China's breast cancer surgical oncology recognized internationally

A team of breast cancer surgical specialists from China got invited for the first time to present their research findings at an international top-notch surgical oncology conference.

At the 72nd Society of Surgical Oncology Annual Cancer Symposium held in San Diego, the US in late March, the team led by Liao Ning, a leading breast cancer surgeon from China, shared with international breast cancer surgical specialists their research findings aimed for advancing breast cancer treatment respectively at the symposium's oral and poster sections.

That demonstrates international recognition of China's breast cancer surgical oncology and great innovation capacity of the team, said Liao, who heads the breast cancer center of Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences & Guangdong General Hospital in Guangzhou.

More than 1,700 academic and community-based cancer surgeons and oncology health care professionals from around the globe gathered at the four-day event for education, networking and discussion on the latest research in surgical oncology.

Among the major findings presented by Liao's team, the following one, as she deems, helps particularly Chinese breast cancer patients with more targeted therapies thanks to genome sequencing technology.

Of the 17 mutations found exclusively in the sentinel lymph node metastases, only the CDK4 and MYC mutations to date have been recognized as significant driver genes in breast cancer, according to their research. The other 15 genomic mutations are important candidates for further study.

That highlights the importance of using a large next generation sequencing-based panel for elucidating the molecular mechanism involved in the development of sentinel node metastasis.

Chen Bo, a breast cancer surgeon of Liao's team, said the findings were even acclaimed by pioneers of the lymphadenectomy at the conference.

"It's one of the breakthroughs to advance breast cancer treatment on the track of precision medicine," Liao expected.

Over the past decades, breast cancer surgical oncology has kept evolving. Liao said the practice of multiple disciplinary team has to been integrated into the today's surgical oncology.

For instance, medical specialists in radiation, plastic surgery, and rehabilitation, are also employed in the breast cancer center Liao heads to strive for targeted therapy and better treatment outcome and life quality for the patients.

That's also in line with the international clinical practice for breast cancer treatment as well, she added, highlighting the great significance of closer cooperation and more academic exchange with international leading peers to improve the health of the patients worldwide together.

In last March, Liao Ning was elected as the International Director of the American Society of Oncology Surgery, which means that the center she heads has been in line with international standards in the surgical treatment of breast cancer, including axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy, breast conserving breast surgery and breast reconstruction. (End)