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Background: The value of preoperative breast MRI as an adjunct technique regarding its effect on re-excision rates has been a subject of discussion. No survival data regarding preoperative breast MRI are available from randomized studies. Methods: Ten-year follow-up of the POMB randomized multicentre study was analysed, evaluating MRI and its effect on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer were randomized to either preoperative MRI or conventional imaging. Kaplan–Meier plots were used to analyse DFS and OS, and Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs). Results: A total of 440 patients, aged 56 years or less, with newly diagnosed breast cancer were randomized to either preoperative MRI (220) or conventional imaging (220; control). Median follow-up for each group was 10 years. DFS rates were 85.5 and 80.0 per cent for the MRI and control groups respectively (P = 0.099). The risk of relapse or death was 46 per cent higher in the control group (HR 1.46, 95 per cent c.i. 0.93 to 2.29). OS rates after 10 years were 90.9 and 88.6 per cent in the MRI and control groups respectively (P = 0.427). The risk of death was 27 per cent higher in the control group (HR 1.27, 0.71 to 2.29). Locoregional, distant, and contralateral recurrence outcomes combined were increased in the control group (P = 0.048). A subgroup analysis of patients with breast cancer stages I–III showed that preoperative MRI improved DFS compared with conventional imaging, but this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.057). Conclusion: After 10 years of follow-up, preoperative breast MRI as an adjunct to conventional imaging resulted in slightly, but nonsignificantly, improved DFS and OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Completion axillary lymph node dissection has been abandoned widely among patients with breast cancer and sentinel lymph node micrometastases, based on evidence from prospective RCTs. Inclusion in these trials has been subject to selection bias, with patients undergoing mastectomy being under-represented. The aim of the SENOMIC (omission of axillary lymph node dissection in SENtinel NOde MICrometases) trial was to confirm the safety of omission of axillary lymph node dissection in patients with breast cancer and sentinel lymph node micrometastases, and including patients undergoing mastectomy. Methods: The prospective SENOMIC multicentre cohort trial enrolled patients with breast cancer and sentinel lymph node micrometastases who had breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy at one of 23 Swedish hospitals between October 2013 and March 2017. No completion axillary lymph node dissection was performed. The primary endpoint was event-free survival, with a trial accrual target of 452 patients. Survival proportions were based on Kaplan-Meier survival estimates. Results: The trial included 566 patients. Median follow-up was 38 (range 7-67) months. The 3-year event-free survival rate was 96.2 per cent, based on 26 reported breast cancer recurrences, including five isolated axillary recurrences. The unadjusted 3-year event-free survival rate was higher than anticipated, but differed between patients who hadmastectomy and those who underwent breast-conserving surgery (93.8 versus 97.8 per cent respectively; P=0.011). Patients who underwent mastectomy had significantly worse tumour characteristics. On univariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, patients who hadmastectomy without adjuvant radiotherapy had a significantly higher risk of recurrence than those who underwent breast-conserving surgery (hazard ratio 2.91, 95 per cent c.i. 1.25 to 6.75). Conclusion: After 3 years, event-free survival was excellent in patients with breast cancer and sentinel node micrometastases despite omission of axillary lymph node dissection. Long-term follow-up and continued enrolment of patients having mastectomy, especially those not receiving adjuvant radiotherapy, are of utmost importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Increasing evidence suggests that completion axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) may be omitted in breast cancer patients with limited axillary nodal metastases. However, the representativeness of trial participants for the original clinical practice population, and thus, the generalizability of published trials have been questioned. We propose the use of background data from national registers as a means to assess whether trial participants mirror their target population and to strengthen the generalizability and implementation of trial outcomes. Methods: The Swedish prospective SENOMIC trial, omitting a completion ALND in breast cancer patients with sentinel lymph node micrometastases, reached full target accrual in 2017. To assess the generalizability of trial results for the target population, a comparative analysis of trial participants versus cases reported to the Swedish National Breast Cancer Register (NKBC) was performed. Results: Comparing 548 trial participants and 1070 NKBC cases, there were no significant differences in age, tumor characteristics, breast surgery, or adjuvant treatment. Only the mean number of sentinel lymph nodes with micrometastasis per individual was lower in trial participants than in register cases (1.06 vs. 1.09, p = 0.037). Conclusions: Patients included in the SENOMIC trial are acceptably representative of the Swedish breast cancer target population. There were some minor divergences between trial participants and the NKBC population, but taking these into consideration, upcoming trial outcomes should be generalizable to breast cancer patients with micrometastases in their sentinel lymph node biopsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One‐fifth of patients with a preoperative diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) have invasive breast cancer (IBC) on definitive histology. Sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) is performed in almost half of women having surgery for DCIS in Sweden. The aim of the present study was to try to minimize unnecessary SLND by injecting superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles at the time of primary breast surgery, enabling SLND to be performed later, if IBC is found in the primary specimen. Methods: Women with DCIS at high risk for the presence of invasion undergoing breast conservation, and patients with DCIS undergoing mastectomy were included. The primary outcome was whether this technique could reduce SLND. Secondary outcomes were number of SLNDs avoided, detection rate and procedure‐related costs. Results: This was a preplanned interim analysis of 