11. Lymphatics of the Mammary Gland
Superficial lymphatics
From the skin except nipple and areola
a.
Upper marginal >>apical nodes after piercing CP fascia.
>>infraclavicular nodes.
b. Upper lateral with axillary tail>>pectoral group
c. Lower lateral >> pectoral + ant. Abdominal wall
d. Medial >>sternal group of same and opposite side.
a
b
d
c
Sternum
12. Deep lymphatics
From the parenchyma and glandular tissue
+ Skin of nipple and areola
•75% to axillary nodes- anterior or pectoral
group.
•20% to internal mammary nodes
•5% to posterior to posterior intercostal nodes
•Some pass to abdominal cavity from lower
medial quadrant.
13. a
b&c
Sternum
From retromammary space
a. Upper part >>Apical
group
d
b. Upper lateral
parts>>pectoral
c. Lower lateral>>pectoral
+ ant abdominal wall
d. Upper medial>>sternal
group of same and
opposite side.
e. Dangerous area >>
plexus on rectus sheath;
along falciform ligament
to hepatic nodes and into
peritoneal cavity
c
e
Rectus sheath
Peritoneal cavity
24. Invasive (infiltrating) carcinoma – Morphology:
Invasive lobular carcinoma.Parallel arrays of single files
of small, poorly cohesive cells are embedded within a
dense fibrous stroma
28. Syndrome
Breast/ovarian
Gene
BRCA1
Inheritance
Cancers
Other Features
AD*
Breast, ovarian
Cancer syndrome BRCA2
AD
Li-Fraumeni
syndrome
TP53
AD
Breast, ovarian,
Fanconi anemia in
prostate,
homozygotes
pancreatic
Breast, brain, soft
tissue sarcomas,
leukemia,
adrenocortical,
others
Cowden disease
PTEN
AD
Breast, ovary,
follicular thyroid,
colon
Adenomas of
thyroid, fibroids,
GI polyps
Peutz-Jegher
syndrome
STKII/LKB1
AD
GI, breast
Ataxiatelangiectasia
ATM
AD
Breast
Site-specific
CHEK2
AD
Breast
Hamartomas of
bowel,
pigmentation of
buccal mucosa
Homozygotes:
leukemia,
lymphoma,
cerebella ataxia,
immune
deficiency,
telangiectasias
Low penetrance
29. Li-Fraumeni Syndrome
► Mutation
of p53 gene
Tumor suppressor
► Premenopausal
breast CA
Childhood sarcoma
Brain tumors
Leukemia
Adrenocortical CA
► Accounts
for 1% of breast CA
30. Cowden Syndrome
►
Major criteria
►
Thyroid CA (follicular)
Marcocephaly
Cerebellar tumors
Endometrial CA
Breast CA – 25%-50% risk
Skin and mucosal lesions
Minor criteria
Thyroid lesions
GU tumors
GI hamartomas
Fibrocystic breast
Mental retardation
31. Tumor Grade
Histologic grade
Well differentiated, >75% tubule
Moderately differentiated, 10-75% tubule formation
Poorly differentiated, < 10% tubule formation, worse
prognosis
Intermediate grade
Low grade –
Small nuclei,
no necrosis
Grading of breast carcinomas
• Most classification systems rely primarily on nuclear morphology
and have 3 grades
37. BRCA
BRCA (breast cancer) tumor suppressor
gene,
breast cancer type susceptibility protein
Chromosome 17,
Chromosome 13
38. BRCA
► Account
to 25% of early-onset breast Ca
► 36%-85% lifetime risk of breast CA
► 16-60% lifetime risk of ovarian CA
► BRCA 1 gene
Ovarian CA
► BRCA
2 gene
Male breast CA
Prostate CA
Pancreatic CA
40. BRCA is it a Screening tool
or a Prognostic tool?
