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Depuis les debuts des sciences humaines en cancerologie, la recherche sociologique et anthropologique, dans les etablissements de soins, s’est largement developpee sans toujours convaincre de son interet. Cet article vise a aborder les freins qui entravent la rencontre et la comprehension mutuelles entre soignants et chercheurs en sciences humaines, les problematiques qu’engendre l’introduction des sciences humaines en cancerologie, ainsi que les interets et les apports pratiques que peut apporter un veritable partenariat soignant-chercheur.

Cette etude a pour objectif d’apprecier le vecu psychologique differentiel des macrobiopsies du sein afin d’adapter le don d’information et la prise en charge des femmes. Un questionnaire sur le stress percu (Q1) est remis en fin de procedure (T1) a 73 femmes. A l’annonce des resultats histologiques (T2), un questionnaire (Q2) est remis a ces memes patientes (du 1er mars 2002 au 31 mars 2003). Ce questionnaire a ete valide grâce a une analyse en composantes principales suivie de rotation Varimax. Cela permet d’identifier trois facteurs: «procedure», «qualite de vie», «information et vecu post-prelevement». Deux sous-groupes en fonction des resultats histologiques sont constitues. Le premier sous-groupe (G1) correspond aux femmes ayant un resultat histologique benin, le second sous-groupe (G2) correspond aux femmes ayant un resultat histologique malin. Seul le facteur «procedure» presente un vecu differentiel entre T1 et T2 (p = 0,022 ). Il n’y a pas de differences significatives entre les sous-groupes G1 et G2 dans le vecu differentiel de la procedure (p = 0,357). L’information est consideree comme satisfaisante dans 90 % des cas. Une information adaptee et une empathie medicale sont le garant d’une bonne tolerance de ce type de procedure.

The aim of the survey Parcours de Femmes 2001 was to evaluate at a national level, the overall management of patients with breast or gynecological cancers and to determine their needs. Eligible patients had either received at least 3 months of treatment or had completed treatment less than 1 year before the study. from February to November 2001, 2 839 questionnaires were distributed ; 1 870 were returned (66% response rate); 87% of patients had breast cancer and 76% de novo cancer (primary management). Overall, 92% of women received information/explanations with an acceptable quality. Information of patients clearly improved during last years but insufficiencies persist for two points : adverse events of treatments and disease progression, especially for recurrent patients. Fatigue (78%), anxiety (66%) and chemotherapy adverse events were the most frequent problems and were well managed by caregivers, except for fatigue due to diagnostic and treatment difficulties. Problems relating to daily life (48% of patients reported difficulty in doing housework), material and social life were poorly identified and remained largely unmanaged. Information given to female cancer patients must be improved particularly in relapsed patients. Psychosocial management requires a more holistic approach through new channels together with the coordination of existing structures.

Summary version of the standards, options and recommendations for nonmetastatic breast cancer (updated January 2001)

