Abstract
A large series of 2000 primary breast carcinomas was analyzed for HER2 overexpression, and its prognostic potential. A subset analysis, considering HER2-positive tumors as an independent subset of breast carcinomas, was conducted. In our series, HER2 positivity was not associated with nodal status, unless the number of infiltrated nodes was considered, whereas it was strongly associated with large tumors (P >10-4), grade III tumors (P >10-4), lymphoid infiltration (P >10-4) and absence of hormone receptor expression (P >10-4). HER2 overexpression was a strong prognostic indicator in N+patients (P <10-7), whereas its prognostic impact was weak and not statistically significant in the N- patients. Analysis of the hazard ratio of relapse in relation to time from surgery indicate that the poor prognosis associated with HER2-positivity in N+ patients was found to be due to a peak of relapses in the first 3-4 years from surgery. Multivariate analysis of different prognostic factors in HER2+ and HER2- subsets indicated that grade is the most important factor, followed by nodal status, lymphoid infiltration and tumor size in HER2-negative breast carcinomas, whereas nodal status was the most important prognostic factor, with tumor size showing only borderline significance, in the HER2-positive group. Together, the results indicate that HER2-positive breast carcinomas represent a particular subset of tumors with peculiar clinical and pathological behaviours. Thus, conclusions drawn from clinical trials, which serve as the basis for clinical management of breast carcinomas, might not always be valid for this low-frequency subset. Supported by AIRC.
Highlights
Lymph node biopsy is important as a prognostic factor, and influences therapy
In this study we determined the in vivo cell kinetics along the spectrum of apparently normal epithelium, hyperplasia, preinvasive lesions and invasive carcinoma, in breast tissues affected by fibrocystic changes in which preinvasive and/or invasive lesions developed, as a model of breast carcinogenesis
This study was undertaken to determine the effect of wound healing drainages and postsurgical sera obtained from breast carcinoma (BC) patients on proliferation of dormant BC cells and to assess the role of HER2 oncoprotein in this proliferation
Summary
Lymph node biopsy is important as a prognostic factor, and influences therapy. In the transition from normal epithelium to hyperplasia and from preinvasive lesions to invasive carcinoma, the net growth of epithelial cells results from a growth imbalance in favour of proliferation. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in symptomatic patients after breast cancer treatment. Conclusion: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy should be considered as a treatment option for patients with persisting symptomatology following breast-conserving therapy. We hypothesized that COX-2 expression was associated with that of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in human breast cancer. Conclusion: COX-2 expression is significantly associated with increased cellular proliferation and angiogenesis in invasive breast cancer. Recent studies have demonstrated that the sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is a reliable and minimally invasive method for determining the axillary node status in patients with breast cancer. Conclusion: Overexpression of episialin strongly inhibits fat secretion, and critically affects timing of involution of the lactating mammary gland
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