41. Screening (Significant FH)
2 or more first-degree relatives
2 or more second-degree relatives (on the
same side of the family) who meet the
following:
Breast cancer age less than 50 years
Breast and ovarian cancer in the same
bloodline or in the same individual
Male relative breast cancer age less than
50 years
Family members bilateral breast cancer
42. BRCAPRO is a statistical model, with
associated software, for assessing the
probability that an individual carries a
germline deleterious mutation of the
BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, based on family
history of breast and ovarian cancer,
including male breast cancer and bilateral
synchronous and asynchronous diagnoses
43. BRCA +
► Management
Monthly BSE beginning18yo
6 mo CBE & annual mammo beginning 25yo
Discuss risk reducing options
Prophylactic mastectomies
► Salpingo-oophorectomy – upon completion of child
bearing
►
6 mo transvaginal US & CA125 – 35 yo
45. BRCA1
Has a medullary histology
"triple negative"
high nuclear grade
Has a higher rate of proliferation
Overexpresses p53
46. Hormone Receptor (HR) status
ER +
Indicator of growth not metastatic potential
More likely to be well differentiated lower fraction of
dividing cells
Less likely to be associated with mutations, loss of
breast cancer related genes such as p53, HER-2/neu,
or EGFR
In early stage 5-10% lower likelihood of recurrence
More likely to metastasize to bone, soft tissues or
genital sites
ER
More likely to metastasize to brain, liver associated
with shorter survival
47. Breast, adenocarcinoma, immunohistochemical stain for estrogen
receptor - Low and medium power
Antibodies used to stain a section from the biopsy specimen show that virtually all of the
tumor cells express estrogen receptor protein (brown stain).
1.Staining for estrogen and progesterone receptors
Positive for both receptors
49. Since tamoxifen can potentially affect
cellular functions by binding to calmodulin
or inhibiting protein kinase C , it has been
used for its ability to inhibit cell growth
and induce apoptosis independently of the
presence of ER
50. New prognostic factors
HER-2/neu receptor status
+ relatively resistant to adjuvant endocrine
therapy
+ tumors may benefit from anthracyclinebased chemotherapy
Trastuzumab (Herceptin)
Bevacizumab (Avastin)
51. Breast cancer, immunohistochemical stain for HER2/neu High power
Immunohistochemical detection of HER2 protein expression in a section of
tissue containing the tumor shows an intense cell-surface staining pattern.
52. Molecular changes associated with breast cancer progression
Increased expression of
oncogenes
c-erb-B2, her2/neu, c-ras, c-myc
Decreased expression of tumor
suppressor genes
P53, RB, E-cadherins,
Strong (3+) membrane
immunoreactivity for HER2/neu in highgrade breast carcinoma.
The HER2 proto-oncogene encodes a cell surface receptor that is over-expressed
in approximately 25%-30% of breast cancers.
•
Trastuzumab (Herceptin®) is the first monoclonal antibody that targets the
extracelluar domain of the HER2 protein, and inhibits growth of breast cancer cells
that over express this protein.
•
53. Oncotype DX recurrence score
21 gene expression used to predict recurrence in early
stage invasive breast cancer
High risk females derived a significant benefit from
chemotherapy
Low risk females with tumors derived minimal
benefit from chemotherapy
Guides the type of chemotherapy use
54. Hybridization signals are detected using a confocal laser scanner and downloaded to a computer
for analysis (red squares, expression of the gene is higher in tumor; green square, expression of
the gene is higher in normal tissue; black squares, no difference in the expression of the gene
between tumor and normal tissue). In the display, the horizontal rows correspond to each gene
contained in the array; each ventrical row corresponds to single samples.
57. Serum Markers
CA 15-3, BR 27.29 (CA27.29), carcinoembryonic antigen
(CEA), tissue polypeptide antigen, tissue polypeptide
specific antigen, and HER-2
Screening?
Diagnosing?
Prognostic CA 15-3
Follow-up
Monitoring therapy
Indications have not been standardized
American Society of Oncology
61. Screening
► American
Cancer Society recommends
annual mammography and examination by
a physician beginning at age 40 years with
no maximum upper age limit
► Family Hx
10 yrs younger than relative’s diagnosis
► BRCA
25 yo – annual mammography
70. Calcification
Malignant
Greater density
Irregular and (usually) spiculated margins
small (<0.5 mm)
Shapes pleomorphic or heterogeneous or fine granular, fine linear,
or branching
Benign
Low density
smooth margins
Large
specific shapes:
eggshell: cyst walls,
tramlike: arterial walls,
popcorn type: fibroadenomas,
large and rodlike with possible branching: ectatic ducts
71. Ultrasound
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
Not a screening tool
Palpable vs cystic
Mammographic detected lesion
Mammography has limitations,
Dense breasts
Extremely peripherally located masses
Evaluation of axillary node status
Examining breasts recently operated or acutely
inflamed
During pregnancy
76. MRI
►
►
►
►
High risk patients
Personal history of breast ca
LCIS, atypia
1st degree relative with breast cancer
Very dense breast
Axillary lymphadenopathy undetectable primary tumor
Palpable lesions not visualized by diagnostic
mammography or ultrasonography
High sensitivity (95-100%)
10-20% will have a biopsy
89. Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
How to assess axillary LN metastasis?