Contexte. - La Federation nationale des centres de lutte contre le cancer (FNCLCC) et les Centres regionaux de lutte contre le cancer (CRLCC), en collaboration avec des partenaires des secteurs publics (CHU, CHG), prives et certaines societes savantes ont entrepris, depuis 1993, d'elaborer des recommandations pour la pratique clinique en cancerologie: les « Standards, Options et Recommandations » (SOR). L'objectif de l'operation SOR est d'ameliorer la qualite et l'efficience des soins aux patients atteints de cancer en fournissant aux praticiens une aide a la decision facilement utilisable. La methodologie d'elaboration des SOR repose sur une revue et une analyse critique des donnees de la litterature scientifique par un groupe pluridisciplinaire d'experts, permettant de definir, sur la base du niveau de preuve scientifique et du jugement argumente des experts, des Standards, des Options et des Recommandations. Avant publication, les SOR sont revus par des experts independants. Objectifs. - Definir, sur la base d'une revue de la litterature et de l'accord d'experts, des Standards, Options et Recommandations pour la radiotherapie des patientes atteintes de cancers de sein infiltrants non metastatiques. Methodes. - Un groupe pluridisciplinaire mis en place par la FNCLCC a revu les donnees scientifiques disponibles concernant les cancers du sein infiltrants non metastatiques. Apres selection des articles, synthese des resultats et redaction des SOR, le document a ete soumis pour relecture et approbation a 148 relecteurs independants. Resultats. - Ce document presente le chapitre radiotherapie de la mise a jour 2001 du SOR paru initialement en 1996. Les modifications des Standards, Options et Recommandations apportees dans cette actualisation sont liees a de nouvelles publications. Les principales recommandations sont: il l'irradiation du sein apres chirurgie conservatrice diminue significativement le risque de recidive locale (niveau de preuve A) et l'irradiation de la paroi apres mastectomie diminue d'autant plus le risque qu'il existe des facteurs de recidive locale (niveau de preuve A). (2) Lorqu'une chirurgie conservatrice du sein est effectuee, une radiotherapie mammaire doit toujours etre delivree, a la dose minimale de 50 Gy en 25 fractions (standard, niveau de preuve A). (3) Chez les femmes de moins de 50 ans, un complement d'irradiation doit toujours etre delivre dans le lit tumoral, y compris lorsque les berges sont saines (standard, niveau de preuve B). (4) L'irradiation de la chaine mammaire interne est indiquee lorque la tumeur est interne ou centrale, en l'absence d'envahissement ganglionnaire axillaire (accord d'experts) et dans tous les cas d'envahissement ganglionnaire axillaire (standard, niveau de preuve B1). (5) L'irradiation des ganglions sus- et sous-claviculaires est indiquee en presence d'envahissement ganglionnaire axillaire (standard, niveau de preuve B1).

Six hundred seventy-six patients with ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast (DCIS) from 1971 to 1995 were included in the study. Computerized patient files were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical findings were less frequently reported to reveal DCIS after 1989. Positive mammographic findings were obtained in 87% of patients and were mainly represented by microcalcifications (79.4%). Treatment procedures were breast-conserving surgery (BCS) alone (37.5%), BCS followed by radiation (BCSR) (25.5%), or mastectomy (M) (37%). The actuarial local recurrence was 2.6% in the M group (94 months of follow-up), 14.5% in the BCS group (85,7 months of follow-up), and 7.5% in the BCSR group (78.8 months of follow-up). Predictive factors of recurrence in all patients were invaded margin status and age. In the BCS group, grade was also a predictive factor. The analysis per decade shows that the lesions currently diagnosed are less serious than those of the past. All the recurrence in patients with positive margins was in the same quadrant as the original lesion. This further emphasizes the need for clear margins.

To assess the clinical and histological characteristics of breast cancer (BC) occurring after Hodgkin's disease (HD) and give possible therapies and prevention methods.In a retrospective multicentric analysis, 117 women and two men treated for HD subsequently developed 133 BCs. The median age at diagnosis of HD was 24 years. The HD stages were stage I in 25 cases (21%), stage II in 70 cases (59%), stage III in 13 cases (11%), stage IV in six cases (5%) and not specified in five cases (4%). Radiotherapy (RT) was used alone in 74 patients (63%) and combined modalities with chemotherapy (CT) was used in 43 patients (37%).BC occurred after a median interval of 16 years. TNM classification (UICC, 1978) showed 15 T0 (11.3%), 44 T1 (33.1%), 36 T2 (27.1%), nine T3 (6.7%), 15 T4 (11.3%) and 14 Tx (10.5%). Ductal infiltrating carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) represented 81.2 and 11.3% of the cases, respectively. Among the infiltrating carcinoma, the axillary involvement rate was 50%. Seventy-four tumours were treated by mastectomy without (67) or with (ten) RT. Forty-four tumours had lumpectomy without (12) or with (32) RT. Another four received RT alone, and one CT alone. Sixteen patients (12%) developed isolated local recurrence. Thirty-nine patients (31.7%) developed metastases and 34 died; 38 are in complete remission whereas five died of intercurrent disease. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 65.1%. The 5-year disease-specific survival rates for the pN0, pN1-3 and pN3 groups were 91, 66 and 15%, respectively (P0.0001), and 100, 88, and 64% for the TIS, T1 and T2. For the T3 and T4, the survival rates decreased sharply to 32 and 23%, respectively. These secondary BC are of two types: a large number of aggressive tumours with a very unfavourable prognosis (especially in the case of pN3 and/or T3T4), and many tumours with a 'slow spreading' such as DCIS and microinvasive lesions. These lesions developed especially in patients treated exclusively by RT.The young women and girls treated for HD should be carefully monitored in the long-term by clinical examination, mammography and ultrasonography. We suggest that a baseline mammography is performed 5-8 years after supradiaphragmatic irradiation (complete mantle or involved field) in patients who were treated before 30 years of age. Subsequent mammographies should be performed every 2 years or each year, depending on the characteristics of the breast tissue (e.g. density) and especially in the case of an association with other BC risk factors. This screening seems of importance due to excellent prognosis in our T(1S)T(1) groups, and the possibility of offering these young women a conservative treatment.

