Disease extent according to baseline [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT and molecular subtype: prediction of axillary treatment response after neoadjuvant systemic therapy for breast cancer.

Background: Axillary disease extent according to baseline [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT combined with pathological axillary treatment response has been proposed to guide de-escalation of axillary treatment for clinically node-positive breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant systemic therapy. The aim of this study was to assess whether axillary disease extent according to baseline [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT and breast cancer molecular subtype are predictors of axillary pCR.

Methods: This study included clinically node-positive patients treated with neoadjuvant systemic therapy in the prospective Radioactive Iodine Seed placement in the Axilla with Sentinel lymph node biopsy ('RISAS') trial (NCT02800317) with baseline [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT imaging available.

Quality of life of women with a screen-detected versus clinically detected breast cancer in the Netherlands: a prospective cohort study.

Purpose: Breast cancer (BC) screening enables early detection of BC, which may lead to improved quality of life (QoL). We aim to compare QoL between women with a screen-detected and clinically detected BC in the Netherlands.

Methods: We used data from the 'Utrecht cohort for Multiple BREast cancer intervention studies and Long-term evaluation' (UMBRELLA) between October 2013 and March 2022.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Late Local Toxic Effects in Patients With Irradiated Breast Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is proposed as treatment for late local toxic effects after breast irradiation. Strong evidence of effectiveness is lacking.

Objective: To assess effectiveness of HBOT for late local toxic effects in women who received adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer.

Mental health outcomes in older breast cancer survivors: Five-year follow-up from the CLIMB study.

Background: There is a lack of information on mental health outcomes for the increasing older population. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to assess depressive symptoms, loneliness, and apathy in older patients with breast cancer within the first 5 years after diagnosis.

Methods: Women aged ≥70 years with early-stage breast cancer were included.

Physical Function and Physical Activity in Older Breast Cancer Survivors: 5-Year Follow-Up from the Climb Every Mountain Study.

Background: A decline in physical activity and the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) could interfere with independent living and quality of life in older patients, but may be prevented with tailored interventions. The aim of the current study was to assess changes in physical activity and ADL/IADL in the first 5 years after breast cancer diagnosis in a real-world cohort of older patients and to identify factors associated with physical decline.

Methods: Patients aged ≥70 years with in situ or stages I-III breast cancer were included in the prospective Climb Every Mountain cohort study.

Association between endocrine therapy and cognitive decline in older women with early breast cancer: Findings from the prospective CLIMB study.

Introduction: Studies investigating the long-term effects of breast cancer treatment on cognition in older women with breast cancer are lacking, even though preserving cognition is highly valued by the older population. Specifically, concerns have been raised regarding the detrimental effects of endocrine therapy (ET) on cognition. Therefore, we investigated cognitive functioning over time and predictors for cognitive decline in older women treated for early breast cancer.

Preservation of the Pectoral Fascia in Mastectomy With Immediate Reconstruction: A Nationwide Survey.

Introduction: Pectoral fascia (PF) removal during mastectomy still seems to be the standard procedure. However, preservation of the PF might improve postoperative and cosmetic outcomes, without compromising oncological safety. Here, we report on a national survey among Dutch plastic surgeons and oncological breast surgeons to evaluate their techniques and opinions regarding the PF.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Radioactive Iodine Seed Placement in the Axilla With Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Node-Positive Breast Cancer.

Importance: Several less-invasive staging procedures have been proposed to replace axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with initially clinically node-positive (cN+) breast cancer, but these procedures may fail to detect residual disease. Owing to the lack of high-level evidence, it is not yet clear which procedure is most optimal to replace ALND.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of radioactive iodine seed placement in the axilla with sentinel lymph node biopsy (RISAS), a targeted axillary dissection procedure.

Discontinuation of adjuvant endocrine therapy and impact on quality of life and functional status in older patients with breast cancer.

Purpose: Side effects are the main reason for discontinuation of adjuvant endocrine therapy in older adults. The aim of this study was to examine geriatric predictors of treatment discontinuation of adjuvant endocrine therapy within the first 2 years after initiation, and to study the association between early discontinuation and functional status and quality of life (QoL).

Methods: Patients aged ≥ 70 years with stage I-III breast cancer who received adjuvant endocrine therapy were included.

Cytoplasmic DDX3 as prognosticator in male breast cancer.

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease. Due to its rarity, treatment is still directed by data mainly extrapolated from female breast cancer (FBC) treatment, despite the fact that it has recently become clear that MBC has its own molecular characteristics. DDX3 is a RNA helicase with tumor suppressor and oncogenic potential that was described as a prognosticator in FBC and can be targeted by small molecule inhibitors of DDX3.

Detection of breast cancer precursor lesions by autofluorescence ductoscopy.

Purpose: Autofluorescence is an image enhancement technique used for the detection of cancer precursor lesions in pulmonary and gastrointestinal endoscopy. This study evaluated the feasibility of addition of autofluorescence to ductoscopy for the detection of intraductal breast cancer precursor lesions.

Methods: An autofluorescence imaging system, producing real-time computed images combining fluorescence intensities, was coupled to a conventional white light ductoscopy system.

Impact on Quality of Documentation and Workload of the Introduction of a National Information Standard for Tumor Board Reporting.

