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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 17 Aug 2025 at 11:26 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: 2025-08-15

Volfson E, Moshkovich M, Yakubov R, et al (2025)

Dermatologic Mimickers of Paget's Disease of the Breast: A Systematic Review.

Journal of cutaneous medicine and surgery [Epub ahead of print].

Mammary Paget disease (MPD) is a rare form of breast cancer that accounts for just 1% to 4% of all cases and is often associated with underlying malignancies such as ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive ductal carcinoma. Its clinical presentation frequently mimics benign dermatologic conditions or malignant melanoma, leading to diagnostic confusion and significant treatment delays. This review explores the diagnostic challenges and patterns of misdiagnosis in MPD, as well as the consequences of delayed recognition. A comprehensive search of Embase and MEDLINE identified 29 studies reporting on 32 cases of MPD, all of which were initially misdiagnosed-most commonly as melanoma (44.4%) and atopic dermatitis (25.0%). The average diagnostic delay was 2.3 years. Most lesions were unilateral (93.8%) and involved the nipple-areolar complex (87.5%). Imaging modalities demonstrated limited sensitivity, reinforcing the importance of early biopsy for timely diagnosis. Surgical intervention was the predominant treatment approach, employed in 75% of cases, and no recurrences were reported during a mean follow-up of 1.3 years. These findings underscore the urgent need for heightened clinical suspicion, earlier tissue sampling, and the development of standardized diagnostic pathways to reduce misdiagnosis and improve outcomes in patients with MPD.

RevDate: 2025-08-14

Khesali M, SAM Yazdi (2025)

Spontaneous migration of a port catheter tip to the pulmonary vein: A case report of an uncommon complication.

International journal of surgery case reports, 134:111777 pii:S2210-2612(25)00963-0 [Epub ahead of print].

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Port catheters are commonly used for chemotherapy in cancer patients. However, complications such as spontaneous catheter tip migration can occur, leading to symptoms like pain, infection, or venous thrombosis, with factors like Changes in thoracic pressure potentially contributing to this rare phenomenon.

CASE PRESENTATION: This report details the case of a 44-year-old woman with invasive ductal carcinoma of the right breast who developed a cough following six chemotherapy sessions.

CLINICAL SISCUSSION: Imaging revealed that the catheter tip had migrated from the superior vena cava (SVC) to the right pulmonary vein.

CONCLUSION: The catheter was successfully removed using minimally invasive intravascular techniques under angiography guidance.

RevDate: 2025-08-16

Bellesini JA, Foo KY, Li J, et al (2025)

Three-dimensional dynamic optical coherence tomography for breast tumor margin assessment.

Biomedical optics express, 16(8):3061-3074.

Intraoperative margin assessment techniques are needed to reduce the re-excision rate in breast-conserving surgery. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technique capable of rapid three-dimensional (3-D) imaging of the internal microstructure of tissues. However, there is often low contrast between morphological features in breast tissue. Dynamic OCT (d-OCT), which provides additional contrast derived from the temporal variance of the OCT signal caused by intrinsic motion within the tissue, may provide a solution. However, few studies have applied it to breast tumor margin assessment. In this study, we acquired 3-D d-OCT images of ten human mastectomy specimens and three wide local excisions from breast-conserving surgery (BCS) procedures and, in each case, performed co-registered histology for validation. To optimize the trade-off between spatial resolution, temporal resolution, and acquisition time, we considered a range of acquisition settings. Several methods for visualizing d-OCT images were investigated, including Fourier weighted mean frequency, Fourier power spectral analysis, using red-green-blue (RGB) and hue-saturation-value (HSV) color spaces, and phase variance. We present d-OCT images of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), and show that the contrast between malignant and benign regions is consistently higher with d-OCT than using OCT intensity alone. The improved contrast may derive from increased proliferation rates and collagen deposition in cancerous tissue compared to benign tissue. We believe that our results demonstrate that d-OCT has the potential to improve intraoperative tumor margin assessment during breast-conserving surgery.

RevDate: 2025-08-16

Vulasala SR, Louviere CD, Navarro F, et al (2025)

Systemic Sarcoidosis Mimicking Metastatic Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast.

Cureus, 17(7):e87860.

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous inflammatory disorder of uncertain etiology that can closely mimic metastatic malignancies, particularly when it presents with multi-organ involvement. In patients with a confirmed diagnosis of cancer, to avoid misdiagnosis and subsequent inappropriate treatment, distinguishing between sarcoidosis and metastatic disease is essential. Histologic confirmation through tissue sampling and correlation with tumor markers are critical tools in this process. We report a case of a 36-year-old female with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast who presented with suspicious findings that indicated metastatic disease involving her lungs, liver, and bones. However, tumor marker levels and histopathology revealed systemic sarcoidosis, not metastatic spread.

RevDate: 2025-08-17

Tsai MY, Yu ZH, CP Chou (2025)

AI-Based Ultrasound Nomogram for Differentiating Invasive from Non-Invasive Breast Cancer Masses.

Cancers, 17(15):.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a predictive nomogram integrating AI-based BI-RADS lexicons and lesion-to-nipple distance (LND) ultrasound features to differentiate mass-type ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) from invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) visible on ultrasound. Methods: The final study cohort consisted of 170 women with 175 pathologically confirmed malignant breast lesions, including 26 cases of DCIS and 149 cases of IDC. LND and AI-based features from the S-Detect system (BI-RADS lexicons) were analyzed. Rare features were consolidated into broader categories to enhance model stability. Data were split into training (70%) and validation (30%) sets. Logistic regression identified key predictors for an LND nomogram. Model performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, 1000 bootstrap resamples, and calibration curves to assess discrimination and calibration. Results: Multivariate logistic regression identified smaller lesion size, irregular shape, LND ≤ 3 cm, and non-hypoechoic echogenicity as independent predictors of DCIS. These variables were integrated into the LND nomogram, which demonstrated strong discriminative performance (AUC = 0.851 training; AUC = 0.842 validation). Calibration was excellent, with non-significant Hosmer-Lemeshow tests (p = 0.127 training, p = 0.972 validation) and low mean absolute errors (MAE = 0.016 and 0.034, respectively), supporting the model's accuracy and reliability. Conclusions: The AI-based comprehensive nomogram demonstrates strong reliability in distinguishing mass-type DCIS from IDC, offering a practical tool to enhance non-invasive breast cancer diagnosis and inform preoperative planning.

RevDate: 2025-08-17

Cantisani C, Caruso G, Taliano A, et al (2025)

Multimodal Imaging Detection of Difficult Mammary Paget Disease: Dermoscopy, Reflectance Confocal Microscopy, and Line-Field Confocal-Optical Coherence Tomography.

Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland), 15(15):.

Mammary Paget disease (MPD) is a rare cutaneous malignancy associated with underlying ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Clinically, it appears as eczematous changes in the nipple and areola complex (NAC), which may include itching, redness, crusting, and ulceration; these symptoms can sometimes mimic benign dermatologic conditions such as nipple eczema, making early diagnosis challenging. A 56-year-old woman presented with persistent erythema and scaling of the left nipple, which did not respond to conventional dermatologic treatments: a high degree of suspicion prompted further investigation. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) revealed atypical, enlarged epidermal cells with irregular boundaries, while line-field confocal-optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) demonstrated thickening of the epidermis, hypo-reflective vacuous spaces and abnormally large round cells (Paget cells). These non-invasive imaging findings were consistent with an aggressive case of Paget disease despite the absence of clear mammographic evidence of underlying carcinoma: in fact, several biopsies were needed, and at the end, massive surgery was necessary. Non-invasive imaging techniques, such as dermoscopy, RCM, and LC-OCT, offer a valuable diagnostic tool in detecting Paget disease, especially in early stages and atypical forms.

RevDate: 2025-08-14

Gato J, Vázquez I, Coimbra S, et al (2025)

To build a family: exploring preferred paths to parenthood among plurisexual individuals without children.

Journal of reproductive and infant psychology [Epub ahead of print].

AIMS/BACKGROUND: Limited research has examined family-building strategies among plurisexual individuals. Culture and gender are essential determinants of parenthood prospects among individuals with minoritized sexual identities. For plurisexual individuals, the partner's gender also seems to play a critical role. Our investigation aimed to explore cisgender plurisexual individuals' preferred paths to parenthood considering their country of origin, gender, and partner's gender.

DESIGN/METHOD: We examined associations between preferred pathways to parenthood and country, gender, and partner's gender among 405 cisgender plurisexual individuals aged between 18 and 45 years (M = 25.76; SD = 5.57), from Portugal (n = 140; 34.9%), Israel (n = 78; 19.3%), Poland (n = 85; 21%), and the UK (n = 102; 25.2%).

RESULTS: Overall, couple adoption and sexual intercourse were the most chosen pathways to parenthood, and self-insemination and co-parenting were the least chosen. Participants from Poland and the United Kingdom were less likely to choose artificial insemination, single adoption, and self-insemination than their Portuguese counterparts. Women were more likely than men to choose artificial insemination. Individuals in different-gender relationships were more likely to choose sexual intercourse as a means of having children than were those in same-gender relationships, and the opposite was true for artificial insemination.

CONCLUSION: Country, gender, and the partner's gender influence plurisexual individuals' choice of some parenthood pathways. Psychological and reproductive counselling should consider these aspects.

RevDate: 2025-08-16

Kliemank E, von Rauchhaupt E, Seebauer L, et al (2025)

Cohort profile of the Heidelberg study on diabetes and complications HEIST-DiC.

Scientific reports, 15(1):29580.

The Heidelberg Study on Diabetes and Complications (HEIST-DiC) is a prospective longitudinal study focused on the development and progression of diabetes-associated complications. Participants with/without diabetes mellitus undergo annual phenotyping of diabetes-associated complications over 11 years. Assessments include: albuminuria, estimated glomerular filtration rate for chronic kidney disease; clinical neuropathy scores, Purdue Pegboard test, electrophysiological examination, transcutaneous electrical nerve fiber stimulation, quantitative sensory testing and high-resolution magnetic resonance neurography for distal sensorimotor polyneuropathy; heart rate variability for cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy; funduscopic examination of undilated pupils for retinopathy; the 6-minute walk test, spirometry, body plethysmography, and carbon monoxide-based diffusing capacity measurements for respiratory lung disease; non-invasive scores, transient elastography and hepatic ultrasound for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease; ankle-brachial index and carotid intima-media thickness for peripheral atherosclerosis; hand grip strength for muscle function; bioelectrical impedance analysis for body composition; skin autofluorescence for measurement of advanced glycation end products. Beta-cell function and tissue-specific insulin sensitivity are evaluated using oral glucose tolerance test or euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. The biobank stores specimens of blood, urine, skeletal muscle, subcutaneous adipose tissue, and skin. Health-related quality of life, physical health, and somatic and depression symptoms are measured via standardized questionnaires. HEIST-DiC explores diabetes onset in high-risk individuals, disease progression and the development of complications, aiming to design personalized strategies to prevent, mitigate, or reverse diabetes-related complications.Trial registration: The study was retrospectively registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03022721, date of registration 20170112).

RevDate: 2025-08-16

Chen J, Liu K, Cheng Q, et al (2025)

Modeling health literacy intentions: a structural equation analysis of community residents' willingness to acquire infectious disease specific health literacy.

BMC public health, 25(1):2734.

BACKGROUND: How the willingness to acquire infectious-disease-specific health literacy (IDSHL) can be promoted is unknown among community residents. Community residents' willingness to acquire IDSHL (CRWAI) and its impact on health status is a multifaceted phenomenon that encompasses many factors, including socio-demographic characteristics, cognition, attitude, health behavior, perceived-efficacy, and knowledge needs related to infectious diseases. Early identification of associated-factors for CRWAI is essential. The objective of this research is to construct analytical models and examine the influencing factors relevant to CRWAI.

METHODS: In this multi-center cross-sectional study, we included 3,921 subjects from Hangzhou City using the method of stratified cluster sampling. We applied a structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the factors that affect the CRWAI.

RESULTS: The findings from the SEM indicated that socio-demographic factors (SDF) (β =0.017, p =0.021), infectious disease cognition (IDC) (β =0.105, p <0.001), infectious disease perceived-efficacy (IDPE) (β =0.109, p <0.001), and infectious disease knowledge needs (IDKN) (β =0.097, p <0.001) was positively correlated with CRWAI. There was no significant association between the attitude and health behavior regarding infectious disease and CRWAI (p>0.05). The results indicated that IDC and IDKN served as mediators in the connection between SDF and CRWAI. Moreover, it was found that IDPE played a mediating part in the relationship of IDC and CRWAI. IDKN functioned as a mediator in the link between IDPE and CRWAI.

CONCLUSION: Our findings have indicated potential mechanistic pathways and intervention targets for CRWAI. We have introduced the SEM to analyze the CRWAI. Given that SDF, IDC, IDPE, and IDKN demonstrate direct and interactive associations with CRWAI, strategic interventions targeting these determinants are critical for enhancing population health outcomes in community settings.

RevDate: 2025-08-12

Tassot J, Ahlstrom A, Capalbo A, et al (2025)

ESHRE's key research priorities in infertility: maximizing impact on science, people and society†.

Human reproduction (Oxford, England) pii:8231031 [Epub ahead of print].

STUDY QUESTION: Which research topics in the area of infertility should be prioritized in the allocation of research resources?

SUMMARY ANSWER: Twelve research priorities were formulated, spanning the following areas: preventing infertility and preserving fertility, gynaecological diseases, male infertility, optimizing fertility treatments, optimizing psychosocial support and deepening knowledge on preimplantation development and early pregnancy.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Many research gaps related to infertility and its management remain understudied and underfunded, making it important to set priorities to ensure appropriate allocation of research resources.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) appointed a multidisciplinary working group, including a patient representative, to develop a list of research priorities related to infertility, which are relevant to researchers and institutions that fund research.

A list of research topics was collated based on the recommendations for future research formulated in ESHRE's evidence-based guidelines and suggestions submitted by ESHRE's Special Interest Groups as call topics for the ESHRE research grants. A scoring tool was developed to assess the expected impact of research on each topic on individuals, society and scientific advancement. Topics were scored independently by the working group members and the 12 topics with the highest scores were selected for presentation in this paper.

Using our newly developed scoring tool, we have identified 12 research priorities that broadly fall under six areas. These are preventing infertility and preserving fertility, gynaecological diseases, male infertility, optimizing fertility treatments (two priorities per area selected), optimizing psychosocial support (one priority selected) and deepening knowledge on preimplantation development and early pregnancy (three priorities selected).

The impact scoring tool would benefit from further testing and refinement in future projects. The scoring of some impact indicators is heavily based on the judgment and expertise of the scorers, which was accounted for by ensuring representation of knowledge and experience from all relevant disciplines and subject areas as well as the patient perspective within the working group.

This paper may serve to stimulate further thought and discussion within the infertility research community on the potential impact of proposed and ongoing research. It will furthermore inform and encourage policy makers involved in research funding allocation and contribute to a more efficient and purposeful allocation of research resources towards infertility research.

The technical support for this project was provided by ESHRE. A.C. reports employment at Juno Genetics. Y.C. reports a grant from Guerbet and honoraria from Ferring, Merck, Abbot, Nordic Pharma and Organon. G.C. reports consulting fees from Gedeon Richter and honoraria from Cooper Surgical. S.G. reports the development of www.myjourney.pt licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence. J.K.-B. reports grants from the NIHR Evaluation and Studies Coordinating Centre, the Gates Foundation, the Economic and Social Research Council, BAYER Consumer Health and MRC Confidence in Concept; honoraria from Ferring and Cooper Surgical; travel support from Ferring, Cooper Surgical, Congressworks LLP, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Andrologie e. V., BAYER, University of Munster and ESHRE; a patent for microchannel sperm cell preparation; and a leadership or fiduciary role in the Association of Clinical and Reproductive Scientists. A.P. reports grants (to her institution) and consulting fees from Gedeon Richter, Ferring, Merck A/S and Cryos; honoraria from Gedeon Richter, Ferring, Merck A/S and Organon; and travel support (to her institution) from Gedeon Richter. H.S.N. reports grants from Freya Biosciences ApS, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, BioInnovation Institute, Ministry of Education, Novo Nordic Foundation, Augustinus Fonden, Oda og Hans Svenningsens Fond, Demant Fonden, Ole Kirks Fond and the Independent Research Fund Denmark; speaker's fees from Ferring, Merck A/S, Astra Zeneca, Cook Medical, Gedeon Richter, Ibsa Nordic, Novo Nordisk A/S; co-development of an app with the Maternity Foundation; and co-founding a project with Lulu Health. The remaining authors (J.T., A.A., I.D., C.F., M.G., A.S.L., M.M.-R., V.N., A.O., N.R., M.S.-L., P.T., N.V., S.V. and K.S.) have nothing to declare.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

RevDate: 2025-08-12

Hoffmann RJ, Bensen A, Dane M, et al (2025)

S-Nitrosylated COX-2 is a TME-regulated breast cancer biomarker of mesenchymal phenotypes.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology pii:2025.07.15.664474.

COX-2 is an inducible enzyme key to the production of inflammatory prostaglandins. COX-2 also has tumor intrinsic oncogenic activity in mouse models of breast cancer. Previously, we reported increased expression of Cys-526-nitrosylated COX-2 (SNO-COX-2), but not non-nitrosylated COX-2, with progression of early-stage human breast cancer to invasive ductal carcinoma. Here, we used a 3D culture model of early-stage human breast cancer (MCF10DCIS cells) to investigate the relationship between SNO-COX-2 expression and mesenchymal/invasive tumor cell morphology. We find that SNO-COX-2, but not non-nitrosylated COX-2, closely associated with mesenchymal phenotypes induced by fibrillar type I collagen. Interestingly, invasive phenotypes did not associate with induction of the classic epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers SNAIL , CDH2 (N-cadherin), and VIM (vimentin). By contrast TGFβ-1 strongly induced EMT-related transcripts, but not SNO-COX-2 protein expression or mesenchymal phenotypes. These observations suggest that in MCF10DCIS cells, SNO-COX-2 associates with mesenchymal phenotypes more strongly than non-nitrosylated COX-2 protein, or expression of classic EMT transcripts. In a mouse model with breast tumor heterogeneity, mesenchymal tumor regions also have increased SNO-COX-2 expression. Testing 300 distinct tumor microenvironment conditions, we find SNO-COX-2 protein expression is driven by inflammation, wound resolution, and cancer-associated factors, especially TNC, SPP1, decorin, fibrillar type I and III collagens, INF-γ, and IL-4/13, with evidence for specific extracellular matrix-ligand interactions driving both high and low SNO-COX-2 expression. In sum, in MCF10DCIS cells, expression of SNO-COX-2 is highly microenvironment-dependent and strongly associated with invasive/mesenchymal growth, indicating potential for SNO-COX-2 as a biomarker to assess risk of early-stage breast cancer progression.

RevDate: 2025-08-14
CmpDate: 2025-08-11

Pintican R, Duma MM, Spada AM, et al (2025)

COVID-19 pandemic resulted in more metastatic breast cancer cases at diagnosis.

Scientific reports, 15(1):29296.

The study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer diagnosis, tumor characteristics, and staging in an Eastern-European country. This retrospective study included 11,635 breast cancer patients and clients presenting between March 2019 and March 2022. Patients were categorized into pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic groups. Data included age, sex, pathology, tumor characteristics (histologic type, grade, ER/PR/HER2 status), and TNM staging. Statistical analysis compared these parameters across the three-time intervals.During the pandemic, breast cancer diagnosis decreased significantly compared to the pre-pandemic period (9.1% vs. 13.17%, p < 0.001) but increased post-pandemic (11%, p = 0.013). Invasive ductal carcinoma of non-special type (IDC-NST) was predominant in all three-time periods. Aggressive tumors (Nottingham grade 3, ER negative) increased during the pandemic and post-pandemic times. Molecular subtypes showed variations across time intervals, with triple-negative tumors rising significantly. Larger tumors, increased lymph node involvement (9-19%), and distant metastasis characterized the pandemic and post-pandemic periods. Compared to pre-pandemic patients, post-pandemic ones were 7 times more likely to be metastatic at diagnosis (p < 0.05). The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant decrease in breast cancer diagnosis, particularly during the pandemic period. Tumors appeared more aggressive, with higher lymph node and distant metastatic involvement. The long-term prognosis and healthcare cost implications remain uncertain. These findings emphasize the need for adapted cancer screening programs and healthcare system readiness during pandemics.COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a lower detection rate among patients diagnosed with breast cancer and increased TNM stage.

