Our data demonstrate that a significant subgroup of ER/PR-negative and triple-negative breast cancers express FRA, and its expression is associated with worse clinical outcome.

Summary Intensive surveillance of dead wild birds for H5N1 avian influenza infection is conducted in Hong Kong. Between January 2006 and October 2007 pooled cloacal and tracheal (C&T) swabs from 17,592 dead wild birds (from 16 different orders including 82 genera) were tested and 33 H5N1 HPAI viruses were isolated. No H5N1 infection has occurred in poultry farms or live poultry markets in Hong Kong since January 2003. The gross and histopathology in the various H5N1 infected avian species is described, along with the performance of the virology, PCR and antigen detection tests used. This evaluation also included determination of virus titres and detection limits for the H5 haemagglutinin gene (H5)and matrix gene (M) real-time reverse transcription PCR tests (RRT-PCR) in C&T swabs from 12 wild birds. The viruses isolated belonged to Clades 2.3.2 and 2.3.4 and within Clade 2.3.4 some clustering was evident based on H5 HA sequencing. However there were no differences in the pathology findings between these sub-groupings and the various diagnostic tests gave similar results for these viruses, except for a loss in sensitivity of the H5 RRT-PCR for several viruses in one cluster from birds submitted in February 2007.

No abstract

Background Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) is considered more effective in downstaging hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer than neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET), particularly in node-positive disease. This study compared breast and axillary response and survival after NCT and NET in HR+ breast cancer. Methods Based on American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG) Z1031 criteria, women age 50 years or older with cT2-4 HR+ breast cancer who underwent NET or NCT and surgery were identified in the National Cancer Database 2010–2016. Chi-square and logistic regression analysis determined differences between the NCT and NET groups and therapy response, including downstaging and pathologic complete response (pCR, ypT0/is and ypN0). Results Of 19,829 patients, 14,025 (70.7%) received NCT and 5804 (29.3%) received NET. The NET patients were older (mean age, 68.9 vs. 60.3; P < 0.001) and had greater comorbidity (1+ Charlson–Deyo score, 21% vs. 16%; P < 0.001). Therapy achieved T downstaging (any) for 58% of the patients with NCT versus 40.5% of the patients with NET, and in-breast pCR was achieved for 9.3% of the NCT versus 1.3% of the NET patients ( P < 0.001). Approximately half of the mastectomy procedures could have been potentially avoided for the patients with in-breast pCR (53.6% of the NCT and 43.8% of the NET patients). For the cN+ patients, N downstaging (any) was 29% for the NCT patients versus 18.3% for the NET patients ( P < 0.001), and nodal pCR was achieved for 20.3% of the NCT versus 13.5% of the NET patients ( P < 0.001). Among those with nodal pCR, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) still was performed for 56% of the patients after NCT and 45% of the patients after NET. Conclusions Although the response rates after NCT were higher, NET achieved both T and N downstaging and pCR. Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy can be used to de-escalate surgery for patients who cannot tolerate NCT or when chemotherapy may not be effective based on genomic testing. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1245/s10434-021-10459-3.