Aim. The usefulness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for treating sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis was evaluated. Materials and Methods. Verteporfin, a hydrophobic photosensitizer, forms a soluble aggregate with poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine-co-n-butyl methacrylate) (PMB). The concentrations of verteporfin were determined by measuring the fluorescence emitted at 700 nm. Seven days after the inoculation of A431 cells at the forearm of BALB/c nude mice, PMB-verteporfin was injected at dorsum manus and 75 J of light energy was delivered for 1 minute. Fifty-three mice were randomly assigned to the combination of PMB-verteporfin injection and light exposure, light exposure alone, PMB-verteporfin injection alone, and no treatment groups. Ten days after PDT, brachial lymph nodes, which were considered as SLNs, were harvested and evaluated. Results. The concentration of verteporfin in SLN was significantly higher than other organs. The combination of PMB-verteporfin injection and light exposure group significantly reduced the SLN metastasis (13%) comparing with no treatment group (52%), light exposure alone group (57%), and PMB-verteporfin injection alone group (46%). Conclusions. These data suggested that PDT using PMB as a nanotransporter of verteporfin could be a minimally invasive treatment of SLN metastasis in breast cancer and represent a potential alternative procedure to SLNB.
Background: Triple-negative breast cancer encompasses heterogeneous subtypes. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is ineffective against some triple-negative breast cancers, while others show a favorable prognosis despite chemoresistance. Methods: A total of 51 cases with stages I and II triple-negative breast cancer were analyzed; 34 triple-negative breast cancers treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy were divided into “good responders” (n = 22), showing therapeutic effect G2b or G3 in surgical specimens, and “poor responders” with therapeutic effect G0, G1a, G1b, and G2a (n = 12). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was spared in 17 cases (non-neoadjuvant chemotherapy group). Apocrine-type triple-negative breast cancer was defined as triple-negative breast cancer immunoreactive for both androgen receptor and forkhead-box protein A1. Triple-negative breast cancer other than apocrine-type (n = 16) and special types (myoepithelial, medullary, adenoid cystic, and spindle cell carcinomas, n = 6) was categorized as basal-like subtype (n = 29). Prognosis was evaluated in each category. Results: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy provoked significant effects against basal-like triple-negative breast cancer with high Ki-67 labeling (≧50%), and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes predicted high chemosensitivity. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was avoidable in triple-negative breast cancer of apocrine- and special types showing low (<50%) Ki-67 labeling. Ten (59%) lesions in the non-neoadjuvant chemotherapy group belonged to the apocrine-type. When clinical complete remission shown by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging was reached in the course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy against basal-like triple-negative breast cancer, the neoadjuvant chemotherapy period was shortened in 14 (64%) of 22 good responders. Disease-free and overall survival rates were excellent in all groups. Conclusions: The following 2 hypothetical proposals should be proven by large-scale clinical trials. Immunohistochemical recognition of apocrine-type triple-negative breast cancer with low Ki-67 labeling is important for avoiding ineffective/unnecessary neoadjuvant chemotherapy. By employing appropriate clinical imaging, period-shortening is achievable in basal-like triple-negative breast cancer with high Ki-67 labeling.
A 55-year-old woman with stage IV breast cancer was diagnosed with heart failure. Her left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) had decreased to 37.2%. Chemotherapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) was suspected, and standard treatment for heart failure was initiated. After five months, her LVEF remained below 50% since she could not tolerate beta-blockers. Ivabradine was introduced, which remarkably improved her LVEF to 72.6% in only three months. Her myocardium was not dilated, which may be the reason that ivabradine was effective. Ivabradine has shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of CTRCD, and improved activities of daily living of an advanced-stage cancer patient.
Background: Doxorubicin containing combination chemotherapy regimens are widely used for treatment of breast and other cancers. However, these regimens are associated with significant toxicities including myocardialdysfunction and alopecia. Analogues of doxorubicin are being developed to reduce these side effects. Pirarubicin is a more lipophilic derivative of doxorubicin, with a higher uptake rate of cells, lower cardiotoxicity and better antitumor efficacy in preclinical models. Purpose: We conducted a single-institution phase I clinical trial to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and define the toxic effects and recommended dose (RD) of pirarubicin in combination with cyclophosphamide in patients with breast cancer. Patients and Methods: Patients who had received prior anthracycline therapy were excluded. Cohorts of three patients with breast cancer were treated with escalating doses of pirarubicin (40 to 70 mg/m2) intravenously administered every three weeks in combination with cyclophosphamide (60 mg/m2) for 4 or more cycles. Results: Eleven patients of stage I/II operable breast cancer received a total of 46 cycles of pirarubicin and cyclophosphamide as post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy. The most frequently reported treatment-related grade 2 adverse events were constipation (36%) and nausea (27%). There were no grade 3/4 events. Grade 2 leukocytopenia and grade 2 fatigue were dose-limiting at 70 mg/m2, the maximum-tolerated dose was 60 mg/m2. Grade 2 alopecia was reported in 60 and 70 mg/m2 pirarubicin group. Conclusion: At the MTD of 60 mg/m2 every 3 weeks, pirarubicin in combination with cyclophosphamide was associated with mild, reversible toxicity. The recommended phase II dose is pirarubicin 50 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide 60 mg/m2 on day 1 every 21 days. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-10-13.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.