189 procedures. IBC was found in 47 and a secondary SLND was performed in 41 women. Thus, 78·3 per cent of patients avoided SLND (P < 0·001). At reoperation, SPIO plus blue dye outperformed isotope and blue dye in detection of the sentinel node (40 of 40 versus 26 of 40 women; P < 0·001). Costs were reduced by a mean of 24·5 per cent in women without IBC (€3990 versus 5286; P < 0·001). Conclusion: Marking the sentinel node with SPIO in women having surgery for DCIS was effective at avoiding unnecessary SLND in this study. Registration number: ISRCTN18430240 (http://www.isrctn.com). Sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) is overperformed in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) owing to lack of credible prognostic factors for invasion or when mastectomy is planned. In the SentiNot cohort study, marking the sentinel node with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles was shown to be an efficient way to spare unnecessary SLND procedures, with a good detection rate at reoperation and favourable effect in containment of incremental costs. SN, sentinel node; BD, blue dye. Nearly 80 per cent avoided node dissection [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prognostic equivalence between mastectomy and breast‐conserving surgery (BCS) followed by radiotherapy was shown in pivotal trials conducted decades ago. Since then, detection and treatment of breast cancer have improved substantially and recent retrospective analyses point towards a survival benefit for less extensive breast surgery. Evidence for the association of such survival data with locoregional recurrence rates is largely lacking. Methods: The Swedish Multicentre Cohort Study prospectively included clinically node‐negative patients with breast cancer who had planned sentinel node biopsy between 2000 and 2004. Axillary lymph node dissection was undertaken only in patients with sentinel node metastases. For the present investigation, adjusted survival analyses were used to compare patients who underwent BCS and postoperative radiotherapy with those who received mastectomy without radiotherapy. Results: Of 3518 patients in the Swedish Multicentre Cohort Study, 2767 were included in the present analysis; 2338 had BCS with postoperative radiotherapy and 429 had mastectomy without radiotherapy. Median follow‐up was 156 months. BCS followed by whole‐breast irradiation was superior to mastectomy without irradiation in terms of both overall survival (79·5 versus 64·3 per cent respectively at 13 years; P < 0·001) and breast cancer‐specific survival (90·5 versus 84·0 per cent at 13 years; P < 0·001). The local recurrence rate did not differ between the two groups. The axillary recurrence‐free survival rate at 13 years was significantly lower after mastectomy without irradiation (98·3 versus 96·2 per cent; P < 0·001). Conclusion: The present data support the superiority of BCS with postoperative radiotherapy over mastectomy without radiotherapy. The axillary recurrence rate differed significantly, and could be one contributing factor in a complex explanatory model. Radiotherapy to lower axilla key? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The clinical significance of lymph node micrometastases and isolated tumor cells (ITCs) in breast cancer is still controversial. After a median follow-up of 52 months, a report from the Swedish Multicenter Cohort Study presented a worse cancer-specific and event-free survival for patients with micrometastases than node-negative individuals, but could not demonstrate a significant difference in overall survival (OS). Due to the tendency of breast cancer to relapse after more than 5-10 years, we now report the long-term survival of the cohort.Methods: Between September 2000 and January 2004, 3355 breast cancer patients were included in a prospective cohort. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was always performed. Patients were classified in four groups according to their overall nodal stage: node negative (N0, 2372), ITCs (113), micrometastases (123), and macrometastases (747). Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and Cox proportional hazard regression models were applied.Results: Median follow-up was 156 months. Ten-year cancer-specific survival and OS were significantly lower in case of micrometastases than in N0 (84.7 vs. 93.5%, p = 0.001, and 75.5 vs. 84.2%, p = 0.046, respectively). In case of macrometastases, corresponding survival rates were 82.8 and 74.3%. Only for those aged less than 50 years, cancer-specific survival and OS were significantly worse in case of ITCs than N0. Patients with micrometastases received less often chemotherapy than those with macrometastases (24.4 vs. 53.9%).Conclusions: Lymph node micrometastases in breast cancer have a prognostic significance. This study demonstrates a similar survival for patients with micrometastases and those with macrometastases, possibly due to systemic undertreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) using superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles is a novel method in breast cancer. Several studies have verified the non-inferiority of SPIO compared with the standard use of radioisotope 99mTc with or without blue dye. The aim of the MONOS study presented here was to evaluate the use of SPIO as a sole tracer and the efficacy of tracer injection in the preoperative setting. Methods This prospective cohort study was carried out in two hospitals, one using 99mTc and the other SPIO. 99mTc was injected in the morning of the day of surgery or the day before. SPIO was either injected before surgery in the outpatient clinic or 1 h before the operation. Results A total of 338 consecutive patients with breast cancer underwent 343 procedures; SPIO nanoparticles were used in 184 procedures and 99mTc-labelled tracer in 159. Detection rates for SPIO and 99mTc were 95·6 and 96·9 per cent respectively ( P = 0·537). All nodes with SPIO uptake were coloured brown. Fewer nodes were retrieved with SPIO (mean 1·35 versus 1·89), regardless of whether blue dye was used ( P < 0·001). Preoperative SPIO injection (58·7 per cent of procedures), a median of 16 (range 2-27) days before the procedure, was associated with a better tracer-specific detection rate (95·3 versus 86 per cent; P = 0·031) and retrieval of more nodes (mean 1·43 versus 1·03; P < 0·001) than perioperative administration. Skin staining was present in 39·9 per cent of patients, and was related to breast-conserving surgery and periareolar injection. Conclusion The use of SPIO alone is a safe alternative, with results comparable to those of the standard dual technique using 99mTc and blue dye. The efficacy of injection in the