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Human papillomavirus status in advanced cervical cancer: predictive and prognostic significance for curative radiation treatment.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection plays a major role in oncogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. This study was performed to investigate if HPV status and E2 gene integrity are prognostic parameters for clinical outcome and predictive for radiation response. Forty women with locally advanced cervical cancer treated with curative radiotherapy were analyzed for HPV infection and E2 gene integrity by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analyses were performed for overall survival, disease-free survival (DFS), local progression-free survival, and treatment response (clinical complete remission). Twenty-eight (70%) of 40 carcinomas were HPV positive. The only significant factor for a better overall survival, DFS, and local progression-free survival was HPV positivity (P < 0.02, P= 0.02, and P < 0.05, log-rank, respectively). HPV-positive tumors had a significantly better clinical complete remission (67% vs 33%, P= 0.04, Fisher's exact test). An intact E2 gene region showed a trend for a better DFS (P= 0.1, log-rank). This study reveals HPV as an independent prognostic parameter for outcome and radiation response. Integration of the virus genome into host cell DNA might be a molecular target to determine the treatment response of HPV-positive cancers.

Adult↗

Parathyroid hormone-related protein localization in breast cancers predict improved prognosis.

In a prospective study of 526 consecutive patients with operable breast cancer, the significance of positive parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) staining by immunohistology has been evaluated for a median of 10-year follow-up. Improved survival was observed for the 79% of tumors which stained positively for PTHrP [estimated univariate hazard ratio, 0.43; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.30-0.62; P < 0.001]. Adjustments for N stage, progesterone receptor status, and log tumor size changed this estimate only slightly to 0.47 (95% CI, 0.63-0.69; P = 0.001). Patients with PTHrP-positive primary tumors were less likely to develop bone metastases (hazard ratio, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.41-0.98; P = 0.04). PTHrP status was associated with estrogen receptor (P = 0.01), progesterone receptor (P = 0.03), and menopausal status (P = 0.006) but was not significantly associated with tumor size, vascular invasion, tumor grade, or patient age. Of 19 patients requiring surgery for bone metastases, the primary cancers were PTHrP negative in seven, all but one of whom had PTHrP-positive bone metastases. All 12 patients with PTHrP-positive primary cancers also had positive bone metastases. We conclude that increased production of PTHrP by breast cancers confers on them a less invasive phenotype, an effect distinct from the bone resorption-stimulating action that favors bone metastasis. It is likely that the latter property is influenced by factors in the bone microenvironment.

Adult↗

Serum nucleosomes during neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with cervical cancer. Predictive and prognostic significance.

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that free DNA circulates in serum plasma of patients with cancer and that at least part is present in the form of oligo- and monucleosomes, a marker of cell death. Preliminary data has shown a good correlation between decrease of nucleosomes with response and prognosis. Here, we performed pre- and post-chemotherapy determinations of serum nucleosomes with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method in a group of patients with cervical cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: From December 2000 to June 2001, 41 patients with cervical cancer staged as FIGO stages IB2-IIIB received three 21-day courses of carboplatin and paclitaxel, both administered at day 1; then, patients underwent radical hysterectomy. Nucleosomes were measured the day before (baseline), at day seven of the first course and day seven of the third course of chemotherapy. Values of nucleosomes were analyzed with regard to pathologic response and to time to progression-free and overall survival. RESULTS: All patients completed chemotherapy, were evaluable for pathologic response, and had nucleosome levels determined. At a mean follow-up of 23 months (range, 7-26 months), projected progression time and overall survival were 80.3 and 80.4%, respectively. Mean differential values of nucleosomes were lower in the third course as compared with the first course (p >0.001). The decrease in the third course correlated with pathologic response (p = 0.041). Survival analysis showed a statistically significant, better progression-free and survival time in patients who showed lower levels at the third course (p = 0.0243 and p = 0.0260, respectively). Cox regression analysis demonstrated that nucleosome increase in the third course increased risk of death to 6.86 (95% confidence interval [CI 95%], 0.84-56.0). CONCLUSION: Serum nucleosomes may have a predictive role for response and prognostic significance in patients with cervical cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Adolescent↗

Effectiveness of hyperthermia and radiation treatments for patients with esophageal cancer predicted by the succinate dehydrogenase inhibition test.

