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Biomedical subjects

J A Urban

Publications and source records attributed to J A Urban.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Internal mammary node status: a major prognosticator in axillary node-negative breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The internal mammary lymph nodes (IMN) have received little attention in recent years, yet are a well-documented site of metastasis and a major prognostic factor in early-stage breast cancer. METHODS/RESULTS: Ten-year follow-up of the final 195 patients treated by extended radical mastectomy (ERM) in this practice (selected largely on the basis of medial tumor location, and comprising 15% of all patients treated from 1965 to 1978) found IMN+ in 24% of all cases: 36% of AX+ versus 18% of AX- patients (p = 0.0023). In a multivariate analysis, the disease-free survival impact of IMN+ (p = 0.004) was second only to axillary node involvement (p < 0.0005), and surpassed tumor size (p = 0.077). IMN+ was equally frequent for tumors less than, or greater than, 2 cm (24%), and was not significantly related to patient age. Among AX- patients, there was a twofold greater risk of recurrence or death at 10 years for IMN+ than for IMN-. Among T1N0 patients, 19.6% were IMN+. CONCLUSIONS: Failure to consider IMN status in the steadily enlarging cohort of T1N0 breast cancers may result in the undertreatment of a significant proportion of stage I patients. Systemic adjuvant therapy should be considered for T1N0 patients with central or medial tumors.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Have changing treatment patterns affected outcome for operable breast cancer? Ten-year follow-up in 1288 patients, 1965 to 1978.

From 1965 to 1978, 1288 patients with primary operable breast cancer were treated by the senior author, using extended radical (ERM), radical (RM), and modified radical (MRM) mastectomy operations exclusively. Results were analyzed for trends in overall and disease-free survival, and patterns of local and distant relapse, the years 1965 to 1970 versus 1971 to 1974 versus 1975 to 1978. Significant changes (p less than 0.00001) from 1965 to 1978 included progressively earlier stage of disease, less frequent use of RM and ERM, a decline in the use of postoperative radiotherapy, and the introduction in 1975 of multidrug adjuvant chemotherapy. Ten-year disease-free survival rates improved significantly for all patients (by 11%, p = 0.00004) and for node-negative (by 12%, p = 0.0024), node-positive (by 8%, p = 0.012), clinical stage II (by 15%, p = 0.0022), and pathologic stage II (by 12%, p = 0.016) disease. Ten-year local recurrence for all patients was 3% (local only) and 2% (local with distant metastasis), and survival from date of recurrence for all patients failing treatment increased two times (p less than 0.0001) for patients treated most recently. As the primary surgical treatment of breast cancer continues to become more moderate, the promise of systemic adjuvant therapies can be realized only with continued emphasis on earlier diagnosis and maximal local control of disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Primary surgical treatment of breast cancer.

An unexpected rise in breast cancer mortality has been reported for 1984 and 1985 in white women below 50 years of age in the United States. During the preceding 10 years, there had been a progressive drop of approximately 1% in breast cancer mortality for each successive year. This recent increase in mortality occurred despite the increased use of adjuvant chemotherapy; it is most likely a direct result of the current tendency to downgrade the need for adequate primary therapy. Several recent prospective randomized studies that evaluated the relative efficacy of mastectomies of varying extent have shown a direct relationship between local control and long-term survival. They also demonstrated that specific operative procedures were most effective for the appropriate clinicopathological stage of disease. Stage I cancers can be treated effectively by modified mastectomy, but radical mastectomy is superior for control of stage II and stage III disease. Inner-quadrant cancers are most effectively managed by extended radical mastectomy, which includes excision of the internal mammary nodes. Excellent surgical technique was employed in all studies, which included observed follow-up of 10-20 years. Optimal local control and long-term survival were achieved by the appropriate operative procedure.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1986

Breast cancer 1985. What have we learned?