preoperative setting simplifies logistics and improves performance. Skin staining can be prevented by a deeper peritumoral injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The omission of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in patients with breast cancer with a negative finding on sentinel node biopsy ( SNB) has reduced arm morbidity substantially. Early follow-up reports have shown the rate of axillary recurrence to be significantly lower than expected, with a median false-negative rate of 7 per cent for SNB. Long-term follow-up is needed as recurrences may develop late. Methods The Swedish Multicentre Cohort Study included 3518 women with breast cancer and a clinically negative axilla, in whom SNB was planned. ALND was performed only in patients with sentinel node metastasis. Twenty-six centres contributed to enrolment between September 2000 and January 2004. The primary endpoint was the axillary recurrence rate and the secondary endpoint was breast cancer-specific survival, calculated using Kaplan-Meier survival estimates. Results Some 2216 sentinel node-negative patients with 2237 breast cancers were analysed. The median follow-up time was 126 (range 0-174) months. Isolated axillary recurrence was found in 35 patients (1·6 per cent). High histological grade and multifocal tumours were risk factors for axillary recurrence, whereas the removal of more than two sentinel nodes decreased the risk. Fourteen (40 per cent) of 35 patients died as a consequence of axillary recurrence. Conclusion The risk of axillary recurrence remains lower than expected after a negative finding on SNB at 10-year follow-up. Axillary recurrences may occur long after primary surgery, and lead to a significant risk of breast cancer death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The primary aim was to compare arm lymphoedema after sentinel lymph node biopsy ( SLNB) alone versus axillary lymph node dissection ( ALND) in women with node-negative and node-positive breast cancer. The secondary aim was to examine the potential association between self-reported and objectively measured arm lymphoedema. Methods Women who had surgery during 1999-2004 for invasive breast cancer in four centres in Sweden were included. The study groups were defined by the axillary procedure performed and the presence of axillary metastases: SLNB alone, ALND without axillary metastases, and ALND with axillary metastases. Before surgery, and 1, 2 and 3 years after operation, arm volume was measured and a questionnaire regarding symptoms of arm lymphoedema was completed. A mixed model was used to determine the adjusted mean difference in arm volume between the study groups, and generalized estimating equations were employed to determine differences in self-reported arm lymphoedema. Results One hundred and forty women had SLNB alone, 125 had node-negative ALND and 155 node-positive ALND. Women who underwent SLNB had no increase in postoperative arm volume over time, whereas both ALND groups showed a significant increase. The risk of self-reported arm lymphoedema 1, 2 and 3 years after surgery was significantly lower in the SLNB group compared with that in both ALND groups. Three years after surgery there was a significant association between increased arm volume and self-reported symptoms of arm lymphoedema. Conclusion SLNB is associated with a minimal risk of increased arm volume and few symptoms of arm lymphoedema, significantly less than after ALND, regardless of lymph node status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Vitamin C may influence cancer progression through its antioxidant properties. However, the evidence from observational epidemiologic studies on vitamin C intake and survival following breast cancer diagnosis is not consistent, and the safety of vitamin C supplements following breast cancer diagnosis has not been extensively studied.Methods:Using a food-frequency questionnaire we investigated whether vitamin C intake was associated with survival among 3405 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the Swedish Mammography Cohort.Results:From 1987-2010, there were 1055 total deaths with 416 deaths from breast cancer. Women in the highest quartile of pre-diagnosis vitamin C intake had an adjusted HR (95% CI) of breast cancer death of 0.75 (0.57-0.99) compared with those in the lowest quartile (Ptrend=0.03). There was a borderline significant association between vitamin C intake and total mortality (HR=0.84; 95% CI=0.71-1.00; Ptrend=0.08). Among 717 breast cancer cases for whom post-diagnosis supplement use was available, there was no association between vitamin C supplement use (≈1000 mg) and breast cancer-specific mortality (HR=1.06; 95% CI=0.52-2.17).Conclusion:Our findings suggest that dietary vitamin C intake before breast cancer diagnosis may be associated with breast cancer survival. In addition, post-diagnosis vitamin C supplementation at the level observed in our population was not associated with survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Sentinel lymph node ( SLN) biopsy has replaced axillary lymph node dissection as the routine staging procedure in clinically node-negative breast cancer. False-negative SLN biopsy results in misclassification and may cause undertreatment of the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate whether serial sectioning of SLNs reveals metastases more frequently in patients with false-negative SLNs than in patients with true-negative SLNs. Methods This was a case-control study. Tissue blocks from patients with false-negative SLNs, defined as tumour-positive lymph nodes excised at completion axillary dissection or a subsequent axillary tumour recurrence, were reassessed by serial sectioning and immunohistochemical staining. For each false-negative node, two true-negative SLN biopsies were analysed. Tumour and node characteristics in patients with false-negative SLNs were compared with those in patients with a positive SLN by univariable and multivariable regression analysis. Results Undiagnosed SLN metastases were discovered in nine (18 per cent) of 50 patients in the false-negative group and in 12 (11.2 per cent) of 107 patients in the true-negative group ( P = 0.245). The metastases were represented by isolated tumour cells in 14 of these 21 patients. The risk of a false-negative SLN was higher in patients with hormone receptor-negative (odds ratio ( OR) 2.50, 95 per cent confidence interval 1.17 to 5.33) or multifocal tumours ( OR 3.39, 1.71 to 6.71), or if only one SLN was identified ( OR 3.57, 1.98 to 6.45). Conclusion SLN serial sectioning contributes to a higher rate of detection of SLN metastasis. The rate of upstaging of the tumour is similar in false- and true-negative groups of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Coffee and black tea contain a mixture of compounds that have the potential to influence breast cancer risk and survival. However, epidemiologic data on the relation between coffee and black tea consumption and breast cancer survival are sparse.Methods:We investigated the association between coffee and black tea consumption and survival among 3243 women with invasive breast cancer in the Swedish Mammography Cohort. Intake was estimated using a food frequency questionnaire. Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).Results:From 1987 to 2010 there were 394 breast cancer-specific deaths and 973 total deaths. Coffee and black tea were not associated with breast cancer-specific or overall mortality. Women consuming 4+ cups of coffee per day had a covariate and clinical characteristics-adjusted HR (95% CI) of death from breast cancer of 1.14 (0.71-1.83; ptrend=0.81) compared with those consuming <1 cup per day. Women consuming 2+ cups of black tea per day had a covariate and clinical characteristics-adjusted HR (95% CI) of death from breast cancer of 1.02 (0.67-1.55; ptrend=0.94) compared with non-tea drinkers. Caffeine was also not associated with breast cancer-specific (HR for top to bottom quartile=1.06; 95% CI=0.79-1.44; ptrend=0.71) or overall mortality.Conclusion:Our findings suggest that coffee, black tea, and caffeine consumption before breast cancer diagnosis do not influence breast cancer-specific and overall survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has replaced axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) as the standard axillary staging procedure in breast cancer. Follow-up studies in SLN-negative women treated without ALND report low rates of axillary recurrence, but most studies have short follow-up, and few are multicentre studies. Methods: Between September 2000 and January 2004, patients who were SLN-negative and did not have ALND were included in a prospective cohort. Kaplan-Meier estimates were used to analyse the rates of axillary recurrence and survival. The risk of axillary recurrence was also compared in centres with high and low experience with the SLN biopsy (SLNB) technique. Results: A total of 2195 patients with 2216 breast tumours were followed for a median of 65 months. Isolated axillary recurrence was diagnosed in 1·0 per cent of patients. The event-free 5-year survival rate was 88·8 per cent and the overall 5-year survival rate 93·1 per cent. There was no difference in recurrence rates between centres contributing fewer than 150 SLNB procedures to the cohort and centres contributing 150 or more procedures. Conclusion: This study confirmed the low risk of axillary recurrence 5 years after SLNB for breast cancer without ALND. Copyright © 2011 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Alcohol intake has consistently been associated with increased breast cancer incidence in epidemiological studies. However, the relation between alcohol and survival after breast cancer diagnosis is less clear.Methods:We investigated whether alcohol intake was associated with survival among 3146 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the Swedish Mammography Cohort. Alcohol consumption was estimated using a food frequency questionnaire. Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).Results:From 1987 to 2008 there were 385 breast cancer-specific deaths and 860 total deaths. No significant association was observed between alcohol intake and breast cancer-specific survival. Women who consumed 10 g per day (corresponding to approximately 0.75 to 1 drinks) or more of alcohol had an adjusted HR (95% CI) of breast cancer-specific death of 1.36 (0.82-2.26;ptrend=0.47) compared with non-drinkers. A significant inverse association was observed between alcohol and non-breast cancer deaths. Those who consumed 3.4-9.9 g per day of alcohol had a 33% lower risk of death compared with non-drinkers (95% CI 0.50-0.90;ptrend=0.04).Conclusion:Our findings suggest that alcohol intake up to approximately one small drink per day does not negatively impact breast cancer-specific survival and a half drink per day is associated with a decreased risk of mortality from other causes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Current guidelines recommend completion axillary lymph node dissection (cALND) in case of a sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis larger than 0.2 mm. However, in 50%-65% of these patients, the non-SLNs contain no further metastases and cALND provides no benefit. Several nomograms and scoring systems have been suggested to predict the risk of metastases in non-SLNs. We have evaluated the Tenon score. Patients and Methods: In a retrospective review of the Swedish Sentinel Node Multicentre Cohort Study, risk factors for additional metastases were analysed in 869 SLN-positive patients who underwent cALND, using uni- and multivariate logistic regression models. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn on the basis of the sensitivity and specificity of the Tenon score, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. Results: Non-SLN metastases were identified in 270/869 (31.1%) patients. Tumour size and grade, SLN status and ratio between number of positive SLNs and total number of SLNs were significantly associated with non-SLN status in multivariate analyses. The area under the curve for the Tenon score was 0.65 (95% CI 0.61-0.69). In 102 patients with a primary tumour <2 cm, Elston grade 1-2 and SLN metastases ≤2 mm, the risk of non SLN metastasis was less than 10%. Conclusion: The Tenon score performed inadequately in our material and we could, based on tumour and SLN characteristics, only define a very small group of patients in which negative non-sentinel nodes could be predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Follow-up programmes consume a large amount of resources with less time for the surgeon to take on new patients. The aim of this randomized study was to compare patient satisfaction, resource utilization and medical safety in patients curatively operated for rectal cancer who were followed up by either a surgeon or a nurse. Method The nurse was trained by the colorectal surgeon before the start of the study. Curatively operated patients were asked to give their consent to participate. Randomization was performed by the stoma therapist. After each consultation, the patient completed a questionnaire. Results A total of 110 patients (58 men) age 68 (range 41-87) years were included between 2002 and 2005. Only three patients refused participation. Patient satisfaction was high according to