Jeong-Yoon Song

Stromal CD10 expression and relationship to the E-cadherin/β-catenin complex in breast carcinoma

Kim H‐S, Kim G Y, Kim Y W, Park Y‐K, Song J‐Y & Lim S‐J
(2010) Histopathology 56, 708–719
Stromal CD10 expression and relationship to the E‐cadherin/β‐catenin complex in breast carcinoma

Prognostic value of putative cancer stem cell markers (CD24, CD44, CD133, and ALDH1) in human papillary thyroid carcinoma

We hypothesized that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for the poor outcome and aggressive clinicopathological factors. We surveyed the expression of selected CSC markers that are specifically expressed in thyroid papillary carcinoma (PTC). A total of 80 patients with PTC from 2011 to 2012 were enrolled. We selected CD24, CD44, CD133, and dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1), as they have been suggested to be candidate CSC markers. Expression of these markers was investigated by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. IHC staining for CD24, CD44, CD133 and ALDH1 was evaluated according to staining intensity and proportion. The intensity and proportion scores were multiplied together for a total score, which was either 0-2 (negative) or 3-7 (positive). IHC for CD133 in PTC was positive in 49 (61.3%) patients, and CD24 was positive in 28 (35.0%). Seventy-eight (97.5%) patients were CD44 positive and 79 (98.8%) were ALDH1 positive. When we assessed the relationship between CSC markers and clinicopathological factors in PTC, CD24 expression was inversely correlated with multifocality (p=0.045; odds ratio [OR], 0.370; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.138-0.991) and CD44 expression was significantly correlated with a BRAF mutation (p=0.001; OR, 7.091; 95% CI, 4.101-12.262). However, CD133 and ALDH1 were not associated with any of the clinicopathological parameters. CD24 expression was inversely correlated with multifocality, and CD44 expression was significantly correlated with a BRAF mutation. Therefore, CD24 and CD44 are related to clinicopathological aggressive features and important for determining surgical extent in patients with PTC.

ALDH1 and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes as predictors for neoadjuvant chemotherapy response in breast cancer

Many studies have reported that Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) are related to breast cancer prognosis. However, the clinical significance of ALDH1 and tumor-infiltrating immune cells in breast cancer has not been fully investigated in patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). We studied the significance of the expression of ALDH1 and the population of TIL for predicting the prognosis and chemotherapeutic response of patients with breast cancer who had received NAC. Forty patients who underwent NAC were enrolled in this study. ALDH1 and TIL (T cells and tumor associated macrophages) were evaluated before and after NAC. The influences of ALDH1 expression status and TIL populations on both prognosis and chemotherapeutic response were evaluated. ALDH1 positivity was related to estrogen receptor (p = 0.026) and progesterone receptor negativity (p = 0.025). Positive change of ALDH1 after NAC tended to be associated with a poor NAC response (p = 0.078). Patients with more CD8+ T cells before NAC and fewer CD68 (+) macrophages after NAC tended to have better OS, respectively (p = 0.086, p = 0.096). The chemotherapeutic response and prognosis of patients with breast cancer who received NAC are thought to be determined by the tumor microenvironment. Further research with more patients and a longer study period is needed.

Pectoral nerve block (Pecs block) with sedation for breast conserving surgery without general anesthesia

Most regional anesthesia in breast surgeries is performed as postoperative pain management under general anesthesia, and not as the primary anesthesia. Regional anesthesia has very few cardiovascular or pulmonary side-effects, as compared with general anesthesia. Pectoral nerve block is a relatively new technique, with fewer complications than other regional anesthesia. We performed Pecs I and Pec II block simultaneously as primary anesthesia under moderate sedation with dexmedetomidine for breast conserving surgery in a 49-year-old female patient with invasive ductal carcinoma. Block was uneventful and showed no complications. Thus, Pecs block with sedation could be an alternative to general anesthesia for breast surgeries.

A genetic association analysis of polymorphisms, rs2282695 and rs12373539, in the FOSB gene and papillary thyroid cancer

