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The deregulation of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated fatty acids (MUFAs, PUFAs, SFAs) from de novo synthesis and hypoxia are central metabolic features of breast tumour. Early response markers for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) are critical for stratified treatment for patients with breast cancer, and restoration of lipid metabolism and normoxia might precede observable structural change. In this study, we hypothesised that peri-tumoural lipid composition and hypoxia might be predictive and early response markers in patients with breast cancer undergoing NACT. Female patients with breast cancer were scanned on a 3T clinical MRI scanner at baseline and Cycle1, with acquisition of lipid composition maps of MUFAs, PUFAs, and SFAs, and hypoxia maps of effective transverse relaxation rate R2*. The percentage change in lipid composition and hypoxia at Cycle1 was calculated with reference to baseline. Tumour-associated macrophages were analysed based on immunostaining of CD163 from biopsy and resection, with the percentage change in the resected tumour calculated across the entire NACT. We found no significant difference in lipid composition and R2* between good and poor responders at baseline and Cycle1; however, the correlation between the percentage change in MUFAs and PUFAs against CD163 suggested the modulation in lipids with altered immune response might support the development of targeted therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:. Acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) entered the market in the early 2000s and their use has increased thereafter. Several retrospective cohort studies and single surgeon series reported benefits with the use of ADMs. However, robust evidence supporting these advantages is lacking. There is the need to define the role for ADMs in implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR) after mastectomy. Methods:. A panel of world-renowned breast specialists was convened to evaluate evidence, express personal viewpoints, and establish recommendation for the use of ADMs for subpectoral one-/two-stage IBBR (compared with no ADM use) for adult women undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer treatment or risk reduction using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results:. Based on the voting outcome, the following recommendation emerged as a consensus statement: the panel members suggest subpectoral one- or two-stage IBBR either with ADMs or without ADMs for adult women undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer treatment or risk reduction (with very low certainty of evidence). Conclusions:. The systematic review has revealed a very low certainty of evidence for most of the important outcomes in ADM-assisted IBBR and the absence of standard tools for evaluating clinical outcomes. Forty-five percent of panel members expressed a conditional recommendation either in favor of or against the use of ADMs in subpectoral one- or two-stages IBBR for adult women undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer treatment or risk reduction. Future subgroup analyses could help identify relevant clinical and pathological factors to select patients for whom one technique could be preferable to another.

Deregulation of lipid composition in adipose tissue adjacent to breast tumour is observed in ex vivo and animal models. Novel non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows rapid lipid mapping of the human whole breast. We set out to elucidate the spatial heterogeneity of peri-tumoural lipid composition in postmenopausal patients with oestrogen receptor positive (ER +) breast cancer. Thirteen participants (mean age, 62 ± [SD] 6 years) with ER + breast cancer and 13 age-matched postmenopausal healthy controls were scanned on MRI. The number of double bonds in triglycerides was computed from MRI images to derive lipid composition maps of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated fatty acids (MUFA, PUFA, SFA). The spatial heterogeneity measures (mean, median, skewness, entropy and kurtosis) of lipid composition in the peri-tumoural region and the whole breast of participants and in the whole breast of controls were computed. The Ki-67 proliferative activity marker and CD163 antibody on tumour-associated macrophages were assessed histologically. Mann Whitney U or Wilcoxon tests and Spearman's coefficients were used to assess group differences and correlations, respectively. For comparison against the whole breast in participants, peri-tumoural MUFA had a lower mean (median (IQR), 0.40 (0.02), p <.001), lower median (0.42 (0.02), p <.001), a negative skewness with lower magnitude (− 1.65 (0.77), p =.001), higher entropy (4.35 (0.64), p =.007) and lower kurtosis (5.13 (3.99), p =.001). Peri-tumoural PUFA had a lower mean (p <.001), lower median (p <.001), a positive skewness with higher magnitude (p =.005) and lower entropy (p =.002). Peri-tumoural SFA had a higher mean (p <.001), higher median (p <.001), a positive skewness with lower magnitude (p <.001) and lower entropy (p =.012). For comparison against the whole breast in controls, peri-tumoural MUFA had a negative skewness with lower magnitude (p =.01) and lower kurtosis (p =.009), however there was no difference in PUFA or SFA. CD163 moderately correlated with peri-tumoural MUFA skewness (rs = −.64), PUFA entropy (rs =.63) and SFA skewness (rs =.59). There was a lower MUFA and PUFA while a higher SFA, and a higher heterogeneity of MUFA while a lower heterogeneity of PUFA and SFA, in the peri-tumoural region in comparison with the whole breast tissue. The degree of lipid deregulation was associated with inflammation as indicated by CD163 antibody on macrophages, serving as potential marker for early diagnosis and response to therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A national cohort ideal stage 2a/2b study comparing the safety and effectiveness of Wire- and RFID -guided localisation for impalpable breast lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, with remarkable advances in early diagnosis, systemic treatments, and surgical techniques. Robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy has been trialled; however, the complication rates, surgical outcomes, and oncological safety of this approach remain obscure. Methods: A systematic search of the literature was conducted from conception until September 2022. Studies examining complications and operative variables where robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy was compared with conventional nipple-sparing mastectomy were included. Primary study outcomes were complications (Clavien–Dindo grade III complications, skin or nipple necrosis, seroma, haematoma, infection, implant loss, and wound dehiscence) and oncological safety (recurrence and positive margins). The secondary outcomes included operative variables, length of stay, cost-effectiveness, learning curve, and aesthetic outcome. Results: A total of seven studies of overall fair quality, involving 1674 patients, were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Grade 3 complications were reduced in robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy without statistical significance (OR 0.60 (95 per cent c.i. 0.35 to 1.05)). Nipple necrosis was significantly reduced in robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy (OR 0.54 (95 per cent c.i. 0.30 to 0.96); P = 0.03; I2 = 15 per cent). Operating time (mean difference +58.81 min (95 per cent c.i. +28.19 to +89.44 min); P = 0.0002) and length of stay (mean difference +1.23 days (95 per cent c.i. +0.64 to +1.81 days); P < 0.0001) were significantly increased in robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy, whereas the opposite was true for blood