Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Research Articles

Clinicopathological characteristics and survival analysis of different molecular subtypes of breast invasive ductal carcinoma achieving pathological complete response through neoadjuvant chemotherapy

BackgroundTo investigate the prognostic differences following the achievement of a pathological complete response (pCR) through neoadjuvant chemotherapy across different molecular subtypes of breast invasive ductal carcinoma.MethodsData from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) were identified for patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy who achieved pathological complete response for invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast between 2010 and 2019.Comparing the clinicopathological characteristics of patients across different molecular subtypes. Univariate and Cox multivariate analyses were utilized to identify independent predictors of overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). The Kaplan–Meier method is used to compare OS and CSS among different molecular subtypes. After propensity score matching, subgroup analysis results were presented through forest plots.ResultsThis study included 9,380 patients diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, who were categorized into four molecular subtypes: 2,721 (29.01%) HR + /HER-2 + , 1,661 (17.71%) HR + /HER2-, 2,082 (22.20%) HR-/HER2 + , and 2,916 (31.08%) HR-/HER-2-. HR + /HER-2- subgroup exhibited a significantly higher proportion of patients under 50 years old than the other subtype groups (54.67% vs 40.2%, 50.35% and 51.82%, p < 0.01), and had a higher N2 + N3 stage (11.2% vs 7.24%, 8.69% and 7.48%, p < 0.01). Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that molecular subtype was the independent risk factor for OS and CSS in patients(p < 0.05). The Kaplan–Meier curves indicated that the HR + /HER-2 + subtype had the highest OS and CSS(p < 0.05). Next, were the HR-/HER-2 + and HR-/HER-2- subtypes, with the HR + /HER-2- group having the lowest OS and CSS(p < 0.05). After propensity score matching, the OS and CSS of patients in the HR + /HER-2 + group remained higher compared to HR + /HER-2- group(p < 0.05).ConclusionsPatients with invasive ductal carcinoma of different molecular subtypes exhibit varying prognoses after achieving pCR to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Those in the HR + /HER-2- group are younger, have a higher lymph node stage, and the lowest OS and CSS, whereas patients in the HR + /HER-2 + group have the highest OS and CSS.

Single-cell and Spatial Transcriptomic Analyses Implicate Formation of the Immunosuppressive Microenvironment during Breast Tumor Progression.

Ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive ductal carcinoma represent two stages of breast cancer progression. A multitude of studies have shown that genomic instability increases during tumor development, as manifested by higher mutation and copy number variation rates. The advent of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics has enabled the investigation of the subtle differences in cellular states during the tumor progression at single-cell level, thereby providing more nuanced understanding of the intercellular interactions within the solid tumor. However, the evolutionary trajectory of tumor cells and the establishment of the immunosuppressive microenvironment during breast cancer progression remain unclear. In this study, we performed an exploratory analysis of the single-cell sequencing dataset of 13 ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive ductal carcinoma samples. We revealed that tumor cells became more malignant and aggressive during their progression, and T cells transited to an exhausted state. The tumor cells expressed various coinhibitory ligands that interacted with the receptors of immune cells to create an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, spatial transcriptomics data confirmed the spatial colocalization of tumor and immune cells, as well as the expression of the coinhibitory ligand-receptor pairs. Our analysis provides insights into the cellular and molecular mechanism underlying the formation of the immunosuppressive landscape during two typical stages of breast cancer progression.

Cryoablation Without Excision for Early-Stage Breast Cancer: ICE3 Trial 5-Year Follow-Up on Ipsilateral Breast Tumor Recurrence