We used in vitro succinate dehydrogenase inhibition test (SDI test) to predict the combined effects of hyperthermia and irradiation on specimens of esophageal cancer obtained at endoscopy. The mean activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SD) after combined treatment of 6 Gy of irradiation and 43.0 degrees C for 20 hours of hyperthermia was significantly decreased compared to findings with each single treatment (to irradiation; p < 0.01, to hyperthermia; p < 0.05). A correlation between the SD activity and the clinical remedial value was also examined in tissues from 47 patients with esophageal cancer, and treated with hyperthermia and irradiation, in combination. The clinical effect, determined radiographically, showed a correlation of 76.6%. Thus, hyperthermia plus irradiation is effective clinical treatment and the SDI test facilitates prediction of the outcome of this combined treatment.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

CEA reduction after cryotherapy for liver metastases from colon cancer predicts survival.

Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in 33 Australian patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer were measured before and after treatment with hepatic cryotherapy and intra-arterial chemotherapy. Pre-operative and monthly postoperative CEA measurements were made and the lowest postoperative reading was recorded as a percentage fall from the pre-operative level. There was a highly significant association between the maximum percentage fall in CEA and survival. A 50% increase in the maximum percentage fall in CEA level was associated with one-tenth the risk of death (95% CI RR 0.03 to 0.32, Cox regression). It is estimated that an increase in the maximum percentage fall in CEA of 50% from 25 to 75% was associated with an increase in the median survival from 240 days to over 2 years.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Paclitaxel-Based chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer: predicting the response with 99mTc-tetrofosmin chest imaging.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively predict the chemotherapeutic response to paclitaxel for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using 99mTc-tetrofosmin (TF) uptake and to detect the expression of 170-kDa multidrug resistance-mediated P-glycoprotein (MDR-Pgp). METHODS: Before chemotherapy with paclitaxel, 20 patients with stage IIIb or IV NSCLC were enrolled in this study to undergo early and delayed 99mTc-TF chest imaging for calculating tumor-to-normal lung ratios (T/NL) and retention indices (RI) for assessment of the MDR-Pgp in NSCLC. RESULTS: The early and delayed mean T/NLs were 1.59 +/- 0.25 and 1.50 +/- 0.25, respectively, for 10 patients with a good response and 1.09 +/- 0.09 and 1.03 +/- 0.05, respectively, for 10 patients with a poor response. The differences were shown to be significant (P < 0.001) by independent Student t tests. However, no significant differences (P = 0.801) between good-response patients (-5.70% +/- 3.67%) and poor-response patients (-5.23% +/- 4.51%) were found in RI. In addition, other prognostic factors (age, sex, tumor size, stage, and cell type) were not significantly different between good-response patients and poor-response patients. CONCLUSION: 99mTc-TF chest images are potential tools for understanding MDR-Pgp expression in NSCLC and for predicting the chemotherapeutic response to paclitaxel.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

A breast cancer prediction model incorporating familial and personal risk factors.

Many factors determine a woman's risk of breast cancer. Some of them are genetic and relate to family history, others are based on personal factors such as reproductive history and medical history. While many papers have concentrated on subsets of these risk factors, no papers have incorporated personal risk factors with a detailed genetic analysis. There is a need to combine these factors to provide a better overall determinant of risk. The discovery of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes has explained some of the genetic determinants of breast cancer risk, but these genes alone do not explain all of the familial aggregation of breast cancer. We have developed a model incorporating the BRCA genes, a low penetrance gene and personal risk factors. For an individual woman her family history is used in conjuction with Bayes theorem to iteratively produce the likelihood of her carrying any genes predisposing to breast cancer, which in turn affects her likelihood of developing breast cancer. This risk was further refined based on the woman's personal history. The model has been incorporated into a computer program that gives a personalised risk estimate.

Adult↗

Tissue-Level Transcriptomic Entropy Reveals Organ-Specific Aging Patterns and Predicts Cancer Progression.