the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS): 9.4 for the surgeon and 9.5 for the nurse (NS). Consultation time was longer for the nurse: 24 vs 15 min ( P = 0.001), with more blood samples being taken (29% vs 7%, P = 0.002). Radiological investigations exceeding the routine were made in 11% vs 4% (NS) cases. Surgical assistance was needed in 13 of 182 consultations with the nurse [mean 6 (1-15) min, total 75 min]. Distant metastases were detected in seven patients in the surgeon group and eight in the nurse group ( P = 0.953). Total costs of follow-up did not differ. Conclusion Patient satisfaction was equally high for the specialist nurse as for the colorectal surgeon. On only a few occasions was surgical assistance necessary and total costs for the follow-up showed no difference. Medical safety appeared uncompromised. Nurse-led follow-up is encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on costs-reduction analysis of laparoscopic with open air inguinal hernia repair. The study conducted a randomized multicentre study to compare totally extraperitoneal laparoscopic repair (TEP) with open air through Lichtenstein procedure on males with primary inguinal hernia and collection of long-term recurrence and complications data. It concludes that total cost in laparoscopic inginual hernia repair was small but have significant increase than with open air.

The article presents a study which analyzes the frequency of chronic pain after laparoscopic and Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair. The study conducts randomized multicentre investigation on men with primary inguinal hernia with five years' follow-up, and classifies chronic pain as mild, moderate, or severe. Results of the study show that the total frequency of chronic pain is 11.0 compared with 21.7% at one year, 11.0 compared with 24.8% at two years, and 99.9 equated with 20.2% at 3 years.

Purpose. The primary aim of this study was to analyse the predictive value of cognitive and behavioural factors, in relation to pain, disability and quality of life (QoL) one year after lumbar disc surgery. Method. The study design was prospective. Fifty-nine patients scheduled for first time lumbar disc surgery were included. Pain, disability, QoL, coping, fear avoidance beliefs, expected outcome and sick leave were assessed preoperatively and 12 months after surgery. Multiple backward stepwise logistic regression analyses were performed to study the contribution of the preoperatively measured independent behavioural/cognitive factors (coping, fear avoidance beliefs and assessed chance to return to work within 3 months) to the dependent variables pain, disability and quality of life at 12 months after surgery. Results. Low expectations on work return within 3 months after surgery was significantly predictive for residual leg pain, odds ratio (OR) = 8.2, back pain, OR = 9.7, disability, OR = 13.8 and sick leave, OR = 19.5. Low QoL, was best predicted by preoperatively high scores on fear avoidance beliefs OR = 6.6 and being a woman OR = 6.0. The regression model explained 26-40% of the variance in pain, disability, QoL and sick leave. Conclusions. Eliciting patients' expectations on work return after surgery could contribute to early identification of those who run the risk of developing long-term disability and sick-leave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the 51,823 postmenopausal women in the Swedish Mammography Cohort, we investigated breast cancer risk in relation to the FFQ-based estimated lignan intake by oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) subtypes. A significant 17% risk reduction for breast cancer overall in the high lignan quartile was observed, especially among PMH user (P interaction<0.010), but no heterogeneity across ER/PR subtypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goal Of Work: To study the effect of support intervention on immune function in breast cancer patients.Materials and Methods: Breast cancer patients from an ongoing prospective randomised quality-of -life study were chosen for assaying immune functions in relation to a support-group intervention program running on a residential basis. Twenty-one women received adjuvant-combined radio-chemotherapy (CT-RT) and 20 women radiotherapy (RT). Eleven CT-RT and ten RT patients were randomised to support-group intervention, the rest served as controls. Immune tests for NK cells and NK-cell cytotoxicity, as well as lymphocyte subpopulations and response to antigen were performed before intervention, 2, 6, and 12 months later, in parallel to controls and healthy volunteers (n = 11). Depression, anxiety and fatigue were evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) and the Norwegian Fatigue questionnaire. The density of NK cell receptors and in vitro quantitation of functional NK cytotoxicity against K562 cell line were evaluated. Four-colour flow cytometry was used to detect signal transduction molecules and cytokine expression. T-cell proliferate response to purified protein derivate (PPD) antigen was evaluated.Results: No significant immune effect of support intervention could be found. The immune variables were severely disarranged compared to healthy volunteers but showed a statistically significant improvement over time. The majority of patients suffered from fatigue but had low scores for depression and anxiety.Conclusion: No effect on immune parameters could be detected from support intervention. The long-lasting immune suppression might override a putative effect of the intervention. Low depression scores may contribute to the absence of a detectable effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is a standard staging procedure in early breast cancer. Its suitability for larger tumours has been questioned. This study evaluated the reliability of SNB in women with invasive breast cancer larger than 3 cm in diameter who were clinically axillary node negative. Methods: Some 109 women with a tumour larger than 3 cm on pathological analysis were identified from the Swedish prospective SNB database. They were included if a completion axillary clearance was planned, regardless of SNB results. Results: The sentinel node detection rate was 103 (94.5 per cent) of 109. The overall false-negative rate was eight (13 per cent) of 64. Although a preoperative diagnosis of multifocal tumour was an exclusion criterion, 16 such cases were revealed on postoperative pathological examination. The false-negative rate in this subgroup was higher than that in women with a unifocal tumour (four (31 per cent) of 13 versus four (8 per cent) of 51; P = 0.012). No other significant predictors of a false-negative sentinel node biopsy were identified. Conclusion: SNB