The overexpression and altered localization of the atypical protein kinase C lambda/iota in breast cancer correlates with the pathologic type of these tumors

Breast cancer is one of the common malignant diseases among women in Japan as well as in western countries, and its incidence continues to increase. Normal mammary duct epithelial cells exhibit a well-organized apicobasal polarity, which forms the basis for their specific structure and function. Although the loss of epithelial cell polarity is one of the major changes that occur during the progression of tumor cells, including breast cancer, the underlying molecular mechanisms for this, as well as their relationship to other changes such as increased proliferation and metastasis, remain to be elucidated. The atypical protein kinase C lambda/iota (aPKC lambda/iota) is involved in several signal transduction pathways, including the establishment of epithelial cell polarity. In this study we evaluated the expression and localization of aPKC lambda/iota in breast cancer by immunohistochemistry and compared our findings with the clinicopathologic factors associated with the tumor specimens. We detected aPK Clambda/iota protein overexpression in 88 of the 110 breast cancer cases (80.0%) under study, expect for decreased expression in a few cases. The immunoreactivity of aPK Clambda/iota was generally weak in ductal carcinoma in situ, but strong in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC; P = .022). The correlation between apical or cytoplasmic aPKC lambda/iota localization and tumor pathologic type (ie, atypical ductal hyperplasia, ductal carcinoma in situ. or IDC) was also demonstrated (P < .001). These results thus indicate that the normal apicobasal polarity is lost upon the progression of a breast lesion to IDC. This is also the first evidence to show aPKC lambda/iota overexpression in breast cancer and demonstrates that its localization is associated with the trend of pathologic type of the tumor.     

乳腺浸润性微乳头状癌上皮性钙黏附素的表达及意义

目的 研究细胞黏附分子,在乳腺浸润性微乳头状癌肿瘤细胞的集团性浸润、转移中的表达和作用。方法 复习2002年1月～2003年5月所有手术切除乳腺癌组织切片,按WHO乳腺癌分类分组,浸润性微乳头状癌(IMPC)64例、浸润性导管癌(IDC)57例。采用免疫组织化学标记的链霉素抗生物素蛋白-生物素(LSAB)法检测64例IMPC中E-钙黏附素的表达,并同IDC加以比较。结果 E-钙黏附素主要表达于IMPC细胞膜;IMPCE-钙黏附素表达率(85．9％,55／64)明显高于IDC(43．9％,25／57),并且在微乳头状肿瘤细胞集团内的细胞间连接面表达正常,而在细胞集团面向间质侧的表达明显减弱或不表达;IMPC组的淋巴结转移率(85．9％,55／64)明显高于IDC(52．6％,30／57)．．其淋巴结阳性、E-钙黏附素阳性病例的d-连接素、B-连接素共同表达率(45．1％,26／51)也明显高于IDC(15．4％,2／13)。结论 IMPC的微乳头状肿瘤细胞集团内细胞间黏附性强、而与间质间的黏附性减弱或消失的特性可能是IMPC具有高转移潜能的原因之一。     

Neuroendocrine breast carcinoma metastatic to renal cell carcinoma and ipsilateral adrenal gland

We report on a 60-year-old woman with neuroendocrine carcinoma of the left breast metastasizing to renal cell carcinoma (RCC) of the left kidney and to adrenal gland. A yellow, well-circumscribed tumor, 11 cm in largest diameter and limited to the kidney, was found. Histopathology revealed RCC with foci of neuroendocrine differentiation. Solid sheets of hyperchromatic epithelioid cells with high mitotic activity were found between typical clear cells of RCC. These cells were CAM5,2 and E-cadherin focally positive, synaptophysin and NSE weakly positive, CK19 moderately positive, and AE1-AE3 and EMA strongly positive. Chromogranin A, CD10, CK 14, CK 20, HER2 (score 1+), vimentin, and HMB45 were negative. The left adrenal gland contained multiple, separate foci of a tumor composed of neuroendocrine components. Because of the biphasic tumor in the kidney, extensive clinical examination and further analyses were recommended. Tumor in the left breast was revealed. Two months later, the patient underwent mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection. The tumor was histologically and immunohistochemically similar to the neuroendocrine component within RCC. All axillary nodes were positive. To our knowledge, this is the first case of neuroendocrine breast carcinoma with metastasis to renal cell carcinoma and ipsilateral adrenal gland.     

