【Abstract】ObjectiveTo detect expressions of E-cadherin and α-catenin in breast cancer and analyze the relationship between those expressions and biological behaviors of breast cancer. MethodsFifty-four female patients with breast cancer received modified -radical -mastectomy or radical mastectomy in our department from August 1998 to March 1999. Their ages ranged from 30 years to 76 years and the postoperative follow-up time ranged from 6 to 67 months. Sixteen patients died during their follow-up time. The expressions of E-cadherin and α-catenin in specimens of 54 breast carcinomas and 21 normal breast tissues around tumor were measured by immunohistochemical method. Results In normal breast tissues, E-cadherin and α-catenin were expressed on cell membrance of ductal and acinic cells. No abnormal expressions were found in normal breast tissues. The abnormal expression rates of E-cadherin and α-catenin in breast cancer were 51.9% and 63.0% respectively. Abnormal expressions of E-cadherin and α-catenin were significantly correlated with histological grade and proliferative grade. Abnormal expression of α-catenin was significantly correlated with TNM staging, axillary lymph node metastasis and postoperative distant metastasis. Abnormal expression of Ecadherin was positively correlated with expression of HER-2. COX multiple factor analysis suggested that neither E-cadherin nor α-catenin expression was an independent prognostic indicator of breast cancer. ConclusionAbnormal expressions of E-cadherin and α-catenin frequently occur in breast cancer. Abnormal expressions of E-cadherin and α-catenin are correlated with disturbance of proliferation and differentiation of breast cancer and its metastasis.
To study the relationship between the expression and contents of cell adhesion molecule CD15 and differentiation and lymph nodes metastasis of breast carcinomas, CD15 expression and its contents in 94 cases of breast carcinomas and or cases of normal breast tissue were evaluated by microwave-SP immunohistochemical chenique combined with image analysis. CD15 immunoreactivity in normal breast tissue was mainly localised at the border of gland, but in breast cancer tissues it was mainly localised in the membrane and cytoplasm. Positive rate of CD15 and its average optic density in breast carcinomas were significantly higher than those in normal breast tissue (Ｐ＜0.05 and Ｐ＜0.001, respectively). The worse tumors differentiated and the earlier lymph nodes metastasized, the higher CD15 expressed and its optic density was measured (Ｐ＜0.05 and Ｐ＜0.001, respectively). These results suggest that CD15 expression and its contents might be a useful indicator to evaluate the malignancy and biological features, and could be considered as a good prognostic predictor for breast carcinomas.
Objective To investigate the role of β-catenin gene in breast tumorigenesis by detecting mutation and expression of β-catenin gene in breast hyperplasia and breast cancer. Methods Mutation and expression of β-catenin gene in 42 breast cancer, 15 simple hyperplasia and 15 atypical hyperplasia were detected by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism and immunohistochemistry. Results Normal expression of β-catenin occurred in tissue of breast simple hyperplasia. The rate of abnormal expression of β-catenin in tissue of breast atypical hyperplasia and breast cancer were 26.7% （4/15） and 59.5% （25/42）, respectively, which were higher than that of simple hyherplasia tissue (P＜0.05). And there was a markedly difference between the atypical hyperplasia tissue and breast cancer tissue (P＜0.05). Mutation of β-catenin gene wasn’t detected in this three kinds of tissues. Conclusion Abnormal expression of β-catenin plays an important role in human breast tumorigenesis, reason of abnormal expression of β-catenin isn’t mutation of β-catenin gene. Expression of β-catenin can be regulated by other mechanisms.
