Effect of Estradiol as a Continuous Variable on Breast Cancer Survival by Menopausal Status: a Cohort Study in China

High levels of circulating estradiol (E2) are associated with increased risk of breast cancer, whereas its relationship with breast cancer prognosis is still unclear. We evaluated the effect of E2 concentration on survival endpoints among 8766 breast cancer cases diagnosed between 2005 and 2017 from the Tianjin Breast Cancer Cases Cohort. Levels of serum E2 were measured in pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) between quartile of E2 levels and overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of breast cancer. The penalized spline was then used to test for non-linear relationships between E2 (continuous variable) and survival endpoints. 612 deaths and 982 progressions occurred over follow-up through 2017. Compared to women in the quartile 3, the highest quartile of E2 was associated with reduced risk of both PFS in pre-menopausal women (HR=1.79, 95% CI: 1.17-2.75, P=0.008) and OS in post-menopausal women (HR=1.35, 95% CI: 1.04-1.74, P=0.023). OS and PFS in pre-menopausal women exhibited a nonlinear relation (“L-shaped” and “U-shaped”, respectively) with E2 levels. However, there was a linear relationship in post-menopausal women. Moreover, patients with estrogen receptor-negative (ER-negative) breast cancer showed a “U-shaped” relationship with OS and PFS in pre-menopausal women. Pre-menopausal breast cancer patients have a plateau stage of prognosis at the intermediate concentrations of E2, whereas post-menopausal patients have no apparent threshold, and ER status may have an impact on this relationship.

Telomere and Telomerase-Associated Proteins in Endometrial Carcinogenesis and Cancer-Associated Survival

Risk of relapse of endometrial cancer (EC) after surgical treatment is 13% and recurrent disease carries a poor prognosis. Research into prognostic indicators is essential to improve EC management and outcome. “Immortality” of most cancer cells is dependent on telomerase, but the role of associated proteins in the endometrium is poorly understood. The Cancer Genome Atlas data highlighted telomere/telomerase associated genes (TTAGs) with prognostic relevance in the endometrium, and a recent in silico study identified a group of TTAGs and proteins as key regulators within a network of dysregulated genes in EC. We characterise relevant telomere/telomerase associated proteins (TTAPs) NOP10, NHP2, NOP56, TERF1, TERF2 and TERF2IP in the endometrium using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). qPCR data demonstrated altered expression of multiple TTAPs; specifically, increased NOP10 (p = 0.03) and reduced NHP2 (p = 0.01), TERF2 (p = 0.01) and TERF2IP (p < 0.003) in EC relative to post-menopausal endometrium. Notably, we report reduced NHP2 in EC compared to post-menopausal endometrium in qPCR and IHC (p = 0.0001) data; with survival analysis indicating high immunoscore is favourable in EC (p = 0.0006). Our findings indicate a potential prognostic role for TTAPs in EC, particularly NHP2. Further evaluation of the prognostic and functional role of the examined TTAPs is warranted to develop novel treatment strategies.

Ultrasonographic Visualization of the Ovaries to Detect Ovarian Cancer According to Age, Menopausal Status and Body Type

Because the effects of age, menopausal status, weight and body mass index (BMI) on ovarian detectability by transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) have not been established, we determined their contributions to TVS visualization of the ovaries. A total of 29,877 women that had both ovaries visualized on their first exam were followed over 202,639 prospective TVS exams. All images were reviewed by a physician. While visualization of both ovaries decreased with age, one or both ovaries could be visualized in two of every three women over 80 years of age. Around 93% of pre-menopausal women and ~69% of post-menopausal women had both ovaries visualized. Both ovaries were visualized in ~72% of women weighing over 300 lbs. and in ~70% of women with a BMI over 40. Conclusions: Age had the greatest influence on the visualization of the ovaries. The ovaries can be visualized well past the menopause. Body habitus was not limiting to TVS ovarian imaging, and TVS should be considered capable of imaging one or both ovaries in two of every three women over 80 years of age. Thus, older and obese patients remain good candidates for TVS exams.

Takotsubo Syndrome: A Review of Presentation, Diagnosis and Management

Takotsubo Syndrome (TTS) is a condition of transient left ventricular dysfunction that is typically triggered by emotional or physical stress. Since first described in Japan in 1990, it has increasingly been recognised in clinical practice, accounting for up to 2% of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) presentations. In fact, the clinical presentation can be indistinguishable from a myocardial infarction. Although current evidence suggests a catecholamine induced myocardial stunning, the pathophysiological mechanisms remain unknown. Interestingly, it is more common in woman, particularly those who are post-menopausal. This review aims to summarise the current research and provide an overview of the diagnostic strategies and treatment options.

Giant Fibrothecoma of the Ovary in a Young Patient a Case Report

Fibrothecomas are benign ovarian stromal tumors, they are rare tumors of gonadal stromal cell origin that represent 3-4% of all ovarian tumors. It commonly occurs in post-menopausal women. The clinical presentation is often nonspecific, whereas patients more frequently present with a pelvic mass, metrorrhagia, and pelvic pain. We present a 35-year-old patient, nulli-pregnant, with no personal or family pathological history, who attended a medical consultation for presenting progressive abdominal distention of 6 months of evolution in addition to abdominal pain in the last 2 months type colic which increased during her menstrual periods concomitantly alteration in your defecatory habits. Abdominal ultrasound was performed, finding a solid intrapelvic mass of approximately 14x10x10 cm in diameter of probable left ovarian origin, free fluid in the Douglas space, compression and displacement of intestinal loops and bladder. The patient underwent surgery and an exploratory laparotomy was performed, finding a pelvic tumor adhered to the tube and left ovary, in addition to ascites fluid in the abdominal cavity, complete resection of the tumor, ovary and left salpingue was performed.

A Rare Case of Myoid Hamartoma Masquerading As Invasive Breast Carcinoma

Breast Myoid Hamartoma (MH) is a rare type of neoplasm with a poorly understood pathogenesis. Very few literatures have reported such disease with an unclear prognosis and malignant potentiality. Some isolated studies have shown that breast Myoid Hamartoma (MH) may be genetically related to other types of tumours with the involvement of HMGA2 gene. We reported a case of a 64-year-old post-menopausal lady with an underlying chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy (CIAP) that was referred to our centre for a suspected right breast tumour. Clinical and imaging proved the disease to be malignant, however, core biopsy results showed otherwise. Ultrasound of the right breast showed a solid mass with a hypoechoic heterogeneous echotexture and posterior shadowing. A Mammogram highlighted a dense lesion in the right breast with radiolucent halo and macrocalcification. It was reported as BIRADS 4 category. Managing breast Myoid Hamartoma (MH) is proved to be of great challenge to clinicians as meticulous clinical acumen is needed to strategize a proper plan and management, most importantly, not to overlook the disease as the malignant transformation has been reported before.