BackgroundThe ICE3 trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of cryoablation in women aged ≥60 years with low-risk, early-stage breast cancers, aiming to provide a non-operative treatment option and avoid potential surgical risks. This study presents 5-year follow-up trial results.MethodsThe ICE3 trial is an Institutional Review Board-approved, prospective, multicentered, non-randomized trial including women ≥ 60 years of age with unifocal, ultrasound visible, invasive ductal carcinoma ≤ 1.5 cm in size, histologic grade 1–2, hormone receptor (HR)-positive, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative. The primary study endpoint of 5-year ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) was evaluated based on Kaplan–Meier estimates.ResultsOverall, 194 patients meeting eligibility received successful cryoablation treatment per protocol and were included for analysis. The mean age was 74.9 years (55–94) with a mean tumor size of 7.4 mm transverse (2.8–14.0 mm) and 8.1 mm sagittal (2.5–14.9 mm). With a mean follow-up period of 54.16 months, the IBTR rate at 5 years was 4.3% and breast cancer survival was 96.7%. Of the 124 patients who received endocrine therapy only, the IBTR was 3.7%. No serious device-related adverse events were reported. Minor (88.2%) and moderate (9.6%) adverse events were mild in severity and resolved without residual effects. Quality-of-life score demonstrated statistically significant improvement (p < 0.001) in distress at 6 months as compared with baseline.ConclusionsBreast cryoablation presents a promising alternative to surgery in selected patients, offering the benefits of a minimally invasive procedure with minimal risks. Further studies are encouraged to confirm cryoablation as a viable alternative to surgical excision low-risk patients.

Role of FNAC in Breast Lump and its Histopathological Correlation

Introduction: Breast malignancy is one of the common causes of morbidity and mortality among females. Screening of breast lumps by Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is included in triple approach and is easy to perform. Accuracy of diagnosis can be further enhanced by histopathological confirmation. Aims: The role of FNAC in diagnosis of breast lumps and to determine its diagnostic accuracy. Methods: This was a hospital based prospective study conducted over the period of one year (from March 2023 to February 2024) in department of Pathology, Nepalgunj Medical College, Kohalpur, Nepal. Patients who presented with breast lump underwent FNAC with biopsy for histopathological study was included in the study. Cytological opinion was categorized according to International Academy of Cytology Yokohama System for Reporting Breast Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy Cytopathology criteria reporting system. Histological correlation was carried out in patients who went surgical excision or biopsy of the lesion. Results: Most common diagnosis on cytology was fibroadenoma. According to International Academy of Cytology Yokohama reporting system C2 (benign) was most common reported category (19 cases). On histopathological study, 19 cases were benign and 13 cases were malignant with most common benign lesion being fibroadenoma and all malignant cases were Invasive ductal carcinoma. All cases diagnosed as malignant on cytology were concordant on histopathology. Three benign, one atypical and one suspicious on cytology were malignant on histopathological study. The sensitivity and specificity of FNAC was 84.2% and 69.2% respectively. Diagnostic accuracy of FNAC was 59.4%. Conclusion: Breast FNAC is a rapid and reliable tool for evaluation and have high sensitivity and specificity.

In vitro fertilization impact on the risk of breast cancer.

Breast cancer, with its increasing incidence and high mortality rates, remains a major global health challenge, significantly impacting individuals, families, and societies. Understanding the multifactorial risk factors contributing to its development is crucial for effective prevention and management. Hormonal factors play a significant role in breast cancer development. Given that ovarian steroid hormones influence breast function, any gonadotropin hormone or fertility drug that stimulates ovulation may also impact breast tissue. Contrary to the findings of studies with smaller sample sizes, concerns have emerged regarding the potential increased risk of breast cancer following in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. This article explores the potential risk of breast cancer associated with hormonal cycles during IVF, supported by a literature review and a case study conducted in a tertiary hospital in Bucharest, Romania. The case involves a 38-year-old patient with a history of hormonally treated endometriosis and five IVF cycles, who presented for mammographic and ultrasound screening. The screening revealed multicentric and multifocal BIRADS-5 lesions, with histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis confirming invasive breast carcinoma of no special type with ductal carcinoma in situ, HER2 positive (3+), estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor negative, and a Ki-67 proliferation index of 50%.