Although aging and cancer share complex molecular mechanisms, distinguishing causative factors from byproducts remains challenging. Here, we investigated the role of tissue transcriptomic entropy-a measure of transcriptional disorder-in aging and cancer processes by analyzing RNA-sequencing data from over 25,000 samples from human and mouse tissues. We found that entropy changes during aging are highly tissue-specific, with some tissues showing increased entropy while others exhibit decreased or stable entropy levels. Moreover, transcriptomic entropy strongly correlates with age-related processes, showing positive associations with proliferation, cellular senescence, somatic mutation burden, and cellular reprogramming, whereas it negatively correlates with stemness. In cancer, we observed that primary tumors generally display higher entropy than normal tissue, with its levels further increasing in metastatic stages. Cancer treatment modulated entropy patterns in multiple contexts, with changes suggesting a role for transcriptional complexity in tumor plasticity and therapy resistance. Elevated entropy levels predicted poor survival outcomes in multiple cancer types, suggesting its potential as a prognostic marker. Furthermore, differential expression analysis revealed that entropy-associated genes are enriched in developmental processes and depleted in metabolic pathways, indicating a possible link to cellular dedifferentiation. Finally, we found increased entropy in various age-related disorders beyond cancer, suggesting that transcriptomic entropy may be a common feature in age-related diseases. Our findings establish transcriptomic entropy as a fundamental parameter in aging and cancer progression, offering new insights into disease mechanisms.

Humans↗

Positron emission tomography in non-small-cell lung cancer: prediction of response to chemotherapy by quantitative assessment of glucose use.

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate the use of positron emission tomography with the glucose analog fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) to predict response to chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC scheduled to undergo platinum-based chemotherapy were eligible for this study. Patients were studied by FDG-PET before and after the first cycle of therapy. Based on previous studies, a reduction of tumor FDG uptake by more than 20% as assessed by standardized uptake values (SUV) was used as a criterion for a metabolic response. Furthermore, changes in tumor SUVs were compared with changes in FDG net-influx constants (Ki) and tumor/muscle ratios (t/m). RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients were included in the study. There was a close correlation between metabolic response and best response to therapy according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (P <.0001; sensitivity and specificity for prediction of best response, 95% and 74%, respectively). Median time to progression and overall survival were significantly longer for metabolic responders than for metabolic nonresponders (163 v 54 days and 252 days v 151 days, respectively). Similar results were obtained when Ki was used to assess tumor glucose use, whereas changes in t/m showed considerable overlap between responding and nonresponding tumors. CONCLUSION: In NSCLC, reduction of metabolic activity after one cycle of chemotherapy is closely correlated with final outcome of therapy. Using metabolic response as an end point may shorten the duration of phase II studies evaluating new cytotoxic drugs and may decrease the morbidity and costs of therapy in nonresponding patients.

Aged↗

Utility of a web-based breast cancer predictive algorithm for adjuvant chemotherapeutic decision making in a multidisciplinary oncology center.

PURPOSE: Adjuvant drug therapy can extend survival for breast cancer patients, but the balance between costs and benefits may be difficult to estimate. Software programs have been developed for this purpose and recently have become available online. Here, we describe our experience using a web-based program to support adjuvant decision making at a multidisciplinary breast cancer Tumor Board in a university-affiliated oncology center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred two adjuvant breast cancer cases were discussed by the Tumor Board over a four-month period, with a provisional treatment plan being formulated after each discussion. Program data predicting 10-year risks and benefits were shared with board members after each provisional plan and any change in recommendation was recorded. A user survey was conducted to assess the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the program. RESULTS: Treatment decisions were changed in 12.7 percent of cases (13/102) after consideration of data from the program. Most of these (76.9 percent) were node-negative ER-positive cases, with the most common reason for change being a lower-than-expected added survival benefit from less intensive chemotherapy regimens (ACx4 or CMF; 81.8 percent). In certain recurrent scenarios, the program was perceived to have limitations that led to retention of the original management plan despite data that might otherwise have favored different treatment. On completion of the study period, clinicians' attitudes to the program ranged from enthusiasm to caution. CONCLUSION: Although not replacing clinical judgement, these findings support the value of this web-based program as a decision making adjunct that can help clinicians to separate risk and benefit, compare the added value of different therapeutic interventions in a given clinical context, and present more balanced information about treatment options to patients.

