Abstract
Neuroendocrine (NE) carcinomas of the breast are a rare entity that diffusely expresses NE markers. We here demonstrate that NE breast carcinomas in elderly women can also express apocrine immuno-phenotype, and analyze the histological and clinical aspects of such differentiation. A selected series of 50 NE tumors (positive for NE markers in >50% of the cells) was tested for the immunocytochemical expression of gross cystic disease fluid protein-15 (GCDFP-15). About 50% of moderately (G2) and well-differentiated (G1) NE breast carcinomas coexpressed the apocrine marker. In these cases specific mRNA for GCDFP-15 (PIP) and for chromogranin A was demonstrated using in situ hybridization (ISH). Carcinomas of the alveolar subtype (G2) and poorly differentiated carcinomas (G3) were pure NE carcinomas, devoid of apocrine differentiation. The steroid receptor status of these lesions was evaluated to test a possible involvement of androgen receptors (AR) in apocrine differentiation. The level of AR and the mean age of patients at diagnosis were significantly higher in apocrine than in nonapocrine differentiated tumors. The histological grade and the expression of estrogen receptor significantly influenced the prognosis of these NE carcinomas, either pure or NE-apocrine differentiated. In conclusion, NE breast carcinomas may exhibit divergent apocrine differentiation that might be regulated by the activation of AR in elderly patients. In addition, the possibility to use Chs or GCDFP-15 serum values in the follow up of these patients, as demonstrated in two cases of the present series, can justify the immunophenotyping of the tumors.
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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