Objective To investigate the expression of claudin-1 in breast tumor tissues and the relationship of development and progress of breast neoplasm．Methods The expressions of claudin-1 in 89 cases of breast cancer and 37 benign breast diseases were tested by tissue chip technology and immunohistochemistry．The relationships of claudin-1 expression to the lymph node metastasis，TNM staging，maximum diameter of the tumor，and histology grade were statistically analyzed．Results The expression of claudin-1 in the breast cancer was significantly lower than that in the benign breast disease（χ2=19.20，P=0.000 2）．The claudin-1 expression in the patients with lymph node metastasis was significantly lower than that without lymph node metastasis （χ2=3.85，P=0.049 7）．The claudin-1 expression in the stageⅢ of TNM staging was weaker than that in the stage Ⅰ（χ2=5.29，P=0.021 4） and stage Ⅱ （χ2=7.46，P=0.006 3），respectively. There was no significant difference of the claudin-1 expression in the different maximum diameters of tumor （χ2=1.58，P=0.453 8） or histology grades （χ2=1.02，P=0.600 5），respectively．Conclusions The expression of claudin-1 might be correlated with the occurrence，development，and metastasis in breast tumor．It may be one of the potential indicator for lymph node metastasis and prognosis assessment in breast cancer．
ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the efficacy, cosmetic outcome and adverse reaction of hypofractionation radiotherapy (HRT) versus conventional radiotherapy (CRT) for early stage breast cancer after breast conserving surgery. MethodsThe databases including CNKI, CBM, VIP, PubMed, EMbase and The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2015) were searched from the inception to May 2015 to collect the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to HRT versus CRT for early stage breast cancer after breast conserving surgery. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2 software. ResultsSix RCTs involving 8 240 patients were included. Meta-analyses results showed, there were no statistical differences between the HRT group and the CRT group in local-regional recurrence rate (5 year: RR=1.01, 95%CI 0.73 to 1.40, P=0.94; 10 year: RR=1.04, 95%CI 0.86 to 1.26, P=0.67), mortality (5 year: RR=0.95, 95%CI 0.85 to 1.08, P=0.45; 10 year: RR=0.97, 95%CI 0.86 o 1.09, P=0.61), photographic breast appearance (RR=0.98, 95%CI 0.91 to 1.05, P=0.56), the incidence of lung fibrosis (5 year: RR=1.07, 95%CI 0.66 to 1.72, P=0.78; 10 year: RR=1.05, 95%CI 0.62 to 1.77, P=0.86), the incidence of rib fracture (5 year: RR=1.00, 95%CI 0.60 to 1.68, P=0.99; 10 year: RR=1.19, 95%CI 0.70 to 2.00, P=0.52), and the incidence of ischemic of heart (5 year: RR=0.88, 95%CI 0.54 to 1.45, P=0.62; 10 year: RR=0.86, 95%CI 0.54 to 1.37, P=0.53). ConclusionHRT could provide similar tumor control as CRT without serious toxicity. Meanwhile HRT is superior to CRT in terms of patient convenience and costs, it should be promoted as adjuvant treatment for early stage breast cancer after breast conserving surgery.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of the estradiol hormones on biofilm formati on and structure of Staphylococcus epidermidis after breast implant surgery. MethodsThe concentration of Staphylococcus epidermidis strains ATCC35984 was adjusted to 1×107 CFU/mL or 1×108 CFU/mL, and the type strains were incubated on the surface of silica gel in 125 pmol/L estradiol suspensions to prepare bacterial biofilms model in vitro. After cultured in vitro for 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours, bacteria growth and biofilm formation ability were assessed by means of the XTT and crystal violet staining respectively. According to the above results, the bacterial suspension concentration was selected for experiments. The experimental concentration of Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC35984 suspension and the concentrations of 50, 125, 250, 500 pmol/L estradiol suspensions were mixed with silica gel respectively to prepare biofilm model in vitro, no estradiol suspension served as control group. The experimental concentration of Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC12228 suspension was used to prepare the same model in the negative control. After cultured in vitro for 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours, the same methods were used to assess the bacteria growth dynamics and biofilm forming ability, and the scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to observe bacterial biofilm structure cultured on the surface of silica gel; the laser scanning confocal microscope (CLSM) was used to measure bacterial biofilm thickness on the surface of silica gel after 6, 12, and 24 hours. ResultsAccording to the results of semi quantitative detection of crystal violet stain and XTT methods, the bacterial suspension of 1×107 CFU/mL was selected for the experiment. XTT results indicated that the growth rates of ATCC12228 strain (at 4, 6, 12, 24, and 72 hours) and ATCC35984 strain (at 4, 6, 24, and 