0.53 cm longer than girls (P<0.05). First born neonates were lighter (P<0.01) and tended to be shorter (P=0.070) than neonates of higher birth order. Maternal age and education as well as other socioeconomic determinants were not associated with neonatal weight and length. Neonatal weight was 32% explained by gestational age, maternal weight, postnatal measurement, gender and parity, while neonatal length was 28% explained by gestational age, maternal weight, postnatal measurement, gender and maternal height.

CONCLUSIONS

Gestational age, maternal weight at second trimester and infant gender were the main predictors of neonatal weight and length.

SPONSORSHIP

The study was supported by The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research-Netherlands Foundation for the Advancement of Tropical Research (NWO-WOTRO; WV 93-280) and Neys-van Hoogstraten Foundation (IN 114), The Netherlands, and German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ)/South East Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), Indonesia.

Randomised double-blind trial of the effect of vitamin A supplementation of Indonesian pregnant women on morbidity and growth of their infants during the first year of life

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether supplementation with vitamin A together with iron of Indonesian pregnant women decreases morbidity and improves growth of their infants during the first year of life.

DESIGN

Women from a rural area in West Java, Indonesia, were randomly assigned on an individual basis to double-blind supplementation once weekly from approximately 18 weeks of pregnancy until delivery. Supplementation comprised 120 mg iron and 500 microg folic acid with or without 4800 RE vitamin A. Their newborn infants were followed up during the first year of life: weight, length, morbidity and food intake were assessed monthly.

RESULTS

Infants whose mothers had taken vitamin A supplements during pregnancy had similar weight, length, weight gain and growth as their counterparts during the follow-up period. The proportions of infants with reported symptoms of morbidity were similar in the vitamin A plus iron group and the iron group. In addition immunisation coverage and feeding mode did not differ between the groups. All infants were breast-fed, but exclusive breast-feeding rapidly declined at 4 months of age. Infants with serum retinol concentrations >0.70 micromol/l increased their weight and length more during the first 6 months of life and had higher weight-for-age Z-scores during the first year of life than infants with serum retinol concentrations <or=0.70 micromol/l. Serum retinol concentrations were not associated with morbidity.

CONCLUSION

In this study, vitamin A supplementation in conjunction with iron supplementation of pregnant women did not improve growth or reduce morbidity of their infants during the first year of life.

Vitamin A and iron supplementation of Indonesian pregnant women benefits vitamin A status of their infants

Many Indonesian infants have an inadequate nutritional status, which may be due in part to inadequate maternal nutrition during pregnancy. This study was designed to investigate whether infant nutritional status could be improved by maternal vitamin A and Fe supplementation during gestation. Mothers of these infants from five villages had been randomly assigned on an individual basis, supervised and double-blind, to receive supplementation once weekly from approximately 18 weeks of pregnancy until delivery. Supplementation comprised 120 mg Fe and 500 microg folic acid with or without 4800 retinol equivalent vitamin A. Mothers of infants from four other villages who participated in the national Fe and folic acid supplementation programme were also recruited; intake of tablets was not supervised. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters of infants and their mothers were assessed approximately 4 months after delivery. Infants of mothers supplemented with vitamin A plus Fe had higher serum retinol concentrations than infants of mothers supplemented with Fe alone. However, the proportion of infants with serum retinol concentrations <0.70 micromol/l was >70 % in all groups. Maternal and infant serum retinol concentrations were correlated. Fe status, weight and length of infants were similar in all groups. Fe status of girls was better than that of boys, but boys were heavier and longer. We conclude that supplementation with vitamin A in conjunction with Fe supplementation of women during pregnancy benefits vitamin A status of their infants. However, considering the large proportion of infants with marginal serum retinol concentrations, it may still be necessary to increase their vitamin A intake.

Weekly vitamin A and iron supplementation during pregnancy increases vitamin A concentration of breast milk but not iron status in Indonesian lactating women

Studies on the effect of vitamin A and iron supplementation during pregnancy on maternal iron and vitamin A status postpartum are scarce. We investigated whether retinol and iron variables in breast milk and in serum postpartum were enhanced more with weekly vitamin A and iron supplementation during pregnancy than with weekly iron supplementation. During pregnancy, subjects were randomly allocated to two groups and received either (n = 88) a weekly supplement of iron (120 mg Fe as FeSO(4)) and folic acid (500 microg) or (n = 82) the same amount of iron and folic acid plus vitamin A [4800 retinol equivalents (RE)]. Transitional milk (4-7 d postpartum) had higher (P < 0.001) concentrations of retinol and iron than mature milk (3 mo postpartum). Compared with the weekly iron group, the weekly vitamin A and iron group had a greater (P < 0.05) concentration of retinol in transitional milk (as micromol/L) and in mature milk (as micromol/g fat). Although serum retinol concentrations approximately 4 mo postpartum did not differ significantly, the weekly vitamin A and iron group had significantly fewer (P < 0.01) subjects with serum retinol concentrations < or = 0.70 micromol/L than the weekly iron group. Iron status and concentrations of iron in transitional and mature milk did not differ between groups. We have shown that weekly vitamin A and iron supplementation during pregnancy enhanced concentrations of retinol in breast milk although not in serum by approximately 4 mo postpartum. However, no positive effects were observed on iron status and iron concentration in breast milk.

