BackgroundPatients with regionally advanced melanoma are at high risk of distant failure and unlikely to be cured by surgery alone. Neoadjuvant therapy may provide benefit in these patients.ObjectivesTo evaluate our experience with neoadjuvant systemic therapy in high‐risk stage III patients.MethodsRetrospective review of patients with advanced stage III disease who received neoadjuvant therapy between August 2009 and August 2016 at Mayo Clinic Rochester.ResultsTwenty‐three cases met our inclusion criteria, 16 with resectable disease and 7 with unresectable disease. No patients with resectable disease and one patient with borderline resectable disease progressed regionally, prohibiting surgical resection. Five of seven patients with unresectable disease were down‐staged to a resectable state. Six of twenty‐three (26%) had a CR and five are alive at last follow‐up. Fifteen of twenty three patients (65%) progressed with a median progression free survival of 11 months; however, the 5 year overall survival estimate was 84%.ConclusionsNeoadjuvant systemic therapy is a reasonable approach for patients with advanced but resectable/borderline resectable disease and the risk of losing regional control is low. Our data also suggest some patients with unresectable disease will be converted to resectable and a complete clinical response to treatment can be obtained in approximately one quater of patients.
Oncologic Safety of Prophylactic Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy in a Population With BRCA Mutations
JAMA Surgery | September 13, 2017 | Volume: 153 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 123
Background and ObjectivesCurrent randomized controlled trials are investigating the outcomes of non‐surgical treatment for patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). We sought to evaluate pre‐operative factors associated with no residual disease at definitive resection following a core needle biopsy (CNB) diagnosis of DCIS.MethodsEight hundred and thirty‐four operations for DCIS were performed at our institution between January 2004 and October 2014. We evaluated patient and biopsy tumor characteristics to determine pre‐operative factors associated with no residual disease at surgical resection using uni‐ and multivariable analyses.ResultsSixty‐nine patients (8%) had no residual disease on final pathology. On multivariable analysis, low‐ or intermediate‐grade lesions, <1 cm in size on mammography, and lesions where ≥90% of calcifications were removed correlated with finding no residual disease on final pathology, c‐statistic 0.84. Of the 14 patients with all three low‐risk factors, 36% had no residual disease on final pathology.ConclusionsAlthough our multivariable analysis performed well, its clinical utility would be limited as we were unable to identify a subset of patients with DCIS in whom the probability of finding no residual disease is low enough to consider routine use of non‐surgical management.
A multivariate model to predict cancer upgrade from atypical ductal hyperplasia by core needle biopsy.
Journal of Clinical Oncology | February 24, 2017 | Volume: 32 | Issue: 26_suppl | Pages: 3-3
3 Background: Atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) is a high-risk breast lesion usually diagnosed with core needle biopsy. Although upgraded to cancer at surgical excision in ~15 to 25% of cases, routine excision is questioned due to cost and overtreatment. We evaluated clinical, imaging, and histologic features associated with cancer upgrade and developed a multivariate model to predict risk of upgrade. Methods: With IRB approval a single institution retrospective review was performed of patients who underwent surgical excision of ADH diagnosed by core biopsy from 06/2005 to 06/2013. Review was performed of electronic records, breast imagin,g and biopsy slides. Multiple imputations were used for missing data. Association of cancer upgrade with various features was assessed with logistic regression. Results: 409 biopsies with ADH on core biopsy, with later surgical excision, were included. The overall upgrade rate was (16.1%, 95% CI:12.9-20.0%); 10 patients had invasive cancer at excision and 56 DCIS only. Features on core biopsy most strongly associated with upgrade were imaging estimated percent of lesion removed (upgrade 9% for 90% removed, 14% for 50 to 75%, and 27% for < 50% removed), individual cell necrosis (upgrade 34% with necrosis vs. 9.5% without), and # foci of ADH (22% for >1 focus vs 8% for 1 focus). A multivariate predictive model (see Table) showed an average C-statistic of 0.77. Women with no necrosis and either 1 focus with ≥ 50% removal or >1 focus with 90% removal (36% of the sample) have low risk of upgrade (5.0%, 95% CI:1.3-8.7%). Conclusions: ADH on core biopsy with low risk of upgrade to cancer is defined by percent of imaging lesion removed, # of foci of ADH, and lack of individual cell necrosis. If findings are validated, women whose biopsies meet low-risk criteria might be considered for chemoprevention and surveillance rather than surgical excision.[Table: see text]
Outcomes and feasibility of nipple-sparing mastectomy for node-positive breast cancer patients.
