Lymphopenia combined with low TCR diversity (divpenia) predicts poor overall survival in metastatic breast cancer patients

Lymphopenia (< 1Giga/L) detected before initiation of chemotherapy is a predictive factor for death in metastatic solid tumors. Combinatorial T cell repertoire (TCR) diversity was investigated and tested either alone or in combination with lymphopenia as a prognostic factor at diagnosis for overall survival (OS) in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients. The combinatorial TCR diversity was measured by semi quantitative multi-N-plex PCR on blood samples before the initiation of the first line chemotherapy in a development (n = 66) and validation (n = 67) MBC patient cohorts. A prognostic score, combining lymphocyte count and TCR diversity was evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses of prognostic factors for OS were performed in both cohorts. Lymphopenia and severe restriction of TCR diversity called “divpenia” (diversity ≤ 33%) were independently associated with shorter OS. Lympho-divpenia combining lymphopenia and severe divpenia accurately identified patients with poor OS in both cohorts (7.6 and 10.6 vs 24.5 and 22.9 mo). In multivariate analysis including other prognostic clinical factors, lympho-divpenia was found to be an independent prognostic factor in the pooled cohort (p = 0.005) along with lack of HER2 and hormonal receptors expression (p = 0.011) and anemia (p = 0.009). Lympho-divpenia is a novel prognostic factor that will be used to improve quality of MBC patients’ medical care

Alterations in Homologous Recombination-Related Genes and Distinct Platinum Response in Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancers: A Subgroup Analysis of the ProfiLER-01 Trial

International audienc

Evolution de la prise en charge thérapeutique du cancer colo-rectal métastatique (de la belladone à la pharmacogénomique : exemple de l'essai COLOGEN)

LYON1-BU Santé (693882101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Evolution vers une médecine personnalisée de la prise en charge thérapeutique du cancer du sein

Le cancer du sein est classiquement réparti selon des critères anatomo-pathologiques en trois sous-types majeurs: hormona-dépendant, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2 positif et triple négatif. Le développement récent des technologies à haut débit a permis de mieux appréhender l'hétérogénéité du cancer du sein en révélant l'existence d'une multitude d'entités moléculaires au sein de ces trois sous-types. Malgré l'enthousiasme généré autour des thérapies ciblées, l'efficacité clinique de ces molécules demeure encore limitée. Une des approches actuelles pour surmonter ce problème est de mieux sélectionner les patientes pouvant bénéficier d'une thérapie ciblée donnée en se basant sur les données moléculaires de chaque patiente. Cette personnalisation de la prise en charge des patientes va très prochainement modifier en profondeur la façon de développer et d'évaluer les nouvelles molécules. L'émergence de la médecine personnalisée constitue donc un véritable défi nécessitant une coordination multi-disciplinaire englobant des compétences scientifiques, pharmaceutiques et médicales multiples pour sa mise en place en pratique cliniqueLYON1-BU Santé (693882101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Small cell cancer of the bladder: The Leon-Berard cancer centre experience

Background: Small cell bladder carcinoma is an uncommon tumor. In this retrospective study we report our experience dealing with this disease at the Leon-Berard Cancer Centre. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed various characteristics of small cell bladder carcinoma: patient demographics, histological diagnosis, disease stage, treatment effects and outcome, in 14 non-metastatic small cell bladder carcinoma patients treated at our institution between 1995 and 2006. Results: The mean age at diagnosis was 60 years (range, 45-77). All patients were male. Seventy-five per cent were smokers. All had locally advanced disease. Ten patients (71.4%) were treated by cystoprostatectomy and bilateral pelvic lymph node resection, one by cystoprostatectomy alone. Two patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and four received adjuvant chemotherapy. One patient was treated by radiotherapy with concomitant cisplatin after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). One patient refused surgery and was treated by chemotherapy alone. One patient was lost to follow-up after TURBT. After 49-month median follow-up, 12 patients had relapsed. Disease-free survival was 5.7 months. The most frequent sites of relapse were the retroperitoneal lymph node (seven patients) and the liver (three patients). Nine patients died of metastasis. Median overall survival was 29.5 months. Survival probability at two years was 58%. Median overall survival was 34 months in the mixed small carcinoma group, as compared with 9.5 months in the pure small cell carcinoma group (P=0.01). Mean overall survival was 27.2 months for all patients and 38.6 months for patients treated with cystectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusion: To date, the optimal treatment for locally advanced small cell bladder carcinoma is not clear. Cystectomy with neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy appears as a viable option

Transmission of breast cancer polygenic risk based on single nucleotide polymorphisms

International audience"The goal of the present study was to further refine how polygenic risk scores may be used in a large population and to quantify the transmission of risk score through generations.

A qualitative study of teleconsultation practices among French oncologists in a post-COVID-19 period

Background The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted healthcare professionals to adapt and implement new tools to ensure continuity of patient care. Teleconsultation became the only option for some practitioners who had never used it previously and boosted its use for others who already used it. Several studies have reviewed the use of teleconsultation in oncology during the epidemic, but few have addressed its continued use and how practitioners view it in a post-epidemic period. The aim of this survey was to conduct a qualitative exploration of how oncologists use teleconsultation in their daily practice in a post-COVID 19 period. Materials and Methods For this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with oncologists in France who utilized teleconsultation in the field of oncology during the COVID-19 period. The interview guide included questions on the interests and limitations of using teleconsultation in oncology, on reluctance to use it among oncologists, and invited participants to formulate proposals for more optimal use. Results Fourteen oncologists participated in the survey. Currently, 12% of the consultations of the surveyed practitioners are conducted via teleconsultation. Seven themes were identified in the analysis of the interviews: (a) The oncologist and teleconsultation; (b) Clinical motivations for using teleconsultation; (c) Comparison between teleconsultation and in-person consultation; (d) Advantages and disadvantages of teleconsultation; (e) Technical modalities of teleconsultation; (f) Role of Covid and confinement in the use of teleconsultation; (h) Epistemic judgments about teleconsultation. Optimal teleconsultation occurs when seamlessly incorporated into patient care, offering reduced patient inconvenience, and providing economic and environmental benefits. Although there's a lack of unified agreement in research literature regarding time efficiency, teleconsultation facilitates more customized patient monitoring and addresses the challenge of “medical deserts” nationally. Considering patient preferences is crucial when contemplating the use of teleconsultation. Predominantly, technical issues stand as the principal barriers to teleconsultation implementation. Conclusion Even after the end of the health crisis, teleconsultation is still used in clinical practice. Recommendations for effective use are suggested