is feasible in patients with unifocal breast tumours larger than 3 cm. When large tumour size coincides with multifocality, however, the false-negative rate seems to be increased and a completion axillary clearance should be considered even if the SNB is negative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is globally the most common malignancy in women. Her2-targeted monoclonal antibodies are established treatment modalities, and vaccines are in late-stage clinical testing in patients with breast cancer and known to promote tumour-killing through mechanisms like antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. It is therefore increasingly important to study immunological consequences of conventional treatment strategies. In this study, functional tests and four-colour flow cytometry were used to detect natural killer (NK)-cell functions and receptors as well as T-cell signal transduction molecules and intracellular cytokines in preoperative breast cancer patients, and patients who had received adjuvant radiotherapy or adjuvant combined chemo-radiotherapy as well as in age-matched healthy controls. The absolute number of NK cells, the density of NK receptors as well as in vitro quantitation of functional NK cytotoxicity were significantly higher in preoperative patients than the post-treatments group and controls. A similar pattern was seen with regard to T-cell signalling molecules, and preoperative patients produced significantly higher amounts of cytokines in NK and T cells compared to other groups. The results indicate that functions of NK and T cells are well preserved before surgery but decrease following adjuvant therapy, which may speak in favour of early rather than late use of immunotherapeutic agents such as trastuzumab that may depend on intact immune effector functions.British Journal of Cancer (2007) 97, 105–111. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6603840 www.bjcancer.com Published online 5 June 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the associations of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, a history of diabetes, and cigarette smoking with risk of pancreatic cancer among 37 147 women and 45 906 men followed up during 560 666 person-years in the Swedish Mammography Cohort and the Cohort of Swedish Men; 136 incident cases of pancreatic cancer were diagnosed. The multivariate rate ratio (RR) of pancreatic cancer for obese women and men (BMI 30 kg/m2) was 1.81 (95% CI: 1.04–3.15) compared to those with a BMI of 20–25 kg/m2. For a difference of 20 cm (about two standard deviations) in waist circumference, the multivariate RRs were 1.32 (95% CI: 0.73–2.37) among women and 1.74 (95% CI: 1.00–3.01) among men. Pancreatic cancer risk was associated with history of diabetes (multivariate RR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.09–3.26) and cigarette smoking (multivariate RR for current compared with never smokers: 3.06; 95% CI: 1.99–4.72). Current smokers of 40 pack-years had a five-fold elevated risk compared with never smokers. Risk among past smokers approached the RR for never smokers within 5–10 years following smoking cessation. Findings from this prospective study support positive relationships of overall obesity, abdominal adiposity, diabetes and smoking with risk of pancreatic cancer.British Journal of Cancer (2005) 93, 1310–1315. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6602868 www.bjcancer.com Published online 15 November 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies sentinel node biopsy for staging in breast cancer in Sweden. Analysis of factors associated with false-negative biopsies; Postoperative histopathological analysis.

We examined prospectively the association between whole grain consumption and colorectal cancer risk in the population-based Swedish Mammography Cohort. A total of 61?433 women completed a food-frequency questionnaire at baseline (1987-1990) and, through linkage with the Swedish Cancer Registry, 805 incident cases of colorectal cancer were identified during a mean follow-up of 14.8 years. High consumption of whole grains was associated with a lower risk of colon cancer, but not of rectal cancer. The multivariate rate ratio (RR) of colon cancer for the top category of whole grain consumption (?4.5?servings?day-1) compared with the bottom category (<1.5?servings?day-1) was 0.67 (95%confidence interval (CI), 0.47-0.96; P-value for trend=0.06). The corresponding RR after excluding cases occurring within the first 2 years of follow-up was 0.65 (95%CI, 0.45-0.94; P-value for trend=0.04). Our findings suggest that high consumption of whole grains may decrease the risk of colon cancer in women.British Journal of Cancer (2005) 92, 1803-1807. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6602543 www.bjcancer.com Published online 12 April 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Morbidity and mortality from colorectal cancer remain as major public health problems. Previous studies have demonstrated a lack of association between symptom duration and stage. Emergency cases are, however, known to present with a more advanced disease stage. This study was set up to define the effect of symptom duration on stage and survival separately in the elective population. Methods: Between 1998 and 1999, 228/235 (97%) eligible patients with recently diagnosed colorectal cancer in Västmanland County, Sweden were included in the study. A questionnaire was designed to collect information on the nature and date of first symptoms within two weeks' accuracy. Symptom duration could be categorized as more or less than 26 weeks for 164 (70%) patients. Data on type of admittance (elective or emergent), date of surgery, site and stage were retrieved from the surgical records. Survival was checked in November 2003 and Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were calculated. Results: Median symptom duration was 17 weeks, 20 in the elective and 13 in the emergency population ( P < 0.01). In the elective population, median symptom duration for Dukes' A and B cancer was 19 compared with 21 weeks for Dukes' C and D cancer (mean difference in symptom duration 0.04 (95% CI-0.31; 0.23). Symptom duration did not influence overall survival in the non-emergency group (log rank 2.8; P = 0.09). Conclusion: To diminish the impact of colorectal cancer on public health, strategies other than a shortening of symptom duration are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a study of invasive breast cancer, multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) revealed clustering of eight pathobiological variables. Two different phenotypes were distinguished by an index calculated on the basis of the