Analysis of the expression of hyaluronan in intraductal and invasive carcinomas of the breast.

Aims: To evaluate hyaluronan expression at different stages of tumoral progression in primary breast cancer.

Methods: Hyaluronan expression was evaluated by histochemical techniques in 42 cases of pure DCIS, in 15 cases of DCIS with a microinvasive component, and in 32 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. Staining results were evaluated by calculating the percentage of stained areas by means of a specific software program.

Expression and prognostic significance of metalloproteases and their inhibitors in luminal A and basal-like phenotypes of breast carcinoma.

To analyze the expression and prognostic value of matrix metalloproteases and their tissue inhibitors in luminal A and basal-like breast carcinomas, an immunohistochemical study was performed on cancer specimens from 93 randomly selected patients with invasive primary ductal tumors of the breast (46 with and 47 without distant metastasis) and with luminal A (n = 48) (ER+, HER2-) or basal-like (HER2-, ER-, PgR-) (n = 45) lesions. Luminal B cases were too few to analyze. Specimens were also studied using tissue microarrays and specific antibodies against matrix metalloproteases 1, 2, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 14 and tissue inhibitors 1, 2, and 3.

Androgen receptor expresion in breast cancer: relationship with clinicopathological characteristics of the tumors, prognosis, and expression of metalloproteases and their inhibitors.

Background: In the present study we analyze, in patients with breast cancer, the tumor expression of androgen receptors (AR), its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics and with the expression of several matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs), as well as with prognosis.

Methods: An immunohistochemical study was performed using tissue microarrays and specific antibodies against AR, MMPs -1, -2, -7, -9, -11, -13, -14, and TIMPs -1, -2 and -3. More than 2,800 determinations on tumor specimens from 111 patients with primary invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast (52 with axillary lymph node metastases and 59 without them) and controls were performed.

Lymphatic and/or blood vessel invasion in gastric cancer: relationship with clinicopathological parameters, biological factors and prognostic significance.

Background: Lymphatic and/or blood vessel tumoral invasion (LBVI) is a common histopathologic finding of gastric carcinomas, which could make it an additional cost efficient marker and help in the detection of patients at risk for recurrence.

Materials And Methods: The subjects of this study were 144 patients with primary gastric adenocarcinoma, who consecutively underwent surgery. LBVI was evaluated by H&E staining and complementary with immunohistochemical staining with anti-CD34.

The mammographic appearance of breast carcinomas of invasive ductal type: relationship with clinicopathological parameters, biological features and prognosis.

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical significance of the mammographic appearance of tumors in 411 patients with infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast.

Study Design: Tumors were classified into five radiographic subgroups: spiculated mass (A-type), diffuse changes with or without suspicious microcalcifications (B-type), microcalcifications with a mass (C-type), circumscribed (D-type), and not visible (E-type). Intratumoral levels of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors, c-erbB-2, EGFR, pS2, cathepsin D and tPA, ploidy and S-phase fraction, were analysed in a significant number of cases.

Collagenase-3 (MMP-13) expression by inflamed mucosa in inflammatory bowel disease.

Objective: To determine whether the expression of collagenase-3 (MMP-13) in biopsies from patients with inflammatory bowel disease is correlated with histological inflammation parameters.

Material And Methods: Fifty-nine patients with inflammatory bowel disease were included in the study. The control group comprised 20 patients free of inflammatory disease and ten patients with acute diverticulitis.

Expression and clinical signification of cytosolic hyaluronan levels in invasive breast cancer.

Background: Hyaluronic acid (HA), a high-molecular weight glycosaminoglycan, has been considered to be involved in the growth and progression of malignant tumors in several experimental studies. The objective of this work was to evaluate the cytosolic HA content in breast cancer, its possible relationship with clinicopathological tumor parameters and steroid receptor status, as well as its potential prognostic significance.

Methods: Cytosolic HA levels were examined by means of immunoradiometric techniques in 850 patients with invasive breast cancer.

Cytosolic levels of TFF1/pS2 in breast cancer: Their relationship with clinical-pathological parameters and their prognostic significance.

Background: The Trefoil Factor 1 (TFF1/pS2), a peptide consisting of 60 amino acids, is the most abundant estrogen-induced messenger RNA present in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The objective of this work was to evaluate the cytosolic TFF1 content in breast carcinomas, its possible relationship with different clinical-pathological parameters, and its potential prognostic significance and predictive value.

Methods: Cytosolic TFF1 levels were examined by immunoradiometric assay in 1031 patients with invasive breast cancer.

Clinical significance of the quantitative assessment of the cytosolic concentration of HER-2/neu protein in breast cancer by immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA).

Purpose: Retrospective analysis to assess the prognostic and predictive value of HER-2/ neu expression in breast tumors, quantified by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA).

Methods: Quantification of HER-2/neu was performed on cytosolic extracts from 914 cases of primary invasive breast carcinomas. Relapse-free and overall survival data were available from 889 patients.

CD44s expression in resectable colorectal carcinomas and surrounding mucosa.

Background: CD44s (standard isoform) is a cell adhesion molecule belonging to the family of the hyaluronan-binding proteins. The CD44 family has been found to be overexpressed in epithelial tumors, where they are generally in relationship with tumor growth and metastasic properties. The aim of this work was to evaluate the membranous CD44s content in colorectal cancer and in healthy surrounding mucosa, its possible relationship with clinicopathological parameters, and its potential prognostic significance.

Expression and clinical significance of CD44V5 and CD44V6 in resectable colorectal cancer.

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the prognostic significance of CD44v5 and CD44v6 in resectable colorectal cancer.

Materials And Methods: Membranous CD44v5 and CD44v6 levels were measured by an immunoenzymatic assay in tumors and surrounding mucosal samples obtained from 105 patients with resectable colorectal carcinomas.

Results: There were no significant differences of CD44v5 levels between tumors [median: 3.

Apolipoprotein D expression in cutaneous malignant melanoma.

Background And Objectives: Apolipoprotein D (Apo D) is a protein component of the human plasma lipid transport system, and an androgen-regulated protein in both breast and prostate cancer cell lines. Our goal was to evaluate the expression of Apo D in malignant cutaneous melanomas, as well as to assess its possible relationship to clinical and pathological parameters.

Methods: Apo D expression was analyzed in 32 paraffin-embedded tissues from patients with invasive cutaneous malignant melanomas, in 8 samples from in situ melanoma, and in 10 samples from 10 benign lesions (4 dermal melanocytic nevi, 4 compound melanocytic nevi, and 2 dysplastic melanocytic nevi), using immunohistochemical techniques.