Reports suggest that the sentinel lymph
node has a high predictive value in
determining the presence of axillary
metastases. Identification of a sentinel
lymph node that is free of metastatic
tumor cells may eliminate the necessity of
performing a standard axillary lymph node
dissection with its attendant morbidity
The sensitivity of SLNB ranged from 67 to 100 per cent, with a
pooled estimate of 88 (95 per cent confidence interval 85 to 90)
percent
91. Staging
AJCC
Primary tumor = T
Tx - Primary tumor cannot be assessed
T0 - No evidence of primary tumor
Tis - Carcinoma in situ
T1 - Tumor ≤2 cm in greatest dimension
T2 - Tumor > 2 cm but ≤5 cm
T3 - Tumor > 5 cm
T4 - Tumor of any size with direct
extension to chest wall or skin (including
inflammatory carcinoma)
92. Staging
Regional lymph nodes N
Nx - cannot be assessed
N0 - No regional lymph node metastases
N1 - Metastases to ipsilateral axillary
lymph nodes without fixation
N2 - Metastases to ipsilateral axillary
lymph nodes with fixation to each other
(matted), with fixation to other structures
N3 - Infraclavicular nodes have
metastases with or without axillary lymph
node involvement,
93. Staging
Distant metastases = M
Mx - Cannot be assessed
M0 - No metastases
M1 - Distant metastases, including
ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph nodes
101. Case 1
An annual screening mammogram in a 55year-old nurse administrator revealed
suspicious microcalcifications. The patient
is postmenopausal with no family history
of breast cancer. Lobular carcinoma in situ
was identified by biopsy; the lesion was
not completely excised.
102. What are reasonable options to reduce this
patient's risk of developing invasive breast
cancer?
Re-excise the lesion until there are clear
margins
Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
Treatment with raloxifene
Unilateral prophylactic mastectomy
103. Case 2
RG, a 77-year-old, white, former schoolteacher, presents
with a palpable mass in the right breast and 1 palpable
axillary lymph node. The breast mass measures 2.1 x 2.7
cm on mammography, and ultrasonography shows a
prominent axillary lymph node.
The biopsy reveals poorly differentiated invasive ductal
carcinoma with the "triple-negative" phenotype
The patient is classified as having stage IIb disease
(T2N1M0).
RG has several comorbid conditions for which she is
prescribed numerous medications. She has hypertension,
mitral and tricuspid regurgitation, atrial fibrillation, and a
pacemaker. She takes atenolol, warfarin, and atorvastatin.
The patient walks with a cane due to complications from
osteoarthritis. RG also has early-stage dementia.
104. Case Cont.
What would you recommend as the initial
management approach for this patient?
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by modified
radical mastectomy and radiotherapy (RT)
Lumpectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy
and RT
Lumpectomy with sentinel lymph node sampling
followed by adjuvant RT
Modified radical mastectomy followed by adjuvant
endocrine therapy
106. Chemoprevention
Tamoxifen use for 5 years reduces risk for at least 10 years in
premenopausal women, particularly estrogen receptor (ER)
positive invasive tumors
Tamoxifen and raloxifene are equally effective in reducing risk of
ER positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
Recommendations
For women with increased risk for breast cancer, offer
tamoxifen (20 mg/d for 5 y) to reduce risk of invasive breast
cancer.
In postmenopausal women, raloxifene (60 mg/d for 5 y) may
also be considered.
Aromatase inhibitors (eg, anastrozole, exemestane, letrozole),
fenretinide, or other SERMs are not recommended outside of
a clinical trial.
