Objective To summarize the research progress of postmenopausal breast cancer and estrogen metabolites, which is aimed at providing the basis for early diagnosis and early treatment of postmenopausal breast cancer, at the same time, providing beneficial information for the future study. Methods In recent years, the literatures about postmenopausal breast cancer and estrogen metabolites were reviewed from the databases of WanFang, VIP, CNKI, PubMed, and so on, to make an review. Results Estrogen metabolites had a dual role for postmenopausal breast cancer, such as 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1), 2-methoxyestrone1 (2-MeOE1), and 4-methoxyestrone1 (4-MeOE1) played a protective role for postmenopausal breast cancer, but 4-hydroxyestrone (4-OHE1) and 16α-hydroxyestrone (16α-OHE1) played a carcinogenic role for postmenopausal breast cancer, so it needed to be further studied. Conclusions Estrogen metabolites may be a reliable predictor for the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, it is not only to provide clues for the mechanism of postmenopausal breast cancer, but also provide new train of thought for early diagnosis and treatment of postmenopausal breast cancer.
ObjectiveTo analyze the clinicopathologic features of elderly patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and explore the influencing factors of postoperative prognosis.MethodsThe TNBC patients who were pathologically confirmed in the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from January 1st, 2013 to January 1st, 2014 were retrospectively collected. The differences of clinicopathologic characteristics bwteeen elderly and young and middle-aged patients (according to the standard of 65 years old) were analyzed. At the same time, Cox risk regression model was used to analyze the prognostic factors of elderly patients with TNBC.ResultsA total of 142 patients with TNBC were collected, including 53 elderly patients and 89 young and middle-aged patients. There were no significant differences in terms of family history, histological grade, clinical TNM stage, T stage, axillary lymph node status, and postoperative chemotherapy between the elderly patients and young and middle-aged patients (P>0.05). The rate of breast conserving surgery in the young and middle-aged patients was higher than that in the elderly patients (χ2=4.665, P=0.031). All patients were followed up to 60 months, the recurrence and metastasis rate and the mortality of the elderly patients were lower than those of the young and middle-aged patients (recurrence and metastasis rate: 30.2% versus 47.2%, χ2=3.974, P=0.046; mortality: 11.3% versus 28.1%, χ2=5.474, P=0.019), and the 5-year disease-free survival rate and 5-year overall survival rate of the elderly patients were higher than those of the young and middle-aged patients (5-year disease-free survival rate: 69.8% versus 52.8%, χ2=4.106, P=0.037; 5-year overall survival rate: 88.7% versus 71.9%, χ2=5.209, P=0.022). The tumor T stage (χ2=14.806, P=0.001) and status of axillary lymph node metastasis (χ2=8.149, P=0.043) were associated with postoperative recurrence and metastasis in the elderly patients with TNBC by univariate analysis, and which were the independent risk factors for the recurrence and metastasis in the elderly patients with TNBC by multivariate analysis.ConclusionsPrognosis of elderly patients with TNBC is better than that of young and middle-aged patients. Tumor T stage and axillary lymph node status are independent risk factors affecting prognosis of elderly patients with TNBC.
Objective To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of HER2 protein expression in different degrees in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative breast cancer and the factors related to the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer with low HER2 expression. Methods The clinicopathological data of 161 patients with HER2-negative breast cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the Department of Breast Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from March 2019 to March 2022 were retrospectively collected. The difference of clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with different levels of HER2 protein expression were analyzed, and the factors influencing the pathological complete remission (pCR) rate of breast cancer patients with low HER2 expression after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with unconditional logistic regression model were analyzed. Results Among 161 HER2 negative breast cancer patients, 108 cases were low HER2 expression, accounting for 67.1%. Compared with those with zero expression of HER2 [immunohistochemistry (IHC) 0], the patients with low HER2 expression had higher axillary lymph node metastasis rate (P=0.048), lower histological grade (P=0.006), and higher proportion of positive hormone receptor expression (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in pCR rate among the HER2 IHC 0, IHC 1+ and IHC 2+ / in situ hybridization (ISH)– (P=0.099) , and the pCR rate of low expression of HER2 was lower than that of zero expression of HER2 in the general population and Luminal subgroup, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in triple negative breast cancer subgroup (P=0.814). The logistic regression analysis showed that age, histological grade and estrogen receptor expression status were independent influencing factors for pCR rate after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with low HER2 expression (P<0.05). Conclusions Different degrees of HER2 protein expressions in patients with HER2-negative breast cancer have unique clinicopathological characteristics. The pCR rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with low HER2-expression breast cancer is lower than that in patients with zero HER2-expression breast cancer. Age, histological grade and estrogen receptor expression status are independent factors influencing the pCR rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with low HER2-expression breast cancer.
