Correlation of p53 and cerbB2 expression and hormonal receptor status with clinicopathologic parameters in ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast is a putative precursor of the majority of invasive breast cancers. The aim of this study was to determine the association of p53 and cerbB2 expression as well as hormonal receptor status with conventional pathologic parameters in a series of Chinese women with DCIS in Singapore. A cohort of 102 breast DCIS cases diagnosed at the Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, were histologically reviewed and classified pathologically. Immunohistochemistry for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), p53, cerbB2 and Ki67 was performed on paraffin sections cut from appropriate tissue blocks and analysed using a combination of immunostaining intensity and proportion of tumor cells stained. Follow-up was obtained from patient case notes and the Singapore Cancer Registry. Positive immunoexpression for ER, PR, p53 and cerbB2 was found in 76 (73%), 51 (49%), 45 (44%), and 78 (76%) cases respectively. No reactivity for Ki67 was seen in 36 (35%) cases; with low and high expression noted in 26 (26%) and 40 (39%) cases respectively. There was statistically significant association of the biological markers and hormonal receptor status with pathologic parameters. Recurrent disease was observed in 6 women, and its occurrence was not correlated with any biological or pathological features; though it appeared that cerbB2 immunoexpression predicted a longer time to recurrence (p=0.019, log-rank test). While biological markers were found to be associated with pathologic parameters in breast DCIS in this series of Chinese women, they do not appear to be useful in predicting the occurrence of recurrent disease. Immunoexpression for cerbB2, however, seems to correlate with a longer time to recurrence, which is an interesting finding that needs further investigation.     

Immunohistochemical analysis on biological markers in ductal carcinomain situ of the breast

BACKGROUND: The increasing use of mammographic screening has led to an increased detection of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast. The detailed biological characteristics of DCIS and a new classification of DCIS based on these characteristics are needed. METHODS: Immunohistochemical studies were performed to assess the expression of c-erbB-2 (ErbB-2), estrogen receptor (ER), p53 and proliferative activity (Ki-67) in 65 patients with pure DCIS and 60 with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). We classified pure DCIS tumors using three classifications, the architectural, Nottingham, and Van Nuys classifications. RESULTS: ErbB-2, ER and p53 staining was positive in 34%, 66% and 21% of patients with DCIS, respectively, and 58%, 42% and 33% in patients with IDC, respectively. Ki-67 stained positively in 1.5% of patients with DCIS and 11.2% of patients with IDC. The comedo type showed a high rate of positive ErbB-2 and p53 staining. The cribriform and papillary types showed a high rate of positive ER staining. Under the Van Nuys classification, ErbB-2, p53 and Ki-67 expression were highest in the group with high nuclear grade and lowest in the group with non-high nuclear grade without necrosis. CONCLUSION: Although the biological markers of IDC tended to suggest aggressive behavior more so than those of DCIS, these differences were based on the histological sub-type, comedo or non-comedo. The Van Nuys classification best defined the subgroups of DCIS with a distinct expression pattern of biological markers, and the best candidates for breast-conserving surgery.     

乳腺浸润性导管癌组织Ki-67和p53蛋白的表达及其临床意义

目的检测乳腺浸润性导管癌组织中Ki-67和p53的表达,并探讨其表达在乳腺浸润性导管癌中的临床意义。方法免疫组化S-P法检测乳腺浸润性导管癌组织及乳腺良性病变组织中Ki-67和053的表达,统计学分析Ki-67和053表达与乳腺浸润性导管癌患者临床病理特征及预后的关系。结果Ki-67和p53蛋白在乳腺浸润性导管癌中均呈高表达,42例组织中Ki-67阳性表达率78．6％,p53为38．1％,乳腺良性病变中Ki-67无表达,2例053阳性表达,两组存在显著性差异;Ki-67与p53的表达率随浸润性导管癌TNN分期的增高而上升,另外Ki-67表达与浸润性导管癌的大小密切相关。结论Ki-67和p53蛋白与浸润性导管癌TNM分期密切相关,对其进行联合检测可有助于浸润性导管癌的预后判断。     

Down regulation of Bc12 expression in invasive ductal carcinomas is both estrogen- and progesterone-receptor dependent and associated with poor prognostic factors

