The influence of endocrine therapy on the proliferation of estrogen receptor (ER) positive cells and ER negative cells of human breast cancer (MCF-7) serially transplanted into nude mice was analyzed by tumor growth, dextran-coated charcoal (DCC) method, ER-immunocytochemical assay (ER-ICA) and ER-immunocytochemically stained 3H-thymidine autoradiography. In the tamoxifen (TAM) group and the medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) group, tumor growth was inhibited, but it was promoted in the 17 beta-estradiol dipropionate (E2) group. The ER level by the DCC method significantly decreased in the TMA, the MPA and the E2 groups. The ER-ICA showed that the ER positive cells rate in the TAM and the MPA group decreased, but it increased in E2 group. However, the ER-immunocytochemically stained 3H-thymidine autoradiography showed that not only the labelling index of ER-positive cells but also that of ER negative cells significantly decreased in the TAM and the MPA groups, but significantly increased in the E2 groups. Therefore it was concluded that endocrine therapy affected the proliferation of both ER positive cells and ER negative cells of ER positive breast cancer.
A case is presented of diffuse capillary hemangiomatosis of the spleen associated with portal hypertension. On celiac portography, the splenic artery and vein were very large and numerous hypervascular nodules were noted in the enlarged spleen. The portal hypertension is considered to have been due to the splenic hemangiomatosis.
The occurrence of aneuploidy in 108 normal, benign and malignant thyroid tissues was evaluated by DNA flow cytometry. Aneuploid cell populations were found in 60% of the papillary carcinomas, 67% of the follicular carcinomas, 52% of the follicular adenomas and in 10% of the multinodular goiters. None of the non-neoplastic thyroid lesions (chronic thyroiditis and Graves' disease) showed aneuploidy. No significant differences in frequency of aneuploidy and DNA index were found between the well-differentiated and trabecular types of the papillary carcinomas (53%; 1.29 +/- 0.10 vs 75%; 1.30 +/- 0.10, respectively), although the latter type of papillary carcinomas have been shown to be associated with a more aggressive clinical behavior. Also no differences in frequency of aneuploidy were noted between the follicular carcinomas and the follicular adenomas, but the DNA index was significantly higher in the former. These findings indicate that flow cytometric analysis of DNA content may not be helpful in the evaluation of the clinical behavior of papillary carcinomas or in the determination of malignancy of follicular tumors, but may be useful in differentiating neoplastic from non-neoplastic thyroid lesions.
Abstract Background Although the primary treatment for malignant phyllodes tumor (PT) is complete surgical excision with either breast-conserving surgery or total mastectomy, recent technical advances have led to the adoption of nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) with immediate breast reconstruction (IBR). Case presentation A 28-year-old woman noticed a mass in her left breast that was rapidly increasing in size. She underwent tumor excision and a histological diagnosis of marked degenerative and necrotic induration suggested benign PT. One year later, however, she was found to have recurrent masses in the left breast on follow-up mammography and sonography. Needle biopsy was performed and the tumor was diagnosed as borderline or malignant PT. She underwent NSM and sentinel lymph-node biopsy with IBR using a tissue expander. Histological examination of the mastectomy specimen showed multiple fibroepithelial tumors with marked stromal overgrowth, focal necrosis, and hemorrhage. Stromal cells showed pleomorphism and a maximal mitotic rate of approximately 25 per 10 high-power fields. The tumor was diagnosed as malignant PT. She did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation treatment. At 3-year follow-up, the patient remains free of disease and highly satisfied with the cosmetic results. Conclusions NSM with IBR is not a contraindication for malignant PT. It is both curative and can offer an appealing cosmetic option for localized malignant PT.
