Fertility treatment and breast-cancer incidence: meta-analysis.

Background: The significance of exogenous hormone manipulation as part of fertility treatment and its relationship to the development of breast cancer remains uncertain. Several historical reviews have been performed with conflicting results. This study is an updated meta-analysis to determine whether there is a causal relationship between different fertility treatments and breast cancer.

Optimal timing of surgery following breast cancer neoadjuvant chemotherapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Administration of chemotherapy before breast surgery has the potential to reduce the risk of distant recurrence by targeting micrometastasis as well as allowing a more minimalistic approach to surgical intervention. We performed a systematic review to determine the optimum timing of surgery post breast cancer neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT).

Methods: The primary outcome was to determine whether the timing of surgery post NACT impacted overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).

The Impact of Postoperative Wound Complications on Oncological Outcomes Following Immediate Breast Reconstruction for Breast Cancer: A Meta-analysis.

The association between immediate breast reconstruction (IBR)-related wound complications and breast cancer recurrence (BCR) remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the oncological outcomes in patients with wound complications following mastectomy and IBR. A comprehensive search was undertaken for all studies describing complications in patients with breast cancer following IBR.

Fibromatosis of the breast: a 10-year multi-institutional experience and review of the literature.

Background: Breast fibromatosis is a rare clinical entity, but poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. In light of recent changes in management practices, the aim was to review our institutional experience of breast fibromatosis and provide a review of current available literature on such management.

Methods: A search of pathological databases within two tertiary institutions for all patients diagnosed with fibromatosis of the breast over a 10-year period (2007-2016) was performed.

The Impact of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on Margin Re-excision in Breast-Conserving Surgery.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) can improve cosmesis by reducing resection volume. Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) aims to achieve clear excision margins while optimizing cosmesis. However, the influence of NAC on margin re-excision after BCS is unclear.

Blood-based biomarkers in breast cancer: From proteins to circulating tumor cells to circulating tumor DNA.

Biomarkers are the key to personalized treatment in patients with breast cancer. While tissue biomarkers are most useful in determining prognosis and upfront predicting response to therapy, circulating protein biomarkers such as CA 15-3 and carcinoembryonic antigen are mainly used in monitoring response to endocrine or chemotherapy in patients with advanced disease. Although several centers measure biomarkers in asymptomatic patients following curative surgery for primary breast cancer, the clinical utility of this practice is unclear.

Impact of timing of trastuzumab initiation on long-term outcome of patients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer: the "one thousand HER2 patients" project.

Background: The optimal timing of (neo)adjuvant trastuzumab initiation with respect to chemotherapy and surgery remains undefined.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of a large institutional database of HER2-positive patients who received anti-HER2 therapy. We included all Stage I to III patients treated with trastuzumab with a minimum follow up of 3 years.

Where youth matters-clinicopathologic characteristics and emerging trends in treatment and outcomes in young Irish women with breast cancer.

Background: Young women with breast cancer (YWBC) represent 7-12% of breast cancer diagnoses and ostensibly have more biologically aggressive subtypes with higher relapse and mortality rates. We studied the clinical and pathological characteristics in YWBC and examined how outcomes and treatment have evolved.

Methods: YWBC were identified from pathology databases at two tertiary centers.

Breast screening in symptomatic women over 35 years of age: improvements in service efficiency.

Introduction: The rationalization of cancer services in Ireland saw all women with symptomatic breast problems referred to one of the eight regional cancer centers. A pilot triaging system was introduced in St Vincent's University Hospital to streamline these services. Women over 35 years who do not meet urgent referral criteria are referred for a mammogram prior to a clinic appointment ("image first").

Atypia of Undetermined Significance in Thyroid Fine Needle Aspirates: a 4-Year Audit of Thy3a Reporting.

Objective: Thyroid nodules are common within the general population. Cytological analysis of fine needle aspirates (FNAs) of these lesions allows for identification of those that require further surgery. A numerical classification system is in place to streamline reporting.

Comprehensive DNA methylation study identifies novel progression-related and prognostic markers for cutaneous melanoma.

Background: Cutaneous melanoma is the deadliest skin cancer, with an increasing incidence and mortality rate. Currently, staging of patients with primary melanoma is performed using histological biomarkers such as tumor thickness and ulceration. As disruption of the epigenomic landscape is recognized as a widespread feature inherent in tumor development and progression, we aimed to identify novel biomarkers providing additional clinical information over current factors using unbiased genome-wide DNA methylation analyses.

