The clinical features and prognosis of breast cancer can vary widely, depending on the molecular subtype. Luminal B breast cancers are usually either estrogen receptor-positive and/or progesterone receptor-positive with high proliferation of Ki67 index, or HER2 positive (HER2+). The authors compared the clinicopathologic factors and survival rates of different subtypes of luminal B breast cancer according to HER2 status. Between 2009 and 2013, 1131 cases of breast cancer were reviewed and characterized as 1 of 4 different molecular subtypes based on their immunohistochemical results: luminal A, luminal B, HER2+, or triple-negative breast cancer. From these, luminal B breast cancers were extracted and the clinical features and prognosis of the HER2- and the HER2 + subtypes were compared. Survival differed significantly based on the molecular subtype regardless of whether or not the patient received treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. While patients with HER2- luminal B breast cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy had better prognoses, patients with HER2 + luminal B breast cancer who did not receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy had better prognoses. Luminal B breast cancers showed different clinical outcomes and survival rates according to HER2 gene overexpression type. Physicians should consider these results when they establish a treatment strategy.

Purpose: The incidence of depression and anxiety is higher in patients with breast cancer than in the general population. We evaluated the degree of depression and anxiety and investigated the changes in patients with breast cancer during the treatment period and short-term follow-up period. Methods: Overall, 137 patients with breast cancer were evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item depression scale (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7). The scales were developed as a web-based electronic patient-reported outcome measure, and serial results were assessed before the operation, after the operation, in the post-treatment period, and in the 6-month follow-up period after surgery. Results: The degree of depression and anxiety increased during treatment and decreased at 6-month follow-up, even if there were no statistical differences among the four periods (PHQ-9: p = 0.128; GAD-7: p = 0.786). However, daily fatigue (PHQ-9 Q4) and insomnia (PHQ-9 Q3) were the most serious problems encountered during treatment and at 6-month follow-up, respectively. In the GAD-7, worrying too much (Q3) consistently showed the highest scores during the treatment and follow-up periods. Of the patients, 7 (5.11%) and 11 (8.03%) patients had a worsened state of depression and anxiety, respectively, after treatment compared with before treatment. Conclusion: Most factors associated with depression and anxiety improved after treatment. However, factors such as insomnia and worrying too much still disturbed patients with breast cancer, even at 6-month follow-up. Therefore, serial assessment of depression and anxiety is necessary for such patients.

백요한, et al. J Korean Soc Radiol. 2025 Mar;86(2):216-226. https://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2025.0019

The pathogenic variant (PV) or likely pathogenic variant (LPV) BRCA1/2 gene is strongly associated with hereditary breast or ovarian cancer. Therefore, it is important to screen blood relatives to establish preventive modalities and surveillance. This study evaluated the feasibility of targeted cascade genetic testing for family members of BRCA1/2 gene PV or LPV carriers. We screened 18 families for BRCA1/2 gene status via the conventional cascade genetic test (n = 9) and targeted cascade genetic test (n = 9), which targeted the exon region wherein the index patient showed PV or LPV. The pedigree and clinicopathologic characteristics were reviewed and analyzed. All index patients were diagnosed with breast cancer, while the third family members were all healthy. In the conventional cascade test group, 3 index patients and 3 family members had the BRCA1/2 gene PV or LPV. In the targeted cascade test group, 5 family members had same type of BRCA1/2 gene PV or LPV as their index patients. Two families had an identical string of BRCA1/2 gene PV or LPV. Although the targeted cascade genetic test cannot completely characterize the BRCA1/2 gene, it is sufficient for determining its PV or LPV status. This limited genetic test can be used for family members of PV or LPV carriers.

Kang B, et al. J Breast Cancer. 2022 Jun;25:e27. https://doi.org/10.4048/jbc.2022.25.e27

Lee J, et al. J Breast Cancer. 2025 Jun;28:e24. https://doi.org/10.4048/jbc.2024.0303