Journal of Clinical Oncology | February 24, 2017 | Volume: 33 | Issue: 28_suppl | Pages: 60-60
60 Background: Indications for nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) with immediate reconstruction have expanded. For cancer patients, NSM is thought best-suited for early stage patients, with nodal involvement initially viewed as a relative contraindication. We undertook this study to evaluate the use and early outcomes of NSM in node-positive (LN+) breast cancer. Methods: We identified 240 cancers in 226 patients (14 bilateral) scheduled for NSM and operated on at our institution 1/2009-6/2014. Data on intraoperative conversion from NSM, recurrence and follow-up was abstracted from the medical record. Chi-square and long-rank tests were used for statistical analysis. P-values < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Of 240 cancers, 182 were LN- and 58 were LN+. More LN+ patients had T2/T3 tumors (27/58, 47%) than LN- patients (31/182, 17%), p < 0.0001, but ER and HER2 status was similar. Of 58 LN+ cases, 19 (33%) were cN1 confirmed by positive LN cytology and 39 (67%) were cN0 but LN+ at operation. 10 patients LN+ at diagnosis received neoadjuvant therapy (NT) followed by operation (at which 6 were pLN+ and 4 rendered ypN0); 39 cN0 (4 NT, 35 primary surgery) and 9 cN1 primary surgery patients were pLN+ at operation with a median of 1 LN+. NSM was successful in 13/14 LN+ NT patients (93%) and 39/44 LN+ primary surgery patients (89%), p = 0.64. Six LN+ patients (10%) were converted to skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) at initial operation based on frozen section pathology (n = 5) or at a second operation (n = 1) vs 13/182 LN- patients (7%), p = 0.44. Among cancer patients treated with NSM, 7 locoregional recurrences (5 in LN+, 2 in LN- patients) occurred at 25 mos median follow-up. 3-year locoregional disease-free estimates were 87% (95% CI 75-100%) for LN+ vs 99% (95% CI 97-100%) for LN- patients, p = 0.007. One nipple-areolar recurrence occurred, in a LN- patient. 3-year breast cancer-specific survival was 97% (95% CI 92-100%) in LN+ vs 99% (95% CI 98-100%) in LN- patients, p = 0.40. Conclusions: Conversion from planned NSM to SSM did not differ significantly between LN+ and LN- patients. Short-term oncologic outcomes were satisfactory. These data suggest that NSM may be appropriate for carefully selected LN+ breast cancer patients.
Male breast cancer: An institution’s 25-year experience.
