João Paulo Oliveira-Costa

Cancer stem cell immunophenotypes in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND The presence of cancer stem cell (CSC) antigens can be evidenced in some human tumors by phenotypic analysis through immunostaining. This study aims to identify a putative CSC immunophenotype in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and determine its influence on prognosis. METHODS The following data were retrieved from 157 patents: age, gender, primary anatomic site, smoking and alcohol intake, recurrence, metastases, histologic classification, treatment, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). An immunohistochemical study for CD44 and CD24 was performed in a tissue microarray of 157 paraffin blocks of OSCCs. RESULTS In univariate analysis, the immunostaining pattern showed significant influences in relation to OS for alcohol intake and treatment, as well as for the CD44(+) and CD44(-) /CD24(-) immunophenotypes. The multivariate test confirmed these associations. CONCLUSIONS Based on our results, the CD44 immunostaining and the absence of immunoexpression of these two investigated markers can be used in combination with other clinicopathologic information to improve the assessment of prognosis in OSCC.

Differential expression of HIF-1α in CD44+CD24-/low breast ductal carcinomas

BackgroundCancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis postulates that tumors are maintained by a self-renewing CSC population that is also capable of differentiating into non-self-renewing cell populations that constitute the bulk of tumor. Stem cells renewal and differentiation can be directly influenced by the oxygen levels of determined tissues, probably by the reduction of oxidative DNA damage in hypoxic regions, thus leading to a friendlier microenvironment, regarding to clonal expansion and for resistance to chemotherapeutic regimens. Furthermore, there have been strong data indicating a pivotal role of hypoxic niche in cancer stem cells development. There are evidence that hypoxia could drive the maintenance of CSC, via HIF-1α expression, but it still to be determined whether hypoxia markers are expressed in breast tumors presenting CD44+CD24-/low immunophenotype.MethodsImmunohistochemical analysis of CD44+CD24-/low expression and its relationship with hypoxia markers and clinical outcome were evaluated in 253 samples of breast ductal carcinomas. Double-immunolabeling was performed using EnVision Doublestain System (Dako, Carpinteria, CA, USA). Slides were then scanned into high-resolution images using Aperio ScanScope XT and then, visualized in the software Image Scope (Aperio, Vista, CA, USA).ResultsIn univariate analysis, CD44+CD24-/low expression showed association with death due to breast cancer (p = 0.035). Breast tumors expressing CD44+CD24-/low immunophenotype showed relationship with HIF-1α (p = 0.039) and negativity for HER-2 (p = 0.013).ConclusionConsidering that there are strong evidences that the fraction of a tumour considered to be cancer stem cells is plastic depending upon microenvironmental signals, our findings provide further evidence that hypoxia might be related to the worse prognosis found in CD44+CD24-/low positive breast tumors.

The relationship between lymphatic vascular density and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) expression with clinical-pathological features and survival in pancreatic adenocarcinomas

BackgroundPancreatic cancer is a rare tumor with an extremely low survival rate. Its known risk factors include the chronic use of tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption and the presence of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as pancreatitis and type 2 diabetes. Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, which have been the focus of recent research, are considered prognostic factors for cancer development. Knowing the angiogenic and lymphangiogenic profiles of a tumor may provide new insights for designing treatments according to the different properties of the tumor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the density of blood and lymphatic vessels, and the expression of VEGF-A, in pancreatic adenocarcinomas, as well as the relationship between blood and lymphatic vascular density and the prognostically important clinical-pathological features of pancreatic tumors.MethodsParaffin blocks containing tumor samples from 100 patients who were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer between 1990 and 2010 were used to construct a tissue microarray. VEGF expression was assessed in these samples by immunohistochemistry. To assess the lymphatic and vascular properties of the tumors, 63 cases that contained sufficient material were sectioned routinely. The sections were then stained with the D2-40 antibody to identify the lymphatic vessels and with a CD34 antibody to identify the blood vessels. The vessels were counted individually with the Leica Application Suite v4 program. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 18.0 (Chicago, IL, USA) software, and p values ≤ 0.05 were considered significant.ResultsIn the Cox regression analysis, advanced age (p=0.03) and a history of type 2 diabetes (p=0.014) or chronic pancreatitis (p=0.02) were shown to be prognostic factors for pancreatic cancer. Blood vessel density (BVD) had no relationship with clinical-pathological features or death. Lymphatic vessel density (LVD) was inversely correlated with death (p=0.002), and by Kaplan-Meyer survival analysis, we found a significant association between low LVD (p=0.021), VEGF expression (p=0.023) and low patient survival.ConclusionsPancreatic carcinogenesis is related to a history of chronic inflammatory processes, such as type 2 diabetes and chronic pancreatitis. In pancreatic cancer development, lymphangiogenesis can be considered an early event that enables the dissemination of metastases. VEGF expression and low LVD can be considered as poor prognostic factors as tumors with this profile are fast growing and highly aggressive.Virtual slidesThe virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/5113892881028514