目的 总结彩色多普勒超声（彩超）结合钼靶X线摄片标记定位对无临床体征乳腺肿块的定位诊断价值。 方法 2010年3月－2011年10月对48例彩超和钼靶X线检查发现可疑病灶而无任何临床体征的患者，在彩超引导下穿刺病灶金属导丝标记定位，并结合钼靶X线检查切除病灶，同时快速冰冻活检明确诊断。 结果 48倒中有11例确诊为乳腺癌（浸润性导管癌7例，导管内癌4例），37例为良性病变（纤维瘤5例，导管内乳头状瘤4例，乳腺腺病28例）。冰冻切片病理检查与术后石蜡病检结果一致。 结论 彩超引导下穿刺钢丝标记定位活检结合钼靶X线摄片，有效地解决了乳腺细小钙化和微小病灶活检术中精确定位和完整切除的难题，对无临床体征的微小乳腺肿块的诊断准确、可靠、实用。
ObjectiveTo detect protein expression of androgen receptor (AR) in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive primary breast cancer and investigate its significances on prognosis.MethodsThe clinicopathologic data of female patients with ER-positive primary breast cancer in the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from January 2012 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. The AR protein expression in the breast cancer tissue was detected by the immunohistochemistry. The relationship between the AR protein expression and the clinicopathologic characteristics such as the age, tumor diameter, invasive biological behavior, molecular typing or the survival after the operation was analyzed.ResultsThe positive rate of AR protein expression was 58.5% (76/130) in the patients with ER-positive primary breast cancer. The positive rates of AR protein expression in the patients with the low differentiation, clinical stage Ⅲ+Ⅳ, p53 positive, neurovascular invasion, and lymph node metastasis were significantly lower than those in the patients with the moderate and high differentiations, clinical stage Ⅰ +Ⅱ, p53 negative, without neurovascular invasion, and without lymph node metastasis (P<0.050). The positive rate of AR protein expression was not correlated with the age, menstrual status, tumor diameter, progesterone receptor and Her-2 statuses, Ki-67, or molecular typing (P>0.050). The 3-year and 5-year overall survival and tumor-free survival of the AR-positive patients were significantly higher than those of the AR-negative patients (P<0.050). The 5-year cumulative total survival and tumor-free survival of the AR-positive patients were significantly better than those of the AR-negative patients (χ2=8.134, P=0.004; χ2=9.150, P=0.002).ConclusionsPatient with AR protein positive expression in ER-positive breast cancer has a better differentiation, lower clinical stage, and weaker invasiveness. Long-term survival of patient with AR protein positive expression after standardized treatment is also better than that of patient with AR protein negative expression. It might provide an important additional information on prognosis and become a promising object for targeted therapy.
ObjectiveTo compare the clinicopathological features of Luminal A breast cancer patients in early and middle stage, and locally advanced Luminal A breast cancer, then the influencing factors of disease-free survival (DFS) in locally advanced Luminal A breast cancer patients were further discussed.MethodsFrom January 2010 to December 2012, 295 Luminal A breast cancer patients who completed diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up in our hospital were retrospectively collected. According to TNM stage, 227 cases of early and middle breast cancer and 68 cases of locally advanced breast cancer were divided into two groups. Chi-square test or rank sum test was used to compare the clinicopathological characteristics of patients between the two groups, and log-rank test and Cox proportional risk regression model were used to explore the influencing factors of 5-year DFS situation in patients with locally advanced Luminal A breast cancer.ResultsT stage and N stage were later in locally advanced Luminal A breast cancer patients than that of the early and middle breast cancer patients (P<0.05), and the tumor grade was higher in locally advanced Luminal A breast cancer patients (P<0.05). The 5-year DFS rate was 87.8% (259/295). In this study, there were5 comprehensive treatment schemes as follows: neoadjuvant chemotherapy + surgery + radiotherapy + endocrine therapy, neoadjuvant chemotherapy + surgery + endocrine therapy, surgery + chemotherapy + radiotherapy + endocrine therapy, surgery + chemotherapy + endocrine therapy, and surgery + radiotherapy + endocrine therapy. The 5-year DFS rate of locally advanced Luminal A breast cancer patients was lower than that of the early and middle Luminal A breast cancer patients (76.5% vs. 91.2%, P=0.001). Univariate analysis showed that T stage (χ2=8.248, P=0.040), N stage (χ2=9.470, P=0.024), vascular invasion (χ2=4.211, P=0.031), and tumor grade (χ2=6.985, P=0.030) were the factors influencing the5-year DFS situation of locally advanced Luminal A breast cancer patients. Multivariate analysis showed that T staging (HR=5.062, P<0.001) and N staging (HR=7.075, P<0.001) were the influencing factors for 5-year DFS situation in locally advanced Luminal A breast cancer patients. The later the T stage and N stage, the worse the 5-year DFS situation.ConclusionsT stage and N stage are independent risk factors for prognosis of patients with locally advanced Luminal A breast cancer. Individualized comprehensive treatment program is an important guarantee for improving the 5-year DFS rate of this kind of patients.
