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Bibliography on: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

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Robert J. Robbins is a biologist, an educator, a science administrator, a publisher, an information technologist, and an IT leader and manager who specializes in advancing biomedical knowledge and supporting education through the application of information technology. More About:  RJR | OUR TEAM | OUR SERVICES | THIS WEBSITE

RJR: Recommended Bibliography 01 Jul 2026 at 01:52 Created: 

Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), also known as infiltrating ductal carcinoma, is cancer that began growing in a milk duct and has invaded the fibrous or fatty tissue of the breast outside of the duct. IDC is the most common form of breast cancer, representing 80 percent of all breast cancer diagnoses.

Created with PubMed® Query: ("invasive ductal carcinoma" OR IDC) NOT pmcbook NOT ispreviousversion

Citations The Papers (from PubMed®)

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RevDate: 2026-06-29

Fennig S, Kirshtein A, Landman Y, et al (2026)

Intraoperative Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer: Long-Term Experience.

Annals of surgical oncology [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Targeted intraoperative radiation therapy (TARGIT-IORT) is a promising alternative to standard external radiation for the treatment of early-stage breast cancer. However, American Society for Radiation Oncology guidelines have limited its use. We aimed to present our long-term results with the use of TARGIT-IORT in a very restricted population.

METHODS: The electronic records of a tertiary medical center were retrospectively searched for women diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma from 2014 to 2023. Inclusion criteria were age > 50 years, unifocal disease, tumor size < 3 cm, and clinical subtype estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-non-amplified. Those with a favorable pathology after completion of lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) underwent TARGIT-IORT consisting of delivery of a single high dose of radiation (20 Gy) to an applicator inserted into the tumor bed using low-energy X-rays (50 Kv) over 22-29 minutes. Follow-up consisted of clinical examination every 6 months in the first 2 years and then mammography and breast ultrasound annually.

RESULTS: The cohort included 219 patients with a median age of 66 years (range 50-83). During a median follow-up of 85 months, there was one case each (0.45%) of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence, axillary lymph node recurrence, and isolated liver metastasis. In total, 20 patients (9.1%) had minor wound complications, and three (1.4%) had fat necrosis, self-limiting in all cases, with no need for hospital readmission.

CONCLUSION: TARGIT-IORT is associated with excellent local control, very high survival rates, and a very low toxicity profile for low-risk early breast cancer, consistent with the TARGIT-A trial and should be offered to patients when suitable.

RevDate: 2026-06-30
CmpDate: 2026-06-30

Lau Y, Zhou L, Chung YM, et al (2026)

Barriers and Facilitators for Medication Safety in Emergency Care Using a SEIPS Model: A Qualitative Study.

Journal of nursing management, 2026(1):e3268082.

AIM: The present study aimed to investigate the facilitators and barriers encountered by primary nurses and designated checkers in their participation with the designated independent double-checking (IDC) process for the administration of high-alert medications in the emergency department, employing the systems engineering initiative for patient safety (SEIPS) framework.

BACKGROUND: Designated IDC acts as a safety measure to prevent medication errors, provided by an experienced checker. However, the facilitators and barriers that influence this process remain unclear.

METHODS: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted using a purposive sample of 26 primary nurses and designated checkers. Data were collected through individual semistructured interviews and analysed using Braun and Clarke's six phases of thematic analysis.

RESULTS: Our analysis revealed 15 facilitators and 16 barriers, which were classified according to the SEIPS domains: environment, organisation, people, task, tools and technology, process and outcome.

CONCLUSION: The findings concerning the facilitators and barriers to implementing a designated IDC are a vital initial step in developing evidence-based interventions to enhance medication safety.

The findings may suggest the maintenance of clear documentation, the promotion of effective communication, the conduct of regular audits, and the incorporation of IDC training into both orientation programmes and in-service training, which is especially crucial for junior staff. These factors guide policymakers in restructuring the environmental layout, standardising IDC guidelines, ensuring sufficient staffing, fostering a nonhierarchical atmosphere, and promoting the adoption of technology.

RevDate: 2026-06-30
CmpDate: 2026-06-30

Soliman RH, Shi C, Fisher KE, et al (2026)

Oncocytic Intraductal Carcinoma of the Parotid Gland with STRN::ALK Fusion.

Head and neck pathology, 20(1):.

Intraductal carcinoma (IDC) of the salivary gland is an uncommon epithelial neoplasm characterized by a predominantly intraductal or intracystic proliferation rimmed by a myoepithelial cell layer. Advances in molecular profiling have revealed recurrent gene fusions in IDC, most frequently involving RET, although fusions implicating other kinase genes have also been described. Among these, ALK rearrangements are rare and remain poorly characterized. Herein, we report a case of oncocytic IDC of the parotid gland harboring a STRN::ALK fusion, further expanding the molecular landscape of this tumor. Although this fusion has been previously reported in intercalated duct IDC, to our knowledge, this is the first report of this specific fusion in oncocytic IDC.

RevDate: 2026-06-26

Wang Y, H Miyamoto (2026)

Cribriform intraductal carcinoma of the prostate may have a greater prognostic impact even than Gleason grade 5 conventional prostatic adenocarcinoma.

Pathology pii:S0031-3025(26)00527-1 [Epub ahead of print].

The grading of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC) associated with conventional/acinar prostatic adenocarcinoma (CPA) remains debatable, particularly regarding the prognostic significance of IDC exhibiting cribriform (Crib) morphology versus Gleason grade 4 or even grade 5 (G5) CPA. We retrospectively analysed radical prostatectomy findings and long-term oncological outcomes in 823 consecutive patients with Grade Group 2-5 CPA, excluding those exhibiting IDC with a solid nest pattern or comedonecrosis. Our cases were stratified into four cohorts based on the absence or presence of Crib-IDC and/or G5-CPA: cohort 1, Crib-IDC(-)/G5-CPA(-) (n=550, 66.8%); cohort 2, Crib-IDC(-)/G5-CPA(+) (n=44, 5.3%); cohort 3, Crib-IDC(+)/G5-CPA(-) (n=182, 22.1%); and cohort 4, Crib-IDC(+)/G5-CPA(+) (n=47, 5.7%). Compared with Crib-IDC(+)/G5-CPA(-) cases, Crib-IDC(+)/G5-CPA(+) cases showed significantly adverse histopathology in all evaluated variables, including Grade Group, pT and pN stages, surgical margin status, and estimated tumour volume. However, significant differences were limited to Grade Group between Crib-IDC(-)/G5-CPA(+) and Crib-IDC(+)/G5-CPA(-) cases, and to pT stage and tumour volume between Crib-IDC(-)/G5-CPA(+) and Crib-IDC(+)/G5-CPA(+) cases. On univariate analysis, the risk of post-operative biochemical recurrence was significantly higher in Crib-IDC(+)/G5-CPA(-) [hazard ratio (HR) 1.951, p=0.028] or Crib-IDC(+)/G5-CPA(+) (HR 2.696, p=0.003) cases than in Crib-IDC(-)/G5-CPA(+) cases but not between Crib-IDC(+)/G5-CPA(-) and Crib-IDC(+)/G5-CPA(+) (HR 1.451, p=0.097). On multivariable Cox regression analysis [Crib-IDC(-)/G5-CPA(+) as a reference], both Crib-IDC(+)/G5-CPA(-) (HR 2.171, p=0.028) and Crib-IDC(+)/G5-CPA(+) (HR 2.028, p=0.048) remained significantly associated with recurrence risk. Compared to G5-CPA alone, Crib-IDC, even in cases with no concurrent G5-CPA, was found to represent an independent adverse prognostic indicator, suggesting a potentially greater clinical impact of Crib-IDC than that of G5-CPA.

RevDate: 2026-06-29
CmpDate: 2026-06-29

Khursheed N, Andrabi SI, Thakur N, et al (2026)

TRAIL-R2 in the shadows: Epigenetic silencing and clinical implications in breast cancer.

Oncotarget, 17(1):316-328.

Copyright: &copy; 2026 Khursheed et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Breast cancer is considered to be one of the most widespread malignancies, however, its molecular processes are not fully comprehended. Another important epigenetic process that regulates the expression of genes in cancer is promoter methylation. TRAIL-R2 is also a key mediator of apoptosis but its clinical implications and epigenetic regulation in breast cancer are not clearly understood. In this research, the level of the promoter of the gene TRAIL-R2 in the matched tumor and normal breast tissues was analyzed using methylation-specific PCR and the level of the mRNA and protein products in the matched tumor and normal breast tissues were measured using quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting. Methylation of TRAIL-R2 promoter was significantly enhanced in tumor tissues and was negatively correlated with the levels of mRNA and protein. We found that hypermethylation was much more common in invasive ductal carcinoma patients and in patients with a history of use of oral contraceptives. A decreased expression of mRNA of TRAIL-R2 was significantly related to advanced TNM stage (III–IV) and the absence of progesterone receptor, and low protein expression was significantly related to postmenopausal status. These results suggest that aggressive clinicopathological phenotypes are associated with TRAIL-R2 silencing via promoter hypermethylation that may be relevant as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in breast cancer.

RevDate: 2026-06-25

Mizuma M, Hirakawa S, Tachimori H, et al (2026)

Clinical Statistics and Outcomes of Pancreatic Neoplasms in Japan: A Retrospective Cohort Study using the Japan Pancreatic Cancer Registry.

Pancreas pii:00006676-990000000-00477 [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVES: The Japan Pancreatic Cancer Registry (JPCR), managed by the Japan Pancreas Society, has adopted the National Clinical Database (NCD) platform for data registration. This study aimed to describe the nationwide annual trends and clinical outcomes of pancreatic neoplasms using this NCD-based registry (NCD-JPCR) for the first time.

METHODS: We analyzed data from the NCD-JPCR for pancreatic neoplasms registered between 2012 and 2018. The annual epidemiological trends and survival outcomes were evaluated for major pancreatic neoplasms, including invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC).

RESULTS: In total, 47,005 patients were registered from 1,062 departments, with approximately 600 departments contributing annually. IDC was the most common diagnosis (n=36,204; 77.0%), followed by intraductal (n=4,498; 9.6%), cystic (n=2,687; 5.7%), and pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (n=2,494; 5.3%). In the survival analysis of IDC, patients who underwent resection showed a significantly longer median overall survival (mOS) in 2015-2018 than in 2012-2014 (34.5 months [n=17,328] vs. 29.7 months [n=9,623]; P<0.0001). Similarly, mOS for patients who did not undergo resection significantly improved in 2015-2018 compared with 2012-2014 (10.2 months [n=5,733] vs. 9.0 months [n=3,326]; P<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS: Treatment outcomes for IDC showed significant improvements from the early to the late 2010s for both patients who did and did not undergo resection. These findings may reflect nationwide progress in the multidisciplinary management of pancreatic cancer in Japan.

RevDate: 2026-06-26
CmpDate: 2026-06-26

Ibrahim EG, Mahmoud SS, Taha RA, et al (2026)

Fluorescence Profiling of Water-Based Breast Tissue Homogenates Combined With Chemometric Analyses for Discrimination of Benign and Malignant Lesions.

Journal of biophotonics, 19(6):e70316.

Breast cancer diagnosis is clinically challenging, particularly in distinguishing benign lesions, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). This study evaluates multimodal autofluorescence spectroscopy combined with chemometric analysis for breast tissue classification. A total of 145 ex vivo specimens (56 IDC, 54 DCIS, 35 benign) were analyzed using excitation spectroscopy, synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy, and two-dimensional integrated-emission mapping (2D-IEM). Spectral data were decomposed via parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) and assessed using PCA with Bonferroni-corrected ANOVA and receiver operating characteristic analysis. Excitation fluorescence demonstrated good discrimination for benign (area under the curve, AUC = 0.85) and IDC (AUC = 0.83) tissues, with moderate DCIS performance (AUC = 0.75). Synchronous modality enhanced differentiation of overlapping fluorophores, revealing tumor-specific metabolic signatures. PARAFAC resolved three biologically relevant components-protein-related, metabolic, and porphyrin-associated-enabling clear tissue group separation. These findings establish multimodal autofluorescence spectroscopy as a robust, label-free approach with strong potential for intraoperative margin assessment and diagnostic support.

RevDate: 2026-06-26
CmpDate: 2026-06-26

Hwang J, Han BK, Ko ES, et al (2026)

Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Breast: Clinical and Radiological Findings.

Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland), 16(12): pii:diagnostics16121869.

Background/Objectives: Breast adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare tumor with limited data on imaging features and treatment response. This study investigated the clinical and radiological characteristics of ACC of the breast. Methods: Patients with ACC who underwent surgery at our institution between February 2010 and December 2023 were included. Clinical characteristics, biopsy and surgical pathology findings, and follow-up outcomes were reviewed. Preoperative mammography, ultrasound (US), and MRI findings were analyzed. Results: Twenty-eight women (mean age, 57 ± 8 years) were identified. Half presented with palpable masses, and the remainder were detected on screening. Percutaneous biopsy was performed in 27 patients, correctly diagnosing ACC in 18 (66.7%), whereas 9 (33.3%) were misdiagnosed as having invasive ductal carcinoma. The mean tumor size was 2.9 cm (range, 0.9-8 cm), with axillary metastasis in two women (7.1%). Most tumors were triple-negative (78.6%), while six showed low estrogen-receptor positivity (<10%). Ki-67 was <20% in 64.3%, with no high values (≥75%). Three patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, with two non-responders. No recurrences occurred during a median follow-up of 51 months. Imaging revealed masses on mammography (85.2%), US (92.9%), and MRI (92.3%), with calcifications in two cases. Most lesions were highly suspicious (BI-RADS 4C or 5) and showed increased vascularity in 92.3% on Doppler US. Conclusions: Breast ACC typically presents as a hypervascular, highly suspicious mass. Despite frequent triple-negative profiles, it shows low proliferation, poor response to chemotherapy, and favorable prognosis.

RevDate: 2026-06-26
CmpDate: 2026-06-26

Spears M, Lock M, Yaremko B, et al (2026)

Determining Optimal Fractionation of Neoadjuvant Radiation in Low-Risk, Early-Stage Breast Cancer-Randomized SIGNAL Clinical Trial.

Cancers, 18(12): pii:cancers18121867.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant partial breast irradiation using stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has emerged as a strategy to induce tumor and immune responses in early-stage, low-risk breast cancer. While prior studies have demonstrated encouraging response rates and evidence of immune modulation, the optimal radiotherapy regimen for immune priming remains unclear. SIGNAL 2.0 is a randomized phase II trial designed to compare the biological and immunological impact of a single-fraction versus three-fraction neoadjuvant SBRT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-one postmenopausal patients ≥ 50 years with unifocal, hormone positive, node-negative invasive ductal carcinoma < 3 cm were randomized 1:1 to receive either 21 Gy in one fraction or 30 Gy in three fractions, delivered to the tumor in the prone position. Core biopsies were collected pre-SBRT and 14-20 days post-SBRT at the time of surgery. Immune markers were assessed using tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) scoring, NanoString nCounter PanCancer Immune Profiling, and NanoString GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiling (DSP).

RESULTS: Available tumor samples from 47 patients underwent paired tissue analysis. Three-fraction SBRT induced 200 differentially expressed genes, including enrichment of pathways related to adaptive immune activation, with significant increases in expression levels of macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils and CD8 T-cells. Proteomic profiling also identified a significant increase in the expression levels of neutrophils, Treg cells, macrophages, and NK cells in the tumor microenvironment of the samples from patients receiving the three-fraction regimen.

CONCLUSIONS: Neoadjuvant SBRT induces measurable immune activation, with three-fraction regimens generating more extensive transcriptional, proteomic, and cellular immune changes than a single fraction. Three-fraction neoadjuvant SBRT may provide superior immune priming, providing a foundation for future trials integrating neoadjuvant radiotherapy with immunomodulatory therapies.

RevDate: 2026-06-26
CmpDate: 2026-06-26

Kato M, Tsuzuki T, Yokomizo A, et al (2026)

Pathological Predictors of Limited Salvage Radiotherapy Efficacy After Radical Prostatectomy: Central Review of JCOG0401.

Cancers, 18(12): pii:cancers18121868.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The multicenter randomized trial JCOG0401 showed that initial salvage radiotherapy (SRT) before salvage hormonal therapy (SHT) significantly prolonged time to treatment failure (TTF) compared with SHT alone. This central pathology analysis aimed to explore pathological features potentially associated with reduced relative benefit from SRT, while distinguishing prognostic from predictive effects.

METHODS: We re-analyzed 167 patients from JCOG0401 (SHT: 81, SRT ± SHT: 86). Prostatectomy specimens were re-evaluated, focusing on tertiary Gleason pattern (GP) 5 and intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P). Cox proportional hazards models assessed exploratory interaction effects between pathological features and the treatment effect of bicalutamide on TTF. Pathological subgroups in which SRT failed to improve TTF over SHT alone were defined as having reduced benefit from SRT.

RESULTS: Adverse pathological features associated with shorter TTF with limited SRT included Gleason score (≥8), GP5, tertiary GP5, IDC-P, positive surgical margins, lymphovascular invasion, and advanced pathological T stage. Exploratory Interaction analyses suggested that IDC-P and tertiary GP5 may be associated with reduced relative benefit from SRT. Among patients without IDC-P, SRT significantly improved TTF (HR 0.330, 95%CI 0.161-0.673), whereas no significant benefit was observed in those with IDC-P (HR: 0.771, 95% CI: 0.446-1.332). Similarly, the absence of tertiary GP5 was associated with a marked benefit from SRT (HR: 0.099, 95% CI: 0.021-0.466), whereas this effect was not observed with tertiary GP5 (HR: 0.760, 95% CI: 0.400-1.443).

CONCLUSIONS: IDC-P and tertiary GP5 may represent pathological features associated with reduced relative benefit from SRT after radical prostatectomy. These findings are exploratory and hypothesis-generating and require prospective validation in independent cohorts. Careful pathological evaluation may help identify patients who could benefit from treatment intensification or alternative postoperative strategies.

RevDate: 2026-06-25

Matsumoto S, S Takasu (2026)

Diagnostic utility of postmortem serum tumor markers for identifying primary malignancies: A forensic evaluation of six markers.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology [Epub ahead of print].

PURPOSE: Tumor markers are widely used for the diagnosis of malignancies in clinical settings; however, their utility in postmortem specimens remains insufficiently explored. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of six major serum tumor markers—carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), cancer antigen 125 (CA125), cancer antigen 15–3 (CA15-3), cancer antigen 19–9 (CA19-9), and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC)—in postmortem blood samples. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 178 forensic autopsy cases performed at our institution between July 1, 2015, and March 31, 2024. The control group comprised 103 cases in which the patients died from non-neoplastic causes. The presence of malignancy, primary tumor sites, and histological subtypes were analyzed in relation to tumor marker levels. RESULTS: Among the six markers, CA15-3, CA19-9, CEA, and CA125 demonstrated high diagnostic performance for specific cancers. CA15-3 showed excellent discriminatory ability for breast cancer, including invasive ductal carcinoma (area under the curve [AUC] > 0.99). CEA was effective in detecting colorectal cancer, CA125 in detecting pancreatic and colorectal cancers, and CA19-9 in detecting cholangiocarcinoma and pancreatic cancer, all with AUC values exceeding 0.9. In contrast, AFP and SCC showed limited diagnostic value for malignancy detection. Notably, the optimal cutoff values for postmortem samples were substantially higher than conventional clinical reference values, underscoring the necessity for postmortem-specific diagnostic thresholds. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that tumor markers retain organ-specific diagnostic utility even in postmortem serum and may serve as useful adjunctive tools in forensic pathology. Further validation through larger multicenter studies is warranted.

RevDate: 2026-06-25

Ru L, Tang Y, Zhang J, et al (2026)

Time-dependent diffusion MRI for non-invasive differentiation of benign and malignant breast lesions and evaluation of proliferation index biomarkers.

Breast cancer (Tokyo, Japan), 33(3):653-665.

PURPOSE: To establish a dual-task assessment framework using time-dependent diffusion MRI (td-dMRI) for: (1) differentiating benign from malignant breast lesions classified as BI-RADS category 4, and (2) preoperatively predicting the proliferation marker Ki-67 in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 152 consecutive patients between June 2024 and June 2025. Patients with BI-RADS 4 lesions detected on ultrasound/mammography, no prior biopsy or treatment, and scheduled for surgical resection. Modalities included MRI using the IMPULSED protocol with PGSE and OGSE sequences. A two-compartment biophysical model quantified microstructural parameters including intracellular volume fraction (fin), mean cell diameter (d-mean), cellularity, extracellular diffusion coefficient (Dex), and ADC values. The final cohort comprised 42 benign and 102 malignant lesions (82 IDC cases). Multivariable logistic regression identified independent predictors, with diagnostic performance assessed through ROC analysis. RESULTS: A total of 144 patients (mean age, 52.2 ± 9.5 years) were evaluated. All td-dMRI parameters demonstrated significant differences between benign and malignant lesions (p < 0.05). Malignant lesions exhibited significantly lower ADC (PGSE), ADC (OGSE), d-mean, and Dex, but higher cellularity and fin compared with benign lesions. The combined diagnostic model (cellularity + d-mean + ADC (OGSE33Hz)) achieved the highest performance with an AUC of 0.892 (95% CI 0.834–0.950), sensitivity of 94%, and specificity of 92%, significantly outperforming conventional ADC (PGSE). Among 82 IDC patients, fin showed a strong correlation with the Ki-67 index (p < 0.001). The Ki-67 prediction model (fin + d-mean + ADC (OGSE33Hz)) yielded an AUC of 0.825 (95% CI 0.736–0.914), significantly outperforming individual parameters (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The td-dMRI-based technique effectively differentiated benign from malignant breast lesions and provided noninvasive prediction of Ki-67 status in IDC, offering valuable tools for clinical decision-making.

RevDate: 2026-06-23

Elmakki M, Alasaly R, G Syed (2026)

Incidental Detection of Aggressive HER2-Positive Breast Cancer on [99m]Tc-Sestamibi Parathyroid Scintigraphy.

