Photodynamic therapy of Pheophorbide a inhibits the proliferation of human breast tumour via both caspase-dependent and -independent apoptotic pathways in in vitro and in vivo models.

Breast cancer is conventionally treated by surgery and radiotherapy, with adjuvant chemotherapy and hormonotherapy as supplementary treatments. However, such treatments are associated with adverse side effects and drug resistance. In this study, Pheophorbide a (Pa), a photosensitizer isolated from Scutelleria barbata, was analysed for its antiproliferative effect on human breast tumour cells.

Phyllodes tumours of the breast - differentiating features in core needle biopsy.

Aims: To investigate the usefulness of histological features in the differentiation of fibroepithelial lesions of the breast (phyllodes tumours and fibroadenomas) in core needle biopsies.

Methods And Results: Forty-nine and 69 excision-proven core biopsies of phyllodes tumours and fibroadenomas, respectively, were evaluated histologically for stromal cellular changes (overall stromal cellularity, variability in stromal cellularity, stromal cell pleomorphism, and mitotic count) and stromal architectural changes (stromal overgrowth, fragmentation of the cores, and fat in stroma). In core needle biopsies of phyllodes tumours, overall stromal cellularity, stromal cell pleomorphism and mitotic count showed good correlation with excisions.

Epidermal growth factor receptor gene amplification and protein overexpression in basal-like carcinoma of the breast.

Aims: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is frequently expressed in basal-like breast cancer (BLBC). The aim of this study was to evaluate their correlation as detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH).

Methods And Results: IHC for oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) 2, cytokeratin (CK) 5/6 and EGFR, and FISH for EGFR amplification, were performed in 59 cases of BLBC.

Increased alpha-B-crystallin expression in mammary metaplastic carcinomas.

Aims:  Mammary metaplastic carcinoma is a rare breast carcinoma, and may present diagnostic difficulty. Alpha-B-crystallin has been recently reported to be expressed in basal-like and metaplastic carcinomas.

Methods And Results:  Thirty-three metaplastic carcinomas, 44 conventional high-grade carcinomas and 28 mesenchymal spindle cell neoplasms as controls were assessed for their expression of αB-crystallin and conventional basal-like phenotypic markers CK5/6, CK14, p63, c-kit and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by immunohistochemistry.

Solitary nasopharyngeal metastasis from lung primary: a long-term survivor after radiotherapy.

Isolated nasopharyngeal metastasis from lung primary is a rare condition. We report a patient with stage 1B adenocarcinoma of the lung who underwent anatomical lung resection and was subsequently found to have solitary nasopharyngeal metastasis. The patient received radiotherapy to nasopharynx and remained disease-free for 10 years from the date of diagnosis of nasopharyngeal metastasis.

Biopsy sampling of breast lesions: comparison of core needle- and vacuum-assisted breast biopsies.

Needle biopsy is now the initial investigation of choice for the pre-operative diagnosis of breast lesions. This includes core needle biopsy (CNB) and vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) with or without radiologic assistance. The performance indices of both of these biopsy techniques were evaluated.

Pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating peptide counteracts hedgehog-dependent motor neuron production in mouse embryonic stem cell cultures.

Pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP; ADCYAP1) is a neuropeptide that regulates a wide array of functions within the brain and periphery. We and others have previously demonstrated that PACAP and its high-affinity receptor PAC1 are expressed in the embryonic mouse neural tube, suggesting that PACAP plays a role in early brain development. Moreover, we previously showed that PACAP antagonizes the mitotic action of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) in postnatal cerebellar granule precursors.

Fine needle aspiration cytology of the breast: the nonmalignant categories.

Currently, accurate diagnosis of breast lesions depends on a triple assessment approach comprising clinical, imaging and pathologic examinations. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is widely adopted for the pathologic assessment because of its accurracy and ease of use. While much has been written about the atypical and maliganant categories of FNAC diagnosis, little covers the non-malignanat category which represents a sheer number in all FNAC cases.

Mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in triple negative breast cancer: possible implications for targeted therapy.

Introduction: Triple negative breast cancer is associated with poorer prognosis and unresponsiveness to endocrine and anti-HER2 directed agents. Despite emerging data supporting the use of polyADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, complete and durable responses are rare and exploration of additional targeted therapies is needed. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is expressed in triple negative breast cancer and several clinical trials are testing the role of anti-EGFR directed therapy.

A subset of breast cancer predisposes to brain metastasis.

This study evaluated the expression of biological markers of breast cancers with brain metastases. Eighteen paired tumors were assessed, with 42 non-brain-metastasizing breast cancers that were stained with ER, PR, HER2, CK5/6, p63, and Ki67, and were also classified into intrinsic subtypes. The expression patterns between the breast tumors with brain metastases were compared to the brain metastases and the controls.

Histiocytoid breast carcinoma: an enigmatic lobular entity.

Histiocytoid breast carcinoma is an uncommon entity that is mostly regarded as a variant of lobular carcinoma. Its occurrence with apocrine lobular carcinoma in situ and consistent expression of gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 suggest apocrine differentiation. Its recognition is often challenging, particularly when histiocytoid tumour cells occur in a metastatic site before the primary diagnosis of breast carcinoma, or in limited core biopsy or cytology material.

