Low p27 expression predicts early relapse and death in postmenopausal hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant tamoxifen therapy.

Purpose: Previously, we have shown that p27 may be a potential predictive biomarker for the selection of premenopausal women with early-stage hormone-responsive breast cancer for adjuvant endocrine therapy. The purpose of the present study was to assess the clinical relevance of p27 expression in postmenopausal hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients who were treated with adjuvant tamoxifen therapy.

Experimental Design: We determined the expression of p27 by immunohistochemistry in the surgical specimens of breast carcinoma patients who had been enrolled in Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group Trial 06 and received tamoxifen for 5 years.

Cyclin D1 expression in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant tamoxifen-based therapy.

Purpose: The objective of our study was to determine the clinical relevance of cyclin D1 expression in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients who were treated with tamoxifen-based therapy.

Experimental Design: We assessed expression of cyclin D1 in surgical specimens of breast carcinoma by means of immunohistochemistry. Patients had been enrolled in either Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group (ABCSG) Trial 05 or ABCSG Trial 06 and received tamoxifen as part of their adjuvant treatment.

Zoledronic acid prevents cancer treatment-induced bone loss in premenopausal women receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy for hormone-responsive breast cancer: a report from the Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group.

Purpose: Adjuvant therapy for breast cancer can be associated with decreased bone mineral density (BMD) that may lead to skeletal morbidity. This study examined whether zoledronic acid can prevent bone loss associated with adjuvant endocrine therapy in premenopausal patients.

Patients And Methods: This study is a randomized, open-label, phase III, four-arm trial comparing tamoxifen (20 mg/d orally) and goserelin (3.

Inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase inhibition by mycophenolic acid impairs maturation and function of dendritic cells.

Background: The mechanism of action of mycophenolic acid (MPA) has been described as a blockade of inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) and is thought to selectively influence T- and B-lymphocytes due to their strong dependency on guanine nucleotides synthesized via the de novo purine synthesis pathway. Recent evidence suggests MPA to affect antigen-presenting cells.

Methods: Using CD14+ derived human dendritic cells (DC) we have investigated the effects of MPA on differentiation, maturation and function and studied intracellular nucleotide content and IMPDH activity.

Induction of permeability across endothelial cell monolayers by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) occurs via a tissue factor-dependent mechanism: relationship between the procoagulant and permeability effects of TNF.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has marked effects on permeability and procoagulant activity on tumor-associated neovasculature when used in isolation perfusion, the latter effect primarily mediated via induction of cell surface expression of tissue factor (TF) on endothelial tissue. However, the cellular events that result in rapid alterations in endothelial cell (EC) permeability after intravascular TNF administration in isolation perfusion are not well characterized. We demonstrate that short exposure intervals to TNF induces TF expression on ECs but has no effect on permeability as assessed by flux of Evans blue-bound albumin across confluent EC monolayers using a 2-compartment model under basal culture conditions.

Young age as an independent adverse prognostic factor in premenopausal patients with breast cancer.

Breast cancer in younger patients appears to be more aggressive than disease occurring in older patients. Even though large population-based studies suggest poorer survival of patients younger than 35 years, data demonstrating the relationship of age and prognosis within premenopausal cohorts are much more scarce and conflicting. In this retrospective analysis of 885 premenopausal patients, the relationship between age, typical prognostic factors, treatment, and patient outcome was investigated.

Combined analysis of two phase II trials in patients with primary and advanced breast cancer with epidoxorubicin and docetaxel+granulocyte colony stimulating factor.

Anthracyclines and taxanes are to date the most active cytotoxic agents in the treatment of breast cancer, and a combination of these is therefore considered to result in the highest response rates in the neoadjuvant, as well as in palliative treatment. These two phase II studies aimed to evaluate the feasibility, toxicity and activity of a cytostatic regimen combining epidoxorubicin and docetaxel in outpatient patients suffering from breast cancer. In total, 104 consecutive patients were enrolled in these prospective clinical trials.