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ACOG)
107. Adjuvant Rx
► All
tumors > 1cm
► All postmenopausal women with positive
LN
► Postmenopausal women with lesion
greater than 2 cm (T2 lesion)
108. Adjuvant Hormonal Rx
► All
premenopausal women with tumor >
1cm
► All postmenopausal unless a
contraindication
114. Contraindications to Breast
Conservation
► Tumour
>5cm
► Larger tumor to breast ratio
► Two large tumours in two separate
quadrants
► Previous breast radiation
► Collagen Vascular disease (scleroderma &
Lupus)
► Diffuse calcifications or subareolar tumor
122. DCIS
DCIS and evidence of extensive disease
(>4 cm of disease or disease in more than
one quadrant) mastectomy
Limited disease, lumpectomy and radiation
therapy
Low-grade DCIS of the solid, cribriform, or
papillary subtype that is <0.5 cm in
diameter, lumpectomy alone if the
margins of resection are widely free of
disease
123. Early Invasive Breast Cancer (I, II)
Mastectomy with axillary lymph node
status and
Breast conserving surgery with axillary
lymph node status and radiation therapy
equivalent treatments
Axillary lymph node dissection
Breast conservation is considered for all
patients because of the important
cosmetic advantages
Adjuvant chemotherapy
124. Advanced Local-Regional Breast
Cancer (III)
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for all
Modified radical mastectomy,
Adjuvant radiation therapy
Adjuvant chemmotherapy
126. Local-Regional Recurrence
Mastectomy vs. Lumpectomy
Surgical resection of the local-regional
recurrence
Chemotherapy and
Antiestrogen therapy
Adjuvant radiation
127. BSO
BSO has been used to reduce the risk for
breast cancer, as well as to decrease the
risk for ovarian cancers in women with
known BRCA mutations. In premenopausal
women, BSO is estimated to decrease the
risk for breast cancer by 50%
128. Prophylactic Mastectomy
To date, PM as well as the use of CPM in breast
cancer patients have yet to show a decisive
impact on survival
In very high-risk patients with concerns about
hereditary cancer, the use of CPM addresses and
substantially reduces risk for CBC.
Aggressive screening vs surgery in mutation
carriers, PM and CPM are the most cost-effective
strategies
130. Prognosis
Biological, and independent patient factors
Genetic predisposition
Tumor size
receptor status
Axillary node involvement
Choice of treatment modality
131. Prognosis
5-year survival rates for women in the
United States have improved to 98% for
disease localized to the breast
With nodal involvement, this decreases to
81%,
With distant metastases, the 5-year
survival is only 26%.
132. Male Breast Cancer
Rare disease, accounting for ∼1% of all
breast cancer cases
Similar to breast cancer in females in its
etiology, family history, prognosis, and
treatment
30% FH
Personal history of prostate cancer
liver cirrhosis
Testicular Disorders
Gynecomastia
Extends(surface anatomy)
Above to 2nd rib
Below to 6th rib
Medially to lateral sternal line
Laterally to mid axillary line.
Axillary tail of Spence is a part of the gland extending into the axilla.
Passes through a foramen of Langer in the deep fascia(axillary).
In relation to pectoral(anterior) group of lymph nodes.
Sometimes confused for a tumor.
Medial 2/3rd on fascia over P.major
Lateral 1/3rd over S.Anterior.
Below over external oblique and its aponeurosis.
The breast is bounded by the clavicle superiorly, the sternum medially, the lateral border of the latissimus muscle laterally, and the inframammary fold inferiorly. The axillary tail of Spence extends into the deep fascia superior and lateral to the breast. The deep pectoral fascia defines the deep margin.
Fibrous bands, known as the suspensory ligaments of Cooper, divide the breast parenchyma into 12-20 separate lobules of glandular tissue. Separate branching lactiferous ducts drain each lobule. These ducts converge just beneath the nipple into sinuses that empty into a single terminal duct. Drainage from individual ducts can be localized for surgical excision.
The lateral pectoral nerve passes medially around the medial pectoralis minor, and the medial pectoral nerve passes laterally around the pectoralis minor. The names are based on the origin of the nerves from the lateral and medial cords of the brachial plexus rather than their orientation to the muscle. Injuries to these nerves are rare.
Injury to the brachial plexus can be avoided by keeping the superior extent of the axillary dissection inferior to the lower border of the axillary vein.
The thoracodorsal nerve is identifiable medial to the thoracodorsal vein running along to enter the latissimus dorsi. Injury may result in slight, if any, clinically evident weakening of the latissimus.
The long thoracic nerve is located more medially in the axilla. It runs just beneath the investing fascia of the serratus anterior, medial to the thoracodorsal complex. Injury to this nerve results in winging of the scapula on arm extension.
The skin of the axilla and upper arm is supplied by the intercostobrachial nerve, which often is sacrificed in the dissection of axillary nodes. Transection may result in numbness in these areas.
