Surgical margins and risk of locoregional recurrence in invasive breast cancer: an analysis of 10-year data from the Breast Cancer Treatment Quality Assurance Project.

Aim: There is debate as to what constitutes an adequate excision margin to reduce the risk of locoregional recurrence (LRR) after breast cancer surgery. We have investigated the relationship between surgical margin distance and LRR in women with invasive breast cancer (IBC).

Methods: Tumour free margin distances were extracted from histopathology reports for women with IBC, treated by either breast conserving surgery or mastectomy, enrolled in the Breast Cancer Treatment Group Quality Assurance Project from July 1997 to June 2007.

Biotechnological production of astaxanthin with Phaffia rhodozyma/Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous.

The oxygenated β-carotene derivative astaxanthin exhibits outstanding colouring, antioxidative and health-promoting properties and is mainly found in the marine environment. To satisfy the growing demand for this ketocarotenoid in the feed, food and cosmetics industries, there are strong efforts to develop economically viable bioprocesses alternative to the current chemical synthesis. However, up to now, natural astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis, Phaffia rhodozyma or Paracoccus carotinifaciens has not been cost competitive with chemically synthesized astaxanthin, thus only serving niche applications.

Variation in the management of early breast cancer in rural and metropolitan centres: implications for the organisation of rural cancer services.

The study examines the management and outcomes of women with early invasive breast cancer treated in rural and metropolitan centres over a nine-year observation period. A prospective audit of the treatment and outcomes of 2081 women with early breast cancer who underwent potentially curative surgery between 1997 and 2006 in metropolitan Canberra or in the surrounding rural region was completed. Overall, there was good agreement between published guidelines and the treatment received by the women in the study.

Sentinel node biopsy in larger or multifocal breast cancers: to do or not to do.

Background: The use of sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in breast cancer patients with large and/or multifocal tumours is controversial.

Methods: A review of clinical records was undertaken for 213 consecutive patients undergoing SNB for invasive breast cancer from September 2000 to February 2006. The results of SNB and axillary dissection were compared for patients with unifocal or multifocal tumours less than 3 cm and 3 cm or larger.

A systematic review of intraoperative radiotherapy in early breast cancer.

A systematic review was undertaken to assess the safety and efficacy of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) in early breast cancer compared with breast conserving surgery with postoperative radiotherapy. Literature databases were searched up to March 2002 inclusive. IORT studies of any design and breast conserving therapy randomised controlled trials with sample sizes greater than 500 patients (with at least one arm of breast conserving therapy (BCT)) and systematic reviews on BCT published since 1992, were included for comparison.

Methotrexate in the management of granulomatous mastitis.

Granulomatous mastitis is a rare benign inflammatory breast disease that often clinically simulates carcinoma. Surgical resection of the entire lesion has been the main method of treatment but recurrence, infection, sinus formation and delayed wound healing can occur relatively commonly. Corticosteroids are also effective in recurrent or resistant cases but are associated with side-effects and relapse of disease after steroid withdrawal.

The clinical significance of cytokeratin-positive cells in lymph nodes at the time of mastectomy from patients with ductal carcinoma-in-situ.

Background: We determined the presence or absence of and clinical significance of cytokeratin-positive cells in the lymph nodes of patients who had had mastectomies for ductal carcinoma-in-situ.

Methods: Two pathologists independently assessed the axillary lymph nodes found. All patients had either a core or open biopsy performed before the time of mastectomy.