In normal breast, Bcl2 is expressed in the non-pregnant and non-involuting mammary epithelium. The exact mechanism and the effect of the down regulation of the Bcl2 expression on breast cancer cells are not clearly defined. We compared down regulation as well as the persistent expression of Bcl2 with ER, PR, p53, and c-erb-B2 overexpression and clinicopathologic variables, and tumor stage in 11 cases of ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS) and 44 cases of invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC) of Korean women by immunohistochemical studies. Bcl2 down regulation was found in 39% of IDC and in 18% of DCIS cases. In IDC, while persistent Bcl2 expression was displayed in 95% and 78.9% of ER and PR immunoreactive ones and 71.9 % of c-erb-B2 immunonegative ones. Seventeen cases of Bcl2 down regulated IDC had a significant correlation with ER negativity (94.1%), PR negativity, (76.5%), and high nuclear (61.1% is grade III) and histological grade (76% is grade III). However, in DCIS, no significant correlation between the Bcl2 expression and various parameters were obtained, probably due to small sample size. In conclusion, the Bcl2 expression was both ER and PR dependent and down regulation of Bcl2 in IDC was significantly correlated with poor prognostic factors.     

乳腺癌组织磷酸化Akt表达及其与临床生物学因素的相关性研究

目的:研究乳腺癌组织磷酸化Akt(pAkt)表达与人表皮生长因子受体-2(HER-2)、雌激素受体(ER)和孕激素受体(PR)状态及临床病理特征之间的关系。方法:收集导管原位癌16例和浸润性导管癌70例,免疫组织化学方法检测pAkt、HER-2、ER、PR、p53和Ki-67表达,统计分析其相关性,以及pAkt与患者临床特征的关系。结果:导管原位癌组织pAkt阳性率为0(0/16),浸润性导管癌组织为38.6%(27/70),差异有统计学意义,P=0.003。导管原位癌组织中pAkt水平与HER-2的表达无相关性。70例浸润性乳腺癌组织pAkt水平在HER-2阴性组(18.8%,6/32)、不确定组(37.5%,6/16)和阳性组(68.2%,15/22)间差异有统计学意义,P=0.000。淋巴结转移组和未转移组中pAKT的阳性表达也差异有统计学意义,P=0.009。结论:pAkt在浸润性导管癌组织中的表达频率显著高于导管原位癌,其表达水平与HER-2的表达水平呈正相关,并可能与肿瘤淋巴结转移的发生有关。     

Microsatellite alterations on human chromosome 11 in in situ and invasive breast cancer: a microdissection microsatellite analysis and correlation with p53, ER (estrogen receptor), and PR (progesterone receptor) protein immunoreactivity

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Microsatellite instability (MSI) has been documented in a subset of sporadic tumors. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 11 loci in breast cancer is a frequent event. The purpose of the present study is to examine the incidence of microsatellite alterations in in situ and invasive human breast carcinoma and to clarify their significance in regulating the dynamics of cancer progression. METHODS: Four highly polymorphic (CA)n repeat microsatellites were used to determine microsatellite alterations in ten ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and 19 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). To investigate the expression of p53, ER (estrogen receptor), and PR (progesterone receptor) association with MSI, immunohistochemistry staining was applied. RESULTS: MSI were detected in 20% (2/10) of DCIS and in 47.4% (9/19) of IDC. The frequency of MSI in IDC was significantly higher than that in DCIS (P < 0.001). Also, the MSI seemed to correlate with clinical stage (P = 0.0001) and tumor size (P = 0.004) but not histological grade or age. In addition, we found that 27% of the tumors showed LOH at 11q23.3-24 region between loci D11S934 and D11S912. Seven of nine MSI cases demonstrated low or no expression of p53. However, there was significantly reduced expression of PR, but not ER in MSI cases. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that breast cancer acquires the RER phenotype (replication-error phenotype) in the relatively late stages, and that the RER phenotype is associated with aggressiveness of IDC (infiltrative duct carcinoma). The result also implicated that mismatch repair failure can alter the expression of PR but not ER and p53.     