Journal of Clinical Oncology | February 23, 2017 | Volume: 29 | Issue: 27_suppl | Pages: 247-247
247 Background: There are no prospective and few large retrospective studies of male breast cancer (MBC). This study’s aim was to describe our institutional experience with MBC and evaluate the ability of the AJCC staging system to stratify survival. Methods: All MBC cases were identified from our institution’s cancer registry from 1984-2008. Data collected included tumor characteristics, lymph node status, treatment, age, and survival. Results: During the study period 166 MBC cases were identified. Median age at diagnosis was 62 years (range 27-87). Most common presentation was a palpable breast mass (77%). Stage at diagnosis was stage 0 (6%), stage 1 (27%), stage 2 (36%), stage 3 (17%), stage 4 (5%), and unknown (9%). Procedure performed was mastectomy in 148 patients (89%), lumpectomy in 10 patients (6%) and unknown in 8 patients (5%). Median tumor size was 2.0 cm (range 0.2-11.0 cm). Most common histology was invasive ductal carcinoma (91%). Estrogen and progesterone receptor status assessed at diagnosis was positive in 93% and 86% of cases tested respectively. HER2/neu status was positive in 6 of 47 cases tested (13%). Nodal staging was performed by axillary dissection (AD) (70%), sentinel node biopsy (SN) alone (11%), SN and AD (11%) and no axillary staging (8%); 43% were node positive, 47% node negative and 10% unknown. Adjuvant chemotherapy was given to 40 patients (24%), adjuvant hormonal therapy to 42 patients (25%) and adjuvant radiation therapy was used in 33 cases (20%). With a median follow-up of 5.5 years, 86 patients (52%) have died: 44 due to breast cancer, 23 due to causes unrelated to breast cancer, and in 19 the cause of death is unknown. Median overall survival was 9.3 years. Median cancer-specific survival was 16.0 years. For patients initially diagnosed at stage 2, 3, and 4 median cancer-specific survival was 12.9, 7.2, and 0.8 years respectively. Median cancer-specific survival was significantly different for stages 2 vs. 3 (p = 0.03) and 3 vs. 4 (p = 0.0006). Conclusions: MBC most commonly presents as a palpable mass, is hormone responsive, and is most commonly treated with mastectomy. The TNM system appropriately stratifies men with MBC by duration of survival.
Outpatient mastectomy clinical pathway.
Journal of Clinical Oncology | February 23, 2017 | Volume: 29 | Issue: 27_suppl | Pages: 144-144
144 Background: Many patients require hospitalization after mastectomy, predominantly for pain management and treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). In order to improve a woman's perioperative experience after mastectomy and facilitate mastectomy on an outpatient basis, we initiated a clinical pathway for perioperative management of unilateral mastectomy patients at Mayo Clinic Rochester. Methods: The clinical pathway consists of preoperative oral medications (celecoxib and gabapentin), preoperative ultrasound guided paravertebral block using bupivacaine, intraoperative anesthesia management with total intravenous anesthetic, and minimal use of long-acting opioids and postoperative acetaminophen and oxycodone. All patients are evaluated by the surgical team on the afternoon after surgery and if patients are recovering well are discharged on the day of surgery. The following morning, the surgical team telephones the patient to follow up on management of pain, nausea or vomiting, and drain output. Results: Eighteen patients have been treated on this clinical pathway. Mean age of patients was 66 (range 51-81). Majority of patients (n=16, 89%) underwent unilateral mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy, with 1 patient undergoing bilateral mastectomy and 1 patient undergoing mastectomy and axillary dissection. All patients are evaluated by the surgical team on the afternoon of surgery. Fourteen patients (78%) were without evidence of hematoma or PONV, pain was well-controlled on oral medications and they were discharged on the day of surgery. On morning after telephone calls, pain scale ratings ranged from 1 to 3 and no patients verbalized complaints of nausea. Four patients (22%) treated on this clinical pathway required overnight observation in the hospital, one for urinary retention, two for pain control, and one for high sanguineous drain output. Conclusions: The clinical pathway presented provides preemptive analgesia and regional anesthesia for patients undergoing mastectomy, enabling the majority of patients to be discharged on the day of surgery. The clinical pathway is a safe and effective way to improve the perioperative experience of breast surgery patients and decrease hospital admission.
Frozen section analysis of SLNs in trunk and extremity melanoma has a high false negative rate but can spare some patients a second operation
Journal of Surgical Oncology | September 16, 2016 | Volume: 114 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 879-883
Isolated limb perfusion in Merkel cell carcinoma offers high rate of complete response and durable local–regional control: Systematic review and institutional experience
Journal of Surgical Oncology | May 18, 2016 | Volume: 114 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 187-192