EGFR in gastric carcinomas: prognostic significance of protein overexpression and high gene copy number

Aims:  Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression has been observed in a variety of solid tumours with the potential of new targeted therapeutic agents. The aim was to evaluate the EGFR status of gastric carcinoma (GC) using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).
Methods and results:  The EGFR status was evaluated in GC tissues from 511 patients using IHC and FISH. In addition, the clinicopathological characteristics were examined and the results were compared with the EGFR status. One hundred and forty cases (27.4%) showed EGFR overexpression by IHC. EGFR overexpression was associated with older age ( P  = 0.001), moderately or poorly differentiated histology ( P  = 0.001) and higher stage disease ( P  = 0.046). Sixteen cases (3.1%) showed high polysomy and 12 cases (2.3%) had gene amplification by FISH. The correlation between IHC and FISH results was statistically significant ( P  < 0.001). The patients with GC who had EGFR overexpression had an unfavourable prognosis and multivariate analysis showed that EGFR overexpression was a possible independent unfavourable prognostic factor.
Conclusions:  EGFR overexpression was observed in a subset of cases with GC and was associated with an unfavourable prognosis. It will be important to evaluate EGFR status to interpret future clinical trials properly using EGFR targeted agents.     

Foxp3~+ Tregs和PD1在胃癌组织中的表达及其临床病理意义

目的:探讨胃癌组织中Foxp3+调节性T细胞(Foxp3+Tregs)与程序性死亡受体1(PD1)的表达情况及两者与胃癌患者临床病理和预后的关系。方法:采用免疫组织化学方法检测111例胃癌患者癌组织和20例正常胃黏膜组织中Foxp3+Tregs及PD1的表达情况,分析胃癌组织中两者的表达与患者临床病理和预后的关系及两项指标之间的相关性。结果:胃癌组织中Foxp3+Tregs和PD1表达增加,PD1表达于肿瘤浸润性淋巴细胞(TILs),两者的表达均与淋巴结转移及TNM分期相关(P0.05),而与其它临床病理因素如肿瘤大小、病理类型,病变部位均无关,以上指标表达阳性者总体生存率低(P0.05),预后差。胃癌组织中Foxp3+Tregs与PD1+TILs的表达之间存在显著的正相关(P0.01)。结论:胃癌组织中存在Foxp3+Tregs和PD1+TILs共同表达,二者可作为判断胃癌患者疾病进展及预后的生物学标志物。     

Systematic assessment of the prognostic impact of membranous CD44v6 protein expression in colorectal cancer

Aims:  To assess systematically the membranous expression of CD44v6 in colorectal cancer by immunohistochemistry to determine its prognostic impact, the differential expression between primary and metastatic tumours and expression differences between the tumour centre and invasive front.
Methods and results:  Immunohistochemistry was performed for CD44v6 on two tissue microarrays. The first included 1279 colorectal tumours with full clinicopathological data. The second consisted of 50 matched primary and metastatic tumours sampled from the tumour centre and the invasive margin. A scoring system was tested by multiple observers. Receiver–operating characteristic curve analysis was used for cut-off point determination. Loss of membranous CD44v6 was associated with pT stage ( P  = 0.016; sensitivity 85.8%, specificity 20.1%), lymph node metastasis ( P  = 0.015; sensitivity 52.8%, specificity 55%), an infiltrating tumour margin ( P  < 0.001; sensitivity 71.4%, specificity 40%) and adverse prognosis ( P  = 0.011; hazard ratio 0.79, 95% confidence interval 0.7, 0.9), but was not an independent prognostic factor on multivariable analysis. Loss of expression occurred at the invasive front in both primary and metastatic lesions ( P  < 0.001).
Conclusions:  This study outlines an approach to help standardize the immunohistochemical evaluation of CD44v6 and similar markers in colorectal cancer and highlights a significant role for loss of membranous CD44v6 expression in colorectal cancer progression and prognosis.     

