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Implant-based Breast Reconstruction and Mastectomy With Fat Grafting After Breast Conserving Surgery and Radiotherapy

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Breast Cancer
Interventions
Procedure: Immediate tissue expander and lipofilling after mastectomy
Registration Number
NCT06119633
Lead Sponsor
Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano
Brief Summary

Higher rates of complications and poorer cosmetic outcomes have been reported after salvage mastectomy and implant-based versus autologous reconstruction in patients previously exposed to radiation therapy (i) on the breast as adjuvant treatment after breast conserving surgery (BCS) or (ii) on thoracic wall for Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL). Nevertheless, selected patients with favourable preoperative soft-tissue assessment may benefit from alloplastic reconstruction and fat grafting that has been suggested as an effective technique to promote the regeneration of irradiated tissues.

The aims of this study are to assess:

1. the feasibility of implant-based breast reconstruction and fat grafting after mastectomy (simple mastectomy, nipple-sparing and skin-sparing mastectomy)

2. oncological safety of implant-based breast reconstruction and fat grafting.

Detailed Description

National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend autologous reconstruction as the preferred breast reconstruction after mastectomy in previously irradiated patients because of higher complication rates and worse aesthetic outcomes as compared to immediate breast implant reconstruction. In fact, unacceptable rates of complications (60-70%) have been reported by first experiences. Instead, autologous reconstruction showed lower complication rates as compared to implant-based breast reconstruction (25.5% vs 50.9%). However, it may not be indicated in patients with previous surgery at the donor site or in case of other contraindications, requires longer surgical time and is at risk of donor-site morbidity and loss of sensation.

On the other hand, fat grafting improves softness of tissues and scars, releasing their rigidity and for these effects it has been studied for effectively promoting the regeneration of irradiated tissues, enlarging the envelope thickness for safety reasons, optimizing cosmetic outcomes and ultimately increasing patient comfort and quality of life.

Therefore, a surgical technique combining implant-based breast reconstruction after mastectomy and fat grafting may favor alloplastic reconstruction in selected patients.

The investigators enroll patients candidate to mastectomy and breast reconstruction who had received prior adjuvant radiation therapy after breast conserving surgery (BCS) or radiation therapy for the treatment of Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL).

Aims of the study are to investigate (i) the feasibility of implant-based breast reconstruction and fat grafting after mastectomy (simple mastectomy, nipple-sparing and skin-sparing mastectomy); (ii) the oncological safety of implant-based breast reconstruction and fat grafting.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
163
Inclusion Criteria
  • patients candidate to mastectomy (salvage mastectomy for breast cancer recurrence or prophylactic mastectomy) who had been irradiated as adjuvant treatment after breast conserving surgery or as treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma
  • signed informed consent to participate and to implant-based breast reconstruction
  • absence of distant metastases or other malignancies.
Exclusion Criteria
  • presence of distant metastases or other malignancies.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Immediate tissue expander and fat grafting after mastectomyImmediate tissue expander and lipofilling after mastectomyPatients underwent simple mastectomy, skin-sparing or nipple-sparing mastectomy and implant-based, two-stage breast reconstruction: contextual mastectomy and expander positioning were performed during first stage (stage I) while substitution of the expander with definitive implant occurred during second stage (stage II). Fat grafting with regenerative intent was performed during stage I or between stage I and II. Adipose tissue was harvested from the abdomen, flanks, trochanter regions, inner thigh and medial aspect of knees. Fat was injected in the subfascial plane of the pectoralis major muscle with blunt cannula in order to avoid thrombo-embolic risks. At least six months after stage I patients underwent expander substitution with definitive implant and contralateral mammoplasty when required. In case of complications that required removal of the implant, autologous reconstruction was performed.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Complication rates after stage I and II1 month, 6 months and 12 months

Identification of complication rates after stage I and II, measuring percentage of complications (pain and patient discomfort, partial necrosis of mastectomy flaps, nipple-areolar necrosis, delayed wound healing, capsular contracture, bleeding, expander or implant exposition, infection, expander rupture, re-operations, reconstruction failures) over the total number of surgical procedures of stage I and II.

Cosmetic outcomes1 month, 6 months and 12 months

Clinical and photography-based assessments for cosmetic outcomes measurement graded by a plastic breast surgeon as excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor.

Patient's satisfaction12 months

Self-assessed patient reports for identification of patient's satisfaction, measuring percentage of patients that were satisfied with results overall.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Oncological safety of implant-based breast reconstruction and fat grafting.5 years

Identification of rate of loco-regional and distant metastases.

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Morgagni Pierantoni Hospital

🇮🇹

Forlì, Italy

Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori

🇮🇹

Milan, Italy

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