Adult↗

S-phase fractions of breast cancer predict overall and post-relapse survival.

We studied the correlation of S-phase fraction (SPF) with clinical outcome in 127 pre- or perimenopausal patients with breast cancers treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy from October 1986 to June 1990. When the patients were analysed using the median value of the SPF as a threshold, there was a small but non-significant difference in favour of low SPF tumours for metastasis-free survival. SPF was the only parameter predicting overall survival in multivariate analysis (P < 0.002) which included T, N, histopathological grade and steroid hormone receptors. The results of metastasis-free survival contrasted with previous analyses with shorter follow-up, so we tested the time-dependent influence of SPF on prognosis. It was thus shown that SPF significantly predicts metastasis-free survival only during the first 30 months, whereas the relative risk of cancer-related death according to SPF remains significant for 56 months. In order to find an explanation for the difference in predictivity between metastasis-free survival and overall survival, we studied the post-relapse survival. Significantly shorter survival (median 12 months) was associated with tumours presenting pre-treatment high SPF values, compared to the low SPF group for which 60% of the patients were still alive after 30 months of metastasis phase (P = 0.002). Our current results, in a homogeneous series with a median follow-up of over 5 years, emphasise the importance of proliferation-related parameters for breast cancer management.

Adult↗

Trimodality therapy in stage III non-small cell lung cancer: prediction of recurrence by assessment of p185neu.

In a trimodality treatment approach for stage III non-small cell lung cancer the prognostic impact of pretherapeutic p185neu assessment was evaluated. Fifty-four patients were admitted to chemotherapy followed by twice-daily radiation with concomittant low-dose chemotherapy and subsequent surgery. Immunohistochemical assessment of p185neu expression was performed in paraffin-embedded mediastinal lymph node metastases, by mediastinoscopy biopsy prior to therapy. Paraffin-embedded biopsies of mediastinal lymph node metastases were available in 33 cases. Seven out of eight patients with positive p185neu staining developed distant metastases, in contrast to seven out of 25 negative cases. Expression of p185neu in mediastinal lymph node metastases was a significant predictor for progression-free survival (p=0.047) and resulted mainly from significant differences in metastases-free survival (p185neu-positive versus p185neu-negative: median, 11 versus 19 months; 2- and 3-yr rates, 13% and 0% versus 40% and 32%; p=0.04). On the basis of these preliminary results it was concluded that further evaluation of p185neu expression in trials on neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy is warranted. When the prognostic impact of p185neu in such trials with larger patient numbers is confirmed, this may contribute to the identification of stratification variables for future treatment approaches of non-small cell lung cancer.

Adult↗

[Clinicopathological studies of advanced rectal cancers--prediction of the degree of lymph node metastasis from histopathological finding of pre-operative biopsy specimens].

If we can predict pre-operatively the degree of lymph node metastasis, we can do a minimum radical operation and avoid the disturbance of urinary or sexual function. To predict the degree of lymph node metastasis we studied lymph vessel invasion (ly), microgland cancer nests and undifferentiated cancer cells (budding) in the pre-operative biopsy specimens and resected materials. Results are as follows; 1. The rate of ly in in biopsy specimens was low (13%), but when ly was present, the rate of lymph node metastasis was very high (100%). 2. The rate of budding in biopsy specimens was quite high (46%), and when budding was present, the rate of lymph node metastasis was quite high (79%). 3. Studies of serial continuous sections at 3 micron intervals showed that budding was closely related to ly. 4. Our study of resected specimens of rectal cancers revealed that the best position for the biopsy was in the margin of cancer tissue of the anal side including submucosa.