loss (mean difference −53.18 ml (95 per cent c.i. −71.78 to −34.58 ml); P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Whilst still in its infancy, robotic breast surgery may become a viable option in breast surgery. Nonetheless, the oncological safety of this approach requires robust assessment. A total of seven studies of overall fair quality, involving 1674 patients, examining postoperative complications and operative variables that compared robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy versus conventional nipple-sparing mastectomy for breast cancer were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Overall, complication events were notably reduced in robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy, albeit not reaching statistical significance, namely grade 3 complications, re-operation, skin necrosis, seroma, and haematoma; however, postoperative infection, implant loss, and positive margins were increased in robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy. Although associated with a higher cost, a steep learning curve and patient-reported outcome measures favour robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy. Lay Summary: Robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy has been tried, but it is still not clear how often complications happen or how much better it is for cancer patients than conventional nipple-sparing mastectomy. The aim of this study was to compare robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy with conventional nipple-sparing mastectomy. A thorough search of all articles was performed from the start to September 2022. The studies that compared robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy with conventional nipple-sparing mastectomy in terms of problems and surgical factors were included. Complications and cancer outcomes (recurrence and positive margins) were the most important things that the study looked at. Surgical time, blood loss, length of hospital stay, cost-effectiveness, learning curve, and patient-reported outcome measures were some of the other things that were studied. This systematic review and meta-analysis looked at seven studies with fair quality and included 1674 patients. Even though there were fewer major problems with robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy, the difference was not significant. In robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy, there was less nipple necrosis, but the overall time it took to operate was much longer and the cost was higher. The average amount of bleeding was less in robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy. The robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy method had a better patient-reported outcome and a steep learning curve. Robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy is a safe method, with fewer problems than other methods. Future studies should look into if it is safe for cancer patients in the long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The early identification of good responders to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) holds a significant potential in the optimal treatment of breast cancer. A recent Bayesian approach has been postulated to improve the accuracy of the intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) model for clinical translation. This study examined the prediction and early sensitivity of Bayesian IVIM to NACT response. Materials and methods: Seventeen female patients with breast cancer were scanned at baseline and 16 patients were scanned after Cycle 1. Tissue diffusion and perfusion from Bayesian IVIM were calculated at baseline with percentage change at Cycle 1 computed with reference to baseline. Cellular proliferative activity marker Ki-67 was obtained semi-quantitatively with percentage change at excision computed with reference to core biopsy. Results: The perfusion fraction showed a significant difference (p = 0.042) in percentage change between responder groups at Cycle 1, with a decrease in good responders [−7.98% (−19.47–1.73), n = 7] and an increase in poor responders [10.04% (5.09–28.93), n = 9]. There was a significant correlation between percentage change in perfusion fraction and percentage change in Ki 67 (p = 0.042). Tissue diffusion and pseudodiffusion showed no significant difference in percentage change between groups at Cycle 1, nor was there a significant correlation against percentage change in Ki-67. Perfusion fraction, tissue diffusion, and pseudodiffusion showed no significant difference between groups at baseline, nor was there a significant correlation against Ki-67 from core biopsy. Conclusion: The alteration in tumour perfusion fraction from the Bayesian IVIM model, in association with cellular proliferation, showed early sensitivity to good responders in NACT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic pain after breast cancer surgery affects up to 60% of patients. Evidence supports the fact that pain outwith the surgical site is a significant issue. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to evaluate the prevalence of non-surgical site pain (NSSP) in women after breast cancer surgery at 6 months post-operatively. Methods: Adult women with a confirmed breast cancer diagnosis who had undergone breast cancer surgery were identified. The outcome pursued was pain outwith the surgical site measured on either NRS/VRS or VAS rating scale. CENTRAL, Embase, PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched to identify studies that examined NSSP after breast cancer surgery at 6 months. Data were gathered via pre-piloted Excel forms and analysed both quantitively and qualitatively. Meta-analysis was carried out using a random-effects model to assess risk difference with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: A total of sixteen studies were identified for inclusion. Eleven studies failed to provide sufficient data and consequently were analysed qualitatively. Five studies were adequate for quantitative analysis, including a total of 995 patients. Meta-analysis identified a risk difference of 18% (95% CI: 5–31%) between patients who had breast cancer surgery and a reference, however, this is low-quality evidence. Conclusion: This review has highlighted that breast cancer surgery increases the risk of pain outwith the surgical site postoperatively. It was additionally identified that NSSP data are often gathered in research yet rarely presented in results or highlighted as a primary outcome. As the quality of evidence was low, research specifying NSSP as a primary outcome is required to provide more certainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Patients are increasingly turning to other sources for their health information. Social media has become mainstream, and the easy access to online communities, health professionals, and shared experiences of other patients has made social media a place where many patients turn to. Methods: In this qualitative report, 2 patients who have had breast cancer describe the reasons why they use social media, what they perceive the advantages and disadvantages are, and what the impact of social media has been through their cancer treatment and beyond. Results: The reasons why patients turn to social media are varied. These can include information gathering, peer support, shared experiences, and advocacy. There appear to be advantages and disadvantages; however, overall, the impact seems to be a positive one when used judiciously. Discussion: It is clear that social media has a role to play in healthcare, whether by providing meaningful social connections, delivery of information, or psychological support. Healthcare professionals perhaps should consider the importance of social media in their practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]