Ultrasound-guided photoacoustic (US-PA) tomography of the breast: Biochemical differentiation using intrinsic tissue markers-lipids, collagen and hemoglobin with histopathologic correlation.

In this pilot study, we investigated the utility of handheld ultrasound-guided photoacoustic (US-PA) imaging probe for analyzing ex-vivo breast specimens obtained from female patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery (BCS). We aimed to assess the potential of US-PA in detecting biochemical markers such as collagen, lipids, and hemoglobin, and compare these findings with routine imaging modalities (mammography, ultrasound) and histopathology results, particularly across various breast densities. Twelve ex-vivo breast specimens were obtained from female patients with a mean age of 59.

Photoacoustic Tomography Appearance of Fat Necrosis: A First-in-Human Demonstration of Biochemical Signatures along with Histological Correlation.

A 50-year-old woman with no past medical history presented with a left anterior chest wall mass that was clinically soft, mobile, and non-tender. A targeted ultrasound (US) showed findings suggestive of a lipoma. However, focal "mass-like" nodules seen within the inferior portion suggested malignant transformation of a lipomatous lesion called for cross sectional imaging, such as MRI or invasive biopsy or excision for histological confirmation.

Impact of contrast-enhanced mammography in surgical management of breast cancers for women with dense breasts: a dual-center, multi-disciplinary study in Asia.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of pre-operative contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) in breast cancer patients with dense breasts.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 232 histologically proven breast cancers in 200 women (mean age: 53.4 years ± 10.

Biochemical "decoding" of breast ultrasound images with optoacoustic tomography fusion: First-in-human display of lipid and collagen signals on breast ultrasound.

To date, studies which utilized ultrasound (US) and optoacoustic tomography (OT) fusion (US-OT) in biochemical differentiation of malignant and benign breast conditions have relied on limited biochemical data such as oxyhaemoglobin (OH) and deoxyhaemoglobin (DH) only. There has been no data of the largest biochemical components of breast fibroglandular tissue: lipid and collagen. Here, the authors believe the ability to image collagen and lipids within the breast tissue could serve as an important milestone in breast US-OT imaging with many potential downstream clinical applications.

Association between Breast Cancer Polygenic Risk Score and Chemotherapy-Induced Febrile Neutropenia: Null Results.

Background: The hypothesis that breast cancer (BC) susceptibility variants are linked to chemotherapy-induced toxicity has been previously explored. Here, we investigated the association between a validated 313-marker-based BC polygenic risk score (PRS) and chemotherapy-induced neutropenia without fever and febrile neutropenia (FNc) in Asian BC patients.

Methods: This observational case-control study of Asian BC patients treated with chemotherapy included 161 FNc patients, 219 neutropenia patients, and 936 patients who did not develop neutropenia.

Cohort profile: The Singapore Breast Cancer Cohort (SGBCC), a multi-center breast cancer cohort for evaluation of phenotypic risk factors and genetic markers.

This article aims to provide a detailed description of the Singapore Breast Cancer Cohort (SGBCC), an ongoing multi-ethnic cohort established with the overarching goal to identify genetic markers for breast cancer risk, prognosis and treatment response, as well as to understand the ethnic differences in disease risk and outcome in an Asian setting. The cohort comprises of breast cancer patients aged 21 years and above from six public hospitals which diagnose and treat nearly 76% breast cancer cases in Singapore. Self-reported data on sociodemographic and lifestyle, reproductive risk factors, medical history and family history of breast or ovarian cancer is collected using a structured questionnaire.

Ultrasound Guided Optoacoustic Tomography in Assessment of Tumor Margins for Lumpectomies.

Purpose: To determine the accuracy of a handheld ultrasound-guided optoacoustic tomography (US-OT) probe developed for human deep-tissue imaging in ex vivo assessment of tumor margins postlumpectomy.

Methods: A custom-built two-dimensional (2D) US-OT-handheld probe was used to scan 15 lumpectomy breast specimens. Optoacoustic signals acquired at multiple wavelengths between 700 and 1100 nm were reconstructed using model linear algorithm, followed by spectral unmixing for lipid and deoxyhemoglobin (Hb).

Accelerated partial breast irradiation in an Asian population: dosimetric findings and preliminary results of a multicatheter interstitial program.

Introduction: Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) using the multicatheter method has excellent cosmesis and low rates of long-term toxicity. However, there are few studies looking at the feasibility of this procedure and the outcomes in an Asian population. This study aims to look at outcomes at our hospital.

Functional mechanisms underlying pleiotropic risk alleles at the 19p13.1 breast-ovarian cancer susceptibility locus.

