Beyond Triple-Negative: High Prevalence of Quadruple-Negative Breast Cancer in African Americans.

Quadruple-negative breast cancer (QNBC) is a triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype that lacks expression of the androgen (AR) receptor. Few studies have focused on this highly aggressive breast cancer, portending worse survival rates. We aimed to determine the following: (1) QNBC's molecular and clinical characteristics and compare them with other subtypes and (2) QNBC's association with clinicopathological factors and prognostic markers.

Inpatient Palliative Care and Healthcare Utilization Among Older Patients With Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD) and High Risk of Mortality in U.S. Hospitals.

. Despite the potential of palliative care (PC) to enhance the quality of life for patients with advanced dementia, there is limited knowledge of its inpatient utilization patterns. This study investigated inpatient PC consultation utilization patterns and evaluated its impact on hospital length of stay (LOS) and medical costs among older patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia who were at a high risk of mortality (ADRD-HRM).

Racial/ethnic differences in 21-gene recurrence score and survival among patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

Background: Despite numerous studies on racial/ethnic disparities among patients with breast cancer, there is a paucity of literature evaluating racial/ethnic differences in 21-gene recurrence score (RS) and survival differences stratified by RS risk categories. We thus performed an observational cohort study to examine racial/ethnic disparities in the context of RS.

Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for female patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2018 with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, pT1-3N0-1aM0 breast cancer who received surgery followed by adjuvant endocrine therapy and had RS data available.

National Survey of Oncologists' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice Behaviors: Caring for Cancer Patients Experiencing Incarceration.

Cancer is the leading cause of illness-related death in state prisons in the United States. The experiences of physicians providing oncological care to individuals experiencing incarceration are underexplored. The study aims were to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices of oncologists caring for cancer patients who are incarcerated.

Proton Therapy in the Treatment of Men with Breast Cancer.

Purpose: Male breast cancer treatment involves multimodality therapy, including radiation therapy; nevertheless, few men have received proton therapy (PT) for it. Further, heart disease is an established leading cause of death in men, and radiation therapy heart dose correlates with cardiac toxicity, highlighting the need for cardiac-sparing radiation techniques. Thus, we provide a descriptive analysis of PT in a male breast cancer cohort.

Pathologic Exploration of the Axillary Soft Tissue Microenvironment and Its Impact on Axillary Management and Breast Cancer Outcomes.

Purpose: Axillary soft tissue (AXT) involvement with tumor cells extending beyond the positive lymph node (LN+) and extracapsular extension (ECE) has been overlooked in breast pathology specimen analysis.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed 2,162 LN+ patients, dividing them into four groups on the basis of axillary pathology: (1) LN+ only, (2) LN+ and ECE only, (3) LN+ and AXT without ECE, and (4) LN+ with both AXT and ECE. The primary end points were 10-year locoregional failure (LRF), the 10-year axillary failure, and 10-year distant metastasis rates.

Breast Cancer Germline Genetic Counseling and Testing for Populations of African Heritage Globally: A Scoping Review on Research, Practice, and Bioethical Considerations.

Purpose: Despite the disproportionately high risk of breast cancer among women of African heritage, little is known about the facilitators and barriers to implementing germline genetic testing and counseling (GT/C).

Methods: This scoping review followed guidelines recommended by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews. Published manuscripts from database inception through 2021 were sourced from PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature via EBSCO, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus.

Looking Back: International Practice Patterns in Breast Radiation Oncology From a Case-Based Survey Across 54 Countries During the First Surge of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected cancer care worldwide, including radiation therapy (RT) for breast cancer (BC), because of risk-based resource allocation. We report the evolution of international breast RT practices during the beginning of the pandemic, focusing on differences in treatment recommendations between countries.

Materials And Methods: Between July and November 2020, a 58-question survey was distributed to radiation oncologists (ROs) through international professional societies.

Palliative care utilization and racial and ethnic disparities among women with de novo metastatic breast cancer in the United States.

Purpose: The potential disparities in palliative care delivery for underrepresented minorities with breast cancer are not well known. We sought to determine whether race and ethnicity impact the receipt of palliative care for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the National Cancer Database for female patients diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer between 2010 and 2017 who received palliative care following diagnosis of MBC to assess the proportion of patients who received palliative care, including non-curative-intent local-regional or systemic therapy.

Closed Incision Negative Pressure Therapy in Oncoplastic Surgery Prevents Delays to Adjuvant Therapy.

Unlabelled: Breast reductions, including oncoplastic breast surgery (OBS), have high postoperative wound healing complication (WHC) rates, ranging from 17% to 63%, thus posing a potential delay in the onset of adjuvant therapy. Incision management with closed incision negative pressure therapy (ciNPT) effectively reduces postoperative complications in other indications. This retrospective analysis compares postoperative outcomes and delays in adjuvant therapy in patients who received ciNPT on the cancer breast versus standard of care (SOC) after oncoplastic breast reduction and mastopexy post lumpectomy.