Cáncer de mama en el varón: estudio multicéntrico en Aragón durante 27 años

IntroductionMale breast cancer accounts for 1% of all breast cancers. Its low frequency leads to a lack of awareness, resulting in significant diagnostic delays. Additionally, this limits the available evidence, which primarily uses diagnostic-therapeutic algorithms based on women. MethodsA multicenter, observational, descriptive, retrospective study was conducted in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain, from 1995 to 2022 including men with a pathological diagnosis of breast cancer. The prevalence, clinical presentation, pathological characteristics and prognosis of this pathology in men were analyzed. ResultsA total of 148 patients were included, one of the largest series available, with a prevalence of 1%. The most common clinical presentation was a palpable retroareolar mass. Invasive ductal carcinoma was the most frequent type (88.89%), and luminal B was the predominant subtype (47.76%). Surgery was the most utilized treatment; mastectomy was performed in 90.34% and AL in 46.89%. At diagnosis, 52.46% had extramammary involvement. The recurrence rate was 24.1%, and the mortality attributed to the disease was 14.6%. ConclusionsThere is a high rate of metastatic involvement at diagnosis, a high percentage of mutilating surgeries, and a high number of recurrences compared to available studies on males. Additionally, a worse prognosis is observed compared to breast cancer in women, despite these tumors having a less aggressive molecular subtype. These findings highlight the importance of conducting studies focused on men to develop specific protocols.

Clinico-pathological association of BCL2 in invasive breast carcinoma: A study from tertiary care health centre in Northern India.

B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) is an antiapoptotic protein and an important clinical breast cancer prognostic marker. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the BCL2 expression and clinico-pathological parameters in breast cancer. Present study is observational cross-sectional study of 100 biopsy proven cases of breast cancer, and cases with resection specimens were included. IHC analyses for ER, PR, Her2neu, Ki67 and Bcl2 were performed in each case. Bcl2 expression was seen in 52% cases. BCL2-positive expression was associated with lower histological grade (0.026), low Ki-67 level (<14%, P < 0.001), hormone receptor positivity (P < 0.001) and luminal breast cancer (P < 0.001) but no association with tumour size, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion and TNM stage. Expression of Bcl-2, an antiapoptotic protein, is associated with low-grade, slowly proliferating, luminal A-type BC. IHC analysis of Bcl-2 is simple, inexpensive, readily available test to stratify early-stage hormone-positive patients who can be included in clinical trials for Bcl-2 inhibitors.

Potential predictor of prognosis in breast carcinoma: Tumor budding

ABSTRACT Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with invasive breast carcinoma of no special type (IBC-NST) accounting for the majority of cases. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between tumor budding (TB), which is the earliest histological indicator of tumor spread and represents epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and prognostic factors as well as the effect of TB on survival in patients with IBC-NST, thereby demonstrating its potential prognostic value. Materials and Methods: This study included 278 cases of breast resection diagnosed with IBC-NST from 2014 to 2019. Total tumor buds were counted in 10 high-power fields of a hematoxylin and eosin–stained section with the most infiltrative area at 400× magnification. The cutoff value for TB was obtained using receiver operating characteristic analysis for mortality and recurrence risk; this cutoff value was used to classify TB into two categories: low and high grades. The relationship between TB and prognostic factors and the effect of TB on the survival of patients were investigated. Results: This study revealed a statistically significant relationship between high-grade TB and increased tumor size, advanced pathological primary tumor (pT) category, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic invasion, blood vessel invasion, increased recurrence, and mortality as well as reduced overall and disease-free survival. Conclusion: TB in breast carcinomas may have significant predictive value for prognosis. It emerges as a simple, reproducible, and cost-effective histological marker. With the standardization of evaluation criteria, TB may be readily integrated into routine pathological examination, thereby increasing its value in clinical patient management.

Secretory Carcinoma of the Breast: Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation.

Secretory carcinoma is a rare, low-grade, special histological type of invasive breast carcinoma. Although it is the most common primary breast cancer in the pediatric population, most cases are diagnosed in adults, with a median age of 48 years (range 3 to 91 years). It most often presents as a painless and slowly growing palpable lump. Imaging findings are nonspecific. Secretory carcinomas have abundant periodic acid-Schiff positive intracytoplasmic and extracellular secretions on histopathology. Nearly all secretory carcinomas have mild to moderate nuclear pleomorphism with low mitotic activity. Over 80% (86/102) of secretory carcinomas display the translocation of t(12;15)(p13;q25), resulting in ETV6::NTRK3 gene fusion. Secretory carcinoma generally has an indolent course and has a better prognosis and overall survival than invasive breast carcinoma of no special type. A good prognosis is associated with age <20 years, tumor size <2 cm, and ≤3 axillary lymph node metastases. Metastases beyond the ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes are rare, with the most common sites involving the lung and liver. Except for the potential addition of targeted drug therapy for NTRK fusion-positive tumors, the treatment approach is otherwise similar to invasive breast carcinomas of similar receptor status.

