Perceived Importance of Breast Cancer Risk Factors: A Survey on 386 Physicians in China.

There are varying definitions of women at high risk of breast cancer across different institutions, and there are reports suggesting that the breast cancer risk assessment tools have not been well integrated into clinical practice. In this study, we tried to investigate the perceived importance of different breast cancer risk factors by physicians in China. A cross-sectional survey involving 386 anonymous physicians was conducted using a 20-item, 5-point Likert scale questionnaire.

SIKs suppress tumor function and regulate drug resistance in breast cancer.

Salt-inducible kinases (SIKs), belonging to an AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) family, have an evolving role in tumourigenesis and metastasis in many solid tumours. However, the function of SIKs in breast cancer is not fully established. Here, we systematically elucidated the function of SIK family members in breast cancer.

Shaping of the abdominal flap in breast reconstruction: The coning technique in muscle sparing TRAM.

In the setting of autologous breast reconstruction, achieving an aesthetic outcome through shaping of the flap is of the upmost importance. We describe the abdominal flap folding technique of 'coning' and the indications. We define 'coning' as the technique of folding the abdominal flap in a circular fashion to create a conical breast mound, with the line of fusion forming a pillar of tissue for structural integrity.

The role of the phosphatase and tensin homolog status in predicting pathological complete response to neoadjuvant anti-HER2 therapies in HER2-positive primary breast cancer: A meta-analysis.

Purpose: The addition of anti-HER2 therapies to neoadjuvant treatment significantly enhances pathological complete response (PCR) rate in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer. Selecting patients unlikely to benefit from neoadjuvant anti-HER2 therapies is increasingly important. In this study, we proposed to assess the role of the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) as a biomarker in predicting PCR to neoadjuvant anti-HER2 therapies by conducting meta-analysis.

Plesiobrachytherapy for chest wall recurrences of breast cancer after mastectomy and radiotherapy for breast cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the results of high-dose-rate plesiobrachytherapy for local relapse after mastectomy and radiotherapy in terms of both local control and survival.

Methods: We reviewed retrospectively 43 patients who experienced a chest wall relapse of breast cancer after local excision (22 patients) or not (21 patients). Patients were treated with an individually designed mold with four to six fractions of 3-6 Gy high-dose-rate brachytherapy, two fractions per week.

High-mobility group box 1 released by autophagic cancer-associated fibroblasts maintains the stemness of luminal breast cancer cells.

Cancer stem cells/cancer-initiating cells (CICs) and their microenvironmental niche play a vital role in malignant tumour recurrence and metastasis. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are major components of the niche of breast cancer-initiating cells (BCICs), and their interactions may profoundly affect breast cancer progression. Autophagy has been considered to be a critical process for CIC maintenance, but whether it is involved in the cross-talk between CAFs and CICs to affect tumourigenesis and pathological significance has not been determined.

miR-375 inhibits cancer stem cell phenotype and tamoxifen resistance by degrading HOXB3 in human ER-positive breast cancer.

Cancer stem cell (CSC) formation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are pivotal events in tumor cell invasion and metastasis. They have been shown to occur in resistance to tamoxifen. Moreover, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been associated with CSCs, EMT as well as tamoxifen resistance.

Metastasis of breast cancer to renal cancer: report of a rare case.

Tumor-to-tumor metastasis (TTM) is a rare phenomenon. We present a case of an invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast metastasizing to a clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Breast cancer (BC) metastasis to the RCC is rarely reported, especially in resected kidney tumor.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) treated by mastectomy, or local excision with or without radiotherapy: A monocentric, retrospective study of 608 women.

Objectives: Since mammographic screening programmes, the proportion of DCIS has dramatically increased. Adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) after local excision (LE) has become a solid option for DCIS since 4 randomised trials have proven a decrease in local relapse (LR), though failing to prove a benefit on mortality rate. DCIS is a heterogeneous disease and it is unclear whether all patients uniformly benefit from radiotherapy.

Metastases of basal-like breast invasive ductal carcinoma to the endometrium: A case report and review of the literature.

We present a case of single endometrial metastasis from breast invasive ductal cancer. This case was unique because the immunohistochemical staining was negative for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2/neu and estrogen and progesterone receptors, and positive for cytokeratin 5/6 and epidermal growth factor receptor in the primary and metastatic tumor cells. No gross evidence of tumor was observed in other sites.

Erythropoietin receptor expression and its relationship with trastuzumab response and resistance in HER2-positive breast cancer cells.

Resistance to trastuzumab is a major issue in the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer. Several potential resistance mechanisms have been investigated, but the results are controversial and no conclusion has been reached. Erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) may function in cell growth, and expressed in various cancer cells.

First-line bevacizumab-containing therapy for breast cancer: results in patients aged≥70 years treated in the ATHENA study.

Background: There are limited data on treatment outcomes in the growing population of elderly patients with locally recurrent/metastatic breast cancer (LR/mBC). To gain information on first-line bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy in the elderly, we analyzed data from the ATHENA trial in routine oncology practice.

Patients And Methods: Patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-negative LR/mBC received first-line bevacizumab with standard chemotherapy until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or physician/patient decision.

Combined effects of lapatinib and bortezomib in human epidermal receptor 2 (HER2)-overexpressing breast cancer cells and activity of bortezomib against lapatinib-resistant breast cancer cells.

Lapatinib and bortezomib are highly active against breast cancer cells. Breast cancer patients who initially respond to lapatinib may eventually manifest acquired resistance to this treatment. Thus, the identification of novel agents that may prevent or delay the development of acquired resistance to lapatinib is critical.

Contribution of minute axillary lymph nodes to accurate staging for patients with breast cancer.

Background: Axillary lymph node metastasis is a very important metastatic pathway in breast cancer and its accurate detection is important for staging tumour and guiding therapy. However, neither the accuracy of routine detection of lymph node in surgical specimens nor the significance of minute lymph node with metastases in breast cancer is clear. A modified method for conveniently detecting minute lymph node in specimens of axillary dissections in patients with breast cancer was used to analyze their influence on staging breast cancer.

[Application of endoscopy-assistant operation in surgical treatment of breast diseases].

Objective: To explore the technique and problems of endoscope-assistant breast surgery.

Methods: Five patients with breast cancer underwent endoscope-assistant modified radical mastectomy, 30 patients with breast cancer underwent endoscope-assistant modified radical mastectomy with small incision, and 13 patients with breast cancer underwent endoscope-assistant resection of breast cancer with retained breast plus axillary lymph node dissection. Two patients with fibroadenoma and 2 patients with fibrocystic disease breast with atypical hyperplasia were treated with endoscope-assistant subcutaneous total mastectomy and breast reconstruction by one-stage silica gel filling operation.