ObjectiveTo investigate the relation between mammographic density (MD) and the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for patients with breast cancer. MethodsThe clinicopathologic data of patients diagnosed with breast cancer in the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from January 2019 to December 2021 and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria of this study were collected. According to the 5th edition of the Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System, the MD was classified into 4 categories: a, b, c, and d. Based on the pathological evaluation systems of Miller-Payne and Residual Cancer Burden, the new and improved pathological criteria was structured including the residual cancer cell and lymph node statuses to evaluate the pathological changes of breast cancer after NACT. After adjusting the factors affecting MD, the original model (only including MD categories as independent variables), the minimum adjustment model (adding age, body mass index, and menopausal status as independent variables), and the fully adjusted model (further including estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, Ki-67, axillary lymph node status at the initial diagnosis, and NACT regimen) were used to analyze the relation between MD and NACT effect. In the 3 models, the MD category a was used as the reference. ResultsA total of 287 patients with breast cancer were enrolled in this study. Thirty-eight, 76, 114, and 59 of whom with MD category a, b, c, and d respectively, and 14, 74, 117, and 82 of whom with grade L1, L2, L3, and L4 of NACT effect respectively. No matter in integrated patients or premenopausal patients, the results of the fully adjusted model showed that, the regression coefficient of MD classification was negative, and with the increase of MD classification, the odds ratio was <1 and showed a decreasing trend. ConclusionsFrom the results of this study, the increase of MD classification may have a negative impact on the effect of NACT. Namely, effect of NACT is poor in integrated patients or premenopausal patients of whom with higher MD. MD can be used as a predictor of NACT effect, so as to guide doctors in the selection and individual management of neoadjuvant therapy, and improve the prognosis of patients with breast cancer.
ObjectiveTo explore the factors associated with non-sentinel lymph node (NSLN) metastasis in early breast cancer patients with 1-2 positive sentinel lymph nodes (SLN), seeking the basis for exempting some SLN-positive patients from axillary lymph node dissection. MethodsA total of 299 early breast cancer patients who were diagnosed with positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy and underwent axillary lymph node dissection at the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from January 2019 to April 2023 were selected. Univariate analysis was performed on the clinical and pathological data of patients, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors related to axillary non-sentinel lymph node (NSLN) metastasis of patients with SLN positive in early breast cancer. GraphPad Prim 9.0 was used to draw receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the area under curve (AUC) of ROC was calculated to quantify the predictive value of risk factors. ResultsAmong the 299 breast cancer patients with 1-2 SLN positive, 101 cases (33.78%) were NSLN positive and 198 cases (66.22%) were NSLN negative. Univariate analysis showed that the number of positive SLN, clinical T staging and lymphovascular invasion were related to the metastasis of NSLN (P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that having 2 positive SLN [OR=3.601, 95%CI (2.005, 6.470), P<0.001], clinical T2 staging [OR=4.681, 95%CI (2.633, 8.323), P<0.001], and presence lymphovascular invasion [OR=3.781, 95%CI (2.124, 6.730), P<0.001] were risk factors affecting axillary NSLN metastasis. The AUCs of the three risk factors were 0.623 3, 0.702 7 and 0.682 5, respectively, and the AUCs all were greater than 0.6, suggesting that the three risk factors had good predictive ability for NSLN metastasis. ConclusionThe number of positive SLN, clinical T staging, and lymphovascular invasion are related factors affecting NSLN metastasis in early breast cancer patients with positive SLN, and these factors have guiding significance for whether to exempt axillary lymph node dissection.