Cancer incidence among incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals: A statewide retrospective cohort study.

Background: Cancer incidence among individuals with incarceration exposure has been rarely studied due to the absence of linked datasets. This study examined cancer incidence during incarceration and postincarceration compared to the general population using a statewide linked cohort.

Methods: We constructed a retrospective cohort from a linkage of state tumor registry and correctional system data for Connecticut residents from 2005 to 2016, and identified cancers diagnosed during and within 12 months postincarceration.

Proton Therapy for Bilateral Breast Cancer Maximizes Normal-Tissue Sparing.

Purpose: Treatment for bilateral breast cancer with radiation therapy is technically challenging. We evaluated the clinical and dosimetric outcomes of a small series of patients with synchronous bilateral breast cancer, including a photon dosimetric comparison, to identify optimal treatment planning approaches.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed a registry of patients (simultaneously) diagnosed with synchronous bilateral breast cancers who underwent postoperative definitive adjuvant proton therapy at our institution between 2012 and 2021.

Incidence of Rib Fracture following Treatment with Proton Therapy for Breast Cancer.

Purpose: To determine the rib fracture rate in a cohort of patients with breast cancer treated with proton therapy.

Patient And Methods: From a prospective database, we identified 225 patients treated with proton therapy between 2012 and 2020 (223 women; 2 men). Clinical and dosimetric data were extracted, the cumulative incidence method assessed rib fracture rate, and Fine-Gray tests assessed prognostic significance of select variables.

Association of progesterone receptor status with 21-gene recurrence score and survival among patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

Background: Progesterone receptor (PR)-negative tumors have been shown to have worse prognosis and were underrepresented in recent trials on patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. The role of PR-negative status in the context of 21-gene recurrence score (RS) and nodal staging remains unclear.

Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for women diagnosed between 2010 and 2017 with ER-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, pT1-3N0-1a breast cancer.

Radiation Oncology Residency Training Program Integration of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: An Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee Inaugural Program Director Survey.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate United States (US) radiation oncology (RO) program directors' (PDs) attitudes and practices regarding racial/ethnic diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to better understand potential effects on underrepresented in medicine (UIM) residents in RO.

Methods And Materials: A 28-item survey was developed using the validated Ethnic Harassment Experiences Scale and the Daily Life Experiences subscale, as well as input from DEI leaders in RO. The survey was institutional review board-approved and administered to RO PDs.

Association of Neighborhood-Level Household Income With 21-Gene Recurrence Score and Survival Among Patients With Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer.

Importance: While low income has been associated with a higher incidence of triple-negative breast cancer, its association with 21-gene recurrence score (RS) among patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer remains unclear.

Objective: To evaluate the association of household income with RS and overall survival (OS) among patients with ER-positive breast cancer.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cohort study used data from the National Cancer Database.

Inequalities in Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Among Incarcerated Individuals Undergoing Radiation Therapy at a Large Safety-Net Hospital.

Introduction: There is a dearth of data on cancer care in the incarcerated population, despite being the leading cause of illness-related death in United states' prisons. We retrospectively reviewed the demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics of incarcerated individuals who received radiation therapy at a large safety-net hospital.

Methods: Following IRB approval, we identified 80 incarcerated patients who presented for radiation therapy between January 2003 and May 2019.

Radiation Oncology Resident Perspectives on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: An Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee Inaugural Resident Survey.

Purpose: In this study, radiation oncology residents were surveyed on perceptions of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in their residency training programs.

Methods And Materials: A 23-item survey was developed by the Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee resident members and faculty advisors. The survey was divided into 4 sections: institutional culture, support and resources, interview and recruitment, and experiences of bias.

The landscape of digital resources in radiation oncology.

In recent years, the number of educational medical resources accessible to residents and practicing radiation oncologists online has grown exponentially to include discussion boards, wikis, videos, podcasts, journal clubs, online communities, and interactive experiences to augment medical education. In this review, we identify, catalog, and critically evaluate educational websites, smartphone applications, web-based multimedia, and podcasts for radiation oncologists. Literature searches were conducted over a 2-month period (April to May 2022) using OVID-MEDLINE and PubMed with a combination of relevant search terms.

Incarceration status and cancer mortality: A population-based study.

Background: The complex relationship between incarceration and cancer survival has not been thoroughly evaluated. We assessed whether cancer diagnosis during incarceration or the immediate post-release period is associated with higher rates of mortality compared with those never incarcerated.

Methods: We conducted a population-based study using a statewide linkage of tumor registry and correctional system movement data for Connecticut adult residents diagnosed with invasive cancer from 2005 through 2016.

Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Disparities in Transgender People.

Objectives: The population of individuals who identify as transgender (TG) is increasing in the United States, yet disparities in cancer screening services are widening. It is imperative that interpersonal and systemic barriers to cancer care are identified and removed for this vulnerable population. Our study sought to examine the difference in self-reported breast and cervical cancer screening rates between TG and cisgender (CG) people.