72 hours) in 125, 250, and 500 pmol/L estradiol were significantly faster than those in 0 and 50 pmol/L (P < 0.05). The growth rate of 500 pmol/L group was significantly faster than 125 and 250 pmol/L groups at 4, 6, and 72 hours (P < 0.05), and the growth rate of 250 pmol/L group was significantly faster than that of 125 pmol/L group at 72 hours (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between 0 and 50 pmol/L groups (P>0.05). At the same time point and same estradiol concentration, the growth rates showed no significant difference between 2 strains (P>0.05). Semi quantitative detection of crystal violet staining showed no biofilm formed in ATCC12228 strain in all estradiol concentration groups at different time points. In ATCC35984 strain, the biofilm was found at 4 hours and gradually thickened with time, reached the peak at 24 hours. After cultured for 4 and 6 hours, the biofilm of 0 pmol/L groups were significantly thicker than that of 125, 250, and 500 pmol/L groups (P < 0.05). At 12 hours, the 125 pmol/L group had the thickest biofilm, showing significant difference when compared with other groups (P < 0.05). The CLSM showed ATCC35984 biofilm thickness of 125, 250, and 500 pmol/L was significantly less than that of 0 and 50 pmol/L groups at 6 hours (P < 0.05), but difference was not significant between other groups (P>0.05). Then the thickness of the biofilm increased gradually, and the thickness of 125 pmol/L group was significantly larger than that of other concentration groups at 12 and 24 hours (P < 0.05). The SEM observation showed that the biofilm of 125 pmol/L group was denser and thicker than that of the other concentration groups at each time point. ConclusionHigh level estradiol can promote bacteria growth, biofilm formation, and biofilm maturity of Staphylococcus epidermidis.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the value of ultrasound contrast agents injected subcutaneously for diagnosing sentinel lymph nodes of breast cancer. MethodsWe electronically searched databases including PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM, WanFang Data, and Medalink from their inception to July 2014, to collect diagnostic accuracy studies of ultrasound contrast agents injected subcutaneously for diagnosing sentinel lymph nodes of breast cancer. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data and assessed the methodological quality of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed by using Meta-Disc 1.4 software. ResultsEight studies involving 311 sentinel lymph nodes were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio, and the area under curve (AUC) of SROC were 0.89 (95%CI 0.84 to 0.93), 0.81 (95%CI 0.72 to 0.87), 4.14 (95%CI 2.20 to 7.79), 0.15 (95%CI 0.10 to 0.25), 33.23 (95%CI 11.17 to 98.83), and 0.96 respectively. ConclusionContrast-enhanced ultrasound has a high value in diagnosis of sentinel lymph nodes of breast cancer. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high quality and large-scale studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
Objective To investigate expression of p16 protein in breast cancer and its clinical significance. Methods Using immunohistochemical techniques (LSAB) the expression of p16 protein in 107 breast carcinomas was examined. Results The positive rate of p16 protein expression was 40.19% (43/107). The p16 protein over expression of the cases surviving ≤5 years and surviving ≥10 years were 8.00% and 75.68% respectively. Conclusion Expression of p16 protein might play an important role in the prognosis of breast cancer.
The expressions and significance of c-met oncoprotein and transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) were studied by immunohistochemical method in 50 cases of breast cancer (BC) and 12 cases of benign lesions of breast (BL). The positive rate of c-met, TGF-α in BC was 26.0% and 25.0% respectively, in BL was 8.3% and 25.0% respectively. The positive rate of c-met oncoprotein was lower in the cases of histologic Grade Ⅰ, positive of ER and PR or CEA than that of histologic Grade Ⅲ, negative of ER and PR or CEA. The positive rate of TGF-α was lower in the cases of histologic Grade Ⅰ, negative of ER and PR or CEA than that of histologic Grade Ⅲ, positive of ER and PR or CEA. These results suggest the expression of c-met and TGF-α might be related to the carcinogenesis and development or endocrine state of BC.
Objective To summarize the progress of clinical research on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Methods Domestic and international publications on the study of TNBC in recent years were collected and reviewed. Results The patients with TNBC were younger, and their prognosis was poorer. Besides operation, chemotherapy was the major therapeutic tool for them. Currently the targeted therapy for epidermal growth factor receptor and its signal conducting system was applied to clinical therapy gradually， and it might benefit the patients with TNBC. Conclusion The study on TNBC may bring a new way for therapy.