Branches of axillary artery—
sup. Thoracic A; lateral thoracic A and thoraco acromial A
Branches of internal thoracic A-perforating arteries of 2nd-4th intercostal spaces
Anterior intercostal arteries
Lateral branches of posterior intercostal arteries of 2nd-4th spaces.
All these enter the anterior surface of the gland –so posterior surface is relatively avascular and is called “Lake of Marcelli”
Venous drainage
Run towards the base of the nipple to form circulus venosus
End in the internal thoracic and axillary veins.
Posterior intercostal veins may connect with the vertebral venous plexus.
Surgical classification
The surgical classification is used in axillary dissection for breast cancer. It is entirely based on the relationship of the lymph nodes to pectoralis minor. The levels usually refer to a dissection, so a 'level 3 dissection' will have removed nodes from levels 1, 2 and 3.
Level 1 nodes
Level 1 includes all those nodes inferior to the inferolateral border of pectoralis minor. It is usually comprised of the lateral, anterior and posterior nodes.
Level 2 nodes
Level 2 consists of those nodes posterior to pectoralis minor. It includes the central nodes and some of the apical nodes.
Level 3 nodes
Level 3 consists of those nodes beyond the superior border of pectoralis minor. It includes the remaining apical nodes and infraclavicular nodes.
Sentinel node
A sentinel node is the first node to drain from a particular area. In breast cancer, it refers to the first node to drain from that portion of the breast. This is usually an anterior node.
Axillary lymph nodes receive most mammary lymphatic drainage. The internal mammary nodes also receive some drainage medially. Axillary nodes are referred to by levels, which are defined by the pectoralis minor muscle. Level I nodes are lateral, II behind, and III medial to the muscle.
Surgical classification
The surgical classification is used in axillary dissection for breast cancer. It is entirely based on the relationship of the lymph nodes to pectoralis minor. The levels usually refer to a dissection, so a 'level 3 dissection' will have removed nodes from levels 1, 2 and 3.
Level 1 nodes
Level 1 includes all those nodes inferior to the inferolateral border of pectoralis minor. It is usually comprised of the lateral, anterior and posterior nodes.
Level 2 nodes
Level 2 consists of those nodes posterior to pectoralis minor. It includes the central nodes and some of the apical nodes.
Level 3 nodes
Level 3 consists of those nodes beyond the superior border of pectoralis minor. It includes the remaining apical nodes and infraclavicular nodes.
Sentinel node
A sentinel node is the first node to drain from a particular area. In breast cancer, it refers to the first node to drain from that portion of the breast. This is usually an anterior node.
A mature breast is composed of three principal tissue types: (1) glandular epithelium, (2) fibrous stroma and supporting structures, and (3) fat. Infiltrating cells, including lymphocytes and macrophages, are also found within the breast.
In youth, the predominant tissues are epithelium and stroma, which may be replaced by fat in postmenopausal women as they age. However, there is great variability among individual women of any age. Mammography in women younger than 30 years, whose breast tissue is dense with stroma and epithelium, may produce an image without much definition. Fat absorbs relatively little radiation and provides a contrasting background that favors detection of small lesions in older patients. Throughout the fat of the breast, coursing from the overlying skin to the underlying deep fascia, strands of dense connective tissue called Cooper's ligaments provide shape to the breast. Because they are anchored into the skin, tethering of these ligaments by a small scirrhous (scarring) carcinoma commonly produces a dimple or subtle deformity on the otherwise smooth surface of the breast.
The glandular apparatus of the breast is composed of a branching system of ducts, roughly organized in a radial pattern spreading outward and downward from the nipple-areolar complex (see Fig. 34-1 ). It is possible to cannulate individual ducts and visualize the lactiferous ducts with contrast agents. Figure 34-3 shows such an image and demonstrates the arborizing tree of branching ducts, which end in terminal lobules. The contrast dye opacifies only a single ductal system and does not enter adjacent and intertwined branches from functionally independent ductal trees. At the summit of the arborizing ductal system, the subareolar ducts widen to form the lactiferous sinuses, which then exit through 10 to 15 orifices on the nipple. These large ducts close to the nipple are lined with a low columnar or cuboidal epithelium that abruptly meets the squamous epithelium of the nipple surface and invades the duct for a short distance.
In situ (Non invasive carcinoma):
A: Gross appearance of comedo carcinoma showing typical white necrotic centres.