CAR expression in invasive breast carcinoma and its effect on adenovirus transduction efficiency

BackgroundBreast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women, with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) as the two most common forms of invasive breast cancer. While estrogen receptor positive (ER+) IDC and ILC are treated similarly, the multifocality of ILC presents challenges in detection and treatment, worsening long-term clinical outcomes in patients. With increasing documentation of chemoresistance in ILC, additional treatment options are needed. Oncolytic adenoviral therapy may be a promising option, but cancer cells must express the coxsackievirus & adenovirus receptor (CAR) for adenoviral therapy to be effective. The present study aims to evaluate the extent to which CAR expression is observed in ILC in comparison to IDC, and how the levels of CAR expression correlate with adenovirus transduction efficiency. The effect of liposome encapsulation on transduction efficiency is also assessed.MethodsTo characterize CAR expression in invasive breast carcinoma, 36 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) human breast tumor samples were assayed by CAR immunohistochemistry (IHC). Localization of CAR in comparison to other junctional proteins was performed using a multiplex immunofluorescence panel consisting of CAR, p120-catenin, and E-cadherin. ILC and IDC primary tumors and cell lines were transduced with E1- and E3-deleted adenovirus type 5 inserted with a GFP transgene (Ad-GFP) and DOTAP liposome encapsulated Ad-GFP (DfAd-GFP) at various multiplicities of infection (MOIs). Transduction efficiency was measured using a fluorescence plate reader. CAR expression in the human primary breast carcinomas and cell lines was also evaluated by IHC.ResultsWe observed membranous CAR, p120-catenin and E-cadherin expression in IDC. In ILC, we observed cytoplasmic expression of CAR and p120-catenin, with absent E-cadherin. Adenovirus effectively transduced high-CAR IDC cell lines, at MOIs as low as 12.5. Ad-GFP showed similar transduction as DfAd-GFP in high-CAR IDC cell lines. Conversely, Ad-GFP transduction of ILC cell lines was observed only at MOIs of 50 and 100. Furthermore, Ad-GFP did not transduce CAR-negative IDC cell lines even at MOIs greater than 100. Liposome encapsulation (DfAd-GFP) improved transduction efficiency 4-fold in ILC and 17-fold in CAR-negative IDC cell lines.ConclusionThe present study demonstrates that oncolytic adenoviral therapy is less effective in ILC than IDC due to differences in spatial CAR expression. Liposome-enhanced delivery may be beneficial for patients with ILC and tumors with low or negative CAR expression to improve adenoviral therapeutic effectiveness.

EP24 - Ileal metastasis masquerading as Crohn’s in lobular carcinoma of the breast, years after initial treatment- a rare case and review of literature

Abstract Gastrointestinal (GI) metastases masquerading as Crohn’s years after treated lobular carcinoma of breast is a diagnostic challenge. In some cases, the interval between the primary breast cancer and gastrointestinal metastasis is so long (3- 20 years) that the medical records for diagnosis including history might be missed. The susceptibility of invasive lobular cancer (ILC) to metastasize to gut is many times greater than invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) (4.5% versus 0.2%, respectively). We report the case of lobular breast carcinoma metastasizing to the terminal ileum and ileocecal junction 7 years following treatment of right sided lobular breast cancer in 60 plus-year-old women. Radiological and endoscopic findings can be difficult to distinguish from inflammatory bowel disease or from primary carcinoma of the GI tract. Histopathological and immunochemistry assessments usually help in reaching the diagnosis. A high index of suspicion and awareness regarding such presentations can help in making an accurate diagnosis and subsequent treatment planning.

Prosigna Assay for Treatment Decisions in Early Breast Cancer: A Decision Impact Study.

