Risk factors for non-sentionel lymph node metastases in brdeast cancer patients with positive sentionel lymph ondes

The presence or absence of metastases in the axillary lymph nodes has remained the most powerful prognostic factor in breast carcinoma. Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is the standard procedure for obtaining this information. However, postoperative complications are common. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has been proposed as a potential alternative to ALND for staging breast carcinoma. This technique has been shown to be sensitive and specific for predicting the status of the axillary lymph nodes.1 Furthermore, it has the potential advantage of decreasing the morbidity associated with ALND.     

Contribution of minute axillary lymph nodes to accurate staging for patients with breast cancer

Background Axillary lymph node metastasis is a very important metastatic pathway in breast cancer and its accurate detection is important for staging tumour and guiding therapy. However, neither the accuracy of routine detection of lymph node in surgical specimens nor the significance of minute lymph node with metastases in breast cancer is clear. A modified method for conveniently detecting minute lymph node in specimens of axillary dissections in patients with breast cancer was used to analyze their influence on staging breast cancer. Methods Lymph nodes in fresh, unfixed, specimens of axillary dissections from 127 cases of breast cancer were detected routinely. Then the axillary fatty tissues were cut into 1 cm thick pieces, soaked in Carnoy’s solution for 6 to 12 hours, taken out and put on a glass plate. Minute lymph nodes were detected by light of bottom lamp and examined by routine pathology. Results Lymph nodes (n= 2483, 19.6±8.0 per case) were found by routine method. A further 879 lymph nodes up to 6 mm (781 < 3 mm, 6.9±5.3 per case, increasing mean to 26.5±9.7) were found from the axillary tissues after soaking in Carnoy’s solution. By detection of minute lymph nodes, the stages of lymph node metastasis in 7 cases were changed from pathological node (pN) stage pN(0) to pN(1) in 4 cases, from pN(1) to pN(2) in 2 and from pN(2) to pN(3) in 1. Conclusions The accurate staging of axillary lymph node metastasis can be obtained routinely with number of axillary lymph nodes in most cases of breast cancer. To avoid neglecting minute lymph nodes with metastases, small axillary nodes should be searched carefully in the cases of earlier breast cancer with no swollen axillary nodes. Treatment with Carnoy’s solution can expediently detect minute axillary nodes and improve the accurate staging of lymph nodes in breast cancer.     

Local injection of liposomal adriamycin to inhibit metastatic cell proliferation in axillary nodes in rabbits bearing breast tumors

Objective： To assess the inhibitory effects of local injection of liposomal adriamycin （LADR） on the proliferation of lymph node metastases in rabbits bearing VX2 carcinoma in the mammary gland. Methods：Thirty female New Zealand white rabbits were divided into 3 groups, with 10 in each. VX2 tumor mass suspensions were injected into the breast tissues of rabbits. Treatment initiated once the axillary lymph node reached 5 mm in the maximum diameter. Group 1 received a sham treatment. Group 2 received a subcutaneous injection of LADR adjacent to tumor. Group 3 received an intravenous injection of free ADR （FADR） at the same dose and concentration to group 2. The breast tumors and axillary lymph nodes were resected after the treatment was repeated 3 times. The tumor and node sizes before and after treatment were measured. PCNA mRNA expressions in breast tumors and axillary nodes were determined using RT-PCR. Results： The mean growth ratios of lymph nodes after treatment were 3. 70, 1.55, and 2.89, respectively, in groups 1, 2, and 3. The slowest node growth was observed in animals of group 2, with significant differences from group 1 （P〈0. 001） and group 3 （P= 0. 002）. The relative values of PCNA mRNA expression in lymph nodes were 0. 541, 0. 329, and 0. 450, respectively, in groups 1, 2, and 3. Group 2 exhibited a significantly reduced PCNA mRNA expression in metastatic lymph node, as compared to group 1 （P〈0. 001） and group 3 （P=0. 004）. Intravenous FADR injection effectively lowered the mRNA expressions of PCNA in breast tumors, which were not apparently altered after local LADR injection. Conclusion： Local injection of LADR holds a strong inhibitory effect on the proliferation of metastatic tumor cells in lymph nodes and appears to be an effective method for the treatment of lymphatic metastases of breast cancer.     