RevDate: 2025-08-14
CmpDate: 2025-08-11

Köker SC, Tsokanos FF, El-Merahbi R, et al (2025)

The TBLR1/TBL1 Co-Factor Complex Acts as a Transcriptional Checkpoint in the Brown Adipose Tissue Response to Prolonged Cold Exposure.

FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 39(15):e70886.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a key thermogenic organ, whose activation in response to cold environmental temperatures and β-adrenergic stimulation requires the proper function of the NCOR/HDAC3 corepressor complex in brown adipocytes. The NCOR/HDAC3 complex is large and multi-component, including the transducin beta-like 1 (TBL1) and TBL1-related 1 (TBLR1) proteins. Loss of TBL1 in the hepatocytes and TBLR1 in the white adipocytes has been shown to impair fasting- and β-adrenergic-induced lipolysis. However, their roles in BAT thermogenesis remain unknown. Here, we report that deletion of TBLR1 alone in brown adipocytes does not impair the adaptive thermogenic response to prolonged cold exposure. In contrast, simultaneous deletion of TBL1 and TBLR1 dampens β-adrenergic-induced lipolysis and mitochondrial respiration in cultured mouse brown adipocytes. Transgenic mice with UCP1-Cre mediated double deletion of TBLR1 and TBL1 exhibit reduced whole-body energy expenditure during prolonged cold exposure, lower core body temperature, increased appearance of unilocular adipocytes in BAT, and suppressed expression of metabolic and myogenic PRDM16 target genes. Also, we present some evidence that TBLR1 and TBL1 interact with HDAC3 and PRDM16 in brown adipocytes, potentially suggesting a direct involvement in the PRDM16-controlled transcriptional program. These findings identify the TBLR1/TBL1 complex as a critical regulator of BAT adaptation to prolonged cold and systemic energy homeostasis, shedding light on the context-dependent functions of corepressor complexes.

RevDate: 2025-08-10

Ho KC, Huffman KN, O'Connor MJ, et al (2025)

Triple-Positive PALB-2 Breast Cancer in a 27-Year-Old Male-to-Female Patient.

Eplasty, 25:e27.

INTRODUCTION: There is a paucity of literature describing breast cancer prevention and screening guidelines in transgender patients. As more patients undergo gender-affirming care, breast cancer screening guidelines must be solidified for transgender patients. While there are no published incidence rates of breast cancer in the transgender population, case reports continue to underscore the prevalence of breast cancer in transgender females.

METHODS: A 27-year-old transgender woman with a family history of breast cancer and personal gender-affirming hormone therapy for 9 years was diagnosed with stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma. The patient presented with a palpable breast lump and had never undergone breast imaging.

CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer risk in transgender patients with long-term hormone therapy use is not well understood. Individuals, both male and female, with a family history of breast cancer; increased cumulative lifetime estrogen and progesterone use; or mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, PTEN, or PALB2 genes have an increased risk for breast cancer. Hormonal treatment is often used alongside gender-affirming surgeries for development of female secondary sex characteristics in male-to-female patients. Although hormone therapy can have gender-affirming benefits, the increased lifetime exposure to estrogen and progesterone can increase the risk of breast cancer. Mammography guidelines for transgender patients vary by age, familial and genetic risk, as well as duration of hormone therapy. Three current organizations have published mammographic screening guidelines for transgender patients: the University of California San Francisco, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, and the American College of Radiology. Future research should focus on substantiating these guidelines with greater data to produce evidence-based recommendations to guide the care of transgender patients.

RevDate: 2025-08-13
CmpDate: 2025-08-07

Tucunduva TCM, Zanetta VC, Chala LF, et al (2025)

Advancements in Detection and Management of Ductal Carcinoma in Situ.

Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc, 45(9):e240174.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a noninvasive breast cancer characterized by neoplastic epithelial cells confined to the ductal system by the basement membrane without invasion of adjacent tissue. Its progression to invasive carcinoma is not understood fully, and currently, DCIS is considered a nonobligatory precursor of invasive breast cancer. However, DCIS is challenging because it includes a heterogeneous group of lesions with varied histologic, immunohistochemical, genetic, radiologic, and clinical characteristics. This heterogeneity is reflected in its natural progression, with some lesions remaining indolent, whereas others may develop into invasive ductal carcinoma. As DCIS detection rates rise due to mammographic screening, concerns about overdiagnosis and overtreatment have emerged, which has lead to a greater focus on understanding the biologic characteristics of DCIS. Radiologists need to understand the various imaging techniques used to evaluate DCIS. These include mammography, contrast-enhanced mammography, tomosynthesis, US, and MRI. By familiarizing themselves with each modality's various strengths and limitations, radiologists can effectively assess DCIS and develop the appropriate treatment plan. Although current guidelines advise treating all cases of DCIS with surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy, ongoing trials are investigating the safety of active surveillance for women with low-risk DCIS. There is interest in improving the risk stratification of DCIS lesions, and new advanced tools, such as radiomics, artificial intelligence, and other emerging techniques, are showing positive initial results and have the potential to become valuable solutions in the future. However, further studies and development still are needed before they can be widely adopted in clinical practice. Published under a CC BY 4.0 license See the invited commentary by Chikarmane in this issue.

RevDate: 2025-08-11
CmpDate: 2025-08-05

Metser U, Ali Mirshahvalad S, Dayes IS, et al (2025)

[18]F-FDG PET/CT of Oligometastatic Disease in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer: PETABC Trial Post Hoc Analysis.

Radiology, 316(2):e243788.

Background The optimal treatment of patients with oligometastatic breast cancer and the methods for selecting individuals who may benefit from metastasis-directed therapies are controversial. Purpose To determine the prevalence of oligometastatic disease (OMD; defined as five or fewer distant metastases) in patients with locally advanced breast cancer initially staged at fluorine 18 ([18]F) fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT or at CT and bone scintigraphy (CTBS), and to compare patterns of local-regional and distant metastatic disease. Materials and Methods This is a post hoc analysis of data from a prospective, multicenter randomized trial including participants with stage IIb (T3N0) or III invasive ductal carcinoma in the breast between December 2016 and April 2022. Participants were randomized for staging at [18]F-FDG PET/CT or at conventional chest, abdomen, and pelvis CTBS. The prevalence of OMD, sites of distant metastases, and extent of local-regional disease were compared using the χ[2] test or Fisher exact test. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between imaging and disease extent, with P < .05 indicating a statistically significant difference. Results The study included 369 participants (mean age, 53 years ± 13 [SD]). OMD was more common on [18]F-FDG PET/CT scans (19 of 180; 11%; 95% CI: 6.9, 15.9) than on CTBS scans (eight of 185; 4%; 95% CI: 2.2, 8.3; P = .03). Polymetastatic disease (more than five distant metastases) was also more common on [18]F-FDG PET/CT scans (24 of 180; 13%) than on CTBS scans (13 of 185; 7%; P = .04). Patients with OMD that was depicted on [18]F-FDG PET/CT and CTBS scans had axillary lymph node metastases, but [18]F-FDG PET/CT helped to detect extra-axillary regional lymphadenopathy, extra-regional lymph node metastases, and liver metastases more frequently than did CTBS (six of 19 [32%] vs one of eight [13%], three of 19 [16%] vs 0 of eight [0%], and six of 19 [32%] vs one of eight [13%], respectively; P = .63, .53, and .63, respectively). Conclusion At patient presentation, [18]F-FDG PET/CT helped to detect OMD in more than one in 10 participants with locally advanced breast cancer, which was more than 2.5 times more often than CTBS, and [18]F-FDG PET/CT helped to detect more extensive local-regional metastatic disease. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02751710 © RSNA, 2025 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Ulaner in this issue.

RevDate: 2025-08-07

Rios Herrera O, De La Torre M, Melnikau S, et al (2025)

Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection of the Breast: A Unique Presentation of Underlying Invasive Breast Cancer.

Cureus, 17(7):e87310.

Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are life-threatening infections that most commonly affect the extremities, perineum, and abdominal wall. These infections begin with the presence of toxin-producing bacteria that invade through a defect in the skin barrier, such as a wound, laceration, trauma, or recent surgical incision. These bacteria cause subsequent tissue destruction and necrosis that can involve the superficial skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia, and/or muscle. NSTIs can progress quickly, leading to severe sepsis, shock, and even death. NSTIs associated with the breast are an exceedingly rare occurrence, requiring early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention. In this article, we report the case of a 46-year-old woman with an NSTI of the left breast, which required serial debridement initially, and subsequently a modified radical mastectomy given a pathological diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma.

RevDate: 2025-08-07

Takahashi A, Fujiwara S, Takahashi Y, et al (2025)

A Case of Drug-Induced Pancytopenia due to Tamoxifen.

Surgical case reports, 11(1):.

INTRODUCTION: Tamoxifen (TAM) is a well-established treatment for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer with a known side-effect profile that includes hot flashes, genital bleeding, and diarrhea (0.1%-5%). Other notable side effects include liver damage, abnormal vaginal discharge, depression, dizziness, and headaches of unknown frequency. However, blood cell count reduction has not yet been reported as a side effect in Japan.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 46-year-old female patient was diagnosed with right breast cancer (cT1N0M0). The patient underwent partial right breast resection and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Owing to the positive surgical resection margin, a mastectomy was performed. Pathological analysis of the surgical specimen confirmed invasive ductal carcinoma (estrogen receptor [ER]: 95%, progesterone receptor [PgR]: 85%, HER2: 2+ [fluorescence in situ hybridization, FISH negative]), with macrometastasis in one sentinel lymph node. Postoperative treatment included chemotherapy (dose-dense adriamycin and cyclophosphamide [AC] to dose-dense paclitaxel [PTX]), irradiation, and TAM. While initial blood test results before starting TAM showed mild anemia (Hb: 8.9 g/dL Grade 2), a follow-up blood test 5 months after initiating TAM revealed a significant decrease in blood cell counts (white blood cell [WBC]: 2600/μL Grade 2, neutrophil [neu]: 0.55 × 10³/μL Grade 3, Hb: 7.7 g/dL Grade 2, platelet [PLT]: 13.3 × 10⁴/μL). Considering the onset of symptoms following TAM administration, drug-induced pancytopenia was suspected. TAM and its concomitant medication pregabalin were discontinued. However, the blood cell counts continued to decline, necessitating further investigation. Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) was suspected, leading to multiple bone marrow biopsies. However, no definitive hematological disorder was diagnosed. The patient received transfusions and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) injections based on the blood cell count. Approximately 4 months after the onset of neutropenia, gradual recovery was observed and spontaneous remission occurred. Given the rarity of spontaneous recovery from MDS, TAM is considered a potential causative agent of the observed decline in blood cell counts.

CONCLUSIONS: We report a case of suspected drug-induced cytopenia associated with tamoxifen administration.

RevDate: 2025-08-08

Cushman CJ, Abaleka F, Ibrahim AF, et al (2024)

Pembrolizumab Induced Recall Dermatitis Occurring 5 Years After Radiotherapy.

Reports (MDPI), 7(4):.

Background and Clinical Significance: Radiation recall dermatitis (RRD) following immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has been infrequently reported. Case Presentation: We present a 47-year-old female patient who developed RRD of the breast following three doses of pembrolizumab administered as an adjuvant treatment post-nephrectomy for Stage III renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Notably, the affected breast had previously undergone external beam radiotherapy 247 weeks earlier for Stage IA invasive ductal carcinoma. She had received no prior chemotherapy at any point. RRD manifested as breast induration, erythema, and peau d'orange, and contraction of breast volume was noted following three cycles of pembrolizumab on week 17 (400 mg dose every 6 weeks). The dermatitis responded rapidly to systemic corticosteroids and no treatment interruption was needed. Conclusions: To date, this is the longest reported interval from completion of radiotherapy to RRD. A literature search underscores the variability in presentation and management of ICI-associated RRD.

RevDate: 2025-08-04
CmpDate: 2025-08-04

Arshad U, Rizvi SF, Sohail SK, et al (2025)

Expression of C-terminal tensin-like in breast carcinoma and its correlation with known prognostic factors.

Polish journal of pathology : official journal of the Polish Society of Pathologists, 76(1):10-15.

C-terminal tensin-like (Cten) is a marker for poorly differentiated breast cancer. We evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of Cten in invasive breast carcinoma in our population and correlated it with known histopathologic prognostic variables. Fifty-seven specimens of modified radical mastectomy diagnosed as invasive ductal carcinoma were collected. The histopathologic findings were noted independent of the result of Cten. According to the results of Cten immunohistochemistry, the tumors were categorized as negative/mild, moderate, or high expression and were statistically corelated with histologic findings. In our study, 47 (82.5%) cases showed negative/mild expression, 2 (3.5%) cases showed moderate staining, and 8 (14%) cases showed strong expression of Cten. Positive Cten was present in pT4 stage tumors. Similarly, grade III tumor showed moderate expression in 2 (3.5%) cases and strong staining in 8 (14%) cases. Posi-tive expression of Cten was observed in cases with lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and high axillary lymph nodal involvement (N3). All these poor prognostic factors were significantly associated with moderate to high expression of Cten. We found that tumor size and extent, histologic grade, LVI, and lymph node status were significantly associated with Cten expression. C-terminal tensin-like can be used as marker of poor prognosis in breast carcinoma.

RevDate: 2025-08-05
CmpDate: 2025-08-03

Represa M, Lima O, Ávila M, et al (2025)

Impact of infectious diseases consultation and oral sequential therapy in the management of post-surgical mediastinitis.

Enfermedades infecciosas y microbiologia clinica (English ed.), 43(7):383-388.

INTRODUCTION: Post-cardiac surgery mediastinitis (PSM) is a serious, complex, and multifactorial complication of surgical procedures. Infectious diseases consultation (IDC) has demonstrated improvement in other complex infectious diseases. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of IDC in the management and outcome of patients with PSM.

METHODS: Observational retrospective study, of adult patients with PSM between January 2010 and June 2021. After January 2016, IDC was performed in all the patients with PSM. The primary endpoint was clinical success, a composite variable of clinical cure, and absence of adverse events, or recurrence. Also, in-hospital stay, and clinical cure was evaluated in patients that received oral sequential therapy (OST).

RESULTS: A total of 84 patients with PSM were included, 48 pre-IDC and 36 in IDC period. No differences in clinical success were observed between the two periods (pre-IDC 60% vs, IDC 77%, p=0.104). During the IDC period the rate of adequate targeted antibiotic treatment was higher (pre-IDC 71% vs. IDC 94%, p=0.016). Gram-negative bacilli infections (pre-IDC 42% vs. IDC 78%, p=0.002) and polymicrobial infections (pre-IDC 37% vs. IDC 63%, p=0.004) increased in the IDC period. Multivariate analysis did not show any variable associated with clinical success. OST was similar in both periods, and a shorter in-hospital stay was observed in the patients who underwent OST (no-OST, 70 days vs. OST, 44 days, p=0.003).

CONCLUSIONS: IDC was related with a higher adequate targeted antimicrobial therapy. We observed that OST offers a promising strategy in the management of this infection.

RevDate: 2025-08-01
CmpDate: 2025-08-01

Makkawi M, Alasiri L, S Alasmari (2025)

Assessing the Prevalence of Breast Tumors and Associated Abnormalities in Hematological and Coagulation Parameters in the Asir Region, Saudi Arabia.

Annals of clinical and laboratory science, 55(3):373-379.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the prevalence and classifications of breast tumors in the Asir region over the last five years, together with abnormal hematological parameters and coagulation profiles prior to cancer therapy.

METHODS: This retrospective analysis, covering the period from 2018 to 2022, was conducted at Asir Central Hospital in Abha, Saudi Arabia. Data on demographics and tumor types were obtained from the medical records of 764 patients. Hematological parameters and coagulation profiles of 94 malignant breast cancer patients and control samples were compared using GraphPad Prism.

RESULTS: The majority of cases were benign breast disease (61%, 473), followed by malignant tumors (38%, 292). The most common benign subtypes were fibroadenoma (53.2%, 252 patients), fibrocystic breast alterations (12.6%, 60 patients), and fibroadenosis (9.9%, 47 patients). Among malignant tumors, invasive ductal carcinoma (82.1%, 240 patients), ductal carcinoma in situ (7.1%, 21 patients), and invasive lobular carcinoma (3.7%, 11 patients) predominated. Malignancy patients had lower HB, RBC, MCHC, MCH, MCV, and HCT, and higher RDW. In addition, INR was significantly lower than the control group.

CONCLUSIONS: Over the five-year period ending in 2022, the incidence rate of malignant breast cancer increased in the Asir region. Patients with such cancers show significant abnormalities in hematological parameters and coagulation profiles prior to treatment.

RevDate: 2025-08-05
CmpDate: 2025-08-01

Christiaans CHH, van Veen FEE, Scheepe JR, et al (2025)

Patient satisfaction, quality of life, and catheter-related complications in long-term urinary catheter users: a nationwide survey.

World journal of urology, 43(1):470.

PURPOSE: To compare patient satisfaction, quality of life, catheter-related complications between three types of catheterization in long-term urinary catheter users. To improve clinical decision-making for long-term urinary catheter users.

METHODS: A nationwide survey study was conducted from August to September 2024. Patients who apply clean intermittent catheterization (CIC), have an urethral indwelling catheter (IDC), or a suprapubic catheter (SPC), were identified through the MediReva database, a Dutch medical supplier. The survey was developed by structured consensus meeting and consisted of the ICIq-LTCqol and the EQ-5D-5 L.

RESULTS: 3320 patients participated in the study (response rate 33%). 2634 performed CIC, 383 had an IDC, and 303 had an SPC. 75.9% was male and the mean age was 72 years. CIC patients reported the best patient satisfaction and QoL scores. When corrected for multiple confounders IDC and SPC were independently associated with lower patient satisfaction and QoL scores. There was no difference in UTI incidence in the last 6 months between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows differences in patient satisfaction, QoL and, catheter-related complications between three types of catheterization. Healthcare providers should be aware of the impact of bladder drainage methods on the patient satisfaction and QoL, especially for those using an IDC or SPC. This information can be of added value in the decision-making process of long-term bladder management.

RevDate: 2025-08-03

Ayatollahi H, Jafarian AH, Pakize Moghadam Z, et al (2025)

Clinicopathological Characteristics of Breast Cancer Patients with Equivocal Immunohistochemistry: A Prevalence-Based Statistical Analysis.

Iranian journal of pathology, 20(3):273-279.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Although the concordance between immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is generally high for HER2 scores of 3+ and 1+, discrepancies remain in cases scored as IHC 2+. This study aimed to evaluate HER2/neu gene amplification using FISH in breast cancer patients with IHC 2+ and to examine associated clinicopathological characteristics.

METHODS: This retrospective study included tissue samples from 369 women diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast and an equivocal HER2 IHC score (2+). These samples were further assessed for HER2 gene amplification using FISH. Demographic and clinicopathological data were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 51.6 ± 2.6 years. FISH analysis revealed no HER2 amplification in 72.6% of IHC 2+ cases, while 27.4% demonstrated amplification. HER2 amplification was significantly associated with younger age, higher histological grade, lymph node involvement, larger tumor size, and reduced survival rate. No significant association was observed between HER2 amplification and margin involvement.

CONCLUSION: HER2 amplification is a significant predictor of aggressive tumor behavior and may necessitate targeted therapy. In cases with IHC 2+, both FISH results and relevant clinicopathological features should be considered prior to initiating trastuzumab treatment.

RevDate: 2025-08-05
CmpDate: 2025-07-31

Moradi G, Ahmadinejad N, Zarei D, et al (2025)

Sonographic Correlations With Histological Grade and Biomarker Profiles in Breast Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.

Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.), 8(8):e70288.

BACKGROUND: Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), the most common breast cancer subtype, exhibits significant heterogeneity, limiting traditional prognostic markers. Molecular profiles improve precision, but imaging features may also reflect tumor biology.

AIMS: This study evaluates the predictive potential and clinical applicability of ultrasound features for determining tumor grade and molecular profiles in IDC.

