Prognostic significance of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in locally advanced breast cancer.

The present study aimed to clarify the prognostic role of the pre-treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Due to conflicting results in currently available data, the specific focus of the present study was on evaluating the associations between the pre-treatment NLR and the rate of achieving a pathological complete response (pCR) and survival outcomes. For the present study, data from a cohort of 465 consecutive patients with LABC who underwent NAC at King Feisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) between 2005 and 2014 were obtained from a prospective BC database and analyzed.

Association Between Obesity and Clinicopathological Profile of Patients with Newly Diagnosed Non-Metastatic Breast Cancer in Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: Obesity is prevalent in Saudi Arabia and is associated with adverse clinical features and poor breast cancer (BC) outcomes. We determined the distribution of body mass index (BMI) and evaluated its association with disease characteristics and outcomes in women with non-metastatic BC.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database of consecutive patients treated for non-metastatic BC between 2002 and 2014.

Association Between Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio and Oncotype Dx Recurrence Score in Early-Stage Hormonal Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative, Node-Negative Breast Cancer.

Purpose: The correlation between the preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and Oncotype DX (ODX) recurrence score (RS) has not yet been established. We aimed to investigate the association between NLR and ODX RS in patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) early-stage breast cancer (BC).

Patients And Methods: This retrospective study included consecutive patients with HR+/HER2-, node-negative primary BC who underwent surgical tumor resection from 2011 to 2019.

Peripheral blood eosinophil count is associated with response to chemoimmunotherapy in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.

There is evidence for an association between peripheral blood eosinophil count (PBEC) and response to cancer immunotherapy; however, such data is limited in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC). This report presents patients (n = 14) who received a combination of durvalumab and paclitaxel for mTNBC (NCT02628132). There was a statistically significant correlation (p = 0.

Weekly Paclitaxel given concurrently with Durvalumab has a favorable safety profile in triple-negative metastatic breast cancer.

Therapeutic anti-PD-L1 antibodies are safe as a monotherapy, albeit with minimal efficacy in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This trial aimed to test the safety and efficacy of Durvalumab and Paclitaxel in metastatic TNBC. In this open-label, one-arm trial, five cycles of weekly paclitaxel were delivered intravenously (IV) concurrent with Durvalumab that was given IV every 2 weeks.

Trastuzumab, Pertuzumab, and Docetaxel as the First Line for HER-2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer among Arabs.

Introduction: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) targeted therapy regimens can improve tumor response in HER-2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC), with overall survival benefits.

Objective: We evaluated the efficacy of dual HER-2 blockade combined with chemotherapy for HER-2-positive MBC patients as a first-line therapy in our patient population.

Patients And Methods: We identified 75 patients at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center that received trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and docetaxel as a first-line therapy in HER-2 positive MBC in 2013-2016.

Single-Institute Review of HER-2/Neu-Positive Invasive Lobular Breast Carcinoma in an Arab Population.

BACKGROUND Invasive lobular carcinoma is special subtype of breast cancer that has clinical behavior and morphology distinct from other breast cancer subtypes. It accounts for 5-15% of breast cancer. Overall, HER-2 gene amplification occurs at a significantly lower rate in ILC, but also has been linked to adverse outcomes.

Does the Timing of Surgery after Neoadjuvant Therapy in Breast Cancer Patients Affect the Outcome?

Background: There is a paucity of literature examining the impact of timing of surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the impact of the time taken to initiate surgical treatment following completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on patients' outcomes by evaluating their pathological response, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS).

Methods: This is a retrospective review of 611 patients diagnosed with stage II and III breast cancer that received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery between January 2004 and December 2014.

Interleukin-8 Activates Breast Cancer-Associated Adipocytes and Promotes Their Angiogenesis- and Tumorigenesis-Promoting Effects.

Increasing evidence supports the critical role of active stromal adipocytes in breast cancer development and spread. However, the mediators and the mechanisms of action are still elusive. We show here that cancer-associated adipocytes (CAAs) isolated from 10 invasive breast carcinomas are proinflammatory and exhibit active phenotypes, including higher proliferative, invasive, and migratory capacities compared to their adjacent tumor-counterpart adipocytes (TCAs).

Obesity and p16 Downregulation Activate Breast Adipocytes and Promote Their Protumorigenicity.

Obesity is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for breast cancer development. However, the molecular basis of obesity-related breast carcinogenesis remains elusive. In this study, we have shown that obesity reduces the level of the tumor suppressor p16 protein in breast adipocytes, which showed active features and strong procarcinogenic potential both and in orthotopic tumor xenografts compared to mature adipocytes from lean women.

Towards safety of oral anti-cancer agents, the need to educate our pharmacists.

The global prevalence of cancer is rising. Use of oral anticancer medications has expanded exponentially. Knowledge about these medications as well as safe handling guidelines has not kept abreast with the rapidity these medications are applied in clinical practice.

A multicenter prospective phase II trial of neoadjuvant epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, and 5-fluorouracil (FEC100) followed by cisplatin-docetaxel with or without trastuzumab in locally advanced breast cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of the (FEC100) followed by cisplatin/docetaxel with and without trastuzumab as primary chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC).

Methods: Eighty patients with LABC (T2-T4, N0-N2, M0) were enrolled to receive 24 weeks of neoadjuvant chemotherapy using epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, and 5-fluorouracil (FEC100) followed by cisplatin and docetaxel, plus trastuzumab if HER2 positive. The primary endpoint was pathologic complete response (pCR) in breast and axilla in separate HER2-negative and HER2-positive cohort.

Evaluation of the usefulness of a D dimer test in combination with clinical pretest probability score in the prediction and exclusion of Venous Thromboembolism by medical residents.

Introduction: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) requires urgent diagnosis and treatment to avoid related complications. Clinical presentations of VTE are nonspecific and require definitive confirmation by imaging techniques. A clinical pretest probability (PTP) score system helps predict VTE and reduces the need for costly imaging studies.

Prospective phase II study of neoadjuvant doxorubicin followed by cisplatin/docetaxel in locally advanced breast cancer.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of the doxorubicin followed by cisplatin/docetaxel as primary chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). For this evaluation, 59 patients with LABC (T2-T4, N0-N2, M0) received three cycles of doxorubicin, followed by three cycles of cisplatin/docetaxel and followed by definitive surgery and locoregional radiotherapy with or without tamoxifen. The primary end point was pathologic complete response (pCR) in breast and axilla.

Defective gammadelta T-cell function and granzyme B gene polymorphism in a cohort of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the antitumor immune function of gammadelta T cells and to scan the granzyme B gene for the known single nucleotide polymorphism in breast cancer patients and normal controls.

Materials And Methods: Levels, cytotoxicity, and functional capacity of gammadelta T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were assessed by flow cytometry, (51)Cr release, and ELISpot assays, respectively. Furthermore, sequence based typing was adopted to screen for granzyme B gene polymorphism.

Being 40 or younger is an independent risk factor for relapse in operable breast cancer patients: the Saudi Arabia experience.

Background: Breast cancer in young Saudi women is a crucial problem. According to the 2002 annual report of Saudi National Cancer Registry, breast cancers that developed before the age of 40 comprise 26.4% of all female breast cancers comparing to 6.