Ghrelin is a prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target in breast cancer

Ghrelin and obestatin are gastrointestinal peptides, encoded by the same preproghrelin gene. Both are expressed in breast cancer tissue and ghrelin has been implicated in breast cancer tumorigenesis. Despite recent advances in breast cancer management the need for new prognostic markers and potential therapeutic targets in breast cancer remains high. We studied the prognostic impact of ghrelin and obestatin in women with node negative breast cancer. Within a cohort of women with breast cancer with tumor size <= 50 mm, no lymph node metastases and no initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy, 190 women were identified who died from breast cancer and randomly selected 190 women alive at the corresponding time as controls. Tumor tissues were immunostained with antibodies versus the peptides. Ghrelin expression was associated with better breast cancer specific survival in univariate analyses (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.36-0.84) and in multivariate models, adjusted for endocrine treatment and age (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.36-0.89). Obestatin expression was non-informative (OR 1.2, 95% CI 0.60-2.46). Ghrelin expression is independent prognostic factor for breast cancer death in node negative patients-halving the risk for dying of breast cancer. Our data implies that ghrelin could be a potential therapeutic target in breast cancer treatment

Patients’ characteristics.

<p>Patients’ characteristics.</p

Ghrelin expression in node negative breast cancer tissue was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.

<p>Representative images of ghrelin with 0 (non-immunoreactive), 1 (weak), 2 (moderate) and 3 (strong) immunostaining. Scale bar = 100 μm.</p

Results from the immunohistochemical stainings.

<p>Results from the immunohistochemical stainings.</p

Univariate and multivariate analysis of prognostic parameters of breast cancer death.

<p>Univariate and multivariate analysis of prognostic parameters of breast cancer death.</p

Ghrelin and obestatin expression in node-negative breast cancer in relation to clinicopathologic variables.

<p>Ghrelin and obestatin expression in node-negative breast cancer in relation to clinicopathologic variables.</p

Quality of Life in the First Year of Follow-Up in a Randomized Multicenter Trial Assessing the Role of Imaging after Radical Surgery of Stage IIB-C and III Cutaneous Melanoma (TRIM Study)

Simple Summary After surgery of high-risk melanoma, patients are usually followed up by physical examinations. Recommendations regarding imaging vary due to insufficient evidence of the benefit of regular scans. It might also be stressful for patients to undergo imaging. In an ongoing Swedish study, half of the patients are randomized to whole-body imaging in addition to physical examinations. Three imaging procedures are performed during the first year. The main aim of our study was to investigate if imaging during the first year of follow-up affected the patients well-being. Validated self-reporting questionnaires regarding symptoms of anxiety and depression and quality of life were answered at study start and at 1 year. Questionnaires from 204 recurrence-free patients were analyzed. No differences in either level of anxiety/depression or quality of life were found at 1 year follow-up between the imaging and non-imaging group. These findings can be considered in the formulation of future follow-up programs. The benefit of imaging in the follow-up setting for high-risk melanoma patients is uncertain, and even less is known about the impact of intensive follow-up on the patient s quality of life. In 2017, a Swedish prospective randomized multicenter study started, in which high-risk melanoma patients are randomly assigned 1:1 to follow-up by physical examinations +/- whole-body imaging. The first-year examinations are scheduled at 0, 6 and 12 months. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the patients health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and levels of anxiety and depression were affected at 1 year by imaging. Anxiety/depression and HRQoL were assessed at 0 and 12 months by the questionnaires Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale and EORTC QLQ-C30 version 3. Expected baseline QLQ-C30 values for the patients were calculated using data from the general population. In total, 204 patients were analyzed. Mean differences in subscale scores at 1 year were not statistically significant either for HRQoL or for anxiety/depression. Baseline HRQoL did not differ from expected values in the general Swedish population. In conclusion, the patients in general coped well with the situation, and adding whole-body imaging to physical examinations did not affect the melanoma patients HRQoL or levels of anxiety or depression

TRIM study protocol : a prospective randomized multicenter Trial to assess the Role of Imaging during follow-up after radical surgery of stage IIB-C and III cutaneous malignant Melanoma

Background: The incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) is increasing worldwide. In Sweden, over 4600 cases were diagnosed in 2018. The prognosis after radical surgery varies considerably with tumor stage. In recent years, new treatment options have become available for metastatic CMM. Early onset of treatment seems to improve outcome, which suggests that early detection of recurrent disease should be beneficial. Consequently, in several countries imaging is a part of the routine follow-up program after surgery of high risk CMM. However, imaging has drawbacks, including resources required (costs, personnel, equipment) and the radiation exposure. Furthermore, many patients experience anxiety in waiting for the imaging results and investigations of irrelevant findings is another factor that also could cause worry and lead to decreased quality of life. Hence, the impact of imaging in this setting is important to address and no randomized study has previously been conducted. The Swedish national guidelines stipulate follow-up for 3years by clinical examinations only. Methods: The TRIM study is a prospective randomized multicenter trial evaluating the potential benefit of imaging and blood tests during follow-up after radical surgery for high-risk CMM, compared to clinical examinations only. Primary endpoint is overall survival (OS) at 5years. Secondary endpoints are survival from diagnosis of relapse and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Eligible for inclusion are patients radically operated for CMM stage IIB-C or III with sufficient renal function for iv contrast-enhanced CT and who are expected to be fit for treatment in case of recurrence. The planned number of patients is &gt;1300. Patients are randomized to clinical examinations for 3years +/- whole-body imaging with CT or FDG-PET/CT and laboratory tests including S100B protein and LDH. This academic study is supported by the Swedish Melanoma Study Group. Discussion: This is the first randomized prospective trial on the potential benefit of imaging as a part of the follow-up scheme after radical surgery for high-risk CMM. Results: The first patient was recruited in June 2017 and as of April 2020, almost 500 patients had been included at 19 centers in Sweden. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT 03116412. Registered 17 April 2017, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT0311641