Resume Afin d'evaluer le besoin des patients concernant l'information donnee en radiotherapie, une etude anthropologique, qualitative, a ete menee. Celle-ci s'est effectuee a partir de l'experience de la radiotherapie de 13 femmes atteintes d'un cancer du sein et de six hommes ayant un cancer des voies aerodigestives superieures. Une anthropologue a passe un an dans le service de radiotherapie de l'institut Bergonie et a recueilli les besoins des patients a travers l'observation du vecu des traitements et par des entretiens. Ceux-ci ont ete realises dans les differents lieux et pendant les differentes etapes du traitement et analyses qualitativement et quantitativement. Leurs analyses ont mis en valeur le besoin de plus d'explications concernant les differentes etapes de la radiotherapie et, surtout, le besoin d'une reconnaissance des attentes de l'autre (empathie).

Objectives: To conduct a survey of the angiosarcomas developing after breast conservation for carcinoma in the French Cancer Centers, to study the evolution of these cases in detail, and to review literature in an attempt to propose an optimal treatment scheme. Material and Methods: Eleven of the 20 French Cancer Centers agreed to research and retrospectively analyze all angiosarcomas discovered in patients previously treated by conservative treatment. The majority of the patients were node negative, T1N0M0. The mean age of the patients at the time of primary breast cancer treatment was 62.5 years, and 69 years at the diagnosis of the angiosarcoma. Results: During the last two decades, nearly 20,000 patients have been treated conservatively in these 11 centers, and only 9 cases of angiosarcoma were found. The median latency period between the treatment of the breast carcinoma and the diagnosis of the breast angiosarcoma was approximately 74 months, with a range of 57–108 months. Mastectomy was performed as the main treatment of this angiosarcoma. All recurrences after mastectomy for the angiosarcoma appeared within 16 months after the mastectomy. A median time of recurrence was found to be 7.5 months, regardless of the treatment. The angiosarcomas appeared to be very aggressive, and chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and sometimes hyperthermia could only palliate the condition for a short time. After the diagnosis of angiosarcoma, the median survival was 15.5 months, showing a particularly poor prognosis. Only 1 patient of 9 is alive without progressive disease at 32 months after salvage mastectomy for the recurrence of the angiosarcoma. Precise data obtained from 11 centers show that, of 18115 breast carcinomas treated conservatively, only 9 breast angiosarcomas are reported, which represents a prevalence of 5 cases of angiosarcoma per 10,000, which is the same prevalence for primary breast angiosarcomas occurring in healthy breasts. Conclusion: Angiosarcoma developing after breast conserving therapy for carcinoma is a rare event, and induction of it by treatment is controversial. However, early diagnosis is essential and it appears that radical mastectomy gives the highest chance of cure and the best long-term survival.

