Gian Paolo Andreoletti, MD, Editor-in-Chief  -  paolo.andreoletti@senology.it

Literature Selection

• Linda A et al.: "Borderline breast lesions diagnosed at core needle biopsy: Can magnetic resonance mammography rule out associated malignancy? Preliminary results based on 79 surgically excised lesions", Breast. 2008 Apr;17(2):125-31
• Hoogerbrugge N et al.: "The impact of a false-positive MRI on the choice for mastectomy in BRCA mutation carriers is limited", Ann Oncol. 2008 Apr;19(4):655-9
• Taylor P et al.: "Computer aids and human second reading as interventions in screening mammography: Two systematic reviews to compare effects on cancer detection and recall rate", Eur J Cancer. 2008 Apr 15; (6): 798-807
• Tsunoda-Shimizu H et al.: "Determining the morphological features of breast cancer and predicting the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy via diagnostic breast imaging", Breast Cancer. 2008 Apr;15(2):133-140
• Goodwin JW et al.: "Phase III randomized placebo-controlled trial of two doses of megestrol acetate as treatment for menopausal symptoms in women with breast cancer: Southwest Oncology Group Study 9626", J Clin Oncol. 2008 Apr 1;26(10):1650-6
• Mortimer JE et al.: "Tamoxifen, hot flashes and recurrence in breast cancer", Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2008 Apr;108(3):421-426
• Wouters MW et al.: "Should internal mammary chain (IMC) sentinel node biopsy be performed? Outcome in 90 consecutive non-biopsied patients with a positive IMC scintigraphy", Breast. 2008 Apr;17(2):152-8
• Tan LK et al.:: "Occult axillary node metastases in breast cancer are prognostically significant: results in 368 node-negative patients with 20-year follow-up", J Clin Oncol. 2008 Apr 10;26(11):1803-9
• Rampaul RS et al.: "Incidence of intramammary nodes in completion mastectomy specimens after axillary node sampling: Implications for breast conserving surgery", Breast. 2008 Apr;17(2):195-8
• Husted Madsen A et al.: "Arm morbidity following sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection: A study from the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group", Breast. 2008 Apr;17(2):138-47
• Musolino A et al.: "Immunoglobulin G fragment C receptor polymorphisms and clinical efficacy of trastuzumab-based therapy in patients with HER-2/neu-positive metastatic breast cancer", J Clin Oncol. 2008 Apr 10;26(11):1789-96
• Acharya CR et al.: "Gene expression signatures, clinicopathological features, and individualized therapy in breast cancer", JAMA. 2008 Apr 2;299(13):1574-87

Editorial

• "Contribution of ultrasound in detecting breast cancer in women with dense breasts and negative mammograms" - Stefano Ciatto, CSPO - Istituto Scientifico Prevenzione Oncologica, Firenze, Italy
   
  "The study analyses a prospective activity of ultrasound (US) screening of radiologically dense breast with negative mammography. The study confirms previous reports showing that US may detect additional mammography occult breast cancer with a substantial detection rate (around 0.3%). Whether this implies the recommendation of adding US to mammography in dense breasts as a current practice is not easy to say, as clinical studies deal with self referred women, often younger that 50 years. No doubt the benefits of US seem to be concentrated in younger women, were the incremental detection rate is quite high. The very high cost (compare to an average cost of 5,000 euros per screen detected cancer at mammography) is another obstacle. Decision on the current screening protocol need to be based on the results of ongoing conrolled trials in a screening setting (ACRIN, RIBES). In the mean time, on  an individual basis and at radiologist's judgement, US may be safely added to negative mammography with dense breast in self referring asymptomatic women informed that this might improve the detection rate of cancer at an acceptable cost in terms of unnecessary invasive assessments due to US false positives"
  (Comment on paper:  Corsetti V et al.: "Breast screening with ultrasound in women with mammography-negative dense breasts: Evidence on incremental cancer detection and false positives, and associated cost", Eur J Cancer. 2008 Feb 9; [Epub ahead of print])