Prognostic significance of DNA repair proteins MLH1, MSH2 and MGMT expression in non-small-cell lung cancer and precursor lesions

Aims:  To investigate the role of DNA repair proteins and their prognostic significance in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Methods and results:  A retrospective analysis of 108 cases of stage I–II NSCLC was undertaken. Immunohistochemical expression of DNA repair proteins MLH1, MSH2 and MGMT was assessed using tissue microarrays of paraffin-embedded samples of invasive carcinoma and precursor lesions. Results were analysed in relation to clinicopathological parameters and patient survival. Reduced expression of MLH1 was found in 58.5% of tumours and occurred less frequently in poorly differentiated tumours ( P  = 0.044) and large cell carcinomas ( P  = 0.004). MSH2 and MGMT expression was reduced in 18.1% and 77.8% of cases, respectively. There was an inverse relationship between MLH1 and MSH2 expression ( P  = 0.012). Normal expression of MLH1, MSH2 and MGMT was found in all cases of squamous metaplasia and squamous dysplasia. Only a single case of carcinoma in situ (12.5%) showed reduced MLH1, none showed reduced MSH2 and 25% showed reduced MGMT. Survival analyses showed no prognostic significance based on expression of MLH1 ( P  = 0.92), MSH2 ( P  = 0.78) or MGMT ( P  = 0.57).
Conclusions:  Reduction in expression of DNA repair proteins MLH1, MSH2 and MGMT is relatively common in NSCLC, appears to be a late event in the development of invasive malignancy and does not influence survival in this patient cohort.     

Metastatic melanoma volume in sentinel nodes: objective stereology-based measurement predicts disease recurrence and survival

Aims:  Sentinel lymph node (SLN) status is the most important prognostic factor in intermediate thickness melanoma. The amount of metastatic disease in positive SLNs varies greatly between patients, and this tumour burden appears to influence the prognosis of node-positive patients. The aim was to use objective stereological techniques to correlate accurately total SLN tumour burden with recurrence and patient survival.
Methods and results:  SLNs from 327 patients were examined by complete step sectioning and immunohistochemistry. The total metastasis volume (TMV) of 156 positive SLNs from 99 patients (30.3%) was measured using stereological methods based on the 2D-nucleator and Cavalieri's principle. The maximum metastasis diameter was also measured. These two measurements were correlated with disease recurrence and patient survival. The mean TMV for SLN+ patients was 10.5 mm³ (median 0.05 mm³; range 0.0001–623.7 mm³). Median follow-up was 26.3 months. On multivariate analysis, TMV was an independent predictor of recurrence when corrected for primary tumour thickness ( P  = 0.001) and was a stronger prognosticator compared with the maximum metastasis diameter ( P  < 0.0001 versus P  = 0.01).
Conclusions:  Combining total step sectioning of SLNs with stereological assessment of metastases, we found metastasis volume to be a highly significant predictor of disease recurrence and survival.     

Neuroendocrine ductal carcinoma in situ (NE-DCIS) of the breast--comparative clinicopathological study of 20 NE-DCIS cases and 274 non-NE-DCIS cases

Aims:  To clarify the clinicopathological significance of breast neuroendocrine ductal carcinoma in situ (NE-DCIS), i.e. DCIS in which >50% of cells immunohistochemically express NE markers (chromogranin A and/or synaptophysin), 20 NE-DCIS were studied and the findings compared with those of 274 non-NE-DCIS.
Methods and results:  NE-DCIS accounted for 6.8% of all DCIS. Mean patient age was 50.4 years for NE-DCIS and 49.6 years for non-NE-DCIS ( P  = 0.66). The main clinical presentation of NE-DCIS was a bloody nipple discharge, seen in 72%, significantly different from the 5% in non-NE-DCIS cases ( P  < 0.01). Carcinoma was preoperatively diagnosed in 67% of NE-DCIS and 95% of non-NE-DCIS cases ( P  < 0.01). NE-DCIS was histologically characterized by a predominantly solid growth of cancer cells with fine-granular cytoplasm and ovoid, or occasionally spindle-shaped nuclei. A well-developed vascular network was also common. Nuclear grades and Van Nuys classification were significantly lower for NE-DCIS than for non-NE-DCIS ( P  < 0.01). The mean MIB-1 labelling index was 4.3% in NE-DCIS and 8.1% in non-NE-DCIS ( P  < 0.01). Furthermore, NE-DCIS cases had significantly higher oestrogen and progesterone receptor and lower HER2 scores than non-NE-DCIS cases ( P  < 0.01).
Conclusions:  NE-DCIS has characteristic clinicopathological features and can, therefore, be regarded as a distinct variant of DCIS.     