Tumor-to-tumor metastasis (TTM) of breast carcinoma within a solitary renal angiomyolipoma: A case report

Angiomyolipomas of the kidney have been known to harbor malignant neoplasms including renal cell carcinoma. We report a case of a tumor-to-tumor metastasis (TTM) involving metastatic breast carcinoma and angiomyolipoma. The patient was a 67-year-old female with a history of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. Follow-up positron emission tomography 9 years later revealed a left renal mass, suspicious for a primary renal neoplasm, as well as a suspicious subpectoral lymph node. An ultrasound-guided needle biopsy of the lymph node demonstrated metastatic breast carcinoma. The patient underwent a left radical nephrectomy. Pathologic examination demonstrated an ill-defined 2 cm estrogen receptor (ER)-positive metastatic breast carcinoma within a 6 cm angiomyolipoma. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of metastatic breast carcinoma to a solitary renal angiomyolipoma. This case highlights the importance of a patient's prior history of malignancy, as well as appropriate sampling of renal neoplasms.     

SHP2 is up-regulated in breast cancer cells and in infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast, implying its involvement in breast oncogenesis

Aims: To determine whether Src homology phosphotyrosyl phosphatase 2 (SHP2) is up‐regulated in breast cancer and, if so, to determine whether its up‐regulation has any relationship with clinical variables of breast cancer. Methods and results: Immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence microscopy were used to assess the state of SHP2 expression in breast cancer cells and in infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) of breast. The possible role of SHP2 in breast cancer cell transformation was determined by dominant‐negative expression and anchorage‐independent growth assays. All of the breast cancer cell lines tested and 72% of IDC breast tumours analysed had increased amounts of the SHP2 protein. In support of its positive role, dominant‐negative SHP2 blocked anchorage‐independent growth of breast cancer cells. Furthermore, overexpression of SHP2 seemed to have a positive relationship to HER2 overexpression, nuclear accumulation of hormone receptors, higher tumour grade and lymph node metastasis, but not to age of breast cancer patients. Conclusion: SHP2 is a widely overexpressed signalling protein in IDC breast tumours. Given SHP2’s positive role in cell growth, transformation and stem cell survival, the positive relationship of its overexpression to lymph node metastasis, nuclear accumulation of hormone receptors and higher tumour grade suggests that SHP2 promotes breast oncogenesis.     

Clinicopathological significance of maspin expression in breast cancer

Maspin is a unique serine proteinase inhibitor that has tumor suppressor activity. It has been reported that maspin is expressed in normal human mammary epithelial cells and it is down-regulated during the progression of cancer. However, to date, there is very limited data on the clinical significance of maspin expression in human breast cancer. In this study, maspin expression was assessed immunohistochemically from 80 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) specimens of the breast. Also, maspin expression was compared with the clinicopathological factors (age, grade, tumor size and lymph node status), the expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and p53, DNA ploidy and the overall survival in an attempt to assess its prognostic value. The maspin expression was positive in 25 IDC cases (31.3%). The maspin expression in IDC was significantly correlated with a higher histologic grade, a larger tumor size, a positive p53 status and shorter survival. There was an inverse association with maspin expression and the PR status. These findings suggest that maspin expression is not down-regulated with the progression of cancer and maspin expression may be associated with a poor prognosis. The immunohistochemical detection of maspin in breast cancers may be helpful for predicting an aggressive phenotype.     

The clinicopathological significance of CD44+/CD24-/low and CD24+ tumor cells in invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast

Breast cancer cells with a CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) phenotype have been suggested to have tumor-initiating properties. It is unclear whether their presence correlates with clinicopathological features of invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) of the breast, an unusual subtype of breast cancer with a high incidence of lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. CD44 and CD24 expression was determined by double-staining immunohistochemistry in 103 cases of IMPC and in 94 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). The prevalence of CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) tumor cells was higher in IMPC than in invasive ductal carcinoma IDC (P=0.018). The CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) tumor cells were also detected in adjacent stroma surrounding the micropapillary structure in 53.4% (55/103) of IMPC, but only in 7.4% (7/94) of stroma of IDC. These tumor cells in stroma of IMPC were positive for vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin, and negative for E-cadherin. The CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) tumor cells in the micropapillary structure of IMPC were associated with those in stroma (P=0.000). Moreover, they were both associated with lymphovascular invasion and extranodal extension, respectively (P<0.05). The proportion of CD24(+) tumor cells was also higher in IMPC than in IDC (P=0.035), and the CD24(+) tumor cells were associated with lymph node metastasis in IMPC (P=0.010). The results suggest that the increased proportion of CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) tumor cells and CD24(+) tumor cells and the epithelial mesenchymal transition may play an important role in aggressiveness and high metastatic risk of breast IMPC.     