METHODS AND RESULTS: A blinded radiologist retrospectively analyzed 109 IDC cases using the American College of Radiology (ACR) Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) classification, evaluating ultrasound features such as lesion shape, margins, orientation, echo pattern, calcifications, vascularity, and lymph node involvement. Tumors were graded histologically (Scarff-Bloom-Richardson system) as low (grades 1 and 2) or high (grade 3). Immunohistochemistry determined estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and Ki-67 status. ER and PR positivity were defined as > 10% nuclear staining, HER2 graded on a 0-3+ scale, and Ki-67 positivity as ≥ 10% staining. Statistical analyses, including logistic and linear regression, examined correlations between ultrasound features and histological/molecular profiles. Among 109 women (mean age 48.4 ± 12.5 years), the mean tumor length and width were 21.83 ± 11.22 mm and 15.3 ± 6.97 mm, respectively. Histopathological grading revealed that grade 2 tumors were predominant (51%), while grade 1 and grade 3 tumors were observed in 25% and 24% of cases, respectively. ER and PR positivity were observed in 76.4% and 67.6% of cases, respectively. High-grade tumors were significantly associated with ER and PR negativity (p-value < 0.05). Ultrasound features associated with high-grade tumors included larger tumor length (p-value = 0.029). ER positive tumors had smaller axillary lymph nodes (p-value < 0.05). Likewise, PR positive tumors exhibited smaller suspicious axillary lymph nodes compared to PR negative cases (p-value = 0.004).

CONCLUSION: Sonographic features may correlate with histological grades and hormone receptor statuses in breast IDC, suggesting that ultrasound could aid in predictive assessment.

RevDate: 2025-07-31

Broitman S, Golan O, Menes TS, et al (2025)

Outcomes following pre-operative MRI-guided bracketing in breast cancer patients.

Clinical imaging, 125:110567 pii:S0899-7071(25)00167-6 [Epub ahead of print].

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the surgical outcomes of patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging-guided bracketing (MRI-B) prior to breast-conserving therapy (BCT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included consecutive patients treated with BCT at our institution for invasive or in situ breast cancer between January 2016 and December 2022 and requiring MRI-B before surgery. Bracketing was performed by either inserting MRI-compatible wires or deploying clips under MRI guidance, with subsequent localization using mammography. Clinical, radiological, and pathological data were collected and correlated with positive surgical margins and imaging overestimation.

RESULTS: Among the 57 patients included, 10 (18 %) had positive surgical margins. Younger age (Mean: 56 vs 49 years) and the presence of ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) or infiltrative lobular carcinoma (ILC) component (100 % vs 82 %) were most strongly associated with positive margins, although statistical significance was not reached (P = 0.11 and P = 0.149, respectively). MRI overestimated disease extent in 13 of 49 eligible patients (27 %). Overestimation was most strongly linked to isolated infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC; 38 % vs. 3 %, P = 0.008) and bracketed enhancing foci (54 % vs. 22 %, P = 0.084). During long-term follow-up, 2 patients (4 %) had local recurrence, and 3 patients (5 %) experienced distant recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS: MRI-B before BCT is associated with a clinically manageable rate of positive margins and local recurrence. However, optimizing patient selection is essential to minimize unnecessary bracketing and improve surgical outcomes.

RevDate: 2025-07-31

Macedo M, Agustí E, Ganau S, et al (2025)

Preoperative localization of metastatic axillary lymph nodes using radioactive iodine seed before neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A one-step marking method for targeted axillary dissection.

European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reliability and effectiveness of using the radioactive iodine seed (RIS) as one-step target axillary dissection (TAD) procedure in breast cancer patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a non-randomized, single-center, prospective study. Consecutive patients between May-2022 and November-2023 with breast cancer and axillary involvement (cN1) planned to receive NAC and TAD surgery were marked with RIS in the pathologically proven ALN. Radiation levels emitted by the patient were measured. On the day of surgery, the marked lymph node (MLN) and sentinel lymph node (SLN) were removed. We studied the identification rate (IR) and the concordance rate (CR) between the MLN and SLN.

RESULTS: Forty patients participated in the study (39 females, 1 male; mean age 53). Most of the patients included were diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (92.5%). Half of the patients were hormone receptor positive and HER2 negative, and the other half were triple negative or HER2 positive. There was one suspicious ALN in the majority of breast cancer cases (72.5%). Average time from RIS placement to surgery was 157 days. IR of RIS were 100% and IR of SLN was 95%. CR between SLN and MLN was 52.5%. No complications in RIS placement and carriage were reported. No breast or axillary relapse were reported in a 16-34 month follow-up period. The radiation levels were low at distances greater than 0.5 m.

CONCLUSIONS: The use of RIS for TAD as a one-step procedure for axillary staging of cN1 breast cancer patients in a pre-NAC context is a reliable and effective radiologic marker placement procedure.

RevDate: 2025-08-07
CmpDate: 2025-07-30

Fang W, Kozai Y, Acevedo DS, et al (2025)

Cooperative CCL2/CCR2 and HGF/MET signaling enhances breast cancer growth and invasion associated with metabolic reprogramming.

Cancer biology & therapy, 26(1):2535824.

With over 60,000 cases diagnosed in women annually, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the most common form of pre-invasive breast cancer in the US. Despite standardized therapy, under-treatment and over-treatment are prevailing concerns. By understanding the mechanisms regulating DCIS progression, we may develop tailored strategies to improve treatment. CCL2/CCR2 and HGF/MET signaling pathways are upregulated in breast cancers. Our studies indicate that these pathways cooperate to promote DCIS progression and metabolism. DCIS and IDC tissues were immunostained for CCL2 and HGF expression. DCIS.com and HCC1937 cells were analyzed for cell proliferation through PCNA immunostaining, apoptosis through cleaved caspase-3 immunostaining, and invasion through Matrigel transwell assays. AKT, AMPK, p42/44MAPK and PKC activities were analyzed in vitro through immunoblot and pharmacologic inhibition. CCL2 and HGF-mediated metabolism were analyzed by LC-MS. Glucose uptake and lactate production were measured biochemically. CCR2 and MET were targeted in breast xenografts through CCR2 knockout and treatment with Merestinib. Significant associations between CCL2 and HGF were detected in DCIS and IDC tissues. CCL2 and HGF co-treatment enhanced breast cancer cell growth, survival, and invasiveness over individual CCL2 or HGF treatment. These CCL2/HGF-mediated phenotypes were associated with metabolic changes including glycolysis and increased AKT, AMPK, p42/44MAPK and PKC signaling. CCL2/HGF-mediated glycolysis was reduced with AKT, AMPK and p42/44MAPK inhibition. CCR2 knockout combined with Merestinib treatment inhibited growth, survival, and stromal reactivity of breast xenografts more than CCR2 or MET targeting alone. CCL2/CCR2 and HGF/MET cooperate to enhance breast cancer progression and metabolic reprogramming.

RevDate: 2025-08-01
CmpDate: 2025-07-30

Bai Y, Guo X, Liu K, et al (2025)

SpaSEG: unsupervised deep learning for multi-task analysis of spatially resolved transcriptomics.

Genome biology, 26(1):230.

Spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) for characterizing spatial cellular heterogeneities in tissue environments requires systematic analytical approaches to elucidate gene expression variations within their physiological context. Here, we introduce SpaSEG, an unsupervised deep learning model utilizing convolutional neural networks for multiple SRT analysis tasks. Extensive evaluations across diverse SRT datasets generated by various platforms demonstrate SpaSEG's superior robustness and efficiency compared to existing methods. In the application analysis of invasive ductal carcinoma, SpaSEG successfully unravels intratumoral heterogeneity and delivers insights into immunoregulatory mechanisms. These results highlight SpaSEG's substantial potential for exploring tissue architectures and pathological biology.

RevDate: 2025-08-02
CmpDate: 2025-07-30

Murugesan GK, McCrumb D, Soni R, et al (2025)

AI generated annotations for Breast, Brain, Liver, Lungs, and Prostate cancer collections in the National Cancer Institute Imaging Data Commons.

Scientific data, 12(1):1317.

The Artificial Intelligence in Medical Imaging (AIMI) initiative aims to enhance the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Image Data Commons (IDC) by releasing fully reproducible nnU-Net models, along with AI-assisted segmentation for cancer radiology images. In this extension of our earlier work, we created high-quality, AI-annotated imaging datasets for 11 IDC collections, spanning computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lungs, breast, brain, kidneys, prostate, and liver. Each nnU-Net model was trained on open-source datasets, and a portion of the AI-generated annotations was reviewed and corrected by board-certified radiologists. Both the AI and radiologist annotations were encoded in compliance with the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standard, ensuring seamless integration into the IDC collections. By making these models, images, and annotations publicly accessible, we aim to facilitate further research and development in cancer imaging.

RevDate: 2025-07-29

Pratt CG, McClelland PH, Long SA, et al (2025)

The Metaplastic Conundrum: A National Cancer Database Analysis of Metaplastic versus Triple-Negative Ductal Breast Cancer.

Annals of surgical oncology [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Historically, treatment approaches for metaplastic breast cancer (MpBC) have mirrored that of triple-negative ductal breast cancer (TN-IDC), yet MpBC has persistently worse survival. This study describes rates and response to neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAC) for MpBC and evaluates survival between triple-negative MpBC (TN-MpBC), biomarker-positive MpBC (nTN-MpBC), and TN-IDC by treatment approach.

METHODS: The National Cancer Database was queried for females diagnosed with clinically non-metastatic MpBC or TN-IDC from 2011 to 2021. One-to-one propensity score matching between TN-MpBC and TN-IDC patients was performed.

RESULTS: Of 5575 MpBC patients, surgery and chemotherapy rates were high. For patients who received systemic therapy and surgery, an adjuvant approach was favored; however, NAC for TN-MpBC increased from 18.3 to 31.5% by 2021. Higher rates of NAC non-response and lower overall survival were found among MpBC cohorts compared with TN-IDC. For MpBC, an adjuvant approach had significantly better survival than other systemic therapy sequences. When evaluated by pathologic response to NAC, a partial or non-response had worse survival compared with complete response or not undergoing NAC. On Cox proportional hazard regression of matched patients, NAC had an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.56 (1.36-4.79) compared with not undergoing NAC.

CONCLUSION: MpBC is predominantly treated with surgery and systemic therapy, with increasing rates of NAC for TN-MpBC. However, patients with MpBC have inferior survival to TN-IDC, and NAC for MpBC is associated with worse survival compared with other systemic therapy sequences, unless a complete pathologic response is achieved. These findings reinforce the need for systemic treatment sequence optimization for MpBC.

RevDate: 2025-08-03
CmpDate: 2025-07-29

Kahlon N, Baddam S, Bansal N, et al (2025)

Dynamic Changes in Breast Cancer Receptor Status: A Case Report Highlighting the Importance of Repeat Biopsies in Guiding Treatment Strategies.

Journal of investigative medicine high impact case reports, 13:23247096251362974.

Breast cancer receptor status plays a critical role in treatment selection, yet receptor evolution throughout disease progression remains a significant challenge. This case describes a 58-year-old female initially diagnosed with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive (95%), progesterone receptor (PR)-negative (<5%), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative (immunohistochemistry [IHC] 0, fluorescence in situ hybridization-negative) invasive ductal carcinoma. Over 6 years, her tumor transitioned to triple-negative breast cancer at recurrence, then reacquired ER expression (80%) in metastatic mediastinal lymph nodes. HER2 status evolved from IHC 0 → HER2-low (IHC 1+ → IHC 2+), directly influencing therapy selection. These receptor changes led to major systemic treatment modifications, including endocrine therapy, immunotherapy, CDK4/6 inhibitors, and antibody-drug conjugates. Given the extended response duration and improved tolerability of targeted therapies, accurate receptor assessment is essential to ensure that patients receive the most effective treatment. Literature reports receptor discordance rates of ER loss (19%), PR loss (34%), and HER2 fluctuations (15%), reinforcing the necessity of biopsy-driven treatment adaptation. While serial biopsies remain invasive, they provide essential molecular insights that optimize systemic therapy choices, allowing patients to remain on the most appropriate, well-tolerated regimen for as long as possible. This case highlights the clinical significance of receptor evolution and advocates for biopsy-guided precision oncology in metastatic breast cancer management. Ensuring accurate receptor reassessment through periodic molecular profiling can maximize therapeutic efficacy, improving response rates, treatment tolerability, and overall patient outcomes.

RevDate: 2025-07-31

Gu W, Yuan J, Dong M, et al (2025)

Case Report: Advanced breast invasive ductal carcinoma with erysipeloid cutaneous metastasis misdiagnosed as erysipelas.

Frontiers in oncology, 15:1535421.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer has become the second most common cancer after lung cancer. Patients may present with skin manifestations at the time of initial diagnosis, while erysipel-like carcinoma typically appears later, following initial treatment. This delay increases the risk of misdiagnosis.

CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 51-year-old female. A modified radical mastectomy for left breast carcinoma (pT2N3M0, stage IIIC; tumor size 4.6 cm × 4.5 cm × 1.6 cm, 14/21 axillary lymph nodes involved), HER2-positive type, was performed on April 21, 2021. In April 2024 (three years post-surgery), the patient developed unexplained redness and swelling in the skin of the left upper limb, accompanied by increased skin temperature. This was misdiagnosed as erysipelas of the upper limb. After one week of antibiotic treatment, the redness and swelling slightly subsided. In May 2024, the patient experienced dizziness and headaches without any obvious cause. Enhanced cranial MRI revealed multiple brain metastases, with possible lymph node metastasis in the left cervical region. The patient underwent whole-brain radiotherapy. During radiotherapy, erysipelas-like rashes developed on the left chest wall, upper limb, and right breast skin. In June 2024, a skin biopsy of the chest wall confirmed cutaneous metastasis. Following systemic anti-tumor treatment, both the skin and brain metastasis improved.

CONCLUSION: Pathological biopsy should be emphasized when breast cancer patients develop localized rashes. Understanding the unique inflammatory manifestations of cutaneous metastasis is crucial for breast oncologists to enable early diagnosis, timely treatment, and improved overall survival.

RevDate: 2025-07-31

Yang Y, L Cheng (2025)

Correlation between ultrasonic features and expression of immunohistochemical factors in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

Quantitative imaging in medicine and surgery, 15(7):6044-6052.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women globally, with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) accounting for approximately 80% of all breast cancer cases. IDC exhibits significant heterogeneity in terms of pathological manifestations and prognosis, which are largely influenced by the expression of immunohistochemical (IHC) factors. The study aimed to investigate the correlation between ultrasonic features and the expression of IHC factors in IDC of the breast.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of the clinical data of patients with IDC confirmed by surgery and pathology from January 2019 to December 2022, with ultrasonography performed pre-operation and standard sonograms retained. Specifically, the correlation between sonographic signs and the expression of IHC factors such as estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), E-cadherin, and Ki-67 was investigated using the univariate and binary logistic regression analyses. E-cadherin was included due to its role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis in IDC. Key sonographic features (e.g., Adler grade, morphology, posterior echo) and IHC factors were analyzed.

RESULTS: The study identified significant associations between specific ultrasonic features and IHC factor expression. For ER expression, irregular shape [odds ratio (OR) =1.694, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.032-2.309, P=0.011], reduced posterior echo (OR =1.904, 95% CI: 1.211-2.901, P=0.008), and hyperechoic halo (OR =3.705, 95% CI: 1.277-7.903, P=0.003) were associated with ER-positive expression, while Adler grade II-III was associated with ER-negative expression (OR =0.390, 95% CI: 0.127-0.745, P<0.001). For PR expression, hyperechoic halo (OR =4.905, 95% CI: 2.664-11.231, P=0.01) was associated with PR-positive expression, while smooth margin (OR =0.513, 95% CI: 0.132-0.784, P<0.001) and maximum diameter ≥2 cm (OR =0.622, 95% CI: 0.267-0.874, P=0.005) were associated with PR-negative expression. Calcification (OR =1.806, 95% CI: 1.237-4.584, P=0.002) and maximum diameter ≥2 cm (OR =1.409, 95% CI: 1.194-2.385, P=0.01) were associated with HER-2-positive expression. Lymphatic metastasis (OR =1.450, 95% CI: 1.057-2.328, P=0.03) and Adler grade II-III (OR =0.704, 95% CI: 0.406-1.242, P=0.02) were associated with E-cadherin-positive expression. Reduced posterior echo was associated with Ki-67-negative expression (OR =0.307, 95% CI: 0.106-0.684, P=0.02). The areas under the ROC curves for each IHC factor were as follows: ER, 0.832; PR, 0.756; HER-2, 0.675; E-cadherin, 0.684; Ki-67, 0.703.

CONCLUSIONS: Since IHC factors are correlated with ultrasonic features to some extent, their biological behaviors can be preliminarily identified through analyses of their sonographic features, thereby providing a reference for clinically individualized treatment regimens and prognosis evaluation of patients.

RevDate: 2025-07-29

Blaas L, L Matta (2025)

SAF-guarding the cuff: Could shoulder fat cells combat fibrosis?.

The Journal of physiology [Epub ahead of print].

RevDate: 2025-08-01

Güler M, Sart G, Algorabi Ö, et al (2025)

Breast Cancer Classification with Various Optimized Deep Learning Methods.

Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland), 15(14):.

Background/Objectives: In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of women with breast cancer. Breast cancer prediction is defined as a medical data analysis and image processing problem. Experts may need artificial intelligence technologies to distinguish between benign and malignant tumors in order to make decisions. When the studies in the literature are examined, it can be seen that applications of deep learning algorithms in the field of medicine have achieved very successful results. Methods: In this study, 11 different deep learning algorithms (Vanilla, ResNet50, ResNet152, VGG16, DenseNet152, MobileNetv2, EfficientB1, NasNet, DenseNet201, ensemble, and Tuned Model) were used. Images of pathological specimens from breast biopsies consisting of two classes, benign and malignant, were used for classification analysis. To limit the computational time and speed up the analysis process, 10,000 images, 6172 IDC-negative and 3828 IDC-positive, were selected. Of the images, 80% were used for training, 10% were used for validation, and 10% were used for testing the trained model. Results: The results demonstrate that DenseNet201 achieved the highest classification accuracy of 89.4%, with a precision of 88.2%, a recall of 84.1%, an F1 score of 86.1%, and an AUC score of 95.8%. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study highlights the potential of deep learning algorithms in breast cancer classification. Future research should focus on integrating multi-modal imaging data, refining ensemble learning methodologies, and expanding dataset diversity to further improve the classification accuracy and real-world clinical applicability.

RevDate: 2025-08-15

Nguyen NJ, Liu K, Lajkosz K, et al (2025)

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)-Adapted Prostate Cancer Risk Tool Incorporating Cribriform and Intraductal Carcinoma.

Modern pathology : an official journal of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, Inc, 38(12):100852 pii:S0893-3952(25)00149-8 [Epub ahead of print].

Current prostate cancer risk stratification tools are not adapted for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-targeted biopsies and do not include the presence of cribriform carcinoma/intraductal carcinoma (CC/IDC), an independent predictor of adverse clinical outcomes. We developed an MRI-adapted prostate cancer risk tool (MAPCaRT), which incorporates CC/IDC presence to the Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment (CAPRA) tool. We compared the prognostic power of MAPCaRT with that of CAPRA in MRI-targeted biopsies (n = 266, 2015-2023) and systematic-only biopsies (n = 1291, 2010-2018) that had matched radical prostatectomy. MAPCaRT employs the aggregate core count method for MRI-targeted lesions to calculate percent positive biopsy cores and uses the radiological stage when assessing MRI-targeted biopsies. Point attribution for CC/IDC presence and Gleason score was determined using a Cox proportional hazards model that included the CAPRA score, Gleason score, and CC/IDC status. Based on calculated MAPCaRT and CAPRA scores, patients were classified into the low-risk (0-2), intermediate-risk (3-5), or high-risk (6+) group. Model performance was assessed via the Kaplan-Meier curves, Harrell C-indices, and decision curve analysis for biochemical recurrence-free survival (BCR-FS) and event-free survival (EFS) (metastasis/cancer-specific death). CC/IDC was present in 84 of 266 (32%) MRI-targeted biopsies and 293 of 1291 systematic-only biopsies (23%). The median follow-up time was 3.4 years (IQR, 2.3-5.5 years) for the MRI-targeted biopsy cohort and 5.9 years (IQR, 3.4-8.1 years) for the systematic biopsy cohort. In the MRI-targeted biopsy cohort, MAPCaRT showed substantial improvement of the C-index compared with CAPRA (0.635 vs 0.574, P = .045) and greater net clinical benefit for 4-year BCR-FS. In the systematic biopsy cohort, MAPCaRT demonstrated improved C-index for BCR-FS (0.696 vs 0.655, P < .001) and greater net clinical benefit for 5-year BCR-FS and EFS. Other model performance metrics were marginally better with MAPCaRT. In summary, we developed MAPCaRT (prostatecancercalculator.lmp.utoronto.ca), a modified version of CAPRA incorporating CC/IDC presence, which demonstrated improved BCR-FS and EFS predictions. This may result in better clinical guidance for disease management decisions.

