Introduction: Previous studies have suggested that the efficacy of eribulin is influenced by the activity of antitumor immunity of patients. Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are easily available parameters associated with the immunological status of patients. Objective: Here we tried to classify patients' immunological status by using the scatter plot of ALC and NLR, and investigated its utility for predicting survival among patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving eribulin. Methods: The medical records of 125 patients who received eribulin for metastatic breast cancer at our hospital between July 2011 and April 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Uni-and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the association between baseline ALC/NLR and progression-free survival (PFS)/overall survival (OS). The cutoff values for ALC and NLR were determined using scatter plot analysis. Results: The entire cohort was classified into immunologically favorable (ALC ≥1,500/µL, 30 patients), intermediate (ALC < 1,500/µL, NLR < 5.0, 76 patients), and unfavorable (NLR ≥5.0, 19 patients) groups. Univariate analysis showed significant differences in PFS and OS between the groups, whereas multivariate analysis revealed that ALC ≥1,500/µL and NLR ≥5.0 were independent predictors of PFS, with adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) of 0.57 (0.33-0.99) and 1.78 (1.00-3.15), respectively. NLR ≥5.0 was also associated with worse OS (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.55; 95% CI 0.35-0.88; p = 0.013). Conclusions: Among patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving eribulin, survival outcomes were well stratified according to baseline peripheral blood ALC and NLR. Accordingly, high ALC and NLR can be used as predictive markers for longer disease control and worse survival, respectively.

Abstract:We determined the nucleotide sequences of the 3Ј region (ϳ400 base pairs) of the mitochondrial control region for 97 individuals of the deep-sea demersal fish species Bothrocara hollandi, which were collected at five sites in the northwestern Pacific off Tohoku District, the northeastern part of the Japanese mainland. Phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences showed that these fish form a monophyletic group with individuals of the Okhotsk Sea, which have completely deviated from those fish of the Japan Sea. Furthermore, genetic diversity of fish in the northwestern Pacific was higher than that in the Okhotsk Sea. The population of the northwestern Pacific was shown to have experienced a recent population expansion. Nine of 97 individuals had only one non-coding unit, and the remaining individuals had two units between mitochondrial genes for tRNA Thr and tRNA Pro ; however, neither of these groups of individuals formed a monophyletic group in the Okhotsk Sea or the northwestern Pacific, while monophyly of individuals with more than one unit was shown in the Japan Sea. The differences between the populations of the Japan Sea and neighboring sea areas might be attributed to the occurrence of repeated environmental changes and corresponding population bottleneck events in the Japan Sea.

Background The number of patients desiring implant-based breast reconstruction has been increasing. While local recurrence is observed in patients with breast reconstruction, only a few reports have focused on the risk factors for local recurrence and the prognosis after developing local recurrence. Methods We analyzed 387 patients who underwent implant-based breast reconstruction during the period from 2004 to 2017 in Hiroshima City Hospital. We retrospectively examined the risk factors for local recurrence and the outcomes of patients developing such recurrence after implant-based breast reconstruction. Results The median follow-up time was 59 months. The local recurrence rate was 3.1% (n = 12). The most common reason for detecting local recurrence was a palpable mass. Four patients with local recurrence had recurrence involving the skin just above the primary lesion and needle biopsy tract. All patients with local recurrence received surgery and systemic therapy and most patients received radiation therapy, all have remained free of new recurrence to date. Multivariate analysis showed lymphatic vessel invasion (HR, 6.63; 95% CI, 1.40–31.36; p = 0.017) and positive or < 2 mm vertical margin (HR, 9.72; 95%CI, 1.23–77.13; p = 0.047) to be associated with significantly increased risk of local recurrence. Conclusions The risk factors for local recurrence following implant-based breast reconstruction were lymphatic vessel invasion and positive or < 2 mm vertical margin. Removal of the skin just above the primary lesion and needle biopsy tract and adjuvant radiation therapy might improve local outcomes. Patients with local recurrence following implant-based breast reconstruction appear to have good outcomes with appropriate treatment.

e13082 Background: In a phase 3 trial (Study 301), which compared eribulin and capecitabine for metastatic breast cancer did not show the superiority of one to the other on overall survival. Recently, a post-hoc analysis has revealed that efficacy of eribulin was greater in patients with high levels of absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), probably because the drug has immunologic mechanisms of action. Here we investigated whether the favorable impact of high ALC levels on the efficacy was specific to eribulin or shared with capecitabine. Methods: A total of 275 patients with metastatic breast cancer who were treated with eribulin (n = 125) or capecitabine (n = 150) in our hospital between July 2011–April 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Progression-free survival (PFS) was compared between patients with higher ALC levels (≥1500/μL) and those with lower ALC levels ( < 1500/μL) in each treatment group. Then, we investigated how hazard ratio (HR) of PFS (eribulin vs. capecitabine) changed when we excluded patients with low ALC levels one by one; a scatter plot was made (X = cut-off value of ALC, Y = adjusted HR). PFS was compared by using the Cox proportional hazards model and covariates included age, hormonal and HER2 status, presence/absence of liver and other visceral metastasis, the number of involved organs and the number of previous chemotherapy regimens. Results: In eribulin group, PFS was significantly better in patients with higher ALC than those with lower ALC (adjusted HR, 0.50 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.29–0.85]; p = .010). Contrarily, in capecitabine group, PFS was not significantly different between the two groups (adjusted HR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.58–1.28], p = .456). According to the scatter plot, as the cut-off value of ALC (X) was increased, the hazard ratio of PFS (Y) changed biphasically, being almost flat when X was less than 1500, and a linear decrease when X was 1500 or more. Adjusted HR were (i) 1.07 [95% CI, 0.64–1.82], (ii) 0.79 [95% CI, 0.29–2.11] and (iii) 0.67 [95% CI, 0.18–2.41] when inclusion criteria of patients were (i) ALC ≥1500/μL, (ii) ALC ≥1900/μL and (iii) ALC ≥2200/μL, respectively. Conclusions: The efficacy of eribulin was significantly better in patients with higher ALC levels, whereas that of capecitabine was not significantly different. “The more, the better” relationship between ALC and the efficacy of eribulin (vs. capecitabine) was recognized when ALC was 1500/μL or more.