Resume Objectif de l'etude Cette etude randomisee a pour objectif d'apprecier les avantages et les inconvenients d'une chimiotherapie neo-adjuvante dans des cancers du sein operables de plus de 3 cm de diametre. Patients et methodes Cet essai pragmatique randomise a ete conduit dans un seul centre (institut Bergonie, Bordeaux): 272 malades de moins de 70 ans ont ete incluses de janvier 1985 a avril 1989. Deux attitudes therapeutiques ont ete comparees: le groupe A (138 cas) recevait le traitement classique par mastectomie et curage axillaire avec chimiotherapie adjuvante en cas d'envahissement ganglionnaire (n = 82) ou de negativite du dosage de recepteurs hormonaux (n = 22); le groupe B (134 cas) recevait la meme chimiotherapie en induction avec un traitement locoregional adapte en fonction de la reponse obtenue. La dimension tumorale clinique initiale moyenne etait de 43 mm. Resultats La duree moyenne du suivi a ete de 124 mois. Dans le groupe B, 49 malades (36,5 %) se sont averees chimioresistantes d'emblee; 84 (62,6 %) ont ete chimiosensibles et ont beneficie d'un traitement conservateur. Dans ce dernier sous-groupe, la survenue d'une rechute locale a rendu necessaire une mastectomie seconde dans 19 cas (22,6 %). Les courbes de survie ne sont pas differentes dans les groupes A et B, bien que le nombre de rechutes locoregionales ait ete plus important dans le groupe B. A10 ans, la survie globale a ete de 60 % et la moitie des patientes vivantes du groupe B ont pu conserver leur sein. Conclusion La chimiotherapie d'induction a permis de realiser deux fois sur trois un traitement conservateur du sein, initialement juge impossible au prix d'un taux de rechute locoregionale plus important que ce que l'on observe apres mastectomie et chimiotherapie adjuvante.

The relationship between pregnancy and the outcome of breast cancer remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic value of pregnancy at the time of diagnosis of primary infiltrating breast cancer. In a retrospective multi-center study we compared a group of 154 patients presenting pregnancy-associated (PA) breast cancer with a control group of 308 patients presenting non-pregnancy-associated (non-PA) breast cancer. Classic prognostic factors, treatment modalities, disease-free survival and overall survival were compared in the 2 groups. The relative importance of pregnancy was assessed by Cox multivariate analysis. There was a significantly higher proportion of inflammatory breast cancer, large tumors and negative receptor status in the PA group. Five-year recurrence-free survival, metastasis-free survival and overall survival were lower both in the whole PA group and in the PA sub-group excluding patients with inflammatory breast cancer than in the corresponding non-PA groups. According to clinical stage, histoprognostic grade and microscopic lymph-node involvement, probability of 5-year metastasis-free survival and overall survival was lower in the PA group. Outcome was significantly poorer after chemotherapy for patients in the PA sub-group than in the non-PA sub-group. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that pregnancy was an independent and significant prognostic factor. Pregnancy has an adverse effect on the outcome of breast cancer. Concurrent or recent pregnancy should be taken into account in the development of new systemic therapies. Our findings have important implications for further research into the basic mechanisms of cancer.

Background and purpose : We performed a survey to evaluate the present status and means of information given to patients treated by radiotherapy. A short questionnaire was sent, with the help of ESTRO, to 746 European heads of department with a request to send specific documents used for informing the patient. Within 2 months (March and April 1996) we received 290 answers (39%) and 97 centres sent documents. Materials and methods : Analysis of the questionnaire and the documents was performed quantitatively with usual statistical methods and qualitatively with a socio-anthropological method of content analysis. Results : Analysis of the questionnaire shows the major role of the radiation oncologist in giving information and writing documents. The 298 different samples sent from 97 centres represent a wide panel with a booklet of general information (59 booklets/57 centres), practical advice and specific explanations (177 documents/49 centres) and informed consent (36 documents/28 centres). The anthropological study was centred on the way information was given, evaluation of the patient's understanding and analysis of documents sent. Conclusion : This preliminary survey needs to be completed by a study, including the patient's point of view and needs, about the information given.