Journal of nuclear medicine technology pii:jnmt.126.272186 [Epub ahead of print].

A 71-y-old woman with primary hyperparathyroidism underwent [99m]Tc-sestamibi SPECT/CT for preoperative localization. The study showed a left inferior parathyroid adenoma and, on extended field-of-view review, an intensely [99m]Tc-sestamibi-avid 1.5-cm lesion in the left breast. Diagnostic mammography and ultrasonography classified the lesion as Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System category 5, prompting a core biopsy that revealed Nottingham grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma of no special type (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 [HER2] overexpression [3+]), with a Ki-67 index of 80%. After sentinel lymph node mapping, the patient underwent wide local excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Final pathology demonstrated a 1.9-cm grade 3 carcinoma with associated ductal carcinoma in situ and a 1-mm nodal micrometastasis identified in a sentinel lymph node. She completed adjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and HER2-targeted therapy, with no recurrence at 2-y follow-up. This case emphasizes deliberate review of the complete hybrid SPECT/CT field of view during parathyroid imaging.

RevDate: 2026-06-25

Liang H, Fan J, Xu K, et al (2026)

A pathological morphology parameter-based prognostic nomogram for high-risk prostate cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant therapy followed by radical prostatectomy: a retrospective study.

World journal of surgical oncology pii:10.1186/s12957-026-04442-z [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of these pathological morphology alterations induced by neoadjuvant therapy in high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) patients is still unclear. Hence, this study retrospectively reviewed the data of 124 patients with high-risk PCa who underwent neoadjuvant therapy followed by radical prostatectomy (RP), and aimed to explore the prognostic value of pathological morphology alterations.

METHODS: Data from 124 patients with high-risk PCa who underwent neoadjuvant therapy followed by RP were retrospectively reviewed. Pathological morphology alterations observed in RP specimens were independently recorded by two uropathologists, and the primary endpoint was biochemical progression-free survival (bPFS). Cox regression analyses were performed to explore independent predictors of bPFS, and a nomogram was developed. The C-index, calibration curves and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the performance of the nomogram.

RESULTS: Among 124 patients, 66 patients (53.2%) were treated with neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (NHT), and 58 patients (46.8%) were treated with neoadjuvant chemohormonal therapy (NCHT). Moreover, 11 patients (8.9%) had a complete reduction in glandular density and diameter, and intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) was observed in 8 patients (6.5%). Cox regression revealed that NHT, pelvic lymph node (LN) metastasis, positive surgical margins, negative reduction in glandular density and diameter, and IDC-P were associated with worse bPFS (all P < 0.05), and those factors were subsequently selected to develop a nomogram. The C-index was 0.813 (95% CI: 0.626-0.863), and time-dependent C-index were 0.902 (6 months), 0.882 (12 months), and 0.951 (24 months). The calibration curves showed a high consistency between the predicted and observed bPFS probabilities, and DCA confirmed the nomogram's clinical utility across a range of threshold probabilities.

CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic LN metastasis, positive surgical margins and IDC-P were independent prognostic factors for high-risk PCa, and NCHT might significantly improve bPFS compared with the NHT. In addition, the degree of reduction in glandular density and diameter was also associated with bPFS, and the nomogram based on pathological morphology parameters-intended for postoperative risk stratification-might be helpful in clinical decision-making.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered.

RevDate: 2026-06-25
CmpDate: 2026-06-25

Sutanto H, Savitri M, Ashariati A, et al (2026)

Temporal Hematologic Alterations in Women Receiving Pharmacotherapy for Breast Cancer: A Prospective Analysis.

Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP, 27(6):2301-2314 pii:92253.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer pharmacotherapy commonly results in hematologic toxicity and systemic inflammatory shifts that may compromise treatment tolerance. This study evaluated baseline hematologic characteristics and early hematologic changes following pharmacotherapy among patients treated in second-referral centers in Indonesia.

METHODS: This prospective cohort study enrolled 106 women with confirmed breast cancer between January and October 2025. Hematologic evaluations were performed before treatment and at Weeks 1 and 3. Assessed parameters included hemoglobin, leukocyte and platelet counts, differential counts, the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and the pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV). Friedman's two-way analysis of variance by ranks was used for pre-post comparisons. Subgroup comparisons between survivors and non-survivors used Mann-Whitney U tests.

RESULTS: The mean age was 51.9 ± 9.7 years, with most patients presenting with locally advanced disease (58.5%) and invasive ductal carcinoma (84%). Baseline hemoglobin averaged 11.9 g/dL and leukocyte count 7.5 × 10³/µL. Marked hematologic suppression occurred after therapy: leukocyte and absolute neutrophil counts declined significantly at week 1 with partial recovery by week 3 (p <0.001). Inflammatory indices showed substantial fluctuations, with significant changes in PLR, MLR, and PIV (all p <0.001). Anemia increased from 51.9% at baseline to 74.0% post-therapy. Neutropenia occurred in 1.9% at baseline, 41.7% at week 1, and 1.1% at week 3. Among survival subgroups, only MLR differed significantly (p = 0.043).

CONCLUSION: The mean age was 51.9 ± 9.7 years, with most patients presenting with locally advanced disease (58.5%) and invasive ductal carcinoma (84%). Baseline hemoglobin averaged 11.9 g/dL and leukocyte count 7.5 × 10³/µL. Marked hematologic suppression occurred after therapy: leukocyte and absolute neutrophil counts declined significantly at week 1 with partial recovery by week 3 (p <0.001). Inflammatory indices showed substantial fluctuations, with significant changes in PLR, MLR, and PIV (all p <0.001). Anemia increased from 51.9% at baseline to 74.0% post-therapy. Neutropenia occurred in 1.9% at baseline, 41.7% at week 1, and 1.1% at week 3. Among survival subgroups, only MLR differed significantly (p = 0.043).

RevDate: 2026-06-22

Fantone S, Tossetta G, Sanguedolce F, et al (2026)

Trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 evaluation in intraepithelial neoplasia and intraductal carcinoma of the prostate: An immunopathological study.

Tissue & cell, 103:103713 pii:S0040-8166(26)00407-6 [Epub ahead of print].

The origin of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) in presence of prostate adenocarcinoma (PCa) is a matter of debate. This study evaluates trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (Trop-2) expression in prostatic high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN), IDC-P and PCa to explain the possible mechanism for IDC-P arising. Trop-2 was localized in the luminal epithelium of normal prostate gland, HGPIN and IDC-P. The quantitative analysis of immunohistochemistry showed no difference of Trop-2 expression between HGPIN and IDC-P, while statistically significant differences were observed comparing the two pathologies with normal tissues. Contrarily, Trop-2 was expressed in 2.5% of the basal cells in normal prostate gland and in 1% of HGPIN while Trop-2 was expressed in 8% of cells in IDC-P samples. We suggest that Trop-2 present in the basal cells may acquire neoplastic changes. The neoplastic cells could grow into the glandular lumen as HGPIN and/or spread into the duct as IDC-P or spread into the stroma as PCa. In conclusion, our data in part support the theory of intraductal carcinoma origin through retrograde glandular colonization.

RevDate: 2026-06-23

Carone N, Shenkman G, HM W Bos (2026)

Gender and sexual diversity over the life cycle in families formed through assisted reproduction.

Journal of reproductive and infant psychology, 44(4):895-897.

RevDate: 2026-06-20

Ebersbach P, Nallala J, Shepherd N, et al (2026)

Beyond Color: Hybrid Vibrational-Electronic Broadband Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering for Molecularly Informed Digital Pathology.

Analytical chemistry [Epub ahead of print].

We demonstrate that broadband coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (BCARS) on hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained tissue generates a hybrid vibrational-electronic spectroscopic contrast arising from coupled Raman-active vibrations and chromatin-hematoxylin electronic resonances. This hybrid response, inaccessible to conventional spontaneous Raman or infrared microscopy due to fluorescence and substrate interference, transforms routine histology slides into sources of quantitative molecular information. The resulting spectra encode both Raman-active vibrations and resonance-modulated four-wave-mixing contributions arising from hemalum-chromatin interactions, thereby linking histological color contrast to quantitative, machine-readable spectral features. In breast tissue microarrays, we show (i) pixel-wise wavenumber-shift mapping that resolves subnuclear domains and highlights necrosis-associated nuclear shrinkage; (ii) phase-retrieved Raman-like spectra that separate hemalum-associated resonant features from nonpigmented contributions attributable to processing reagents; and (iii) nucleus-level discrimination of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) using a PCA-LDA workflow. This study is a feasibility demonstration rather than a clinical validation, but establishes electronically enhanced BCARS on routine H&E slides as a route to unlock archival repositories for molecular phenotyping and AI-enabled histopathology.

RevDate: 2026-06-22

Papaefstathiou M, Elgendi M, C Menon (2026)

Interdigitated capacitive strain sensor enables precise yoga-inspired motion tracking.

Npj biosensing, 3(1):39.

We report a fully textile-based interdigitated capacitive (IDC) strain sensor for wearable posture recognition. The sensor is lightweight, comfortable, and washable, and maintained stable electromechanical performance during 6,500 strain cycles, with absolute value of the gauge factor ranging from 0.67 to 0.81 across the tested strain conditions. Integrated into clothing, the sensor captured multidimensional electrical responses, including capacitance-, resistance-, and phase-related signals, during four biomechanically distinct yoga postures: High Lunge, Lunge Forward, Squat, and Tree. Using a supervised machine-learning pipeline combining handcrafted sensor-channel features and MiniROCKET time-series features, record-level classification achieved an accuracy of 94.4% and a macro-averaged F1 score of 94.2%. Record-level five-fold cross-validation further showed stable performance across folds, supporting the robustness of the classification framework within the present controlled cohort. One-vs-rest receiver operating characteristic analysis yielded area under the curve values of 90%, 94%, 99%, and 99% for High Lunge, Lunge Forward, Squat, and Tree, respectively. Channel ablation analysis identified capacitance-derived features as the most informative predictors. Statistical and temporal analyses further showed posture-dependent differences in signal magnitude, normalized response, and waveform dynamics, while supervised low-dimensional projection revealed distinct class structure. These results demonstrate the feasibility of textile-based IDC sensing for wearable movement monitoring applications such as such digital fitness.

RevDate: 2026-06-18
CmpDate: 2026-06-18

Gu W, Xu C, Fu J, et al (2026)

Clinical predictors of BRCA1/2 P/LP variants for high-risk breast cancer patients in China: HBRCA-risk prediction.

Frontiers in oncology, 16:1779548.

BACKGROUND: Germline BRCA1/2 pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) variant identification is critical for guiding surgical and systemic therapy in breast cancer. However, prediction tools developed in high-risk cohorts remain limited, hindering large-scale adoption in clinical pathways in China.

METHODS: We included 1,204 high-risk breast cancer patients during 2017-2021 from Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, eastern China. Clinical data were collected and blood samples underwent targeted NGS for BRCA1/2, with variants classified by ClinVar and the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics-Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG-AMP). Predictors (histology, molecular subtype, age, and family history) were included with missing data imputed using Multiple Imputation by Chained Equations (MICE). We developed a multivariable logistic regression model to predict P/LP carrier status and evaluated its performance across imputed datasets with bootstrap internal validation.

RESULTS: In 1,204 high-risk Chinese breast cancer patients, BRCA1/2 P/LP variants were detected in 102 (8.5%), with strong associations for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) (55.9%), invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) (94.1%), and family history, while older age reduced risk. The final model incorporated histology, molecular subtype, age, and family history. It achieved good discrimination and acceptable calibration, with a low Brier score. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.758, the Hosmer-Lemeshow (HL) P value was 0.349, and the Brier score was 0.071. Sensitivity, stratified, and bootstrap validation (500 resamples, calibration error 0.007) confirmed robustness. Decision Curve Analysis (DCA) demonstrated clear net clinical benefit over test-all and test-none strategies.

CONCLUSIONS: We developed a clinicopathology-based model from a high-risk Chinese breast cancer cohort to predict BRCA1/2 P/LP carrier probability, which was the large high-risk clinical cohort with information of BRCA1/2 variants and clinical characteristics in mainland China. It supported clinical implementation by extending testing beyond current guidelines and optimizing the use of limited genetic resources.

RevDate: 2026-06-19

Hicks C, Menant J, Allen N, et al (2026)

Predictive Accuracy of Gait Speed for Falls: An Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis.

Ageing research reviews pii:S1568-1637(26)00199-6 [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Gait speed is included in the World Falls Guidelines (WFG) fall risk algorithm, yet its ability to discriminate fallers from non-fallers remains unclear. This individual participant data meta-analysis examined the discriminative ability of the WFG-recommended cut point (<0.8m/s) and the performance of a higher cut point (<1.0m/s) for predicting falls in community-dwelling older adults and clinical populations at elevated risk of falls.

METHODS: Individual data from 28 studies with a quantitative measure of gait speed and at least three months of prospectively reported falls were analysed using modified Poisson regression and negative binomial regression, followed by random-effects meta-analyses.

RESULTS: Eight studies involving community-dwelling older adults (n = 3,627) and twenty studies involving clinical populations (n = 3,981) were included. Walking at <0.8m/s was associated with increased risk of falling (Relative Risk: 1.27 (95%CI 1.17 - 1.38)) and fall rate (Incidence Rate Ratio: 1.54 (95%CI 1.34 - 1.77)). Diagnostic accuracy was modest (58%, specificity 77%, sensitivity 35%), with consistent findings across planned subgroup analyses for population, fall history, and sex. Analyses using the <1.0m/s cut point produced similar effect sizes and accuracy metrics but identified a larger proportion of fallers in both community-dwelling (30.1% vs. 8.7%) and clinical populations (66.9% vs. 46.0%) compared to the <0.8m/s cut point.

CONCLUSION: Slower gait speed is associated with an increased risk and rate of falling across both population groups, but discriminative accuracy is low. While the <0.8m/s threshold shows consistent associations, a <1.0m/s cut point may be more clinically useful in community-dwelling and clinical settings because it identifies more fallers.

RevDate: 2026-06-17

Göker M, Hahn M, Kraemer XE, et al (2026)

Specimen PET-CT Imaging for Intraoperative Margin Assessment in Early-Stage Breast Cancer: The BrIMA Nonrandomized Clinical Trial.

JAMA surgery pii:2850515 [Epub ahead of print].

IMPORTANCE: Positive margins occur in 12% to 30% of breast-conserving surgeries and are associated with increased local recurrence risks. Accurate and efficient intraoperative margin assessment, therefore, remains an unmet clinical need.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the success rate of intraoperative specimen positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) imaging in addressing positive margins in patients with invasive ductal carcinoma.

This was an interventional, multicenter, nonrandomized clinical trial that recruited patients from June 2022 to March 2025. Patients were followed up 2 weeks after surgery. Six European breast cancer centers participated and integrated specimen PET-CT imaging into their routine surgical flow. The analysis included eligible patients with early-stage breast cancer scheduled for breast-conserving surgery.

INTERVENTIONS: Patients received an intravenous injection of low-dose 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG; 0.8 MBq/kg). After tumor excision, the specimen was imaged intraoperatively using a dedicated specimen PET-CT scanner. Surgeons interpreted PET-CT images intraoperatively, and additional tissue was excised when margins were deemed suspicious to achieve final negative margins.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was the success rate of specimen PET-CT in addressing positive margins for the invasive component in patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery for invasive ductal carcinoma. Secondary outcomes included success rates in other breast cancer subtypes, final positive margin rates, reoperation rates, and diagnostic performance using histopathology as the reference standard.

RESULTS: The analysis cohort consisted of 148 female patients with a median (IQR) age of 65 (53-73) years and a median (IQR) preoperative tumor size of 17 (12-22) mm. For the invasive component of invasive ductal carcinoma, success rates increased from 83.3% (70 of 84 patients) without intraoperative margin assessment (IMA) to 86.9% (73 of 84 patients) with routine margin assessment and to 95.2% (80 of 84 patients) with specimen PET-CT (P < .001 vs no IMA). Across all study groups, success rates improved from 76.4% (113 of 148 patients) without IMA to 81.8% (121 of 148 patients) with routine margin assessment techniques and to 91.9% (136 of 148 patients) with specimen PET-CT (P < .001 vs no IMA; P = .009 vs standard-of-care IMA).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Study findings show that specimen PET-CT imaging was associated with an improvement in the assessment of positive margins for invasive component in patients undergoing conserving surgery for early breast cancer. The use of this integrated approach might lead to a substantial reduction of re-excision rates after breast-conserving surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04999917.

RevDate: 2026-06-16
CmpDate: 2026-06-16

Luo L, Li S, Q Ji (2026)

Interpretable machine learning for prognostic prediction in young women with triple-negative invasive ductal breast cancer: a Boruta-SHAP integrated approach.

Gland surgery, 15(5):120.

BACKGROUND: Young women with triple-negative invasive ductal breast cancer (TN-IDC) exhibit high invasiveness and poor prognosis, rendering accurate prognostic prediction crucial for individualized diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to identify core prognostic factors and establish an optimal binary predictive model for cancer-specific survival (CSS) through an interpretable machine learning (ML) framework comprising "feature selection-model construction-result interpretation".

METHODS: Clinical data of 2,311 young female TN-IDC patients aged 20-40 years were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, including 560 deceased cases and 1,751 surviving cases. The dataset covered multi-dimensional indicators such as demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment regimens, and metastatic status. The Boruta algorithm was used to screen key prognostic features for CSS, and 8 ML models were established based on the selected features. Model performance was comprehensively evaluated using 9 metrics (including accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity) as well as receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration curves. Finally, the Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) algorithm was employed to interpret model logic and quantify feature contributions to CSS.

RESULTS: Boruta feature selection identified node (N) stage, tumor (T) stage, bone, lung, and liver metastases, and surgical approach as core prognostic factors for CSS. Among the 8 established ML models, the multilayer perceptron (MLP) model demonstrated the optimal overall performance, with an accuracy of 0.711 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.683-0.739], Matthews Correlation Coefficient of 0.402 (95% CI: 0.372-0.423), balanced accuracy of 0.732 (95% CI: 0.704-0.759), area under the curve (AUC) of 0.782 (95% CI: 0.737-0.828). Additionally, its calibration curve showed the highest alignment with the ideal line. Several models achieved competitive performance, including logistic regression (AUC =0.736), xgboost (AUC =0.741), random forest (rf, AUC =0.726) and elastic net (enet, AUC =0.738), yet none surpassed MLP in overall predictive ability. AUC differences between MLP and logistic regression (P=0.17) or xgboost (P=0.22) were not statistically significant, but MLP showed consistently superior performance across multiple metrics, confirming its robustness for this task. SHAP analysis revealed that the N3 stage (N stage subclass) and bone metastasis had the most significant impacts on predictive outcomes, with higher N stages and positive bone metastasis status significantly increasing the risk of adverse prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS: Through the Boruta-SHAP interpretable ML framework, this study clarified the core prognostic characteristics of TN-IDC in young women. The constructed MLP model shows favorable prognostic performance, providing supportive evidence and a supplementary practical tool for clinical risk stratification, individualized treatment decision-making, and follow-up management.

RevDate: 2026-06-17
CmpDate: 2026-06-17

Zeng X, Huang H, Hong Y, et al (2026)

Case Report: A rare triad of neoplasms: navigating synchronous accessory breast cancer, papillary thyroid carcinoma, and inflammatory nasal papilloma.

Frontiers in medicine, 13:1841765.

BACKGROUND: The differential diagnosis of an isolated axillary mass in a woman with normal breast imaging presents a significant clinical challenge, with accessory breast carcinoma being a critical yet often overlooked entity. The concurrent management of multiple primary tumors further complicates therapeutic decision-making.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 60-year-old woman presented with a 1-year history of a painless, enlarging left axillary mass. Initial imaging revealed a BI-RADS 5 lesion in the left axilla with suspicious lymph nodes, but no primary breast abnormality; subsequent breast MRI confirmed the absence of an orthotopic primary. Core needle biopsy confirmed grade II invasive ductal carcinoma of mammary origin. Subsequent evaluations incidentally identified a Bethesda V thyroid nodule and a benign nasal papilloma. Following six cycles of neoadjuvant TAC chemotherapy, she underwent sequential surgeries: prophylactic ipsilateral nipple-sparing subcutaneous mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection, endoscopic nasal tumor resection, and total thyroidectomy with central compartment dissection. Final pathology confirmed primary accessory breast carcinoma (ypT3N2, Luminal B), papillary thyroid carcinoma (pT1aN1a), and squamous epithelial papilloma of the nasal cavity. Adjuvant treatment included locoregional radiotherapy, endocrine therapy (letrozole plus abemaciclib), and radioiodine ablation.

CONCLUSION: This case underscores that primary accessory breast cancer must be a leading consideration in the differential diagnosis of an isolated axillary mass with negative standard breast imaging. It also illustrates a pragmatic, multidisciplinary strategy for the integrated management of synchronous primary tumors, guided by the principles of oncologic prioritization and sequenced intervention.

RevDate: 2026-06-17
CmpDate: 2026-06-17

Chen M, Feng M, Li X, et al (2026)

Locally advanced breast cancer in an elderly male with end-stage renal disease: A case report.

Oncology letters, 32(2):328.

Male breast cancer (MBC) is uncommon, often diagnosed late and prone to distant metastases. Treating MBC is more challenging than treating female breast cancer. The present study reports a case of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in a Chinese patient with locally advanced MBC. What distinguishes the present case from previously reported MBCs is the advanced age (90 years), the presence of ESRD with multiple complications and the locally advanced (T4b) ulcerated tumor, a triad rarely documented in the literature. A 90-year-old man presented to the hospital with an itchy, bleeding, ulcerated breast tumor. In addition to ESRD, they had hypertension and urinary retention requiring cystostomy, as well as a 5.0×4.5 cm ulcer on their left breast. A simple left mastectomy was performed as palliative surgery. Postoperative pathology confirmed invasive ductal carcinoma (unspecified type, grade III); immunohistochemistry showed strong estrogen receptor positivity (~95%) and moderate-to-strong progesterone receptor positivity (~10%). After palliative resection, the patient received adjuvant endocrine therapy as scheduled. Due to the systemic condition of the patient and their comorbidities, adjuvant endocrine therapy was chosen over radiation and chemotherapy. The quality of life of the patient improved and recovery was uneventful. In the present case, respecting the preferences of the patient was vital for this very elderly individual with a terminal illness. Striking a balance between tumor control and risk-benefit ratio within a multidisciplinary team framework was essential. A tailored approach based on endocrine and palliative medications should be adopted to improve quality of life and short-term prognosis.

