Inflammation-related biomarkers as predictors of pathological complete response in early-stage breast cancer.

Background: Neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAT) represents an attractive option for improved outcomes of early-stage breast cancer (BC) patients, as it can significantly reduce tumor burden thus permitting breast-conserving resections. Equally important, the eradication of viable cancer cells post-NAT, also known as pathological complete response (pCR), has emerged as a strong prognostic biomarker, reflecting tumor's biology and subsequent treatment responses. Yet to date, no validated markers predictive of pCR have been identified.

A case of trastuzumab-induced dermatomyositis.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) is a checkpoint, controlling cell proliferation and differentiation. Trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against HER-2, is nowadays standard treatment for breast cancer patients whose tumors express HER-2. It is generally well tolerated, with a small number of patients developing mild adverse reactions.

Orbital metastases of invasive lobular breast carcinoma.

Breast cancer is the main site of origin of orbital metastatic disease. Although invasive lobular breast carcinoma accounts for 10-15% of all breast cancer cases, it has been noticed that it metastasizes to the orbit more often compared to breast cancer of no special type (NST). The pathogenesis of this metastasis is not entirely understood; however, it seems that the unique tissue-specific characteristics of orbital microenvironment might contribute to metastatic disease in this particular site.