Weekly supplementation with iron and vitamin A during pregnancy increases hemoglobin concentration but decreases serum ferritin concentration in Indonesian pregnant women

We investigated whether weekly iron supplementation was as effective as the national daily iron supplementation program in Indonesia in improving iron status at near term in pregnancy. In addition, we examined whether weekly vitamin A and iron supplementation was more efficacious than weekly supplementation with iron alone. One group of pregnant women (n = 122)was supplemented weekly with iron (120 mg Fe as FeSO4) and folic acid (500 microg); another group (n = 121) received the same amount of iron and folic acid plus vitamin A [4800 retinol equivalents (RE)]. A third ("daily") group (n = 123), participating in the national iron plus folic acid supplementation program, was also recruited. Data on subjects with complete biochemical data are reported (n = 190). At near term, hemoglobin concentrations increased, whereas serum ferritin concentrations decreased significantly in the weekly vitamin A and iron group, suggesting that vitamin A improved utilization of iron for hematopoiesis. Iron status in the weekly iron group was not different from that of the "daily" group. However, iron status decreased with daily supplementation if <50 iron tablets were ingested. Serum transferrin receptor concentrations increased in all groups (P < 0.01). Serum retinol concentrations were maintained in the weekly vitamin A and iron group, but decreased in the other two groups (P < 0.01). Thus, delivery of iron supplements on a weekly basis can be as effective as ona daily basis if compliance can be ensured. Addition of vitamin A to the supplement improved hemoglobin concentration.

Premature mammary development in a heifer with abdominal mesothelioma

A 13-month-old nonpregnant Holstein heifer had premature mammary gland development. A mesothelioma was found to involve the entire abdominal cavity, with 2 large tumorous masses adjacent to the right ovary and left kidney. Physiologic function of the ovary had been affected by the neoplasm.

Stage of estrous cycle, time of insemination, and seasonal effects on estrus and fertility of Holstein heifers after prostaglandin F2 alpha

Stage of estrous cycle, time of insemination, and season of the year were examined for their influence on estrus and fertility of 223 Holstein heifers after prostaglandin F2 alpha (treatment). Heifers treated during early stages (days 5 to 8) of the estrous cycle had shorter (by 11 h) and less variable intervals to estrus compared with treatment of heifers during late stages (days 14 to 16) of the estrous cycle. A greater proportion of heifers in the early cycle treatment (79/81, 97%) were in synchronous estrus (20-h period) after treatment compared with the late cycle treatment (71/86, 83%). Conception rates were lower when early cycle heifers were inseminated at 80 h after prostaglandin F2 alpha than when inseminated according to estrous detection and also lower as compared with late cycle heifers inseminated at 80 h. No differences in fertility were observed for late cycle heifers inseminated at 80 h compared with those inseminated according to estrous detection. Season of the year had no influence on intervals to estrus or on proportion of heifers expressing estrus after prostaglandin F2 alpha, regardless of stage of estrous cycle. Conception rate during winter, however, was higher in early but not late cycle heifers inseminated after prostaglandin F2 alpha, as compared with fall or spring. Variability of interval to estrus and of fertility after inseminations by appointment at 80 h appears to be due to stage of estrous cycle at time of prostaglandin F2 alpha treatment rather than season of the year.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone and conception of Holsteins

Effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (100 micrograms) and time of artificial insemination on fertility, were examined in lactating dairy cows at first, second, and third services. Inseminations were either soon after detected estrus (0 h) or 12 h later, and cows were given gonadotropin-releasing hormone or saline after inseminations. Conception at first service was not improved by hormone treatment. But conception rates at repeat services were improved by nearly 21% when cows were treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone within 30 s after insemination. Inseminations soon after detection of estrus (0 h) followed by hormone treatment resulted in the highest conception rates for all services. Time of the insemination (0 versus 12 h) had no effect on conception. Administering gonadotropin-releasing hormone at repeat services should improve conception rate of lactating dairy cows.

Factors affecting reproductive performance of dairy cows first inseminated after five weeks postpartum

Various factors influencing reproduction of 307 Holstein cows were evaluated. Sources of variation of several measures were estrous certainty, time of day of detected estrus and insemination, method of thawing semen, ease of cervix penetration, presence of clear mucus at insemination, service number, service sire, inseminator, age of cow, maximum ambient temperature on the service date, and milk yield. Interval to first service of older cows was longer than of younger cows and shorter for cows with higher milk yield. Conception rate was higher for inseminations before noon than after noon and tended to be lower at inseminations when milk yield was at the extremes (low or high). Rate of conception was similar for cows whether inseminated at early or later postpartum intervals. More services were required by cows that were inseminated when milk yield was at the extremes (low or high). Fewer days open were associated with fewer total services and younger age at conception. Cows inseminated with semen thawed in hot (65 degrees C, 7 to 10 s) or warm (35 degrees C, 30 s) water conceived earlier postpartum than did those inseminated with semen thawed in the cow. Submitting cows for insemination after detection of standing estrus, mounting activity, or less certain symptoms of estrus had no adverse effect on fertility or days open.

Estrous intensity and conception rates in Holsteins

During 34 mo, 732 inseminations were evaluated in Holstein cows and heifers of breeding age. Females were submitted for insemination after detection of either 1) standing estrus, 2) mounting activity, or 3) other subtle symptoms of estrus (clear mucus, general appearance of genitalia or tailhead, and excessive vocalization). Conception rates were similar following standing estrus and mounting activity (50 versus 46%). Although higher conception rates occurred following standing or mounting activity than after detection of subtle estrous symptoms, one of three inseminations resulted in conception after insemination in the latter group. Clear mucus in half of the females upon cervical manipulation at insemination was associated with higher conception. Service number, age, and maximum ambient temperature on day of insemination also affected conception rates. Methods of thawing semen, ease of cervix penetration at insemination, service sire, inseminator, and time of estrous detection and insemination had little effect on fertility. Acceptable conception rates were achieved with more liberal interpretation of estrous symptoms.