Invasion and metastasis of renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) represents over 80 % of kidney cancer, and about 30 % of the patients with RCC develop metastasis after the surgery. Invasion of basement membrane (BM) and extracellular matrix (ECM) is an essential event in tumor invasion and metastasis. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which digest the main components of BM and ECM, are expressed in RCC. Heparanase, which degrades heparan sulfate proteoglycans, is predominantly expressed in high-grade RCCs with a positive correlation with pathological tumor stage and poor prognosis. Bone metastasis is common among the patients with RCC, and increased osteoclastic activity was observed at metastatic sites. Receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL), which plays an important role in osteoclastogenesis, is predominantly expressed in high-grade RCC and its expression level is associated with bone metastasis and prognosis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a switch of epithelial cells to sarcomatoid phenotype, is considered to be critical step during metastasis, and Snail, a major regulator of EMT, is predominantly expressed in high-grade RCC, and high Snail expression is a worse prognostic factor. Accordingly, heparanase, RANKL and Snail may be targets for the development of anti-tumor therapies for RCCs.     

Collective invasion in ductal and lobular breast cancer associates with distant metastasis

Breast cancer undergoes collective tissue invasion and, in experimental models, can collectively metastasize. The prevalence of collective invasion and its contribution to distant metastasis in clinical disease, however, remains poorly defined. We here scored the adipose tissue invasion of primary invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), expressing E-cadherin, and E-cadherin negative invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) and identified predominantly collective invasion patterns (86/86 samples) in both carcinoma types. Whereas collective invasion in IDC lesions retained adherens junctions, multicellular clusters and “Indian files” in ILC, despite the absence of adherens junctions (AJ) proteins E-cadherin and β-catenin, retained CD44 at cell–cell contacts. By histomorphological scoring and semi-automated image analysis, we show that the extent of collective invasion into the adipose tissue correlated with decreased distant metastasis-free survival (5-year follow-up; hazard ratio: 2.32 and 2.29, respectively). Thus, collective invasion represents the predominant invasion mode in breast cancer, develops distinct junctional subtypes in IDC and ILC, and associates with distant metastasis, suggesting a critical role in systemic dissemination.     

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma,clear cell type,of the parotid gland

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), clear cell type, is a commonly encountered metastatic tumor that can present at unusual anatomic sites many years after the primary tumor resection. Noncutaneous metastasis to the parotid gland is unusual; however, a number of cases of parotid RCC metastasis have been reported. Fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is regularly utilized during the evaluation of salivary gland lesions, where it has a high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy; however, the identification and definitive diagnosis of primary and metastatic clear cell neoplasms is a potential diagnostic pitfall for salivary gland FNAB. Here, we describe a case of RCC, clear cell type, metastatic to the parotid gland that was diagnosed entirely from FNAB cell block material, which is the first such reported case to our knowledge. We review the literature for cases of parotid RCC metastasis and focus on the utility of FNAB for synchronous versus metachronous presentations. Finally, we evaluate the differential diagnosis of clear cell parotid lesions, including ancillary histologic studies, and propose an algorithmic approach to clear cell neoplasms of the salivary gland. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2014;42:974–983. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

乳腺癌中caspase-3和caspase-9的表达及其意义

目的探讨caspase-3和caspase-9在乳腺癌发生、发展中的作用。方法采用免疫组化SP法和原位杂交(ISH)技术检测80例乳腺浸润性导管癌(invasive duct carcinoma,IDC)、23例导管内癌(ductal carcinoma in situ,DCIS)、37例增生症和9例癌旁组织中caspase-3、caspase-9 mRNA和蛋白的表达。结果 caspase-3 mRNA在各组中的表达差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。caspase-3蛋白在IDC、DCIS、增生症中的表达均高于癌旁组织(P<0.05),在IDC、DCIS中的表达均高于增生症组(P<0.05)。caspase-9 mRNA和蛋白在IDC、DCIS、增生症中的表达均低于癌旁组织(P<0.05),IDC、DCIS中的表达均低于增生症组(P<0.05)。caspase-3、caspase-9蛋白在IDC与DCIS中的表达差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。caspase-3蛋白与mRNA在DCIS和增生症中的表达呈正相关(r=0.429,r=0.563,P<0.05)。caspase-9 mRNA与蛋白在各组中的表达均存在相关性(r=0.94,r=0.414,r=0.391,r=0.827,P<0.05)。caspase-3、caspase-9 mRNA和蛋白的表达与肿瘤大小等临床病理参数无相关性(P>0.05)。结论 caspase-3和caspase-9均参与乳腺导管癌的发生、发展。caspase-9蛋白表达降低,而caspase-3表达增高在乳腺癌的发生、发展过程中较常见;caspase-9表达降低可能与乳腺组织恶性转化有关。     