Introduction: Therapeutic decisions in early breast cancer are based on clinico-pathological features which are subject to intra- and inter-observer variability. This single-center decision impact study aimed to evaluate the effects of the Prosigna assay on physicians' adjuvant treatment choices. Methods: Between 09/2017 and 02/2018, formalin-fixed tumor samples from 52 newly diagnosed, postmenopausal, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer (T1-T2; pN0-N1a) patients were analyzed. Pre-test clinical judgements and Prosigna test results were compared. Results: The mean age was 59 (42-77). Invasive ductal carcinoma (79.2%), grade 2 (52.8%) and T1c-N0 tumors (43.4%) were represented. There was 40.4% discordance between the pre- and post-test risk of recurrences. No significant change was observed in the clinical intermediate risk category, while there was a net reclassification of low-risk patients into a high Prosigna recurrence risk group. In addition, clinically determined intrinsic subtypes were 34.6% discordant with the Prosigna results, which is largely driven by the reclassification of the luminal A tumors into the Prosigna-assessed luminal B group. Before the Prosigna test, endocrine treatment was the primary choice in 20 patients (39.2%), and chemotherapy was recommended to 31 patients (60.8%). Overall, the Prosigna assay led to a change in treatment choice for one patient. Conclusions: Although conventional risk assessment methods are relatively inexpensive with shorter turnaround times, their accuracy and value for risk reduction are suboptimal. According to our results, the Prosigna assay was found to be a relevant tool for the clinical decision making process. Long-term follow-up of these patients will elucidate the potential benefits of using multigene molecular tests as biomarkers for treatment.

ThP1.10 - Expression Pattern of Arginase In Tumour Tissue In Male Breast Cancer

Abstract Aim To study the expression pattern of arginase in tumor tissue of male breast cancer (MBC) by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Methods We retrospectively analysed the data of 21 MBC patients who were treated in our centre from January 2018 to March 2022. Immunohistochemical analysis of arginase expression was performed in tumor and lymph node tissue with primary arginase-1 antibody (1:300 dilution). Results The mean patient age was 57 years (33–81 years). 10 patients (48%) had metastatic disease at presentation, while early breast cancer (EBC) and locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) constituted 19% and 33%, respectively. Invasive ductal carcinoma was the predominant histology, with luminal being the major subtype. Modified radical mastectomy was done in 9 patients (43%), and palliative chemotherapy was given to all metastatic patients. IHC analysis revealed a lack of arginase expression in the tumor tissue even though it was expressed in the surrounding neutrophils. Conclusion Contrary to the majority of existing literature, ours was an IHC-based study, which provides a more accurate estimation of arginase expression at the cellular level. The lack of arginase expression obtained in our study may point towards the non-expression of the enzyme in MBC. This suggests that arginase is not a tissue biomarker in MBC. Taking other studies with protein expression into account, arginase should be treated, if necessary, only as a blood biomarker.

EP484 - Triple negative male breast cancer: a case report

Abstract Background Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare malignancy, may present at advanced disease stage. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) known to have the poorest prognosis of all other histological types of breast cancer. This paper presents a case of 71 years old gentleman diagnosed with TNBC. Materials and Methods A 71 years old male patient, presented with a right breast lump. Clinically he had a skin dent and a palpable 3cm lump underneath in the right breast axillary tail. Mammogram and breast US showed suspicious lesion in right breast axillary tail in addition to a suspicious lymph node in right axilla. Imaging guided core biopsies were taken from the breast and axillary abnormalities. The histology revealed grade1 invasive ductal carcinoma NST, ER 0, PR 0 and HER 2 negative. The Breast-Multidisciplinary Team meeting advised for mastectomy and axillary clearance, this has been performed. Result The postoperative Pathomorphology report revealed 23 mm triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma NST, grade 1with Ki67 10%, T2N1M0. The postoperative MDT recommended annual surveillance with mammogram for 5 years. Conclusions MBC is uncommon entity, accounting for &amp;lt; 1% of all breast cancer diagnosed in both genders and the MTNBC still is rarer, and mastectomy is the mainstay of surgical treatment in addition to chemotherapy and radiotherapy , however the later doesn’t affect the cause-specific survival rate.