RevDate: 2026-06-17
CmpDate: 2026-06-17

Erdemutu E, Huang B, Hu L, et al (2026)

Research and development of novel embolization materials and study on their feasibility of preventing T2EL after EVAR abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine, 13:1740816.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a novel vascular embolization material-Thrombin-Coated Controllable Coil (TCC)-and to evaluate its physicochemical properties, biological performance, and feasibility in preventing Type II Endoleak (T2EL) following Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

METHODS: TCC was prepared by coating an interlocking detachable coil (IDC) with a polyvinylpyrrolidone/polycaprolactone (PVP/PCL) blend containing lyophilized thrombin powder (LTP). Its morphology, dissolution, and thrombin-loading capacity were characterized. Coagulation efficiency was tested under static and dynamic conditions. The effects of TCC on vascular endothelial (VECs) and smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were assessed in vitro, and a Bama minipig AAA model with T2EL was used to evaluate in vivo performance. Transcriptomic analysis was conducted to explore underlying molecular mechanisms.

RESULTS: TCC exhibited a uniform thrombin coating layer, with an average drug loading of 0.0066 ± 0.0003 g, and the water solubility time was 1,080 ± 42.43 s. In the static and dynamic coagulation experiments, compared with the IDC group and the control group, TCC significantly shortened the coagulation time, and its coagulation efficiency was comparable to that of LTP. Extracellularly, TCC promoted apoptosis of VSMCs, inhibited the proliferation and migration of VSMCs, and had a relatively minor effect on VECs. In vivo, TCC effectively prevented T2EL, achieved complete thrombosis within the aneurysm, and no complications occurred. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 161 differentially expressed genes, including downregulation of MMP9, VDR, E2F8, RUNX2, and MKI67, and upregulation of BTG2, IGFBP6, LGR5 and DPT.

CONCLUSION: TCC exhibits excellent biocompatibility, controllability, strong thrombogenic activity and safety. It is a highly promising next-generation embolic material for treating EVAR-related complications.

RevDate: 2026-06-17
CmpDate: 2026-06-17

Ozaki Y, Yoshida K, Ichikawa T, et al (2026)

Extracellular vesicles in nipple discharge for breast cancer screening.

Breast cancer research and treatment, 217(3):.

PURPOSE: Nipple discharge (ND) is one of its major symptoms of breast cancer. However, the low volume of NDs has limited their diagnostic capability. This study aimed to identify extracellular vesicles (EVs) miRNAs in ND using cellulose nanofiber (CNF) sheets to develop clinical biomarkers.

METHODS: Patients with ND from two independent institutions between 2023 and 2024 were included. ND-EVs were isolated from 23 samples [normal, n = 8; intraductal papilloma, n = 1; ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), n = 8; invasive ductal carcinoma, n = 6] using CNF sheets. Additionally, miRNAs were also analyzed from intracystic fluid, tumor tissue, and tissue surface EVs from the same patients, and miRNA sequencing was performed.

RESULTS: miRNA sequencing for ND-EVs revealed distinct clustering between cancer and normal groups, identifying miR-342-3p, miR-20b-5p, and miR-550a-5p as candidate biomarkers. ND-EV miRNA profiles reflected tumor tissue characteristics, especially in DCIS. Four additional miRNAs (miR-92b-3p, miR-375-3p, miR-182-5p, miR-96-5p) were commonly upregulated in DCIS tissue, tissue surface, and ND-EVs. These miRNAs were validated by qRT-PCR. ROC curve analyses demonstrated that combining the five miRNAs yielded high diagnostic performance, with AUCs of 0.902 for breast cancer and 0.938 for DCIS. A subset of three miRNAs also showed robust discrimination ability.

CONCLUSION: ND-EV miRNAs collected via CNF sheets show great potential as noninvasive biomarkers for early breast cancer detection.

RevDate: 2026-06-13

Heiranizadeh N, Mohammad-Rezaei M, Noroozbeygi M, et al (2026)

Collagen gene expression profiles predict recurrence and progression of DCIS to IDC.

Scientific reports pii:10.1038/s41598-026-57339-y [Epub ahead of print].

Breast cancer is a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality globally. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a non-invasive precursor to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), and understanding the molecular mechanisms driving this transition is critical. This study explores the role of collagen genes (COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL5A2) in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and tumor progression. Pathology samples were collected from patients at Rasoul Akram, Asia, and Khatam Al-Anbia Hospitals (2013-2023), including 42 cases (recurrent DCIS and IDC) and 32 controls (primary DCIS without recurrence). RNA was extracted, reverse transcribed, and analyzed via real-time PCR to assess collagen gene expression. Statistical analyses, including ROC curve analysis, were performed to evaluate the predictive performance of collagen gene expression. Results revealed significant upregulation of COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, and COL5A2 in the case group, with fold increases of 9.71, 5.38, 3.16, and 4.63, respectively (p ≤ 0.05). Overexpression was most pronounced in ER-negative, PR-negative, and high Ki67 subtypes, indicating a link to aggressive tumor behavior. ROC analysis demonstrated the potential predictive utility of collagen gene expression profiles, with AUC values ranging from 0.765 to 0.859. These findings underscore the role of collagen genes in breast cancer progression, highlighting their potential as predictive biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

RevDate: 2026-06-16
CmpDate: 2026-06-16

Mao J, Song J, Liu Y, et al (2026)

Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging-derived three-dimensional tumor volume improves prognostic stratification in breast cancer: a retrospective cohort study.

Gland surgery, 15(5):138.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer prognosis and treatment planning largely depend on the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system, with T category mainly based on maximum tumor diameter (TD). Irregular three-dimensional (3D) growth of most breast tumors means that a single linear measurement cannot fully reflect tumor burden. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) allows tumor volume (TV) assessment, yet its incremental prognostic value remains uncertain. This study aimed to compare MRI-derived TV and conventional TD-based T staging for prognostic stratification of breast cancer.

METHODS: This single-center retrospective cohort study included 574 consecutive women with non-metastatic invasive breast cancer who underwent surgery at The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between January 2016 and June 2019. Eligible patients had histologically confirmed invasive ductal carcinoma, preoperative 3.0-T breast MRI suitable for three-dimensional volumetric analysis, complete clinicopathological and follow-up data, no neoadjuvant therapy, and standardized treatment according to contemporaneous clinical practice guidelines. TV was measured using semi-automatic segmentation in 3D Slicer (version 5.5.0). Follow-up commenced at surgery and was conducted through outpatient visits, telephone interviews, and electronic medical record review until September 30, 2024. Disease-free survival (DFS) was defined as the interval from surgery to the first occurrence of local, regional, or distant recurrence, disease progression, or death from any cause; overall survival (OS) was defined as the interval from surgery to death from any cause. Cox regression and concordance index (C-index) analyses with 1,000 bootstrap resampling iterations were performed.

RESULTS: In the overall cohort, TV was strongly correlated with TD (r=0.781, 95% CI: 0.734-0.820, P<0.001), but this correlation weakened markedly when TD was >2.5 cm (r=0.341, 95% CI: 0.141-0.494, P<0.001). In multivariable Cox regression for DFS, compared with V1 (TV ≤2 cm[3]), V2 (>2-5 cm[3]) and V3 (>5 cm[3]) were independently associated with poorer DFS, with hazard ratios (HRs) of 2.721 (95% CI: 1.181-6.271, P=0.02) and 6.069 (95% CI: 2.640-13.950, P<0.001), respectively. In the TD-based model, compared with T1, the HRs were 2.227 (95% CI: 1.185-4.187, P=0.01) for T2 and 4.691 (95% CI: 1.424-15.457, P=0.01) for T3. The TV-based model had a C-index of 0.744, compared with 0.702 for the TD-based model; the corresponding bootstrap-corrected values were 0.749 (95% CI: 0.674-0.818) and 0.704 (95% CI: 0.619-0.795), respectively. In subgroup analyses, the TV-based model also showed higher discrimination in lymph node-positive disease (0.778 vs. 0.752, P=0.02), HER2- tumors (0.717 vs. 0.683, P=0.02), and Ki-67-high tumors (0.715 vs. 0.680, P=0.03).

CONCLUSIONS: MRI-derived three-dimensional TV may complement conventional diameter-based staging by providing additional prognostic information in non-metastatic breast cancer. TV-based models showed higher discrimination in this cohort, particularly in selected biologically aggressive subgroups, although further prospective multicenter validation is warranted.

RevDate: 2026-06-15

Shrivastava S, Szewczyk C, Grelewicz Z, et al (2026)

Cesium-131 brachytherapy for central nervous system salvage therapy.

Journal of neuro-oncology, 177(2):.

PURPOSE: Salvage therapy for metastatic central nervous system (CNS) lesions remains challenging. Repeat stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is sometimes feasible, but subject to high radionecrosis rates. Cesium-131 (Cs-131) brachytherapy seeds packaged inside “tiles” of collagen spacer material may offer an alternative approach. We report a single institution’s experience with this modality. METHODS: Patients with metastatic lesions salvaged with Cs-131 brachytherapy were reviewed. Analyses included treatment characteristics and Kaplan–Meier estimates of overall survival (OS) and local control, while primary tumor outcomes were summarized descriptively. RESULTS: Sixteen patients with metastatic lesions (19 post-operative resection cavities, 17 cases) were reviewed. The most common primary histologies were non-small cell lung cancer (8 cavities, 42.1%) and invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast (3 cavities, 15.8%). One year OS was 70.8%. During follow-up, local failure occurred in 2 of 19 cavities (10.5%). Gross-total resection (GTR) was achieved in 15 cavities (78.9%). All demonstrated local control at a median follow-up of 12 months (full range, 2–39 months). Subtotal or near-total resection (STR/NTR) was achieved in 4 cavities (21.1%). Follow-up data were available for 2 of these cavities (both NTR), and both experienced local failure at 5.3 months. Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak occurred in 2 patients (12.5%). Radionecrosis within the resection cavity was observed in 3 patients (18.8%) with symptomatic grade ≥ 2 radionecrosis occurring in 1 patient (6.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Salvage therapy with Cs-131 brachytherapy offers effective local control and an acceptable safety profile. Its utility may be greatest following GTR.

RevDate: 2026-06-15

Ghilli M, Mariniello MD, Lisa AVE, et al (2026)

Safety of the use of an absorbable implant in breast-conserving surgery followed by radiotherapy: preplanned interim results from a prospective study.

Updates in surgery [Epub ahead of print].

Oncoplastic techniques aim to optimize cosmetic and oncologic results after BCS. Absorbable scaffolds may aid volume replacement while preserving radiotherapy (RT) planning and follow-up imaging, though clinical evidence remains limited. This interim analysis of a prospective, multicenter, single-arm trial (Tens-BBC/003/2021; NCT05941299) included 25 patients with 6 month follow-up after BCS and whole-breast RT. Outcomes were adverse events (AEs), device usability, pain (VAS), satisfaction, quality of life (BREAST-Q©), cosmetic and imaging results, and RT tolerance. Mean age was 53.6 years, BMI 24.8 kg/m2. Tumors were mainly in the upper-outer quadrant (52%); T1c in 56%, T1b in 20%, T2 in 24%. Histology was invasive ductal carcinoma in 72%, nodal status cN0 in 96%. Mean surgery time was 74.7 min; drains were used in 76%. REGENERA™ type A (70 mL) was implanted in 84%, type B (100 mL) in 16%. No major complications occurred. Of 94 AEs within 90 days, all were mild/moderate and unrelated to the device; four later AEs (in one patient) were possibly implant-related. Investigator satisfaction (VAS) improved from 8.4 at implantation to 9.2 at 6 months; usability targets were exceeded. Pain decreased from 2.3 to 1.56. BREAST-Q© showed higher breast satisfaction (+ 8.9, p = 0.041), reduced distress (–10.3, p = 0.006), and a modest decline in physical well-being (–11.6, p = 0.012). All patients completed RT; acute toxicity occurred in 44%, all grade 1–2. Cosmetic outcomes were good to excellent in 88%. Radiological integration was satisfactory, with no significant interference in MRI. REGENERA™ is safe, feasible, and biocompatible for volume replacement in BCS. It provides high satisfaction and favorable cosmetic results without compromising RT or follow-up imaging. Early results support its integration into oncoplastic practice, though long-term evaluation is required.

RevDate: 2026-06-12

Toyota PR, Hounjet CD, Liu E, et al (2026)

Tumor-to-Tumor Metastasis Involving Vestibular Schwannoma: Case Report and Literature Review.

Otology & neurotology : official publication of the American Otological Society, American Neurotology Society [and] European Academy of Otology and Neurotology [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVE: To present a case of tumor-to-tumor metastasis involving vestibular schwannoma and review previously reported cases, with focus on histopathologic and immunohistochemical characteristics.

PATIENTS: Case report of a 55-year-old female with a history of invasive ductal breast carcinoma who presented with unilateral hearing loss and gait disturbance.

INTERVENTIONS: MRI demonstrated a right-sided extra-axial cerebellopontine angle lesion. Patient underwent surgical resection with histopathologic and immunohistochemical profiling of the tumor.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A near-total resection was achieved. Microscopic analysis demonstrated vestibular schwannoma with nests of glandular elements. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed metastasis of her known invasive ductal carcinoma to vestibular schwannoma. Subsequent staging imaging showed advanced oncologic spread.

CONCLUSIONS: Including the present case, there have been 11 reports of tumor-to-tumor metastasis involving vestibular schwannoma. The risk of tumor-to-tumor metastasis should be considered in patients with concomitant systemic malignancy and vestibular schwannoma. Cell-cell adhesion mechanisms may facilitate the spread of breast cancer to vestibular schwannoma. Further reports may help to better understand vestibular schwannoma by analyzing its interaction with other oncologic entities.

RevDate: 2026-06-11

Ezzat A, Zhu Z, Roddan A, et al (2026)

Label-free classification of breast cancer subtypes in ex vivo human tissues using Raman spectroscopy and machine learning.

Scientific reports pii:10.1038/s41598-026-54071-5 [Epub ahead of print].

Breast conserving surgery (BCS) aims to excise breast tumors whilst preserving breast-related quality of life, but is complicated by the challenge of accurately identifying the margin between healthy and cancerous tissue. Raman spectroscopy (RS) has been shown to distinguish between normal breast tissue and breast cancer. Thus, this study aimed to further evaluate the diagnostic performance of RS in ex vivo breast tissue subtype classification via investigation of signals from healthy tissues and three breast cancer subtypes (invasive ductal carcinoma, IDC; invasive lobular carcinoma, ILC; and ductal carcinoma in situ, DCIS). A total of 80 tissue samples (46 normal and 34 cancerous) from 71 individuals were measured using a confocal Raman microscope. Spectral signatures were investigated, and supervised classification was performed for both two-class (healthy vs. cancer) and four-class (healthy vs. IDC vs. ILC vs. DCIS) classification tasks. RS successfully differentiated cancerous from normal breast tissue (97.84% sensitivity, 97.18% specificity). For four-class classification, RS achieved in-class sensitivity ranging from 83 to 96% and specificity from 93 to 99%. These findings demonstrate that RS can accurately distinguish normal from cancerous tissue and capture clinically relevant differences among histological subtypes, including invasive and pre-invasive disease, supporting its promise for intraoperative tissue characterization during BCS.

RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-06-12

Sertesen Çamöz E, Bayrak A, Karaçin C, et al (2026)

Local Ablative Therapy in Breast Cancer Liver Metastases: Survival Outcomes and Prognostic Factors-A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Journal of clinical medicine, 15(11): pii:jcm15114045.

Background: Liver metastases from breast cancer (BCLM) are associated with poor prognosis and represent a significant clinical challenge in the era of modern systemic therapies. Local ablative therapies (LATs), including microwave ablation (MWA) and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), have emerged as potentially beneficial locoregional approaches in selected patients. However, data on survival outcomes and prognostic determinants of LAT in BCLM remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the survival outcomes and prognostic factors of LAT in patients with breast cancer liver metastases at a tertiary care center. Methods: Patients with de novo or metachronous breast cancer liver metastases who underwent LAT (MWA and/or TACE) between 2013 and October 2023 at a single tertiary center were retrospectively analyzed. Primary endpoints were overall survival (OS), defined as the time from LAT initiation to death from any cause, and progression-free survival (PFS), defined as the time from LAT initiation to the first radiographically confirmed progression. Treatment response was assessed per RECIST 1.1 criteria. Results: A total of 20 female patients were included. Median age at diagnosis was 42 years (IQR: 37-53). The majority had invasive ductal carcinoma (90%) and grade 3 disease (60%). Hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive, and triple-negative subtypes comprised 45%, 25%, and 30% of the cohort, respectively. MWA was performed in 16 patients (80%), TACE was performed in 2 patients (10%), and both modalities were performed in 2 patients (10%). Complete response per RECIST 1.1 was achieved in 40% of patients. No grade 3-4 adverse events were recorded. Median OS was 20 months (95% CI: 14.9-25.1), and median PFS was 6 months (95% CI: 0-17.5). In univariate analysis, factors associated with improved OS included LM size < 18 mm (23 vs. 11 months, p < 0.001), unilateral lobar involvement (23 vs. 5 months, p = 0.025), and LAT application during first-line therapy (48 vs. 19 months, p = 0.021). Factors associated with improved PFS included LM size < 18 mm (19 vs. 5 months, p < 0.001) and achievement of complete ablative response per RECIST 1.1 (18 vs. 5 months, p = 0.005). Conclusions: LAT is a safe and feasible treatment modality in selected BCLM patients. In univariate analysis, smaller lesion size, unilateral hepatic involvement, and early-line LAT applications are associated with improved OS, while complete ablative response is associated with improved PFS. These findings warrant validation in prospective studies with larger cohorts. Multidisciplinary patient selection is essential to optimize outcomes.

RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-06-12

Tsoti SM, Kalles V, Nikitaras A, et al (2026)

Cryoablation in Early-Stage Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review of Efficacy, Safety and Oncologic Outcomes.

Cancers, 18(11): pii:cancers18111842.

Background: Cryoablation is a minimally invasive technique that is being investigated as an alternative to surgery for early-stage breast cancer. Its potential advantages include outpatient treatment under local anaesthesia, favourable cosmetic outcomes, and possible immunologic synergy. However, its oncologic efficacy and long-term effectiveness are yet to be determined. Methods: We conducted a systematic review in accordance with PRISMA 2020 and the Cochrane Handbook, registered on PROSPERO (CRD420251137549). Databases searched were PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and CENTRAL, from inception to August 2025. Eligible studies included women with unifocal, node-negative invasive ductal carcinoma ≤ 2 cm treated with percutaneous cryoablation. Outcomes of interest were residual disease, ipsilateral breast tumour recurrence, procedural and late complications, and cosmetic or patient-reported outcomes. Results: From 1074 records, 15 unique studies (17 reports) were included, comprising cryoablation-only studies (n = 7), treat-and-resect studies (n = 6), and comparative studies versus surgery (n = 2). Studies containing overlapping pathology validation and comparative components were classified within a single category to avoid duplication. Across treat-and-resect cohorts, complete tumour necrosis was reported in 88-95% of cases, with residual invasive carcinoma (RIC) ranging from 5% to 12%. In cryoablation-only cohorts, IBTR rates ranged from 0% to 4.3%, with follow-up durations spanning 2 months to 8 years. The largest study (ICE3, n = 194) reported a 5-year recurrence rate of 4.3%. Procedural complications were infrequent and self-limiting, most commonly bruising, oedema, or superficial frostbite. No major adverse events were reported. Validated quality-of-life instruments reported high patient satisfaction, with favourable results in selected comparative domains. Most included studies were of moderate methodological quality. Conclusions: Cryoablation appears technically feasible, safe, and cosmetically favourable in well-selected low-risk early-stage breast cancers. Oncologic outcomes are encouraging, with reported local recurrence rates in carefully selected low-risk populations being low, although direct comparison with breast-conserving surgery remains limited by the small number of comparative studies and substantial heterogeneity across the evidence base. Rigorous multicentre randomised trials with long-term follow-up and validated patient-reported outcomes are needed before cryoablation can be considered for routine clinical adoption.

RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-06-12

Zafrakas M, Argyriou T, Papasozomenou P, et al (2026)

An Extreme Clinical Diagnosis: Primary Metastatic Breast Cancer with Complete Bilateral Breast Contour Elimination and Ulceration.

Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland), 16(11): pii:diagnostics16111744.

A 51-year-old woman was admitted with a malodorous ulceration covering the whole area of both breasts, without visible breast contour or remnants of breast tissue. After excision of a skin nodule an invasive ductal carcinoma was diagnosed; grade-2, hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative, Ki-67 at 25%. Computed tomography of the thorax and abdomen showed pulmonary and osseous metastases. Six cycles of systemic chemotherapy with epirubicin and cyclophosphamide at three-week intervals were administered, followed by endocrine therapy with letrozole. Almost four years later, palbociclib became available and it was added to the patient's treatment. Loco-regional and distant disease control was achieved attaining maximum response at 11 months after initial diagnosis and since then the patient remains progression-free with good quality of life for more than eight years. This is to the best of our knowledge an extreme case of primary metastatic ulcerative breast cancer with complete local tissue destruction and markedly prolonged progression-free survival. As this is a single-case clinical observation, any conclusions have limited generalizability. Given the rarity of primary metastatic ulcerative breast cancer there are no specific evidence-based treatment guidelines available and published studies have high heterogeneity and low level of evidence, necessitating multidisciplinary approach on a case-by-case basis.

RevDate: 2026-06-12

Jin C, S Roychoudhury (2026)

Malignant Adenomyoepithelioma Combined with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast: A Case Report.