The objective of this retrospective study was to identify prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic disparities between younger (≤ 40 years) and older (40 years) women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast.From 1971 to 2001, all patients treated for DCIS at Institut Bergonié were included in our analyses. Follow-up data was collected over 10 years. We used univariate and multivariate analyses to investigate patient-, disease-, and treatment-related factors predictive of diagnostic, histological, therapeutic, and prognostic DCIS criteria.A total of 812 patients were eligible including 731 women aged40 years and 81 women ≤40 years. Younger women with DCIS were more likely to receive a mastectomy and less likely to receive radiotherapy. Young age and initial surgical treatment (lumpectomy and especially nonfree margins) were revealed as predictive of recurrence in multivariate analyses.Young age represents a recurrence risk independent of histological and clinical characteristics of the tumor. Initial treatment, especially for nonfree margins, is also a predictive factor. Appropriate initial surgery with particularly wide margins appears essential for the treatment of young women with DCIS.

From now on the introduction of social and human sciences studies in the field of oncology has not always been conclusive. This article aims to analyze the bounds that border the meeting and the understanding between physicians, patients and anthropologists. It also treats the problems due to the introduction of applied anthropology in the field of oncology and points up the interests and practical contributions that this disciplinary bring and could bring.

A longitudinal study enrolled 75 women with primary breast cancer. Before the confirmation of diagnosis, authors measured trait-anxiety and body satisfaction. Three weeks after diagnosis, coping strategies and state-anxiety were evaluated. The number of days of survival was measured 10 years after diagnosis. In Cox proportional-hazards models adjusting for severity of disease and age, high social support and low state-anxiety predicted an increased risk of death from breast cancer. A significant increased risk of death in women with low scores on the Body Image Questionnaire appeared only in the univariate model.

In response to the evolution of the information-seeking behaviour of patients and concerns from health professionals regarding cancer patient information, the French National Federation of Comprehensive Cancer Centres (FNCLCC) introduced, in 1998, an information and education program dedicated to patients and relatives, the SOR SAVOIR PATIENT program (SSP). The methodology of this program adheres to established quality criteria regarding the elaboration of patient information. Cancer patient information, developed in this program, is based on clinical practice guidelines produced by the FNCLCC and the twenty French cancer centres, the National League against Cancer, The National Cancer Institute, the French Hospital Federation, the National Oncology Federation of Regional and University Hospitals, the French Oncology Federation of General Hospitals, many learned societies, as well as an active participation of patients, former patients and caregivers. The information and dialogue handbook SOR SAVOIR PATIENT Vivre pendant et après un cancer reporting on the psychological aspects of cancer was worked out and published on the Web in 2005. The guide aims to provide cancer patients with support and advice about the psychological impact of the disease. It provides information on the possible personal consequences of the disease and treatments, in every domain: psychological, emotional, interpersonal, familial or professional. Patients are also advised of the emotional challenges associated with cancer, of the support they may expect at every stage of the disease, from diagnosis to treatment, and of psychological outcome after the disease is over. The document also provides healthcare professionals with a valuable, concise source of validated information on the psychological aspects of cancer, thus facilitating communication between carers and patients. Information provided in the present article has been selected from the information and dialogue handbook SOR SAVOIR PATIENT Vivre pendant et après un cancer. The document addresses the issue of the psychological support made available to the patients during and after the disease. The SOR SAVOIR PATIENT guide can be downloaded from the FNCLCC website at: http://www.fnclcc.fr

In response to the evolution of the information-seeking behaviour of patients and concerns from health professionals regarding cancer patient information, the French National Federation of Comprehensive Cancer Centres (FNCLCC) introduced, in 1998, an information and education program dedicated to patients and relatives,the SOR SAVOIR PATIENT program. The methodology of this program adheres to established quality criteria regarding the elaboration of patient information. Cancer patient information, developed in this program, is based on clinical practice guidelines produced by the FNCLCC and the twenty French regional cancer centres, the National League against Cancer, The National Cancer Institute, the French Hospital Federation, the National Oncology Federation of Regional and University Hospitals,the French Oncology Federation of General Hospitals, many learned societies, as well as an active participation of patients, former patients and caregivers. The handbookSOR SAVOIR PATIENT Cancer and Fatigue is an adapted version of different publications regarding fatigue in oncology. It is meant to provide a basis for the explanationof the disease and to facilitate discussions with the healthcare team. It is available from the FNCLCC (101, rue de Tolbiac, 75013 Paris, Tel. (0033) 1, 01 76 64 78 00,www.fnclcc.fr). This document has been validated at the end of 2005 and published in January 2006. SOR SAVOIR PATIENT guides are systematically updated when new research becomes available. This article is extract from the handbook SOR SAVOIR PATIENT Cancer and Fatigue and concerns the causes and effects of fatigue and how to cope with fatigue. This information allow patients to better understand the causes and effects of fatigue, how to cope fatigue...which represent important patient information needs. This article is meant to inform patients and relatives about the disease and its treatments. It also offers health professionals a synthetic evidence-based patient information source which facilitates discussions with the patient.

