Mental health outcomes in older breast cancer survivors: Five-year follow-up from the CLIMB study.

Background: There is a lack of information on mental health outcomes for the increasing older population. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to assess depressive symptoms, loneliness, and apathy in older patients with breast cancer within the first 5 years after diagnosis.

Methods: Women aged ≥70 years with early-stage breast cancer were included.

Physical Function and Physical Activity in Older Breast Cancer Survivors: 5-Year Follow-Up from the Climb Every Mountain Study.

Background: A decline in physical activity and the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) could interfere with independent living and quality of life in older patients, but may be prevented with tailored interventions. The aim of the current study was to assess changes in physical activity and ADL/IADL in the first 5 years after breast cancer diagnosis in a real-world cohort of older patients and to identify factors associated with physical decline.

Methods: Patients aged ≥70 years with in situ or stages I-III breast cancer were included in the prospective Climb Every Mountain cohort study.

Association between endocrine therapy and cognitive decline in older women with early breast cancer: Findings from the prospective CLIMB study.

Introduction: Studies investigating the long-term effects of breast cancer treatment on cognition in older women with breast cancer are lacking, even though preserving cognition is highly valued by the older population. Specifically, concerns have been raised regarding the detrimental effects of endocrine therapy (ET) on cognition. Therefore, we investigated cognitive functioning over time and predictors for cognitive decline in older women treated for early breast cancer.

Discontinuation of adjuvant endocrine therapy and impact on quality of life and functional status in older patients with breast cancer.

Purpose: Side effects are the main reason for discontinuation of adjuvant endocrine therapy in older adults. The aim of this study was to examine geriatric predictors of treatment discontinuation of adjuvant endocrine therapy within the first 2 years after initiation, and to study the association between early discontinuation and functional status and quality of life (QoL).

Methods: Patients aged ≥ 70 years with stage I-III breast cancer who received adjuvant endocrine therapy were included.

Differences in treatment and survival of older patients with operable breast cancer between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands - A comparison of two national prospective longitudinal multi-centre cohort studies.

Background: Previous studies have shown that survival outcomes for older patients with breast cancer vary substantially across Europe, with worse survival reported in the United Kingdom. It has been hypothesised that these differences in survival outcomes could be related to treatment variation.

Objectives: We aimed to compare patient and tumour characteristics, treatment selection and survival outcomes between two large prospective cohorts of older patients with operable breast cancer from the United Kingdom (UK) and The Netherlands.

Partial mastectomy and m. latissimus dorsi reconstruction for radiation-induced fibrosis after breast-conserving cancer therapy.

Background: Patients with severe complaints of radiation-induced fibrosis after breast-conserving therapy and not responding to conservative therapy, were treated by partial mastectomy and m. latissimus dorsi reconstruction.

Method: To determine the feasibility and outcome of this approach, a retrospective study of nine patients was carried out.

Sternal resection for sarcoma, recurrent breast cancer, and radiation-induced necrosis.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term outcome and technical feasibility of sternal resection.

Methods: We performed a 25-year retrospective study of 68 patients who underwent a sternectomy for sarcoma, recurrent breast cancer (BC) or radiation-induced necrosis between 1981 and 2006 in two tertiary referral centres (Erasmus Medical Center/Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center and Netherlands Cancer Center/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Netherlands). Patients were treated with curative intent and followed until May 2009.

Chest wall resection for adult soft tissue sarcomas and chondrosarcomas: analysis of prognostic factors.

Background: Wide resection with tumor-free margins is necessary in soft-tissue sarcomas to minimize local recurrence and to contribute to long-term survival. Information about treatment outcome and prognostic factors of adult sarcoma requiring chest wall resection (CWR) is limited.

Methods: Sixty consecutive patients were retrospectively studied for overall survival (OS), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), and disease-free survival (DFS).

Prognostic factors in 77 curative chest wall resections for isolated breast cancer recurrence.

Background: Full-thickness chest wall resection (CWR) is the preferred treatment for breast cancer (BC) patients with extensive isolated locoregional recurrence. It remains a challenge to select patients that will benefit most from this treatment. The aim of this study was to define prognostic factors in patients who undergo CWR with curative intent.

Complications in wound healing after chest wall resection in cancer patients; a multivariate analysis of 220 patients.

Background: Extensive chest wall resections can provoke a wide variety of complications, in particular, complicated wound healing. A lower complication rate will be achieved when local factors contributing to wound healing can be identified and improved. The aim of this study is to describe these factors, irrespective of prognosis, survival, or systemic complications.

Retroviral gene transfer of interferon-inducible protein 10 inhibits growth of human melanoma xenografts.

Interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) is an immunomodulatory chemokine recently recognized to have potent antiangiogenic activity in vivo. Due to difficulties in the stability, manufacture and chronic administration of recombinant forms of endogenous antiangiogenic proteins, antiangiogenic gene therapy has emerged as a promising new form of cancer treatment. We retrovirally transduced A375 human melanoma cells with the human IP-10 gene and injected cells subcutaneously into nude mice.