Integrin profle of circulating tumour cells in breast cancer patients

Background. Integrins, as adhesion molecules, play a key role in the interaction of cells with the basal membrane and intercellular matrix. Numerous studies demonstrate evidence of increased expression of integrins on tumor cells in different types of cancer. Thus, β3 and αV integrins are associated with stem-like features of tumor cells, and β4 integrin as α6β4 heterodimer provides anchorage-independent survival of malignant mammary epithelial cells. However, all the described functions of integrins have been investigated exclusively on primary tumor cells. The functional significance and expression pattern of integrins on circulating tumor cells (CTCs) remains unclear. The aim of the study was to evaluate the β3, β4 and αvβ5 integrin expression on CTCs and its association with molecular subtype, stage and lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients Material and Methods. The study included 22 patients with T1–4N0–3M0 invasive ductal breast carcinoma. Venous blood was taken from patients without neoadjuvant chemotherapy (group 1) and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (group 2) in the volume of 12 ml into vacuum tubes with EDTA. The expression of CTC integrins including stemness features CD44/CD24, CD133 and ALDH1, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) (N-cadherin) was evaluated by flow cytometry. Results. CTCs with β3+β4-αvβ5- and β3-β4+αvβ5+ phenotypes and stemness properties were associated with larger tumor size (T4) in breast cancer patients. The β3 integrin expression was associated with more aggressive molecular subtypes of breast cancer. Administration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy did not affect the expression pattern of β3, β4 and αvβ5 integrins in CTCs. Conclusion. In breast cancer, most CTCs expressed β3, β4 and αvβ5 integrins despite the lack of attachment to the basal membrane and intercellular matrix. The expression of the above integrins on CTCs was associated with breast cancer molecular subtype, stage and lymph node metastasis, and therefore its evaluation can be considered as one of the objectives of liquid biopsy study.

Can Oral Traditional Chinese Medicine Be a New Option for Improving Acute Radiation Dermatitis? A Case Report of a Breast Cancer Patient

Abstract Over 90% of cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy suffer from the distressing effects of acute radiation dermatitis (ARD), with breast cancer patients being particularly affected. Although there are conventional preventive, care, and treatment plans for ARD, there is still a need for improvement. The efficacy of oral application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in treating ARD is rarely discussed in existing medical literature. Here, we report the case of an 86-year-old female with invasive ductal carcinoma of the left breast, who developed ARD 2 weeks after undergoing radiation therapy following surgery. Despite the use of conventional medications orally and topically, symptoms showed no significant improvement. After 2 months of oral TCM, the symptoms improved from Grade II to normal. This clinical case provides a new perspective that oral TCM can also improve ARD.

Pannexin 1 crosstalk with the Hippo pathway in malignant melanoma.

In this study, we explored the intricate relationship between Pannexin 1 (PANX1) and the Hippo signaling pathway effector, Yes-associated protein (YAP). Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data revealed a significant positive correlation between PANX1 mRNA and core Hippo components, YAP, TAZ, and Hippo scaffold, IQGAP1, in invasive cutaneous melanoma and breast carcinoma. Furthermore, we demonstrated that PANX1 expression is upregulated in invasive melanoma cell lines and is associated with increased YAP protein levels. Notably, our investigations uncovered a previously unrecognized interaction between endogenous PANX1 and the Hippo scaffold protein IQGAP1 in melanoma cells. Moreover, our findings revealed that IQGAP1 exhibits differential expression in melanoma cells and plays a regulatory role in cellular morphology. Functional studies involving PANX1 knockdown provided compelling evidence that PANX1 modulates YAP protein levels and its co-transcriptional activity in both melanoma and breast carcinoma cells. Importantly, our study showcases the potential therapeutic relevance of targeting PANX1, as pharmacological inhibition of PANX1 using selective FDA-approved inhibitors or PANX1 knockdown reduced YAP abundance in melanoma cells. Furthermore, our Clariom™ S analysis unveiled key genes implicated in cell proliferation, such as neuroglin1 (NRG1), β-galactoside binding protein, galectin-3 (LGALS3), that are affected in PANX1-deficient cells. In summary, our investigation delves into the intricate interplay between PANX1 and YAP in the context of invasive melanoma, offering valuable insights into potential therapeutic strategies for effective treatment.