Adenocarcinoma↗

BCL-2 and p53 expression in clinically localized prostate cancer predicts response to external beam radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: Clinicians have long been hampered by the inability to distinguish patients with localized prostate cancer who will and will not respond to radiotherapy. In a significant proportion of patients therapy fails as determined by increasing posttreatment serum prostate specific antigen (PSA). We evaluated the expression of 2 key regulators of apoptosis, bcl-2 and p53, relative to treatment outcomes in patients who received external beam radiotherapy for clinically organ confined carcinoma of the prostate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining for bcl-2 and p53 on pretreatment needle biopsies was performed in 54 patients who were treated with radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer. Expression was scored using strict criteria. Nadir PSA less than 1 ng./ml. after therapy was considered a successful treatment response. RESULTS: There was a predominance of stage T1c cancer (74%) with a mean Gleason score of 6.9 and an average pretreatment PSA of 25.3 ng./ml. Overall 54% of the patients did not have a nadir PSA of less than 1 ng./ml. Of the bcl-2 positive cases therapy ultimately failed in 85%. Similarly 88% of the patients with p53 positive biopsies had treatment failure and in all with bcl-2 as well as p53 expression radiotherapy failed. Expression of bcl-2 and p53 was an independent prognostic variable for treatment failure with odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of 7.3 and 10.8, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of bcl-2 and p53 was associated with treatment failure after external beam radiation therapy. These findings suggest that bcl-2 and p53 expression in pretreatment biopsies may be helpful for predicting response to definitive radiotherapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[The 1992 TNM classification of T2 prostate cancer predicts pathologic stage and prognosis better than the revised 1997 classification].

PURPOSE: In the 1997 the TNM staging system for prostate cancer was changed, reclassifying, T2 cancers from 3 groups (T2a, less than one half of one lobe; T2b, one lobe; and T2c, both lobes) to 2 groups (T2a, one lobe; and T2b, both lobes), combining the 1992 T2a and T2b into the 1997 T2a subclassification. We investigated the pathological stage and prognosis of cancers in the 1992 and 1997 subclassification to determine whether this change was warranted. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied a consecutive series of 555 patients with clinical stage T2 prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) between 1983 and 1998. We analyzed the clinical, pathological features and PSA non-progression rate after prostatectomy for patients classified according to the 1992 and the 1997 TNM system. Median follow-up was 51.3 months. RESULTS: In the 1992 TNM system T2a tumors were more likely to have a low PSA (5.8 versus 7.2 and 8.1 ng/ml, p = 0.034, p = 0.012), be confined to the prostate (67% versus 45% and 40%, p < 0.001 for both), be poorly differentiated (48% versus 63% and 66%, p = 0.002 for both) and have a low cancer volume (1.22 versus 2.27 and 2.63 cm3, p = 0.005 for both) than T2b and T2c tumors. But there were no significant differences between T2b and T2c. Reflecting these results, the patients with T2a cancer had a significantly better prognosis with 82 +/- 4% PSA non-progression rate at 5 years compared to 68 +/- 4% of patients with T2b and 73 +/- 4% of patients with T2c (p = 0.007, p = 0.048, respectively). In the 1997 TNM system T2a tumors were also different from T2b tumors in terms with the frequency of confined cancer (54% versus 40%, p = 0.006) and cancer volume (1.78 versus 2.63 cm3, p = 0.013). However, the those differences were smaller than those in 1992 system. There were no significant differences between 1997 T2a and T2b cancers in the serum PSA level and the frequency of a poorly differentiated cancer. In fact, the 5-years recurrence-free survival rate for patients with T2a (73 +/- 3%) was identical to that for T2b cancer. In a Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, however, neither the 1992 nor the 1997 TNM staging subclassifications of T2 cancers were independent predictor of PSA non-progression when the age of patient, serum PSA level and biopsy Gleason grade were included in the analysis. CONCLUSION: Since a palpable tumor less than half of one lobe (1992 T2a) has a distinctly different pathological and prognostic significance compared to T2b and T2c cancers, the T2a subclassification should be retained in future revisions of TNM staging system. However, because the digital rectal examination provides limited information, both PSA results and histological grade in a biopsy specimen should be incorporated into future revision of the TNM staging system.

Adult↗

Clinical relevance of soluble c-erbB-2 for patients with metastatic breast cancer predicting the response to second-line hormone or chemotherapy.

