Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Multicenter Study
Association between Time to Operation and Pathological Stage in Ductal Carcinoma in Situ and Early-Stage Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, surgical delays have been common for patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and early-stage estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, often in favor of neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET). To understand possible ramifications of these delays, we examined the association between time to operation and pathologic staging and overall survival (OS). ⋯ Increased time to operation was associated with a small increase in pathologic upstaging in DCIS patients, but did not impact OS. In patients with cT1-2N0 disease, NET use did not impact stage or OS, supporting the safety of delay strategies in ER+ breast cancer patients during the pandemic.
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Observational Study
Avoidance of Overtreatment of Rectal Cancer by Selective Chemoradiotherapy: Results of the Optimized Surgery and MRI-Based Multimodal Therapy Trial.
Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in patients with rectal cancer carries a high risk of adverse effects. The aim of this study was to examine the selective application of nCRT based on patient risk profile, as determined by MRI, to find the optimal range between undertreatment and overtreatment. ⋯ The results justify the restriction of nCRT to high-risk patients with rectal cancer classified by pretreatment MRI. Provided that a high-quality MRI diagnosis, TME surgery, and standardized examination of the resected specimen are performed, nCRT, with its adverse effects, costs, and treatment time can be avoided in more than 40% of patients with stage II or III rectal cancer with minimal risk of undertreatment. (clinicaltrials.gov NCT325649).
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There has been a recent focus on sex-based disparities within the field of academic surgery. However, the proportion of female surgeons conducting NIH-funded research is unknown. ⋯ Although female surgeons remain a minority in academic surgery, they hold a greater than anticipated proportion of NIH funding, with a high number of first-time grants, forming a crucial component of the next generation of surgeon-scientists.