A popular misconception infers that all breast cancers are systemic from their inception, that variations of primary therapy will not affect prognosis, and that an effective systemic therapy is already available. This is not so. Moderate improvement in long-term survival of breast cancer patients has occurred during the last three decades, and particularly more recently, due to increased detection of "early" disease. More patients are being encountered with early Stage I lesions that are confined to the breast or with minimal axillary involvement. These patients have a minimal risk of occult systemic spread, and the majority can anticipate long-term disease-free survival through adequate primary therapy that achieves total local control. The great majority of our patients who are free of disease 15 years following aggressive primary therapy remain so thereafter. Although adjuvant multichemotherapy has prolonged disease-free survival, its effect on long-term patient survival has been marginal. Optimum control of breast cancer is achieved through early detection (most important) and aggressive primary therapy that aims to achieve total local control, plus the use of the best available systemic therapy for patients with high risk of occult systemic disease.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1984

Rotter's node metastases. Therapeutic and prognostic considerations in early breast carcinoma.

In 500 consecutive modified radical mastectomies (MRM) performed for clinically early (T1 N0) breast carcinomas between 1975 and 1982, the interpectoral lymph nodes (IPN) were separately sampled at the end of the operative procedure. Among the patients consistently sampled (1979-1982), lymph nodes were found in 73%. Interpectoral lymph node metastases were found in 2.6% of all patients, 3% of patients with infiltrating cancers, and 4% of patients sampled. A total of 8.2% of axillary node positive and 0.5% of axillary node negative patients had IPN disease. Among the 13 patients with positive IPN, there were no differences in tumor size or location from the entire group. The two patients whose only nodal metastases were to the IPN are currently disease-free without having received systemic adjuvant therapy. These data suggest that for early breast cancers treated by MRM, routine excision of the IPN is of potential therapeutic or prognostic benefit in very few cases. However, as MRM is increasingly applied to patients with more locally advanced disease (T2-3, N1b-N2), metastases in unexcised IPN may become a more significant source of local or systemic treatment failure.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Role of aspiration cytology in the diagnosis and management of mammary lesions in office practice.

Sixteen hundred and eighty breast aspiration specimens obtained from 1410 patients seen in office practice were reviewed. The cytologic diagnosis was unsatisfactory in 230 cases, benign in 1019 cases, atypical in 198 cases, suspicious for malignancy in 102 cases, and malignant in 131 cases. All cases diagnosed as cytologically malignant had a subsequent tissue diagnosis of malignant neoplasm. Four percent of the cytologically benign cases and 17% of the cytologically atypical cases had malignant neoplasms. Clinical and cytologic examination detected more cancers (87%) than did clinical and mammographic examination (79%). Ninety-three percent of malignant neoplasms were detected by the combination of clinical, cytologic, and mammographic examination. Aspiration cytology significantly contributes to the clinical evaluation of mammary lesions in office practice, but it does not replace tissue biopsy or careful follow-up of mammary lesions of clinical concern. Proof of the presence of breast cancer by aspiration in the office may obviate the need for a two-stage procedure in the surgical management of breast cancer. Aspiration of minimally suspicious lesions often is helpful in initiating excisional biopsy in some occult, clinically unrecognized breast cancers.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Lobular carcinoma in situ of the breast: preliminary results of treatment by ipsilateral mastectomy and contralateral breast biopsy.

This report describes the follow-up of 108 women who underwent ipsilateral mastectomy for lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). Twenty-four women found to have concurrent contralateral carcinoma underwent bilateral mastectomy. The contralateral breast was available for follow-up in the remaining 84 cases, including 33 patients who underwent contralateral biopsy and 51 others who did not have a biopsy of the opposite breast at the time of initial treatment. Five of these 84 patients later developed invasive cancer. Three had had a biopsy that revealed either atypia (two cases) or LCIS (one case). In the two other cases, there had not been a prior biopsy. Two of the 26 patients who had had a benign breast biopsy were found to have LCIS, but none subsequently had intraductal or invasive carcinoma, and none of the 26 women died of breast carcinoma. In this series, 64% of the women retained their contralateral breast; deaths due to contralateral breast carcinoma occurred with half the frequency that had been observed in a prior study of women with LCIS who did not have a contralateral biopsy. These results tend to support our current recommendation to treat LCIS by ipsilateral mastectomy and contralateral biopsy. However, it would be necessary to study these patients for approximately ten more years before results can be considered conclusive. Concurrently, prospective controlled investigations should be pursued to confirm these results, to identify patients most at risk in developing invasive carcinoma, and to determine whether nonsurgical therapy can modify the course of LCIS.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Surgical management of palpable breast cancer.

