Biology of the estrogen receptor, GPR30, in triple negative breast cancer.

Background: Triple-negative (TN) breast cancer lacks a known signaling pathway amenable to targeted therapy. The authors hypothesized that the G protein-coupled receptor GPR30 may be present in TN breast cancer and serve a role for tumor growth.

Methods: A retrospective pathology study and chart review were conducted.

Rare anorectal neoplasms: gastrointestinal stromal tumor, carcinoid, and lymphoma.

Several uncommon tumors occur in the anal canal such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors, carcinoids, and lymphoma. Increased clinical experience and advancements in molecular biology have improved the accuracy of pathologic diagnosis and guided treatment recommendations, which the author addresses in this article.

American Ginseng inhibits induced COX-2 and NFKB activation in breast cancer cells.

Background: Epidemiologic evidence suggests reduced breast cancer mortality in users of American Ginseng (AG) (Panax quinquefolium). We hypothesized that AG extract decreases proliferation of human breast cancer cells via an anti-inflammatory effect applicable to the prevention of breast and other cancers.

Material And Methods: A defined lyophilized aqueous extract of AG (LEAG) was dissolved in DMSO 1mg/mL, and serially diluted in saline.

Vitamin E increases biomarkers of estrogen stimulation when taken with tamoxifen.

Background: Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate, AT) diminishes the antiproliferative effect of tamoxifen on breast cancer cells in vitro.

Methods: A prospective study of seven women taking tamoxifen for adjuvant therapy of breast cancer. Four who were already taking AT supplements had random core biopsies of the normal breast and again 30 days after discontinuing AT.

Effect of vitamin E on tamoxifen-treated breast cancer cells.

Background: Induction of apoptosis by tamoxifen has been postulated to involve oxidative stress. Tamoxifen (TAM) may act on estrogen receptors (ER) located in the plasma membrane. Our hypothesis that supplemental antioxidant vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) acts at the plasma membrane to alter the effectiveness of tamoxifen was tested in ER-positive breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and T47D.

Long-term survival after radical operations for cancer treatment-induced sarcomas: how two survivors invite reflection on oncologic treatment concepts.

Extent and radicality of surgical oncologic treatment has changed in the past 30 years. Two patients with node-positive breast cancer are presented, who underwent (total or radical) mastectomy with lymphadenectomy and postoperative radiation 24 and 40 years ago. A radiation-associated sarcoma of the parascapular soft tissue developed in one patient 9 years after treatment; the other one sought treatment for a lymphedema-associated Stewart-Treves lymphangiosarcoma 16 years after initial therapy.