The Clinicopathological and Prognostic Significance of HER2-Low Breast Cancer: A Comparative Analysis Between HER2-Low and HER2-Zero Subtypes.

Background: HER2-low breast cancer (BC) is a newly defined subset of HER2-negative BC. However, it is still uncertain whether HER2-low BC can be categorized as a distinct biological/clinical subgroup with any prognostic significance.

Methods: Invasive BC cases (n = 10,215) with Stage I-III were retrospectively analyzed to determine the HER2 status.

Evaluation of methylation in the lysate of sentinel lymph nodes for detecting breast cancer metastasis: A diagnostic accuracy study.

The restriction enzyme-based digital methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (RE-dMSP) assay is useful for diagnosing sentinel lymph node (SN) metastasis in patients with breast cancer, by detecting tumor-derived methylated Ras association domain-containing protein 1 (RASSF1A). In addition, this assay has high concordance (95.0%) with one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA).

Satisfaction of Patients Who Received Breast-Conserving Surgery Using the Suture Scaffold Technique: A Single-Institution, Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Optimal cosmetic results after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) improve patient satisfaction. The suture scaffold technique (SST) is a breast reconstruction technique that all breast surgeons can perform without any extensive training in plastic surgery.

Objective: We aimed to investigate patient satisfaction after BCS and compare blood loss and operative duration between the SST, breast glandular flap technique (BGFT), and no oncoplastic technique (NOT).

Increased chemosensitivity via BRCA2-independent DNA damage in DSS1- and PCID2-depleted breast carcinomas.

Breast cancer, the most common malignancy among women, is closely associated with mutations in the tumor suppressor gene BRCA. DSS1, a component of the TRanscription-EXport-2 (TREX-2) complex involved in transcription and mRNA nuclear export, stabilizes BRCA2 expression. DSS1 is also related to poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer owing to the induction of chemoresistance.

Mechanisms and anatomical risk factors of pneumothorax after Bevacizumab use: A case report.

Background: Bevacizumab is an antiangiogenic agent, and that synergizes with chemotherapeutic drugs. When used in combination therapies, Bevacizumab is associated with adverse events such as hemorrhage, gastrointestinal perforation, delayed wound healing, and pneumothorax. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these adverse events are not fully understood.

Utility of regional nodal irradiation in Japanese patients with breast cancer with 1-3 positive nodes after breast-conserving surgery and axillary lymph-node dissection.

The utility of regional nodal irradiation (RNI) is being considered in cases of 1-3 axillary node metastases after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) with axillary lymph-node dissection (ALND). Therefore, we examined the necessity of RNI by examining the sites of recurrences in cases at our institution. We retrospectively analyzed 5,164 cases of primary breast cancer between January 2000 and December 2014 at the Aichi Cancer Centre, identifying local and distant recurrences in 152 patients with primary breast cancer treated with BCS and ALND and who had 1-3 positive axillary nodes.

Impact of BMI for clinical outcomes in Japanese breast cancer patients.

Objective: The relationship between the body mass index (BMI) at the time of breast cancer diagnosis and the prognosis of breast cancer patients has not yet been clarified. We investigated the impact of obesity for clinical outcomes in Japanese breast cancer patients.

Methods: Women with primary breast cancer operated between 2002 and 2014 were identified.

Circulating tumor cells detection in tumor draining vein of breast cancer patients.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in tumor draining vein blood (DB) are potential sources for liquid biopsy. However, the identification of CTCs in DB of breast cancer has not been attempted. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of CTC detection in DB of breast cancer patients using a newly developed filtration-based microfluidic CTC detection device.

Patient-reported outcomes and objective assessments with arm measurement and bioimpedance analysis for lymphedema among breast cancer survivors.

Purpose: Lymphedema (LE) decreases the quality of life of breast cancer patients. Objective quantification of PRO may improve the discordance between patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and objective assessments of LE by establishing a standard follow-up for LE. This study determined the prevalence of subjective and objective LE and evaluated the correlation between objective assessment and PRO of LE in primary breast cancer patients undergoing breast and axilla surgery.

A single-arm, phase 2 study of steroid-containing mouthwash for the prevention of everolimus-associated stomatitis in multiple tumor types.

Background: Everolimus is a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor used in the treatment of multiple tumor types, and its most common toxicity, stomatitis, can affect patient quality of life. Recent studies in breast cancer have supported the efficacy of steroid mouthwash for the prevention of everolimus-associated stomatitis. However, a few studies have been reported to date, and none have examined this effect in other tumor types.