International journal of surgical pathology [Epub ahead of print].

Malignant adenomyoepithelioma is an adenomyoepithelioma in which the epithelial or myoepithelial components may undergo malignant transformation. Malignant adenomyoepithelioma of the breast is a rare tumor and often affects elderly women. We report an 85-year-old female patient who presented with 5.5 cm mass in the outer quadrant of the left breast. Biopsy of the mass showed metaplastic spindle cell carcinoma. The patient then underwent a total mastectomy. The final pathology found malignant adenomyoepithelioma and in addition, coexisted with well-differentiated invasive ductal carcinoma. The findings raised an interesting discussion of potential pathogenesis, the implications in clinical management and emphasized the importance of extensive tissue sampling in large breast tumors.

RevDate: 2026-06-09
CmpDate: 2026-06-09

Sakhri S, Ghazouani A, Khemir A, et al (2026)

Synchronous presentation of invasive ductal breast carcinoma metastasis and ovarian granulosa cell tumor with literature review.

Discover oncology, 17(1):.

INTRODUCTION: Synchronous tumors involving the ovary are rare, particularly the coexistence of an ovarian granulosa cell tumor (GCT) and a metastatic ductal breast carcinoma within the same adnexa. While GCTs represent only 1–2% of all ovarian neoplasms, ovarian metastases from breast cancer account for up to 40% of secondary ovarian tumors, with a known predilection for invasive lobular subtypes. The synchronous occurrence of metastatic ductal carcinoma and a primary GCT remains exceptionally uncommon.

CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 45-year-old woman referred because of with a Luminal B invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast, initially staged T3N1M0. She underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radical mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection, and adjuvant radiotherapy. A laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was subsequently performed for hormonal suppression. Histopathological analysis revealed the unexpected coexistence of two distinct tumors within the same adnexal specimen: (1) an ovarian and tubal metastasis from the previously diagnosed breast ductal carcinoma, and (2) an adult-type granulosa cell tumor of the ovary. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the dual origin of the lesions. The postoperative course was uneventful, and systemic imaging showed no other metastatic sites. A multidisciplinary team recommended close surveillance.

CONCLUSION: This case highlights the rare synchronous presentation of two histologically distinct neoplasms metastatic ductal breast carcinoma and a primary granulosa cell tumor within the same anatomical site. It underscores the importance of thorough histological evaluation in patients with a history of breast cancer undergoing therapeutic oophorectomy, even when ovaries appear macroscopically normal.

RevDate: 2026-06-10
CmpDate: 2026-06-10

Ryu HS, Abdellatef AA, Kim DS, et al (2026)

Clinical implications of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase expression in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

Frontiers in oncology, 16:1838093.

OBJECTIVE: ALDH1L1, a key enzyme in folate metabolism, has been implicated in various cancers, but the clinical significance of its expression in breast cancer remains unclear.

METHODS: We analyzed three cohorts from Seoul National University Hospital: (i) 41 non-matched patient samples (23 samples from normal mammary tissues and 18 samples from invasive carcinoma); (ii) 44 paired normal and invasive mammary carcinoma patient tissues; (iii) tissue microarray of 1,001 invasive ductal carcinoma patients. ALDH1L1 immunostaining was performed on 1,086 cases (combined samples from the three cohorts) using tissue microarrays or whole section slides with positive cytoplasmic and membranous reactivity. Clinical (tumor size, grade, lymphatic invasion, and lymph node metastasis) data were collected from patient records.

RESULTS: ALDH1L1 expression was higher in non-tumor tissues than cancer tissues (p=0.0014 and p=0.0282 for two datasets), and inversely correlated with increased tumor size, advanced stage, and lymphatic spread. Higher ALDH1L1 expression is associated with smaller tumor size, lower pT stage in luminal A and HER2+ subtypes, and lower nuclear grade in triple-negative breast cancer. ALDH1L1 expression was associated with improved overall and disease-free survival, particularly in hormone receptor-positive subtypes (p=0.0049 and p=0.0441). These findings were confirmed by METABRIC database analysis. In agreement with the association between ALDH1L1 expression and tumor aggressiveness, proliferation/clonogenic assays showed strong cytotoxic effects of lentivirus-delivered ALDH1L1 in MCF7 and T47D luminal breast cancer cells.

CONCLUSION: Reduced ALDH1L1 expression is associated with aggressive clinicopathologic features and poorer survival in breast cancer, with a particularly evident and clinically relevant prognostic impact in the luminal A subtype. These findings highlight ALDH1L1 as a subtype-specific favorable biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

RevDate: 2026-06-10

Fumo AR, Dreher SI, Morigny P, et al (2026)

Hepatokines lipocalin 2 and osteopontin drive muscle atrophy in MASH.

Molecular metabolism pii:S2212-8778(26)00075-X [Epub ahead of print].

A bidirectional relationship exists between metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its progressive inflammatory form, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and sarcopenia, with each worsening the prevalence and prognosis of the other. Hepatokines have recently been shown to affect skeletal muscle metabolism and function, both in the context of MASLD and wasting diseases. We here explored the possibility of targeting hepatokines to counteract MASLD-induced sarcopenia. Integrating mouse and human liver transcriptomics with muscle proteomics from MCD- and GAN-diet induced murine MASH models with sarcopenia, we identified three MASH-induced hepatokines, namely LCN2, LGALS3 and OPN. These hepatokines were elevated in the circulation of mouse MASH models with sarcopenia and in sarcopenic patients with advanced chronic liver disease. C2C12 myotubes treated with liver-secreted proteins as well as recombinant LCN2 and LGALS3 exhibited atrophy. Stable isotope tracing and mitochondrial respiration showed that liver-secreted proteins altered mitochondrial metabolism in C2C12 myotubes, which was recapitulated in primary human myotubes. Human 3D skeletal muscle organoids treated with recombinant proteins exhibited functional impairment. Virus-mediated knockdown of LCN2 in liver of mice with MASH improved muscle function and myotube size, whereas virus-mediated overexpression of LCN2 in the liver aggravated MASH-induced myotube atrophy. Targeting hepatokines may therefore be a feasible future therapeutic strategy against sarcopenia.

RevDate: 2026-06-10

Aljunied I, Malima T, Waters C, et al (2026)

Subcutaneous contralateral upper limb metastasis in invasive breast ductal carcinoma: a rare presentation.

BMJ case reports, 19(6): pii:19/6/e269666.

Invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast is known to typically metastasise to the lungs, liver, bone and brain, with subcutaneous soft tissue involvement being rare, with only eight cases reported internationally. We report the case of a woman with a history of left-sided invasive ductal carcinoma treated with a mastectomy and adjuvant therapy, who presented 7 years later with a 2.8 cm subcutaneous lesion over the contralateral shoulder. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry confirmed metastatic invasive ductal carcinoma, displaying a morphological and receptor profile congruent with her primary tumour. This case highlights the potential for late and atypical metastatic presentations of breast cancer and underlines the importance of maintaining diagnostic vigilance in long-term survivors.

RevDate: 2026-06-11
CmpDate: 2026-06-11

Tchabashvili L, Leivaditis V, Papadaki H, et al (2026)

Expression of visfatin, lipocalin-2, adiponectin, and chemerin in breast cancer and their association with clinicopathological parameters.

Archives of medical sciences. Atherosclerotic diseases, 11:e1-e4.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer remains the most common malignancy in women worldwide, with prognosis influenced not only by tumor-intrinsic factors but also by the tumor microenvironment. Adipokines, including visfatin, lipocalin-2, adiponectin, and chemerin, have been increasingly implicated in breast cancer biology, influencing inflammation, metabolism, angiogenesis, and the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, their precise contribution to tumor progression and their association with common prognostic markers remain unclear. The expression patterns of these adipokines were evaluated in invasive ductal carcinoma and explored their relationship with established clinicopathological parameters.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Breast cancer diagnosed cases were analyzed in 2018 at the University General Hospital of Patras. Immunohistochemistry was performed for visfatin, lipocalin-2, adiponectin, and chemerin. Marker expression was correlated with estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), HER2/c-ERB2, Ki67, and lymphovascular invasion (LVI).

RESULTS: Visfatin and adiponectin both showed significant associations between high Ki67 and LVI (p = 0.0049 and p = 0.00044, respectively). In addition, ER negativity was linked to LVI for these two adipokines (p = 0.0175 for both). By contrast, lipocalin-2 did not show significant correlations, although borderline values for ER and PR suggested a possible trend.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings point to visfatin and adiponectin as potential indicators of aggressive breast cancer phenotypes, while lipocalin-2 may follow a different biological trajectory. Larger, prospective studies are warranted to confirm these associations and clarify underlying mechanisms.

RevDate: 2026-06-11

Bawazir A, Alhalafi S, Jazieh A, et al (2026)

Factors Influencing Breast Cancer Survival Outcomes in the Central Region of Saudi Arabia.

The Gulf journal of oncology, 1(50):56-64.

BACKGROUND: Globally, breast cancer (BC) stands as the most common malignancy, predominantly affecting women, with observed trends of increasing incidence and mortality. Data concerning the survival of BC patients in Saudi Arabia (SA) is notably scarce. This study aims to pinpoint the specific factors that impact the survival rate (SR) among breast cancer patients in Saudi Arabia's central region.

METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed data from 1405 breast cancer patients documented in the King Abdulaziz Medical City Cancer Registry from 2009 to 2018. The collected patient information included sociodemographic details and comprehensive tumor characteristics such as its location, histopathology, molecular subtypes, disease stage, and ultimate survival outcomes. To assess the relationship between these factors and patient survival, survival analyses were performed, incorporating Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models, which were adjusted for potential confounding variables.

RESULTS: Patients of older age (over 60 years) demonstrated a higher mortality risk from breast cancer. Invasive ductal carcinoma was the most frequently observed histopathologic subtype; however, invasive lobular carcinoma was linked to an elevated death risk. Adjusted Hazard Ratios from Cox regression indicated that BC patients with metastasis were six times (AHR=6.3; 95%CI=4.6-8.7, p<0.001) more likely to face a higher death risk compared to those with localized or regional tumors. Furthermore, patients diagnosed with triple-negative tumors were associated with twice the risk of death compared to other subtypes (AHR=2.1; 95%CI=1.4-2.9, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: Both patient age and the presence of distant cancer spread are critical predictors of survival for breast cancer patients residing in central Saudi Arabia. Emphasizing early diagnosis, timely treatment, and consistent follow-up is essential for enhancing patient outcomes.

RevDate: 2026-06-11

Turan B, Sanli AN, Karabulut A, et al (2026)

Mammary Paget Disease is Not an Independent Prognostic Factor: A Contemporary SEER Analysis.

The American surgeon [Epub ahead of print].

PurposeThis study aimed to provide an updated evaluation of the clinicopathological characteristics and survival outcomes of mammary Paget disease by analyzing pure Paget, Paget + DCIS, and Paget + IDC subgroups within the contemporary SEER cohort, which includes consistent HER2 reporting and reflects the modern systemic therapy era.MethodsCases diagnosed in the SEER database between 2010 and 2021 were analyzed. Clinicopathological parameters were compared across subgroups. Overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analyses and multivariable Cox regression models.ResultsPaget-associated subgroups exhibited distinct biological profiles, characterized by lower hormone receptor positivity and markedly higher HER2 positivity compared with IDC. In unadjusted analyses, pure Paget and Paget + IDC groups demonstrated lower survival, whereas Paget + DCIS showed the most favorable outcomes (P < 0.001). However, after adjustment for key prognostic determinants, including age, stage, grade, nodal status, and treatment, histological subgroup was not an independent predictor of OS or CSS.ConclusionIn the modern therapeutic era, survival differences across the Paget spectrum appear to reflect the underlying carcinoma's biological and clinical characteristics rather than the presence of Paget disease itself. This study represents the most contemporary, comprehensively adjusted population-level analysis to date and clarifies that, when tumors are matched for stage and subtype, Paget disease does not independently worsen prognosis.

RevDate: 2026-06-11

Urbano MA, Martínez-Caicedo AT, Nati-Castillo HA, et al (2026)

A real-world analysis of polycythemia vera at two comprehensive cancer centers in Cali, Colombia.

Blood cells, molecules & diseases, 120:103022 pii:S1079-9796(26)00045-8 [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Polycythemia vera (PV) is a chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by the clonal proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells, primarily driven by JAK2 mutations. Even though there are established diagnostic and therapeutic standards, there is not a lot of information about the clinical and molecular features of PV in Latin America. Our aim was to characterize the demographic, clinical, hematological, and treatment characteristics of patients with polycythemia vera at a specialized hematology/oncology center in southern Colombia.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis involving patients aged 18 years and older diagnosed with polycythemia vera at Hemato Oncólogos S.A. and Clínica Imbanaco in Cali, Colombia, from July 2015 to July 2023. We looked at 59 consecutive medical records to get demographic information, JAK2 mutational status, hematologic parameters, initial treatment, relapse reasons, and outcomes. We used descriptive statistics and compared groups using the Chi-square/Fisher's exact test for categorical variables and the Student's t-test, ANOVA, or non-parametric alternatives for continuous variables. A p-value under 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: There were 59 patients in all, with a slight male majority (50.8%) and an average age of 70.1 ± 12.3 years; the average age at diagnosis was 60.1 ± 11.3 years. In 61.0% of patients, JAK2 mutations were found, and in 81.4% of patients, the risk was high. The average hemoglobin level upon diagnosis was 17.2 ± 2.9 g/dL, but by the last follow-up, it had dropped to 14.4 ± 2.6 g/dL. The main treatments were acetylsalicylic acid plus hydroxyurea (32.2%) or phlebotomy (28.8%). During the follow-up period (mean 0.9 ± 3.6 years), 37.3% of individuals experienced recurrence, sometimes requiring an increase in treatment to hydroxyurea or ruxolitinib. The overall death rate was 15.3%. No statistically significant differences were seen between patients who survived and those who died concerning baseline hemoglobin, age, JAK2 status, or therapeutic mode.

CONCLUSION: This study provides one of the first extensive characterizations of PV in southern Colombia, confirming internationally recognized clinical features, including advanced age at diagnosis, increased prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities, and a predominance of high-risk classification. The low rate of finding JAK2 mutations suggests that molecular testing may not be as easy to get as it could be. Even if the treatment followed the guidelines, the risk of recurrence and thrombosis remained, showing that PV is a long-term and worsening condition. These findings highlight the urgent need to expand access to molecular diagnostics, develop tailored risk-adapted medicines, and initiate prospective multicenter studies in Latin America to optimize outcomes and quality of life in PV.

RevDate: 2026-06-09

Jeys LM, Botello E, Boyle R, et al (2026)

A modified Delphi consensus on tenosynovial giant cell tumour and giant cell tumour of bone : a report from the Birmingham Orthopaedic Oncology Meeting (BOOM).

The bone & joint journal, 108-B:xxx pii:BJJ-2026-0394.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to achieve consensus on important topics related to tenosynovial giant cell tumour (TGCT) and giant cell tumour of bone (GCTB), and to identify areas for future research.

METHODS: In January 2026, a consensus meeting, The Birmingham Orthopaedic Oncology Meeting (BOOM), held in Cape Town, South Africa, gathered 314 delegates from 59 countries to debate 21 consensus statements on tenosynovial giant cell tumour (TGCT) and giant cell tumour of bone (GCTB) through a modified Delphi process.

RESULTS: Of the 21 statements, two achieved unanimous consensus, 18 strong consensus, and one moderate consensus. Unanimous consensus was reached for prioritizing joint-preserving intralesional curettage in GCTB when feasible, and for supporting non-surgical approaches in anatomically challenging cases, particularly sacral lesions. The statement addressing the role of denosumab in GCTB achieved only moderate consensus. The use of adjuvants in GCTB, as well as the management of recurrent and systemic GCTB, including long-term use of denosumab, reached strong consensus. Strong consensus was achieved in the surgical and non-surgical management for both primary and recurrent TGCT. Surveillance strategies for both TGCT and GCTB generated substantial discussion despite strong consensus, reflecting ongoing uncertainty and lack in evidence.

CONCLUSION: This international consensus provides practical guidance for the management of TGCT and GCTB while identifying important gaps in evidence. Joint-preserving surgery remains central to the treatment of GCTB, with selective integration of systemic therapies and individualized surveillance. The consensus framework highlights priorities for future collaborative research in orthopaedic oncology.

RevDate: 2026-06-07

Al Achkar Z, Gaspard D, M Iskandar (2026)

Diagnosis and management of pleural mesothelioma: three unique cases and review of the literature.

BMC pulmonary medicine, 26(1):.

BACKGROUND: Mesothelioma is a rare pleural tumor. Compared to diffuse pleural mesothelioma, localized pleural mesothelioma carries a better prognosis and may be managed with surgical resection. Among histologic subtypes, the sarcomatoid variant is the least common but is associated with the poorest outcome. Diagnosis remains challenging, with immunohistochemistry playing a central role in confirming the disease. While surgical resection is the cornerstone of management, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy are considered in unresectable cases. Overall, mesothelioma continues to carry a poor prognosis.

CASE PRESENTATION: We describe three cases of pleural mesothelioma that posed diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. The first case involved a rapidly progressive sarcomatoid mesothelioma, initially raising concern for Ewing’s sarcoma, which was excluded based on negative immunohistochemical markers. The second case was an epithelioid mesothelioma successfully treated with extrapleural pneumonectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy, resulting in prolonged survival. The third case, the only one with documented asbestos exposure, represents the first reported instance of synchronous epithelioid mesothelioma and invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

CONCLUSION: Mesothelioma is a rare and complex pleural malignancy that may present in atypical ways, complicating both diagnosis and management. These cases underscore the importance of immunohistochemical profiling, highlight the value of multidisciplinary diagnostic approaches, and reaffirm the pivotal role of surgery within the therapeutic algorithm.

RevDate: 2026-06-07

Albalawi ES, Qayyum J, J Qayyum (2026)

Population-specific MicroRNA biomarker discovery in breast ductal carcinoma via explainable graph neural multi-omics modeling.

BMC cancer, 26(1):.

BACKGROUND: Ductal carcinoma, including ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), represents a major global health burden, yet South Asian populations remain markedly under-represented in molecular oncology research. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in tumor progression, immune regulation, and therapy response; however, their population-specific relevance remains unclear. This study characterizes miRNA dysregulation in South Asian breast ductal carcinoma and evaluates their diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic potential using multi-omics integration, explainable machine learning, and functional validation.

METHODS: Tumor and matched adjacent-normal tissues from clinically confirmed ductal carcinoma patients (n = 800; 500 IDC, 300 DCIS) underwent miRNA-sequencing and clinical annotation. Differential expression, survival modeling, and pathway enrichment analyzes were performed. A Graph Attention Network (GAT) classifier with SHAP-based interpretability was developed for subtype prediction and treatment-response stratification. External validation was performed using the TCGA-BRCA dataset. Anti-miR-21 lipid nanoparticle (LNP) inhibition assays were conducted for functional assessment.

RESULTS: miR-21, miR-155, and miR-200b showed significant dysregulation in discovery cohort analysis, with diagnostic performance ranging from AUC 0.78–0.92. The GAT model achieved AUC = 0.96 (95% CI: 0.93–0.98), outperforming Random Forest (AUC = 0.94), and SHAP analysis highlighted miR-21 and miR-155 as the dominant contributors. Proof-of-concept anti-miR-21 LNP assays demonstrated 92% encapsulation efficiency, IC₅₀ = 21.4 nM, and ~ 45% tumor volume reduction in preclinical murine models.

CONCLUSIONS: This study presents the first large-scale characterization of miRNA dysregulation in South Asian breast ductal carcinoma and reveals distinct population-specific prognostic behavior, particularly for miR-155. The combined genomic profiling, explainable GNN-based prediction, and preclinical therapeutic validation support further investigation of miRNA biomarkers for clinical translation. Findings support development of region-tailored liquid biopsy panels and precision therapy strategies for South Asian breast cancer patients.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-026-16060-9.

RevDate: 2026-06-08
CmpDate: 2026-06-08

Masuda Y, Tanaka M, Koga Y, et al (2026)

Ipsilateral Breast Tumor Detected 20 Years after Occult Breast Cancer: A Diagnostic Challenge in Distinguishing New Primary Cancer from Late Recurrence.

Case reports in oncology, 19(1):647-655.

INTRODUCTION: Occult breast cancer (OBC) is defined as axillary lymph node metastasis without an identifiable primary breast tumor. Although advances in imaging have reduced the incidence of "true" OBC, long-term outcomes extending beyond a decade remain rarely reported. Recent literature has also suggested that a subset of OBC may originate from ectopic breast tissue located within axillary lymph nodes, suggesting biological heterogeneity within this rare entity.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 54-year-old woman presented with right axillary lymphadenopathy. Comprehensive imaging showed no intramammary lesion, and surgical biopsy confirmed metastatic breast cancer, consistent with OBC. Axillary lymph node dissection revealed seven metastatic nodes (ER 50%, PR 0%, HER2 3+). She received adjuvant chemotherapy and a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor for 10 years without recurrence. Twenty years later, screening mammography identified a new spiculated mass in the ipsilateral breast. Core needle biopsy revealed HER2-positive invasive ductal carcinoma (ER <5%, PR 15%, HER2 3+, MIB-1 51%). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with trastuzumab resulted in a clinical complete response, and total mastectomy yielded a pathological complete response.

CONCLUSION: This case illustrates an exceptionally rare occurrence of an ipsilateral HER2-positive breast tumor appearing 20 years after treatment for OBC. The absence of MRI at the initial diagnosis, the long disease-free interval, and the discordant tumor biology highlight the diagnostic challenge of distinguishing a new primary cancer from a delayed manifestation of occult disease. Furthermore, considering emerging evidence that some OBC may arise from axillary ectopic breast tissue, the present case - lacking any pathological features of ectopic tissue - is more consistent with a metastatic origin than with an ectopic primary, although a definitive distinction cannot be established. Lifelong surveillance is essential for patients with OBC, even after prolonged remission.