B&C: Comedo carcinoma showing intraductal proliferation of malignant cells with central necrosis and calcifications
Noncomedo DCIS:
Cribriform DCIS with low grade nuclei the cells are forming round, regular (cookie cutter) spaces. The lumens are often filled with calcifying secretory material.
Solid DCIS almost completely filled and distorted this lobule with only a few remaining luminal cells visible. This type of DCIS is not usually associated with calcifications.
Noncomedo DCIS:
A: Papillary DCIS; delicate fibrovascular cores extend into a duct and are lined by a monographic population of tall columnar cells. Myoepithelial cells are absent.
B: Micropapillary DCIS; the papillae are connected to the duct wall by a narrow base and often have bulbous or complex outgrowths. The papillae are solid & do not have fibrovascular cores.
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS):
A monomorphic population of small, rounded, loosely cohesive cells fills and expands the acini of a lobule. The underlying lobular architecture can still be recognized.
The cells never form a mass and calcification is uncommon.
N.B.: The abnormal cells of ALH, LCIS, and invasive lobular CA are identical & consist of small cells that have oval or round nuclei with small nucleoli. Signet- ring cells containing mucin are commonly present.
LCIS almost always express ER & PR while overexpression of HER2/neu is not observed.
Note the lakes of lightly staining mucin with small islands of tumor cells
Note lymphocytes infiltrating sheets of high grade tumor cells
Note the well-formed tubules lined by a single layer of cells with apocrine snouts
Screening, in medicine, is a strategy used in a population to detect a disease in individuals without signs or symptoms of that disease.
Genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 can be performed in selected patients with a strong family history of breast or ovarian carcinoma. However, genetic counseling and discussion of subsequent management and treatment options should be performed prior to testing. The criteria for referral for genetic counseling and testing of high-risk individuals include the following:
Any patient diagnosed with breast cancer who is aged less than 40 years
Males with breast cancer, especially if they are of Jewish ancestry
Any patient with 2 or more first-degree relatives, or 2 or more second-degree relatives (on the same side of the family) who meet any of the following conditions:
Breast cancer diagnosed at in patient aged less than 50 years
Breast and ovarian cancer in the same bloodline or in the same individual
Male relative diagnosed with breast cancer when aged less than 50 years
Family members with bilateral breast cancer
According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, serum markers that may be used in the workup for breast cancer include carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen (CA) 15-3, and CA 27.29. These are not recommended routinely, and indications for their use have not been standardized.
However, once a diagnosis of breast cancer has been made, additional testing may be performed to determine a patient's likelihood of response to chemotherapy. Specifically, the Oncotype DX assay is a 21-gene assay first announced in 2003 by NSABP researchers.5 The Oncotype DX provides a score that predicts the likelihood of distant recurrence in a select group of patients who have node-negative and estrogen-receptor–positive breast cancer. Resulting scores may assist in determining the potential benefit or necessity of chemotherapy in these patients.
BRCA1 gene copy number and protein expression analysis on breast tumor section. Tumor cells in a BRCA1 methylated sample are seen to have reduced BRCA1 gene copy numbers (red signal) compared with centromere 17 (green signal) by FISH.
History
PE
Screeeninig
Biopsy
Previous history
or has a high rate of estrogen-receptor (ER) negativity, progesterone-receptor negativity, and Her2/neu negativity
Management of BRCA + breast cancer
Selected Targeted Anticancer Therapies Using Small Molecules
Hormonal Therapy for Breast Cancer
Arguably the first type of targeted therapy in oncology (Table 4) was the development of antiestrogen therapies for patients with breast cancer that expressed the estrogen receptor (ER) protein.[87] Originally developed as a competitive dextran-coated charcoal (DCC) radioligand binding assay performed on fresh tumor protein extracts and used to select patients for ablative endocrine surgery, the ER and progesterone receptor (PR) test format converted to an immunohistochemical platform when the decreased size of primary tumors associated with mass screening programs yielded insufficient tumor tissue for the DCC assay.[88]
ER and PR testing has guided the use of the drug tamoxifen (Nolvadex), the most widely prescribed antiestrogen for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer and for chemoprevention of the disease in high-risk women.[89,90] Although ER and PR testing is the front line for predicting tamoxifen response, additional biomarkers have been used to further refine therapy selection.[91] The introduction of specific estrogen response modulators and aromatase inhibitors such as anastrozole (Arimidex), letrozole (Femara), and the combination chemotherapeutic, exemestane (Emcyt)[92-96] have added new strategies for evaluating tumors for hormonal therapy.