Coexisting ductal carcinoma in situ independently predicts lower tumor aggressiveness in node-positive luminal breast cancer

Primary breast invasive ductal carcinoma coexisting with ductal carcinoma in situ (IDC-DCIS) is characterized by lower proliferation rate and metastatic propensity than size-matched pure IDC. IDC-DCIS is also more often ER-positive, PR-positive and/or HER2-positive. This analysis aims to clarify whether the presence of coexisting DCIS in IDC affects tumor aggressiveness in various biological subtypes of breast cancer, respectively. Tumor data obtained from 1,355 consecutive female patients undergoing upfront surgery for primary breast cancer were analyzed retrospectively; 196 patients with pure DCIS were excluded. Based on evidence that immunohistochemistry (IHC) provides a reasonable approximation of molecular phenotypes, the tumor samples were divided into 4 groups: (1) luminal A (ER and/or PR-positive, HER2-negative, Ki67 ≤ 12), (2) luminal B (ER and/or PR-positive, HER2-negative, Ki67 > 12), (3) HER2 (HER2-positive) and (4) basal-like (triple-negative) disease. Ki67 expression and nodal involvement of IDC with or without DCIS in these groups were compared. The number of patients with luminal A, luminal B, HER2 and basal-like breast cancer were 396, 265, 258 and 117, respectively. Ki-67 was lower in IDC-DCIS than in size-adjusted pure IDC of both luminal A and luminal B subtypes (P = 0.15 and <0.005, respectively). In HER2 or basal-like tumors, there were no significant difference between pure IDC and IDC-DCIS. The presence of coexisting DCIS in IDC predicts lower biological aggressiveness in luminal cancers but not in the conventionally more aggressive HER2-positive and triple-negative subtypes.     

Vasohibin‐1 as a potential predictor of aggressive behavior of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

Vasohibin‐1 is a recently identified negative feedback regulator of angiogenesis induced by VEGF‐A and bFGF. In this study, we first evaluated mRNA expression of vasohibin‐1 and CD31 in 39 Japanese female breast carcinoma specimens including 22 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and 17 ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) using a real‐time quantitative RT‐PCR (QRT‐PCR) with LightCycler system. In addition, we also immunolocalized vasohibin‐1 and CD31 and compared their immunoreactivity to nuclear grades and histological grades of 100 carcinoma cases (50 IDC and 50 DCIS). There were no statistically significant differences of CD31 mRNA expression and the number of CD31 positive vessels between DCIS and IDC (P = 0.250 and P = 0.191, respectively), whereas there was a statistically significant difference in vasohibin‐1 mRNA expression and the number of vasohibin‐1 positive vessels in DCIS and IDC (P = 0.022 and P ≤ 0.001, respectively). There was a significant positive correlation between vasohibin‐1 mRNA level and Ki‐67 labeling index in DCIS (r² = 0.293, P ≤ 0.001). In addition, vasohibin‐1 mRNA expression was correlated with high nuclear and histological grades in DCIS cases and a significant positive correlation was detected between the number of vasohibin‐1 positive vessels and Ki‐67 labeling index or nuclear grade or Van Nuys classification of carcinoma cells (P ≤ 0.001, respectively). These results all indicate the possible correlation between aggressive biological features in DCIS including increased tumor cell proliferation and the status of neovascularization determined by vasohibin‐1 immunoreactivity. (Cancer Sci 2010; 101: 1051–1058)     

乳腺导管原位癌与浸润性导管癌激素受体及HER-2表达的比较

目的研究乳腺导管原位癌（DCIS）与浸润性导管癌（IDC）患者的激素受体和HER-2表达及分子分型的差异。方法收集2006年3月至2012年9月本院治疗的52例DCIS和224例IDC患者的手术标本,应用免疫组化方法检测其ER、PR、HER-2的表达,并用×2检验综合分析其分子分型构成等特点。结果IDC组ER阳性表达率明显高于DCIS组[67．86％（152／224）比48．08％（25／52）,）（X^2=7．18,P=0．01],IDC组HER-2阳性表达率明显低于DCIS组[54．02％（121／224）比73．08％（38／52）,）（X^2=6．28,P=0．01],而两组的PR表达差异无统计学意义（X^2=1．39,P=0．24）。DCIS组以HER-2阳性型为主要亚型,占44．23％（23／52）,而IDC组以luminalA型为主要亚型,占43．75％（98／224）,两组患者的分子分型构成比差异有统计学意义（X^2=13．11,P=0．00）。结论检测乳腺导管原位癌和浸润性导管癌患者的ER、HER-2表达及其分子分型,可指导临床诊疗及制定个体化综合治疗方案。     