Purpose: Tumor boards, clinical practice guidelines, and cancer registries are intertwined cancer care quality instruments. Standardized structured reporting has been proposed as a solution to improve clinical documentation, while facilitating data reuse for secondary purposes. This study describes the implementation and evaluation of a national standard for tumor board reporting for breast cancer on the basis of the clinical practice guideline and the potential for reusing clinical data for the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR).

Breast Edema Following Breast-Conserving Surgery and Radiotherapy: Patient-Reported Prevalence, Determinants, and Effect on Health-Related Quality of Life.

Background: The association between lymphedema of the arm and impaired health-related QoL (HR-QoL) has led to changes in clinical practice. However, data on lymphedema of the breast (ie, breast edema) are lacking. We prospectively evaluated patient-reported prevalence and determinants of breast edema and its effect on patient-reported HR-QoL and breast pain.

The molecular genetic make-up of male breast cancer.

Male breast cancer (MBC) is extremely rare and accounts for less than 1% of all breast malignancies. Therefore, clinical management of MBC is currently guided by research on the disease in females. In this study, DNA obtained from 45 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) MBCs with and 90 MBCs (52 FFPE and 38 fresh-frozen) without matched normal tissues was subjected to massively parallel sequencing targeting all exons of 1943 cancer-related genes.

Compression Vest Treatment for Symptomatic Breast Edema in Women Treated for Breast Cancer: A Pilot Study.

Lymphedema of the breast/chest wall after breast cancer treatment is often associated with pain and reduced quality of life. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate whether the use of a compression vest reduced symptoms of breast/chest wall edema in breast cancer patients. This single-center study included patients ( = 25) with symptomatic breast/chest wall edema with a pain score of ≥3 on the Numerical Rating Scales (range 1-10).

Diagnostic Accuracy of Different Surgical Procedures for Axillary Staging After Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy in Node-positive Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the accuracy of different surgical axillary staging procedures compared with ALND.

Summary Of Background Data: Optimal axillary staging after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) in node-positive breast cancer is an area of controversy. Several less invasive procedures, such as sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), marking axillary lymph node with radioactive iodine seed (MARI), and targeted axillary dissection (a combination of SLNB and a MARI-like procedure), have been proposed to replace the conventional axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) with its concomitant morbidity.

The risk of cardiovascular disease following breast cancer by Framingham risk score.

Objectives: This study evaluates the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) following breast cancer, accounting for baseline CVD risk.

Methods: Within the EPIC-NL (Dutch part of the European Prospective Investigation into Nutrition and Cancer) cohort, 1103 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. For every breast cancer patient, 3-4 women without breast cancer (n = 4328) were selected matched for age, year, and time since cohort enrollment.

A Novel Less-invasive Approach for Axillary Staging After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With Axillary Node-positive Breast Cancer by Combining Radioactive Iodine Seed Localization in the Axilla With the Sentinel Node Procedure (RISAS): A Dutch Prospective Multicenter Validation Study.

Background: In 1 of 3 patients with initial lymph node-positive (cN) breast cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) results in an axillary pathologic complete response (ax-pCR). This urges the need for a less-invasive axillary staging method. Recently introduced less-invasive procedures have been insufficient in accurately identifying ax-pCR.

Patients' and Health Care Providers' Opinions on a Supportive Health App During Breast Cancer Treatment: A Qualitative Evaluation.

Background: Health apps are increasingly being used in clinical care and may hold significant theoretical potential. However, they are often implemented in clinical care before any research has been done to confirm actual benefits for patients, physicians, and researchers.

Objective: This study aimed to explore experiences of patients and health care providers with the use of a supportive breast cancer app during the first 6 months following diagnosis, in terms of benefits for clinical practice and research purposes.

Prognostic models in male breast cancer.

Purpose: Breast cancer in men is uncommon; it accounts for 1 % of all patients with primary breast cancer. Its treatment is mostly extrapolated from its female counterpart. Accurate predictions are essential for adjuvant systemic treatment decision-making and informing patients.

High Prevalence of MRI-Detected Contralateral and Ipsilateral Malignant Findings in Patients With Invasive Ductolobular Breast Cancer: Impact on Surgical Management.

Introduction: Invasive breast cancer comprises a spectrum of histologic changes with purely lobular and purely ductal cancer on either side and mixed lesions in between. Our aim was to evaluate to what extent preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) leads to the finding of additional malignancies and the effect on surgical management in the subcategory of women with invasive ductolobular disease.

Patients And Methods: From 2007 to 2012, 109 patients diagnosed with breast cancer containing a lobular component underwent preoperative MRI.

Tablet, web-based, or paper questionnaires for measuring anxiety in patients suspected of breast cancer: patients' preferences and quality of collected data.

Background: Electronic applications are increasingly being used in hospitals for numerous purposes.

Objective: Our aim was to assess differences in the characteristics of patients who choose paper versus electronic questionnaires and to evaluate the data quality of both approaches.

Methods: Between October 2012 and June 2013, 136 patients participated in a study on diagnosis-induced stress and anxiety.

Same-day diagnosis based on histology for women suspected of breast cancer: high diagnostic accuracy and favorable impact on the patient.

Background: Same-day diagnosis based on histology is increasingly being offered to patients suspected of breast cancer. We evaluated to which extent same-day diagnosis affected diagnostic accuracy and patients' anxiety levels during the diagnostic phase.

Patients And Methods: All 759 women referred for same-day evaluation of suspicious breast lesions between November 2011-March 2013 were included.