The surgical treatment of primary breast cancer must cope with its multicentric origin, its occasional bilaterality, and its primary lymphatic drainage to the axillary and internal mammary nodes. The scope of the surgical procedure should correlate with the extent of disease in the individual patient with the primary aid of removing all disease present in these areas. We have used and continue to use three operative procedures--modified mastectomy (total mastectomy with thorough axillary dissection), radical mastectomy, and extended radical mastectomy. With this selected approach, we have attained a ten-year survival rate of 57% with a 4% local recurrence rate as the first sign of recurrent cancer--8.3% overall local recurrence rate--in a group of 515 patients with infiltrating cancer and 44% proven axillary nodal involvement treated between 1955 and 1964. This includes Stages I, II and III cases. These data are crude and uncorrected for age, intercurrent disease, and lost to follow-up. Forty-three percent of patients received adjuvant x-radiation therapy--4500 rads T.D. to the peripheral nodes. No chemotherapy was given. Similar local control and long term salvage has not been attained by conservative surgery with aggressive x-ray therapy. Long term follow-up--ten years at the minimum--with accurate information regarding extent of disease (nodal status), local recurrence, and survival rate is essential to evaluate the efficacy of a treatment regimen for primary breast cancer.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1979

The problem of carcinoma developing in a fibroadenoma: recent experience at Memorial Hospital.

Fourteen new cases of unsuspected carcinoma developing in fibroadenomas are reported with a detailed analysis of their preoperative findings; histopathology, the results of varying surgical procedures and a three month to twenty-six year follow-up. The majority of lesions were lobular carcinoma in situ (71%) and 29% of all cases were found to have carcinoma of the contralateral breast. Our study suggests that for invasive carcinoma within a fibroadenoma complete mastectomy is warranted in virtually all instances while noninvasive disease treated by complete mastectomy is essentially curative. Contralateral breast biopsy at the time of diagnosis with a careful life-time follow-up are appropriate because of the high risk of contralateral invasive coarcinoma. There seemed to be no evidence of striking or unusual epithelial hyperplasia in the breast tissue adjacent to fibroadenomas that contained carcinoma suggesting that the carcinomas are not intrinsically different from those not related to fibroadenomas.

Adenofibroma↗
PubMed1979

Mammography in symptomatic women 50 years of age and under, and those over 50.

Our experience with the use of mammography as a diagnostic aid in symptomatic women with breast complaints has been presented. One-third of all cancers were found in women 50 years of age and under. The detection of cancer by mammography in the younger age group was similar to that experienced in the older age group. Radiation exposure by mammography has diminished markedly during the last 15 years--only one-third to one rad per exposure with modern technique. Recent hysterical criticism of the use of mammography in women under 50 years of age is unwarranted in the light of current findings. This diagnostic modality should be utilized when indicated in all age groups over 30. It is probable that screening clinics should include all women over 35 years of age.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Management of operable breast cancer: the surgeon's view.