RevDate: 2026-06-05

Ndengue CP, Atangana PJA, Ateba GR, et al (2026)

Pre-analytical variables affecting breast cancer biomarker expression: A controlled single-specimen study of fixation duration, cold ischemia time, and fixative preparation in a low-resource setting.

PloS one, 21(6):e0343185.

BACKGROUND: Optimal pre-analytical management of breast tissue specimens, particularly formalin fixation, is essential for accurate immunohistochemical (IHC) biomarker assessment in invasive breast cancer. Although international guidelines suggest using 4% neutral buffered formalin with controlled fixation time, many laboratories in low-resource settings deviate from these standards. This study aimed to determine whether three pre-analytical variables - fixation duration, cold ischemia time, and fixative preparation (4% neutral buffered versus 4% non-buffered formaldehyde) - impact the preservation and evaluation of tissue biomarkers in invasive breast cancer.

METHODS: We conducted an exploratory, proof-of-concept, experimental study using fresh mastectomy tissue from a 34-year-old patient with invasive ductal carcinoma (pT4, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, Ki67 = 40%) who had not received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Fifty microsamples (5-15 mm in length, approximately 1 mm in diameter) were obtained using a 14-gauge core needle biopsy device and divided into four cohorts: (1) 19 samples fixed in 4% neutral buffered formaldehyde for 0.5 to 144 hours; (2) 19 samples fixed in 4% non-buffered formaldehyde for 0.5 to 144 hours; (3) 6 samples with delayed fixation (0.5 to 8 hours) then fixed in neutral buffered formaldehyde for 10 hours; (4) 6 samples with delayed fixation (0.5 to 8 hours) then fixed in non-buffered formaldehyde for 10 hours. Hormone receptors (estrogen receptor-ER, progesterone receptor-PR) and Ki67 expression were evaluated by IHC using the Allred scoring system and current international recommendations.

RESULTS: Fixative preparation had a statistically significant, yet small, impact on biomarker evaluation. The mean percentage of ER-positive cells was 96.89 ± 0.74% with neutral buffered formaldehyde compared to 94.32 ± 1.51% with non-buffered formaldehyde (p = 0.011). Similar trends were seen for PR (94.89 ± 0.95% vs. 92.63 ± 1.67%, p = 0.027) and staining intensity. However, Allred scores remained unchanged. Fixation duration was significantly correlated with biomarker expression (Spearman ρ between -0.60 and -0.83, p ≤ 0.007), with stable values from 0.5 to 48 h and a significant decline beyond 72 h (one-way ANOVA across fixation windows: all p < 0.01). Cold ischemia time was strongly correlated with decreased biomarker expression regardless of fixative preparation. Hormone receptor expression and Ki67 remained stable with minimal Allred score changes for up to 2 hours of cold ischemia, but significantly decreased after 2 hours, with scores decreasing in proportion to the duration of ischemia (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: In this single-specimen controlled experiment, non-buffered formaldehyde preserved tissue biomarkers with small but measurable differences relative to neutral buffered formaldehyde for IHC analysis, although these findings require validation in multi-patient studies. Consistent with current guidelines, a cold ischemia time of up to 1 hour maintained adequate biomarker preservation. These preliminary results may be relevant for pathology laboratories in resource-limited settings where neutral buffered formalin may not be easily accessible, and warrant further investigation across diverse tumor types and baseline expression levels, particularly tumors with ER-low-positive (1-10%) or heterogeneous expression.

RevDate: 2026-06-08
CmpDate: 2026-06-08

Amini H, Yavari A, O Rezaei (2026)

Osteoradionecrosis of the chest wall in a patient with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast: a case report.

International journal of surgery case reports, 138(6):2178-2182.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Osteoradionecrosis following radiotherapy is quite rare in locations other than the jaw. In this case report, we described a patient with breast cancer who developed osteoradionecrosis of the chest wall following radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 60-year-old woman with a history of right breast invasive ductal carcinoma treated with mastectomy and radiotherapy presented with extensive soft tissue and rib necrosis on the right chest wall. Due to the severity of the necrosis, she underwent surgical debridement and reconstruction, including resection of five anterior ribs and part of the lateral sternum. Part of the defect was covered using a latissimus dorsi and serratus anterior myocutaneous flap, while the remaining area was managed with negative-pressure wound therapy and later skin grafting, achieving full healing within 2 weeks.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Osteoradionecrosis of the chest wall can present with ulcers, infection, hemorrhage, rib pain, or even pathological fractures, sometimes presenting up to a year after radiotherapy. Early recognition is often delayed, especially outside the jaw, but timely diagnosis and management can reduce necrosis and improve outcomes, including aesthetic results. Imaging, such as positron emission tomography or contrast-enhanced computed tomography, may aid in early differentiation from other conditions like metastasis.

CONCLUSION: Osteoradionecrosis can develop in any area of the body exposed to radiotherapy and may occur in unusual sites such as the chest. Early diagnosis and management are crucial, as delayed intervention may lead to extensive necrosis and poor aesthetic outcomes.

RevDate: 2026-06-08
CmpDate: 2026-06-08

Hosseinpour R, Negahdari T, Moradi S, et al (2026)

Invasive ductal carcinoma arising in a recurrent phyllodes tumor of the breast: a case report.

International journal of surgery case reports, 138(6):2173-2177.

BACKGROUND: Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast is the most common subtype of breast cancer, yet its presentation following benign breast lesions such as fibroadenoma or phyllodes tumor is rare.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 38-year-old Iranian woman with a history of hypothyroidism, who underwent IVF and fertility medications, with 4-year history of contralateral fibroadenoma and phyllodes tumor, underwent excision at 2023. During follow-up, the left breast phyllodes tumor recurred and, upon core biopsy, demonstrated high-grade IDC. Axillary fine-needle aspiration revealed metastatic carcinoma. The patient received systemic chemotherapy followed by left mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection; final pathology confirmed IDC, with negative margins and no residual nodal involvement.

DISCUSSION: Carcinoma arising within phyllodes tumor is rare, and careful histopathologic evaluation is essential to identify coexisting or evolving carcinoma. Management should follow standard breast cancer protocols, including axillary evaluation and adjuvant therapy, while ensuring complete excision of the fibroepithelial component. Patient-specific risk factors, such as IVF history and occupational radiation exposure, may contribute to breast oncogenesis and underscore the importance of vigilant surveillance.

CONCLUSION: Patients with prior benign breast tumors, including fibroadenoma and phyllodes tumor, should undergo regular clinical and radiologic follow-up. Early identification of malignant changes enables timely intervention and improves prognosis. This case highlights the need for vigilance even years after excision of benign breast lesions.

RevDate: 2026-06-04

Joshua D, Seni J, Rahimi H, et al (2026)

Effectiveness of serial C-reactive protein point-of-care testing in optimizing antibiotic treatment in neonates and children in Zanzibar: an open-label, individual randomized controlled clinical trial protocol.

BMC pediatrics pii:10.1186/s12887-026-07096-8 [Epub ahead of print].

INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobial resistance is increasing globally. Children are disproportionately affected due to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics which is linked to lack of prompt diagnostics for suspected bacterial infections, limited access to health care facilities and financial constraints. The C-reactive protein (CRP) point-of-care test (POCT) presents an opportunity for quick and cost-effective diagnosis to establish the likelihood of a bacterial infection. However, information on the effectiveness of point-of-care CRP testing in hospitalized children in Zanzibar, Tanzania is limited.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This multicenter, open-label, individual randomized controlled trial with 28 days follow-up is conducted at four hospitals in Zanzibar. Well-appearing neonates at risk of early onset sepsis, neonates (0 - 28 days) with clinical signs of infection on admission and children (6 months - 12 years) with febrile illness and/or diarrhea on admission are eligible for participation if their caretakers provide informed consent. The hospitals are supplied with CRP POCT equipment as well as a training session on CRP interpretation to aid in the clinical evaluation and antibiotic management of neonates and children. The primary outcome is the duration of antibiotic treatment within 14 days of the admittance of included neonates and children in each study arm and days to relapse of infection (defined as reinstitution of antibiotics within 72 h after completion of treatment).

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study is approved by the Zanzibar Health Research Ethics Committee Ref. No. ZAHREC/04/AMEND/DEC/2023/11. The findings from this study will be used to generate policy briefs and technical reports to inform rational antimicrobial prescriptions' clinical practices and guide future research. Findings will be presented at global conferences and published in peer-reviewed medical journals to foster access to wider communities within Tanzania and beyond.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered with ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN25937092) on 22/01/2024.

RevDate: 2026-06-05
CmpDate: 2026-06-05

Baba S, Koketsu M, Kuroda H, et al (2026)

Case Report: response of HER2-positive ductal carcinoma in situ to osimertinib with supporting in vitro evidence.

Frontiers in oncology, 16:1845658.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) carries a risk of progression to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), and local treatments such as mastectomy and radiation therapy are commonly used. This case report describes a 74-year-old Japanese woman with concurrent HER2-positive DCIS and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR mutation who showed a remarkable response to osimertinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor used to treat NSCLC. At initial presentation, the breast lesion measured 28 × 11 × 29 mm. Biopsy revealed high-grade DCIS with a HER2-immunohistochemistry score of 3+ and a Ki-67 index of 20-30%. The NSCLC was subsequently resected, and adjuvant osimertinib therapy was initiated postoperatively. Two months after treatment initiation, a right mastectomy was performed. Postoperative pathological examination showed a marked reduction in tumor size to 8 × 3 mm and a marked decrease in Ki-67 to 1%. These findings indicated multiple post-chemotherapy changes, with only a small amount of high-grade DCIS remaining, suggesting a therapeutic effect of the lung cancer treatment. Assessment of the inhibitory effect of osimertinib on HER2 in vitro demonstrated that osimertinib inhibited cell proliferation in a HER2 expression-dependent way. Western blotting also suggested the inhibition of HER2 phosphorylation. Therefore, these findings suggest that the remarkable response of HER2-positive DCIS in this case may be attributable to the HER2-inhibitory effect of osimertinib. Further research is warranted to determine whether osimertinib could serve as a potential treatment option for HER2-positive breast cancer, including DCIS.

RevDate: 2026-06-03

Harikumar H, de Waard-van Baardwijk M, de Haan M, et al (2026)

Spatial transcriptomics reveals clonal relationships between intraductal carcinoma and adjacent invasive prostate cancer.

Histopathology [Epub ahead of print].

AIMS: The pathogenesis of intraductal carcinoma (IDC) is still controversial. Contrary to current opinion, where IDC represents retrograde spread of invasive prostate cancer (PCa), we recently presented an alternative, unifying hypothesis named 'Repetitive Invasion, Precursor Progression' (RIPP). Little is known about genomic alterations in high-grade Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia (HGPIN), IDC and adjacent invasive PCa. Our objective was to clarify the mutual clonal relationships among HGPIN, IDC, and adjacent PCa using spatial transcriptomics.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Regions of interest containing HGPIN, IDC and adjacent invasive PCa were selected from six Gleason score 3 + 4 = 7 radical prostatectomy specimens. Spatial transcriptomic profiling and library preparation were executed according to the Visium workflow. Pathologist-guided manual annotations were utilized to delineate regions of interest for the integrated analysis of chromosomal copy number variants (CNV) and spatiotemporal trajectories. Adjacent HGPIN, IDC and invasive PCa shared common CNV signatures across all samples, with various subclonal events. Unsupervised clonal analysis revealed that across three samples, the adjacent invasive subclone had acquired additional genomic alterations. In two samples, HGPIN, IDC and adjacent invasive PCa had identical CNVs. Finally, in one sample, IDC had additional CNVs compared with HGPIN and invasive glands. Supervised trajectory analysis consistently placed adjacent invasive PCa as the final step in the trajectory, after HGPIN and/or IDC.

CONCLUSIONS: Spatial transcriptomics revealed strong clonal relationships among adjacent HGPIN, IDC and invasive PCa. Supervised trajectory analysis did not support retrograde spread in this limited number of samples, while unsupervised analysis revealed a complex mutual relationship among HGPIN, IDC and adjacent PCa.

RevDate: 2026-06-04

Zhu T, Zang S, B Chen (2026)

Orbital Metastases of Breast Cancer: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Oncology research, 34(6):32.

Background: Orbital metastases are rare in breast cancer, representing only 3-10% of ocular metastases. This report highlights a case where orbital involvement was the first indicator of systemic metastatic spread. Case Presentation: A 72-year-old woman with a history of Estrogen Receptor (ER)-positive (5%), Progesterone Receptor (PR)-negative, Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer (diagnosed 3 years prior) presented with right orbital pain, diplopia, and periorbital swelling. Imaging revealed multiple myositis of the extraocular muscles, compressive displacement of the optic nerve, and right periorbital edema. Bone scintigraphy identified multifocal skeletal metastases. A navigation-assisted biopsy confirmed metastatic invasive ductal carcinoma, immunohistochemically consistent with the primary tumor (ER/PR-negative, HER2-negative). A systematic analysis using next-generation sequencing indicated aberrant activation of the phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. Chemotherapy, targeted therapy and bisphosphonate therapy were initiated, with planned radiotherapy for symptomatic progression. Conclusion: Orbital symptoms in breast cancer survivors, even subtle ones, necessitate prompt evaluation for metastatic disease. Multimodal imaging (e.g., Computed Tomography (CT)/Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)) combined with image-guided biopsy is critical for diagnosis. Early detection enables multidisciplinary palliative strategies to optimize quality of life while addressing systemic dissemination.

RevDate: 2026-06-04
CmpDate: 2026-06-04

Suzuki G, Masui K, Ikeda S, et al (2026)

Radiotherapy Targeting the Causative Lesion of Horner's Syndrome in Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Case reports in oncology, 19(1):621-630.

INTRODUCTION: Horner's syndrome (HS) is a rare manifestation of metastatic breast cancer resulting from disruption of the sympathetic pathway. Only 6 cases have previously been reported in the literature, almost all of which were managed with systemic therapy. Detailed reports focusing on the role of local treatment, such as radiotherapy directed at the causative lesion of HS in breast cancer, are lacking.

CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 60-year-old Japanese woman with HER2-positive, hormone receptor-positive invasive ductal carcinoma who developed left-sided HS due to lymph node metastasis. Five months after stereotactic body radiotherapy for cervical spine metastasis, she presented with left ptosis, miosis, and anhidrosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a cervicothoracic lymph node metastasis adjacent to the first thoracic vertebra, compressing the cervicothoracic sympathetic trunk. Palliative radiotherapy was delivered to the enlarged lymph node. Despite radiological tumor response on follow-up MRI, no improvement in HS was observed.

CONCLUSION: This is the first reported case of radiotherapy directly targeting the lesion responsible for HS in metastatic breast cancer. No neurological improvement was observed despite radiological tumor response. This clinical course is consistent with previous reports involving systemic therapy and suggests that neurological recovery in breast cancer-associated HS may be limited, even when tumor response is achieved.

RevDate: 2026-06-04
CmpDate: 2026-06-04

Abass Eltaib Ahmed H, Gorish BMT, Mahjaf GM, et al (2026)

Low Frequency of Pathogenic Variants in BRCA1 Exons 11/20 and BRCA2 Exon 11 Suggests Divergent Mutational Hotspots in Sudanese Breast Cancer Patients: A Case-Control Study.

Breast cancer : basic and clinical research, 20:11782234261455512.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancers represent a heterogeneous group of diseases; approximately 7% may be attributed to inherited pathogenic variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2, with exon 11 of BRCA1 representing the most frequently mutated region globally.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the frequency and nature of sequence variants in BRCA1 exons 11 and 20 and BRCA2 exon 11 in a Sudanese cohort, and to determine whether these established mutational hotspots harbor recurrent pathogenic variants in this underrepresented population.

DESIGN: This was a case-control study conducted at Shendi's Tumor Treatment and Cancer Research Center in Northern Sudan.

METHODS: The study included fifty-two female breast cancer patients and thirty healthy female controls aged at least 18 years. Demographic data and blood samples were collected for genomic DNA extraction. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Sanger sequencing were performed for BRCA1 (exons 11 and 20) and BRCA2 (exon 11). Variants were classified using ACMG/AMP criteria and analyzed using bioinformatics tools and SPSS.

RESULTS: Invasive ductal carcinoma was the predominant histological type, significantly associated with grade II tumors (P = 0.0001). Non-hereditary breast cancers were more prevalent (55.8%), with second-degree relatives most commonly affected in hereditary cases (69.6%). Three BRCA1 sequence variants were identified, all classified as benign or likely benign. These variants were found at comparable frequencies in cases (13/52, 25.0%) and controls (8/30, 26.7%; P = 0.863). Variant presence was significantly associated with Jaalia ethnicity (P = 0.047) and observed exclusively in IDC cases, though these associations did not reach statistical significance for tumor characteristics.

CONCLUSION: No pathogenic variants were identified in BRCA1 exons 11 and 20 or BRCA2 exon 11 in this Sudanese cohort. Given that BRCA1 exon 11 constitutes approximately 60% of the coding sequence and harbors the majority of pathogenic variants in other African populations, these findings suggest that mutational hotspots may differ in this population. Expanded genomic studies encompassing complete coding regions are warranted.

RevDate: 2026-06-04

Deng Y, Wang C, Hu Y, et al (2026)

Network toxicology and molecular docking identify BRCA1 as a functional target of the dietary carcinogen PhIP in colorectal cancer.

Discover oncology pii:10.1007/s12672-026-05334-0 [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the molecular mechanism of PhIP-induced colorectal cancer and identify the potential of core regulatory targets as biomarkers for colorectal cancer.

METHODS: The chemical structure of PhIP was obtained through the PubChem database and ProTox-3.0 platform, and its physicochemical properties and toxic effects were clarified. PhIP action targets were screened from the ChEMBL, STITCH, and SwissTargetPrediction databases, and pathogenic targets for colorectal cancer were acquired from the GeneCards, OMIM, and TTD databases. Intersection targets of PhIP and colorectal cancer were further screened. A compound-target regulatory network was constructed and subjected to functional enrichment analysis and PPI analysis. Core targets were further identified via CytoHubba, their expression differences in colorectal cancer were clarified, and their diagnostic efficacy and prognostic value were evaluated using ROC curves and Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Subsequently, the expression of core targets was validated through immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, and immune infiltration analysis was performed to clarify their correlation with immune cells. Finally, the interaction mechanism between PhIP and core targets was revealed at the molecular structural level through molecular docking technology.

RESULTS: A total of 1088 PhIP action targets and 281 colorectal cancer-associated targets were screened, containing 35 intersection targets. Functional enrichment analysis found that these intersection targets were associated with biological processes or signaling pathways such as protein phosphorylation, regulation of cell cycle process, pathways in cancer, and estrogen signaling pathway. Target proteins like BRCA1, ESR1, and BCL2 were located at the center of the PPI network, and BRCA1 was identified as the core regulatory target based on Degree value. Expression difference analysis and immunohistochemistry results showed that BRCA1 was significantly highly expressed in colorectal cancer and had good diagnostic efficacy and prognostic value. Immune infiltration results indicated that BRCA1 was closely related to immune cells such as Th2 cells, T helper cells, Tcm, and iDC. Simultaneously, the gene mutation landscape suggested that mutations in genes like APC and TP53 also participated in colorectal cancer development. Finally, molecular docking results indicated strong binding activity between PhIP and BRCA1.

CONCLUSION: PhIP acts on the core target BRCA1 and participates in colorectal cancer development through mechanisms affecting immune cells, gene mutations, etc. BRCA1 has good diagnostic efficacy and prognostic value in colorectal cancer and is expected to become a new diagnostic and prognostic target for colorectal cancer.

RevDate: 2026-06-02

Tank P, D'Souza F, Kayalvizhi N, et al (2026)

Redefining biologics safety through advanced analytics: MS-based host cell protein profiling.

Trends in biotechnology pii:S0167-7799(26)00196-4 [Epub ahead of print].

Recent regulatory and pharmacopeial guidance highlights attention to host cell protein (HCP) impurities in biologics. Advances in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) enable molecular-level characterization of HCPs beyond immunoassay measurements. This article examines how LC-MS-based HCP profiling strengthens impurity risk assessment, improves process understanding, and supports analytical strategies for biologics quality and safety.

RevDate: 2026-06-01

Lazar S, Golan O, Menes TS, et al (2026)

Factors associated with histological outcomes of MRI-guided biopsy in the lumpectomy bed.

Clinical imaging, 136:110854 pii:S0899-7071(26)00146-4 [Epub ahead of print].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between clinical and MRI characteristics and histological outcomes of MRI-guided vacuum-assisted biopsies (MVAB) performed in the lumpectomy bed after malignant breast-conserving surgery (BCT).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed all MVABs performed in malignant lumpectomy beds between 2016 and 2022, evaluating the relationship between demographic and imaging characteristics and pathological outcomes (benign vs. malignant) using appropriate statistical methods.

RESULTS: Malignancy was diagnosed in 14 of 72 biopsies (19%), most commonly invasive ductal carcinoma (50%). Fat necrosis was the predominant benign finding (38%). On univariate analysis, benign outcomes were more frequent in younger patients (median 60 vs. 69 years), those with prior radiation therapy (90% vs. 69%, P = 0.048), lesions adjacent to a postoperative cavity (28% vs. 7%, P = 0.1), and when coarse calcifications were present on mammography (43% vs. 0%, P = 0.011). Benign results were also more common for biopsies performed within one year or beyond six years after lumpectomy (97%, P = 0.087). No MRI morphological or kinetic features reliably distinguished benign from malignant lesions.

CONCLUSION: MVAB of lumpectomy bed lesions yielded a 19% malignancy rate, with benign outcomes often associated with specific clinical and imaging features. Larger studies are warranted to validate these findings and refine patient selection.

RevDate: 2026-06-02

Li X, Ren H, Deng Y, et al (2026)

Integration of Raman Spectroscopy and Metabolomics for Early Breast Cancer Detection and Classification.

Cancer medicine, 15(6):e71861.