Press Releases

• "Lack of patient-provider discussion contributes to disparities in use of breast reconstruction after mastectomy" - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA - www.dana-farber.org

• "Mammography May Be Beneficial To All Women, Regardless of Age" - The University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA - www.mdanderson.org

• "Researchers Learn How Signaling Molecule Orchestrates Breast Cancer's Spread " - Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA - www.mskcc.org

• "MRI before surgery leads to better-adapted treatment for breast cancer" - 6th European Breast Cancer Conference, Berlin  - www.ecco-org.eu

• "Pregnant patients lose out in breast cancer treatment; a new approach is needed" - 6th European Breast Cancer Conference, Berlin  - www.ecco-org.eu

• "New research shows no link between aromatase inhibitors and cardiovascular problems" - 6th European Breast Cancer Conference, Berlin  - www.ecco-org.eu

• "Two studies find mammograms benefit women up to the age of 75, and that three-yearly screening intervals are best" - 6th European Breast Cancer Conference, Berlin  - www.ecco-org.eu

• "Combining trastuzumab with neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery improves response rates without major adverse effects in women with HER2 positive tumours" - 6th European Breast Cancer Conference, Berlin  - www.ecco-org.eu

Video and Lectures

• 25th Annual Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference Video Presentations - www.cancerconf.com

Calendar of Events

• American College of Radiology 33rd National Conference on Breast Cancer,  May 8-10, 2008, Orlando, FL, USA
• "Basta" anthracyclines in early breast cancer? - 14th May, 2008, Fondazione IRCCS, Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
• Aggiornamenti in Senologia - 16-17 May, 2008, Napoli, Italy
• Improving Clinical Skills in Early Breast Cancer,  23-25 May, 2008, Ljubljana, Slovenia
• 10th Milan Breast Cancer Conference, 18-20 June, Milan, Italy
• Era of Hope, Department of Defense Breast Cancer Conference, 25-28 June, Baltimore, MD. USA

Literature Selection

• McKenna DA et al.: "Prostate Cancer: Role of Pretreatment MR in Predicting Outcome after External-Beam Radiation Therapy--Initial Experience", Radiology 2008 Apr;247(1):141-6
• Dhar NB et al.: "Presentation, location and overall survival of pelvic recurrence after radical cystectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder", BJU Int. 2008 Apr;101(8):969-72
• Yamakado K et al.: "Early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: radiofrequency ablation combined with chemoembolization versus hepatectomy", Radiology. 2008 Apr;247(1):260-6
• Hsing AW et al.: "Hepatitis B and C virus infection and the risk of biliary tract cancer: a population-based study in China", Int J Cancer. 2008 Apr 15;122(8):1849-53
• Cheng BQ et al.: "Chemoembolization combined with radiofrequency ablation for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma larger than 3 cm: a randomized controlled trial", JAMA. 2008 Apr 9;299(14):1669-77
• Leyvraz S et al.: "A Threefold Dose Intensity Treatment With Ifosfamide, Carboplatin, and Etoposide for Patients With Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Randomized Trial", J Natl Cancer Inst. 2008 Apr 8; [Epub ahead of print]
• Talamini R et al.: "The impact of tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking on survival of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma", Int J Cancer. 2008 Apr 1;122(7):1624-9
• Kwee TC et al.: "Magnetic resonance imaging for the detection of bone marrow involvement in malignant lymphoma", Br J Haematol. 2008 Apr;141(1):60-8
• van Seters M et al.: "Treatment of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia with topical imiquimod", N Engl J Med. 2008 Apr 3;358(14):1465-73
• Hiyama E et al.: "Effectiveness of screening for neuroblastoma at 6 months of age: a retrospective population-based cohort study", Lancet. 2008 Apr 5;371(9619):1173-80