How to determine the ER status in non-breast cancer patients?
Does it have a screening role?
Trastuzumab (Herceptin)
During the mid 1980s, the discovery of the HER-2/neu (c-erb-B2) gene and protein and subsequent association with an adverse outcome in breast cancer provided clinicians with a new biomarker that could be used to guide adjuvant chemotherapy.[51] The development of trastuzumab (Herceptin), a humanized monoclonal antibody designed to treat advanced metastatic breast cancer in which first- and second-line chemotherapy had failed, caused rapid, wide adoption of HER-2/neu testing of the patients' primary tumors.[52] Since its launch in 1998, trastuzumab has become an important therapeutic option for patients with HER-2/neu-positive breast cancer.[53-56]
Reports that fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) could outperform immunohistochemical analysis in predicting trastuzumab response[23] and the well-documented lower response rates of tumors staining immunohistochemically as intermediate (2+) vs intense (3+)[57] has resulted in a variety of approaches for patient testing (Figure 1), including immunohistochemical analysis as a primary screen with follow-up FISH testing of 1+ cases, 2+ cases, or both, or primary FISH-based testing. Trastuzumab has achieved notable results in the treatment of HER-2/neu-positive advanced metastatic disease and is under extensive evaluation in major clinical trials for its potential efficacy when used in earlier stages of breast cancer.
Figure 1. HER-2/neu testing in breast cancer. A, Immunohistochemical analysis using the HercepTest system (DAKO, Carpinteria, CA) with continuous membranous 3+ positive immunostaining for HER-2/neu protein (×400). B, HER-2/neu gene amplification detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (PathVysion, Vysis, Downers Grove, IL). Note individual signals and clusters of red signals indicating the presence of numerous additional copies of the HER-2/neu gene against the 1 or 2 green chromosome 17 centromere signals (×1,000). (Image courtesy of Kenneth J. Bloom, MD.)
Bevacizumab (Avastin)
Bevacizumab (rhuMAb-VEGF) is a humanized murine monoclonal antibody targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF regulates vascular proliferation and permeability and functions as a survival factor for newly formed blood vessels.[65-67]
In clinical trials for advanced metastatic breast cancer, the initial results of the combination treatment of bevacizumab and paclitaxel showed antitumor activity,[68] but the results of follow-up studies were not convincing that the targeting of VEGF in this clinical setting would be effective. Bevacizumab also has been combined with trastuzumab in a 2-antibody therapeutic strategy for HER-2/neu-overexpressing breast cancer.[69]
The phase 2 study evaluating bevacizumab in metastatic renal cell carcinoma reached its prespecified efficacy endpoint earlier than expected. Although late-stage clinical trials using bevacizumab with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and CPT-11 in third-line treatment for advanced colorectal cancer did not achieve all of the major endpoints,[70] when bevacizumab was used in first-line combination with 5-fluoruracil, a 5.5 month improvement in overall survival was observed.[71-73] These data led to the FDA approval of bevacizumab for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer in February 2004. Unlike cetuximab, the development of bevacizumab has not included a diagnostic eligibility test. To date, neither direct measurement of VEGF expression nor assessment of tumor microvessel density has been incorporated into the clinical trials or linked to the rates of response to this antibody.
Microarray technology provides simultaneous measurement of several thousands of genes or proteins
Gene expression array profiling distinguishes distinct subtypes of cancer
HER-2/neu (+)
Two different types of ER+
luminal A
luminal B
Basal-like breast cancer including BRCA1 mutation tumors (triple negative, poor outcome)
The main disadvantages of existing serum markers for breast cancer are a lack of sensitivity for low-volume disease and a lack of specificity. Consequently, the available markers are of no value in either screening or diagnosing early breast cancer. Although of little use for early diagnosis, however, CA 15-3 may be the first independent circulating prognostic marker described for breast cancer. Preoperative CA 15-3 concentrations may thus be combined with established prognostic factors for use in deciding which lymph node-negative breast cancer patients should receive adjuvant chemotherapy. Currently, one of the most widely used applications of tumor markers in breast cancer is in the follow-up of patients with diagnosed disease. In the absence of data from a large randomized trial, however, the clinical value of this practice is unclear. Finally, markers are potentially useful in monitoring therapy in advanced disease, particularly in patients who cannot be assessed by standard modalities.
Mammography has become the standard tool for screening and initial evaluation of breast cancer. Multiple prospective randomized controlled trials