ObjectiveTo analyze the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer patients with different expression status of estrogen receptor (ER). MethodsThe patients with HER2-negative breast cancer met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019 were retrospectively collected, and then were assigned into 3 groups according to the ER expression status: ER-negative (ER expression positive rate <1%) group, ER-low expression (ER expression positive rate 1%–10%) group, and ER expression positive rate >10% group. The differences of clinicopathologic characteristics, therapy, and prognosis among the 3 groups were compared. And the risk factors affecting recurrence and metastasis of patients with ER-low expression were analyzed by Cox proportional hazards regression model. ResultsA total of 610 patients with HER2-negative breast cancer were included in this study, including 130 patients in the ER-negative group, 48 patients in the ER-low expression group, and 432 patients in the ER expression positive rate >10% group. The Bonferroni method was used to correct the test level after pairwise comparison, it was found that the histological grade was later (P<0.001, P=0.023) and the Ki-67 expression was higher (P<0.001, P=0.023) in the ER-negative group and ER-low expression group as compared with the ER expression positive rate >10% group; The proportion of the patients receiving chemotherapy in the ER-negative group was higher than that of the ER expression positive rate >10% group (χ2=10.310, P=0.001), while which had no statistical difference between the ER-low expression group and the ER-negative group or the ER expression positive rate >10% group (Fisher exact probability method, P=1.000; χ2= 3.585, P=0.058); The proportion of patients receiving endocrine therapy in the ER-low expression group was higher than that in the ER-negative group (χ2=36.333, P<0.001) and lower than the ER expression positive rate >10% group (χ2=246.996, P<0.001). The difference in disease-free survival (DFS) curves among 3 groups was statistically significant (χ2=46.805, P<0.001); There were no statistical differences in the overall survival (OS) curve and DFS curve between the ER-negative group and the ER-low expression group (Two stage test, P=0.786; χ2=1.141, P=0.286), and which in the ER expression positive rate >10% group were significantly better than thoses in the ER-negative group (χ2=10.137, P=0.001; χ2=39.344, P<0.001) and the ER-low expression group (χ2=4.075, P=0.044; χ2=31.911, P<0.001). The results of multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that N1 and N2 [N0 as reference: RR (95%CI)=7.740 (1.939, 30.897), P=0.004; RR (95%CI)=9.513 (1.990, 45.478), P=0.005) and T3 [T1 as reference: RR (95%CI)=27.357 (2.188, 342.041), P=0.010] increased the probabilities of recurrence and metastasis HER2-negative breast cancer patients with ER-low expression. ConclusionsAccording to results of this study, patients with HER2-negative breast cancer showed certain differences in histological grade and Ki-67 expression among patients with three different ER expression status, but no statistical difference is found between ER-low expression and ER-negative breast cancer, and the prognoses of both are worse than that of ER expression positive rate >10% breast cancer patients. Lymph node metastasis and larger tumor are risk factors affecting recurrence and metastasis in ER-low expression breast cancer patients.
ObjectiveBy comparing the epidemiological characteristics of the incidence and death of female breast cancer in China and the United States, the differences in prevention and screening strategies between China and the United States were analyzed to explore the prevention and control measures of female breast cancer in China. MethodsBased on the relevant data released by the Global Burden of Disease in 2020, the National Cancer Center of China, and the China Health Statistical Yearbook, the new cases and deaths of breast cancer in Chinese and American women in 2023 were estimated respectively, and the incidence, mortality and time trend of breast cancer in Chinese and American women were analyzed. ResultsIn China, 376 789 new cases of female breast cancer and 116 791 deaths were expected in 2023. In the United States, approximately 297 790 women were expected to be newly diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023, representing approximately 15.2% of new cancer cases. About 43 170 women died from breast cancer, accounting for about 7.1% of all cancer deaths. The incidence of breast cancer in women in the United States during the period 1975–2020 gradually increased and then stabilized; In contrast, the incidence of breast cancer among Chinese women increased year by year during the period 1990–2020. In recent years, the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer in Chinese women had increased more than those in the United States, and there was a large difference between urban and rural areas in China. ConclusionsBoth China and the United States face a large burden of female breast cancer, and the characteristics of female breast cancer in China are similar to those in the United States. To reduce the burden of breast cancer in Chinese women, further efforts should be made in various aspects, such as strengthening breast cancer education, raising public health awareness, improving diet structure, cultivating healthy lifestyle, increasing screening efforts, and improving medical level.