Treatment outcomes of occult breast carcinoma and prognostic analyses

Background The surgical management of occult breast cancer is controversial.We compared the outcomes of different treatments of occult breast cancer and evaluated the potential prognostic factors for overall survival and recurrence.Methods We retrospectively reviewed 77 patients who presented to our hospital from 1968 to 2011 with a diagnosis of occult breast cancer.Patients were divided into three groups：42 patients （63％） were treated with modified radical mastectomy＋axillary lymph node dissection （ALND）,16 patients （24％） were treated with ALND＋postoperative radiotherapy,and 9 patients （13％） with only ALND.Survival analyses were undertaken to compare the efficacy of these three treatments.Results Of the 77 patients with occult breast cancer,2 patients were lost to follow-up and 8 patients refused surgical treatment：67 patients （90.4％） were included in this analysis.The median follow-up was 62.2 （0.6-328.0）months.Kaplan-Meier analyses showed no significant difference in overall survival and recurrence-free survival between the three groups （P=0.494 and 0.397,respectively）.The prevalence of local recurrence was 11.9％ for the mastectomy＋ALND,18.8％ for ALND＋radiotherapy,and 11.1％ for ALND-only groups,and those for distant recurrence were 2.4％,12.5％,and 11.1％,respectively.Compared with progesterone receptor-negative subjects,progesterone receptor-positive patients had better overall survival and lower recurrence rates （P=0.057 and 0.062,respectively）.Conclusions There was no significant difference in outcomes between mastectomy and breast-preserving surgery.Expression of the progesterone receptor should be taken into account when evaluating the prognosis of occult breast cancer.     

Histopathological features of invasion of breast invasive ductal carcinoma and safety of breast-conserving surgery

In order to investigate the relationship between the extent of tumor invasion and the tumor size, axillary lymph nodes metastasis, Her-2 gene overexpression, and histologic grading in breast invasive ductal carcinoma as well as the optimal extent of excision during the breast-serving surgery, the clinical data of 104 patients with breast invasive ductal carcinoma who had received modified radical mastectomy were analyzed. The correlation analysis on invasive extent, which was evaluated by serial sections at an interval of 0.5 cm from 4 different directions taking the focus as the centre, and the tumor size, axillary lymph nodes metastasis, Her-2 gene overexpression, and his- tologic grading was processed. There was a significant correlation between invasive extent and tumor size （r=-0.766, P〈0.01）, and lymph nodes metastases 0=0.574, P〈0.01）, but there was no significant correlation between invasive extent and Her-2 expression （r=-0.106, P〉0.05）, and histologic grading （r=-0.228, P〉0.05）. The 100% negative rate of infiltration in patients without nipple discharge with tumor size 〈2, 2-3 and 〉3 cm was obtained at 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 cm away from the tumor respectively. It is concluded that the performance of breast-serving surgery in patients with breast invasive ductal carcinoma should be evaluated by tumor size in combination with axillary lymph nodes involvement to decide the possibility of breast-serving and the secure excision extent.     

Prognostic significance of metastatic lymph nodes ratio in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma after curative gastrectomy

Background We evaluated the impact of the number of metastatic lymph nodes and the metastatic lymph nodes ratio （the ratio between metastatic lymph nodes and total dissected lymph nodes,MLNR） in patients with gastric adenocaminoma following curative gastrectomy and also analyzed the relationship between the number of removed lymph nodes and prognosis in node-negative gastric cancer.Methods From January 2005 to December 2010,1 390 patients who were diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma and underwent curative gastrectomy were included.In particular,lymph node metastasis was not present in 515 patients.The number of metastatic lymph nodes and the metastatic lymph nodes ratio were selected for univariate and multivariate analyses to evaluate their influences on the disease outcome.The survival curve was presented according to the number of removed lymph nodes in node-negative gastric cancer using Kaplan-Meier plots.Results The overall 5-year survival rate was 54％ in this group.Univariate analysis revealed that age category,macroscopic appearance,histological grade,tumor size,depth of primary tumor invasion,number of metastatic lymph nodes,metastatic lymph nodes ratio,tumor,nodes,metastasis-classification （TNM） stage and status of lymphovascular,and vessel invasion have significant impact on survival.The number of metastatic lymph nodes and the metastatic lymph nodes ratio both have significant impact on survival （P ＜0.001）.However,in multivariate analyses,only the metastatic lymph nodes ratio was identified to be an independent prognostic factor （P ＜0.001）.The number of removed lymph nodes in node-negative was a strong prognostic factor of survival,the more lymph nodes dissected,the better the survival.Conclusions The metastatic lymph nodes ratio has more significant prognostic value for survival in patients with gastric cancer following curative gastrectomy than the number of metastatic lymph nodes.The number of removed lymph nodes miaht be an important proanostic factor for gastric cancer without lymph node metastasis.     