RevDate: 2025-07-28

Kim Y, Chae SH, Lee D, et al (2025)

Alternative Models for Anticancer Drug Discovery From Natural Products Using Binary Tumor-Microenvironment-on-a-Chip.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) [Epub ahead of print].

The efficacy evaluation of anticancer drugs derived from natural products has traditionally relied on animal models, highlighting the need for more efficient preclinical assessment platforms. In this study, a binary tumor-microenvironment-on-a-chip (T-MOC) system is introduced to assess the therapeutic potential of illudin S and roridin E, two cytotoxic compounds derived from Omphalotus japonicus and Podostroma cornu-damae, respectively. The binary T-MOC model integrates independently developed vascular and invasive ductal carcinoma compartments, effectively mimicking in vivo drug delivery barriers and physiological dynamics. Using this model, illudin S demonstrates strong anticancer effects but exhibits high toxicity, particularly in the lung and liver, indicating a narrow therapeutic window. Roridin E demonstrates potent activity at low concentrations but exhibits high toxicity, especially in the liver and skin. Additionally, morphological analysis is performed to predict drug delivery and distribution characteristics, revealing anisotropic remission and the influence of microenvironmental factors on drug response. This study underscores the potential of the binary T-MOC system as an alternative platform for anticancer drug evaluation, enabling efficient preclinical validation while reducing reliance on animal models.

RevDate: 2025-07-28

Rattanapitoon SK, La N, NK Rattanapitoon (2025)

Superb Microvascular Imaging and Angiogenesis Markers in IDC: Further Considerations.

RevDate: 2025-07-29

Pascual-Vera B, Doron G, Inozu M, et al (2025)

The Mediating Role of Misinterpretations and Neutralizing Responses to Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts in Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders.

European journal of investigation in health, psychology and education, 15(7):.

Background. Cognitive-behavioral theories suggest that obsessions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) develop from maladaptive misinterpretations and coping strategies of unwanted intrusive thoughts (UITs). Models of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Illness Anxiety Disorder (IAD) propose that these symptoms stem from similar misinterpretations of common UITs relating to perceived defects in appearance and illness. This study examines whether maladaptive misinterpretations and control strategies leading to the escalation of obsessional UITs to OCD symptoms also have a similar effect on the development of BDD and IAD. More specifically, we examined whether misinterpretations and neutralizing responses mediate the associations between the frequency of disorder-specific UITs and symptoms of these disorders. Method. A total of 625 non-clinical participants from four countries completed the Questionnaire of Unpleasant Intrusive Thoughts (QUIT) that assesses OCD, BDD and IAD-related UITs and their associated misinterpretations and neutralizing strategies, as well as self-report measures of OCD, BDD, and IAD symptoms. Parallel multiple mediation models were conducted. Results. The frequency of OCD, BDD and IAD-related UITs predicted symptoms of each disorder. Dysfunctional appraisals and neutralizing behaviors mediated the associations between disorder-specific UITs and symptoms in OCD and IAD. The IAD model accounted for a smaller proportion of variance than the OCD model. No mediating effects were found for BDD symptoms. Conclusions. Experiencing disturbing UITs is a transdiagnostic risk factor of OCD, BDD and IAD, and is associated with symptoms of these disorders. Maladaptive interpretation of UITs and neutralizing strategies should be specific targets in the assessment and treatment of OCD and IAD. The absence of mediation effects for BDD could be due to the limitations observed on the self-report used to assess BDD symptoms and/or the low relevance of the misinterpretations and control strategies assessed by the QUIT, which are more typically endorsed by individuals with OCD.

RevDate: 2025-07-29

Bareket O, Reifen-Tagar M, T Saguy (2025)

Ambivalent sexism predicts Israelis' gendered preferences in the Gaza hostage crisis.

Communications psychology, 3(1):113.

Gender-based prioritization in life-or-death decisions has long shaped crisis responses, from natural disasters to wartime evacuations. This study examined psychological predictors of public support for such prioritization, using the case of Israeli hostages abducted by Hamas terrorist organization on October 7, 2023. Across two hostage release deals-one in November 2023 and another in January 2025-women were systematically prioritized, leaving abducted men in captivity. Analyses of a representative Jewish Israeli sample (N = 1171) regarding the November 2023 deal, reveal that hostile sexism, marked by resentment toward women, predicts opposition to prioritizing women's release. Conversely, benevolent sexism, casting women as needing protection, predicts support for women's prioritization (particularly for mothers). Even after accounting for demographics and broader ideologies, sexist attitudes emerge as key predictors of gender-based preferences in public opinion. Hostile and benevolent sexism operate here largely independently, with no credible evidence for an interaction, suggesting distinct psychological pathways. Respondent's gender plays a minor role, though benevolent sexism predicts a stronger protective bias toward women hostages among men than among women. These findings underscore how hostile sexism can disadvantage women, while benevolent sexism can reinforce women's vulnerability but demands men's sacrifice. Although decisions about hostage release may appear purely pragmatic on the surface, divergent public views on the matter may reflect gendered biases that emerge in high-stakes, life-or-death contexts-potentially more than impartial, need-based considerations.

RevDate: 2025-07-30

Mukhtar RA, Dimitroff K, Yau C, et al (2025)

Impact of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on Surgical Outcomes and Conversion to Node-Negativity in Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer: Analysis of Molecularly High-Risk Tumors by Histologic Subtype on the I-SPY2 Clinical Trial.

Annals of surgical oncology [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) has lower response rates to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) than invasive ductal carcinoma. While ILC often has low-risk biology, there is a high-risk subset within this heterogeneous tumor type. We compared surgical treatment and response rates by histology in I-SPY2, a multicenter NAC trial.

METHODS: We evaluated 1329 patients with stage II-III breast cancer and high-risk 70-gene assay. Patients with classic, pleomorphic, or mixed lobular/ductal histology were included in the lobular cohort. We evaluated rates of mastectomy, positive margins, axillary dissection, and conversion from clinical node-positive (cN+) to pathologic node-negative (ypN-) status after NAC.

RESULTS: Overall, 124 patients (9.3%) had lobular histology, with 69% being hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-). There was no difference in mastectomy rate (57.2% for lobular vs. 55.8% for non-lobular). The ILC cohort had more positive margins after lumpectomy than the non-ILC cohort (21.2% vs. 7.9%; p = 0.023). Within cN0 cases, axillary dissection was significantly more common among the lobular cases (24.1% vs. 14.0%; p = 0.039). Conversion from cN+ to ypN0 did not differ statistically between lobular and non-lobular cases (40.9% vs. 51.2%; p = 0.11). The nodal conversion rate among cN+lobular tumors was 30.6% in HR+/HER2-, 72.7% in HER2+, and 66.7% in triple-negative cases.

CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate the challenges of surgical management for ILC but hold promise that molecular classification can improve treatment selection. While high genomic risk is generally less common among ILC, our findings suggest that gene expression assays in cN+ILC patients can identify a subset who may benefit from NAC.

RevDate: 2025-07-22

Kaltenecker D, Fisker Schmidt S, Weber P, et al (2025)

Functional liver genomics identifies hepatokines promoting wasting in cancer cachexia.

Cell pii:S0092-8674(25)00741-X [Epub ahead of print].

In cancer cachexia, the presence of a tumor triggers systemic metabolic disruption that leads to involuntary body weight loss and accelerated mortality in affected patients. Here, we conducted transcriptomic and epigenomic profiling of the liver in various weight-stable cancer and cancer cachexia models. An integrative multilevel analysis approach identified a distinct gene expression signature that included hepatocyte-secreted factors and the circadian clock component REV-ERBα as key modulator of hepatic transcriptional reprogramming in cancer cachexia. Notably, hepatocyte-specific genetic reconstitution of REV-ERBα in cachexia ameliorated peripheral tissue wasting. This improvement was associated with decreased levels of specific cachexia-controlled hepatocyte-secreted factors. These hepatokines promoted catabolism in multiple cell types and were elevated in cachectic cancer patients. Our findings reveal a mechanism by which the liver contributes to peripheral tissue wasting in cancer cachexia, offering perspectives for future therapeutic interventions.

RevDate: 2025-07-31
CmpDate: 2025-07-22

Liu Y, J Liu (2025)

Male Breast Cancer Complicated With Leukocytosis Resembling Leukemia Reaction After Chemotherapy: A Case Report.

Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.), 8(7):e70280.

INTRODUCTION: Male breast cancer (MBC) accounts for less than 1% of all cancers in men, with invasive ductal carcinoma being the most common type. The chemotherapy regimens used for MBC are similar to those for female breast cancer. However, the incidence of chemotherapy-induced complications such as leukocytosis resembling leukemia reaction is not well documented in MBC. This case highlights a rare complication in an MBC patient, induced by prophylactic PEG-rhG-CSF following chemotherapy.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 51-year-old male with left breast invasive ductal carcinoma underwent modified radical mastectomy. Postoperative pathology revealed high-risk features, and the patient received 8 cycles of chemotherapy with the ddAC-T regimen, followed by PEG-rhG-CSF for febrile neutropenia prevention. After the fifth chemotherapy cycle, the patient developed leukocytosis resembling leukemia reaction, characterized by a white blood cell count exceeding 50 × 10[9]/L, along with intermittent fever up to 42.5°C. The condition was attributed to the PEG-rhG-CSF administration, and the patient was treated with NSAIDs and dexamethasone. Leukocytosis resolved after adjusting the PEG-rhG-CSF dose.

CONCLUSION: Leukocytosis resembling leukemia reaction induced by PEG-rhG-CSF post-chemotherapy is a rare complication, particularly in MBC patients. This case underscores the importance of careful monitoring and differential diagnosis to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary interventions. Personalized treatment strategies and dose adjustments for PEG-rhG-CSF are crucial in managing this rare reaction, emphasizing the need for awareness and individualized care in MBC patients undergoing chemotherapy.

RevDate: 2025-07-30
CmpDate: 2025-07-22

Shahid U, Haya N, Baessler K, et al (2025)

Perioperative interventions in pelvic organ prolapse surgery.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 7(7):CD013105.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common condition, with a significant proportion of women requiring surgical treatment. While the evidence supporting the surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse is well established, the evidence for perioperative interventions remains porous. The main goal of perioperative interventions is to reduce the rate of adverse events while improving women's outcomes following surgical intervention for prolapse.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the safety and effectiveness of a range of perioperative interventions versus other interventions or no intervention (control group) at the time of surgery for POP.

SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Incontinence Group Specialised Register, which contains trials identified from CENTRAL, MEDLINE, two major international clinical trials registers, and handsearching of journals and conference proceedings (searched 30 April 2024). We also contacted researchers in the field.

SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of women undergoing surgical treatment for symptomatic POP that compared a perioperative intervention related to POP surgery versus no treatment or another intervention.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used standard methodological procedures recommended by Cochrane. Our primary outcomes were awareness of prolapse, repeat surgery for prolapse and objective failure at any site. We also measured adverse events and patient-reported outcomes. We used the GRADE approach to assess the certainty of the evidence.

MAIN RESULTS: This review includes 49 RCTs that compared 19 different intervention groups versus a control. The trials were conducted in 15 countries, and involved 5657 women. The certainty of the evidence ranged from low to moderate. Most interventions could not be blinded, thus introducing a risk of bias. POP surgery with or without pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT): seven RCTs with 1032 women There may be no clinically relevant difference in awareness of prolapse following POP surgery with or without PFMT (odds ratio (OR) 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61 to 1.87; 1 study, 305 women; low-certainty evidence). This suggests that if 20% of women are aware of prolapse after surgery without PFMT, 13% to 31% are likely to be aware after POP surgery with PFMT. Similarly, there may be no clinically relevant difference in repeat surgery for prolapse with or without PFMT (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.23 to 3.26; 1 study, 316 women; low-certainty evidence). Additionally, there may be no clinically relevant difference in objective failure at any site with or without PFMT (OR 1.24, 95% CI 0.67 to 2.29; P = 0.49; 1 study, 307 women; low-certainty evidence). Finally, there may be no clinically relevant difference in patient-reported outcomes measures with or without PFMT, including Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20) scores (mean difference (MD) -4.11, 95% CI -8.97 to 0.76; I² = 0%; 3 studies, 512 women; low-certainty evidence), Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI) (MD -0.23, 95% CI -4.59 to 4.14; I² = 81%, 3 studies, 289 women; low-certainty evidence), Pelvic Organ Prolapse - Distress Inventory (POP-DI) (MD 0.00, 95% CI -1.22 to 1.22; I² = 0%; 2 studies, 143 women; low-certainty evidence) and Colorectal Anal Distress Inventory (CRADI) (MD -1.70, 95% CI -7.91 to 4.51; I² = 96%; 3 studies, 291 women; low-certainty evidence). POP surgery with in-dwelling catheter (IDC) removal before 24 hours versus at 24 hours postoperatively: five RCTs with 478 women There was probably no clinically relevant difference in urinary tract infections (UTIs) between women with IDC removal before 24 hours versus at 24 hours postoperatively (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.37 to 1.08; I² = 61%; 4 studies, 381 women; moderate-certainty evidence). Similarly, there may be no clinically relevant difference in the number of women discharged with a catheter between the two groups (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.22 to 2.95; 1 study, 64 women; low-certainty evidence). Furthermore, there may be no clinically relevant difference in the length of stay (days) between women with IDC removal before 24 hours versus at 24 hours postoperatively (MD 0.00, 95% CI -0.10 to 0.11; I² = 45%; 3 studies, 181 women; low-certainty evidence). Finally, there may be little to no difference in total catheter days between the two groups (MD 0.10, 95% CI -0.64 to 0.84; 2 studies, 124 women; low-certainty evidence). POP surgery with IDC removal day at more than 24 hours postoperatively versus at 24 hours: two RCTs with 277 women Women may be more likely to have a large increase in UTI risk if they had an IDC for longer than one day (OR 9.25, 95% CI 3.60 to 23.75; I² = 0%; 2 studies, 274 women; low-certainty evidence). This suggests that if 4% of women get a UTI with IDC removal at 24 hours, 12% to 47% will get a UTI with IDC removal at more than 24 hours following POP surgery. Similarly, having an IDC for longer than 24 hours probably increases the length of hospital stay (MD 1.18, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.44; 2 studies, 274 women; moderate-certainty evidence). Finally, having an IDC for longer than 24 hours may result in a large increase in total catheter days (MD 2.45, 95% CI 2.14 to 2.76; 1 study, 197 women; low-certainty evidence). There were no clinically relevant differences between study groups in the few available results for the following interventions at the time of POP surgery: with or without bowel preparation, short-acting versus long-acting bupivacaine, with or without vasoconstrictors, with chlorhexadine 2% vaginal preparation versus other vaginal antiseptic solutions, with or without vaginal packing, with restricted versus liberal postoperative activity instructions, with or without vaginal oestrogen, and with or without cranberry supplementation.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There remains a paucity of data on perioperative interventions in POP surgery. We were unable to establish a clinically meaningful reduction in adverse events or increase in patient satisfaction across most of the perioperative interventions. Women may be more likely to have a large increase in UTI risk if they have an IDC for longer than one day.

RevDate: 2025-07-24
CmpDate: 2025-07-21

Kretzmann HG, OV Adeniyi (2025)

Clinicopathological and molecular subtypes of breast cancer in the Eastern Cape, South Africa: A two-year retrospective study.

PloS one, 20(7):e0325387.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women worldwide and the most frequent cause of cancer death in women in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). The incidence of BC in Africa is on the rise, expected to double by 2050, primarily owing to late presentation and weak health infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study addresses the lack of recent data on BC cases in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to describe the clinicopathological characteristics and molecular subtypes of BC and, in addition, to examine the association between the clinicopathological characteristics and the molecular subtypes of BC in a single tertiary hospital in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

METHODS: A two-year (2022-2023) retrospective cross-sectional clinical record review study was conducted on patients treated for invasive BC at a tertiary hospital in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The demographic, clinical and pathological characteristics and molecular subtypes were reported. Associations were investigated between the BC molecular subtypes identified and the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients.

RESULTS: A total of 282 patients met the study's inclusion criteria. Most patients were female (98.6%) and African (88.1%). The mean age of the patients was 58.7 years, with BC most prevalent in the age group >70 (25.2%) and postmenopausal (77.4%). Breast lump was the most common presenting complaint (98.6%), with 61% of patients presenting three months after noticing the anomaly. The most common tumour size (59.4%) was > 5 cm (mean = 6.37 ± 3.6), with the most common clinical T stage being T4 (50.4%). Lymph node involvement was seen in 50.4% of cases. Patients mostly presented in Stages III and IV of the disease (60.1%). Invasive ductal carcinoma not otherwise specified (NOS) was the most common histopathological subtype (86.2%). Grade 2 (56.2%) and Grade 3 (29.5%) BC accounted for the majority of cases. Luminal B was found in 47.4% of cases, Luminal A in 28.5%, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) in 18.6% and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) enriched in 5.5% of cases, respectively.

CONCLUSION: In our setting, most patients consulted at a late stage of the disease with a large tumour size, positive lymph node status and a high histological grade. Luminal B tumours are the most common molecular subtype. These results indicate the need for more intensive breast cancer awareness campaigns, early detection, and timely referral and treatment.

RevDate: 2025-07-22
CmpDate: 2025-07-19

Nasir J, Han B, Hu X, et al (2025)

Retrospective insights: clinical characteristics and survival in 403 ILC cases from China.

BMC cancer, 25(1):1188.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to compare the demographic characteristics, clinicopathological factors, and survival outcomes between Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC) and Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) using the Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC) database.

METHODS: Over 12,000 patients were treated at FUSCC from January 2000 to December 2019. We identified 403 patients diagnosed with ILC and 11,829 with IDC. The chi-square test was employed to compare clinical demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatments, while Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to obtain Disease-Free Survival (DFS) and Overall Survival (OS) curves. Cox proportional hazard regression models established hazard ratios (HR), reported with a 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS: ILC exhibited distinctive characteristics compared to IDC, including older age, larger tumor size, higher estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor expression, and significantly lower HER-2 expression. The disease-free survival (DFS: ILC 86.6% vs. IDC 90.2%, P = 0.007) and overall survival (OS: ILC 90.5% vs. IDC 92.4%, P = 0.038) were worse for ILC than IDC. After applying Propensity Score Matching (PSM), the overall survival (OS: ILC 90.5% vs. IDC 93.2%, P = 0.046) was worse for ILC compared to IDC.

CONCLUSION: Patients diagnosed with Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC) encounter distinct challenges, characterized by a lower survival rate, an elevated risk of metastasis when compared to those with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC). In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of ILC and to develop tailored, effective treatment strategies, it is imperative to investigate a variety of influencing factors in future research endeavors.

RevDate: 2025-07-18

Yıldırım S, Mhamane A, Lösch S, et al (2025)

TSC22D1 is a newly identified inhibitor of insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells.

The FEBS journal [Epub ahead of print].

The loss of pancreatic beta cell function leads to chronically high blood glucose levels, contributing to diabetes mellitus, one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate beta cell function could pave the way for the development of more effective antidiabetic treatments. In this study, we identify the evolutionarily conserved transforming growth factor β-1 stimulated clone D1 (TSC22D1) protein as a previously unknown regulator of beta cell function. TSC22D1 depletion in INS-1E cells enhances the expression of key beta cell identity genes, including Ins1, Ins2, Pdx1, Slc2a2, and Nkx6.1, and promotes glucose-stimulated insulin secretion without altering intracellular insulin content. Mechanistically, TSC22D1 and Forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1) interact and regulate each other in a reciprocal manner to control beta cell function. Our follow-up interactome and RNA-Seq analyses reveal that TSC22D1 is crucial for glucose-responsive cellular processes in beta cells, including mRNA processing, ribonucleoprotein complex biogenesis, and Golgi vesicle transport. Overall, our findings indicate that TSC22D1 plays a significant role in regulating beta cell function at multiple levels, with potential implications for metabolic diseases, such as diabetes.