Prognostic implications of epithelial to mesenchymal transition related proteins (E-cadherin,Snail) and hypoxia inducible factor 1α in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important step in the invasion and metastasis of cancer. E-cadherin downregulation, which is essentially controlled by EMT-mediated proteins such as Snail, is a main molecular feature of this process. Tumor hypoxia is one of the essential biological phenomena that are associated with the development and progression of various solid tumors. Recently, hypoxia and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) signaling pathway were identified to have an essential role in the regulation of EMT phenotype. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of EMT-related proteins (E-cadherin, Snail) and HIF-1α in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (EEC) among Egyptian women. Immunohistochemical evaluation of E-cadherin, Snail, and HIF-1α expression was performed using 50 cases of EEC. The relationship between protein expression and clinicopathological features was investigated. The frequency of immunopositivity for E-cadherin, Snail, and HIF-1α in our cases of EEC was 82%, 28%, and 66%, respectively. Reduced E-cadherin and increased nuclear expression of Snail as well as HIF-1α were significantly associated with histopathologic grade, clinical stage myometrial invasion, and lymph node involvement. Statistical analysis showed a positive correlation between HIF-1α overexpression and Snail upregulation (τ= +0.252, P= .025); however, E-cadherin expression level was inversely correlated with enhanced Snail expression (τ= −0.450, P< .001) as well as with HIF-1α overexpression (τ= −0.439, P< .001). The overall survival and progression-free survival were inversely related to Snail immunoreactivity and positively related to E-cadherin expression. E-cadherin and Snail have a predictive value in EEC. In conclusion, the current study reveals that both Snail and HIF-1α expressions are significantly associated with poor prognosis in EEC; however, E-cadherin expression is considered a marker of good prognosis. E-cadherin and Snail expression has a predictive value in EEC management.     

p53,Ki-67及E-钙黏蛋白在三阴性乳腺癌中的表达及预后

目的:探讨p53,Ki-67及E-钙黏蛋白(E-cadherin)在三阴性乳腺癌(triple negative breast cancer,TNBC)组织中的表达及预后的关系.方法:采用免疫组织化学法检测52例TNBC和52例非三阴性乳腺癌(non-triple-negative breast cancer,NTNBC)组织中p53,Ki-67及E-cadherin表达情况,观察3个指标与TNBC患者临床病理学特征及预后的关系.结果:TNBC组织中p53,Ki-67及E-cadherin的阳性表达率分别为67.3％,80.8％,26.9％;而在NTNBC组织中为44.2％,61.5％,48.1％(均P＜0.05).在TNBC组织中,p53表达阳性与肿瘤大小、TNM分期及组织学分级有关(均P＜0.05);Ki-67表达阳性与TNM分期、淋巴结转移有关(均P＜0.05);E-cadherin表达阳性与肿瘤大小、TNM分期、淋巴结转移有关(均P＜0.05).在TNBC患者中,p53,Ki-67及E-cadherin表达阳性者与阴性者总体生存率(overall survival,OS)的差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).Cox回归分析多因素显示:淋巴结转移、p53、Ki-67及E-cadherin表达是影响TNBC患者总体生存率的独立预后因素(均P＜0.05).结论:TNBC组织中,p53、Ki-67高表达,其表达阳性者预后差,E-cadherin低表达,其表达阳性者预后良好.联合检测p53、Ki-67及E-cadherin表达可为TNBC患者的治疗提供新靶点.     

胃癌组织中CapG蛋白的表达及其与临床病理特征及预后的关系

目的检测巨噬细胞加帽蛋白(gelsolin-like actin-capping protein,CapG)在胃癌及癌旁组织(距离癌组织边缘5 cm)中的表达,探讨CapG蛋白表达与胃癌临床病理参数及预后的关系。方法收集125例胃癌石蜡包埋组织样本及癌旁组织30例。患者均为未行放、化疗的初诊患者。每例组织样本均行CapG免疫组化染色,并设置对照组。通过病理医师评分来确定CapG蛋白的表达量,探讨CapG蛋白表达与胃癌临床病理参数及预后的关系。结果 CapG蛋白在细胞质和细胞核中均表达,呈棕黄色颗粒状。癌旁组织中基本无表达,胃癌组织中的表达显著高于癌旁组织;胃癌组织中CapG蛋白表达与患者性别、年龄、肿瘤大小、肿瘤位置无显著相关(P均0.05),与浸润深度(P=0.044)、淋巴结转移(P=0.026)、远处转移(P=0.001)及AJCC分期(P=0.012)显著相关。Kaplan-Meier生存曲线显示,CapG蛋白高表达组患者的总体预后较低表达组差,且差异具有显著性(P0.001)。Cox回归分析显示,肿瘤位置、淋巴结转移、远处转移、AJCC分期、CapG蛋白表达情况是胃癌患者预后的独立危险因素。结论 CapG蛋白在胃癌组织中高表达,可能与胃癌的发生、发展有关,可作为胃癌预后判断的指标之一,有望成为胃癌治疗的潜在新靶点。     