Granulomatous mastitis: the histological differentials.

Background: The management of granulomatous mastitis depends on the causative factor, and accurate diagnosis in distinguishing between idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) and tuberculous mastitis (TBM) is indispensable. This is particularly problematic in the cases of granulomatous mastitis in which the microbiological studies are negative. In this study, in a large cohort, the histological features for IGM and TBM were compared.

Primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma: diagnostic accuracy of MR imaging versus that of endoscopy and endoscopic biopsy.

Purpose: To compare the accuracy of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with that of the current clinical standard of endoscopy and endoscopic biopsy, to determine whether MR imaging depicts subclinical cancers missed at endoscopy and endoscopic biopsy, and to determine whether MR imaging can identify patients without nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) who do not need to undergo invasive sampling biopsy.

Materials And Methods: The study protocol was approved by the institutional review board; written informed consent was obtained from all patients. Patients suspected of having NPC underwent MR imaging, endoscopy, and endoscopic biopsy.

Correlation of biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship of functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters, including choline/creatine ratio (Cho/Cr) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) with protein expression of 10 common tumor and prognostic markers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: University hospital.

Basal-like and triple-negative breast cancers: a critical review with an emphasis on the implications for pathologists and oncologists.

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease encompassing a variety of entities with distinct morphological features and clinical behaviors. Although morphology is often associated with the pattern of molecular aberrations in breast cancers, it is also clear that tumors of the same histological type show remarkably different clinical behavior. This is particularly true for 'basal-like cancer', which is an entity defined using gene expression analysis.

The Breast Cancer Working Group presentation was divided into three sections: the epidemiology, pathology and treatment of breast cancer.

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF BREAST CANCER: The incidence and mortality of breast cancer are lower in Asia than in the West, particularly in post-menopausal women, but they are increasing. The age patterns of the incidence of breast cancer in Asia differ from in the West: in most Asian countries the peak incidence of breast cancer is at about age 45-50, whereas in western countries the incidence continues to increase even at older ages. Mortality is decreasing in western countries, whereas it is still increasing in Asian nations.

Breast cancer prognostic classification in the molecular era: the role of histological grade.

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with varied morphological appearances, molecular features, behavior, and response to therapy. Current routine clinical management of breast cancer relies on the availability of robust clinical and pathological prognostic and predictive factors to support clinical and patient decision making in which potentially suitable treatment options are increasingly available. One of the best-established prognostic factors in breast cancer is histological grade, which represents the morphological assessment of tumor biological characteristics and has been shown to be able to generate important information related to the clinical behavior of breast cancers.

Radiation exposure and uterine artery embolization: current risks and risk reduction.

Uterine embolization has become accepted into the mainstream of fibroid therapies and now is among the most common interventions for the condition. Because the procedure is based on angiographic techniques, it requires fluoroscopic and angiographic imaging, both dependent on exposure to ionizing radiation. Given the increasing popularity of this procedure, it is important to understand the potential impacts of this exposure on both individual patients and also the population as a whole.

Predictors of phyllodes tumours on core biopsy specimens of fibroepithelial neoplasms.

Aims: To establish histological and biological parameters that can predict phyllodes tumours on core biopsy specimens of indeterminate fibroepithelial neoplasms.

Methods And Results: Core biopsy specimens of fibroepithelial lesions diagnosed at the Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital from 2002 to 2007 were reviewed. Cases in which phyllodes tumour was favoured, or could not be ruled out, were evaluated for stromal cellularity/distribution, nuclear atypia and mitoses, stromal overgrowth, epithelial fronding, epithelial hyperplasia, configuration of lesional edge, presence of pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia and of adipose tissue.

Apoptotic and necrotic effects of tumour necrosis factor-alpha potentiated with hyperthermia on L929 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha-resistant L929.

Purpose: The cytotoxic effect of the combination treatment of TNF-alpha and hyperthermia on L929 and TNF-alpha-resistant L929 (rL929) cells was investigated.

Materials And Methods: L929 cells were treated with TNF-alpha (5 ng/mL), heating at 43 degrees C or the combination of TNF-alpha and heating. The cells were harvested at different time within the 24-hour period.

Pretreatment and early intratreatment prediction of clinicopathologic response of head and neck cancer to chemoradiotherapy using 1H-MRS.

Purpose: To determine if choline (cho) identified by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) performed pretreatment and early in the course of treatment predicts clinicopathologic response of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Materials And Methods: In all, 60 patients with HNSCC scheduled to undergo concurrent chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy alone were recruited. (1)H-MRS was performed pretreatment and early intratreatment (2 weeks after start of treatment).

Atypia in fine needle aspirates of breast lesions.

Background: The atypical category is controversial in fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the breast; most are benign, but a significant number are malignant. To date, no morphological criterion has been found to be consistent in predicting malignancy.

Aims: To evaluate specific cytological parameters and assess their usefulness in predicting histological outcome in a cohort of atypical breast FNAC, in order to establish a set of objective criteria in defining 'high risk' atypical breast FNAC.