RevDate: 2025-08-08
CmpDate: 2025-08-08

Bae SY, Kim CW, Chin J, et al (2025)

Clinical subtypes and prognosis of invasive breast cancer with Paget's disease: a SEER study.

Breast cancer research and treatment, 213(2):281-289.

PURPOSE: Paget's disease of the breast is rare but commonly associated with underlying carcinoma. Despite frequent HER2 overexpression, its clinical relevance in Paget's disease remains unclear. We evaluated the prognostic impact of ER and HER2 expression in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) with Paget's disease and assessed whether clinical subtypes affect survival outcomes.

METHODS: Using SEER 17 data, we identified patients with IDC and HER2 status available, diagnosed from 2010 onward. Two groups were analyzed: IDC with Paget's disease (ICD-O-3 code 8541/3, n = 1,000) and IDC alone (ICD-O-3 code 8500/3, n = 487,162).

RESULTS: Compared to IDC alone, patients with Paget's disease had lower ER (60.5% vs. 82.0%) and PR (45.5% vs. 71.7%) expression, and higher HER2 overexpression (52.5% vs. 15.4%) (all P < 0.001). The ER + HER2 - subtype was less common in the Paget's group (34.9% vs. 71.6%), while ER - HER2 + was more frequent (29.2% vs. 4.8%) (P < 0.001). Among ER + HER2 - and ER + HER2 + subtypes, those with Paget's disease had worse breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) than those with IDC alone (HR 1.519, 95% CI 1.074-2.149; HR 1.030, 95% CI 1.027-1.033, respectively). No BCSS differences were observed in ER - HER2 - and ER - HER2 + subtypes.

CONCLUSION: ER + HER2 - subtype in IDC with Paget's disease is linked to worse BCSS, differing from IDC alone. These findings suggest distinct tumor biology in IDC with Paget's disease, highlighting the need for subtype-specific management strategies.

RevDate: 2025-08-08
CmpDate: 2025-08-08

Zhan H, Chan NNN, Khaimova R, et al (2025)

Quantitative assessment of HER2 expression in invasive ductal carcinoma and co-existing DCIS.

Breast cancer research and treatment, 213(2):273-279.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have demonstrated that ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) component often exhibits higher HER2 expression than the invasive component when assessed by immunohistochemistry, while some other studies showed concordant HER2 expression between these two components. In this study, we used our high-sensitivity HER2 (HS-HER2) quantitative immunofluorescence assay to compare HER2 expression in IDC and co-existing DCIS and correlate with clinicopathologic characteristics.

METHODS: We included 36 IDC + DCIS cases from the Yale Pathology department. DCIS was classified according to the three-tier nuclear grading system: low (grade 1), intermediate (grade 2), and high (grade 3) nuclear grade. Invasive carcinoma was graded according to the modified Bloom-Richardson histologic grading system. Cases were divided into two groups: low to intermediate-grade DCIS (G1-2) with co-existing invasive carcinoma (n = 26) and high-grade DCIS (G3) with co-existing invasive carcinoma (n = 10). Separate regions of interest for IDC and DCIS were annotated by two board-certified pathologists. Serial sections of FFPE tumor specimens were used to accurately measure the HER2 protein expression by the HS-HER2 assay in attomole/mm[2] unit and the acquisition by QuPath v.04 with the Qymia extension.

RESULTS: Low to intermediate-grade DCIS expressed higher HER2 levels (4295 ± 449 amol/mm[2]) than co-existing invasive carcinoma (2880 ± 413 amol/mm[2]). Similarly, high-grade DCIS expressed higher HER2 levels (4953 ± 700 amol/mm[2]) than co-existing invasive carcinoma (3560 ± 688 amol/mm[2]). Neither of these trends toward lower expression levels in the IDC were statistically significant. Additionally, no significant statistic difference was noted between low to intermediate-grade DCIS versus high-grade DCIS or between their corresponding co-existing invasive carcinomas in this cohort.

CONCLUSION: Using the HS-HER2 assay, our results demonstrated comparable HER2 expression levels in DCIS and paired invasive carcinoma regardless of histopathological grade or HER2 immunohistochemical score. These findings contributed to a more nuanced understanding of HER2 biology in early breast carcinogenesis and may inform future biomarker-driven therapeutic strategies.

RevDate: 2025-07-20

Saurborn E, Adkins J, Mahmud W, et al (2025)

Rare Presentation of Metastatic Breast Cancer Involving the Peritoneal Cavity: Two Cases Arising From Stage 0/1 Disease.

Cureus, 17(6):e86236.

Ductal cell carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a noninvasive stage 0 breast cancer that arises from an abnormal proliferation of ductal epithelial cells. If untreated, it can progress to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), the most common form of breast cancer. A minority of women with early-stage breast cancer may experience recurrent advanced cancer, which can progress to metastatic disease, commonly in the bone, liver, lung, and brain. Improved surveillance and raised awareness over the last three decades have resulted in an increased incidence of disease; however, early detection and treatment of DCIS and IDC have a favorable prognosis. We present two cases of well-treated early-stage breast cancer with late recurrence of distal metastasis involving the peritoneal cavity and liver, with ascites as a primary presentation. In Case one, Stage 1 IDC was detected on a routine mammogram and was well-treated with lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsies, chemotherapy, and radiation, with repeat mammograms negative for any evidence of recurrence. One year following treatment, the patient presented with dull epigastric pain and ascites positive for malignancy, with primary breast origin. In Case two, the patient presented to the emergency department with right upper quadrant pain and abdominal distension. A CT scan identified multiple liver lesions, and a biopsy revealed primary breast origin. A subsequent mammography detected DCIS in the right breast. One month later, the patient presented with abdominal and pelvic ascites and rapid decline of mental status before treatment was initiated. These cases underscore the importance of educating patients on self-examinations and yearly mammograms. Additionally, it is essential to educate providers on risk factors of metastatic disease and their possible presentations, including metastasis into the peritoneal cavity, to ensure optimal clinical outcomes.

RevDate: 2025-07-22
CmpDate: 2025-07-17

Aguiar-Leiva VP, Leiva-Fernández F, Martín-Roselló ML, et al (2025)

Validation of a questionnaire to assess complexity of palliative care needs in primary care in Malaga, Spain: a study protocol.

BMJ open, 15(7):e102040.

INTRODUCTION: The needs of patients in palliative care (PC) are multiple and changing. Several tools assess them, but there is a lack of homogeneity among them. A specific diagnostic tool to assess complexity in PC (IDC-Pal: Instrumento Diagnóstico de la Complejidad en Cuidados Paliativos, in Spanish) was created in community and hospital settings with 36 items to diagnose PC complexity, but its application in primary care is difficult.

AIMS: (1) To generate an adapted version to primary care of the IDC-Pal tool to identify and stratify PC complexity in the adult population. (2) To determine face, content, criterion and construct validity and reliability of the new instrument.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: There are three phases of clinimetric cross-sectional observational validation study: Phase 0: Review of the original tool structure suitability for its use in primary care setting by a committee (researchers and the original developer team). Phase 1: Expert consensus phase by Delphi technique with physicians, nurses and social workers from primary care and PC. Phase 2: Empirical validation of the resulting tool in primary care using a cross-sectional descriptive design involving physicians and case manager nurses from across Andalucia, who will recruit adult patients with PC needs from healthcare centres that accept to participate in the study. Reliability (Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega, interclass correlation coefficient) and construct validity (exploratory factor analysis) analysis will be carried out; convergent criterion validity will be assessed with the NEC-PAL (Necesidades Paliativas Questionnaire, in Spanish) instrument. Differences by gender, type of professional and place where it is administered will be explored. Interobserver reliability analyses will be carried out using intraclass correlation coefficient, Bland-Altman plots and concordance analysis. Phase 0-1 results were expected by 2025 and Phase 2 results by 2026. Reporting method: CRISP checklist. This protocol was conducted without patient or public participation.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study evaluates a novel, co-designed tool to diagnose PC complexity to inform practice recommendations for a more efficient allocation of resources that may be included in future clinical practice guidelines. The study has been approved by the Provincial Research Ethics Committee of Málaga as of July 2023 and will be conducted in accordance with the principles established in the Declaration of Helsinki, the Council of Europe Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine, and the requirements established in Spanish legislation. The study conforms to the norms of good clinical practice. All participants in the Delphi study must express their agreement to participate in the survey by providing informed consent (IC) before beginning the questionnaire. For the development of Phase 2, the primary care professionals who agree to participate will sign a researcher commitment, and the patients included in the study will sign a written IC before the data collection. Dissemination of the results will inform future research on the appropriate diagnosis of PC complexity in the primary care setting, which is of paramount importance due to its gatekeeper position. Dissemination will be aimed at academics and healthcare professionals through publications, presentations and training workshops on the use of the diagnostic tool.

RevDate: 2025-08-05

Ghiarone T, Hansen E, JM Holaska (2025)

Emerin expression stratification across breast cancer subtypes.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology.

Nuclear dysmorphism is a critical indicator of tumor aggressiveness, influencing cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Emerin, an integral nuclear envelope protein involved in nuclear architecture, is important for maintaining nuclear integrity. Our previous work demonstrated an inverse correlation between nuclear envelope-localized emerin expression and breast cancer aggressiveness. However, it failed to have the power to assess whether emerin loss correlates with cancer stage, grade, proliferation, or molecular phenotype. Here we analyzed emerin expression at the nuclear envelope across 243 breast cancer patient samples encompassing various tumor grades, stages, and molecular phenotypes. We found significantly reduced emerin expression in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), compared to normal breast tissue. Notably, emerin loss correlated with advanced tumor stage, higher Ki-67 proliferation rates, elevated human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) levels, and decreased estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression-markers associated with more aggressive breast cancers. Emerin expression was consistently reduced in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and other receptor-negative subtypes, underscoring its potential role in tumor dedifferentiation and progression. These findings highlight emerin as a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for aggressive breast cancer subtypes.

RevDate: 2025-07-29

Akbari Rad M, Sheybani F, Gharib M, et al (2025)

Coexistence of lobular granulomatous mastitis and breast cancer: Case report and case-based literature review.

International journal of surgery case reports, 133:111628.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: This study aims to provide insights into the characteristics of patients who experience both conditions of lobular granulomatous mastitis (LGM) and breast carcinoma. This patient was the only case among our 246 consecutive patients with LGM who experienced both LGM and malignancy.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 46-year-old Persian woman was diagnosed with left-sided LGM via core-needle biopsy, which resolved following two years of prednisone and subsequent methotrexate therapy. Three months after remission, she developed stiffness in the contralateral breast, and biopsy revealed grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma that was estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, progesterone receptor (PR)-negative, and HER2 (1+).

CLINICAL DISCUSSION: The prevalence of coexisting LGM and breast cancer among LGM cases was 0.41 %. In our review of 20 patients, LGM occurred prior to breast cancer in nine cases (45 %), concurrently in nine cases (45 %), and subsequent to breast cancer in two cases (10 %). Among the 20 reviewed cases, invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) was the most frequently identified malignancy, observed in 15 patients (75 %), while ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) was reported in five cases (25 %). Hormone receptor positivity (estrogen and/or progesterone receptor) was noted in 11 patients (55 %), and HER2 overexpression was present in seven cases (35 %).

CONCLUSION: New breast findings in individuals previously diagnosed with LGM should not be readily interpreted as a disease recurrence. To minimize the risk of misdiagnosis, bilateral assessment-including bilateral mammography or biopsy-is recommended, particularly in older patients, postmenopausal women, those with recurrent episodes, or when the contralateral breast is involved.

RevDate: 2025-07-16

Wang R, G Fridman (2025)

Volume Control for a Cortical Network.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology pii:2025.06.19.660597.

Excitability is a fundamental property of cortical networks, shaping their responses to input. Here, we use ionic direct current (iDC) to modulate excitability with sub-10-ms temporal resolution and submillimeter spatial precision across the cortical surface, greatly surpassing the capabilities of pharmacological tools. In anesthetized rats, we recorded laminar neural responses in the S1HL cortex to spontaneous delta oscillations and to foot stimulation with and without iDC delivered to the cortical surface. Cathodic iDC suppressed, and anodic iDC enhanced, evoked responses across recording sites. iDC shifted the spatiotemporal excitability pattern in a graded manner, paralleling the effects of weaker or stronger foot stimuli. A computational model reproduced these effects and implicated dendritic summation at the axon initial segment (AIS) as a key mechanism for bidirectional modulation. This approach enables precise, causal manipulation of cortical responsiveness in vivo and offers a platform for dissecting functional circuits and developing targeted neurotherapeutic interventions.

RevDate: 2025-07-23
CmpDate: 2025-07-16

Taraschi F, Cossa A, Maggi S, et al (2025)

18 Years Experience of an Italian Breast Unit Among Male Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Annali italiani di chirurgia, 96(7):950-955.

AIM: Male breast cancer has increased by approximately 26% over the past 25 years, there is a need to research specific treatment options. Currently, there is no established standard treatment which is therefore based on female disease. The purpose of this study is to analyze the clinical characteristics, survival outcomes, and the need for tailored treatment strategies in male breast cancer patients.

METHODS: This is an observational, retrospective, single-center clinical study. The research involved 21 male patients who underwent surgery for breast cancer from 2003 to 2020 in our hospital. In order to strengthen the statistical value of the results obtained, the survival curves of three selected studies in the literature were compared with that obtained in the present study.

RESULTS: All our patients underwent total mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection. Twenty patients were diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, while only one patient with invasive lobular carcinoma. The 5-year survival was 71.4% with a median survival for metastatic patients of 5.7 years. A statistically significant difference was found when comparing 5-year survival with one of the other three studies (p = 0.048).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the delayed clinical presentation of male breast cancer and a 5-year overall survival of 71.4%, underscoring the need for targeted screening strategies to improve early diagnosis and outcomes.The lack of knowledge of this disease at sociocultural and health level is the main reason for delay in diagnosis, a factor that strongly affects the prognosis.

RevDate: 2025-07-16

Yang C, Wang H, Tong Y, et al (2025)

Clinicopathological and molecular significance of HER2-low expression in Asian women with triple-negative breast cancer.

Therapeutic advances in medical oncology, 17:17588359251353083.

BACKGROUND: Heterogeneity of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression exists in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The evolution of the HER2 testing algorithm has led to the new classification of the HER2-low category, with unclear clinicopathological and molecular features in Asian women with HER2-low TNBC.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of HER2-low TNBC in Asian women.

DESIGN: Our study prospectively included 3376 patients with TNBC diagnosed from 2009 to 2021 in the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Breast Cancer Database (a multicenter dataset), and 92 patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort were enrolled.

METHODS: Two different independent TNBC cohorts were included, a multicenter cohort (Whole cohort, n = 3376) and the TCGA cohort (n = 92). Genomic profiling covering 32 mutations for Homologous Recombination Repair and other cancer predisposition genes was obtained. Clinicopathological features, genomic status of the above genes, treatment response, and disease prognosis were compared between HER2-low and HER2-zero TNBC patients.

RESULTS: In Asian females, 1611 (47.72%) TNBC patients were HER2-low. HER2-low was associated with a higher percentage of postmenopausal status (odds ratio (OR) = 1.64, p < 0.001), lymph node positivity (OR = 1.14, p = 0.003), and invasive ductal carcinoma histology (OR = 1.21, p = 0.012). HER2-low group had less BRCA1 mutation (7.02% vs 13.76%, p = 0.038) but was associated with a higher rate of PIK3CA mutation (28.07% vs 12.17%, p < 0.001) compared with HER2-zero TNBC. No significant difference in breast pathologic complete response rate, breast cancer-free interval, or overall survival was observed between HER2-low and HER2-zero TNBC. In the TCGA cohort, lipid metabolism genes were upregulated in the HER2-low TNBC, enriched in alpha-linolenic acid metabolism (normalized enrichment score = 1.51, p = 0.019).

CONCLUSION: Our results show that HER2-low TNBC had specific clinicopathological, genomic profiling, and biological features compared with HER2-zero TNBC in Asian women, but without significant differences in treatment response and prognosis, warranting exploring better treatment strategies to improve disease outcomes.

RevDate: 2025-07-16

Malik M, Mirza ZR, Idrees RB, et al (2025)

Interplay of Receptor Status, Age, and Stage in Breast Cancer: A Prospective Analysis.

Cureus, 17(6):e85925.

Background Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women globally, with significant variations in incidence and characteristics across different age groups and regions. Understanding the relationship between age, hormone receptor status, and breast cancer stage is crucial for developing effective treatment strategies. Objectives This study aimed to: (1) categorize the relationship between receptor status and the stage of breast cancer, (2) determine the frequency of different receptor statuses according to patient age, and (3) correlate the relationship between age and the stage of breast cancer among Pakistani women. Materials and methods A prospective analysis was conducted on 1003 breast cancer patients from a semi-government-run hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, between October 2021 to October 2023 using systematic sampling to recruit every fourth patient of breast cancer. Data on age, tumor grade, histopathological subtype, and hormone receptor status (estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2/NEU (HER2/NEU), Ki-67) were collected and analyzed using SPSS v26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, USA). Chi-squared test was employed to explore associations between age groups and receptor status. Results The mean age of patients was 50.5 years, with a concentration of cases between 41 and 60 years. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) was the most common subtype (91%). Grade II tumors were most prevalent (50.6%), followed by Grade III (45.5%). The majority of patients were ER-positive (62.4%), followed by PR-positive (52.3%), while HER2/NEU positivity was 44%. The most common receptor status was HER2/NEU negative and ER/PR positive (28.9%). Receptor status distribution varied significantly among age groups (p < 0.000), with younger patients more likely to have triple-negative breast cancers and older patients more likely to have ER/PR-positive, HER2/NEU-negative cancers. Ki-67 levels were assessed in 41.5% of patients, with higher levels observed in younger patients. Younger patients (20-30 years) had a higher prevalence of Grade III tumors, whereas older patients (over 60 years) more frequently had Grade II tumors. There were no significant differences in hormone receptor status distribution across cancer stages (p = 0.76). The stage of carcinoma did not significantly differ across age groups (p = 0.05). Conclusion The study highlights significant age-related differences in breast cancer pathology, particularly in tumor grade and receptor status, underscoring the need for age-specific treatment strategies. Younger patients tend to present with more aggressive tumors, necessitating tailored therapeutic approaches to improve outcomes.

RevDate: 2025-07-11

Wang G, Liu X, Si Z, et al (2025)

A Scallop-shaped Photopenic Region in the Urinary Bladder Area on Tc-99m MDP Bone Scan Caused by a Uterine Cervical Leiomyoma.

Clinical nuclear medicine pii:00003072-990000000-01849 [Epub ahead of print].

A 46-year-old woman with right breast invasive ductal carcinoma and sternalgia underwent Tc-99m methylene diphosphonate (MDP) whole-body bone scintigraphy, on which a scallop-shaped photopenic region in the urinary bladder area was found, besides increased radioactivity in the sternum region and both breasts. By reviewing a previous CT scan, a pelvic mass oppressing the right wall of the urinary bladder was noted, which was confirmed to be a rare uterine cervical leiomyoma by biopsy.

RevDate: 2025-07-12

Takaoka K, S Oura (2025)

A Case of Breast Cancer Arising From a Florid Adenosis Nodule.

Cureus, 17(6):e85725.

A 42-year-old woman noticed a left breast mass and was diagnosed with florid adenosis by vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) 10 years before. Semiannual ultrasound follow-ups showed gradual shrinkage of the florid adenosis nodule as time passed after VAB, but showed a slight increase in size after her marriage at the age of 40. Thereafter, the sudden rapid growth of the nodule made us again examine it in detail. Magnetic resonance imaging of the masses, including a daughter nodule in the nipple direction, showed low signals on T1-weighted images, slightly high signals on fat-suppressed T2-weighted images, and persistent rim enhancement on subtraction images. The patient underwent core needle biopsy under the tentative diagnosis of breast cancer. Pathological study showed atypical cells growing in a papillary fashion with bleeding and necrosis, leading to the diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma. Immunostaining showed estrogen and progesterone receptor negativity, human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 negativity, and a high Ki-67 labeling index of 60%. The patient, therefore, underwent nipple-preserving mastectomy and sentinel biopsy followed by immediate breast reconstruction using an extended latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap. Postoperative pathological study showed that the breast cancer had similar pathological findings to those of the core needle biopsy specimen and a higher Ki-67 labeling index of 70%. The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged on the 9th day after the operation. The patient has received dose-dense chemotherapy and is scheduled for periodical checkups on an outpatient basis. Breast specialists should note that even pathologically proven florid adenosis nodules might develop breast cancer.