Breast cancer, now the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, necessitates early detection for improved clinical outcomes. Conventional histopathology, though widely used, is invasive and subjective, limiting its utility in early-stage diagnosis. Here, we integrated confocal Raman spectroscopy with metabolomics to analyze biochemical and morphological features of breast tissues, including normal, fibroadenoma, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Using spectral analysis and spectral unmixing, we mapped key biochemical components-proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids-across distinct tissue types. Cancerous tissues displayed heightened signals for proteins and nucleic acids but reduced lipids and carotenoids, reflecting profound metabolic alterations. Validation through metabolomic profiling revealed upregulated glycolytic and lipid synthesis pathways in tumor regions. Raman imaging further enabled precise classification of breast cancer subtypes, such as mucinous carcinoma and phyllodes tumors. These findings underscore the potential of Raman spectroscopy as a non-invasive diagnostic modality for early detection and classification of breast cancer. The integration of Raman imaging with machine learning presents a promising avenue for advancing precision oncology.

RevDate: 2026-06-02

Haddad D, Shamir SB, Baig Z, et al (2026)

Contralateral Breast Background Parenchymal Enhancement: A Physiologic Marker, not a Predictor of ER Status.

Current medical imaging pii:CMIR-EPUB-155990 [Epub ahead of print].

INTRODUCTION: Breast MRI, specifically background parenchymal enhancement (BPE), plays a crucial role in evaluating breast cancer risk and tumor biology. BPE, influenced by vascularity, permeability, and hormonal status, reflects the physiological state of the breast tissue. This study investigates the relationship between quantitative BPE in the contralateral, non-tumor breast and estrogen receptor (ER) status in early-stage invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), alongside factors like age, breast density, and menopausal status. It also compares quantitative BPE to qualitative BI-RADS assessments.

METHODS: This retrospective study included 233 women with pathologically confirmed early-stage IDC undergoing preoperative breast MRI. BPE was quantitatively assessed using MATLAB-based segmentation techniques, measuring initial, overall, late enhancement, and area under the enhancement curve (AUC). The data were compared to qualitative BI-RADS BPE categories (minimal, mild, moderate, marked). Statistical analyses were performed using Spearman's rank correlation and Kruskal-Wallis tests, with significance set at p<0.05.

RESULTS: Out of 233 patients, 187 (median age 49.6, range 43.1-57.3) had ER+ cancer, while the remaining 46 (median age 52.4, range 46.9-60.6) had early-stage ER- cancer. Significant correlation between quantitative BPE values and qualitative BPE categories was observed; specifically, increasing median values of BPE enhancement curve parameters (p<0.001) and mean values of the top 10% of pixels (p<0.02) were observed across qualitative BPE categories from minimal to marked BPE. Quantitative BPE was independent of breast density (p>0.11), while qualitative BPE was influenced by breast density, with an increase from minimal (median=0.33, IQR=0.21-0.41) compared with marked BPE (median=0.39, IQR=0.28-0.55) (p=0.04). Quantitative BPE values decreased with age and menopausal status (p<0.02). Quantitative BPE was not associated with ER status, even when stratified by age.

DISCUSSION: The study found that quantitative BPE of the contralateral breast increased across qualitative BI-RADS BPE categories, independent of breast density, and decreased with age and post-menopausal status, but did not distinguish ER+ from ER- cancers. Published literature demonstrates age and hormone-associated effects on BPE, whereas the correlations with molecular subtype, cancer risk, and treatment response are not clear, highlighting its potential and limitations as a biomarker.

CONCLUSION: While BPE reflects hormonal influences, its role in predicting tumor ER expression in early-stage cancer is limited. However, it provides a reproducible method for assessing breast tissue physiology, with potential utility in evaluating treatment response and hormonal effects. Furthermore, the study also delineates the need for larger, multicenter investigations to explore BPE's potential as a complementary biomarker for breast cancer characterization and treatment response.

RevDate: 2026-05-31
CmpDate: 2026-05-31

Smolle MA, Wenzl FA, Laitinen MK, et al (2026)

Complications of PI to PIII hemipelvic resections for intermediate and malignant tumours : a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Bone & joint open, 7(6):713-723.

AIMS: Surgical management of intermediate and malignant tumours in the pelvis is complex. Complications are frequent and either related to the surgery itself or to post-surgical failure of the reconstruction technique. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims at analyzing all reported complications following PI to PIII pelvic resections for intermediate and malignant tumours.

METHODS: Based on a systematic literature search on PubMed adhering to the PRISMA guidelines, 1,683 study records were identified, of which we included 90 original studies published until 22 July 2025. Overall complication rates were assessed with random-effects meta-analysis. Differences in complication rates between reconstruction types (i.e. megaprosthetic, mostly biological, none) were evaluated with meta regression analysis.

RESULTS: Data on 2,199 patients (1,250 males (57%)) with mainly PI to PIII pelvic resections were analyzed. The most common reconstruction types were custom-made implants (21%; n = 451) and ice-cream cone prostheses (14%; n = 312). Pooled rates of infections, wound healing problems, nerve injuries, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) amounted to 15% (95% CI 12% to 18%), 13% (95% CI 10% to 15%), 7% (95% CI 5% to 9%), and 4% (95% CI 2% to 6%), respectively. Further, pooled implant revision/removal and secondary external hemipelvectomy rates were 14% (95% CI 11% to 17%) and 4% (95% CI 3% to 5%). Mostly biological reconstructions were associated with higher rates of nerve injuries (p < 0.001), construct failures (p = 0.010), and secondary implant revision/removal (p = 0.003) compared to megaprosthetic reconstruction. Further, biological reconstructions were associated with increased secondary external hemipelvectomy rates compared to megaprosthetic reconstructions (p = 0.005) or no reconstructions (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Treatment of pelvic malignancies is challenging, with technically demanding resections and complex reconstructions. Across all reconstruction techniques following sacrum-sparing pelvic resections, infections and wound healing problems are the most common complications, yet there is also a considerable proportion of patients with neurovascular complications and DVTs.

RevDate: 2026-06-01
CmpDate: 2026-06-01

Jain R, Jain A, Saumya (2026)

Immunohistochemical Expression of Vimentin in Breast Carcinoma and Its Correlation With Histopathological Prognostic Factors.

Cureus, 18(4):e107767.

BACKGROUND: Vimentin is a mesenchymal intermediate filament protein and an important marker of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, which has been implicated in tumor invasion, progression, and aggressive biological behavior in breast carcinoma. Its expression in invasive breast carcinoma may correlate with established pathological prognostic factors and thereby provide additional prognostic information.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the expression of vimentin in invasive breast carcinoma of female patients and to determine its correlation with markers associated with adverse histopathological features.

METHODOLOGY: This retrospective observational study was carried out in the Department of Pathology, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. A total of 70 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast, not otherwise specified (IDC-NOS), were included. Histopathological evaluation was performed on hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections, and tumor grading was done according to the Modified Bloom-Richardson grading system. Tumor size and lymph node status were categorized according to standard pathological criteria. Immunohistochemical staining for vimentin was performed on representative paraffin-embedded tissue sections. Vimentin expression was assessed as positive or negative based on cytoplasmic staining in invasive tumor cells.

RESULTS: Vimentin expression was observed in 17 of 70 cases (24.28%). An increasing trend of vimentin positivity was seen with increasing tumor size, with positivity in 0 of 3 cases (0.0%) in tumors measuring ≤2 cm, 5 of 28 cases (17.85%) in tumors measuring >2 to ≤5 cm, and 12 of 39 cases (30.76%) in tumors measuring >5 cm. Vimentin positivity also increased with nodal involvement and was seen in 4 of 32 node-negative tumors (12.50%), 3 of 17 N1 tumors (17.64%), 8 of 18 N2 tumors (44.44%), and 2 of 3 N3 tumors (66.66%), although the association was not statistically significant (p = 0.06). A strong association was observed with histological grade: none of the Grade I tumors [0 of 19 cases (0.0%)] were positive, whereas positivity was present in 7 of 38 Grade II tumors (18.42%) and 10 of 13 Grade III tumors (76.92%).

CONCLUSIONS: Vimentin expression in invasive breast carcinoma is associated with adverse pathological features, particularly larger tumor size, higher nodal burden, and most strongly, higher histological grade. Its marked expression in poorly differentiated tumors suggests that vimentin may serve as a useful adjunct prognostic marker of aggressive tumor biology in invasive breast carcinoma.

RevDate: 2026-06-01
CmpDate: 2026-06-01

Yamaoka A, Nishino T, Saito R, et al (2026)

Incidental Detection of a Small, Non-spiculated Breast Cancer During Preoperative Evaluation for an Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysm With Gradual Enlargement Over 16 Years: A Case Report.

Cureus, 18(4):e107905.

In older patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms that have been followed over long periods, careful assessment of operative tolerance and comorbidities becomes an important component of treatment decision-making. Although cross-sectional imaging performed for procedural planning may occasionally reveal extracranial incidental findings, neurosurgical evaluation is typically focused on intracranial pathology. We report a case of an asymptomatic, small, non-spiculated breast cancer incidentally detected during preoperative evaluation for a middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm that had demonstrated gradual enlargement over 16 years. A woman in her 70s was diagnosed with an unruptured cerebral aneurysm at the bifurcation of the right MCA during routine brain screening. Serial magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) demonstrated a gradual increase in aneurysm height, with the development of blebs, prompting surgical intervention. To determine the appropriate treatment strategy, head computed tomography angiography (CTA) was performed. Given the potential for endovascular therapy, whole-body computed tomography (CT) was additionally performed to assess the feasibility of vascular access. This imaging incidentally revealed a 1.0-cm, well-circumscribed, non-spiculated mass in the right breast. Subsequent mammography, ultrasonography, and core needle biopsy confirmed estrogen receptor-positive invasive ductal carcinoma. The aneurysm was treated first with microsurgical clipping, followed by breast-conserving surgery and adjuvant therapy. The postoperative course was uneventful, and no recurrence of either condition was observed at one-year follow-up. In postmenopausal women with aneurysms that gradually enlarge over many years, careful attention to extracranial regions on available imaging becomes particularly important, as clinically relevant disease can arise silently during long-term surveillance. Systematic evaluation of extracranial regions on preoperative imaging may influence both treatment planning and overall patient management.

RevDate: 2026-06-01
CmpDate: 2026-06-01

Shojaee L, Shakeriastani K, EH Amraji (2026)

Gross Margin Examination or Frozen Section in Women Who are Candidates for Breast-Conserving Surgery.

Indian journal of surgical oncology, 17(5):1107-1113.

Breast cancer remains the most prevalent malignancy among women worldwide, making optimal treatment approaches like breast-conserving surgery (BCS) critically important. Gross margin examination (GME) serves as a valuable intraoperative technique to achieve tumor-free margins-a fundamental objective of BCS. This practical method offers multiple advantages, including reduced reoperation rates, shorter surgical duration, and lower healthcare costs compared to frozen section analysis. In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 172 women with palpable tumors eligible for BCS through gradual sampling. Margin assessment incorporated dual verification: intraoperative visual and manual evaluation by surgeons to identify tumor-free margins, and final pathological confirmation. We additionally evaluated operative duration, cost reduction, and reoperation rates. All analyses were performed using STATA software (version 14). The cohort demonstrated a predominance of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC, 69.2%), with GME showing excellent performance for this subtype (sensitivity: 100%; specificity: 96%). Overall, GME exhibited moderate sensitivity (45%) but high specificity (95%) compared to final pathology, with positive and negative predictive values of 59% and 92% respectively. Notably, the use of intraoperative frozen tissue section excision significantly reduced operative time. Our results support GME as an effective margin assessment method in BCS candidates. The technique demonstrates particular strength in IDC cases while offering the practical benefits of reduced surgical duration and healthcare costs. These findings suggest GME represents a viable alternative to more resource-intensive margin evaluation approaches, especially in settings with limited pathology support. Excision of frozen tissue sections during surgery significantly reduces operative duration.

RevDate: 2026-06-01
CmpDate: 2026-06-01

Maghsoudi LH, Assarian A, Assarian B, et al (2026)

Migration of Preoperative Breast Localization Wire: A Case Report.

Indian journal of surgical oncology, 17(5):1114-1117.

In this case report, we present a rare occurrence of wire migration to the pectoralis muscle in the axillary region. A 49-year-old woman with a biopsy-proven left breast invasive ductal carcinoma underwent wire localization prior to surgery; however, the procedure was delayed due to cardiac evaluation, during which the wire migrated. The wire was eventually found embedded in the pectoralis muscle and successfully removed under ultrasound guidance by an interventional radiologist. This case highlights the need for vigilance and preparedness for unexpected wire migrations during breast localization procedures. It underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between radiologists, surgeons, and interventional specialists to address such complications effectively. The successful wire removal procedure performed by the interventional radiologist demonstrates the value of utilizing advanced imaging techniques for precise localization and retrieval of migrated wires. By presenting this unique case, we contribute to the existing literature on wire localization and its potential complications.

RevDate: 2026-06-01
CmpDate: 2026-06-01

Kivuyo N, Misidai M, Kitua D, et al (2026)

Male breast cancer: experience from a quaternary hospital in Tanzania.

The Pan African medical journal, 53:149.

INTRODUCTION: male breast cancer (MBC) is rare, but its incidence is increasing globally. In sub-Saharan Africa, breast cancer care has primarily focused on women, creating a gap in understanding MBC outcomes. This study aimed to examine the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of MBC patients at Tanzania´s National Hospital.

METHODS: this retrospective cohort study, conducted at Muhimbili National Hospital, included male patients aged 18 years and above with histologically confirmed breast cancer diagnosed between January 2018 and December 2024. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from treatment records and presented as frequencies, proportions, and means. Survival status, obtained from case notes or patient/next-of-kin interviews, was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS: fifty-six MBC patients were identified, with a mean age of 60.6 ± 12.9 years. Most patients (71.1%) had T4 disease, and 26.8% had metastasis, primarily pulmonary (73%). Invasive ductal carcinoma accounted for 83.9% of cases. The most common molecular subtype was Luminal A (61.8%), followed by triple negative (20%). Nearly all patients (97%) underwent surgery, with modified radical mastectomy and simple mastectomy performed in 48% and 45%, respectively. Over 60% of patients treated with curative intent had recurrence within 15 months. The 5-year overall survival rate was 11.2%.

CONCLUSION: advanced disease presentation was common among MBC patients, corresponding to poor overall survival. Additionally, early disease progression was noted among those treated with curative intent. These findings underscore gaps in healthcare-seeking behavior, screening, and referral systems. Addressing these challenges and optimizing treatment protocols are crucial for improving outcomes.

RevDate: 2026-05-28
CmpDate: 2026-05-28

Yadav A, Banerjee A, D Roy (2026)

Differential role of beta band activity in a dual-task working memory paradigm under internally vs. externally directed cognition.

Frontiers in human neuroscience, 20:1791453.

Internally directed cognition (IDC), whether spontaneous or intentional, has been associated with impaired performance in cognitive tasks. Yet, the neurophysiological mechanisms underpinning this disruption remain poorly understood. In the present study, we characterized the neural correlates of IDC and identified how they impact on performance in a color-recall working memory task using electroencephalography (EEG). Participants performed a novel dual-task paradigm involving either self-referential (IDC) or perceptual processing of adjectives, involving externally directed cognition (EDC) followed by a color-recall task. IDC enhanced late frontal positivity in EEG over medial-frontal electrodes as a marker of sustained self-referential processing. Time-frequency analyses further revealed increased event-related desynchronization in alpha and beta bands during stimulus encoding in the IDC condition, as well as increased alpha synchronization during the delay period, consistent with internal attention maintenance. To capture trial-level variability in task performance, we applied conditional quantile regression to individual trial-level observations. Results showed that beta desynchronization in interaction with condition type during encoding influenced performance significantly in trials with low errors, whereas trials with high error in color recall were better explained by increased reaction times. These findings provide converging electrophysiological evidence for distinct neural signatures of internally directed cognition and highlight their behavioral consequences in working memory performance.

RevDate: 2026-05-27
CmpDate: 2026-05-27

Fengfu C, Hua X, Chen X, et al (2026)

Association between allostatic load and risk of breast carcinoma in situ in the UK biobank.

Cancer causes & control : CCC, 37(6):.

BACKGROUND: The association between allostatic load (AL) and breast carcinoma in situ (BCIS) remains unclear. We investigated this relationship in the UK Biobank while also assessing its role in invasive breast cancer (IDC) for comparison.

METHODS: Using data from the UK Biobank, we included 159,240 women (40-69 years). AL was derived from 12 biomarkers. Cox proportional hazards models, restricted cubic splines (RCS), and time-dependent ROC curves were used to assess associations with BCIS and IDC.

RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 13.65 years, 1,320 BCIS and 7,197 IDC cases occurred. In fully adjusted models, AL was not associated with BCIS (HR per 1-point increase = 1.004; 95% CI: 0.966-1.042; p  = 0.854). RCS confirmed no non-linear relationship (p = 0.605). Conversely, AL was significantly associated with IDC (HR = 1.018; 95% CI: 1.002-1.035; p  = 0.026), indicating a 1.8% increased risk per unit increase. Predictive utility was minimal (AUC < 0.58), and sensitivity analyses using quintile-based AL scoring validated these findings.

CONCLUSION: While AL is an independent risk factor for IDC, it shows no association with BCIS. These findings suggest that the biological drivers of in-situ lesions differ from those of invasive progression, highlighting AL as an etiologic factor for malignancy rather than a screening tool for early-stage localization.

RevDate: 2026-05-26
CmpDate: 2026-05-26

Csaky WL, Coombe AH, M Kruse (2026)

Invasive lobular carcinoma: Shining a light on the second most prevalent type of breast cancer.

The Nurse practitioner, 51(6):26-32.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer affecting women. Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common type of breast cancer behind invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Historically, breast cancer research has studied IDC and ILC together, although the pathophysiology differs. This article highlights the differences between ILC and IDC.

RevDate: 2026-05-27
CmpDate: 2026-05-27

Asai K, Hasebe T, Ohara M, et al (2026)

Compartment-Specific CD138 Expression Defines an Aggressive Breast Cancer Phenotype with Distinct Transcriptomic Features.

Cancers, 18(10): pii:cancers18101539.

Background/Objectives: CD138 (syndecan-1) is a cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan involved in cell-matrix interactions and growth factor signaling, and it has been implicated in tumor progression. However, the clinical significance of compartment-specific CD138 expression in breast cancer remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the prognostic and transcriptomic features of compartment-specific CD138 expression in invasive breast cancer. Methods: We performed an integrated analysis of immunohistochemistry and RNA sequencing of 111 invasive ductal carcinoma specimens. Tumors were classified into four groups according to CD138 expression in the tumor and stromal compartments. Clinicopathological data and survival outcomes were obtained from medical records, and transcriptomic profiles were analyzed using RNA sequencing. Results: The tumor-positive/stroma-negative phenotype (Group 1) was associated with poorer recurrence-free survival than the other phenotypes. According to multivariable Cox regression analysis, Group 1 remained an independent prognostic factor after adjustment for age, lymph node status, and Ki-67 index (hazard ratio, 5.493; p = 0.0028). Group 1 was also associated with lymph node metastasis and HER2 expression. All brain metastases occurred in Group 1, although the number of events was low. Transcriptomic profiling identified the upregulation of small nucleolar RNAs in Group 1 tumors, with the enrichment of pathways related to ribosome biogenesis, RNA processing, and translational regulation. Conclusions: Compartment-specific CD138 expression identifies an aggressive breast cancer phenotype with distinct transcriptomic features. This phenotype may have prognostic value and warrants validation using larger, independent cohorts.

RevDate: 2026-05-27
CmpDate: 2026-05-27

Alsaleh N, Alduraywish S, Arafah MA, et al (2026)

Breast Cancer Patterns in Saudi Arabia (2007-2022): A Nationwide Cancer Registry Surveillance Study.

Journal of clinical medicine, 15(10): pii:jcm15103983.

Background: Population-based cancer registry surveillance is essential for monitoring breast cancer burden and guiding cancer control planning; however, national surveillance evidence from Saudi Arabia remains limited. Using the Saudi Cancer Registry (SCR), we describe the distribution of age at diagnosis, geographic location, registry stage, histology, and grade among Saudi women diagnosed with breast cancer between 2007 and 2022. Methods: We performed a retrospective descriptive study of all Saudi female breast cancer cases registered in the SCR from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2022 (N = 40,755). Variables were coded according to SEER guidelines; STATA 16 was used for analyses. Results: The average age at diagnosis among 40,755 cases was 51.85 years. The highest case volume was from Makkah (25.5%), Riyadh (23.6%), and the Eastern Province (15.9%). The national age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) increased from 18.2 to 49.7 per 100,000 women between 2007 and 2022. Invasive ductal carcinoma (no special type) was the most common histology (76.7%). Overall, 42.7% of cases were localized, 36.5% regional, 14.2% distant, and 6.6% unstaged. Stage distribution differed significantly by age group (χ[2] = 98.1, p < 0.001) and by region (χ[2] = 312.6, p < 0.001). Conclusions: National cancer registry data show marked regional differences in breast cancer incidence and a persistent proportion of late-stage diagnoses. These findings may inform early detection planning and region-specific cancer control strategies.

RevDate: 2026-05-27
CmpDate: 2026-05-27

Güler M (2026)

Effects of the IAA-Producing Endophytic Bacillus spp. on the Growth of Hordeum vulgare L.

Microorganisms, 14(5): pii:microorganisms14051069.

Endophytic bacteria are beneficial microbes that live within plant tissues and promote growth through nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and phytohormone production. Two endophytic isolates from bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) root were identified based on their morphology and biochemical properties using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Winter barley seeds were inoculated with two PGP (plant growth-promoting) bacterial strains (C-14 and C-27), previously characterized for indole-derived compound (IDC) production, and evaluated in a pot experiment with four treatments: Treatment A1 (C-14), Treatment A2 (C-27), Treatment A3 Consortium (C-14 + C-27), and Treatment A4 (non-inoculated control). The results indicated that root and stem lengths increased in plants inoculated with bacteria compared to the uninoculated control. Among treatments, A2 produced the greatest root and shoot lengths (17.23 and 26.2 cm), while A3 showed the lowest (15.8 and 21.5 cm). SPAD values also increased by 6%, 10%, and 3.2% in Treatments A1, A2, and A3, respectively. This study clearly demonstrated that the endophytic isolates (C-14 and C-27) obtained from bell pepper roots significantly enhanced the growth of barley due to their ability of IDC production, thereby offering a promising alternate to chemical fertilizers.