The " Standards, Options and Recommendations " (SOR) project, started in 1993, is a collaboration between the Federation of French Cancer Centres (FNCLCC), the 20 French cancer centres, and specialists from French public universities, general hospitals and private clinics. The main objective is the development of clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of health care and the outcome of cancer patients. The methodology is based on a literature review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary group of experts, with feedback from specialists in cancer care delivery. Objectives : To update the Standards, Options and Recommendations clinical practice guidelines for the management of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast (DCIS). Methods : The working group identified the questions requiring up-dating from the previous guideline. Medline(r) and Embase(r) were searched using specific search strategies from year 1996 to year 2003. In addition several Internet sites were searched in October 2002. Results : Clinical guidelines have been defined for the management of diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, and treatment of recurrence of DCIS. The issue of hormone replacement therapy has also been addressed in the context of DCIS.

The aim of the survey Parcours de Femmes 2001 was to evaluate at a national level, the overall management of patients with breast or gynecological cancers and to determine their needs. Eligible patients had either received at least 3 months of treatment or had completed treatment less than 1 year before the study. from February to November 2001, 2 839 questionnaires were distributed ; 1 870 were returned (66% response rate); 87% of patients had breast cancer and 76% de novo cancer (primary management). Overall, 92% of women received information/explanations with an acceptable quality. Information of patients clearly improved during last years but insufficiencies persist for two points : adverse events of treatments and disease progression, especially for recurrent patients. Fatigue (78%), anxiety (66%) and chemotherapy adverse events were the most frequent problems and were well managed by caregivers, except for fatigue due to diagnostic and treatment difficulties. Problems relating to daily life (48% of patients reported difficulty in doing housework), material and social life were poorly identified and remained largely unmanaged. Information given to female cancer patients must be improved particularly in relapsed patients. Psychosocial management requires a more holistic approach through new channels together with the coordination of existing structures.

The methods of anthropology allow us to understand group dynamics by bringing to light a web of linked causalities in order to describe human and social relationships. The density and dimension of the relationship with a patient have direct repercussions on professional motivation. But this proximity has its drawbacks. The process of identification to patients is inevitable and the fear of "contamination" is not medical but symbolic: it is expressed in the difficulty of appreciating the distance, the difference between the "other" (the patient) and the self (the physician). Health professionals have therefore to find a delicate compromise between proximity and strategies of distance. The temptation is therefore great, of considering the patient only through his pathology. This "imagined patient" allows the clinician to define the frames structuring his relation to the patient. But at the same time, this creates a loss of identity for the patient. In this context, the relation between patient and clinician should be based primarily on a necessary individual acknowledgement of the patient who expresses it in a re appropriation of his illness. Thus he sets himself as an actor of the therapeutic relation and no longer as an object of clinical care.

We retrospectively analysed mammographies of 909 ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (1980-1999) and compared our results to those of literature. Microcalcifications were present in 75% of the cases, and soft-tissue abnormalities in 27% cases with association with calcifications in 14% of cases. Palpable masses were found in 12% of the cases and nipple discharge was present in 12% of the cases. The radiographic-pathologic correlation allowed to suspect the DCIS "aggressiveness" on radiologic signs. Granular, linear, branching and/or galactophoric topography of the microcalcifications were correlated with necrosis, grade 3, comedocarcinoma type. A number of microcalcifications higher than 20 was correlated with necrosis and grade 3. Mammographic size was correlated to histologic size. Masses were correlated with grade 1. A diagnosis strategy can be proposed with a multidisciplinar approach.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is very frequent in cancer patients. The reasons of this attraction are very complex. Cultural context, psychological and functional status of the patients (anxiety, depression, more physical symptoms) emerge as significative predictors. Dissatisfaction with conventional medicine, lack of holism (inadequate information regarding diet, nutrition, exercise and ignorance of social and spiritual dimensions) are important motivations for turning to CAM. To optimise the patient-physician relationship and to avoid a propensity to ineproved treatments, accurate and adequate communication is necessary.