Concentrations of soluble c-erbB-2 were determined in the sera of 64 patients with distant metastasis from advanced breast cancer receiving second-line hormone or chemotherapy in comparison to 35 breast cancer patients without detectable recurrent disease and 17 healthy blood donors. The sera of non-metastatic breast cancer patients contained s-erbB-2 concentrations similar to those of healthy blood donors. Patients with distant metastasis from advanced breast cancer had significantly higher values of s-erbB-2 in comparison to patients with non-disseminated disease (mean: 59.6 vs. 11.6 U/ml; p = 0.022). A significant correlation was observed between s-erbB-2 serum levels and serum LDH concentrations (p < 0.001), levels of alkaline phosphatase (p < 0.001), and the presence of hepatic metastasis (p = 0.001). Time to tumor progression was significantly shorter in patients with s-erbB-2 levels above 40 U/ml (mean: 23.4 vs. 56.7 months; p = 0.002). Furthermore, breast cancer patients with hepatic metastasis and those with elevated s-erbB-2 serum levels above 40 U/ml had limited response to hormone or chemotherapy. Non-responders had significantly higher s-erbB-2 levels (mean: 270.3, range: 42-500 U/ml;) compared with the responder group (mean: 23.1, range: 0-149 U/ml; p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis indicated that elevated s-erbB-2 serum levels above 40 U/ml independently predicted an unfavorable response to second-line hormone or chemotherapy in patients with advanced metastatic breast cancer.

Adult↗

Preoperative radiotherapy (RT) for rectal cancer: predictive factors of tumor downstaging and residual tumor cell density (RTCD): prognostic implications.

PURPOSE: To determine predictive factors and prognostic value of tumor downstaging and tumor sterilization after preoperative RT for rectal cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 1977 and 1994, 167 patients with a histologically proven adenocarcinoma (70 T2, 65 T3, 29 T4, and 3 local recurrences) underwent preoperative RT. Median dose was 44 Gy (5-73 Gy). Surgery was performed in a mean time of 5 weeks after RT. Pathologic specimens have been reviewed by the same pathologist in order to specify the modified Astler Coller classification (MAC), and to quantify the residual tumor cell density (RTCD). RESULTS: According to the MAC, there was 9 stage 0 (5%), 10 stage A (6%), 103 stage B1-B3 (62%), and 45 stage C1-C3 (27%) tumors. Seventeen percent and 56% of the patients who received a dose > or = 44 Gy had respectively a 0-A and a B tumor, compared to 4 and 69% in those who received a dose < 44 Gy (p = 0.04). Tumor differentiation and a longer interval before surgery were significantly associated with a more frequent downstaging, and preoperative staging correlated well to the postoperative pathological findings. According to the RTCD, 62 tumors (37%) showed no or only rare foci of residual tumor cells (Group 1); 62 (37%) showed an intermediate RTCD (Group 2); and 43 (26%) a high RTCD (Group 3). No predictive factor of RTCD was statistically significant. In univariate analysis, postoperative staging was a significant prognostic factor, with corresponding 5-year overall survival rates in 0-A, B, and C stages of 92, 67, and 26% (p < 0.01). RTCD was not a prognostic factor. However, overall and disease-free survival rates for patients with complete pathologic response of 83% at 2 and 5 years suggested a better outcome in this subgroup of patients. CONCLUSION: The favorable influence of higher doses of preoperative RT on pathologic stage has been observed. Tumor differentiation, preoperative classification and time before surgery were the other predictive factors of tumor downstaging. However, there was no predictive factor of complete pathologic response. Even after preoperative RT, postoperative staging remained a prognostic factor.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Sentinel lymph node (SLN) in breast cancer: prediction of axillary metastasis confined to the SLN spares patients further axillary dissection].

Although regional control of the axilla in patients with breast cancer is important, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is performed mainly for staging purposes. The sentinel lymph node (SLN) that first receives lymphatic drainage from the tumor was investigated. After SLN identification, ALND or radiation therapy is performed in patients with SLN metastasis who are also likely to have non-SLN metastasis. However, it is important to select patients with SLN metastasis who may benefit from further axillary treatment. The size of the primary tumor and the size of its SLN metastasis are reported to be associated with the presence of non-SLN metastases. Patients in whom the SLN indicates less than 20% of nodes are involved have a low probability of non-SLN involvement and therefore can avoid further axillary treatment. Although large clinical trials are necessary for confirmation, it appear, that patients with axillary involvement confined to the SLN can be spread further ALND.

Axilla↗