RevDate: 2025-07-12

Borella F, Gallio N, Giurdanella M, et al (2025)

Triple-negative lobular breast cancer: focus on pathology and clinical challenges.

Human pathology pii:S0046-8177(25)00158-3 [Epub ahead of print].

Triple-negative invasive lobular carcinoma is a rare and under-characterized subtype of breast cancer, distinct from the more common triple-negative invasive ductal carcinoma. While triple-negative invasive ductal carcinoma is generally recognized for its aggressive clinical behavior and lack of targeted treatment options, triple-negative invasive lobular carcinoma presents unique histopathological and molecular features that may influence its prognosis and therapeutic responsiveness. Despite these differences, triple-negative invasive lobular carcinoma remains poorly studied, leading to a reliance on treatment strategies adapted from ductal histotype, which may not fully address its biological complexities. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of triple-negative invasive lobular carcinoma by analyzing its clinicopathological characteristics, prognostic factors, and emerging therapeutic approaches. We explore the genetic alterations commonly observed in triple-negative invasive lobular carcinoma, their potential implications for treatment selection, and the challenges in current management strategies. Furthermore, we discuss the need for specialized research efforts and clinical trials to define treatment paradigms better. As precision oncology continues to evolve, understanding the biological distinctions of triple-negative invasive lobular carcinoma will be essential for optimizing patient outcomes and developing more effective treatment strategies.

RevDate: 2025-07-11
CmpDate: 2025-07-10

Umezu M, Kondo Y, Ichikawa S, et al (2025)

Recurrence prediction of invasive ductal carcinoma from preoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography using deep convolutional neural network.

Biomedical physics & engineering express, 11(4):.

Predicting the risk of breast cancer recurrence is crucial for guiding therapeutic strategies, including enhanced surveillance and the consideration of additional treatment after surgery. In this study, we developed a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) model to predict recurrence within six years after surgery using preoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) images, which are widely available and effective for detecting distant metastases. This retrospective study included preoperative CECT images from 133 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma. The images were classified into recurrence and no-recurrence groups using ResNet-101 and DenseNet-201. Classification performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) with leave-one-patient-out cross-validation. At the optimal threshold, the classification accuracies for ResNet-101 and DenseNet-201 were 0.73 and 0.72, respectively. The median (interquartile range) AUC of DenseNet-201 (0.70 [0.69-0.72]) was statistically higher than that of ResNet-101 (0.68 [0.66-0.68]) (p < 0.05). These results suggest the potential of preoperative CECT-based DCNN models to predict breast cancer recurrence without the need for additional invasive procedures.

RevDate: 2025-07-11

Zhang Q, Xiong Z, Gao Y, et al (2025)

Rare case report: non-mass invasive ductal carcinoma presenting with rectal and cervical lymph node metastasis as the initial symptom.

Frontiers in oncology, 15:1606116.

It is uncommon for breast cancer to present with distant metastasis as the initial symptom. This study reported a 67-year-old female patient with breast non-mass invasive ductal carcinoma, who sought medical attention due to abdominal distention, lower abdominal pain, constipation, hematochezia, and left-sided neck swelling. After a thorough examination, pathology confirmed the diagnosis of breast invasive ductal carcinoma, along with cervical lymph node and rectal metastasis. The non-specific breast symptoms in this case posed challenges for the early diagnosis of breast cancer. This also suggests that for breast cancer patients without a history of gastrointestinal disease, the presence of changes in bowel habits should raise suspicion for metastatic lesions. Imaging combined with biopsy pathology plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of non-mass breast cancer. This case also underscores the importance of breast health awareness and routine breast cancer screening among women, both for clinical practice and public health initiatives. Notably, early identification and diagnosis of non-mass breast cancer, coupled with the development of personalized treatment plans through multidisciplinary collaboration, are essential for enhancing treatment efficacy.

RevDate: 2025-07-10

Zhang T, Cui T, Cao Z, et al (2025)

Deep learning-based risk stratification of ductal carcinoma in situ using mammography and abbreviated breast magnetic resonance imaging.

Frontiers in oncology, 15:1587882.

BACKGROUND: Current management of ductal carcinoma in situ lacks robust risk stratification tools, leading to universal surgical and radiotherapy interventions despite heterogeneous progression risks. Optimizing therapeutic balance remains a critical unmet clinical need.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed two patient cohorts. The first included 173 cases with BI-RADS category 3 or higher findings, used to compare the diagnostic accuracy of four abbreviated MRI protocols against the full diagnostic MRI. The second cohort involved 210 patients who had both mammography and abbreviated MRI. We developed two separate predictive models-one for pure ductal carcinoma in situ and another for invasive ductal carcinoma with associated ductal carcinoma in situ-by integrating clinical, imaging, and pathological features. Deep learning and natural language processing techniques were used to extract relevant features, and model performance was assessed using bootstrap validation.

RESULTS: Abbreviated Magnetic Resonance Imaging protocols demonstrated similar diagnostic accuracy to the full protocol (P > 0.05), offering a faster yet effective imaging option. The pure group incorporated features like nuclear grade, calcification morphology, and lesion size, achieving an Area Under the Curve of 0.905, with 86.8% accuracy and an F1 score of 0.853. The model for invasive cases incorporated features Ki-67 status, lymph vascular invasion, and enhancement patterns, achieved an Area Under the Curve of 0.880, with 86.2% accuracy and an F1 score of 0.834. Both models showed good calibration and clinical utility, as confirmed by bootstrap resampling and decision curve analysis.

CONCLUSION: Deep Learning-driven multimodal models enable precise ductal carcinoma in situ risk stratification, addressing overtreatment challenges. abbreviated Magnetic Resonance Imaging achieves diagnostic parity with full diagnostic protocol, positioning Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a viable ductal carcinoma in situ screening modality.

RevDate: 2025-07-11
CmpDate: 2025-07-09

Xiao C, Zhang Y, J Li (2025)

The prognostic differences between breast-conserving surgery and mastectomy in patients with invasive ductal carcinoma who achieved complete response following neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a propensity score matched analysis based on the SEER database.

World journal of surgical oncology, 23(1):269.

BACKGROUND: The study investigates the prognostic differences between breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and mastectomy in patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast who achieve a complete response (CR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

METHODS: This study analyzed data from 9,411 patients diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast who achieved complete response following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, using data from the SEER database between 2010 and 2019, comprising 4,219 patients in the BCS group and 5,192 in the mastectomy group. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to control for confounding variables, and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify variables associated with overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to evaluate the prognosis of patients in the two groups.

RESULTS: The multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that histological subtype, T stage, N stage, surgical method, and radiotherapy were risk factors for CSS, while age, histological subtype, T stage, and N stage were associated with OS (p < 0.05). Following matching, the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis curve suggested that the BCS group had higher CSS than the mastectomy group (p < 0.05), although there was no statistically significant difference in OS between the two groups (p = 0.16). Subgroup analysis revealed that, among patients aged ≤ 50, of White ethnicity, with grade 3 tumors, and HR+/HER-2- subtype, the BCS group exhibited superior CSS compared to the mastectomy group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast who achieve complete response following neoadjuvant chemotherapy experience better CSS benefits with BCS compared to undergoing mastectomy.

RevDate: 2025-07-11

Wang R, Zhao F, Yan T, et al (2025)

Gallbladder metastasis in invasive ductal breast cancer with concurrent gallstones and gallbladder carcinoma.

Discover oncology, 16(1):1287.

The gallbladder is an uncommon location for tumor metastases. Breast cancer seldom spreads to the gallbladder, although melanoma and renal cell tumors typically do. We report a case of a 58-year-old woman with chronic cholecystitis caused by gallstones. Following a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a nodule was discovered on the gallbladder wall. Based on her medical history and pathological tissue molecular typing, the diagnosis was determined to be gallbladder metastasis of invasive breast ductal carcinoma, with a negative hormone receptor. Two years prior, the patient had undergone a modified radical mastectomy for left breast cancer. The postoperative pathology revealed grade III invasive ductal carcinoma, pT2N1M0, and a negative hormone receptor. This case report highlights the rare occurrence of invasive breast ductal carcinoma metastasizing to the gallbladder.

RevDate: 2025-07-10

Kaindal S, B Venkataramana (2025)

Demographic and clinical predictors of treatment outcomes in invasive lobular carcinoma breast cancer: insights from Cox regression analysis.

Discover oncology, 16(1):1273.

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) ranks as the second most prevalent type of breast cancer after invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Understanding the demographics, clinical, and treatment outcomes of patients with ILC is essential for developing personalized treatment strategies. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the risk factors, treatment efficacy, demographics, and effects of marital status on treatment approaches for patients with lobular carcinoma. The data retrieved from the SEER program included 2,085 patients with lobular carcinoma. Descriptive statistics describe their clinical and demographical characteristics, while inferential statistics, including the Pearson chi-square test and Cox regression models, assess treatment outcomes based on age and clinicopathological factors. Among the cohort, 7.9% of patients were aged 30-44, 40.1% were aged 45-59, and 52% were aged 60-74. The analysis indicated that patients aged 45-59 predominantly received radiation therapy, while those aged 60-74 primarily underwent chemotherapy. Compared to older individuals, younger patients demonstrated a more favorable response to chemotherapy (HR = 0.653, 95% CI: 0.261-1.633) and radiation therapy (HR = 0.625, 95% CI: 0.249-1.565). Age at diagnosis was an independent factor in breast cancer of lobular carcinoma. The Cox regression models revealed significant disparities in treatment effects across different age groups and clinicopathological characteristics. The chi-square analysis showed no significant associations for most variables, indicating that unmeasured factors influence chemotherapy and radiation therapy. A frailty model better captures risk factors, improving treatment decision-making and patient outcome analysis. This study emphasizes the need to evaluate demographic and clinical factors in treatment planning for lobular carcinoma patients. The findings suggest that personalized treatment strategies should be developed to address the varying responses to treatment among different patient cohorts.

RevDate: 2025-07-07

Brunetta HS, Mori MA, A Bartelt (2025)

Oxidative Phosphorylation in Uncoupled Mitochondria.

BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology [Epub ahead of print].

Mitochondrial membrane potential is highly dependent on coupled as well as uncoupled respiration. While brown adipose tissue (BAT) mediates non-shivering thermogenesis (NST), a highly adaptive bioenergetic process critical for energy metabolism, the relationship of coupled and uncoupled respiration in thermogenic adipocytes remains complicated. Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)-mediated proton leak is the primary driver of NST, but recent studies have shown that oxidative phosphorylation may be an underappreciated contributor to UCP1-dependent NST. Here, we highlight the role of ATP synthase for BAT thermogenesis and discuss the implications of fine-tuning adrenergic signaling in brown adipocytes by the protein inhibitory factor 1 (IF1). We conclude by hypothesizing future directions for mitochondrial research, such as investigating the potential role of IF1 for mitochondrial substrate preference, structural dynamics, as well as its role in cell fate decision and differentiation.

RevDate: 2025-07-21
CmpDate: 2025-07-04

Grant RS, Kakani P, Movva P, et al (2025)

Identifying cribriform and intraductal histology on magnetic resonance imaging-assisted biopsy for patients with intermediate-grade prostate cancer: Implications for active surveillance.

Cancer, 131(14):e35968.

BACKGROUND: Nearly 12% of patients in the United States with intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PCa) opt for surveillance as their initial management strategy. Patients with aggressive histologic variants, such as cribriform and intraductal carcinoma (IDC), are considered poor candidates for surveillance. The objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-assisted biopsy for detecting cribriform PCa and IDC.

METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, patients who underwent prostate MRI before biopsy within 6 months of prostatectomy at a single institution (2018-2024) were identified. All patients had grade group 2-3 (GG2-3) PCa on biopsy. The primary outcome was the sensitivity of MRI-assisted biopsy for detecting cribriform PCa and IDC by patient in the prostatectomy specimen.

RESULTS: The authors identified 641 patients who had 1186 tumors that were GG2-3 PCa on biopsy. The median time between MRI and biopsy was 31 days, and the median time between biopsy and surgery was 91 days. Cribriform PCa was identified in 35 patients (5.5%) at the time of biopsy and in 119 patients (18.6%) at surgery. IDC was present in 22 patients (3.4%) at biopsy and in 71 patients (11.1%) at surgery. By patient, the sensitivity for detecting cribriform PCa, IDC, or either was 21.8%, 26.8%, and 29.3%, respectively. The sensitivity by tumor for cribriform PCa, IDC, or either was 20.5%, 27.3%, and 28%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of MRI-assisted biopsy for detecting cribriform PCa and IDC in patients with GG2-3 PCa is poor. This work should encourage improvements in detecting variant histologies with optimized biopsy, imaging, and adjunct biomarkers.

RevDate: 2025-07-05

Câmara B, Florindo C, de Lima CB, et al (2025)

Rethinking phenylalanine levels in phenylketonuria for optimal neurocognitive development beyond childhood.

Frontiers in pediatrics, 13:1488809.

INTRODUCTION: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inborn error of phenylalanine (Phe) metabolism that disrupts neurotransmitter balance. Although early intervention has improved outcomes, neurocognitive challenges persist, particularly during adolescence. Metabolic control guidelines for patients aged >12 years differ between the European Union and the United States, with recommended blood Phe levels below 600 µM and 360 µM, respectively.

METHODS: This study evaluated the relationship between blood Phe levels, intelligence quotient (IQ), and executive functions using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition and the d2 Test of Attention. Blood Phe levels were monitored longitudinally and summarized using the Index of Dietary Control (IDC), calculated as the mean of individual annual median Phe concentrations, both before and after 12 years of age.

RESULTS: The study included 14 early-treated PKU patients aged 12-17 years, all diagnosed through newborn screening programs. Participants maintained good metabolic control (IDC <360 µM) prior to 12 years of age, with a mean IDC of 302 µM. Higher IQ scores before the age of 12 years were observed only among patients with consistent dietary compliance. After that age, attentional performance declined in those who were noncompliant with dietary recommendations. Additionally, occasional elevations in blood Phe levels at the time of cognitive assessments were associated with poorer cognitive performance.

DISCUSSION: These findings underscore the detrimental effects of elevated Phe levels on executive functions during adolescence and highlight the need for larger studies to determine whether blood Phe levels between 360 and 600 µM are safe for patients aged >12 years.

RevDate: 2025-07-17
CmpDate: 2025-07-04

Zhou L, Wu Y, Wen X, et al (2025)

Prediction model for assessing HER2 status patient with invasive ductal carcinoma based on clinical parameters and ultrasound features: a dual-center study.

BMC women's health, 25(1):291.

OBJECTIVE: The assessment of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) expression status is crucial for determining the eligibility of breast cancer (BC) patients for HER2-targeted therapies. This study aims to develop a nomogram model that incorporates multimodal ultrasound imaging features alongside clinicopathological characteristics to evaluate HER2 status.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 456 breast cancer patients who underwent breast ultrasound between January 2019 and December 2021. The dataset was randomly divided into a training cohort (n = 319) and a validation cohort (n = 137) in a 7:3 ratio. Independent factors predicting HER2 status in the training cohort were evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Subsequently, a combined model was developed and validated in the validation cohort. Model performance was assessed through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, decision curve analysis (DCA) and calibration curves to evaluate discrimination, net clinical benefit, and calibration, respectively.

RESULTS: Of the 456 patients enrolled, 120 (26.32%) were HER2-positive and 336 (73.68%) were HER2-negative. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the combined model distinguishing HER2-negative from HER2-positive patients was 0.864 (95% CI: 0.823-0.904) in the training cohort and 0.874 (95% CI: 0.815-0.933) in the validation cohort. Significant predictors included estrogen receptor (ER) status, Ki67, ultrasound lesion size, calcification, and posterior acoustic features. Additionally, the calibration curves for the combined model indicated good fit in both the training and validation cohorts.

CONCLUSION: A nomogram constructed from clinical and ultrasound features may serve as a promising non-invasive tool for determining HER2 expression status, aiding in the prediction of eligibility for HER2-targeted therapy in clinical practice.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

RevDate: 2025-07-05
CmpDate: 2025-07-03

Pardo J, Capdevila-Lacasa C, Segura B, et al (2025)

Diffusivity alterations related to cognitive performance and phenylalanine levels in early-treated adults with phenylketonuria.

Journal of neurodevelopmental disorders, 17(1):37.

BACKGROUND: Altered white matter (WM) is consistently reported in patients with phenylketonuria (PKU). However, the knowledge about WM microstructural integrity in early-treated adults with classical PKU and its relationship with cognition and metabolic parameters is inconclusive. This study aims to explore the cerebral WM microstructural alterations in adult patients with early-treated classical PKU and their association with blood phenylalanine (Phe) levels and neuropsychological performance using whole-brain diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with early-treated classical PKU (mean age = 30.86, SD = 7.74) and 31 healthy controls (mean age = 32.45, SD = 9.40) underwent neuropsychological assessment and MRI. Phe dry blood spot (DBS-Phe) samples, along with venous Phe levels, were collected from the PKU sample to calculate the index of dietary control (IDC). Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) of the mean diffusivity (MD), and fractional anisotropy (FA), were carried out with FSL v6.0.4 to assess between-group differences and to explore associations with both cognitive and clinical data.

RESULTS: Patients exhibited a widespread white matter tract involvement, with lower MD and higher FA values compared to controls. The most affected tracts were the inferior longitudinal fasciculus and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus for MD, and the anterior corona radiata, uncinate fasciculus and forceps minor for FA. MD negatively correlated with IDC and venous Phe levels, whereas FA negatively correlated with full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) (p-value ≤0.05 FWE-corrected).

CONCLUSIONS: Microstructural WM alterations were present in adults with early-treated classical PKU, and these abnormalities were related to global intelligence and metabolic control markers. Although our results suggest the importance of proper disease management, further studies are needed to determine its long-term relevance.

RevDate: 2025-07-05

Marchesi S, Marinello A, Ambrosini P, et al (2025)

Immune-checkpoint targeting drug conjugates: a novel class of promising therapeutic agents for cancer treatment.

NPJ precision oncology, 9(1):219.

Immune-checkpoint targeting Drug Conjugates (IDCs) are a novel class of therapeutics that combine an immune checkpoint-targeting moiety, a cleavable linker, and a cytotoxic payload. By integrating features and functions of antibody-drug conjugates and immunotherapy, IDCs represent a promising strategy to remodel the tumor microenvironment and enhance antitumor efficacy. Several IDCs targeting checkpoints such as PD-L1, B7-H3, and B7-H4 are in early-phase clinical trials. This review summarizes available data on IDC efficacy and toxicity in human. Although current evidence is limited, ongoing phase III trials and biomarker studies will clarify their optimal clinical role, including potential for tumor-agnostic use.

RevDate: 2025-07-03

Usluca S, Bakir A, Arikok AT, et al (2025)

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii and High-Risk Human Papillomaviruses in FFPE Malignant and Benign Breast Lesions Using Real-Time PCR.

Infection and drug resistance, 18:3149-3155.

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among women. In recent years, it has been suggested that various pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and human papillomavirus (HPV) may play a potential role in the development of breast cancer. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of T. gondii and HPV infections in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples of breast cancer patients using real-time PCR.

METHODS: The study included 136 paraffin-embedded biopsy samples with w confirmed malignant breast tumor diagnosis and 50 breast tissue samples diagnosed as benign breast lesions, serving as controls. The presence of T. gondii DNA and high-, medium-, and low-risk HPV genotype DNAs were investigated using the real-time PCR method. First, deparaffinization was performed using xylene and alcohol, followed by DNA extraction and real-time PCR amplification.

RESULTS: The most common histopathological types of malignant breast carcinoma were invasive carcinoma (n=82; 60.3%), invasive lobular carcinoma (n=26; 19.1%), invasive ductal carcinoma (n=8; 5.9%), and mixed invasive carcinoma (n=8; 5.9%). According to the Modified Bloom-Richardson classification, 55.15% of malignant breast tumor samples were grade 2, 32.4% were grade 3, and 12.5% were grade 1. Real-time PCR analysis did not detect T. gondii DNA or HPV DNA in any of these samples.

CONCLUSION: Our findings do not support a role of T. gondii and HPV in breast cancer development. To better understand the possible relationship between breast cancer and these pathogens, further studies with larger sample sizes, diverse diagnostic methods, and broder geographical coverage are necessary.