The alpha isoform of Topoisomerase IIalpha (Topo IIalpha) is a proliferation marker as well as a target for several chemotherapeutic agents such as anthracyclines. In vitro studies have demonstrated the relationship between the Topo IIalpha expression level and chemosensitivity of target cancer cells. To verify this effect in vivo, we selected 125 patients presenting with T(2)3 cm and T(3) N(0-1) M(0) breast tumours who were treated by six cycles of primary chemotherapy, including epirubicin before any surgery. Therapy response was assessed by clinical and X-ray mammogram measurements of tumour shrinkage. The pretherapeutic core biopsies were immunostained with a monoclonal antibody (Ki-S7) against Topo IIalpha. Ki-S7 positivity ranged from 0 to 50% (median, 15%). A high percentage of Ki-S7-positive cells (15%) was associated with tumour regression under chemotherapy (OR=2.88, CI: 1.3-6.4, P=0.004). Ki-S7 further emerged as an independent predictor of tumour regression (OR=3.34, CI: 1.41-7.93, P=0.006), together with tumour size of less than 40 mm (OR=3.82, CI: 1.58-9.25, P=0.002) and negative oestrogen receptor (ER) status (OR=3.35, CI: 1.43-7.86, P=0.005), in a multivariate analysis including tumour size, SBR grade, ER and PR status, Ki-67, p53 and Her-2/neu. Our clinical results confirm in vitro data on the relationship between Topo IIalpha expression and tumour chemosensitivity and thus may have important practical implications.

International audience; With the help of ESTRO, we performed a survey to evaluate the present status and means in information given to patients treated by radiotherapy. A short questionnaire was sent to 746 European heads of departments with a request to send specific documents used for informing the patients. Within 2 months (march and april 1996), we received 290 answers (39%) and 97 centers send 298 documents. Methods : analysis of the questionnary and the documents was performed quantitatively with uusual statistical methods and qualitatively with a socio-anthropological method of content analysis. Results : Analysis of the questionnaire shows the major role of the radiation oncologist in giving information and writing documents. The 298 different samples sent from 97 centres represent a wide panel with a booklet of general information (59 booklets /57 centers), practical advice and specific explanations (177 documents/ 49 centers) and informed consent (36 documents/28 centers). the anthropological study was centred on the way information was given, evaluation of the patient'sunderstanding and qualitative analysis of documents sent. Conclusion : the high rate of response (40 %) of this survey shows the general interest for radiation therapy staffs on patient information. However, this preliminary survey needs to be completed by a study, including the patient's point of view and needs, about the information given.