Estradiol increases ER-negative breast cancer metastasis in an experimental model

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer affecting women in the United States and metastatic breast cancer is the leading cause of death. The role estradiol plays in ER-positive BC is well-documented, but the way it contributes to ER-negative BC remains unclear. In the present study, we utilized an experimental model of BC metastasis into lung by injecting ER-negative murine 4T1 cells into mice via the lateral tail vein. A 56 % metastasis occurrence rate following the injection of 5 × 10³ cells was observed, thus this cell number was selected to study the potential stimulatory effect of estradiol on ER-negative BC metastasis. Female ovariectomized mice were randomized into estradiol and control groups with 16 mice per group, and estradiol pellets were implanted subcutaneously in the estradiol group. Results demonstrated that estradiol accelerated BC metastasis as indicated by bioluminescent imaging. In addition, estradiol enhanced metastatic tumor colony formation and increased the size of tumor nodules in the lungs, which were due, in part, to the increase in proliferative cells in the metastatic tumors. In vitro, estradiol increased the motility and invasion of 4T1 cells, and the stimulatory effect on cell motility was not blocked by ICI 182, 780, confirming that ER was not involved in the process. Results from the present study suggest that estradiol plays a role in ER-negative BC metastasis in whole animals.     

Ezrin and BCAR1/p130Cas mediate breast cancer growth as 3-D spheroids

CAS proteins and Ezrin, Radixin, Moesin (ERM) family members act as intracellular scaffolds and are involved in interactions with the cytoskeleton, respectively. Both protein families have previously been associated with metastasis and poor prognosis in cancer. Our group recently reported on the overexpression of EZR/VIL2 and BCAR1 and their protein products in breast carcinoma effusions compared to primary breast carcinoma. In the present study, the role of these two proteins was studied in semi-normal MCF10A cells and metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cells cultured in tri-dimensional (3-D) conditions that were hypothesized to reproduce the in vivo conditions of breast cancer metastasis. MCF10A cells formed spheroid-shaped colonies without any Matrigel invasion, while MDA-MB-231 cells displayed an invasive phenotype and showed satellite projections that bridged multiple cell colonies in 3-D culture. E-cadherin was expressed in MCF10A, but not in MDA-MB-231 cells. The temporal expression of ezrin and BCAR1/p130Cas at the mRNA and protein level differed in the two cell lines upon 3-D culturing on Matrigel. Upregulation of BCAR1/p130cas was observed in the transition of MDA-MB-231 from attached to detached culture. Silencing of Ezrin and p130Cas in MDA-MB-231 cells by short hairpin RNA resulted in decreased invasive potential, and p130Cas silencing further resulted in smaller spheroid/colony formation. Our data show that MCF10A and MDA-MB-231 cells differ in their ability to form spheroids, in expression of E-cadherin and in the expression of Ezrin and BCAR1/p130Cas in 3-D cultures on Matrigel, suggesting a role in tumor progression in breast carcinoma.     

Genetics of breast cancer bone metastasis: a sequential multistep pattern

Bone metastasis accounts for the vast majority of breast cancer (BC) metastases, and is related to a high rate of morbidity and mortality. A number of seminal studies have uncovered gene expression signatures involved in BC development and bone metastasis; each of them points at a distinct step of the ‘invasion-metastasis cascade’. In this review, we provide most recently discovered functions of sets of genes that are selected from widely accepted gene signatures that are implicate in BC progression and bone metastasis. We propose a possible sequential pattern of gene expression that may lead a benign primary breast tumor to get aggressiveness and progress toward bone metastasis. A panel of genes which primarily deal with features like DNA replication, survival, proliferation, then, angiogenesis, migration, and invasion has been identified. TGF-β, FGF, NFκB, WNT, PI3K, and JAK-STAT signaling pathways, as the key pathways involved in breast cancer development and metastasis, are evidently regulated by several genes in all three signatures. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition that is also an important mechanism in cancer stem cell generation and metastasis is evidently regulated by these genes. This review provides a comprehensive insight regarding breast cancer bone metastasis that may lead to a better understanding of the disease and take step toward better treatments.     

Expression of renal cell carcinoma antigen (RCC) in renal epithelial and nonrenal tumors: diagnostic Implications.

