The effectiveness of breast-conserving surgery for patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is still a controversial issue, and variable incidences of locoregional failures have been reported. The present study was conducted to pathologically assess the response of LABC to NACT, and also to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative clinical examination and mammography in detecting these pathological changes. A total of 38 patients with LABC received NACT in the form of three cycles of fluorouracil/adriamycin/cyclophosphamide and were then subjected to a mastectomy. The residual tumors in the mastectomy specimens were measured, mapped, and compared to the pretreatment and preoperative clinical and mammographic findings for evaluation. An objective response to NACT was observed in 70.4% of the patients; however, only 26.7% of them were suitable candidates for conservative surgery. The rest of the responders showed an increased incidence of multifocality and in situ lesions localized within the original tumor-bearing area. Both clinical examinations and mammography were inadequate for the selection of candidates for breast conservation. Tumor regression by NACT is probably induced by a process of tumor segmentation. It is also associated with an increased incidence of multifocality and in situ lesions.

The effectiveness of breast-conserving surgery for patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is still a controversial issue, and variable incidences of locoregional failures have been reported. The present study was conducted to pathologically assess the response of LABC to NACT, and also to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative clinical examination and mammography in detecting these pathological changes. A total of 38 patients with LABC received NACT in the form of three cycles of fluorouracil/adriamycin/cyclophosphamide and were then subjected to a mastectomy. The residual tumors in the mastectomy specimens were measured, mapped, and compared to the pretreatment and preoperative clinical and mammographic findings for evaluation. An objective response to NACT was observed in 70.4% of the patients; however, only 26.7% of them were suitable candidates for conservative surgery. The rest of the responders showed an increased incidence of multifocality and in situ lesions localized within the original tumor-bearing area. Both clinical examinations and mammography were inadequate for the selection of candidates for breast conservation. Tumor regression by NACT is probably induced by a process of tumor segmentation. It is also associated with an increased incidence of multifocality and in situ lesions.

Pt electrodes, modified by partial electrodeposited tin, were used as anodes for the catalytic electrooxidation of methanol in acid medium. Sn was electrodeposited galvanostatically and potentiostatically. Cyclic voltammetry was used to study the methanol electrooxidation. Pt modified with Sn proved superior to pure platinum as shown from the methanol peak current densities. Sn also improved the performance regarding the stability of the anode over repeated cycles. It was found that electrodeposited Sn facilitates the oxidation of intermediate poison products through a mixed homogeneous–heterogeneous catalytic mechanism.