Preoperative Mannan-Binding Lectin Pathway and Prognosis in Colorectal Cancer

Background:  Deficiency of the mannan-binding lectin (MBL) pathway of innate immunity leads to increased susceptibility to infections. In patients with colorectal cancer, postoperative infection is associated with poor prognosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate (1) the relation between the MBL pathway and postoperative infectious complications and survival of patients resected for colorectal cancer and (2) the role of MBL as acute phase reactant compared to CRP.
Methods:  Preoperative MBL concentration, MBL/MBL-associated serine protease (MASP) activity and CRP were determined in serum from 611 patients and 150 healthy controls. The patients were observed for 8 years. Postoperative infections, recurrence and survival were recorded.
Results:  The MBL pathway components were increased in the patients ( P  < 0.0001) compared to healthy controls. Low MBL levels were predictive of pneumonia ( P  = 0.01), and pneumonia ( n  = 87) was associated with poor survival ( P  = 0.003, HR = 1.5, 95% CI 1.1–1.9). MBL and MBL/MASP activity could not predict postoperative overall infections. MBL showed no correlation (spearman's ρ = 0.02, 95% CI −0.06–0.10) with CRP.
Conclusions:  Low preoperative MBL levels are predictive of pneumonia, which is associated with poorer survival. MBL concentration and MBL/MASP activity was not predictive of other postoperative infections or long-term prognosis. MBL apparently is not a surrogate measure of CRP.     

The role of vascular CXCR4 expression in colorectal carcinoma

Aims:  The chemokine receptor CXCR4 plays a prominent role in the biology of many different tumours, promoting angiogenesis and metastasis. The impact of CXCR4 expression on tumour biology has been described in various gastrointestinal malignancies, but data on its in situ expression and clinicopathological correlations are sparse. Using a novel specific rabbit anti-CXCR4 antibody, the aim was to assess CXCR4 expression immunohistochemically on tissue microarrays generated from 402 colorectal cancers (CRCs) and compare it with CXCL12 expression and various clinicopathological parameters.
Methods and results:  CXCR4-expressing tumour cells were observed in 31% of the cases, and expression correlated only with blood vessel invasion ( P  = 0.049). Furthermore, CXCR4 was found in tumour microvessels in 25% of CRCs. This pattern of CXCR4 expression correlated significantly with T- ( P  = 0.008), N- ( P  = 0.009), M- ( P  = 0.043), L- ( P  = 0.014) and V-category ( P  = 0.043) as well as with International Union Against Cancer (UICC) stage ( P  = 0.001). Furthermore, in node negative CRCs, vascular CXCR4 expression was an independent adverse prognostic factor [hazard ratio 2.87 (1.31–6.29), P  = 0.009]. No correlation with CXCL12 expression was found.
Conclusions:  Our data provide evidence that CXCR4 plays an important role in tumour angiogenesis of CRC. Therefore, the CXCR4 pathway is a promising therapeutic target for anti-angiogenic therapies in CRC.     