Total mesoesophageal esophagectomy

Surgical resection remains the standard treatment for potentially resectable esophageal carcinoma,despite recent advances in multidisciplinary approaches （e.g.,radiotherapy and chemotherapy）.1,2 Postoperative outcomes for patients with esophageal carcinoma are determined by the extent of the primary tumor and the lymphatic spread of the disease.Lymph node status is a particularly strong predictor of survival and recurrent disease.3 Some patients can be cured by removal of the regional disease with lymph node metastases,and removal of all potentially involved regional lymph nodes is essential to achieve cure in these patients.4Keywords：esophageal carcinoma; lymph node dissection; mesoesophageal esophagectomy     

β-catenin expression pattern in primary oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background β--catenin, a 92 kDa protein that binds to the cytoplasmic tail of E-cadherin, has an essential role in intercellular adhesion and signal transduction. Aberrant expression of β-catenin has been associated with progression and metastasis of various human cancers. The aim of this study was to elucidate the expression pattern of β-catenin in primary oral squamous cell carcinoma and examine the correlation between β-catenin expression and tumor differentiation, histological grade and lymph node status as well as its clinical significances. Methods Seventy-six patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and sixteen metastatic lymph nodes were studied. The β-catenin expression was determined by immunohistochemical staining. The correlation with clinical, histological data was analyzed statistically. Results Normal oral epithelium showed strong β-catenin expression at the cell membrane, but no cytoplasmic or nuclear expression. Different degrees of reduced expression of β-catenin at the cell membrane were found in 54 cases with squamous cell carcinoma （71%）. Cytoplasmic β-catenin expression was found in 17 tumors （22.4%）. Three cases were found with nuclear β-catenin expression. In sixteen lymph nodes with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, negative β-catenin expression at the cell membrane was seen in 13 tumors （81.2%） and weak expression in 3 tumors （18.8%）. Statistical analysis showed that there was an inverse correlation between β-catenin expression and lymph node status and histological grade of tumors. Conclusions Reduced β-catenin expression at the cell membrane is clearly associated with lymph node metastasis. A reduced expression of β-catenin may constitute a hallmark of aggressive biological behavior of squamous cell carcinoma.     

Breast

A retrospective study of 129 cases with immediate breast reconstruction after skin-sparing mastectomy for breast cancer; Expression of imprinted tmnor suppressor gene SLC22A18 in breast cancer; WWOX gene expression and aberrant CpG island hypermethylation of WWOX gene in breast cancer; Are there other axillary lymph node metastasis than positive sentinel lymph nodes containing micrometasrases and isolated tumor cells in patients with breast cancer.     

Prognostic value of lymph node ratio in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma after chemoradiotherapy

Background Lymph node ratio （LNR） has recently been reported as a potential prognostic marker in many malignant diseases. We aimed to analyze the potential prognostic effect of LNR on hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma （HPSCC） after neoadjuvant therapy in our institution.     

DWI及动态增强MRI在淋巴结病变鉴别诊断中的价值

目的探讨磁共振扩散加权成像（D硼以及动态增强MPI（DCE-Mm）在颈部淋巴结病变鉴剐诊断中的价值。方法使用GE1．5T磁共振扫描仪及颈部相控阵线圈,46例单侧或双侧颈部淋巴结肿大患者（26例恶性病变,20例良性病变）。全部病例使用体线圈行SE-EPI DWI序列扫描,采用全方位扩散梯度及6个b值扫描。DWI扫描时间40-52S。分析46例病例中淋巴结的D研与表现扩散系数（ADC）值的特点,并行动态增强MRI和常规MRI增强检查,分析比较良、恶性淋巴结病变的MRI征象,计算病灶峰值增强率Emax,峰值时间Tmax．最大强化速率Slopemax,并根据病变最高强化区ROI的测量值,绘制病灶的时间一信号强度曲线（SI-Time曲线）。结果在DⅥ序列扫描中,良性和恶性淋巴结均呈高信号,恶性淋巴结组的平均ADE值为（0．834±0．192）x10^-3mm^2／s,良性淋巴结组为（1．687±0．252）×100mm^2／s,恶性淋巴结组平均ADC值明显小于良性淋巴结组（P〈0．05）,两者间差异有统计学意义。良性淋巴结病变时间一信号强度曲线多表现为I型,而恶性淋巴结多为Ⅲ型,Ⅱ型曲线均可见于良性和恶性淋巴结病变。结论D册可作为颈部良、恶性淋巴结病变鏊别诊断的一种快速可行的新方法,具有一定的临床价值。通过动态增强进一步揭示病变的血流动力学特征。有助于对淋巴结病变作出准确的定性诊断,更能有效地鉴别诊断良、恶性淋巴结病变。     

