Mammographic, pathologic, and treatment-related factors associated with local recurrence in patients with early-stage breast cancer treated with breast conserving therapy.

Background: We retrospectively reviewed our institution's experience treating early-stage breast cancer patients with breast conserving therapy (BCT) to determine clinical, pathologic, mammographic, and treatment-related factors associated with outcome.

Methods: Between January 1980 and December 1987, 400 cases of Stage I and II breast cancer were managed with BCT at William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan. All patients underwent at least an excisional biopsy.

The use of ultrasonography in the localization of the lumpectomy cavity for interstitial brachytherapy of the breast.

Purpose: To determine the value of breast ultrasonography (US) in defining the lumpectomy cavity for patients treated with interstitial brachytherapy.

Methods And Materials: In March 1993, a protocol of low dose rate (LDR) interstitial brachytherapy as the sole radiation modality in selected patients with early breast cancer was initiated at William Beaumont Hospital. To date, 60 patients have been entered in this protocol, and 38 have undergone US assisted placement of interstitial brachytherapy needles.

Pathologic and mammographic findings predicting the adequacy of tumor excision before breast-conserving therapy.

Objective: We performed a retrospective review to determine the need for reexcision after excisional biopsy in patients with breast cancer who were treated with breast-conserving therapy.

Materials And Methods: Eighty-seven patients with infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast underwent excisional biopsy followed by reexcision of the tumor site. Reexcision specimens were evaluated for residual disease and correlated with initial mammographic and pathologic findings.

Tumor necrosis factor activates angiotensinogen gene expression by the Rel A transactivator.

Angiotensinogen encodes the only known precursor of angiotensin II, a critical regulator of the cardiovascular system. Transcriptional control of angiotensinogen in hepatocytes is an important regulator of circulating angiotensinogen concentrations. Angiotensinogen transcription is increased by the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha by a nuclear factor-kappaB-like protein binding to an inducible enhancer called the acute-phase response element.