Tumor-associated inflammation as a potential prognostic tool in BRCA1/2-associated breast cancer.

The prognosis of BRCA1/2-associated breast cancer partly depends on histologic characteristics. Most of these breast cancers, however, are poorly differentiated. BRCA1-associated cancers are mainly negative for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2.

Loss of E-cadherin is not a necessity for epithelial to mesenchymal transition in human breast cancer.

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is typically defined by the acquisition of a spindle cell morphology in combination with loss of E-cadherin and upregulation of mesenchymal markers. However, by studying E-cadherin inactivation in 38 human breast cancer cell lines, we noted that not all cell lines that had undergone EMT had concomitantly lost E-cadherin expression. We further investigated this discrepancy functionally and in clinical breast cancer specimens.

Molecular diagnostics of a single multifocal non-small cell lung cancer case using targeted next generation sequencing.

Histological and molecular subtyping of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is important for predicting survival and drug response in these patients. Up to 8 % of NSCLC are multifocal and these tumor foci are often clonally related. Multiple foci can however also represent different primary tumors, with prognostic and therapeutic consequences.

Attitudes and distress levels in women at risk to carry a BRCA1/BRCA2 gene mutation who decline genetic testing.

Genetic testing enables women at risk for hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer to find out whether they have inherited the gene mutation, and if so, to opt for undergoing frequent surveillance and/or prophylactic surgery. However, the option to know about one's genetic status is not always seen as a benefit by women at risk. Motives for declining genetic testing were explored in 13 women at 25% or 50% risk to be a BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carrier, who participated in a surveillance program for breast/ovarian cancer (the non-tested group).

Androgen pathway dysregulation in BRCA1-mutated breast tumors.

Background: Using array analysis for screening RNA from BRCA1-mutated and sporadic breast tumors, we observed that AIGF/FGF-8 expression was lost in BRCA1-mutated breast tumors. Since this growth factor is induced by androgens, we studied the androgen receptor (AR) expression in BRCA-mutated tumors and in matched sporadic breast tumors.

Methods: Paraffin embedded breast tumors of carriers of a BRCA1 mutation (n=41, median age of patients at time of surgery was 41 years [range 28-59 years]) or a BRCA2 mutation (n=14, median age 41 years [range 31-85 years]) were analyzed for the presence of ER-alpha, PR, P53 and AR using standard immunohistochemical techniques.

One year follow-up of women opting for presymptomatic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2: emotional impact of the test outcome and decisions on risk management (surveillance or prophylactic surgery).

Genetic testing enables women at risk for hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer to find out whether they have inherited the gene mutation (BRCA1/BRCA2), and if so, to opt for frequent surveillance and/or prophylactic surgery (bilateral mastectomy and/or oophorectomy). Here, a follow-up is described for 63 healthy women at 50% risk of being a BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carrier who underwent genetic testing. The course of distress and problems regarding body image and sexuality up to 1 year after disclosure of the test-outcome were described separately for mutation carriers undergoing mastectomy (n = 14), for mutation carriers opting for surveillance (n = 12) and for non-mutation carriers (n = 37).