Cytokeratin-positive interstitial reticulum cell tumors of lymph nodes: a case report and review of literature

Cytokeratin-positive interstitial reticulum cells （CIRCs） are considered to represent a subset of fibroblastic reticulum cells （FBRCs） belonging to accessory dendritic cells in lymph nodes, the spleen and tonsils.1-3 The tumors arising from CIRCs are so rare that they are easily misdiagnosed as tumors originating from other accessory dendritic cells, myofibroblasts or even metastatic poor-differentiated carcinomas due to their similar histomorphologic features. We report herein one new case of a CIRC tumor （CIRCT） located in the retroperitoneum and analyze the clinicopathologic characteristics, pathogenesis, treatment and prognosis by reviewing the literature.     

血管滤泡性淋巴结增生症的诊断和综合治疗

疾病的正确诊断和合理治疗是患者和医务工作者共同的心愿。在广东省人民医院肿瘤中心，吴一龙教授指导临床医生应用循证医学理论进行肿瘤的多学科综合治疗，开展临床病例讨论。讨论会上各学科共同围绕一个病例或一个病种进行会诊，临床、病理、B超、放射影像等资料齐全，除相关科室提前准备的中心性发言外，到会人员各抒己见，气氛热烈。参会人员受益匪浅，提高了对疑难病例的诊治水平。为了将他们的诊治经验传播出去，让更多的临床医生获益，我刊开辟“循证病例讨论”栏目，希望广大医务工作者关注此栏目。     

A rare case of Castleman disease presenting as pulmonary mass mimicking central pulmonary malignancy

Castleman disease is a rare disorder of the lymphoid system characterized by noncancerous growths that may develop in lymph node tissues throughout the body. Most often this occurs in the neck, mediastinum, and abdomen where lymph nodes aggregate. Here we describe a case of asymptomatic intrapulmonary Castleman disease adjacent to the left pulmonary hilum that mimicked central pulmonary malignancy in a 27-year-old man who underwent curative surgical removal of the mass.     

膜外淋巴结转移-影响胃癌预后的新因素

1文献来源 Alakus H,Hlscher AH,Grass G,et al.Extracapsular lymph node spread：A new prognostic factor in gastric cancer[J].Cancer,2010,116（2）：309-315. 2证据水平 2b。     

Lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer

Objective To discuss the clinicopathological factors for lymph node metastasis （LNM） in early gastric cancer （EGC）,including age,gender,location,size,macroscopic type,depth of invasion,histological type,and lymphatic invasion,and the regulation of LNM in EGC.Data sources The data used in this review were mainly from PubMed articles published in English.The search terms were ＂early gastric cancer＂ and ＂lymph node metastasis.＂ Study selection Articles were selected if they reported the clinicopathological factors and regulation of LNM in EGC.Results The prognosis of EGC is better than advanced gastric cancer,with over 90％ 5-year survival rate.The main risk factors for LNM in EGC are tumor size,macroscopic type,depth of invasion,histological type,ulceration,and lymphatic invasion.Conclusions LNM in EGC is a critical factor for assessment of prognosis and determination of therapeutic strategy.Endoscopic mucosal resection or endoscopic submucosal dissection should be considered when patients have low risk of LNM.     

Pure Mucinous Carcinoma of the Breast：a Clinicopathologic Analysis with 56 Patients

Objective To assess recent trends and prognostic features in the treatment of pure mucinous carcinoma（PMC） of the breast.Methods Fifty-six patients diagnosed with PMC of the breast in our hospital from December 1982 to June 2008 were included.We evaluated the general information and tumor characteristics of the patients,examined the relationship between these factors and prognosis.Fisher＇s exact test was applied to analyze tumor characteristics.Results The mean age of the patients was 53.7 years.The majority of the patients presented with early stage disease.Tumor size was found not a significant prognostic factor in this study.Mean follow-up period was 39 months and no breast cancer-related deaths were identified in the patient cohort.Conclusions PMC of the breast has a favorable prognosis.Tumor size does not appear to significantly impact survival.     

Overexpression of leptin and leptin receptors in breast cancer positively correlates with clinicopathological features

Obesity has been reported to increase postmenopausal breast cancer risk by 30% to 50%, and obese breast cancer patients have been shown to present more aggressive breast cancer pathological features As most breast cancers are sex hormone-dependent, adipocytokines derived from adipose tissue, such as leptin, may account for the positive association between obesity and breast cancer. Leptin, a 16-kDa protein product of the obese gene, was initially regarded as a neuroendocrine factor in the hypothalamus to maintain homeostasis of body weight by regulating food intake and energy expenditure.