RevDate: 2026-05-25
CmpDate: 2026-05-25

Alaukally MNN, Ilyas M, TA Oleiwi (2026)

Fabrication and Testing of an Optically Controlled Microwave Sensor for Urea Level Detection in Urine.

Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE.

Monitoring urea levels in urine is crucial for assessing renal function and hydration status. Current methods often rely on intrusive, costly, or time-consuming biochemical assays, which are not ideal for point-of-care or continuous monitoring. This protocol describes the fabrication and testing of a novel, low-cost, and highly sensitive microwave sensor designed for urea level detection. The sensor integrates a circular spiral inductor (CSI), an interdigital capacitor (IDC), and a light-dependent resistor (LDR) on an FR4 substrate, operating at a resonance frequency of 1.22 GHz. The key innovation is the optical control via the LDR, which, when exposed to a fixed light source through a urine sample, modulates the sensor's insertion loss (S21) in a linear and quantifiable manner relative to urea concentration. The design incorporates a back-loop trace and Hilbert fractal stubs to minimize diffraction effects and enhance impedance matching, thereby improving measurement accuracy. We detail the sensor's numerical simulation using CST Microwave Studio, its fabrication via chemical etching, and its experimental validation using human urine samples. The results demonstrate a consistent and repeatable shift in the S21 parameter with varying urea levels, confirmed by a neural network model for data classification. This sensor presents a promising tool for non-invasive, real-time biomedical diagnostics.

RevDate: 2026-05-25

Podany P, Zhan H, Colón-Cartagena L, et al (2026)

Histomorphologic analysis and clinical correlation of atypical apocrine lesions in breast pathology.

Human pathology, 175:106158 pii:S0046-8177(26)00127-9 [Epub ahead of print].

INTRODUCTION: Apocrine change is common in breast pathology, yet atypical apocrine lesions remain poorly defined and diagnostically challenging. This study aimed to clarify the terminology of atypical apocrine proliferations and assess their clinical significance by correlating histologic features with clinical outcomes.

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 59 specimens initially diagnosed as atypical apocrine adenosis (AAA) or atypical apocrine hyperplasia (AAH), including apocrine atypical ductal hyperplasia, from 2014 to 2024. Cases with coexisting in situ or invasive ductal carcinoma were excluded. Histologic features and clinical follow-up data were reviewed.

RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between AAA and AAH with respect to patient age, lesional size, most architectural patterns, lobular involvement, nuclear features, necrosis, calcifications, or carcinoma upstaging on subsequent excision. Cribriform architecture was significantly more frequent in AAH than AAA (63% vs. 33%, p = 0.047). Lesions upstaged to in situ or invasive ductal carcinoma demonstrated a significantly larger extent of atypia on biopsy (1.3 cm vs. 0.8 cm, p = 0.043), higher frequencies of marked nuclear enlargement (≥3-fold compared with background epithelium; 92% vs. 54%, p = 0.027), nuclear irregularity (54% vs. 17%, p = 0.028), and necrosis (23% vs. 0%, p = 0.037). Lesional extent, nuclear irregularity, and necrosis were independently associated with carcinoma upstaging (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Cribriform architecture supports classification as AAH, though AAA and AAH show no significant clinical differences. Marked nuclear enlargement, nuclear irregularity, and necrosis in larger atypical apocrine lesions are strongly associated with carcinoma upstaging and should prompt consideration of apocrine DCIS.

RevDate: 2026-05-25

Hirata Y, Nakaguro M, Tsukamoto R, et al (2026)

Oncocytic Intraductal Carcinoma of the Parotid Gland With the BRAF p.V600E Variant.

Cytopathology : official journal of the British Society for Clinical Cytology [Epub ahead of print].

Oncocytic intraductal carcinoma (IDC) is a rare subtype of salivary IDC characterized by an oncocytic cell proliferation surrounded by a p63-positive myoepithelial rim. We presented a case of oncocytic IDC: a 70s-year-old male with a swelling in the right parotid gland. Fine-needle aspiration cytology revealed complex papillary cell clusters with an abundant granular cytoplasm and a small number of myoepithelial cells. The cytologic features corresponded to the histological features of oncocytic IDC. The oncocytic cells were positive for S-100, mammaglobin, anti-mitochondrial antibody, and BRAF V600E. Sanger sequencing further confirmed BRAF p.V600E variant. Because a definite preoperative cytological diagnosis of oncocytic IDC is challenging, ancillary tests using cell blocks can aid in the diagnosis.

RevDate: 2026-05-25
CmpDate: 2026-05-25

Mathan PJ, Gandhirajan K, Bose JC, et al (2026)

Endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction following neoadjuvant chemotherapy for multifocal HER2-positive breast cancer: a case report.

Journal of surgical case reports, 2026(5):rjag344.

Endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy (E-NSM) is a minimally invasive approach that enables oncologically sound breast resection whilst minimizing visible scarring. Its application following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), particularly in combination with immediate autologous reconstruction using a deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap, remains infrequently reported. We describe a 38-year-old woman with multifocal HER2-positive invasive ductal carcinoma of the right breast who achieved an excellent clinical and radiological response to HER2-directed neoadjuvant chemotherapy. She subsequently underwent E-NSM through a single axillary incision with intraoperative retroareolar frozen section assessment, followed by immediate DIEP flap reconstruction. Final histopathology demonstrated a pathological complete response (ypT0 ypN0; RCB-0). The postoperative course was uneventful, with full nipple-areolar complex viability and a satisfactory aesthetic outcome. This case demonstrates the feasibility and safety of this combined approach in carefully selected patients.

RevDate: 2026-05-25
CmpDate: 2026-05-25

Kruithoff BC, Cox D, M Cripe (2026)

Indocyanine green focused near-infrared fluorescence lymphography localization in treatment of chyle leak after mastectomy with targeted left axillary sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer.

Journal of surgical case reports, 2026(5):rjag359.

We present a woman in her 60s who underwent bilateral mastectomy with left axillary targeted lymph node biopsy in the setting of high grade invasive ductal carcinoma of the left breast with metastasis to a left axillary lymph node. Her postoperative course was complicated by high output milky drainage from her left axillary surgical drain, consistent with a chyle leak, after confirmatory testing demonstrated drain fluid with high triglyceride content. The patient failed non-operative management consisting of low-fat diet and compressive measures. Ultimately, the patient returned to the operating room where indocyanine green near-infrared fluorescence lymphography was used to localized damaged lymphatic channels, which were then ligated to resolve the leak. This report outlines a unique identification method of an unusual complication and serves to inform breast surgeons who may encounter this complication.

RevDate: 2026-05-25
CmpDate: 2026-05-25

Li H, Zhang L, Zeng Y, et al (2026)

Magnetic resonance imaging-based radiomics analysis: predicting vascular invasion in breast invasive ductal carcinoma using different machine learning models.

Translational cancer research, 15(4):282.

BACKGROUND: Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) is an adverse prognostic factor; preoperative prediction by imaging is difficult, but radiomics extracts quantitative tumor biology features. Investigating the value of combining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based radiomics features with multiple machine learning (ML) models in predicting LVI status in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort of 678 female patients with pathologically confirmed IDC of the breast was collected from June 2021 to June 2025. All patients underwent preoperative MRI. Based on postoperative pathology, patients were categorized into LVI-positive (n=258) and LVI-negative (n=420) groups. Using ITK-SNAP software, regions of interest (ROIs) were delineated in phase-3 dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI images to extract radiomics features. Feature selection and dimensionality reduction were performed using redundancy analysis and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. Data were randomly split into an 8:2 ratio for training (n=542) and testing (n=136) sets. Eight ML models were then constructed: logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), K-nearest neighbors (KNN), random forest, extreme random trees (ExtraTrees), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM), and multi-layer perceptron (MLP). Univariate and multivariate LR analyses were performed to screen clinical and radiological features for establishing clinical models. Concurrently, a combined model integrating radiomics features with clinical characteristics was developed. The discriminatory power of each model was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC). AUC values for the radiological model, clinical model, and combined model underwent statistical comparison via Delong's test. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was employed to assess their clinical utility.

RESULTS: A total of 1,197 radiomics features were extracted, and after dimensionality reduction, 23 features with the highest predictive value were selected. The clinical prediction model constructed based on multifactorial analysis results indicated that LVI positivity was more likely to occur in postmenopausal patients [odds ratio (OR) =1.690; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.174-2.433], those with higher histological grade (OR =1.527; 95% CI: 1.107-2.107), sentinel lymph node metastasis (OR =0.198; 95% CI: 0.137-0.285), distinct molecular subtypes (OR =0.740; 95% CI: 0.567-0.965), and MRI maximum diameter ≥2 cm (OR =2.059; 95% CI: 1.362-3.113). Among radiomics models, the XGBoost model demonstrated optimal performance with a training set AUC of 0.912 and a validation set AUC of 0.706. The combined model exhibited the highest discriminatory ability in the training set (AUC =0.956) and a validation set AUC of 0.778. DCA indicated the combined model provided higher clinical net benefit.

CONCLUSIONS: A combined model incorporating MRI radiomics features and clinical factors demonstrates predictive value for the presence or absence of LVI in IDC of the breast, serving as a reference for individualized treatment decisions.

RevDate: 2026-05-25
CmpDate: 2026-05-25

Schueddig E, Kochat V, Arslan E, et al (2026)

Cellular stemness identifies high-risk ductal carcinoma in situ and offers a therapeutic interception opportunity.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology pii:2026.05.13.724882.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) exhibits substantial heterogeneity in its risk of progression to invasive breast cancer, yet the cellular and molecular determinants of high-risk lesions remain incompletely defined. Using spatially resolved single-cell transcriptomic and epigenomic profiling of 43 patient-derived DCIS and DCIS/invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) samples, we delineate cellular programs, spatial organization, and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms associated with invasive potential. We identify an epithelial population with stemness features within luminal hormone-responsive (LumHR) cells that progressively expands from benign tissue to DCIS and IDC, and is strongly associated with invasive progression and recurrence-linked transcriptional programs. Spatial mapping reveals discrete DCIS niches enriched for stem-like LumHR cells, characterized by elevated CEACAM6 expression and enhanced ligand-receptor interactions, including CEACAM6-EGFR signaling between epithelial and stromal compartments, including cancer-associated fibroblasts, macrophages (APOC1 -positive) and perivascular cells. These niches define a microenvironmental context that supports stemness and invasive potential. Epigenomic analyses implicate FOXA1 as a key regulator of these stem-like transcriptional states. Pharmacologic disruption of FOXA1-regulatory network using LSD1 inhibition suppresses stemness-associated transcriptional programs in vitro and significantly restrains tumor growth in vivo. Collectively, these findings define high-risk DCIS as a stemness-driven disease embedded within specialized microenvironments, and identify associated regulatory networks as candidate biomarkers and therapeutic vulnerabilities.

RevDate: 2026-05-25

Hanafy MM, Kamal RM, Khater SHSA, et al (2026)

Patterns of positron emission mammography uptake by benign and malignant breast lesions: radiopathological correlation with malignant histopathological subtypes, histological grades, and molecular subtypes.

Annals of nuclear medicine [Epub ahead of print].

PURPOSE: In the new era of nuclear breast imaging, differentiating benign from malignant uptake in the breast is essential in guiding clinical management. Accordingly, we aimed to assess the pattern of PEM uptake in benign and malignant breast lesions and to investigate its correlation with different histopathological subtypes, histological tumor grades, and molecular subtypes.

METHODS: This was a prospective study comprised of 337 women with 465 breast lesions, of whom 128 patients had bilateral breast lesions. All patients performed Positron Emission Mammography (PEM) from March 2022 to February 2024. Any abnormality was evaluated qualitatively (mass and non-mass enhancement) and quantitatively (PUVmax and LTB ratio). The PEM readings were correlated with final pathology to differentiate benign from malignant lesions, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to assess the discriminant ability of PUVmax and LTB ratio in distinguishing histopathological groups, histological grades, and molecular subtypes.

RESULTS: According to the final pathology, 330 (71%) lesions were malignant, and 135 (29%) were benign. The ROC curve analysis showed cutoff values of 1.92 and 3.145 for PUVmax and the LTB ratio, respectively, to discriminate between benign and malignant breast lesions. Significant differences in PUVmax and LTB ratio were detected between benign lesions and histopathological types, grades, and molecular malignant subtypes. The cutoff values for PUVmax and LTB ratio from benign were 1.81 and 3.165 for Ductal carcinoma in situ, 2.09 and 3.55 for invasive duct carcinoma (IDC) 1.62 and 2.8 for invasive lobular carcinoma,1.92 & 3.165 for grade I, 1.935 & 3.145 for grade II & III tumors, 1.92 and 3.145 for luminal molecular subtype, 1.95 and 3.45 for HER 2 subtype, and 2.28 and 4.27 for the triple-negative subtype respectively. The lesions with irregular shapes, uncircumscribed margins, and segmental non-mass distribution have higher PUVmax and LTB ratios.

CONCLUSIONS: PEM is a valuable imaging modality for distinguishing between benign and malignant breast lesions. PEM may enable stratification of malignant lesions by histopathological subtype, tumour grade, and molecular subtypes. The highest metabolic activity was observed in invasive duct carcinoma, grade III, and the triple-negative molecular subtype. Overall, PEM can provide in vivo evaluation of breast lesion metabolic activity, leading to better lesion characterization and individualized patient management. However, due to methodological constraints, subgroup sample size, and radiation exposure, PEM should be regarded as an adjunct to sonomammography rather than a primary screening imaging modality.

RevDate: 2026-05-23

Çelik Ö, Özgül H, Kulaksızoğlu S, et al (2026)

New biomarker in the early diagnosis of breast cancer: adiponectin, asprosin, adropin, and resistin.

BMC cancer pii:10.1186/s12885-026-16183-z [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis of breast cancer remains difficult despite advances in imaging because false-positive and false-negative findings still occur. Circulating biomarkers reflecting metabolic and inflammatory changes may provide complementary information. Adiponectin, adropin, asprosin, and resistin have been suggested as candidates, yet their comparative diagnostic performance in breast cancer has not been adequately defined.

METHODS: This study included ninety women aged 18-60 years allocated to malignant breast cancer, benign breast disease, and healthy control groups (n = 30 each). All malignant cases were invasive ductal carcinoma. Serum adiponectin, adropin, asprosin, and resistin concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Group comparisons used parametric or non-parametric tests as appropriate. Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic analysis, optimal cut-off values by the Youden index. When appropriate, post hoc pairwise comparisons were performed following overall group comparisons to identify between-group differences.

RESULTS: Adiponectin levels were significantly lower, whereas adropin, asprosin, and resistin levels were significantly higher in malignant cases than in benign disease and controls (all p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed good to excellent discrimination for adropin (AUC 0.893), asprosin (AUC 0.906), and resistin (AUC 0.908), while adiponectin demonstrated moderate accuracy (AUC 0.786). Adropin, asprosin, and resistin correlated strongly with each other and showed moderate relationships with tumor size and stage; adiponectin displayed weaker correlations.

CONCLUSION: Adropin, asprosin, and resistin show promising diagnostic value for early breast cancer and outperform adiponectin. These biomarkers may complement imaging in clinical evaluation, although larger prospective studies are needed to confirm clinical applicability and to establish standardized thresholds for routine clinical practice across diverse patient populations.

RevDate: 2026-05-23
CmpDate: 2026-05-23

Gurav M, Shetty O, Joshi S, et al (2026)

Establishment and Molecular Characterization of a Short-Term Primary Culture Derived From Invasive Micropapillary Carcinoma of the Breast.

Cell biology international, 50(6):e70167.

Invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) of the breast, a rare and aggressive subtype, represents a unique morphology of reversed polarity with higher metastatic propensity. Due to the limited availability of experimental models, understanding distinct molecular pathways and potential therapeutic targets remains challenging. This study aimed to establish patient-derived cell cultures (PDCs) from IMPC to generate viable models for in-vitro studies. Tissue samples from five IMPC cases were enzymatically disaggregated using five different cell disaggregation protocols. These cells were characterized using immunofluorescence, short tandem repeats profiling, and real-time assays for tumor marker expression profiles. RNA sequencing was performed and compared with invasive ductal carcinoma, no special type (IDC-NST), to study differential gene expression and cell polarity markers. Two short-term PDCs were successfully established from IMPC samples with an optimized collagenase-based protocol. These cultures showed an immunohistochemical profile consistent with the original tumor tissues and maintained hormone receptor and MUC1 expression status. RNA sequencing of PDCs revealed similar gene expression patterns with matched tumor tissue and revealed upregulated RAP1, MAPK, and PI3K-AKT pathways, when compared with ER/PR-matched IDC. These PDCs also showed different gene expression patterns in cell-polarity associated genes, such as cadherins CDH2, tight junction gene MARVELD2, PAR complex gene PARD6B, and downregulation of the cell polarity CRB2 gene. This study indicated the need for an optimization of cell culture conditions and the feasibility of establishing patient-derived cell cultures from IMPC. These models provide a great tool to study molecular insights, cell polarity, and therapeutic research in a rare breast cancer subtype.

RevDate: 2026-05-20
CmpDate: 2026-05-20

Kemna MM, Aris-Meijer JL, Verhagen AAE, et al (2026)

Interdisciplinary collaboration in pediatric palliative care: a qualitative study on barriers and facilitators as perceived by parents and healthcare professionals.

European journal of pediatrics, 185(6):.

UNLABELLED: Pediatric palliative care (PPC) requires involvement of various healthcare professionals (HCPs) across home and hospital settings to address the complex needs of children and families. Interdisciplinary collaboration (IDC) among HCPs and parents is crucial for the coordination, continuation, and quality of PPC. Yet, IDC remains difficult to achieve in practice. We aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to IDC in PPC as experienced by expert parents and HCPs in order to strengthen PPC. An exploratory multiple-case study was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Cases consisted of (non-)bereaved parents of a child qualifying for PPC and their involved HCPs. Data was thematically analyzed using the QUAGOL method. Nine cases, representing nine children, were included, comprising interviews with 14 parents and 39 HCPs. Barriers and facilitators to IDC were context-dependent and spanned seven domains: network, interdependence, goals of care, roles and tasks, added value, responsibility, and urgency. IDC typically developed slowly after diagnosis due to barriers such as negative perceptions on collaborative partners or IDC. Collaboration intensified during crisis and the terminal phase due to facilitators such as awareness of being a network.

CONCLUSION:  IDC in PPC cases is best understood as occurring in situational care networks (SCNs): temporary, child-specific constellations of parents and fluctuating non-standard and transmural collaborating HCPs. This conceptualization exposes vulnerabilities, but also opportunities of support and complementary HCP expertise in PPC collaboration. Early initiation of SCNs seems to better strengthen structural IDC than reactive reliance on parental coordination or crisis-driven senses in PPC.

WHAT IS KNOWN: • Interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare professionals and parents is crucial for coordination, continuation, and quality of pediatric palliative care. • Parents and healthcare professionals report challenges regarding collaboration in pediatric palliative care.

WHAT IS NEW: • Besides facilitators and barriers in interpersonal interactions, individual attitudes and perceptions affect interdisciplinary collaboration in pediatric palliative care. • Conceptualizing collaboration as situational care networks of non-standard, transmural collaboration between healthcare professionals and parents may strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration.

RevDate: 2026-05-20

Kaltenecker D, Horvath I, Al-Maskari R, et al (2026)

A deep-learning framework reveals whole-body perturbations at cell level.

Nature [Epub ahead of print].

Many diseases, including obesity, have systemic effects that perturb multiple organ systems throughout the body[1,2]. However, tools for comprehensive, high-resolution analysis of disease-associated changes at the whole-body scale have been lacking. Here we developed MouseMapper, a suite of foundation-model-based deep-learning algorithms enabling multi-system analysis of disease across the entire mouse body. MouseMapper enables whole-body quantitative analysis of nerves and immune cells, resolving fine axonal branches and immune-cell clusters while automatically segmenting 31 organs and tissues. We used MouseMapper to study diet-induced obesity, and identified structural alterations of the infraorbital branch of the trigeminal ganglia. This structural impairment in infraorbital nerves was associated with functional sensory deficits in whisker sensing. Furthermore, we identified proteomic changes in the trigeminal ganglion affecting axon remodelling and complement pathways both in mice and humans. MouseMapper also generated detailed three-dimensional inflammation maps by characterizing immune cell cluster compositions across tissues. The MouseMapper framework demonstrates robust generalizability across different imaging resolutions and datasets. Our study provides a powerful, scalable approach for identifying and quantifying systemic pathologies, bridging molecular insights from animal models to human conditions.

RevDate: 2026-05-21

Abbas FF, Kamil S, Khan N, et al (2026)

Integrated Histopathological and Molecular Classification of Breast Cancer Using Immunohistochemistry (ER, PR, HER2) and KI-67.

Current molecular medicine pii:CMM-EPUB-155773 [Epub ahead of print].

INTRODUCTION: Molecular classification of breast cancer based on Estrogen Receptor (ER), Progesterone Receptor (PR), and Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor-2 (HER2) expression has improved therapeutic decision-making; however, accurate differentiation between luminal subtypes remains challenging. The Ki-67 proliferation index is a valuable biomarker for assessing tumor aggressiveness and guiding treatment strategies. This study aimed to determine the frequency of molecular subtypes in breast cancer biopsies and evaluate their association with clinicopathologic parameters.

METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Histopathology Section of the Dow Diagnostic Research and Referral Laboratory (DDRRL), Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Karachi, from January to December 2024. A total of 913 breast cancer biopsy specimens were analyzed using immunohistochemistry for ER, PR, HER2, and Ki-67. Tumors were classified into Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2- enriched, and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). Ethical approval was obtained from the DUHS Institutional Review Board (IRB-3423/DUHS/Approval/2024/93).

