Transcriptome profiles of stem-like cells from primary breast cancers allow identification of ITGA7 as a predictive marker of chemotherapy response.

Background: Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are drivers of therapy-resistance, therefore are responsible for poor survival. Molecular signatures of BCSCs from primary cancers remain undefined. Here, we identify the consistent transcriptome of primary BCSCs shared across breast cancer subtypes, and we examine the clinical relevance of ITGA7, one of the genes differentially expressed in BCSCs.

Analysis of Secondary Surgeries after Immediate Breast Reconstruction for Cancer Compared with Risk Reduction.

Unlabelled: This study sets out to compare reconstructive practice between patients undergoing immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) for cancer and those who opted for risk reduction (RR), with an emphasis on examining patterns of secondary surgery.

Methods: Data collection was performed for patients undergoing mastectomy and IBR at a teaching hospital breast unit (2013-2016).

Results: In total, 299 patients underwent IBR (76% cancer versus 24% RR).

Radiological audit of interval breast cancers: Estimation of tumour growth rates.

Introduction: This multicentre, retrospective study aimed to establish correlation between estimated tumour volume doubling times (TVDT) from a series of interval breast cancers with their clinicopathological features. The potential impact of delayed diagnosis on prognosis was also explored.

Materials And Methods: Interval cancers, where screening mammograms demonstrated changes that were retrospectively classified as either uncertain or suspicious, were reviewed from five screening units within the UK NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP).

Circulating microRNA profiles reflect the presence of breast tumours but not the profiles of microRNAs within the tumours.

Background: Extra-cellular microRNAs have been identified within blood and their profiles reflect various pathologies; therefore they have potential as disease biomarkers. Our aim was to investigate how circulating microRNA profiles change during cancer treatment. Our hypothesis was that tumour-related profiles are lost after tumour resection and therefore that comparison of profiles before and after surgery would allow identification of biomarker microRNAs.

Surgery induced immunosuppression.

Surgery and anaesthesia result in a variety of metabolic and endocrine responses, which result in a generalised state of immunosuppression in the immediate post-operative period. Surgery induced immunosuppression has been implicated in the development of post-operative septic complications and tumour metastasis formation. In addition the effectiveness of many treatments in the adjuvant setting is dependent on a functioning immune system.

Perioperative reductions in circulating lymphocyte levels predict wound complications after excisional breast cancer surgery.

Objective: Postoperative wound complications after excisional surgery for primary breast cancer can result in patients requiring additional treatments and delay adjuvant therapy and are associated with worse prognoses.We investigated factors that might predispose patients to wound complications.

Background: A number of patient characteristics have been associated with wound complications, but there is currently no quantitative measure of the risk of their occurrence.

Intramammary lymph node metastasis predicts poorer survival in breast cancer patients.

Involvement of an intramammary lymph node with metastatic breast cancer is an uncommon clinical or radiological presentation. Previously reported series of patients are small in number and the clinical advice is unclear. We identified 100 patients on our pathology database with intramammary lymph nodes in association with a primary breast cancer.

Circulating tumour cells in breast cancer: Prognostic indicators, metastatic intermediates, or irrelevant bystanders? (Review).

Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) have been of considerable interest for many years. The rarity of these cells presents the main challenge associated with their analysis. Current detection methods use antibody and nucleic acid techniques and are sensitive for CTC detection but limited in their utility by the occurrence of false-positive results.