The value of MCA, CA 15-3, CEA and CA-125 for discrimination between metastatic breast cancer and adenocarcinoma of other primary sites

MCA, CA 15-3, CEA and CA 125 were determined in the serum of 49 patients with metastatic breast cancer and 38 patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of other primary sites. By using the 99th percentile of the normal value distribution as the cut-off point, the positive predictive value (PV+) was found to be 85% (95% CI 76-94) for MCA, and 71% (95% CI 61-81) for CA 15-3. When receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed, the PV+ for CA 15-3 was increased to 82% (95% CI 72-92), using 60 U ml-1 as the cut-off point. With the exception of two patients who had a slightly elevated MCA, MCA and CA 15-3 identified the same patients with breast cancer. By combining a positive MCA or CA 15-3 with a negative CEA and CA 125, further improvement of the PV+ could be achieved; 100% (95% CI 91-100). We conclude that MCA and CA 15-3 may play a useful role in discrimination between patients with metastatic breast cancer and those with adenocarcinoma of other primary sites.     

Aspiration biopsy cytology of mammary myoepithelioma

A case of ultrastructurally confirmed myoepithelioma of the breast studied by fine-needle aspiration biopsy is reported. Aspirated tumor cells were spindle-shaped with well-defined cytoplasm and oval nuclei showing no remarkable nuclear pleomorphism. They were seen mainly in irregular bundles with strong cellular cohesiveness. Their cytoplasm contained S-100 protein demonstrated by the peroxidase antiperoxidase staining technique.     

BcL-2、Bax、CD44V6在乳腺癌表达及预后的研究

目的探讨影响乳腺癌患者预后的因素,协助临床制定手术方式及术后治疗方案。方法选择80例各型乳腺癌患者的标本,应用免疫组化SP方法,检测乳腺癌组织中癌基因BcL-2、Bax及黏附因子CD44V6的表达情况。结果乳腺癌中BcL-2、Bax及CD44V6的表达情况与肿瘤组织学分级、瘤体直径。有无转移及患者术后存活时间均有显著性相关(P<0.05或0.01)。结论BcL-2高表达、Bax低表达、CD44V6低表达的患者组织学分级好,肿瘤体积小,淋巴结转移少,术后存活时间长,这部分患者可做肿物扩大切除而保留乳房或即使已做乳房切除,术后也可减少放疗及化疗剂量。     

Immunohistochemical localization of cathepsin D, proliferating cell nuclear antigen and epidermal growth factor receptor in human breast carcinoma analysed by computer image analyser: correlation with histological grade and metastatic behaviour

 

Aims:

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between immunohistochemical localization of cathepsin D (CD), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) in 65 cases of breast carcinoma in Japanese women and traditional prognostic factors such as histological grade, lymph node status, mitotic rate and clinical stage, in order to possibly identify some indicator(s) that may be specifically associated with prognosis.  

Methods and results:

Serial sections of 5-μm thick were cut from the archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks, and processed for CD, PCNA and EGF-R immunostaining. The results were analysed by computer-based image analysis system. All samples showed a positive immunoreaction for cathepsin D in both the parenchyma and stroma. However, the staining area and intensity varied from cell to cell in the parenchyma and stroma as well as among samples. Subsequently, the evaluation of immunostaining for CD was separately performed in both the parenchyma and stroma (CDpar and CDstr, respectively) and the combination of both components (CDtotal). PCNA and EGF-R showed positive immunostaining almost exclusively in the parenchymal component of the carcinoma tissue specimens. CDtotal significantly correlated with the histological grade, PCNA index (PI), mitotic rate (MR), EGF-R and lymph node metastasis. Significant correlation was also demonstrated between CDpar and the histological grade, EGF-R and lymph node metastasis, or between CDstr and MR, EGF-R and lymph node metastasis. EGF-R correlated highly with the histological grade, MR score, lymph node metastases and recurrence-free survival.  

Conclusions:

Both the CD parameters and EGF-R are valuable indicators for predicting the biological behaviour of human breast carcinoma.     

