Iranian Journal of Breast Diseases
Year:2022 | Volume:15 | Issue:1 (56)|Papers Count:7

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Today, with advancements in medical sciences, increasing the cure probability of patients as well as increasing survival time is an important goal of cancer treatment. Therefore, in this study, in addition to examining patients’ survival, we investigated the cure probability of breast cancer patients and its prognostic factors using the semiparametric mixture cure model. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of 1310 breast cancer patients admitted to Motamed Cancer Institute from 1995 to 2013 and followed up until 2018. The Kaplan-Meier curve and a semiparametric mixture cure model were fitted to data. In this model, patients were divided into two categories of cured and uncured, then the cure rate and the survival rate of uncured patients were calculated, and related factors were identified. Results: Of the 1310 women with breast cancer in the study, 235 (18. 1%) cases died and others were censored. Based on the Kaplan-Meier curve, the cure rate was 68%, and the last death case was observed about 12 years after diagnosis. Obesity, lymph node involvement, and mastectomy were identified as risk factors for patients' long-term survival, while larger tumor size, more advanced stage of the disease, and lack of chemotherapy were risk factors for short-term survival. Conclusion: These findings indicate that many prognostic factors for breast cancer are not only important when choosing a treatment strategy in the short term, but they also play an important role in the long-term to identifying high-risk patients and those who still need further follow-up.

Introduction: One of the recommended exercises for breast cancer patients is Pilates, which, although is useful in some aspects, but its effect on the immune system is not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of eight weeks of Pilates exercises on immune factors in women with breast cancer. Methods: Participants of the study included 30 breast cancer patients aged 30– 57 years who participated in the study voluntarily and were randomly divided into two groups of exercise (n = 18) and control (n = 12). Finally, according to the exclusion criteria, participants were studied in two groups of exercise (n = 15) and control (n = 8). The exercise group performed Pilates training for eight weeks, three days a week, for 60 minutes per session. Blood samples were taken from the two groups at baseline and 48 hours after the exercise training. Results: The variables in the two groups of exercise (n= 15, age: 40. 66± 6. 30 years, BMI: 26. 67± 5. 27 kg/m2) and control (n= 8, age: 49. 12± 7. 31± 31 years, BMI: 28. 96± 4. 03 kg/m2) were compared. The results showed that Pilates training had no significant effect on neutrophil at baseline (51. 58± 5. 77) and post intervention (56. 75± 8. 69) compared with the control group at baseline (53. 87± 5. 11) and post intervention (52. 87± 3. 22) (P= 0. 19). Pilates training had no effect on Lymphocyte at baseline (40. 25± 7. 50) and post intervention (37. 75± 10. 04), compared with the control group at baseline (36. 86± 6. 74) and post intervention (37. 87± 5. 64), (P= 0. 84). Also, Pilates training had no significant effect on the ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes in the exercise group at baseline (1. 34± 0. 37) and post intervention (1. 64± 0. 59) compared to the control group at baseline (1. 52± 0. 40) and post intervention (1. 42± 0. 25) (P= 0. 23). Conclusion: Breast cancer patients can participate in Pilates exercises without any side effects on the immune system. Still, the intensity of these exercises may not have been enough to improve immune function.

Introduction: Given the high prevalence of breast cancer and its incidence and mortality worldwide, it seems that prevention is the best way to control it. The challenge facing e-learning is the production of appropriate, usable, and effective content. In this study, an electronic educational package titled “ Breast Cancer Prevention” was designed and evaluated. Methods: This research was conducted in three main phases: (1) preparation of educational content, (2) evaluation and localization of evidence-based content, and (3) evaluation from experts’ and end users’ point of view. Results: The educational content in the field of early detection methods, risk factors, the role of nutrition in prevention, the role of physical activity in prevention, and the early signs of breast cancer were approved by experts with high validity. The evaluation of the electronic content in different formats produced by the target group also showed that the content scored above 4. 3 of 5. Conclusion: According to the evaluations of the training package, this package can be used as an acceptable product based on up-to-date scientific evidence in the field of breast cancer prevention.

