Joaquim Si Long Vong

Breast cancer in the elderly: a histological assessment

Publisher: Wiley

Date: 10-2009

DOI: 10.1111/J.1365-2559.2009.03400.X

Abstract: To understand the correlation between the expression status of different biological markers in breast cancers in the elderly. Three hundred and ninety-seven cases were evaluated for expression of hormone receptors [oestrogen receptors (ER) alpha and beta, progesterone receptor (PR)], basal markers [p63, cytokeratin (CK) 5/6 and CK14] and others (HER2/neu, synaptophysin and chromogranin). The expression rates were 60, 29, 25, 6, 14, 8, 28, 17 and 5%, respectively, for these markers. The expression of ER alpha and beta, PR, synaptophysin and chromogranin at any level correlated with low nuclear or tumour grades, whereas the expression of HER2/neu, CK5/6 and CK14 at any level correlated with high nuclear grade. By using hierarchical clustering, groups of HER2, luminal and basal types were identified. In addition, a neuroendocrine group was also identified, being characterized by expression of synaptophysin, chromogranin, ER and PR, but not HER2/neu, and other basal cytokeratins. This group was associated with lower nuclear grade, and hence better prognosis. Breast cancer in the elderly shows similar molecular groupings as other breast cancers, with an additional neuroendocrine group that is associated with a favourable biological marker profile.

Increased epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in malignant mammary phyllodes tumors

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Date: 29-04-2008

DOI: 10.1007/S10549-008-0030-5

Abstract: Mammary phyllodes tumors are uncommon stromal-epithelial neoplasms, and are ided into benign, borderline malignant and frankly malignant groups on the basis of their histological features. Accumulating evidence shows that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is involved in the pathogenesis and progression of many malignancies. This study investigated 453 phyllodes tumors (296 benign, 98 borderline, 59 malignant) for EGFR expression using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for gene lification. The staining was correlated to tumor margin status, degree of malignancy, stromal cellularity, mitotic activity, nuclear pleomorphism and stromal overgrowth. Cases with strong positive IHC staining were selected for FISH. The overall positive rate for EGFR was 16.2% (48/296), 30.6% (30/98) and 56% (33/59) for benign, borderline malignant and frankly malignant phyllodes tumors, respectively. FISH demonstrated egfr gene lification in 8% of immunohistochemically positive cases. The results of this study provide strong evidence that EGFR overexpression is involved in the pathogenesis of phyllodes tumors, although gene lification may not be the major underlying mechanism for overexpression.

The Chinese University Of Hong Kong

Location: Hong Kong

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Hong Kong University Of Science And Technology

Location: Hong Kong

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Justus Liebig Universitat Giessen

Location: Germany

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Max-Planck-Institut Für Herz- Und Lungenforschung W G Kerckhoff-Institute

Location: Germany

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