Biomarkers in Breast Cancer: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?

Biomarkers play an important role in the detection and management of patients with breast cancer. Thus, BRCA1/2 mutation testing is used for risk assessment in families with a high prevalence of breast and ovarian cancer. Following a diagnosis of breast cancer, measurement of multi-analyte profiles such as uPA/PAI-1 or Oncotype DX may be used for determining prognosis and identifying lymph node-negative patients who may be spared from having to receive adjuvant chemotherapy.

The Value of Isosulfan Blue Dye in Addition to Isotope Scanning in the Identification of the Sentinel Lymph Node in Breast Cancer Patients With a Positive Lymphoscintigraphy: A Randomized Controlled Trial (ISRCTN98849733).

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has become the gold standard for axillary staging. Debate remains as to the optimal method of SLN detection.

Objectives: Determine whether patients undergoing an SLNB required the addition of isosulfan blue dye to radioisotope when an SLN was identified on a preoperative lymphoscintigram.

High-throughput oncogene mutation profiling shows demographic differences in BRAF mutation rates among melanoma patients.

Because of advances in targeted therapies, the clinical evaluation of cutaneous melanoma is increasingly based on a combination of traditional histopathology and molecular pathology. Therefore, it is necessary to expand our knowledge of the molecular events that accompany the development and progression of melanoma to optimize clinical management. The central objective of this study was to increase our knowledge of the mutational events that complement melanoma progression.

ADAM8 expression in invasive breast cancer promotes tumor dissemination and metastasis.

The transmembrane metalloprotease-disintegrin ADAM8 mediates cell adhesion and shedding of ligands, receptors and extracellular matrix components. Here, we report that ADAM8 is abundantly expressed in breast tumors and derived metastases compared to normal tissue, especially in triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs). Furthermore, high ADAM8 levels predicted poor patient outcome.

Molecular and therapeutic advances in the diagnosis and management of malignant pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas.

Pheochromocytomas (PCCs) and paragangliomas (PGLs) are rare catecholamine-secreting tumors derived from chromaffin cells originating in the neural crest. These tumors represent a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge because the diagnosis of malignancy is frequently made in retrospect by the development of metastatic or recurrent disease. Complete surgical resection offers the only potential for cure; however, recurrence can occur even after apparently successful resection of the primary tumor.

Tumor profiling using protein biomarker panels in malignant melanoma: application of tissue microarrays and beyond.

Despite advances in our knowledge of the disease, malignant melanoma remains an unpredictable entity. The revolution in molecular biological techniques, such as DNA sequencing and gene-expression profiling, has uncovered many potential protein targets and biomarkers relevant to melanoma progression. Successful clinical application would be aided significantly by downstream proteomic validation of those candidate markers using a combination of immunohistochemistry and tissue microarrays.

A predictive model of suitability for minimally invasive parathyroid surgery in the treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism [corrected].

Background: Improved preoperative localizing studies have facilitated minimally invasive approaches in the treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Success depends on the ability to reliably select patients who have PHPT due to single-gland disease. We propose a model encompassing preoperative clinical, biochemical, and imaging studies to predict a patient's suitability for minimally invasive surgery.

P-Rex1 is required for efficient melanoblast migration and melanoma metastasis.

Metastases are the major cause of death from melanoma, a skin cancer that has the fastest rising incidence of any malignancy in the Western world. Molecular pathways that drive melanoblast migration in development are believed to underpin the movement and ultimately the metastasis of melanoma. Here we show that mice lacking P-Rex1, a Rac-specific Rho GTPase guanine nucleotide exchange factor, have a melanoblast migration defect during development evidenced by a white belly.

Lhermitte-Duclos and Cowden diseases: breast cancer as an unusual initial presentation of these overlapping conditions.

The authors report the case of a woman presenting with breast cancer who subsequently developed neck pain and ataxia. She had a family history of breast cancer and Cowden disease. A MRI study of the brain revealed a lesion in the cerebellum consistent with Lhermitte-Duclos disease (LDD) and a lesion consistent with a meningioma in the temporal lobe.

The role of S100 genes in breast cancer progression.

The S100 gene family encode low molecular weight proteins implicated in cancer progression. In this study, we analyzed the expression of four S100 genes in one cohort of patients with breast cancer and 16 S100 genes in a second cohort. In both cohorts, the expression of S100A8 and S1009 mRNA level was elevated in high-grade compared to low-grade tumors and in estrogen receptor-negative compared to estrogen receptor-positive tumors.