Cellular kinetics and expression of bcl-2 and p53 in ductal carcinoma of the breast

In this study, the expression of p53 (wild-type and mutated form) and bcl-2 in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and PCR-SSCP and correlated with cellular kinetic parameters, i.e., mitotic index (MI) and apoptotic index (AI). The results showed a significant inverse correlation between p53 and bcl-2 expression in all cases of DCIS and IDC. In the DCIS group, two subgroups with different kinetic characteristics were identified. The first group was characterized by p53 positivity, bcl-2 negativity and high values of MI and AI; the other group was characterized by p53 negativity, bcl-2 positivity and low values of MI and AI. Conversely, in IDC some cases were p53 negative, bcl-2 positive and with high values of AI and MI, other cases were p53 positive, bcl-2 negative and with low AI and MI. Molecular biological analysis showed that p53 was wild-type in DCIS, while it was in the mutated form in IDC. These results suggest that in IDC mutated p53 contributes to a change in cellular kinetics and the selection of genetically aberrant cells, thereby favouring neoplastic progression. The coexistence of bcl-2 positivity and high AI could be explained by the presence of of apoptosis that work independently of bcl-2.     

Cell biological factors in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast-relationship to ipsilateral local recurrence and histopathological characteristics

All cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) diagnosed from 1987 to 1991 in the Southern Health Care Region of Sweden, and operated upon with breast conserving treatment (BCT) with (n=66) or without (n=121) postoperative radiation (RT) were clinically followed, morphologically re-evaluated and analysed for cell biological factors (immunohistochemical assays or DNA flow cytometry). Median age at diagnosis was 58 years (range 29--83 years) and median follow-up was 62 months. Oestrogen (ER)- and progesterone receptor (PR)-negativity, c-erbB-2 overexpression, low bcl-2 expression, p53 accumulation, DNA non-diploidy and high Ki67, were strongly associated with high grade DCIS, and comedo-type necrosis. In contrast, significant associations to growth pattern (not diffuse versus diffuse) were seen only for c-erbB-2 and PgR. There was also a strong relationship between the cell biological factors, and a summary cell biological index based on principal component analysis was introduced (CBI-7). In the group that had not received postoperative RT, 31 ipsilateral local recurrences occurred (13 invasive, 18 DCIS). Ipsilateral recurrence-free interval (IL-RFI) was in univariate analyses significantly, or almost significantly, shorter for patients showing p53 accumulation, high Ki67 or low bcl-2, compared with patients with normal p53, low Ki67 and high bcl-2. The prognostic importance of the remaining cell biological factors was less pronounced. On the other hand, the index CBI-7, was a strong predictor for recurrence.     

Elevated Expression of the Tumor Suppressing Protein p53 is Associated with the Presence of Mouse Mammary Tumor-Like env Gene Sequences (MMTV-like) in Human Breast Cancer

Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) has a proven role in breast carcinogenesis in wild mice and genetically susceptible laboratory inbred mice. The carcinogenic characteristics of this virus are enhanced by estrogen and other steroid hormones. MMTV-like envelope gene sequences, with 95% homology to MMTV have been identified in approximately 40% of breast cancers in US, Australian and Argentinian women. The presence of such sequences indicates the presence of a replication competent MMTV-like virus in human breast tumors. Whether an MMTV-like virus contributes to human breast cancer remains to be demonstrated. Non-statistically significant differences in p53 expression between MMTV-like positive and negative human breast cancers have previously been observed. As high p53 protein expression is associated with aggressive breast carcinogenesis we sought to determine if there were associations between the presence of MMTV-like gene sequences and elevated p53 expression in both invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC) and ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS). We also investigated the expression of other biomarkers which are commonly associated with human breast cancer. These included estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, Ki67, Cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and HER-2. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses, MMTV-like envelope gene sequences were detected in 15 (75%) of 20 IDC specimens and 5 (23%) of 22 DCIS specimens. The average percentage of p53 positive cells in MMTV-like positive IDC specimens was 69% as compared to 44% in MMTV-like negative specimens (p for difference = 0.067). The average percentage of p53 positive cells in MMTV-like positive DCIS specimens was 93% as compared to 35% in MMTV-like negative specimens (numbers too few for statistical analysis). There was an increased intensity of p53 expression in IDC and DCIS specimens that were MMTV-like positive compared to those that were MMTV-like negative. There were no statistically significant differences in age, grade, and percentage of average positive cells for ERa, PR, Ki67, cyclin D1, Bcl-2, and HER-2, between MMTV-like positive and negative breast cancer specimens. Although these observations do not provide evidence of causality, they are consistent with a role for MMTV-like viruses in some human breast cancers.     

