Validation of breast cancer nomograms for predicting the non-sentinel lymph node metastases after a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy in a multi-center study

Objective: In the study, our aim was to evaluate the predictability of four different nomograms on non-sentinel lymph node metastases (NSLNM) in breast cancer (BC) patients with positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in a multi-center study

Primary surgery in patients with de novo stage IV BC; finalizing the protocol MF07-01 randomized clinical trial

Background. The MF07-01 trial is a multicenter randomized study comparing locoregional treatment (LRT) followed by systemic therapy (ST) with ST alone in de novo Stage IV breast cancer (BC) patients. Aim: To evaluate and finalize the survival data of LRT in patients with the diagnosis of de novo Stage IV BC. Methods. At initial diagnosis, patients were randomized 1:1 to either the LRT or ST group. All the patients were given ST either immediately after randomization or after surgical resection of the intact primary tumor. Continuous and categorical variable differences between LRT and ST groups were analyzed using t-test and Chi-square test, respectively. Overall survival (OS) and 5-year survival rates were compared using Kaplan-Meier log-rank tests. Univariate and multivariate Cox models were used to estimate hazard ratios, and logistic regession model used to estimate odds ratio. Results. During more than 10 years follow-up, 23% of patients in LRT group and 8% of patients in ST group were alive. Median survival was 46 months for LRT (n=134) and 35 months for ST (n=131) [HR:0.71, 95%CI;0.59-0.86, p=0.0004]. Solitary bone metastasis patients’ median survival was 14 months longer in LRT group comparing ST group [HR:0.55, 95%CI; 0.35-0.86, p=0.008]; 16% of solitary bone metastasis patients in the LRT group were alive, but all patients died in the ST group. Patients younger than 55 lived longer compared the patients older than 55 [HR:0.67, 95%CI; 0.52-0.87, p=0.002], and 26% of hormone receptor positive patients were still alive in the LRT group comparing 10% in the ST group [HR:0.71, 95%CI; 0.58-0.88, p=0.002]. Regarding the patients who lived at least 5 years since randomization, LRT (p=0.003), hormone receptor positivity (p=0.004), Triple negative status (p=0.02), hormonotherapy (p=0.0001), bisphosphonates usage (p=0.03), and 2 or more organ metastases (p=0.004) were associated with OS in univariant analyses. However, in the multivariate model with significant baseline and clinical characteristics only LRT [OR= 1.58, p=0.03] was found to be significantly related with over 5 years of survival. Conclusion. In the current analysis, patients at the diagnosis of de novo stage IV BC who underwent LRT followed by ST had a 58% higher chance to live at least 5 years compared to the patients who received only ST. Longer follow-up of the study discloses that LRT should be presented to patients when discussing treatment options

Parenting stress reduces the effectiveness of early teaching interventions for autistic spectrum disorders

This community-based study examined the influence of early teaching interventions on children diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, and the dynamics between the time intensity of the interventions and parenting stress, on child outcomes. Intellectual, educational, and adaptive behavior and social functioning were all measured. Sixty-five children were divided into four groups, based on the levels of time intensity of their intervention, and on their parents’ stress levels. There were gains in intellectual, educational, and adaptive behavioral and social skills, and there was a positive relationship between the time intensity of the early teaching interventions and child outcome gains. More importantly, however, high levels of parenting stress counteracted the effectiveness of the early teaching interventions

Randomized Trial Comparing Resection of Primary Tumor with No Surgery in Stage IV Breast Cancer at Presentation: Protocol MF07-01

The MF07-01 trial is a multicenter, phase III, randomized, controlled study comparing locoregional treatment (LRT) followed by systemic therapy (ST) with ST alone for treatment-na < ve stage IV breast cancer (BC) patients. At initial diagnosis, patients were randomized 1:1 to either the LRT or ST group. All the patients were given ST either immediately after randomization or after surgical resection of the intact primary tumor. The trial enrolled 274 patients: 138 in the LRT group and 136 in the ST group. Hazard of death was 34% lower in the LRT group than in the ST group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49-0.88; p = 0.005). Unplanned subgroup analyses showed that the risk of death was statistically lower in the LRT group than in the ST group with respect to estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PR)(+) (HR 0.64; 95% CI 0.46-0.91; p = 0.01), human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2)/neu(-) (HR 0.64; 95% CI 0.45-0.91; p = 0.01), patients younger than 55 years (HR 0.57; 95% CI 0.38-0.86; p = 0.007), and patients with solitary bone-only metastases (HR 0.47; 95% CI 0.23-0.98; p = 0.04). In the current trial, improvement in 36-month survival was not observed with upfront surgery for stage IV breast cancer patients. However, a longer follow-up study (median, 40 months) showed statistically significant improvement in median survival. When locoregional treatment in de novo stage IV BC is discussed with the patient as an option, practitioners must consider age, performance status, comorbidities, tumor type, and metastatic disease burden