Antibody to renal cell carcinoma (RCC) antigen, a normal human proximal brush border antigen, has recently become commercially available and reported to be highly specific and a relatively sensitive marker for RCC. Of the nonrenal tumors occasional carcinomas have been reported to express RCC, notably breast carcinoma. Using tissue microarrays, we investigated the use of RCC on a large number of renal epithelial neoplasms (RENs) and nonrenal tumors, especially those potentially confused with REN. Three tissue microarrays containing 241 REN samples, 192 samples of a wide variety of neoplasms and 170 adrenal tumor samples, respectively, were stained with RCC monoclonal antibody. RCC expression was scored for staining intensity and percentage expression. Out of 241 REN, 173 were positive for RCC (sensitivity 72%): clear cell 72%, papillary 95%, chromophobe 91%, unclassified 85%, oncocytoma 75%, sarcomatoid 20%, and metastatic RCC 40%. The overall immunostaining intensity was consistently much higher in papillary and clear cell RCC than in other tumors. Seventy-six out of 362 nonrenal tumor samples demonstrated either focal or diffuse expression for RCC (specificity 79%). These included: adrenocortical neoplasms 37/170 (22%), colonic 11/29 (37.5%), breast 9/27 (33%), prostate 5/18 (27.7%), ovary 2/17 (11.7%), melanoma 3/18 (16.6%), lung 3/21 (14.2%), and parathyroid 3/3 (100%). RCC expression was seen equally among adrenal adenoma and carcinoma group. Eight out of 28 (28.5%) normal adrenal cores also stained for RCC. RCC is a relatively useful marker in the differential diagnosis of REN only if used in a panel with other positive and negative markers. RCC does not reliably differentiate REN, especially classic clear cell type, from adrenocortical neoplasms, which are frequently confused due to close anatomic proximity and similar morphology. RCC also does not reliably differentiate subtypes of renal epithelial neoplasms.     

乳腺癌和癌旁乳腺组织中Notch1基因mRNA及蛋白的表达

目的 检测Notch1基因mRNA及Notch1蛋白在人乳腺癌和癌旁乳腺组织中的表达,分析其临床病理学意义.方法 应用逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)方法榆测60例乳腺浸润性导管癌和60例癌旁乳腺组织中Notch1基因mRNA,应用免疫组织化学SP法检测60例乳腺浸润性导管癌、30例导管原位癌及60例癌旁乳腺组织Notch1蛋白的表达,分析Notch1表达水平与乳腺癌临床病理特征的相关性.结果 Notch1基因mRNA在人乳腺浸润性导管癌及癌旁乳腺组织中均有表达.Notch1蛋白在癌旁乳腺组织和导管原位癌中的阳性牢分别为55%(33/60)、70%(21/30),二者差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),在乳腺浸润性导管癌中的阳性率为90%(54/60),明显高于癌旁乳腺组织和导管原位癌的阳性率(P<0.05).乳腺浸润性导管癌Notch1蛋白的高表达与肿瘤的淋巴结转移(P=0.006)、病理学分级(P=0.001)和TNM分期(P=0.022)均呈显著正相关.结论 乳腺浸润性导管癌存在Notch1蛋白的高表达.Notch1蛋白高表达与乳腺癌的恶变演进有关.Notch1基因的表达可能影响乳腺癌的发生、发展.     

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.     

乳腺良、恶性病变组织中MMP-26蛋白的表达及其与ER的关系

目的检测基质金属蛋白酶-26(MMP-26)蛋白在人乳腺良、恶性病变组织中的表达,及其与部分临床指标的关系,分析MMP-26在肿瘤进展中的作用及临床意义,并探讨雌激素及其受体(ER)对MMP-26蛋白表达调节作用。方法应用免疫组化SP法,检测MMP-26蛋白在正常乳腺组织、乳腺增生症、原位癌和乳腺浸润性导管癌(IDC)中的表达,以及ER在IDC中的表达并进行评分,结果用INSTAT统计软件分析。结果6例正常乳腺组织和8例乳腺增生症中,分别有1例MMP-26呈弱阳性表达,阳性率分别为16.7%和12.5%。4例原位癌中MMP-26全部阳性表达。在67例IDC中,有41例MMP-26阳性表达,阳性率为61.2%。MMP-26的表达与发病年龄、肿瘤大小、病理学分级无关,而与淋巴结转移密切相关(P<0.05)。MMP-26蛋白在IDC的阳性表达与ER在癌组织中的表达呈明显的负相关(P<0.01)。结论MMP-26在肿瘤浸润和转移中发挥重要作用;MMP-26在IDC中的表达可能受雌激素及其受体的调节。