From 1960 to 1986, 397 cases of non-metastatic male breast cancer (MBC) treated in 14 French regional cancer centres were reviewed. The median age was 64 years (range 25-93). TNM classification (UICC, 1978) showed seven T0, 79 T1, 162 T2, 31 T3, 74 T4 and 44 unclassified tumours (Tx). Clinical positive lymph nodes were found in 31% of the patients. 24 patients received radiotherapy only, and 373 underwent surgery, 247 of these with postoperative irradiation. Adjuvant chemotherapy and hormonal therapy were used in 71 and 68 patients, respectively. There were 382 infiltrating carcinomas and 15 pure ductal carcinoma in situ. Lymph node involvement was found in 56% of infiltrating carcinoma. The oestrogen (ER) and progesterone (PgR) receptors were positive in 79% and 77%, respectively, of examined cases. Isolated local and regional recurrence were observed in 8.8% and 4.5% of cases, respectively and 40% of patients developed metastases. The crude survival rates by Kaplan-Meier method were 65% and 38% at 5 and 10 years, respectively, and the disease-specific survival rates (without death due to intercurrent disease or second cancer) was 74% at 5 years and 51% at 10 years. The disease-specific survival rate for pN- and pN+ groups were 77% and 39% at 10 years. The prognostic factors were clinical size (T) and histological axillary status (pN-/pN+). The relative risk of death for pN- was 1.0, 2.0 and 3.2 in the T0-T1, T2 and T3-T4 groups, respectively. For pN+, these relative risks increased 1.9, 3.9 and 6.0 in the same groups. The optimal treatment include modified radical mastectomy and irradiation for cases with risk factors of local relapse (nodal invasion, large tumour with cutaneous or muscular involvement). Locoregional failure had unfavourable prognosis. First-line adjuvant treatment seems to be tamoxifen, due to the very high rate of positive hormonal receptors and the old age of the patients, which contraindicate chemotherapy in many cases. The prognosis of patients with breast cancer is the same in male and female patients when disease-specific survival rate, tumour size and axillary involvement are compared.

Material From 1960 to 1990, 581 cases of male breast cancer (MBC) were reviewed in 19 Cancer Institutes in France. 23 (4%) were pure DCIS. The median age was 56.5 years (ext. 26–77). Five patients had less than 40 years (22%). Gynecomastia was found in 10 out of 23 patients (43%). Three had family history of B. C. According to TNM classification, we found 6 impalpable lesions (T0) discovered by serosanguineous nipple discharge, 7 T1, 6 T2, and 4 Tx. Treatment The surgery consisted of 3 lumpectomies, 16 modified, 2 subcutaneous and 2 radical mastectomies. 16 patients had axillary dissections and 6 irradiation on the chest wall. Histology All cases were pure DCIS: in 14 the subtype was clearly identified: papillary (4), papillary intracystic (3), mixed papillary and cribriform (3), comedocarcinoma (2), cribriform (1), apocrine (1). Three patients had local recurrences: two occurred in the patients initially treated by lumpectomy alone: the first was again a DCIS, but the second was an infiltrating carcinoma; this patient died by metastases. The last relapse occurred on the chest wall in a patient treated by mastectomy. One patient developed a contralateral DCIS. Two patients developed a lung and kidney cancer respectively. In the literature the rate of DCIS in man varies from 0 to 16%. The serosanguineous nipple discharge seems a frequent symptom, especially in young men. The main histologic subtype is papillary (pure or intracystic). Mastectomy is the treatment of choice.

Introduction The second cancers represents the most important problem among the survivors of HD. A possible link with chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT) is suggested but genetic and immunologic factors may also be involved. Material In seven Cancer Centers, we found 35 women, previously treated for HD, who developed 37 BC. The median age at diagnosis of HD was 25 years, with 12 less than 20 years. HD stage was: 1 = 3, II = 21, III = 5, IV = 4, NS = 2. 33 women received supradiaphragmatic RT with doses varying from 35 to 45 Gy. 16 women received CT (mainly MOPP). The median interval between the diagnosis of HD and BC was 16 years. According to TNM, we found: 2 T0, 10 Tl, 12 T2, 4 T3, 6 T4 and 3 Tx. 32 were ductal infiltrating carcinoma, 2 medullary, 2 in situ and one fibrosarcoma. Axillary involvement was present in 51% of cases. Mastectomy was performed in 23 cases, a radiosurgical conservative treatment in 12 and exclusive radiotherapy in 2. Fourteen women underwent chemotherapy. Results 7 women had local relapse of BC and 15 had metastases (40%). Three had contralateral metachronous BC. 17 women are in complete remission for both diseases; 15 died of BC. Three women died of intercurrent disease. Conclusion The women treated for HD, especially before 20 years, seem to have an increased risk of subsequent BC. According to other reports, we confirm that these BC are frequently aggressive, with rapid evolution and high risk of bilaterality. Consequently, a regular mammographic follow-up is necessary to detect these lesions earlier, to allow a better prognosis and a possible conservative treatment.