Prevention of Restenosis after Coronary Angioplasty with Low-Density Lipoprotein Apheresis

Abstract: A prospective study was performed to determine whether low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis, when performed only immediately before and after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), is effective in preventing restenosis of coronary artery lesions following PTCA. Thirty-six patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and hypercholesterolemia were divided into 2 groups. The 9 patients in the LDL group underwent LDL-apheresis 1 day before and 5 days after PTCA while the 27 patients of the control group underwent PTCA but did not undergo LDL-apheresis. Follow-up coronary angiography (CAG) was performed 4 months after PTCA. The rate of restenosis of coronary artery lesions was significantly lower in the LDL group (0%) than in the control group (30%). These findings suggest that LDL-apheresis, when performed before and after PTCA, is effective in preventing restenosis of coronary artery lesions in patients with CHD and hypercholesterolemia.     

Immunoreactive p53 and metallothionein expression in duct carcinoma in situ of the breast

 Immunocytochemically detectable MT and p53 have been found more commonly in comedo DCIS of the breast with high-grade cytology. The aim of this study is to confirm these findings and to investigate the relationship between MT and p53 in a single large series of cases of DCIS of the breast. To this end, 127 cases of DCIS were classified histologically according to architecture, cytonuclear differentiation (grade), presence and extent of intraduct necrosis, and using the Van Nuys system. Sections were immunostained for p53 and MT (E9) using established techniques, and the extent and intensity of staining were assessed semi-quantitively. The results confirmed that there was generally more MT and p53 positivity in poorly differentiated (grade 3) DCIS with extensive necrosis and that MT expression was greater in grade 2 lesions than p53 expression. However, overall there was no statistically significant correlation between p53 and MT staining. The results indicate that MT and p53 overexpression may arise from independent mechanisms in early breast neoplasia. Received: 3 July 1996 / Accepted: 5 November 1996     

针吸细胞学诊断乳腺肿块的体会

在欧美,乳腺肿块针吸细胞学诊断于70年代就已得到了成功的应用。近年来国内的一些研究也证实其实用价值。为了进一步提高乳腺细胞学诊断水平,现将我院针吸细胞学诊断乳腺肿块281例中由病理证实的118例进行总结分析。1 材料与方法1.1 临床资料:1986年12月～1990年2月采用针吸细胞学检查诊断乳腺肿块281例,其中118例施行手术并获得病理组织学的证实。细胞学诊断以原始报告为准。女     

Preoperative Chemotherapy Alone and Combined with Preoperative Radiotherapy in Small-Size Breast Cancer

Abstract: Breast conservation surgery is an effective and safe treatment for many breast carcinomas. It may be possible to further limit the extent of resection (or expand the indication for breast conservation) by the application of preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We explored the feasibility of this in a pilot study.
Seventy-three patients (mean age 48, 63% premenopausal) with confirmed breast cancer, less than 2.5 cm, received chemotherapy (Group A) or chemotherapy plus radiotherapy (Group B) prior to limited resection (tumorectomy). Axillary dissection was always performed. Results: In 6/31 (19%) Group A and 17/42 (40%) Group B patients the tumor was not palpable after preoperative treatment, with complete pathological remission in 1 and 3 cases respectively. Histologic grading, mitosis, cellular alteration, and cellularity evaluations indicated a consistently greater therapeutic effect with chemoradiotherapy than with chemotherapy alone.
In conclusion, radiotherapy appears useful in the preoperative treatment of breast cancer and its use in association with various drug combinations should be further explored.     

SCP对人乳腺癌细胞增殖抑制作用的研究

目的：研究SCP对人乳腺癌细胞生长，抑制效应，探讨其抗癌作用机制。方法：用不同浓度的SCP加入体外培养的人乳腺癌细胞（MCF－7）中，观察加药后细胞生长和有丝分裂指数（MI）的变化，用MTT法检测其细胞毒作用；Hoechst33342/PI荧光双染色方法检测细胞凋亡。结果：SCP明显抑制MCF－7细胞生长，IC50值为1mg/ml;MI于加药后48h较对照组明显降低；凋亡细胞比例在用药后48h达63．3％，结论：SCP可有效抑制人乳腺癌细胞的增殖。     

Phase II trial of piroxantrone in metastatic breast cancer

Summary Thirty-two eligible patients with advanced metastatic breast cancer who had received no more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for metastatic disease (16 had received prior doxorubicin) were treated with piroxantrone at a dose of 120 mg/m² intravenously every 21 days. In the twenty-seven patients evaluable for response, two partial responses were seen. Toxicities observed were primarily hematologic with grade 3 or greater granulocytopenia occurring in 34% of the patients. One patient developed symptomatic congestive heart failure at a total cumulative dose of 960 mg/m². We conclude that piroxantrone given at this dose and schedule has minimal activity in patients with metastatic breast cancer.