乳腺导管原位癌到浸润癌过程中ER表达的变化

Objective  We studied the alterations in the expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ER) in the progression from ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC). Methods  The mastectomy specimens of 120 cases containing both DCIS and IDC were examined. The expression of ER proteins were examined by immunohistochemistry. The difference of the expression of ER proteins between DCIS and IDC were compared. Results  There were 58.33% of the cases with DCIS expressing ER proteins, and 40.00% of the cases IDC expressing ER proteins. There was a significant decrease of ER expression in IDC compared to DCIS (χ² = 4.034, P = 0.045). Conclusion  These findings substantiate the notion that breast cancer progression is often associated with alterations in expressions of ER. The underlying mechanisms of these alterations need further investigation. Supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation of China (No. 30772100).     

Survivin在乳腺腺病、乳腺管状腺瘤、乳腺癌组织中的表达差异及其意义

目的检测Survivin（SVV）蛋白在乳腺腺病、乳腺管状腺瘤、乳腺癌组织（乳腺导管内癌、浸润性乳腺导管癌）和乳腺癌细胞系细胞中的表达,及浸润性乳腺导管癌中SVV的表达与肿瘤大小,Her-2、ER、PR、p53、及ki-67蛋白表达及细胞凋亡情况的相关性,研究SVV在乳腺良性病变和良恶性肿瘤中的表达情况对鉴别诊断及乳腺癌预后的意义。方法选择乳腺腺病、乳腺管状腺瘤各20例、乳腺导管内癌、乳腺浸润性导管癌各30例,5个乳腺癌细胞系。免疫组化方法检测SVV、Her-2、ER、PR、053、及ki-67在组织和细胞系的表达情况;应用TUNEL原位凋亡检测细胞的凋亡。结果SVV在乳腺腺病、乳腺管状腺瘤、乳腺导管内癌和浸润性乳腺导管癌组织的表达比例分别为7／20、6／20、20／30和24／30;其相应的高表达比例为3／20、1／20、14／30及16／30。与乳腺腺病、乳腺管状腺瘤组织相比,SVV在乳腺癌组织的表达具有明显增强（P〈0．05）。在浸润性乳腺导管癌组织中,SVV的表达与肿瘤大小、淋巴结转移、细胞凋亡以及Her-2、ER、PR、p53、及ki-67的表达无明显的相关性（P〉0．05）。结论SVV在乳腺导管内癌及乳腺浸润性导管癌组织中的表达明显增强,对乳腺腺病、乳腺管状腺瘤与乳腺癌的鉴别具有一定临床意义。     

The poor responsiveness of infiltrating lobular breast carcinomas to neoadjuvant chemotherapy can be explained by their biological profile

The aim of this study was to determine the chemosensitivity of infiltrating lobular breast carcinoma (ILC) in comparison with infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC). Between 1987 and 1995, 457 patients with invasive T2>3 cm-T4 breast carcinomas were treated with primary chemotherapy (CT), surgery, radiation therapy. Clinical response, the possibility of breast preservation, pathological response and survival were evaluated according to the histological type. In order to evaluate the biological differences between ILC and IDC patients and their implication with regard to tumour chemosensitivity, additional immunohistochemical stainings (oestrogen receptor (ER), Bcl2, p53, c-erbB-2 and Ki67) were performed on 129 pretherapeutical specimens. 38 (8.3%) ILC were diagnosed by core needle biopsy before CT. ILC was an independent predictor of a poor clinical response (P=0.02) and ineligibility for breast-conserving surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P=0.03). Histological and biological factors predicting a poor response to CT (histological grade, ER, Ki67 and p53 status) were more frequent in ILC than in IDC patients. After a median follow-up of 98 months (range: 3-166), the low chemosensitivity of ILC did not result in a survival disadvantage. Our results demonstrate that ILC achieved a lower response to CT than IDC because of their immunohistochemical profile. Preoperative CT did not allow a high rate of conservative treatment for ILC and therefore the use of neoadjuvant CT for ILC patients should be questioned.     