RESULTS: Among 913 patients, middle-aged adults [41-60 years] were most commonly affected. Luminal A [41%] was the predominant subtype, and invasive ductal carcinoma was the most frequent histological pattern. Molecular subtypes showed significant associations with tumor grade, histology, and laterality, with TNBC exhibiting a higher frequency of Grade III tumors.

DISCUSSION: Luminal A tumors were predominantly Grade II and hormone receptor- positive, whereas TNBC demonstrated higher grades and aggressive behavior. An inverse relationship between ER/PR and HER2 expression was observed. High Ki-67 index correlated with higher tumor grade and ER/PR negativity.

CONCLUSION: Combined histopathological and molecular classification provides important prognostic information and supports individualized breast cancer management.

RevDate: 2026-05-21
CmpDate: 2026-05-21

Patel R, Khan F, Brahamane AK, et al (2026)

Cross-Sectional Study to Compare Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy vs. Complete Axillary Lymph Node Dissection for the Evaluation of Lymph Node Metastasis in Females With Locally Advanced Breast Carcinoma Post Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

Cureus, 18(4):e107344.

Background Accurate axillary staging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in locally advanced breast cancer is essential for treatment planning. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) offers a less morbid alternative to complete axillary lymph node dissection (CALND), but its diagnostic performance after NACT requires evaluation. Aim To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy, specifically the sensitivity and false-negative rate, of SLNB compared to CALND in identifying residual axillary metastasis among females with locally advanced breast carcinoma who achieve a clinically node-negative (cN0) status following neoadjuvant chemotherapy in a tertiary care setting. Materials and methods This prospective, cross-sectional, hospital-based observational study was conducted over one year at a tertiary care teaching hospital in central India. Forty-five consenting females (≥18 years) with cytologically or histologically proven locally advanced breast cancer, who were clinically node-negative after NACT, underwent intraoperative dye-guided SLNB with lower axillary sampling followed by completion axillary lymph node dissection. Histopathology from SLNB and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) specimens was compared. Diagnostic indices (sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and accuracy) were calculated using ALND as the reference standard. Results Among 45 subjects, 64.44% were younger than 50 years, and tumors were more often left-sided (60.0%). Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) was the most common histologic type (64.4%), and no residual tumor (NRT) was reported in 24.4% of patients. Mean tumor size was 2.15 ± 1.00 cm. SLNB was positive in 18 cases and negative in 27 cases; remaining axillary nodes were positive in 11 and negative in 34 subjects. SLNB demonstrated a sensitivity of 88.89%, specificity of 72.22%, false-negative rate of 11.11%, false-positive rate of 27.77%, positive predictive value of 44.44%, negative predictive value of 96.30%, and overall accuracy of 75.56%. Conclusion SLNB showed high sensitivity and a very high negative predictive value as compared with CALND for post-NACT axillary evaluation in clinically node-negative locally advanced breast cancer. The present findings support SLNB as a preliminary and hypothesis-generating alternative to CALND in the post-NACT setting for clinically node-negative LABC in resource-limited settings, while emphasizing that careful patient selection and adherence to best-practice technical standards are essential to maintain diagnostic reliability.

RevDate: 2026-05-21

Tokura M, Nakayama J, Suzuki H, et al (2026)

Spatial Transcriptomics and Bulk RNA-Seq Analysis Revealed Molecular Classification of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma.

Cancer science [Epub ahead of print].

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is a special type of breast cancer. The histological subtypes of ILC exhibit diverse morphological features, and the prognosis differs accordingly. Compared with patients with classic-ILC (C-ILC), patients with pleomorphic-ILC (P-ILC) have a worse prognosis, owing to high-grade nuclear atypia and mitotic cells. However, the molecular differences between C-ILC and P-ILC remain unclear. To address this gap, we performed spatial transcriptomic profiling on four fresh-frozen C-ILC samples and four fresh-frozen P-ILC samples, followed by confirmation of reproducibility in bulk RNA-seq datasets. We identified significant enrichment of cellular response to heat stress in P-ILC. Furthermore, molecular clustering analysis using genes differentially expressed across ILC samples in spatial transcriptome revealed that ILC has three molecular subtypes: proliferative (PR), immunoreactive (IM), and stroma-rich (ST), associated with distinct prognostic outcomes. Although these molecular subtypes did not completely correspond to C-ILC or P-ILC, PR tended to include P-ILC, and ST tended to include C-ILC. These molecular clusters exhibited features comparable to previously reported subtypes. Despite these phenotypic features, ILC is generally treated similarly to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), with limited consideration of molecular subtype classification. Our findings suggest that molecular profiling may more accurately reflect prognosis than conventional histological classification and may provide potential diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets.

RevDate: 2026-05-21

Al-Khafiz KMF, Kartini R, Tanty RHM, et al (2026)

Apparent diffusion coefficient and intravoxel incoherent motion-derived true diffusion serve as early non-contrast longitudinal biomarkers of neoadjuvant chemotherapy response.

Scientific reports pii:10.1038/s41598-026-51568-x [Epub ahead of print].

Locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) frequently requires neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), and early, non-contrast imaging biomarkers are of increasing clinical interest for monitoring treatment response. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MRI provide quantitative measures of tumour microstructure without gadolinium administration. To evaluate whether the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and true diffusion (Dt) derived from IVIM can serve as early non-contrast imaging biomarkers of NAC response in patients with LABC. Fourteen women with biopsy-proven LABC underwent MRI at baseline (T0), after the first NAC cycle (T1), and after the third cycle (T2). ADC was calculated from b = 0 and 1000 s/mm[2], while Dt, Dp, and f were obtained using a full bi-exponential IVIM model incorporating all b-values (0-1000 s/mm[2]). Only four patients completed all three MRI timepoints. Tumour diameter and diffusion parameters were compared across time. At baseline, ADC and Dt were significantly lower in malignant lesions compared with contralateral fibroglandular tissue (p < 0.01). Following NAC, mean tumour ADC increased by 27.2% at T1 and 39.5% at T2, accompanied by progressive tumour size reduction (50.9% at T2). Dt demonstrated a similar upward trend. Perfusion-related IVIM parameters (Dp and f) showed no consistent differences. ROC analysis demonstrated high discriminatory performance of ADC for differentiating invasive ductal carcinoma from normal tissue (AUC = 1.00), although this finding must be interpreted cautiously given the small sample size. ADC and Dt showed early increases following NAC that paralleled reductions in tumour size, supporting their potential as practical, contrast-free imaging biomarkers of treatment-related microstructural changes. However, the limited number of complete longitudinal datasets (n = 4) and the pilot nature of the study require cautious interpretation. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.

RevDate: 2026-05-19

Fernández Brillet C, Thomas WM, Mueller KN, et al (2026)

Vestibular peripheral function remains robust after two weeks of continuous ionic direct current stimulation.

Journal of neural engineering [Epub ahead of print].

Conventional neural prostheses use brief charge-balanced pulses to minimize the risk of electrode polarization and irreversible electrochemistry at the electrode-electrolyte interface, constraining the waveforms that can be delivered long-term. Direct current (DC) stimulation has shown advantages, such as direct excitation and inhibition of tissue, but prior in vivo reports have been largely limited to acute durations. This study explores the physiological and histological effects of prolonged DC stimulation at amplitudes effective for neuromodulation while isolating tissue from the electrode-electrolyte interface. Approach: We developed a separated interface nerve electrode (SINE) device for long-term ionic direct current (iDC) stimulation in free-roaming rodents. Using our device, we applied 14 days of continuous iDC targeting the vestibular periphery in nine chinchillas. We measured vestibulo-ocular reflex responses to iDC before and after stimulation. Postmortem, we performed a histological comparison of stimulated ears and implanted but unstimulated controls. Main results: All chinchillas retained robust vestibular reflex function after 14 days of continuous iDC at up to 30 µA. Histological exam found no differences associated with iDC stimulation between the stimulated ears and the implanted but unstimulated ears. Significance: Decoupling the metal-electrolyte interface from the target tissue enables prolonged delivery of iDC at amplitudes effective for neuromodulation without causing a loss of physiologic responses or histologic signs of structural damage. .

RevDate: 2026-05-20

Lima ADN, Millen EC, Cavalcante FP, et al (2026)

Reoperation rates following breast-conserving surgery in a contemporary cohort.

BMC surgery pii:10.1186/s12893-026-03812-4 [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) followed by adjuvant radiotherapy is the standard of care for early-stage breast cancer. However, reoperations after BCS may compromise aesthetic outcomes, increase surgical complications, and cause psychological distress. This study aimed to determine the reoperation rate after BCS in a multi-institutional cohort from Brazil and to identify predictive factors associated with reoperation.

METHODS: This retrospective multicenter cohort study included female breast cancer patients (AJCC clinical stage 0-III) who underwent BCS followed by adjuvant radiotherapy at six treatment centers in Brazil between January 2016 and December 2022. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between potential risk factors and reoperation.

RESULTS: The overall reoperation rate was 5.2%, with a higher rate in the public hospital (9.9%) than in private hospitals (4.8%). Patients had a mean age of 58.2 years, with 70.5% aged over 50; 58.3% were White, and 89.8% were treated in private settings. The most common histological type was invasive ductal carcinoma (67.0%), with AJCC stage I (49.3%) and hormone receptor-positive tumors (54.6%) predominating. Logistic regression showed that ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) was significantly associated with an increased risk of reoperation (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.08-5.76, p = 0.024), whereas the absence of multifocal tumors was associated with a reduced risk (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.16-0.98, p = 0.031).

CONCLUSION: Reoperation after BCS was infrequent in this cohort. DCIS was associated with an increased risk of reoperation, whereas the absence of multifocal disease was associated with a reduced risk. Higher reoperation rates observed in the public hospital should be interpreted with caution given the limited representation of this setting.

RevDate: 2026-05-20

Rima XY, Majumder S, Patel DS, et al (2026)

Multidimensional Cellular Micro-Compartments to Model Invasive Lobular Carcinoma Dormancy.

Advanced healthcare materials [Epub ahead of print].

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) accounts for 10-15% of breast cancers. Despite favorable responses to anti-estrogen therapy, the dissemination of cancer cells and resistance to therapies are significant risks for patients with ILC. Late recurrences are prevalent in ILC, suggesting that disseminated tumor cell (DTC) dormancy may be a mechanism preceding their late overt growth into metastatic lesions. Herein, we investigated the relationship between anti-estrogen resistance and dormancy through multidimensional, micro-compartmentalized in vitro models. The bioengineered platforms recapitulated the morphological characteristics of ILC and highlighted its distinction from invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Inducing a reversible dormant phenotype revealed epigenetic changes and enhanced chemical and mechanical sensing of anti-estrogen-resistant ILC cells to the substrate surface, with p27[Kip1] signaling playing a central role. We propose this platform as a high-throughput method for investigating ILC dormancy and its manifestation using a simplified, expedited approach.

RevDate: 2026-05-19

Liskiewicz D, Novikoff A, Khalil A, et al (2026)

Publisher Correction: GLP-1R-GIPR-PPARα/γ/δ quintuple agonism corrects obesity and diabetes in mice.

RevDate: 2026-05-15

Balar S, Joshi E, Rawal R, et al (2026)

Multimodal molecular profiling of invasive ductal carcinoma: High concordance of qPCR with FISH in HER2 assessment and exomic landscape of high-risk subtypes.

Pathology, research and practice, 284:156523 pii:S0344-0338(26)00176-7 [Epub ahead of print].

PURPOSE: Accurate evaluation of HER2 status is critical for the targeted management of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast; however, resolving equivocal immunohistochemistry (IHC) results remains a significant clinical challenge. This study aims to comparatively evaluate IHC, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for precise HER2 assessment, while mapping the broader genetic landscape of aggressive IDC subtypes using whole-exome sequencing (WES).

METHODS: We comprehensively analyzed 160 histopathologically confirmed IDC samples using IHC, FISH, and qPCR to evaluate hormone receptor and HER2 amplification status. Furthermore, targeted biomarker profiling (Androgen Receptor [AR] and Ki-67) and exploratory WES were performed on a high-risk subset of 10 HER2-positive (IHC 3 +) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cases to identify underlying somatic mutations and structural variations.

RESULTS: qPCR demonstrated a high diagnostic concordance with gold-standard FISH for detecting HER2 gene amplification across all ASCO/CAP classification groups (sensitivity 96.4%, κ = 0.94; p < 0.05). Notably, qPCR successfully resolved the clinically ambiguous IHC 2 + cohort, identifying definitive HER2 amplification in 41.3% of these cases. Biomarker profiling identified AR expression within the TNBC cohort, suggesting the presence of the clinically actionable Luminal Androgen Receptor (LAR) subtype. Furthermore, exploratory genomic profiling via WES revealed profound intratumoral heterogeneity: TNBC samples frequently harbored pathogenic variants in TP53, BRCA1, and MYCN, whereas the HER2 3 + cohort exhibited prominent mutations in PAK1, CUL3, and TP53.

CONCLUSION: Our findings establish qPCR as a highly robust and accurate diagnostic adjunct for resolving clinically equivocal HER2 cases in IDC. Furthermore, while restricted to a limited exploratory subset, the integration of targeted genomic profiling identified complex mutational hubs driving aggressive breast cancer phenotypes. These hypothesis-generating insights provide a vital framework for bridging accurate diagnostic stratification with future precision oncology strategies.

RevDate: 2026-05-18
CmpDate: 2026-05-18

Xanthopoulou G, Barkolias C, Theodorolea K, et al (2026)

Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma of the Breast Presenting 40 Years After Breast-Conserving Therapy: A Case Report.

Cureus, 18(4):e107037.

Breast-conserving surgery combined with radiotherapy has been established as a standard therapeutic option for the management of early-stage breast cancer. Although radiation-associated tumors most frequently include sarcomas, lung cancer, and contralateral breast carcinoma, lymphoid malignancies arising within previously irradiated breast tissue are rarely reported. Breast lymphoma is a rare entity, and its occurrence following prior treatment for breast cancer may pose a diagnostic challenge as it can mimic recurrence of the primary malignancy. We report a case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the breast in an 88-year-old woman presenting approximately 40 years after breast-conserving surgery and radiotherapy for invasive ductal carcinoma. The lesion was initially suspected to represent recurrent breast cancer based on clinical and imaging findings; however, histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation confirmed lymphoma. Although the tumor arose within a previously irradiated field, a causal relationship with prior radiotherapy could be established and should be interpreted with caution. This case highlights the importance of considering alternative diagnoses in patients presenting with new breast lesions long after initial cancer treatment, particularly in elderly individuals.

RevDate: 2026-05-18
CmpDate: 2026-05-18

Jimbo K, T Tsuji (2026)

A Case of Abscess Formation after Radiofrequency Ablation for Early Breast Cancer.

Surgical case reports, 12(1):.

INTRODUCTION: Breast-conserving surgery with whole-breast irradiation is the standard local treatment for early-stage breast cancer. Recently, less invasive approaches have gained attention with advances in imaging and ablative technologies. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) induces thermal coagulative necrosis and has been explored as a potential alternative for selected small breast tumors, with favorable oncological and cosmetic outcomes reported. However, data regarding infectious complications remain limited. Because RFA creates devitalized tissue, secondary infection and abscess formation may occur. We report a rare case of delayed abscess formation after breast RFA that required surgical management.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 58-year-old woman with cT1bN0M0 invasive ductal carcinoma of the left breast underwent RFA combined with sentinel lymph node biopsy. Adjuvant endocrine therapy and whole-breast irradiation were subsequently administered. Four months after RFA, MRI and vacuum-assisted biopsy confirmed complete tumor ablation. Six months after the procedure, the patient developed progressive swelling, erythema, and tenderness of the left breast. Despite systemic antibiotic therapy, symptoms persisted. Contrast-enhanced CT and ultrasonography revealed fluid accumulation within the ablation zone, consistent with abscess formation. Surgical incision and drainage with debridement were performed. The patient recovered gradually, and complete wound healing was achieved 2 months after the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS: We report a rare case of delayed abscess formation following breast RFA that required surgical management. As RFA becomes more widely implemented, awareness of potential late infectious complications and prompt intervention are essential for ensuring patient safety.

RevDate: 2026-05-18
CmpDate: 2026-05-18

Nazarli S, Bircan T, Bozkurt SU, et al (2026)

Synchronous tumor-to-tumor metastasis of breast carcinoma to intracranial meningioma: illustrative case.

Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons, 11(20): pii:CASE26157.

BACKGROUND: Tumor-to-tumor metastasis (TTM) is a rare pathological phenomenon that most frequently involves intracranial meningiomas as recipient tumors and breast carcinoma as donor malignancy. Despite this known association, synchronous diagnosis of both tumors during the same diagnostic workup is exceptionally uncommon.

OBSERVATIONS: A 70-year-old woman presented with progressive left lower extremity weakness and loss of smell. Neuroimaging revealed a right frontal extra-axial mass, initially interpreted as a metastatic lesion. Concurrent physical examination revealed an ulcerated mass in the right breast. Given her rapid neurological deterioration, surgical intervention was planned, and the patient underwent craniotomy with gross-total resection, along with a same-day biopsy of the breast lesion. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed a meningioma harboring metastatic invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast, confirming TTM. Postoperative systemic staging revealed widespread metastatic disease, which prompted the initiation of systemic oncological therapy.

LESSONS: TTM should not be regarded merely as a pathological curiosity but as a clinically relevant entity. Synchronous presentation, particularly in the setting of aggressive systemic disease, necessitates integrated surgical, pathological, and molecularly guided multidisciplinary decision-making to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE26157.

RevDate: 2026-05-18

Kahounová Z, Hrušková M, Drápela S, et al (2026)

Circulating tumour cell-derived xenograft as a preclinical platform for metastatic breast cancer.

British journal of cancer [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are mediators of cancer dissemination and the formation of metastasis, which is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Experimental models derived from CTCs contribute to understanding the biology of CTCs, their role in dissemination, and the discovery of potential drugs targeting CTCs.

METHODS: A xenograft was derived from CTCs isolated from a patient diagnosed with metastatic invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. The characterisation of the CTCs-derived xenograft (CDX) was conducted through in vivo experimental metastatic assays, RNA-Seq, spectral flow cytometry, and drug sensitivity tests.

RESULTS: The CTCs-enriched fraction formed a CDX within 6 months, and its metastatic potential was confirmed. CDX cells were propagated in vitro, where the enrichment of CD44[+]/CD24[-] breast cancer stem cells was confirmed. An RNA-Seq-based comparison of CDX with the primary tumour from the same patient unravelled substantial changes in genes related to cell growth, metabolism, and extracellular signalling. CDX and in vitro cell culture showed sensitivity to carboplatin. A partial response was also observed for vandetanib, which was selected through in silico analysis of transcriptomic data.

CONCLUSIONS: We present and characterise a novel model derived from CTCs for understanding the plasticity and behaviour of CTCs and advanced breast cancer. CDX_IBP_01 was established from the CTC-enriched fraction obtained from the patient with progressing breast cancer. Once stably re-transplanted and growing in vivo, the transcriptomes of CDX and archived primary BCa1 samples were compared. 2D and 3D in vitro cell cultures were established from sorted human cancer cells from an in vivo xenograft. Phenotypes of established models and their stability were characterised using spectral flow cytometry. The metastatic potential of CDX was evaluated in an in vivo assay. Finally, the applicability of the established model for in vivo and in vitro drug screening was evaluated. Created in https://BioRender.com .

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RJR Experience and Expertise

Researcher

Robbins holds BS, MS, and PhD degrees in the life sciences. He served as a tenured faculty member in the Zoology and Biological Science departments at Michigan State University. He is currently exploring the intersection between genomics, microbial ecology, and biodiversity — an area that promises to transform our understanding of the biosphere.

Educator

Robbins has extensive experience in college-level education: At MSU he taught introductory biology, genetics, and population genetics. At JHU, he was an instructor for a special course on biological database design. At FHCRC, he team-taught a graduate-level course on the history of genetics. At Bellevue College he taught medical informatics.

Administrator

Robbins has been involved in science administration at both the federal and the institutional levels. At NSF he was a program officer for database activities in the life sciences, at DOE he was a program officer for information infrastructure in the human genome project. At the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, he served as a vice president for fifteen years.

Technologist

Robbins has been involved with information technology since writing his first Fortran program as a college student. At NSF he was the first program officer for database activities in the life sciences. At JHU he held an appointment in the CS department and served as director of the informatics core for the Genome Data Base. At the FHCRC he was VP for Information Technology.

Publisher

While still at Michigan State, Robbins started his first publishing venture, founding a small company that addressed the short-run publishing needs of instructors in very large undergraduate classes. For more than 20 years, Robbins has been operating The Electronic Scholarly Publishing Project, a web site dedicated to the digital publishing of critical works in science, especially classical genetics.

Speaker

Robbins is well-known for his speaking abilities and is often called upon to provide keynote or plenary addresses at international meetings. For example, in July, 2012, he gave a well-received keynote address at the Global Biodiversity Informatics Congress, sponsored by GBIF and held in Copenhagen. The slides from that talk can be seen HERE.

Facilitator

Robbins is a skilled meeting facilitator. He prefers a participatory approach, with part of the meeting involving dynamic breakout groups, created by the participants in real time: (1) individuals propose breakout groups; (2) everyone signs up for one (or more) groups; (3) the groups with the most interested parties then meet, with reports from each group presented and discussed in a subsequent plenary session.

Designer

Robbins has been engaged with photography and design since the 1960s, when he worked for a professional photography laboratory. He now prefers digital photography and tools for their precision and reproducibility. He designed his first web site more than 20 years ago and he personally designed and implemented this web site. He engages in graphic design as a hobby.

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Cancer is the generic name for more than 100 diseases in which cells begin to grow and divide in an uncontrolled manner. Usually, when cells get too old or damaged, they die and new cells take their place. Cancer begins when genetic changes impair this orderly process so that some cells start to grow uncontrollably. The Emperor of All Maladies is a "biography" of cancer — from its first documented appearances thousands of years ago through the epic battles in the twentieth century to cure, control, and conquer it to a radical new understanding of its essence. This is a must read book for anyone with an interest in cancer. R. Robbins

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