The FOSB gene is involved in cell proliferation, differentiation and transformation in several tumor types. We investigated whether coding single-nucleotide polymorphisms (cSNPs) and promoter SNPs of FOSB contribute to the development of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). We also assessed the associations between FOSB SNPs and the clinicopathological characteristics of PTC. One coding SNP (rs2282695, Ala39Ala) and one promoter SNP (rs12373539, −158) in the FOSB gene were genotyped using direct sequencing in 94 PTC patients and 213 healthy controls. Genetic data were analyzed using SNPStats, HelixTree and SNPAnalyzer. PTC patients were dichotomized and compared with respect to clinicopathological characteristics of PTC. We detected an association between PTC and cSNP (rs2282695) in FOSB [codominant model 1 (C/C vs. G/C); OR=1.75; 95% CI, 1.04–2.94; P=0.024; codominant model 2 (C/C vs. G/G): OR=2.55; 95% CI, 1.15–5.64; P=0.045; dominant model: OR=1.89; 95% CI, 1.16–3.08; P=0.010; Log-additive model: OR=1.64; 95% CI, 1.15–2.35; P=0.007]. The G allele was a risk allele in the geno-type and allele analyses of cSNP (rs2282695) in the FOSB gene (OR=1.57; 95% CI, 1.10–2.24; P=0.012). A promoter SNP (rs12373539) in FOSB was associated with cervical lymph node metastasis of PTC [codominant model 1 (G/G vs. A/G): OR=0.23; 95% CI, 0.07–0.72; P=0.016; codominant model 2 (G/G vs. A/A): OR=0.21; 95% CI, 0.02–1.96; P=0.0.05; dominant model: OR=0.22; 95% CI, 0.08–0.66; P=0.004; overdominant model: OR=0.27; 95% CI, 0.09–0.84; P=0.02; log-additive model: OR=0.31; 95% CI, 0.12–0.78; P=0.006]. The A allele was a protective allele in the genotype and allele analyses of SNP (rs12373539) in the FOSB gene promoter (OR=0.34; 95% CI, 0.14–0.83; P=0.017). Variation in a FOSB cSNP (rs2282695) may be associated with risk of PTC. The FOSB promoter SNP (rs12373539) may be associated with lymph node metastasis of PTC.

Assessment of Quality of Life and Safety in Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Letrozole as an Early Adjuvant Treatment

Purpose There are few reports from Asian countries about the long-term results of aromatase inhibitor adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. This observational study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of letrozole in postmenopausal Korean women with operable breast cancer. Methods Self-reported quality of life (QoL) scores were serially assessed for 3 years during adjuvant letrozole treatment using the Korean version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast questionnaires (version 3). Changes in bone mineral density (BMD) and serum cholesterol levels were also examined. Results All 897 patients received the documented informed consent form and completed a baseline questionnaire before treatment. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered to 684 (76.3%) subjects, and 410 (45.7%) and 396 (44.1%) patients had stage I and II breast cancer, respectively. Each patient completed questionnaires at 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months after enrollment. Of 897 patients, 749 (83.5%) completed the study. The dropout rate was 16.5%. The serial trial outcome index, the sum of the physical and functional well-being subscales, increased gradually and significantly from baseline during letrozole treatment (p<0.001). The mean serum cholesterol level increased significantly from 199 to 205 after 36 months (p=0.042). The mean BMD significantly decreased from −0.39 at baseline to −0.87 after 36 months (p<0.001). Conclusion QoL gradually improved during letrozole treatment. BMD and serum cholesterol level changes were similar to those in Western countries, indicating that adjuvant letrozole treatment is well tolerated in Korean women, with minimal ethnic variation.

Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis Associated with Multiple Primary Cancers in Breast Cancer Patients

Purpose Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide and the second most common cancer among Korean women. The prognosis of breast cancer is poor in patients with other primary cancers. However, there have been few clinical studies regarding this issue. Therefore, we analyzed the characteristics and prognosis of patients with breast cancer with multiple primary cancers (MPCs). Methods Data from the Korean Breast Cancer Society Registry were analyzed. Data from enrolled patients who underwent surgery for breast cancer were analyzed for differences in prognosis dependent on the presence of MPCs, and which MPC characteristics affected their prognosis. Results Among the 41,841 patients analyzed, 913 patients were found to have MPCs, accounting for 950 total MPCs. There was a significant difference in survival rates between the breast cancer only group and the MPC group. The 5-year survival rates were 93.6% and 86.7% and the 10-year survival rates were 87.5% and 70.4%, respectively. Among the 913 patients with MPCs, patients with two or more MPCs had significantly worse prognoses than patients with a single MPC. With respect to the time interval between breast cancer and MPC occurrence, patients with a 5-year or greater interval had significantly better prognoses than patients with less than 1 year between occurrences. Among MPCs, thyroid cancer was the most common primary cancer. However, this type was not related to the prognosis of breast cancer. Gynecologic cancer, colorectal cancer, upper gastrointestinal cancer, and lung cancer were related to breast cancer prognosis. Conclusion MPCs were a poor prognostic factor for patients with breast cancer. Two or more MPCs and a shorter time interval between occurrences were worse prognostic factors. Although MPCs were a poor prognostic factor, thyroid cancer did not affect the prognosis of patients with breast cancer.