COX-2 expression is associated with an aggressive phenotype in ductal carcinoma in situ

Cyclooxygenase type-2 (COX-2) is overexpressed in malignant tumours including breast cancers, though the mechanism of upregulation is unclear. This study aimed to determine COX-2 expression in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in comparison to invasive breast cancer (IBC) and normal breast, and also to investigate the relationship of COX-2 expression with HER-2 expression, oestrogen receptor (ER), tumour grade and cellular proliferation (Ki67) in DCIS. Cyclooxygenase type-2, HER-2, ER and Ki67 expression were determined by immunohistochemistry on paraffin tissue sections of DCIS (n=187), IBC (n=65) and normal breast reduction tissue (n=60). Cyclooxygenase type-2 expression in DCIS (67%, P<0.001) and IBC (63%, P<0.001) was significantly greater than in normal breast (23%). There was no difference in COX-2 expression level between DCIS and IBC (P=0.87) or between normal breast from reduction mammoplasty tissue and normal breast ducts around DCIS (22%, P=0.29). In DCIS, COX-2 expression was associated with higher cellular proliferation rates (P<0.0001), nuclear grade (P=0.003), with ER negativity (P=0.003) and with HER-2 positivity (P<0.0001). Cyclooxygenase type-2 expression is upregulated in in situ breast cancer and is associated with surrogate markers of an aggressive DCIS phenotype including nonoestrogen-regulated signalling pathways. Cyclooxygenase type-2 inhibition may potentially prevent the development of ER-positive and ER-negative breast cancers.     

Alternations of ER,PR, HER-2/neu,and P53 protein expression in ductal breast carcinomas and clinical implications

The aim of the study is to investigate the alterations in expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), c-erbB2 gene (HER-2/neu), and P53 protein in the progression from ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC), and the association between their expression and clinicopathologic findings. The mastectomy specimens of 520 cases containing both DCIS and IDC were examined. The expression of ER, PgR, HER-2/neu, and P53 proteins were examined by immunohistochemistry. Linear regression was used to investigate the correlation among ER, PgR, HER-2/neu, P53 protein expression, and the clinicopathologic factors. There was a significant decrease of ER and PgR expression in IDC compared to DCIS (32.81 vs. 21.05%, χ² = 4.45, P = 0.035; 26.56 vs. 15.57%, χ² = 4.82, P = 0.028, respectively). In contrast, there was a significant increase of HER-2/neu expression in IDC compared to DCIS (10.94 vs. 21.27%, χ² = 3.88, P = 0.049). However, there was no significant difference in expression of p53 between DCIS and IDC. In both DCIS and IDC, a significant positive correlation was observed between ER and PgR receptor expression (r = 0.67, P = 0.00; r = 0.56, P = 0.00, respectively). In conclusion, these findings substantiate the notion that breast cancer progression is often associated with alterations in expressions of ER, PgR, and HER-2/neu. The underlying mechanisms of these alterations need further investigation.     

乳腺浸润性导管癌组织Ki-67表达及其分子分型的意义

目的:探讨Ki-67增殖抗原在乳腺浸润性导管癌组织中的表达及与临床病理特征、雌激素受体(ER)、孕激素受体(PR)、人表皮生长因子受体-2(C-erbB-2)和抑癌基因p53的关系.方法:采用Elivison二步法进行免疫组化染色,检测102例单侧乳腺浸润性导管癌组织中Ki-67、ER、PR、C-erbB-2和p53的表达水平,并结合患者相关临床资料进行分析.结果:Ki-67高表达(≥14％)比例占82.4％ (84/102).不同分子亚型中,luminalA型Ki-67表达率最低,三阴性(导管)最高.Ki-67表达水平与单侧浸润性导管癌患者的淋巴结转移(x2=5.007,P=0.025)、TNM分期(u=705.000,P=0.032)和组织分级(单侧Fisher:P=0.042)有明显的相关性,与患者的年龄(t=1.996,P=0.052)、肿块大小(u=859.000,P=0.502)和侵犯脉管情况(xc2=0.762,P=0.383)无明显的相关性.Ki-67表达水平与ER(r=-0.273,P=0.005)、PR(r=-0.332,P=0.001)表达程度呈负相关;与C-erbB-2(r=0.327,P=0.001)、p53(r=0.343,P=0.000)表达程度呈正相关.结论:Ki-67表达与目前乳腺癌分子分型相关,其高表达是预后不良因素.     