上皮钙黏蛋白、波形蛋白和Snail蛋白表型在乳腺浸润性导管癌中表达的相关性及其与预后的关系

目的 检测上皮钙黏蛋白(E-cadherin)、波形蛋白(Vimentin)和Snail蛋白在乳腺浸润性导管癌中的表达情况与乳腺癌病理特征的关系及其与浸润性导管癌预后的关系.方法 采用Envision免疫组织化学方法对89例乳腺浸润性导管癌组织中的上E-cadhenn,Vimentin和Snail蛋白表达情况进行检测并分析表达程度与临床病理特征之间的关系;统计分析采用卡方检验、Fisher精确概率法检验Spearman等级相关检验、配对计数资料检验、Kaplan-Meier法进行单因素生存分析,Cox比例风险模型进行生存的多因素分析.结果 E-cadherin、Vimentin和Snail蛋白在浸润性导管癌组织中的阳性表达率分别为、47.1％、53.9％和55.0％,三者呈负相关,(P=0.003);E-cadherin、Vimentin和Snail蛋白的表达与临床TNM分期有关(P ＜0.005).浸润性导管癌中Snail蛋白、Vimentin表达明显增高,Snail蛋白与淋巴结转移有关(P =0.029);Vimentin与淋巴结转移、雌激素状态有关(P =0.006,P＜0.001);E-cadherin表达明显降低,与孕激素状态有关(P =0.030);分子分型结果显示,管腔A型、HER-2阳性型组的Vimentin、Snail蛋白阳性表达率低于基地细胞样型组(P =0.012),而E-cadherin表达率则高于基地细胞样型组(P =0.004).Cox分析发现,E-cadherin低表达和Vimentin的过度表达与患者总生存期(P =0.019、P=0.045)及患者无病生存期(P =0.032、P=0.024)显著相关,但Snail蛋白的表达与总生存期及无病生存期无相关性(P =0.879、P=0.835).结论 E-cadhern、Vimentin和Snail蛋白在乳腺浸润性导管癌的发生、发展、侵袭及转移中起重要作用,对认识乳腺癌的生物学特性以及对指导乳腺癌的诊疗及预后具有重要意义.     

Alteration of E-cadherin-mediated adhesion protein is common,but microsatellite instability is uncommon in young age gastric cancers

AIMS: Gastric adenocarcinoma in young patients has been considered to differ in many ways from gastric carcinoma in older patients. This study was designed to determine the clinicopathological features and molecular mechanisms. METHODS AND RESULTS: Based on 4123 patients of gastric cancer in Seoul National University Hospital, 135 patients (3.3%) were chosen by the age of 30 years or younger. Expression of E-cadherin, beta-catenin, p53 and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was analysed using the tissue array method in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens and microsatellite instability (MSI) was determined. As a control, 320 cases of older patients were compared. Gastric adenocarcinoma of young patients revealed significant female predominance, type IV gross type, proximal location, diffuse type and frequent lymph node metastasis. In-situ hybridization for EBV showed higher positivity in young patients (9/78, 11.5%) than in older ones, but not statistically significant. In EBV+ cases, p53 over-expression was significantly higher in young patients than older patients (P < 0.05). Alteration of E-cadherin or beta-catenin was significantly higher in younger patients than in older patients (P < 0.05). Overall survival was significantly poorer in younger patients than older ones. The frequency of MSI was rare (1.3%, P < 0.05) in young patients compared with older patients (9.3%). CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that gastric adenocarcinoma of young patients has a poor prognosis, possesses aggressive histopathological features, exhibits reduced expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin, and demonstrates lower MSI than tumours in older patients.     

Combination of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cell-like phenotypes has independent prognostic value in gastric cancer

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related proteins have been suggested to interact with each other in various cancers and be associated with the aggressive behavior of cancer. To demonstrate the clinical significance of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stem cell-like phenotypes in gastric cancer, we performed immunohistochemistry for 5 epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related proteins, including Snail-1, ZEB-1, E-cadherin, vimentin, and β-catenin, and the gastric cancer stem cell marker CD44 in 276 consecutive primary gastric cancers and 54 matched lymph node metastases. Loss of E-cadherin expression and aberrant expression of vimentin were significantly associated with aggressive clinicopathologic features. The expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related proteins was closely related to each other in gastric cancer. The known gastric cancer stem cell maker, CD44, was significantly associated with the protein expression of Snail-1, ZEB-1, and E-cadherin (P < .05). Univariate survival analysis was performed for the 6 proteins included in this study to find the best combination for predicting patient outcome. Protein expression of Snail-1, vimentin, E-cadherin, and CD44 resulted in the lowest P value using the Kaplan-Meier method (P < .001). This combination of proteins was significantly associated with advanced pT stage, lymph node metastasis, vascular invasion, and undifferentiated histologic type in a high-risk group (P < .001) and predicted disease-free survival independent of pTNM stage and histologic differentiation (P = .029). However, the acquired mesenchymal phenotype of gastric cancer cells at the primary site was restored to an epithelial phenotype in lymph node metastases. A combination of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stem cell-like phenotypes is an important predictor of aggressive biologic behavior and has an independent prognostic value in predicting outcomes of primary gastric cancer.     