variables (histologic grade, necrosis, lymphoid infiltration, number of mitosis and expression of c-erbB-2, p53, progesterone receptor and Bcl-2). Phenotype A lesions share most of the features of normal breast tissue. Phenotype B looks more malignant, has a higher early recurrence rate and is more frequently seen in younger patients. Our aim was to see if ductal breast carcinoma in situ (DCIS) could be divided into the same phenotypes. One hundred and eighty DCIS were investigated. Association between the eight variables was studied in 2 × 2 models. The phenotype index was calculated by summing weights for the variables in the MCA. All variables were associated, except Bcl-2. DCIS was divided in two phenotypes. Thirty-three tumours were Phenotype A and 147 Phenotype B. The mean age at diagnosis was 65.5 and 58.4 years for Phenotypes A and B, respectively ( p = 0.0012). No difference regarding local relapse free survival was seen. Two phenotypes were distinguished in DCIS, similar to invasive breast cancer. In an earlier study, 45% of the invasive cancers were classified as Phenotype B. In this study, 82% of DCIS were Phenotype B. This may indicate that invasive breast cancer of Phenotype B is derived from DCIS of Phenotype B. The distribution of DCIS phenotypes with a small proportion of Phenotype A DCIS may be due to that Phenotype A DCIS is less likely to be detected by mammography, or that some invasive breast cancers of Phenotype A progress to invasiveness without passing the in situ phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although laboratory data and a few adenoma prevention trials suggest that calcium supplementation may reduce the risk of colorectal neoplasia, the results of observational studies of calcium intake and colorectal cancer risk are contradictory. However, few studies have examined the association among women or effects in specific colon subsites. Women with colorectal cancer diagnosed through 31 December 2000 were identified by linkage to regional cancer registries. During an average 11.3 yr of follow-up of 61,463 women, we observed 572 incident cases of colorectal cancer. Using data obtained from a 67-item food frequency questionnaire and Cox proportional hazards models to estimate rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals, we found an inverse association between dietary calcium intake and colorectal cancer risk. Women with the highest calcium intake (median 914 mg/day) had a reduced risk of colorectal cancer (rate ratio = 0.72, 95% confidence interval = 0.056-0.93, P for trend = 0.02) compared with women with the lowest intake (median 486 mg/day). Furthermore, our results suggest that the inverse association may be strongest in relation to distal cancers and among older women. The association with dairy products was less clear, suggesting that calcium intake per se is more important than specific calcium sources. Vitamin D intake was not clearly associated with risk. In sum, our data suggest that high calcium intake may lower colorectal cancer risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sentinel node biopsy has recently evolved as a means of staging the axilla in breast cancer with minimal surgical trauma. The aim of this prospective multicentre study was to identify factors that influencd the detection and false-negative rates during the learning phase. Methods: Data on all 498 sentinel node biopsies performed between August 1997 and December 1999 in Sweden were collected. Results: A sentinel node was found in 450 patients (90 per cent). Preoperative scintigraphy visualized 83 per cent of all sentinel nodes. The detection rate was higher with same-day injection of tracer than with injection the day before (96 versus 86 per cent; P < 0·01). Dye injected less than 5 min or more than 30 min before the start of the operation lowered the detection rate (less than 60 per cent versus more than 65 per cent; P = 0·02). The detection rate varied from 61 to 100 per cent between surgeons. The false-negative rate was 11 per cent. The presence of multiple tumour foci and a high S-phase fraction increased the risk of a false-negative sentinel node, whereas the number of operations performed by each surgeon was less important. Conclusion: Training of the individual surgeon influenced the detection rate, as did timing of tracer and dye injection. The false-negative rate seemed to be related to biological factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ductal breast carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is regarded as a precursor to invasive breast cancer. The progression from in situ to invasive cancer is however little understood. We compared some tumour markers in invasive and in situ breast carcinomas trying to find steps in this progression. We designed a semi-experimental setting and compared histopathological grading and tumour marker expression in pure DCIS (n = 194), small invasive lesions (n = 127) and lesions with both an invasive and in situ component (n = 305). Grading was done according to the Elston-Ellis and EORTC classification systems, respectively. Immunohistochemical staining was conducted for p53, c-erbB-2, Ki-67, ER, PR, bcl-2 and angiogenesis. All markers correlated with grade rather than with invasiveness. No marker was clearly associated with the progression from in situ to invasiveness. The expression of tumour markers was almost identical in the 2 components of mixed lesions. DCIS as a group showed a more 'malignant picture' than invasive cancer according to the markers, probably, due to a higher proportion of poorly differentiated lesions. The step between in situ and invasive cancer seems to occur independently of tumour grade. The results suggest that well-differentiated DCIS progress to well-differentiated invasive cancer and poorly differentiated DCIS progress to poorly differentiated invasive cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relation between relative body weight and colorectal cancer among women is unclear. In a large prospective cohort study, we found a positive association only for distal cancers among younger women that became attenuated at older ages. These results support previous reports in which results were stratified by age or colorectal cancer site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We studied the risk of breast and endometrial cancer in a cohort of 11,231 Swedish women prescribed different replacement hormone regimens.Methods: All 10,472 women at risk of developing breast cancer and 8,438 women at risk of endometrial cancer were followed up from the time of the questionnaire in 1987-88 through 1993, by record-linkages to the National Swedish Cancer Registry. Using data from a