An attempt to independently verify the utility of the Van Nuys Prognostic Index for ductal carcinoma in situ.

The Van Nuys Prognostic Index (VNPI) purports to predict the risk of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) after excision of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). It is a simple scoring scheme based on a retrospective evaluation of data from a single group of investigators. Various versions of VNPI have been proposed using clinical and pathologic features including tumor size, tumor grade, margin width, and patient age. Despite common use of VNPI in the clinical management of patients with DCIS, independent validation is lacking. A total of 222 patients were retrospectively analyzed with mammographically detected DCIS who were treated with surgical excision alone. Wire-localized excisional biopsy was performed and surgical specimens were measured and inked to assist in margin assessment. Multiple sections of each specimen were evaluated for histopathologic subtype, histologic and nuclear grade, presence of necrosis, maximum dimension of the lesion, and margin width. Each patient was prospectively evaluated by a multidisciplinary management team and presented with adjuvant treatment options including whole breast radiotherapy and/or tamoxifen. All patients in this cohort declined radiotherapy. Thirty-one percent of patients received tamoxifen. Patients were followed clinically every 3 to 6 months, and mammographically every 6 to 12 months. IBTR was confirmed by biopsy. Wilcoxon regression analysis was used to evaluate risk groups according to 3 proposed VNPI classification schemes: VNPI Group 1 (margin, grade, and size), VNPI Group 2 (margin, grade, size, and patient age), and VNPI Group 3 (margin only). With a median follow-up of 4.6 years, the crude rate of IBTR was 8.6% for the entire cohort. Of the patients who developed an IBTR, 73.7% had a lesion with a maximum dimension of < or =15 mm, 47.4% had a margin > or =10 mm, and 36.8% had grade 1 histology. At 5 years, IBTR was statistically indistinguishable for the 3 VNPI models. The 5-year freedom from IBTR for low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk groups according to VNPI Group 1 was 96%, 84%, and 100%, respectively (P = .20). Similarly, the 5-year freedom from IBTR for low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk groups according to VNPI Group 2 was 95%, 83%, and 100%, respectively (P = .19). Taking into account margin status only (VNPI Group 3) the 5-year freedom from IBTR for low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk groups was 92%, 91%, and 91%, respectively (P = .98). Tamoxifen use did not appear to affect the 5-year rate of IBTR (95% vs 94%; P = 1.0). The results of the current study suggest that VNPI or margin width alone is not a valid tool with which to assist in the stratification of patients after excision alone for their risk of IBTR at 5 years. Further follow-up may strengthen the predictive utility of the various VNPI classification schemes.

MacAusland SG ，Hepel JT ，Chong FK ，Galper SL ，Gass JS ，Ruthazer R ，Wazer DE ... -  《CANCER》

259 Patients with DCIS of the breast applying USC/Van Nuys prognostic index: a retrospective review with long term follow up.

Di Saverio S ，Catena F ，Santini D ，Ansaloni L ，Fogacci T ，Mignani S ，Leone A ，Gazzotti F ，Gagliardi S ，De Cataldis A ，Taffurelli M ... -  《BREAST CANCER RESEARCH AND TREATMENT》

Value of the Van Nuys Prognostic Index in prediction of recurrence of ductal carcinoma in situ after breast-conserving surgery.

The Van Nuys Prognostic Index (VNPI), an algorithm based on tumour size, tumour grade, presence of necrosis and excision margin width, is claimed to predict local recurrence after breast-conserving surgery for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The aim of this study was to examine the validity of the VNPI in a UK population. Clinicopathological data, including VNPI subgroups, for 237 patients who had breast-conserving operations for DCIS were examined. Multivariate data analysis was performed using a Cox regression model to examine the independence and relative importance of different variables in predicting recurrence, and to compare the data with those used in derivation of the VNPI. The median follow-up was 47 months. There were 37 ipsilateral local recurrences. Excision margin width (P < 0.001) and tumour grade (by Van Nuys grading (P = 0.014) or simple nuclear grading (P = 0.004)) were the only independent risk factors for local recurrence. Excision margin width had three times more power than grade in predicting local recurrence. Subgrouping data by VNPI score predicted recurrence-free survival (P < 0.001), but stratified 78 per cent of patients into a group with a moderate risk of local recurrence. Excision margin width is the most important predictor of local recurrence after breast-conserving surgery for DCIS. The VNPI lacked discriminatory power for guiding further patient management.

Boland GP ，Chan KC ，Knox WF ，Roberts SA ，Bundred NJ ... -  《BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY》

Prognostic significance of oncogenic markers in ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast: a clinicopathologic study.

Altintas S ，Lambein K ，Huizing MT ，Braems G ，Asjoe FT ，Hellemans H ，Van Marck E ，Weyler J ，Praet M ，Van den Broecke R ，Vermorken JB ，Tjalma WA ... -  《-》

Effect of margins on ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence after breast conservation therapy for lymph node-negative breast carcinoma.

Breast conservative surgery (CS) with radiotherapy (RT) is the most commonly used treatment for early-stage breast carcinoma. However, there is controversy regarding the importance of the pathologic margin status on the risk of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR). The current study evaluated the effect of the pathologic margin status on IBTR rates in a cohort of women with lymph node-negative breast carcinoma treated with CS and RT. Between August 1980 and December 1994, 452 women with pathologically lymph node-negative breast carcinoma were treated with CS and RT at Westmead Hospital (Westmead, Australia). Central pathology review was performed for all women. The final margins were negative for 352 women (77.9%), positive (invasive and/or in situ) for 42 women (9.3%), and indeterminate for 58 women (12.8%). Information regarding an extensive intraductal component (EIC), lymphovascular invasion, pathologic tumor size, histologic grade, and nuclear grade was available for most women. After macroscopic total excision of the tumor, all women received whole-breast irradiation (usually 45-50.4 grays [Gy]) and the majority of women also received a local tumor bed boost (range, 8-30 Gy). After a median follow-up of 80 months, 34 women (7.5%) developed an IBTR. The crude 5-year rates of IBTR for women with negative margins, positive margins, and indeterminate margins were 3.1%, 11.9%, and 6.9%, respectively. For women with negative margins, the 5-year and 10-year actuarial rates of freedom from IBTR were 96% and 92%, respectively, compared with 88% and 75%, respectively, for women with positive margins (P = 0.003). Univariate analysis demonstrated that the only factors associated with a significantly higher risk of IBTR were age at diagnosis (P < 0.050) and margin status (P = 0.005). Multivariate analysis showed that both age and margin status were independent predictors of IBTR. None of 24 patients with an EIC and negative margins were found to have developed an IBTR. The results of the current study were comparable to other published reports and supported the association of higher IBTR rates with positive or indeterminate margins compared with negative, pathologic margins. Furthermore, young age (age < 35 years at diagnosis) was associated with the highest risk of IBTR regardless of margin status.

Leong C ，Boyages J ，Jayasinghe UW ，Bilous M ，Ung O ，Chua B ，Salisbury E ，Wong AY ... -  《CANCER》