A locus at 19p13 is associated with breast cancer (BC) and ovarian cancer (OC) risk. Here we analyse 438 SNPs in this region in 46,451 BC and 15,438 OC cases, 15,252 BRCA1 mutation carriers and 73,444 controls and identify 13 candidate causal SNPs associated with serous OC (P=9.2 × 10(-20)), ER-negative BC (P=1.

Phase Ib/II randomized, open-label study of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide with or without low-dose, short-course sunitinib in the pre-operative treatment of breast cancer.

Background: Prolonged anti-angiogenic therapy destroys tumor vasculature, whereas vascular-normalizing doses may enhance intra-tumoral drug delivery. We hypothesize that low-dose, short-course sunitinib normalizes vasculature, enhancing chemotherapy efficacy.

Patients And Methods: In phase Ib, treatment-naïve breast cancer patients received four cycles of pre-operative doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide, with sunitinib before each cycle.

High expression of intratumoral stromal proteins is associated with chemotherapy resistance in breast cancer.

We studied the changes of intratumoral stromal proteins including THBS1, TNC, FN, SPARC and α-SMA, following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The underlying mechanisms by which THBS1 and TNC regulated resistance to docetaxel were further studied using functional studies. 100 patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer were treated with alternating sequential doxorubicin and docetaxel.

High-Throughput Mutation Profiling Changes before and 3 Weeks after Chemotherapy in Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients.

Background: Changes in tumor DNA mutation status during chemotherapy can provide insights into tumor biology and drug resistance. The purpose of this study is to analyse the presence or absence of mutations in cancer-related genes using baseline breast tumor samples and those obtained after exposure to one cycle of chemotherapy to determine if any differences exist, and to correlate these differences with clinical and pathological features.

Methods: Paired breast tumor core biopsies obtained pre- and post-first cycle doxorubicin (n = 18) or docetaxel (n = 22) in treatment-naïve breast cancer patients were analysed for 238 mutations in 19 cancer-related genes by the Sequenom Oncocarta assay.

Evidence that breast cancer risk at the 2q35 locus is mediated through IGFBP5 regulation.

GWAS have identified a breast cancer susceptibility locus on 2q35. Here we report the fine mapping of this locus using data from 101,943 subjects from 50 case-control studies. We genotype 276 SNPs using the 'iCOGS' genotyping array and impute genotypes for a further 1,284 using 1000 Genomes Project data.

Comparing a volume based template approach and ultrasound guided freehand approach in multicatheter interstitial accelerated partial breast irradiation.

Purpose: Currently, there are two described methods of catheter insertion for women undergoing multicatheter interstitial accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI). These are a volume based template approach (template) and a non-template ultrasound guidance freehand approach (non-template). We aim to compare dosimetric endpoints between the template and non-template approach.

Multi-catheter interstitial accelerated partial breast irradiation - tips and tricks for a good insertion.

Adjuvant radiotherapy is recommended post breast conserving surgery. Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI) offers a more attractive shorter course of treatment over 5 days compared to standard conventional external beam radiotherapy, which is often protracted. Multi-catheter interstitial APBI offers excellent dosimetric coverage.

Fine-scale mapping of the FGFR2 breast cancer risk locus: putative functional variants differentially bind FOXA1 and E2F1.

The 10q26 locus in the second intron of FGFR2 is the locus most strongly associated with estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer in genome-wide association studies. We conducted fine-scale mapping in case-control studies genotyped with a custom chip (iCOGS), comprising 41 studies (n = 89,050) of European ancestry, 9 Asian ancestry studies (n = 13,983), and 2 African ancestry studies (n = 2,028) from the Breast Cancer Association Consortium. We identified three statistically independent risk signals within the locus.

Single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy: prospective case series at a single centre in Singapore.

Purpose: Laparoscopic appendectomy is widely accepted as a standard of care for acute appendicitis. Aim of our study is to assess the safety and feasibility of single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy (SILA) in our hospital setting.

Methods: From March to August 2010, 30 patients (21 male, 9 female) with mean age 30.

Post-treatment tumor gene expression signatures are more predictive of treatment outcomes than baseline signatures in breast cancer.

Objective: Tumor gene expression signatures have been used to classify, prognosticate, and predict chemotherapy sensitivity in breast cancer, although almost all efforts have been focused on the unchallenged baseline tumor. Most cancer patients receive systemic therapy, and exposure to drug may modify the tumor's short-term and long-term outcomes. Drug-induced tumor gene signatures may thus be more predictive of treatment outcomes than the unperturbed tumor gene signatures.