[Pre-analytical stage for biomarker assessment in breast cancer: 2014 update of the GEFPICS' guidelines in France].

Biomarker assessment of breast cancer tumor samples is part of the routine workflow of pathology laboratories. International guidelines have recently been updated, with special regards to the pre-analytical steps that are critical for the quality of immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization procedures, whatever the biomarker analyzed. Fixation and specimen handling protocols must be standardized, validated and carefully tracked.

[2014 update of the GEFPICS' recommendations for HER2 status determination in breast cancers in France].

International guidelines on HER2 determination in breast cancer have just been updated by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and College of American Pathologists (CAP), on the basis of more than ten-year practice, results of clinical trials and concordance studies. The GEFPICS group, composed of expert pathologists in breast cancer, herein presents these recommendations, adapted to the French routine practice. These guidelines highlight the possible diagnosis difficulties with regards to HER2 status determination, such as intra-tumor heterogeneity, special histological subtypes and biomarker re-evaluation during metastatic relapse.

[Head to head comparison of two currently used nomograms predicting the risk of side specific extra capsular extension to indicate nerve sparing during radical prostatectomy for treatment of prostate cancer].

Objective: To perform a head to head comparison of these two nomograms by an external validation combined with an identification of probability cut-offs when to indicate NS.

Methods: The full models of the nomograms of Ohori et al. and Steuber et al.

Prognostic factors in 401 elderly women with metastatic breast cancer.

Background: Elderly patients with metastatic breast cancer have a prognosis and outcome that may be dependent on a host of factors.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 401 female breast cancer patients who developed metastatic disease after the age of 70 years in order to define potential prognostic factors for specific survival at the time of first recurrence.

Results: With a median follow-up of 60 months from the time of recurrence, the median specific survival was 21.

Intraoperative radiological margin assessment in breast-conserving surgery.

Unlabelled: A prospective study was lead in order to analyze the accuracy of an X-ray device settled in the operating room for margin assessment, when performing breast-conserving surgery.

Patients And Methods: One hundred and seventy patients were included. All lesions were visible on the preoperative mammograms.