Nudix‐type motif 2 in human breast carcinoma: A potent prognostic factor associated with cell proliferation

Nudix‐type motif 2 (NUDT2) hydrolyzes diadenosine 5′,5′′′‐p1,p4‐tetraphosphate (Ap4A) associated with various cellular functions. Previous studies demonstrated its regulation through estrogens, suggesting possible importance of NUDT2 in breast carcinoma. NUDT2, however, has not been examined in malignant tissues. Therefore, we examined its expression and functions in breast carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry for NUDT2 was examined by invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC: n = 145) and pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS: n = 82), and NUDT2 mRNA was examined by real‐time PCR in 9 DCIS, 19 IDC and 6 non‐neoplastic breast tissues. We also used T47D breast carcinoma cells in in vitro studies. NUDT2 immunoreactivity was detected in 78% of DCIS and 63% of IDC, and NUDT2 mRNA level was significantly higher in DCIS or IDC than non‐neoplastic breast. NUDT2 status was significantly correlated with Van Nuys classification, HER2 or Ki‐67 in DCIS, and with stage, lymph node metastasis, histological grade or HER2 in IDC. NUDT2 status was significantly associated with adverse clinical outcome of IDC patients and proved an independent prognostic factor. Results of transfection experiments demonstrated that proliferation activity of T47D cells was significantly associated with NUDT2 expression level according to the treatment of estradiol and/or tamoxifen. NUDT2 expression was significantly decreased by estradiol, and it was also significantly decreased in T47D cells transfected with HER2 siRNA. These findings suggest that NUDT2 is an estrogen‐repressed gene and is also induced by HER2 pathways in breast carcinoma cells. NUDT2 promotes proliferation of breast carcinoma cells and is a potent prognostic factor in human breast carcinomas.     

p53 nuclear accumulation and ERα expression in ductal hyperplasia of breast in a cohort of 215 Chinese women

Introduction

Women with ductal hyperplasia including usual ductal hyperplasia (UDH) and atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) have an increased risk of developing invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of breast. The importance of several molecular markers in breast cancer has been of considerable interest during recent years such as p53 and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα). However, p53 nuclear accumulation and ERα expression have not been assessed in ductal hyperplasia co-existing with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or IDC versus pure ductal hyperplasia without DCIS or IDC.

Materials and methods

We investigated p53 nuclear accumulation and ERα expression in breast ductal hyperplasia in a cohort of 215 Chinese women by immunohistochemistry (IHC), which included 129 cases of pure ductal hyperplasia, 86 cases of ductal hyperplasia co-existing with DCIS (41 cases) or IDC (45 cases).

Results

Nuclear p53 accumulation was identified in 22.8% of ADH (31/136), 41.5% of DCIS (17/41) and 42.2% of IDC (19/45), and no case of UDH (0/79). No difference in nuclear p53 accumulation was observed between pure ADH and ADH co-existing with DCIS (ADH/DCIS) or IDC (ADH/IDC) (P > 0.05). The positive rate of ERα expression was lower in ADH (118/136, 86.8%) than that in UDH (79/79, 100%) (P < 0.001), but higher than that in DCIS (28/41, 68.3%) or IDC (26/45, 57.8%) respectively (P < 0.001). The frequency of ERα expression was lower in ADH/DCIS (23/29, 79.31%) and ADH/IDC (23/30, 76.67%) than that in pure ADH (72/77, 93.51%) respectively (P < 0.05). There was a negative weak correlation between p53 nuclear accumulation and ERα expression as for ADH (coefficient correlation -0.51; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Different pathological types of ductal hyperplasia of breast are accompanied by diversity in patterns of nuclear p53 accumulation and ERα expression. At least some pure ADH is molecularly distinct from ADH/CIS or ADH/IDC which indicated the two types of ADH are molecularly distinct entities although they have the same morphological appearance.