Due to safety concerns on estrogen-based treatments for genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) in breast cancer survivors (BCS), new options are appearing, such as androgen-based treatments, whi...

Background and Objective: De-escalation in breast cancer surgery has been a natural evolution since breast conserving surgery (BCS) was introduced in the early 1980s. From Halsted mastectomies to wide local excisions, we are facing nowadays the next trend in form of oncoplastic breast surgery. Oncoplastic breast surgery combines oncological principles with plastic surgery techniques to preserve the breast shape and appearance. The aim of this work is to review recent oncological and quality of live outcomes derived from oncoplastic techniques as well as offer a perspective about its implementation in breast cancer units. Methods: A literature review was conducted to explore the landscape of oncoplastic breast surgery. Key terms related to oncoplastic techniques and breast cancer were used in searches across databases such as PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library. Inclusion criteria focused on recent articles discussing oncological and quality of life (QoL) outcomes, as well as perspectives on the role of oncoplastic surgery. Key Content and Findings: The research aims to contribute valuable insights into the efficacy and impact of oncoplastic surgery in the context of breast cancer treatment. In this new era of precision medicine, it is more than just healing patients; it is about improving their well-being. We ought to consider specific oncoplasty role in leading this paradigm shift. It is also relevant to define whether these new technical-demanding surgical options can be applied to all patients and if professional training performs adequately to current demands of personalized treatments. Conclusions: The global adoption of oncoplastic BCS is recommended due to its oncological safety and improvement in QoL compared to standard procedures. Emphasizing the need for skilled surgeons in complex cases, collaboration between breast surgeons and scientific societies is urged to certify ongoing educational training in oncoplastic techniques.

Many breast cancer survivors (BCS) suffer the consequences of antineoplastic treatments that induce a hypoestrogenic state, leading to chronic climacteric symptoms such as genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), arousing significant alteration in their quality of life. Non-hormonal therapies (NHT) are first-line treatments, safe but with mild efficacy. When facing moderate–severe GSM, the options for BCS are limited: local estrogen therapy, considered the ‘gold standard’ but with concerns about safety; vaginal androgens and prasterone, which seem to trigger an activation of estrogen and androgen receptors of the vaginal epithelium layers, without activating estrogen receptors on other tissues, being potentially safe but still without strong evidence in favor of BCS; vaginal lasers, which appear to improve vascularization of vaginal mucosa by stimulating the remodeling of the underlying connective tissue, but with contradictory results of efficacy in recent randomized clinical trials; and ospemifene, an oral selective estrogen receptor modulator presenting mild vaginal estrogenic potency and anti-estrogenic effect at the endometrial and breast level, but still not recommended for use in BCS in recent North American Menopause Society guidelines. There is a need for further studies evaluating objectively the efficacy and safety of these promising therapeutic options. On the other hand, sexuality must be seen as a multifactorial issue, where GSM is only part of the problem; evidence shows that sexual counseling improves the quality of life of BCS. Finally, there is a need to limit the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of GSM in BCS; the primary goal of physicians treating BCS regarding this issue has to be the provision of information of what to expect regarding genital and sexual symptoms to BCS and to counsel on early first-line treatments that may help prevent more severe GSM.

Purpose: Elacestrant has shown significantly prolonged progression-free survival compared with standard-of-care endocrine therapy in estrogen receptor–positive (ER-positive), HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, whereas potential benefit in early-stage disease requires further exploration. The SOLTI-ELIPSE window-of-opportunity trial investigated the biological changes induced by a short course of preoperative elacestrant in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer. Patients and Methods: Eligible patients with untreated T1c (≥1.5 cm)-T3, N0, ER-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer with locally assessed Ki67 ≥10% received elacestrant at a daily dose of 345 mg for 4 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was complete cell cycle arrest, defined as Ki67 ≤2.7%, on day 28. Results: Overall, 22 patients were evaluable for the primary endpoint. Elacestrant was associated with a complete cell cycle arrest rate of 27.3% and a statistically significant Ki67 geometric mean change of −52.9% (P = 0.007; 95% confidence interval, −67.4 to −32.1). Notably, the treatment with elacestrant led to a shift toward a more endocrine-sensitive and less proliferative tumor phenotype based on PAM50-based gene signatures. Elacestrant increased the expression of immune-response genes (GZMB, CD4, and CD8A) and suppressed proliferation and estrogen-signaling genes (MKI67, ESR1, and AR). These biological changes were independent of the levels of Ki67 suppression on day 28. The most common adverse events were grade 1 anemia (21.7%), hot flushes (8.7%), constipation (8.7%), and abdominal pain (8.7%). One patient experienced a grade 3 cutaneous rash, leading to treatment discontinuation. No other serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Preoperative treatment with elacestrant in early breast cancer demonstrated relevant biological and molecular responses and exhibited a manageable safety profile. These findings support further investigation of elacestrant in the early setting.

Background: Adjuvant radiotherapy and hormonotherapy after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) have been shown to reduce the risk of local recurrence. To predict the risk of ipsilateral breast tumor relapse (IBTR) after BCS, the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) developed a nomogram to analyze local recurrence (LR) risk in our cohort and to assess its external validation. Methods: A historical cohort study using data from 296 patients treated for DCIS at the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona was carried out. Patients who had had a mastectomy were excluded from the analysis. Results: The mean age was 58 years (42–75), and the median follow-up time was 10.64 years. The overall local relapse rate was 13.04% (27 patients) during the study period. Actuarial 5- and 10-year IBTR rates were 5.8 and 12.9%, respectively. The external validation of the MSKCC nomogram was performed using a multivariate logistic regression analysis on a total of 207 patients, which did not reach statistical significance in the studied population for predicting LR (p = 0.10). The expression of estrogen receptors was significantly associated with a decreased risk of LR (OR: 0.25; p = 0.004). Conclusions: In our series, the LR rate was 13.4%, which was in accordance with the published series. The MSKCC nomogram did not accurately predict the IBTR in this Spanish cohort of patients treated for DCIS (p = 0.10).

Introduction: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an inflammatory central nervous system disorder that preferentially affects the optic nerve and the spinal cord. Although NMOSD is more commonly an idiopathic autoimmune condition associated with antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4)-IgG, the disease may also occur as a paraneoplastic syndrome in rare instances. In these cases, the expression of AQP4 by the tumor is likely the trigger of the autoimmune response. Case Presentation: We describe the case of a 32-year-old woman who presented with progressive tetraparesis, cranial involvement, respiratory failure, and spinal cord MRI compatible with longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis, few days after being diagnosed with a T3N1M0 triple-negative right breast cancer. Due to the history of concurrent breast cancer and after ruling out metastatic spinal cord involvement, the possibility of a paraneoplastic origin was raised. AQP4-IgG were found in the serum and CSF by cell-based assay, confirming the diagnosis of NMOSD. The patient was treated with corticosteroids, plasma exchange, and rituximab. Concomitantly, breast cancer therapy was started with an adapted neoadjuvant chemotherapy scheme based on carboplatin and paclitaxel. An initial slight improvement slowed down; so, a right mastectomy with lymphadenectomy was performed. Expression of AQP4 was demonstrated in the tumor. The patient presented a significant neurological improvement after combined treatment regaining muscular balance and strength in upper and lower extremities. Conclusion: NMOSD may have a paraneoplastic origin associated with breast cancer and the importance of its early detection since the combination of tumoral and immunosuppressive therapy may improve the patient’s prognosis.