Hospital-based registries of women with breast cancer from the oncology network of Espírito Santo, Brazil

Objective: To describe the cases of women with breast cancer (BC) and identify the epidemiological profile of the cases reported in the Hospital-based Cancer Registries (HCR) of the Oncological Care Network of Espírito Santo (OCN/ES). Methods: This is a hospital-based descriptive observational study, based on secondary data retrieved via the HCR Tumor Registration Form of the eight hospitals that comprising the OCN/ES, between 2000-2020. Results: There were 16,844 case records of women with breast cancer in this historical series. The median age of the women was 52 years. The age group with the highest number of cases (54.0%) was 41-60 years, 57.42% were brown, 51.70% married, and 30.80% had incomplete elementary school, residents of the Metropolitan region of the state (81.70%). Most cases were analytical (75.42%), referred from SUS (59.70%), had no occurrence of more than one primary tumor (94.21%), the most common histological type was infiltrating duct carcinoma (76.03%), and stage II (6.75%), with multimodal treatments (60.09%). Conclusion: The findings point to an increasing trend in the occurrence of breast cancer over the years in OCN/ES, occurring mainly in older, brown women and women with low education, in stage II of the disease.

Risk perception of patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast and their healthcare practitioners: The importance of histopathological terminology, and the gaps in our knowledge.

Despite ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) being a non-obligatory precursor of invasive breast carcinoma, its diagnosis generates substantial psychological distress. The limited knowledge about the natural history of DCIS contributes to the insufficient transmission of information about DCIS to patients and the general population. The uncertainty about the progression risk to invasive carcinoma hampers adequate communication by clinicians. Breast cancer-related mortality after a DCIS diagnosis is low. However, several studies have demonstrated that DCIS patients generally overestimate the risk of developing loco-regional recurrence or dying from breast cancer. Various factors contribute to this perceived risk. Despite the lack of infiltrative growth, DCIS is treated similarly to invasive breast cancer, with surgery, radiotherapy, and hormonal therapy. Additionally, the term 'carcinoma' in DCIS provokes anxiety. Incorrect risk perception by physicians may result in overtreatment. Here, we provide an overview of epidemiologic data on mortality after DCIS. We discuss the impact of the term 'ductal carcinoma in situ 'on patients' and physicians' perceptions of risk. The available evidence is mostly limited to patients within the Anglosphere. Recent studies, and European studies in particular, are scarce. We identify this as an area of interest for future large-scale European studies. We discuss the potential value of the "ductal intraepithelial neoplasia" (DIN) terminology, introduced in 1998. Although replacing the concept of 'DCIS' with the DIN terminology is unlikely to solve the entire problem of risk overestimation, it could be the first step to optimize doctor-patient communication and alter the current risk perception.

Clinical features and prognosis of parotid metastasis of breast cancer: retrospective analysis of 57 cases.

Parotid gland metastases originating from breast origin are extremely rare, with their clinical presentation, therapeutic approaches, and prognostic indicators remaining to be elucidate. A comprehensive retrospective review was conducted, analyzing the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of 57 patients diagnosed with parotid metastasis of breast cancer in the existing literature. Notably, our study included two unique cases of patients who developed contralateral and ipsilateral parotid metastases, occurring 5 years and 32 years respectively after primary surgery. This analysis aimed to provide a deeper understanding of the disease presentation and identify potential prognostic indicators. The primary clinical manifestation presented in breast cancer patients with parotid metastases was painless masses in the parotid glands, synchronously or metachronously occurred with primary breast tumors. The predominant pathological subtype among these patients was invasive ductal carcinoma. Out of the 57 patients studied, 24 (42.1%) exhibited metastases solely in the ipsilateral parotid gland, while 18 cases (31.6%) involved either the contralateral or bilateral parotid gland. Patients may solely exhibit metastasis in the parotid gland, or they may present with concurrent multiple metastases in other organs. Patients who suffered from parotid metastases, either merely or accompanied with bone-only metastasis, exhibited significantly longer overall survival (OS) rates compared to those who had concomitant metastases in other organs (1.23 ± 0.26 years vs 4.46 ± 0.77 years, P=0.046). While no statistically significant differences in OS were observed among patients presenting with metastases in the ipsilateral, contralateral, or bilateral parotid glands, a notable variance could be discerned from the Kaplan-Meier curve analysis. Additionally, no significant difference in survival was exhibited between patients with different interval of progression from primary breast sites to initial diagnosis of parotid metastases (uDF), nor for patients who were treated with surgery or palliative therapy. Parotid metastasis, a rare and distinctive form of breast cancer metastasis, demands particular scrutiny in patients exhibiting metastasis to multiple organs or contralateral or bilateral parotid glands.