Predictors of invasive breast cancer and lymph node involvement in ductal carcinoma in situ initially diagnosed by vacuum-assisted breast biopsy: Experience of 733 cases

Abstract Objective To predict presence of invasive component and nodal involvement in women diagnosed preoperatively with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) by vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB). Materials and methods We retrospectively analyzed 733 patients with preoperatively diagnosed DCIS, investigating the association of clinical–radiological variables with invasive component and nodal involvement. Results Mammographic size >20 mm and residual lesion on post-VABB mammogram were related to invasive component (both p p = 0.001, p = 0.03). Age p = 0.003). By multivariate analysis residual disease was associated with invasive component, and mammographic tumor size >20 mm with nodal involvement, both highly significant. Conclusions Older age, lesio

Sunny holidays before and after melanoma diagnosis are respectively associated with lower breslow thickness and lower relapse rates in Italy

Background: Previous studies have reported an association between sun exposure and improved cutaneous melanoma (CM) survival. We analysed the association of UV exposure with prognostic factors and outcome in a large melanoma cohort. Methods: A questionnaire was given to 289 (42%) CM patients at diagnosis (Group 1) and to 402 CM patients (58%) during follow-up (Group 2). Analyses were carried out to investigate the associations between sun exposure and melanoma prognostic factors and survival. Results: Holidays in the sun two years before CM diagnosis were significantly associated with lower Breslow thickness (p=0.003), after multiple adjustment. Number of weeks of sunny holidays was also significantly and inversely associated with thickness in a dose-dependent manner (p=0.007). However when stratifying by gender this association was found only among women (p=0.0004) the risk of CM recurrence in both sexes was significantly lower in patients (n=271) who had holidays in the sun after diagnosis, after multiple adjustment including education: HR=0.30 (95%CI:0.10-0.87; p=0.03) conclusions: Holidays in the sun were associated with thinner melanomas in women and reduced rates of relapse in both sexes. However, these results do not prove a direct causal effect of sun exposure on survival since other confounding factors, such as vitamin D serum levels and socio-economic status, may play a role. Other factors in sun seeking individuals may also possibly affect these results

The risk of developing a second primary cancer in melanoma patients : a comprehensive review of the literature and meta-analysis

The number of cutaneous melanoma survivors has been increasing for years due to improvements in early diagnosis and subsequent prolonged survival. These patients are at increased risk of developing a second melanoma and a second primary malignancy (SPM) at other sites as well. We performed a review of scientific literature and meta-analysis to evaluate the risk of developing a SPM (other than melanoma) among melanoma patients. Twenty-three independent papers and over 350,000 melanoma patients were included. Risk of cancer among melanoma survivors was increased overall (1.57, 95% CI 1.29-1.90) and at several sites: bone (2.09, 95% CI 1.08-4.05), non-melanoma skin cancer (4.01, 95% CI 1.81-8.87), soft tissue (6.80, 95% CI 1.29-35.98), colon-rectum (1.12, 95% CI 1.00-1.25), female breast (1.14, 95% CI 1.07-1.22), kidney (1.34, 95% CI 1.23-1.45), prostate (1.25, 95% CI 1.13-1.37) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (1.37, 95% CI 1.22-1.54). The overall risk of SPM showed a tendency to decrease as the time from melanoma diagnosis lengthened. Most of our findings may be explained by the tendency of some exposures, which are risk factors for different tumors, to occur simultaneously in the same individuals. These results suggest primary and secondary cancer prevention counselling for melanoma survivors

Coagulation induced by C3aR-dependent NETosis drives protumorigenic neutrophils during small intestinal tumorigenesis

Excessive activation of blood coagulation and neutrophil accumulation have been described in several human cancers. However, whether hypercoagulation and neutrophilia are linked and involved in cancer development is currently unknown. Here we show that spontaneous intestinal tumorigenesis correlates with the accumulation of low-density neutrophils with a pro-tumorigenic N2 phenotype and unprompted neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) formation. We find that increased circulating lipopolysaccharide induces upregulation of complement C3a receptor on neutrophils and activation of the complement cascade. This leads to NETosis, induction of coagulation and N2 polarization, which prompts tumorigenesis, showing a novel link between coagulation, neutrophilia and complement activation. Finally, in a cohort of patients with small but not large intestinal cancer, we find a correlation between neutrophilia and hypercoagulation. This study provides a mechanistic explanation for the tumour-promoting effects of hypercoagulation, which could be used as a new biomarker or as a therapeutic target

Recurrence and prognostic factors in patients with aggressive fibromatosis. The role of radical surgery and its limitations

Abstract Background Surgery is still the standard treatment for aggressive fibromatosis (AF); however, local control remains a significant problem and the impact of R0 surgery on cumulative recurrence (CR) is objective of contradictory reports. Methods This is a single-institution study of 62 consecutive patients affected by extra-abdominal and intra-abdominal AF who received macroscopically radical surgery within a time period of 15 years. Results Definitive pathology examination confirmed an R0 situation in 49 patients and an R1 in 13 patients. Five-year CR for patients who underwent R0 vs R1 surgery was 7.1% vs 46.4% (P = 0.04) and for limbs vs other localizations 33.3% vs 9.9% (P = 0.02) respectively. In 17 patients who had intraoperative frozen section (IFS) margin evaluation R0 surgery was more common (17 of 17 vs 32 of 45, P = 0.01) and CR lower (five-year CR 0% vs 19.1%, respectively, P = 0.04). However, in multivariate analysis only limb localization showed a negative impact on CR (HR: 1.708, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.84, P = 0.04). Conclusions IFS evaluation could help the surgeon to achieve R0 surgery in AF. Non-surgical treatment, including watchful follow-up, could be indicated for patients with limb AF localization, because of their high risk of recurrence even after R0 surgery.</p

Predictors of invasive breast cancer and lymph node involvement in ductal carcinoma in situ initially diagnosed by vacuum-assisted breast biopsy: Experience of 733 cases

Abstract Objective To predict presence of invasive component and nodal involvement in women diagnosed preoperatively with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) by vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB). Materials and methods We retrospectively analyzed 733 patients with preoperatively diagnosed DCIS, investigating the association of clinical–radiological variables with invasive component and nodal involvement. Results Mammographic size >20 mm and residual lesion on post-VABB mammogram were related to invasive component (both p p = 0.001, p = 0.03). Age p = 0.003). By multivariate analysis residual disease was associated with invasive component, and mammographic tumor size >20 mm with nodal involvement, both highly significant. Conclusions Older age, lesio

Study design.

<p>Study design.</p

Group 1, at diagnosis.

<p>A) Breslow thickness by UV exposure indicators. B) Breslow thickness by duration of sunny holidays. C) Breslow thickness by gender and sunny holidays.</p