questionnaire we analyzed the relationships between hormone exposures and cancer risk, with non-compliers and users of less than 1 year as a reference group.Results: For breast cancer, women reporting use of estrogens combined with progestins had evidence of an increased risk relative to women denying intake or taking hormones for less than 1 year; relative risk (RR) = 1.4 (95% confidence interval 0.9-2.3) after 1-6 years of intake, and RR = 1.7 (95% CI 1.1-2.6) after more than 6 years. This excess risk seemed confined to recent exposure. We found no association with intake of estrogens alone using non-compliers and short-term takers as the reference group. The risk of invasive endometrial cancer was increased four-fold in women using medium-potency estrogens alone for 6 years or longer, RR = 4.2 (95% CI 2.5-8.4). Women on such long-term progestin-combined treatment had a lower, non-significant, excess risk (RR = 1.4; 95% CI 0.6-3.3).Conclusions: We conclude that long-term recent use of estrogen-progestin combined replacement therapy may increase the risk of breast cancer. Exposure to estrogen alone substantially elevates the risk of endometrial cancer, an increase that can be reduced or perhaps avoided by adding progestins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In retrospective studies of dietary habits and breast cancer risk, recall bias is a concern since diet has been publicized as a cause of breast cancer. Methods In a case-control study of diet and breast cancer risk nested within a cohort of women screened with mammography, we contrasted answers to a retrospective dietary interview with answers to a dietary questionnaire which was filled out before any diagnostic procedures for breast cancer were undertaken The source population was all women aged 40–74 in two counties in Sweden invited to mammographic screening and asked to fill out a questionnaire before the screening. Cases and controls were subsequently defined—matched on age, county of residence, and time of mammography— and approached for an interview. Results In all, 265 cases and 431 controls participated in the study. Means of monthly frequencies differed between the questionnaire and the interview for both cases and controls to a similar degree in all food groups. The percentage of agreement in the questionnaire's and the interview's classifications of study subjects into quartiles of monthly intake varied between 31% and 57%. Kappa statistics in all food groups were below 0.41. These measures of agreement did not differ between cases and controls. The confidence intervals for odds ratios of breast cancer risk obtained from the two measurements overlapped for all food groups. In a regression analysis, case subjects with low responses on the questionnaire about intake of meat, snacks, and coffee and tea gave higher responses on interview than did controls who had low questionnaire responses for these food groups. The reverse was also true, cases' responses that were high on the questionnaire were lower on interview for these food groups than were controls' responses. Conclusions We found few signs of recall bias, and the few indications of a differential misclassification that we found were not in food groups that have been publicly discussed as causes of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Our objective was to determine the possible influence that different designs of a food frequency questionnaire might have on food, energy and nutrient intake estimates.Methods: A population-based survey included 6783 women, 40-70 years old, living in central Sweden. Using a factorial study design, we compared eight different types of questionnaire covering combinations of three factors: increasing/decreasing frequency categories; addition of portion sizes; and addition of non-dietary questions. All questionnaires included the same list of 60 food items. One of the eight questionnaires was mailed to each subject according to a random assignment. The overall response rate was 77%.Results: Compared with increasing frequencies, decreasing order of frequency categories entailed 3-11% higher estimates of mean intake for 7 of 14 food groups, 4% higher estimates for energy and 3-6% higher estimates for 13 of 18 nutrients. Addition of portion sizes had heterogeneous effects, both on dietary items (e.g. from -30% decrease for eggs to +76% increase for coffee) and on calculated nutrients (from -7% for beta-carotene to +19% for vitamin C). The inclusion of some additional non-dietary questions did not influence the estimated mean intake of any food or nutrient.Conclusions: The results of this study have implications for the design of questionnaires and for pooled analyses in nutritional epidemiology, when different food questionnaires are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the relative risk for sustaining a first hip fracture after hormone replacement therapy.Design: Prospective population-based cohort study with an average observation period of 5.7 years.Setting: A prescription-based cohort in the Uppsala health care region in Sweden.Participants: The cohort (23 246 women) comprised virtually all women of 35 years of age and older who received noncontraceptive estrogens from April 1977 through March 1980. Comparisons were made with women in the background population.Measurements: Follow-up through 1983 was done with regard to hospital admissions for a first cervical or trochanteric hip fracture. The observed number of cases was compared with that expected on the basis of person-years of observation in the cohort and incidence rates in the background population. Analyses were made in exposure categories, based solely on prescription data.Main Results: During 133 022 person-years of observation, 163 cases of first hip fracture occurred, compared with the 205.5 expected, yielding an overall relative risk of 0.79 (95% CI, 0.68 to 0.93). The greatest protective effect (relative risk, 0.37; CI, 0.13 to 0.79) was found against trochanteric fracture among women receiving potent estrogens who were under 60 years of age at cohort entry. This group also had the highest proportion of treatments with combinations of estrogens and progestogen (41%). Treatment with less potent estrogens, mainly estriols, had no protective effect. Data indicated that the baseline risk for hip fracture was not lower in the cohort women than in the background population.Conclusions: Treatment with potent estrogens, both alone and possibly when combined with progestogens, reduces the risk for both cervical and trochanteric hip fractures within the first decade after menopause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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