There is no ideal single operation for breast cancer. In planning the choice of surgery for breast cancer, one must be aware of its multicentric origin, and of the regional spread from the breast to the axillary and internal mammary lymph nodes. The scope of the surgical attack should be correlated with the clinical pathologic extent of disease in the individual patient with the aim of removing all disease present, while preserving appearance and function to the utmost. The main goal remains removal of all disease from the breast and its regional nodes. Three distinct operative procedures have been utilized--modified radical mastectomy--total mastectomy with axillary dissection, radical mastectomy, and extended radical mastectomy. In all instances, the appropriate operation is applied to the individual, with the concept of removing most efficiently all disease present in the breast and regional nodes. With this plan of therapy, a 10 year survival rate of 61% with a local recurrence rat of 7.7% has been attained in a group of 565 patients with 40% axillary node involvement. These data are crude and uncorrected for age, intercurrent disease and for those lost to follow-up. The best salvage has been attained in the so-called "minimal" breast cancers--95% well 10 years following modified radical mastectomy. The extended radical mastectomy has been superior to the radical mastectomy when axillary node disease is present. In the more complete operation, 54% 10 year survival has been attained in patients with axillary node metastases, compared with only 33% attained in those treated by the conventional radical mastectomy. Adjuvant radiation therapy is applied to the adjacent regional nodes, when indicated. Adjuvant multi-chemotherapy is in its infancy and still to be evaluated. It should be used as a supplement to adequate primary surgical treatment, and should not be used as a crutch for inadequate primary surgery.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1977

A comparative study of some pathologic features of mammary carcinoma in Tokyo, Japan and New York, USA.

Epidemiologic and clinical studies conducted in the past 15 years have demonstrated striking differences in the biology of mammary carcinoma among Japanese and American women living in their native countries. These variations have, in part, been related to some differences in the characteristics of the primary tumors between the two groups. As part of a collaborative study we have had an opportunity to compare the stage of disease and to examine and compare histological sections of patients with breast carcinoma treated in 1973-74 at the National Cancer Center Hospital (NCH) in Tokyo and in 1974 at the Memorial Hospital (MH) in New York. The former group consisted of 216 and the latter of 555 carcinomas. Fewer patients in each group had axillary metastases than reported in a prior study of patients treated at MSKCC and in Tokyo 20 to 30 years earlier. Negative axillary nodes were now found in 58% of the MH patients and in 63% of women treated at the NCH. The magnitude of improvement in stage relative to the prior report was similar in both groups. However, it would appear that the change occurred mainly from the mid-1950s to the 1960s in New York and approximately 10 years later in Tokyo. Results of this study confirming prior reports were: (1) higher frequency of colloid and of medullary carcinoma with lymphoid stroma and lesser frequency of lobular carcinoma in the Japanese patients; (2) more intense lymphoid infiltrate in and around primary tumors in Japanese women; (3) higher frequency of rounded or circumscribed tumors in Japanese women; and (4) the more frequent occurrence of intralymphatic tumor emboli within the breast in American women. The difference in the frequency of lobular carcinoma was less striking when comparison was limited to patients with unilateral carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗
PubMed1977

Estrogen receptor protein (ERP) in multiple tumor specimens from individual patients with breast cancer.

We have studied 29 patients from whom two or more spatially and temporally separate samples of breast carcinoma were obtained for ERP analysis. Differences in ERP were obtained in 24% of all cases studied. The greatest degree of variation was found when comparing a primary tumor with a subsequent metastasis (38%). Among eight patients with ERP negative (-) primary tumors, six had ERP (-) and two ERP positive (+) metastases. Among 11 patients with ERP (+) primaries eight had ERP (+) and three ERP (-) metastases. Variations were found in 20% of multiple nonsimultaneous metastases from individual patients. The difference in average interval between cases that did not show variation (9.6 months) and those that did vary (19.3 months) suggests that variation may be more likely to occur with later metastases. However, there was considerable overlap in the range of intervals. These findings underscore the need to biopsy readily accessible recurrences rather than to rely on the results of prior specimens. There was no apparent consistent relationship of these variations to age, site of specimen, interval between specimens or the histologic features of the tissues submitted for analysis. Two patients with an ERP (+) primary tumor had ERP (-) metastases after interval therapy. Similar variations were observed in patients who did not have interval therapy. The data do not perimit any definite conclusions as to the effect of chemotherapy or radiation on the ERP properties of mammary carcinoma.

Adult↗