RevDate: 2025-07-04

Raouf M, Kamal S, Elsayed R, et al (2025)

Detection of bovine leukemia virus, Epstein-Barr virus and human papillomavirus in breast cancer tissues of Egyptian patients.

Infectious agents and cancer, 20(1):43.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) remains one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Many viruses have been linked to BC; namely, Human papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Bovine leukemia virus (BLV). However, a causal role is yet to be established.

OBJECTIVES: To detect the prevalence of BLV, EBV and HPV sequences in BC tissue compared to BC-free tissue and correlate their presence with different pathological features of BC.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was conducted on 75 FFPE (formalin fixed paraffin embedded) blocks of BC tissues and 25 of BC-free tissues obtained from Alexandria Main University Hospital pathology department archive. Demographic, medical, pathological data were retrieved from patients' archival records. Hormonal receptor status, Real-time PCR for viral detection and HPV genotyping were done. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software. The Chi-square test, Fisher's Exact correction and Monte Carlo simulation were used for quantitative variables.

RESULTS: Invasive ductal carcinoma was the most predominant histologic type (85.3%). BLV, EBV and HPV were detected in (22.7% vs. 16%, 14.7% vs. 8%, 6.7% vs. 0%) BC vs. non-BC tissues respectively with HR HPV 16 detection. Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and stage III were more commonly seen among tissues with positive viral detection vs. those which were negative (64.3% vs. 53% and 39% vs. 17% respectively). However, no single viral detection was found to be statistically significant in relation to clinicopathological parameters. Multiple viral co-existence was found in 18% of PCR positive cases which was significantly associated with younger age (P = 0.026).

CONCLUSION: Low rate of viral presence was found in BC tissues. Nevertheless, LVI and stage III were more commonly seen in tissues with positive viral detection. Moreover, a synergetic relation between multiple viral existence and BC development in young age could be possible yet to be verified.

RevDate: 2025-07-04

Idc G, Gy W, S Klmd (2025)

Knowledge and attitudes on cancer pain management among nurses at National Cancer Institute Sri Lanka.

BMC nursing, 24(1):690.

BACKGROUND: Effective pain management is crucial in oncology nursing, yet gaps in knowledge and attitudes may affect the quality of care.

OBJECTIVE: To describe knowledge and attitudes on cancer pain management among nurses at NCI Sri Lanka.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the NCI in Sri Lanka among 340 nurses selected using stratified random sampling. Knowledge and attitudes on cancer pain management was assessed using self-administered 41-item Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain (KASRP) questionnaire. Scoring was carried out as per the recommended guidelines and knowledge and attitudes were categorized into three groups as good, moderate, poor using > 75%, 75%- 50% and < 50% as cut-offs. The collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 26.0. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and independent sample t-test followed by one way ANOVA was used to identify associated factors. P-value of < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Ethical approval was obtained by the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka (REC/NSG 06).

RESULTS: The response rate was 80.56%. The majority of participants were females (n = 285, 83.8%), < 35 years (n = 252, 74.1%). Majority (n = 266, 66.5%) had a poor level of knowledge and attitudes on cancer pain management, 31.2% (n = 106) had a moderate level, and only 2.4% (n = 8) had a good level. The mean knowledge and attitude score was 19.2 (4.35). Nurses with a BSc degree or higher (p = .011) and nurses working in wards (p = .003) exhibited a significantly higher knowledge and attitudes score. Significant differences were also found across educational levels (p = .038), with BSc nurses outperforming Diploma holders. However, age, gender, total working experience, experience at NCI, and previous training on pain management did not show any significant associations. Multinomial logistic regression showed educational level and current working station as significant predictors.

CONCLUSION: Significant gaps in knowledge and attitudes towards cancer pain management existed among nurses at the NCI in Sri Lanka. These findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions to improve the knowledge and attitudes of nurses in managing cancer pain to enhance the quality of oncology care.

RevDate: 2025-07-05
CmpDate: 2025-07-02

Bullock E, Rozyczko A, Shabbir S, et al (2025)

Cancer-associated fibroblast driven paracrine IL-6/STAT3 signaling promotes migration and dissemination in invasive lobular carcinoma.

Breast cancer research : BCR, 27(1):121.

BACKGROUND: Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common histological subtype of breast cancer after invasive ductal carcinoma of no special type (NST), accounting for 10-15% of diagnoses. Despite the myriad molecular, histological and clinical differences between ILC and NST tumors, patients are treated in the same way, and although prognosis initially is good, ILC patients have poorer long-term outcomes. Understanding the differences between these two subtypes and identifying ILC-enriched therapeutic targets is necessary to improve patient care.

METHODS: Human and mouse cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), ILC cell lines and patient-derived organoids were used for in vitro and in vivo studies, including western blotting, migration, organotypic invasion assays and dissemination in zebrafish embryos. RNASeq was used to identify CAF and interleukin-6 (IL-6)-derived gene signatures. Bioinformatic analysis of public databases and immunohistochemical of human tumor microarrays was carried out.

RESULTS: We identified IL-6 as a paracrine CAF-derived factor that activates Signal-Transducer-and-Activator-of-Transcription-3 (STAT3) in human and mouse ILC models. Analysis of human breast tumors showed that the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 pathway is enriched in ER + ILC compared to ER + NST. A 42-gene CAF dependent IL-6 gene signature and 64-gene consensus IL-6 gene signature were generated and were significantly enriched in ER + ILC, with many of the genes overexpressed in ILC tumors. IL-6 treatment suppressed downstream estrogen signaling and also led to the acquisition of a more mesenchymal-like phenotype associated with increased migration and invasion. Finally, IL-6 treatment significantly increased ILC cell dissemination following injection into zebrafish embryos.

CONCLUSIONS: CAF-derived IL-6 drives paracrine activation of the IL6/JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway which is enriched in ILC. This leads to the acquisition of pro-tumorigenic phenotypes, highlighting the pathway as a potential therapeutic target in ILC.

RevDate: 2025-07-04
CmpDate: 2025-07-02

Yang Q, Xi L, Huang M, et al (2025)

Nomogram for the prediction of the prognosis of patients with triple-negative invasive ductal carcinoma of breast after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Scientific reports, 15(1):21666.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents a subtype of breast cancer with a poor prognosis because of limited treatment options at present. Therefore, this study aimed to use nomograms to forecast the prognosis of patients with triple-negative invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast (TN-IDC) undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT). 3573 TNBC patients from the SEER database who received NCT between 2010 and 2015 were selected and randomized in 7:3 into the training or the testing group. Then, nomograms for overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of the two groups were created via univariate and multivariate analyses. Consistency index (C-index), calibration curve, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), decision curve analysis (DCA) were employed to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of the model. As demonstrated by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, 8 indicators (AJCC_M, AJCC_N, AJCC_T, positive lymph nodes [LNs] and the number of positive LNs, liver metastases, response to NCT, and radical surgery) were incorporated in the nomogram. The results indicated that the C-index of the OS prediction model was 0.776 for the training group and 0.779 for the testing group. In the training group, the AUC for forecasting 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS was 0.840, 0.822, and 0.817, respectively; in the testing group, the AUC was 0.889, 0.821, and 0.813, respectively. The C-index of the CSS prediction model was 0.790 for the training group and 0.789 for the testing group. In the training group, the AUC for forecasting 1-, 3-, and 5-year CSS was 0.853, 0.829, and 0.827, respectively; in the testing group, the AUC was 0.887, 0.800, and 0.820, respectively. Both C-index and AUC of OS and CSS prediction models were above or close to 0.8, indicating good predictability of the model. DCA consistently indicated that using the nomogram for OS and CSS prediction yielded favorable net clinical benefit, and the nomogram outperformed the AJCC TNM staging system in decision-making. T2-4 (maximum tumor diameter > 2 cm or invasion of the chest wall/skin), N3, M1, liver metastasis, incomplete remission after chemotherapy, and breast-conserving surgery were prognostic risk factors in TN-IDC patients receiving NCT. Higher T stage (T3-4, maximum tumor diameter > 5 cm or invasion of the chest wall/skin), N stage (N3), liver metastasis, non-remission (NR) after NCT, and positive LNs after chemotherapy were linked to worse OS and CSS. After NCT, the number of positive LNs ≥ 4 and NR for lesion exhibited the greatest impact on OS and CSS.

RevDate: 2025-07-08
CmpDate: 2025-07-02

Mello RM, Gomez Ceballos D, Sandate CR, et al (2025)

BMAL1 and ARNT enable circadian HIF2α responses in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Nature communications, 16(1):5834.

Circadian disruption enhances cancer risk, and many tumors exhibit disordered circadian gene expression. We show rhythmic gene expression is unexpectedly robust in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). The core circadian transcription factor BMAL1 is closely related to ARNT, and we show that BMAL1-HIF2α regulates a subset of HIF2α target genes in ccRCC cells. Depletion of BMAL1 selectively reduces HIF2α chromatin association and target gene expression and reduces ccRCC growth in culture and in xenografts. Analysis of pre-existing data reveals higher BMAL1 in patient-derived xenografts that are sensitive to growth suppression by a HIF2α antagonist (PT2399). BMAL1-HIF2α is more sensitive than ARNT-HIF2α is to suppression by PT2399, and the effectiveness of PT2399 for suppressing xenograft tumor growth in vivo depends on the time of day at which it is delivered. Together, these findings indicate that an alternate HIF2α heterodimer containing the circadian partner BMAL1 influences HIF2α activity, growth, and sensitivity to HIF2α antagonist drugs in ccRCC cells.

RevDate: 2025-07-04

Saha D, S Dutta (2025)

Introducing electric spring in the voltage frequency regulation of a multi area multi source integrated power system network.

Scientific reports, 15(1):22373 pii:10.1038/s41598-025-05576-y.

The present work demonstrates the application of an electric spring in a multi-source interconnected power system in which coordinated control of frequency and voltage loop is investigated. A two-area power system is considered with non-linearity for the thermal power system, such as generation rate constraint and governor dead band, so that the developed model is realistic. A novel cascade controller, namely a two-degree-of-freedom proportional-integral-derivative controller cascaded with a proportional-integral-derivative controller (2DOFPID-PID), is utilized for the first time for reducing the area control error to zero in both the control areas. A powerful algorithm known as the Golden Jackal Algorithm (GJA) is considered for tuning the controller parameters and achieving the minimum performance index. System dynamic responses are observed for the coordinated automatic load frequency control and automatic voltage regulator during step load perturbations and random load perturbations. Selection of the best performance index (PI) among integral of squared error (ISE), integral of time multiplied by absolute error (ITAE), integral of time multiplied by squared error (ITSE), and Integral of absolute error (IAE) proves that ITAE serves the best among others. To model an AC/DC bus, system responses are also investigated with a parallel AC/DC link that depicts satisfactory results in terms of overshoot, undershoot, and settling time. Modelling of the electric spring in the proposed system is integrated to check the terminal voltage deviation and frequency deviation, and mitigate them. Results show reduced generator terminal deviation in both the control areas. Comparison of different powerful algorithms with the proposed one infers the superiority of the proposed golden jackal algorithm with reference to the performance index vs. number of iterations.

RevDate: 2025-07-04
CmpDate: 2025-07-02

Almohanna H, Almsned F, Alharbi H, et al (2025)

A comprehensive epidemiological analysis of breast cancer in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Scientific reports, 15(1):20816.

Breast cancer is a leading health concern in Saudi Arabia, characterized by unique demographic and clinical profiles. This study analyzed breast cancer cases at King Fahad Specialist Hospital-Dammam (KFSH-D), focusing on age at diagnosis, disease stage, histological type, and hormonal receptor status. A retrospective cohort study included 5,954 breast cancer patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2022 from the KFSH-D database. Data were extracted via a Real-World Evidence Digital Platform adhering to international standards. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, t-tests, incidence and mortality rate calculations, survival analysis, and predictive modeling for future incidence trends. The cohort had a mean age at diagnosis of 49 years (SD = 12.0), with most patients aged 40-59 years. Over 99% were female and predominantly Saudi nationals. Approximately two-thirds presented with locally advanced disease, with invasive ductal carcinoma being the most common type (81%). Al Ahsa region accounted for 31% of referral cases. Hormonal receptor status showed 59% HER2-negative, 61% ER-positive, and 56% PR-positive. Predictive modeling forecasted an 80% increase in new cases by 2028, with incidence rates expected to double. This study highlights a younger median age at diagnosis and a high prevalence of late-stage disease. These findings underscore the urgent need for improved screening programs, targeted public health interventions, and better healthcare access in Saudi Arabia.

RevDate: 2025-07-04

Muroyama Y, Miyashita M, Miura T, et al (2025)

Malignant phyllodes tumor of the breast with osteosarcoma component: a diagnostic dilemma - a case report.

Discover oncology, 16(1):1191.

Osteosarcoma component in the breast is rare and can present as a rapidly growing mass with calcification in imaging studies. Differential diagnosis includes metaplastic carcinoma, malignant phyllodes tumor with osteosarcoma component, and exceptionally rare osteosarcoma. Distinguishing these tumors is critical for determining therapeutic strategies, especially in differentiating metaplastic carcinoma, as only the former is indicated for adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Diagnosis can be challenging, however, particularly when the dominant stromal and/or sarcomatous components mask the epithelial component. Here, we present a rare case of breast tumor with osteosarcoma component determined as malignant phyllodes tumor after extensive pathological examination. A 55-year-old woman presented with a left breast mass rapidly growing over the past 3 months. FDG-PET/CT revealed a calcified tumor in the left breast, nearly exposed to the skin, as well as an incidentally found small right breast tumor. Bilateral total mastectomy with sentinel and left axillary lymph node dissection was performed. Microscopic examination of the left breast tumor revealed osteosarcoma components with the atypical cells producing osteoid/neoplastic bone, chondrosarcoma-like components, and massive overgrowth of atypical spindle cells. Extensive pathological examination revealed a small amount of compressed mammary glands without atypia. Collectively, the diagnosis of malignant phyllodes tumor with osteosarcoma component, was made. The patient was discharged without major postsurgical complications and initiated on anastrozole for the concurrently identified hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative right breast invasive ductal carcinoma. Breast tumor with osteosarcoma component warrants not only diligent pathological examination to determine the indication for chemoradiotherapy, but also multidisciplinary collaboration to develop effective therapeutic strategies.

RevDate: 2025-07-01

Shan M, Chen L, Wang J, et al (2025)

Dual-Channel Off-Axis Ion Funnel With a Deflection Electrode.

Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM, 39(20):e10103.

RATIONALE: In electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) systems, two critical challenges persist: (1) under-expanded supersonic jets at the atmospheric pressure interface (API) cause ion losses and reduced transmission efficiency; (2) residual solvents and charged droplets entering vacuum stages lead to contamination and elevated chemical noise, degrading analysis accuracy.

METHODS: A dual-channel off-axis ion funnel with a deflection electrode (DC-OFIDE) was developed to address these challenges. This device integrates three core components: an ion drift channel (IDC), an ion funnel channel (IFC), and a deflection electrode. The IDC and IFC are separated by conjoined gaps. Ions within the gas stream emanating from the API are extracted from the IDC via a deflection field, while a retarding axial field prolongs ions' residence time, ensuring efficient transfer to the IFC. This DC-OFIDE features an enlarged entrance aperture (Φ18 mm) to accommodate a multi-capillary interface, enhancing compatibility with high-conductance sample introduction systems.

RESULTS: Compared with the original conventional ion funnel (CIF), the DC-OFIDE achieved a threefold enhancement in caffeine ion intensity and a broader m/z transmission window. It demonstrated robust neutral and droplet suppression, maintaining 80% ion intensity even under tripled serum volume infused. In drug screening of hair samples, baseline noises in drug ion peaks were reduced by 36%-82%, with a quadrupled signal-to-noise ratio improvement observed for 6-monoacetylmorphine.

CONCLUSIONS: This DC-OFIDE significantly enhances ion transmission efficiency and chemical noise suppression in ESI-MS, establishing its potential for high-fidelity analysis of complex samples.

RevDate: 2025-07-02
CmpDate: 2025-06-30

Song W, Wang J, Gong S, et al (2025)

FAK signaling suppression by OCT4-ITGA6 mediates the effectively removal of residual pluripotent stem cells and enhances application safety.

Theranostics, 15(14):7127-7153.

Rationale: Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) serve as a critical source of seed cells for regenerative therapies due to their unlimited proliferative capacity and ability to differentiate into all three germ layers. Despite their potential, the risk of teratoma formation caused by residual PSCs within differentiated cell populations poses a significant barrier to clinical applications. This study aims to develop a novel strategy to selectively remove residual PSCs while preserving the safety and functionality of PSC-derived differentiated cells (iDCs). Methods: The calcium- and magnesium-free balanced salt solution (BSS(Ca-Mg-)) was employed to selectively target PSCs in a co-culture system comprising PSCs and four types of iDCs. The effect of BSS(Ca-Mg-) treatment on teratoma formation was evaluated in immunodeficient mice following cell transplantation. Comparative analysis and gene knockdown experiments were conducted to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the differential response of PSCs and iDCs to BSS(Ca-Mg-), focusing on FAK signaling and its interaction with OCT4 and ITGA6. Results: The BSS(Ca-Mg-) treatment effectively induced the detachment of PSCs in the co-culture system without disrupting iDC adhesion. In vivo experiments confirmed that cells treated with BSS(Ca-Mg-) did not form teratomas upon implantation into immunodeficient mice. Mechanistic studies revealed that PSCs exhibit lower activation of FAK signaling compared to iDCs, contributing to their selective detachment. Additionally, OCT4 and ITGA6 were found to maintain each other's protein expression, forming a feedback loop that suppressed FAK signaling, while FAK suppression further enhanced OCT4 expression. Conclusions: The study presents a safe, effective, and cost-efficient method for the selective removal of residual PSCs. This approach enhances existing safety measures for iDC applications, improving the clinical feasibility of iDC-based cell therapies.

RevDate: 2025-06-28

Liu G, Yang N, Qu Y, et al (2025)

Developing ultrasound-based machine learning models for accurate differentiation between sclerosing adenosis and invasive ductal carcinoma.

European radiology [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a machine learning model using breast ultrasound images to improve the non-invasive differential diagnosis between Sclerosing Adenosis (SA) and Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 2046 ultrasound images from 772 SA and IDC patients were collected, Regions of Interest (ROI) were delineated, and features were extracted. The dataset was split into training and test cohorts, and feature selection was performed by correlation coefficients and Recursive Feature Elimination. 10 classifiers with Grid Search and 5-fold cross-validation were applied during model training. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve and Youden index were used to model evaluation. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) was employed for model interpretation. Another 224 ROIs of 84 patients from other hospitals were used for external validation.

RESULTS: For the ROI-level model, XGBoost with 18 features achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9758 (0.9654-0.9847) in the test cohort and 0.9906 (0.9805-0.9973) in the validation cohort. For the patient-level model, logistic regression with 9 features achieved an AUC of 0.9653 (0.9402-0.9859) in the test cohort and 0.9846 (0.9615-0.9978) in the validation cohort. The feature "Original shape Major Axis Length" was identified as the most important, with its value positively correlated with a higher likelihood of the sample being IDC. Feature contributions for specific ROIs were visualized as well.

CONCLUSION: We developed explainable, ultrasound-based machine learning models with high performance for differentiating SA and IDC, offering a potential non-invasive tool for improved differential diagnosis.

KEY POINTS: Question Accurately distinguishing between sclerosing adenosis (SA) and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) in a non-invasive manner has been a diagnostic challenge. Findings Explainable, ultrasound-based machine learning models with high performance were developed for differentiating SA and IDC, and validated well in external validation cohort. Critical relevance These models provide non-invasive tools to reduce misdiagnoses of SA and improve early detection for IDC.

RevDate: 2025-07-05
CmpDate: 2025-06-27

Woo HY, Jung YY, HS Kim (2025)

Metastatic Invasive Lobular Breast Carcinoma Involving Tamoxifen-related Endometrial Polyp in a Patient With Metachronous Bilateral Breast Carcinomas: A Case Report.

In vivo (Athens, Greece), 39(4):2456-2463.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Metastasis of extragenital malignancies to the female genital tract, particularly the uterus, is exceedingly rare. Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the most common histological type of breast carcinoma that metastasizes to gynecologic organs.