Introduction: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a type of breast cancer that is negative for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and shortterm prognosis of this type of cancer compared with other subtypes of breast cancer. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 108 women with invasive breast cancer. The patients were divided into a TNBC or a non-TNBC group. Multiple clinicopathological variables, diagnostic modality reports, progression-free survival, and overall survival were assessed. Results: The results showed no statistically significant difference between the TNBC group and the non-TNBC group in age, BMI, or family history of breast cancer. In the TNBC group, compared with the non-TNBC group, the presence grade 3 tumor and lymphovascular invasion were significantly higher (P = 0. 02 and P = 0. 014, respectively). Progression-free survival rates in the TNBC and non-TNBC groups were 81. 4% and 90. 9%, and overall survival in the two groups were 93. 8% and 93%, respectively. Conclusion: There was a significant difference between the two groups in the form of histologic grade and presence of lymphovascular invasion. Non-significant differences in progression-free survival and overall survival between the two groups may be due to the short duration of follow-up.

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance syndrome is described as abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, fasting blood sugar, and high blood pressure. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome and breast cancer. Methods: This case-control study was performed on 222 women with cancer and non-cancer (breast cancer) (111 participants in each group) referred to Tohid and Besat Hospital in Sanandaj in 2014. Results: The results showed that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in people with and without breast cancer was 85 (76. 6%) and 60 (54. 1%), respectively, which was statistically significant. Conclusion: The results showed that the criteria for defining metabolic syndrome increase cancer risk, especially breast cancer in women, and measures should be taken to reduce these risks in high-risk groups.

Introduction: The use of drug delivery systems can increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy and reduce its side effects in the treatment of breast cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of doxorubicin-containing silk fibroin nanoparticles (NF-DOX) on P53 gene expression in breast cancer cell lines and to measure its toxicity in vitro. Methods: NF-DOX was synthesized and characterized. The breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and normal HFF cell line were treated with different concentrations of NF-DOX, and its toxicity and relative expression of P53 were measured. Results: Examination and characterization of the synthesized compound of NF-DOX indicated its nanometer dimension. The drug’ s cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cells was significantly greater compared with HFF cells and the control group (P < 0. 001). The IC50 values (halfmaximal inhibitory concentration) for MCF-7 and HFF cells treated with NF-DOX were 229 and 647 μ g/ml, respectively. The relative gene expression levels of P53 in MCF-7 and HFF cell lines compared with the controls were measured as 27. 09 ± 0. 51 and 0. 57 ± 0. 07, respectively. The relative gene expression of P53 in MCF-7 and HFF cell lines showed a significant increase (P < 0. 0001) and decrease (P < 0. 0006) compared with controls, respectively. Conclusion: Differential and significant changes in P53 gene expression in cell lines indicate that NF-DOX may play an effective role in inhibition of breast cancer metastasis. The results showed a dose-and time-dependent anticancer effect of NF-DOX, and it can be considered as a candidate for a new anticancer drug.

Introduction: Diagnosing cancer can be a very anxious experience, and anxiety can disrupt immune system function. Tumor necrosis factoralpha (TNFα ) is an inflammatory cytokine that is associated with amplified tumor cell proliferation, higher malignancy, increased metastasis, and poor general prognosis for the patients who suffer from breast cancer. Methods: This study is a randomized clinical trial with follow-up and control group. The experimental group underwent meaning-based existential intervention. Both groups were assessed by Beck Anxiety Questionnaire and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor before, after and three months after the intervention, and data were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: The experimental group showed a decrease in anxiety scores and serum TNFα levels after receiving a psychotherapy program/interventions compared to the control group. The results show that the mean of TNFα was 47. 10± 1. 22 and the mean of anxiety was 21. 75± 9. 30 in the experimental group, while the mean of TNFα was 50. 75± 1. 71 and the mean of anxiety was 44. 7± 12. 27 in the control group, this reduction has also been observed in the follow-up phase (0. 001≥ p). Conclusion: Based on the findings, meaning-based existential psychotherapy can reduce anxiety and serum TNFα levels by reducing patients' anxiety and helping to give meaning to life again. Accordingly, this treatment can be used along with medical treatments.