E-cadherin和FOXO3a在胃癌组织和细胞中表达的关系

目的:探讨上皮钙黏素(E-cadherin)和叉头框蛋白O3a(FOXO3a)在胃癌组织和细胞中表达的关系及意义。方法:应用免疫组织化学法检测53例胃癌组织及对应癌旁组织中E-cadherin和FOXO3a的表达情况,分析两者的表达水平及与临床病理参数的关系。构建E-cadherin过表达的胃癌稳转细胞株AGS,免疫细胞化学法检测E-cadherin及FOXO3a蛋白表达,Western blot法检测细胞中E-cadherin、FOXO3a、Akt、Bcl-2和Bax的蛋白表达,CCK-8法检测细胞活力。结果:胃癌组织中E-cadherin和FOXO3a的阳性率较对应癌旁组织均显著降低(P0.05)。E-cadherin表达与胃癌分化程度和TNM分期显著相关(P0.05),与年龄、性别、肿瘤部位、T分期及淋巴结转移无显著相关。FOXO3a表达与胃癌分化程度显著相关(P0.05),与年龄、性别、部位、TNM分期、T期及淋巴结转移无显著相关。胃癌组织中E-cadherin与FOXO3a表达存在显著正相关(r=0.376,P=0.003)。E-cadherin过表达后,胃癌AGS细胞活力显著下降,细胞中FOXO3a和Bax表达显著升高,Akt表达显著下降。结论:E-cadherin与FOXO3a共同参与胃癌的发生发展,E-cadherin可能通过调节Akt/FOXO3a信号传导影响胃癌细胞活力。     

Increased expression of SDF-1/CXCR4 is associated with lymph node metastasis of invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast

Aims:  Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and its receptor CXCR4 are implicated in tumour chemotaxis and metastasis. The aim was to examine their roles in the metastasis of invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) of the breast, a tumour with a high propensity for nodal spread.
Methods and results:  We compared the expression of SDF-1 and CXCR4 in 103 cases of breast cancer containing IMPC components with a control group of 96 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), not otherwise specified type by immunohistochemistry and chemical in situ hybridization (CISH). The results showed that the predominant cytoplasmic expression of both SDF-1 and CXCR4 was greater in tumour cells of the IMPC components than in those of the non-IMPC components and the control IDC cases, and was correlated significantly with the number of positive lymph nodes ( P  < 0.05). SDF-1 expression on cell membranes was less frequently identified in IMPC than IDC ( P  = 0.021). Immunohistochemical detection of SDF-1 in endothelial cells of lymphatic vessels was more common in IMPC ( P   =  0.007) and correlated significantly with lymph node status ( P  = 0.002), although SDF-1 mRNA was rarely detected by CISH.
Conclusions:  This study suggests that up-regulation of cytoplasmic expression of SDF-1/CXCR4 might be one of the molecular mechanisms facilitating lymph node metastasis of IMPC.     

Genetic alterations of CCND1 and EMSY in breast cancers

Aims:  CCND1 and EMSY, on 11q13, are frequently amplified in breast cancer. CCND1 is implicated in cell cycle progression and EMSY is a BRCA2-associated repressor protein. The aim was to investigate gene copy numbers of CCND1 and EMSY and to determine if CCND1 amplification is associated with reduced survival of tamoxifen-treated breast cancer patients.
Methods and results:  Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed on 111 consecutive and 354 oestrogen receptor (ER)+ tamoxifen-treated breast cancers. In the consecutive set, CCND1 and EMSY were amplified in 14.8% and 7.2%, respectively, and deleted in 8.7% and 13.5%, respectively. In the ER+ set, CCND1 and EMSY were amplified in 20.6% and 9.6%, respectively, and deleted in 1.7% and 4.2%, respectively. CCND1 and EMSY gene amplifications were associated with decreased overall survival (OS) ( P  = 0.03 and P  = 0.04, respectively) of patients in the ER+ set.
Conclusion:  As hypothesized, CCND1 amplifications are associated with poor OS in ER+ patients. EMSY amplification is also associated with poor OS. However, as >70% of EMSY amplifications were CCND1 amplified, EMSY may not have any additional effect on survival of ER+ breast cancer.