CASE REPORT: A 42-year-old woman receiving tamoxifen presented with an irregularly thickened endometrium on transvaginal ultrasonography. She had previously undergone bilateral partial mastectomies - eight years prior for right-sided invasive ductal carcinoma, and three years prior for left-sided ILC. Hysteroscopic evaluation revealed an endometrial polyp. Microscopic examination of the polypectomy specimen showed variably sized, irregularly shaped branching glands embedded in densely fibrotic stroma. Within the stroma, monomorphic tumor cells with hyperchromatic, eccentrically located nuclei were arranged in single files, thin cords, or nests. Immunostaining revealed that the tumor cells were positive for GATA-binding protein 3 and negative for paired box 8, supporting a diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma from the breast. The final pathological diagnosis was metastatic ILC involving a tamoxifen-associated endometrial polyp.

CONCLUSION: Although rare, breast carcinoma may metastasize to endometrial polyps. Clinicians and pathologists should consider this possibility when evaluating abnormal ultrasonographic findings in the female genital tract, particularly in patients with a history of breast carcinoma receiving tamoxifen therapy. Abnormal ultrasonographic findings in the uterus of such patients warrant a comprehensive diagnostic workup to exclude metastatic disease.

RevDate: 2025-06-28

Lin YT, Hong ZJ, Liao GS, et al (2025)

Unexpected contralateral axillary lymph node metastasis without ipsilateral involvement in triple-negative breast cancer: A case report and review of literature.

World journal of clinical cases, 13(18):103571.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide, with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) being the most prevalent subtype. Lymph node metastasis is the primary prognostic indicator, typically evaluated via biopsy of the ipsilateral sentinel or axillary lymph nodes. Contralateral axillary metastasis (CAM) without ipsilateral involvement is exceedingly rare, particularly in early-stage breast cancer. This report presents a case of CAM in a patient with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), underscoring diagnostic and therapeutic complexities.

CASE SUMMARY: A 73-year-old female presented with left-sided early-stage IDC in February 2023. Despite a modified radical mastectomy and pathologically negative ipsilateral lymph nodes, a postoperative positron emission tomography (PET) scan detected fluorodeoxyglucose-avid nodes in the contralateral axilla. Biopsy confirmed metastatic ductal carcinoma with triple-negative status, resulting in an upstaged diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer, stage IV, M1. The patient underwent six cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy, with follow-up PET imaging showing regression of the contralateral lesion. This case highlights the importance of advanced imaging in TNBC for precise staging and treatment optimization.

CONCLUSION: This case highlights the aggressive nature of TNBC and the need for advanced imaging to ensure accurate staging and effective management.

RevDate: 2025-06-28

Wei L, Tian Z, Wang ZY, et al (2025)

Concurrent invasive ductal carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ arising inside and outside a breast hamartoma: A case report.

World journal of clinical cases, 13(18):101882.

BACKGROUND: Breast hamartomas are rare benign breast tumors, with an incidence rate of 0.8%-4.8%. Further, the coexistence of hamartomas and carcinoma is also uncommon. Our case report presents a unique instance where invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and ductal carcinoma in situ were found both inside and outside a breast hamartoma. This is the second case reported in the literature.

CASE SUMMARY: A 51-year-old woman presented with a 6.0 cm breast tumor on mammography and ultrasound, with suspicious areas indicative of malignant transformation. Biopsy of the suspicious area confirmed IDC with intraductal carcinoma. Breast magnetic resonance imaging showed typical hamartoma changes with irregular areas of abnormal enhancement both inside and outside. A breast-conserving surgery was performed, and postoperative pathology confirmed mammary hamartoma, concurrent with IDC and intraductal carcinoma occurring both inside and outside the hamartoma. Subsequently, appropriate adjuvant therapy was initiated. Currently, the patient is in good condition. Breast cancer may be located both inside and outside the ipsilateral mammary hamartoma, which is difficult to detect preoperatively, especially when there is a focus of intraductal carcinoma, requiring accurate assessment of the tumor extent by modern imaging techniques. Early detection of the coexistence of cancer is clinically important as it can alter patient management.

CONCLUSION: This case emphasizes the importance of modern imaging techniques in accurately evaluating mammary hamartomas associated with malignancies prior to surgery.

RevDate: 2025-06-30

Cobb AN, Czaja R, Jorns J, et al (2024)

Breast Cancer Subtypes: Clinicopathologic Features and Treatment Considerations.

Current breast cancer reports, 16(2):150-160.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of ten unique breast cancer subtypes and their clinicopathologic features and treatment implications.

RECENT FINDINGS: Recent findings show that while many subtypes (mucinous, papillary, tubular, apocrine) have favorable biology, with better overall survival than invasive ductal carcinoma, some (metaplastic, adenoid cystic) are more aggressive portending worse prognosis for patients.

SUMMARY: The differences in histology represented in these breast cancer subtypes often impacts biology, behavior, and prognosis. Due to their rarity, additional research is needed to implement clear treatment protocols for each subtype.

RevDate: 2025-06-30
CmpDate: 2025-06-26

Chang SP, Braun KL, Yanagihara R, et al (2025)

Science Speed Dating to Spur Inter-Institutional Collaborative Research.

International journal of environmental research and public health, 22(6):.

A principal strategic goal of the RCMI Coordinating Center (RCMI-CC) is to improve the health of minority populations and to reduce ethnic and geographic disparities in health by coordinating the development and facilitating the implementation of clinical research across the RCMI Consortium. To more effectively spur inter-institutional collaborative research, the RCMI-CC supports a Clinical Research Pilot Projects Program for hypothesis-driven clinical research projects proposed by postdoctoral fellows, early-career faculty and/or early-stage investigators from two or more RCMI U54 Centers. The purpose of this brief report is to summarize the Science Speed Dating sessions to facilitate cross-site collaboration at the RCMI Investigator Development Core (IDC) Workshop, held in conjunction with the 2024 RCMI Consortium National Conference. RCMI investigators and IDC Directors from 20 RCMI U54 Centers participated in two rounds of highly interactive small-group presentations of research ideas and resource needs in search of new collaborative and mentoring partnerships. Workshop participants expressed a high level of satisfaction with the speed-networking format and strongly agreed that the workshop was beneficial to their professional-development goals.

RevDate: 2025-06-28

Galily Y, G Tenenbaum (2025)

Emotional and Cognitive Perspectives in Physical Activity and Sport: An Introduction.

Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 15(6):.

In the rapidly evolving world of physical activity and sport science, researchers and practitioners alike are increasingly recognizing that the path to optimal performance and well-being is paved not just with physical conditioning and technical skill but also with emotional regulation and cognitive acuity (Lepers et al [...].

RevDate: 2025-06-28

Prajzendanc K (2025)

DCIS Progression and the Tumor Microenvironment: Molecular Insights and Prognostic Challenges.

Cancers, 17(12):.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the most common form of non-invasive breast cancer and a recognized precursor to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Although DCIS itself is confined to the milk duct and not immediately life-threatening, its potential for progression to invasive disease necessitates careful clinical management. The increased detection of DCIS due to advancements in imaging and widespread screening programs has raised critical questions regarding its classification, prognosis, and optimal treatment strategies. While most cases exhibit indolent behavior, others harbor molecular characteristics that drive malignant transformation. A key challenge lies in distinguishing low-risk DCIS, which may never progress, from aggressive cases requiring intervention. Tumor microenvironment dynamics, immune cell infiltration, and molecular alterations, including hormone receptor (HR) status, human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) expression, and genetic mutations, play crucial roles in determining disease trajectory. This review explores the biological and molecular mechanisms underlying DCIS progression, with an emphasis on myoepithelial cells, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and microenvironmental factors. By integrating recent findings, this article aims to refine risk stratification approaches and guide future strategies for personalized DCIS management. Improved prognostic biomarkers and targeted therapeutic interventions could help optimize treatment decisions, balancing the need for effective cancer prevention while minimizing overtreatment in low-risk patients.

RevDate: 2025-06-28

Bahmad HF, Wegner C, Nuraj J, et al (2025)

Perineural Invasion in Breast Cancer: A Comprehensive Review.

Cancers, 17(12):.

Perineural invasion (PNI) is a well-recognized histopathologic feature in multiple malignancies; however, its significance in breast cancer remains relatively underexplored. This review provides a synopsis of the current knowledge on PNI in breast cancer, discussing its histopathologic features, molecular mechanisms, diagnostic challenges, and clinical relevance. PNI is most frequently observed in high-grade invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), particularly in triple-negative and HER2-positive subtypes. It is also seen in special histological subtypes such as mixed, metaplastic, and invasive micropapillary carcinomas. Mechanistically, PNI involves tumor-neural interactions, including neurotrophic factor signaling and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, contributing to tumor progression and potential locoregional recurrence (LRR). While PNI is linked to adverse prognosis in other tumors, its independent role remains unclear in breast cancer due to limited large-scale studies. Therefore, further investigation into its prognostic significance and potential therapeutic implications is needed. Future research should focus on refining diagnostic criteria and assessing targeted therapies to mitigate PNI-associated progression. This review summarizes the current knowledge on perineural invasion (PNI) in breast cancer, addressing its histological features, molecular mechanisms, diagnostic challenges, and clinical implications.

RevDate: 2025-06-28
CmpDate: 2025-06-25

Deng M, March DS, Churchwood DR, et al (2025)

Exploring a role for Chemerin in the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal benefits of intradialytic exercise in the hemodialysis population.

PloS one, 20(6):e0321497.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for people receiving hemodialysis. Intradialytic cycling (IDC) has been shown to improve cardiovascular health in the hemodialysis population, but specific mechanisms require elucidation. Chemerin is an adipokine which contributes to the inflammatory process and may be associated with the cardiovascular benefits of IDC and physical function in hemodialysis population.

METHODS: Adults undertaking ≥3 months hemodialysis were randomized to either IDC (30 min each time, moderate intensity, thrice weekly) and usual care; or usual care only (control group). 88 blood samples were retrospectively analyzed for chemerin concentrations using ELISA. Unadjusted and adjusted linear regression was used to understand how changes in chemerin are associated with changes in cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health in response to IDC.

RESULTS: There was a significant increase of plasma chemerin concentration after 6 months in both groups. A positive association was detected between chemerin and short physical performance battery at baseline (β = 0.264, p = 0.017). There was no correlation of chemerin with cardiovascular, body composition, and other physical function markers.

CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to show plasma level of chemerin increases with time on hemodialysis. No evidence was found to support a role for chemerin in modifying cardiac structure and function in people undertaking IDC. Further studies should investigate the associations between chemerin and physical performance.

RevDate: 2025-06-26

Bourassa-Blanchette S, Biesheuvel MM, Lam JC, et al (2024)

Candidemia Treatment is Improved by Infectious Disease Consultation: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Journal of the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada = Journal officiel de l'Association pour la microbiologie medicale et l'infectiologie Canada, 9(3):129-139.

INTRODUCTION: Candidemia is a common bloodstream infection with morbidity and mortality. Both the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and Infectious Diseases Society of America have evidence-based recommendations for its management. While infectious diseases consultation (IDC) reduced mortality, effects on guideline concordance remain unclear.

METHODS: We conducted a multicentre retrospective cohort study (2010-2018) in Canada to characterize the role of IDC in attaining evidence-based recommendations for adults with candidemia. Such recommendations include follow-up blood cultures to document blood clearance, prompt antifungal initiation and selection, source control, treatment duration determination, and ancillary investigations. We measured associations between IDC and adherence to evidence-based recommendations.

RESULTS: Patients with candidemia who received IDC were more likely not to be left without antifungal therapy (26% versus 4.8%). Echocardiograms were more common in noncritically ill patients with IDC (64% versus 44%; P < 0.01) and in all critically ill patients, irrespective of IDC status (75% versus 63%; P = 0.08). In patients with uncomplicated candidemia, treatment duration ≥14 days was similar with or without IDC (78% versus 70%; P = 0.15). Patients with complicated candidemia and IDC were more likely treated for ≥42 days (an appropriate duration; 100% versus 47%; P = 0.06). Fluconazole (transition therapy) was not affected by IDC for critically ill (41% and 29%; P = 0.34) or noncritically ill patients (34% versus 24%; P = 0.51). Mortality rates at 30 and 60 days after candidemia diagnosis were lower in patients receiving IDC (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Best practice guidelines were issued for patients with candidemia; adherence varied, but involvement of an infectious disease physician increased implementation and was associated with considerably decreased mortality.

RevDate: 2025-06-24
CmpDate: 2025-06-24

Wang Y, Chen Y, Zhang B, et al (2025)

Bilateral Primary Breast Cancer: A Case of Synchronous Diagnosis and Management of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ and Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.

British journal of hospital medicine (London, England : 2005), 86(6):1-9.

Aims/Background Bilateral breast cancer (BBC) is an uncommon subtype of breast cancer which occurs either synchronously or metachronously. Synchronous BBC with distinct histological types in the left and right breasts is particularly rare. Case Presentation This report presents a case of a 57-year-old female patient diagnosed with bilateral primary breast cancer, characterized by ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in one breast and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) in the other. The patient initially sought medical attention due to a palpable mass and pain in her left breast, leading to a diagnosis confirmed through imaging studies and biopsy. The patient was treated with three cycles of neoadjuvant therapy, followed by a modified radical mastectomy on the left breast and a lumpectomy on the right breast. Postoperatively, the patient received endocrine therapy and radiotherapy, with no evidence of recurrence observed to date. Conclusion Further research and clinical advancements are necessary to optimize treatment and care strategies for patients with bilateral breast cancer, ensuring that their unique therapeutic needs are effectively addressed.

RevDate: 2025-07-07

Iczkowski KA, De Marzo AM, Agarwal N, et al (2025)

International Society of Urological Pathology Consensus on Cancer Precursor Lesions. Working Group 1: The Prostate.

The American journal of surgical pathology pii:00000478-990000000-00545 [Epub ahead of print].

Working Group 1 at ISUP's Cancer Precursors meeting (September 2024) evaluated 5 putative precursors of invasive prostate cancer: high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN), intraductal carcinoma (IDC), atypical intraductal proliferation (AIP), atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH)/adenosis, and proliferative inflammatory atrophy (PIA). Objectives were to compile recent evidence, interrogate current practices, and vote on recommendations, with 67% approval defined as consensus. Consensus was reached against the reporting of the low-grade form of PIN. HGPIN need not be reported when concomitant cancer or atypical small acinar proliferation suspicious for cancer exists adjacent to it, for biopsy or prostatectomy specimens. Finally, while the clinical significance of unifocal HGPIN in biopsies remains uncertain, there is stronger evidence for multifocal isolated HGPIN as a predictor of subsequent cancer detection. By consensus, multifocal HGPIN should continue being reported. Slight refinement was achieved regarding IDC criteria. The consensus opinion was that a dense cribriform to solid proliferation need not demonstrate marked nuclear atypia/ pleomorphism to qualify as IDC. The inverse scenario of marked atypia without dense cribriform/solid proliferation fell just short (65%) of consensus for IDC. Redesignating cribriform HGPIN as AIP achieved consensus. AIP found alone or with grade group 1 cancer warrants an explanatory comment. However, agreement was not attained to report AIP in the presence of invasive cancer, in either needle biopsy or prostatectomy. Finally, the optional reporting of PIA or AAH/adenosis in biopsies as pertinent negatives both fell short of consensus. This guidance should help pathologists standardize reporting, staying focused on the clinically actionable aspects of these lesions.

RevDate: 2025-06-23

Ao Y, Li X, Mu L, et al (2025)

Time-Dependent Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Changes in Breast MR Images With Contrast for Tumor Characterization.

Clinical breast cancer pii:S1526-8209(25)00150-8 [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: To assess the effect of scan time after contrast injection on breast MRI DWI sequence ADC values and its role in lesion differentiation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 2022 and 2023, two hundred and fifty-one breast magnetic resonance (MR) images were collected from 251 patients, who had a total of 258 lesions. Pathology results obtained within 1 month of the MR imaging were utilized. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were measured at 3 time-points: precontrast, 3 minutes postcontrast, and 6 minutes postcontrast. For the analysis, statistical methods including the Friedman test, linear mixed models, Bonferroni correction, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and DeLong test were applied.

RESULTS: Contrast agents cause ADC values to decrease within 3 minutes after injection and recover within 6 minutes (e.g., invasive ductal carcinoma). ADC can distinguish between benign tumors and cancers but not between carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma. Time-dependent changes do not affect the differentiation of benign from malignant lesions.

CONCLUSION: Contrast injection time has little effect on the effectiveness of ADC in differentiating benign from malignant lesions on DWI sequences. The findings support the feasibility of postcontrast DWI without compromising diagnostic accuracy.

RevDate: 2025-07-18
CmpDate: 2025-07-17

Bunte K, Ituarte B, Warikoo G, et al (2025)

Regional disparities in incidence and outcomes of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast among Asian and Pacific Islander women in the United States.

Cancer epidemiology, 97:102861.

BACKGROUND: Asian women have experienced a disproportionate increase in breast cancer incidence over the past four decades when compared to patients of other races. We aim to determine the variation of incidence and survival rates for Asian women based on their residential status by region of the United States.

METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) 17-State database was used to identify cases of ductal carcinoma and its subtypes (ICD-O-3/3 codes: 8500, 8521, 8503, 8507, 8514, 8522, 8523; C50.0-50.9) among Asian and Pacific Islander (API) women during 2000-2020. Chi square tests were used for comparison of clinical and socioeconomic variables and Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Kruskal Wallis tests were used to assess differences between mean time to treatment and diagnosis. Incidence was analyzed via Joinpoint Regression Software with Kaplan-Meier survival curves for evaluation of survival by region, measured in months. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression identified independent predictors of survival. All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS Version 29.0.2, with significance at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: The West represented the largest incidence over the 20-year study period with 89.6 per 100,000 (95 % CI: 88.9-90.2). There were notable differences in both 5-year and 10-year survival rates with the south having the largest decline, dropping from 84 % at 5 years and 54 % at 10 years. This is despite the south being found to have the shortest time to treatment, 0.97 months (95 % CI: 0.95-0.99; p = 0.009). Multivariate Cox regression showed API women in the South had a 24 % increased risk of mortality compared to those in the West (aHR 1.244, 95 % CI: 1.176-1.315; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate significant disparities in incidence, treatment patterns, and survival outcomes amongst API women by residential status.

RevDate: 2025-06-24
CmpDate: 2025-06-24

Zhang X, Yin Y, Ye Z, et al (2025)

An Approach for Differential Diagnosis of Breast Tumors by ctDNA Methylation Sequencing.

Cancer medicine, 14(12):e71004.

BACKGROUND: Breast ultrasonography and mammography remain predominant in breast tumor evaluations, yet they often result in false positives, particularly for tumors classified as BI-RADS 4a or those no more than 10 mm, which are not ideal for core needle biopsy (CNB). Early-stage breast cancer detection via circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) methylation holds potential to bridge these diagnostic gaps.

METHODS: We curated a breast cancer-specific panel by harnessing methylation profiles from in-house and public databases. Leveraging breast tissue-plasma-leukocyte samples, we identified breast cancer-specific markers, culminating in a 103-marker methylation model which underwent rigorous validation in two independent cohorts. To assess its performance, we compared it against the accuracy of ultrasonography, mammography, and CNB.

RESULTS: The 103-marker model exhibited remarkable proficiency in discerning benign from malignant breast tumors in plasma, with AUCs of 0.838, 0.838 and 0.823 in the validation set and two independent test sets, respectively. In BI-RADS 4a breast cancer, when compared to ultrasonography or mammography, the model augmented breast cancer diagnostic accuracy by 40.58% and 25.49%, separately. Retrospective analyses suggested that our model achieved a sensitivity of 66.67% (4/6) and a specificity of 80.36% (45/56) for surgical patients in the BI-RADS 4a category with tumors ≤ 10 mm, who did not undergo CNB, potentially sparing 45 benign patients from overtreatment. Notably, significant differences emerged in cancer scores between DCIS and invasive ductal carcinoma (p < 0.05). Higher cancer scores correlated with a more unfavorable prognosis (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The 103-marker methylation model demonstrates impressive performance in distinguishing between malignant and benign tumors, facilitating precise early diagnosis of BC, and holds promise as a prognostic tool.

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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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Collection of publications by R J Robbins

Reprints and preprints of publications, slide presentations, instructional materials, and data compilations written or prepared by Robert Robbins. Most papers deal with computational biology, genome informatics, using information technology to support biomedical research, and related matters.

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Curriculum Vitae for R J Robbins

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Curriculum Vitae for R J Robbins

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