A case of giant cell tumor of the breast, clinically suspected as malignant breast tumor.

Background: Giant cell tumor (GCT) of the breast is scarce. We report a case of GCT of the breast which was suspected as a malignant breast tumor.

Case Presentation: A 74-year-old woman noticed a tender lump in her right breast.

Amyloid tumor of the breast.

Background: Amyloid tumor of the breast is a rare disease, which was first reported in 1973. To date, only six cases have been reported in Japan.

Case Presentation: A 45-year-old woman who had a medical history of Sjogren's syndrome presented with a lump of 3 cm in diameter on the outer side of the right breast.

The overall survival of breast cancer patients without adjuvant therapy.

Purpose: There are little data regarding the overall survival (OS) of patients without adjuvant systemic therapy, because most patients have been subject to standardized systemic therapies. We evaluated the baseline risk to facilitate making decisions about adjuvant therapy.

Patients And Methods: A total of 1835 breast cancer patients who did not receive adjuvant systemic therapy between 1964 and 1992 were retrospectively evaluated.

Prediction of pathological margin status using preoperative contrast-enhanced MRI in patients with early breast cancer who underwent skin-sparing mastectomy.

Skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) with immediate reconstruction is standard surgical treatment for early breast cancer with widespread ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The local recurrence rate after SSM is up to 7.0%.

A case of radiation-associated angiosarcoma after breast cancer.

Background: Radiation-associated angiosarcoma (RAAS) is a rare subtype of secondary angiosarcoma that is characterized by rapid proliferation and extensive tissue infiltration. Although various treatments for RAAS (such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy) have been reported, there is no consensus as to which approach is the best.

Case Presentation: A 76-year-old woman presented with right breast cancer (T1N0M0, stage I) 9 years ago.

Occult breast cancer may originate from ectopic breast tissue present in axillary lymph nodes.

Purpose: Occult breast cancer (OBC) is classified as a carcinoma of unknown primary, and involves axillary lymphadenopathy and is histologically consistent with metastatic breast cancer. OBC has been conventionally considered as a metastatic lymph node lesion, the origin of which is an undetectable breast tumor. Therefore, OBC patients would usually have undergone axillary lymph node dissection, and mastectomy or whole breast radiotherapy (WBRT).

The investigation study using a questionnaire about the employment of Japanese breast cancer patients.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, and its survival rate has improved. As the number of cancer survivors increases, it is important to support their social comeback during and after treatment.

Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to breast cancer patients treated in Aichi Cancer Center Hospital between June and November 2014.

Assessing residual cancer cells using MRI and US after preoperative chemotherapy in primary breast cancer to omit surgery.

Background: Enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US) are used to assess residual lesions after preoperative chemotherapy before surgery. However, residual lesion assessments based on preoperative imaging often differ from postoperative pathologic diagnoses. We retrospectively reviewed the accuracy of preoperative residual lesion assessments, including ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) cases to find criteria for cases in which surgery can be omitted.

Feasibility study of contralateral risk-reducing mastectomy with breast reconstruction for breast cancer patients with BRCA mutations in Japan.

Background: Contralateral risk-reducing mastectomy (CRRM) for breast cancer patients with BRCA mutations has been reported to not only reduce breast cancer incidence but also to improve survival. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend providing CRRM to women with BRCA mutations who desire CRRM after risk-reduction counseling. However, in Japan, CRRM cannot be performed generally because it is not covered by health insurance.

Combined effects of neoadjuvant letrozole and zoledronic acid on γδT cells in postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer.

Introduction: Adjuvant bisphosphonates lead to better prognosis in postmenopausal breast cancer. However, the association between clinical outcomes and immune modulation by them is still unclear.

Methods: In this prospective, open-label phase II study, postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative early-stage breast cancer received neoadjuvant letrozole (LET) for one month, followed by treatment with a single dose of zoledronic acid.

Comparison of clinical outcomes between luminal invasive ductal carcinoma and luminal invasive lobular carcinoma.

Background: The pathological and clinical features of invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) differ from those of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Several studies have indicated that patients with ILC have a better prognosis than those with ductal carcinoma. However, no previous study has considered the molecular subtypes and histological subtypes of ILC.

GANP protein encoded on human chromosome 21/mouse chromosome 10 is associated with resistance to mammary tumor development.

Human chromosome 21 is known to be associated with the high risk of hematological malignancy but with resistance to breast cancer in the study of Down syndrome. In human cancers, we previously observed the significant alterations of the protein expression encoded by the ganp/MCM3AP gene on human chromosome 21q22.3.