An increase in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes after treatment is significantly associated with a poor response to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy for estrogen receptor-positive/HER2-negative breast cancers.

Background: The reason for the poor prognosis of estrogen receptor (ER) + /human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)- breast cancer patients with high levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is poorly understood. The association between TILs and response to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) was examined.

Methods: We recruited 170 patients with ER + /HER2- breast cancer who were treated with preoperative endocrine monotherapy.

Absolute Lymphocyte Count Is an Independent Prognostic Factor for ER-positive HER2-negative Advanced Breast Cancer Patients Treated With CDK4/6 Inhibitors.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to elucidate the clinical significance of peripheral blood biomarkers, including absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with estrogen receptor-positive human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative advanced breast cancer treated with the CDK4/6 inhibitors, abemaciclib and palbociclib.

Patients And Methods: A total of 83 patients treated with fulvestrant plus abemaciclib or palbociclib were included in this study. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared in relation to baseline levels of ALC, NLR, PLR and CRP.

Total Lesion Glycolysis Levels as Predictive Indicators in Patients With Metastatic and Recurrent Breast Cancer Undergoing Endocrine Therapy With or Without CDK4/6 Inhibitor.

Background/aim: Endocrine therapy (ET) with or without CDK4/6 inhibitors is the primary treatment choice for patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and HER2-negative subtype of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We examined the metabolic parameters identified using F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in terms of sensitivity, since no predictive factors exist.

Patients And Methods: We included 136 patients with MBC treated with ET alone (n=107) or combined with CDK4/6 inhibitor (n=29) and examined using FDG-PET before treatment began.

C-Reactive Protein and Absolute Lymphocyte Count Can Predict Overall Survival of Patients Treated With Eribulin.

Background/aim: We investigated the efficacy of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in predicting overall survival of metastatic breast cancer patients treated with eribulin.

Patients And Methods: Overall, 74 patients treated with eribulin were enrolled and their baseline levels of NLR, ALC, and CRP retrieved. Cutoff values of NLR, ALC, and CRP were set at 3.

Prognostic Significance of Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio in Luminal Breast Cancers With Low Levels of Tumour-infiltrating Lymphocytes.

Background/aim: This study aimed to improve the prognostic significance of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs).

Patients And Methods: In this retrospective study, NLR and TIL data from 677 operated breast cancer patients were analysed. The cut-off value of NLR was set at 2.

Association Between FOXP3/CD8 Lymphocyte Ratios and Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte Levels in Different Breast Cancer Subtypes.

Background/aim: Patients with non-luminal breast cancer subtypes with high levels of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have better prognosis than those with luminal subtype. We evaluated the role of TILs according to the subtype.

Materials And Methods: An immunohistochemical analysis of 139 breast cancer cases was conducted to calculate the FOXP3+/CD8+ T cell ratios and their relationships with TILs and disease-free survival (DFS) were evaluated.

Baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and c-reactive protein predict efficacy of treatment with bevacizumab plus paclitaxel for locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

The effect of bevacizumab plus paclitaxel therapy on progression-free survival (PFS) is prominent; however, no overall survival (OS) benefit has been demonstrated. Our aim was to study the predictive efficacy of peripheral immune-related parameters, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), and c-reactive protein (CRP) in locally advanced and metastatic breast cancers. A total of 179 patients treated with bevacizumab plus paclitaxel were recruited from three institutes in the test cohort.

A Single-centre, Retrospective, Observational Analysis of Fulvestrant for Recurrent/metastatic Breast Cancer According to Metastatic Site.

Background/aim: Factors influencing fulvestrant efficacy may be useful in selecting the optimal treatment regimen for postmenopausal Japanese women with metastatic/recurrent HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated progression-free and overall survival (PFS and OS) in 100 fulvestrant-treated patients according to metastatic site.

Results: Median PFS was significantly better in patients with non-visceral (bone and regional metastases; 22.

Prognostic significance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes may differ depending on Ki67 expression levels in estrogen receptor-positive/HER2-negative operated breast cancers.

Background: The prognostic significance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) has been established in breast cancers with estrogen receptor (ER)-negative and human epithelial growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative or HER2-positive subtypes; however, its utility concerning the ER + /HER2 - subtype remains unclear.

Methods: We evaluated the prognostic value of TILs by analyzing 717 invasive breast cancer operation cases. TILs were classified into three groups based on the proportion of area within the tumor: low ( < 10%), intermediate (10-50%), and high ( > 50%).

Significance of Metabolic Tumor Volume at Baseline and Reduction of Mean Standardized Uptake Value in F-FDG-PET/CT Imaging for Predicting Pathological Complete Response in Breast Cancers Treated with Preoperative Chemotherapy.

Background: The usefulness of F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography for evaluating the treatment efficacy of breast cancers is well-established; however, the predictive values of parameters such as metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) remain unknown.

Methods: This study examined 199 breast cancers treated with primary systemic chemotherapy (PSC) followed by operation, and determined the values of maximum standardized uptake value (SUV), peak SUV (SUV), mean SUV (SUV), MTV, and TLG at baseline. Among these cases, data on early changes in these metabolic parameters in 70 breast cancers were also assessed.

Significance of baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio for progression-free survival of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer treated with trastuzumab emtansine.

The efficacy of trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) is prolonged for some patients; however, the predictive factors remain unknown. We focused on a peripheral blood biomarker, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), regarding T-DM1 treatment efficacy. Fifty-three advanced or metastatic breast cancers treated with T-DM1 were retrospectively recruited from three institutes.

pTis and pT1a Ipsilateral Breast Tumor Recurrence Is Associated with Good Prognosis after Salvage Surgery.

Objectives: Patients with ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) after breast-conserving surgery have a poor prognosis. There is little information regarding the prognostic impact of the tumor size in patients with IBTR.

Methods: A total of 143 patients who had histologically confirmed IBTR without distant metastases and who underwent salvage surgery between 1989 and 2013 in our hospital were included.

Safety for Repeat Lumpectomy Without Radiotherapy for Ipsilateral Breast Tumor Recurrence.

Background: There is little information on the local recurrence risk of patients who undergo repeat lumpectomy without radiotherapy after salvage surgery for ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR).

Patients And Methods: Sixty-five patients who underwent repeat lumpectomy without radiotherapy after IBTR were retrospectively analyzed. The risk factors of second IBTR, including the breast cancer subtype of IBTR defined by the estrogen receptor (ER) and HER2 status, were assessed.

Glucomannan utilization operon of Bacillus subtilis.

This study characterizes the glucomannan utilization operon (gmuBACDREFG, formerly ydhMNOPQRST) of Bacillus subtilis. Transcription of the operon is induced by konjac glucomannan and requires the last mannanase gene (gmuG). Cellobiose and mannobiose, possible degradation products of glucomannan by GmuG, are strong inducers of transcription.