Skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate autologous breast reconstruction in locally advanced breast cancer patients: a UBC perspective.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical outcomes of patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy and preoperative radiotherapy, followed by skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) and immediate autologous breast reconstruction (IABR).
METHODS: A retrospective review of 30 LABC patients who underwent SSM and IABR between 1997 to 2007 was performed. Data were drawn from patient records and the University of British Columbia (UBC) Breast Reconstruction and British Columbia Cancer Agency databases.
RESULTS: All 30 patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, preoperative radiotherapy, SSM, and IABR. Fifteen patients (50%) had stage IIIA disease, 13 (43%) stage IIIB, and 2 (6.7%) stage IIIC. Reconstruction types included the pedicled transverse rectus myocutaneous flap (n = 24), the latissimus dorsi flap (n = 5), and a combination of transverse rectus myocutaneous and latissimus dorsi flap (n = 1). The median follow-up was 3.51 years (range 1-9.4 years). Local complications included mastectomy flap necrosis (n = 3), partial flap necrosis (n = 1), fat necrosis (n = 1), seroma (n = 3), infection (n = 2), and flap fibrosis (n = 1). The incidence of donor site complications was 20%. Overall 5-year actuarial locoregional relapse-free, distant relapse-free, and disease-specific survival rates were 80, 65, and 68%, respectively. Excellent or good physician-rated aesthetic results were achieved in 66% of patients.
CONCLUSIONS: The UBC protocol avoids irradiation of the autologous breast reconstruction. Outcomes compare with findings from similar studies with respect to local recurrence, distant relapse, overall survival, and surgical complication rates. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and preoperative radiotherapy in LABC patients desiring autologous breast reconstruction can be considered a safe option.