The role of tumor hypoxia in MUC1-positive breast carcinomas

Mucin 1 (MUC1) is a glycoprotein that is expressed on apical cell membranes in a variety of normal tissues. MUC1 is involved in cell signaling, inhibition of cell–cell and cell matrix adhesion, apoptosis, proliferation, and transcription. Hypoxia is an important factor that promotes cancer metastasis and stimulates angiogenesis and tumor progression. Hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1α) and carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) are two molecules that are involved in this process. The role of hypoxia in MUC1+ invasive ductal breast carcinomas is not well established. In this study, the expression of MUC1 was correlated with the hypoxia-associated markers HIF-1α and CAIX, as well as several immunohistochemical markers and clinicopathologic features of prognostic significance in 243 invasive ductal carcinomas. MUC1 was overexpressed in 37.0% of patients and correlated with the expression of estrogen receptor (p = 0.0001), progesterone receptor (p = 0.0001), HIF-1α (p = 0.006), VEGF (p = 0.024), and p53 (p = 0.025). In breast cancer, MUC1 expression has been associated with increased degradation of inhibitor of NF-κB (IκBα), driving NF-κB to the nucleus and blocking apoptosis and promoting cell survival. We analyzed NF-κB expression in MUC1+ breast carcinoma and found a very significant relationship between these proteins (p = 0.0001). Our findings indicate that MUC1 may play a role in the regulation of hormone receptors by increasing the inactivation of p53 and targeting NF-κB to the nucleus. Our data also support the notion that activation of HIF-1α in MUC1+ breast carcinomas may modulate VEGF expression, allowing a metabolic adaptation to hypoxia.

Significance of topoisomerase IIIβ expression in breast ductal carcinomas: strong associations with disease-specific survival and metastasis.

Topoisomerases are ubiquitous nuclear enzymes that regulate DNA structure in eukaryotic cells. The role of topoisomerase IIIβ, the newest member of the topoisomerase family, in the clinical outcome of breast cancer is still poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the immunoexpression of topoisomerase IIIβ in breast cancer and its relationships with clinicopathologic features and immunohistochemical markers of prognostic significance in breast pathology. Using tissue microarrays containing 171 cases of primary invasive breast cancer, we analyzed the immunoexpression of topoisomerase IIIβ, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, HER-2, BRCA-1, p53, and Ki67. Immunostaining for topoisomerase IIIβ was found in 33.9% of breast carcinomas, and immunopositivity was correlated with distant metastasis (P = .036) and death (P = .006). Decreased expression of topoisomerase IIIβ correlated with low expression of Ki67 (P < .001) and negativity for HER-2 (P < .001), BRCA-1 (P = .001), and p53 (P < .001). In the multivariate analysis, topoisomerase IIIβ expression was a significant predictor of survival (hazard ratio, 3.006 [95% confidence interval, 1.582-5.715]; P = .001). In conclusion, topoisomerase IIIβ expression can be a useful marker in assessing the prognosis of patients with breast cancer and is an independent predictor of survival.

CD44+/CD133+ immunophenotype and matrix metalloproteinase-9: Influence on prognosis in early-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of CD44 and/or CD133 immunophenotypes and the associated effects of matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) in early‐stage oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) to assess their influence on tumor prognosis.

CD441/CD1331 immunophenotype and matrix metalloproteinase-9

The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of CD44 and/or CD133 immunophenotypes and the associated effects of matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) in early‐stage oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) to assess their influence on tumor prognosis.

Relationship between B-Cell-specific moloney murine leukemia virus integration site 1 (BMI-1) and homologous recombination regulatory genes in invasive ductal breast carcinomas

B-cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus integration site 1 (Bmi-1) is a Polycomb group protein that is able to induce telomerase activity, enabling the immortalization of epithelial cells. Immortalized cells are more susceptible to double-strand breaks (DSB), which are subsequently repaired by homologous recombination (HR). BRCA1 is among the HR regulatory genes involved in the response to DNA damage associated with the RAD51 protein, which accumulates in DNA damage foci after signaling H2AX, another important marker of DNA damage. Topoisomerase IIIß (topoIIIß) removes HR intermediates before chromosomal segregation, preventing damage to cellular DNA structure. In breast carcinomas positive for BMI-1 the role of proteins involved in HR remains to be investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between BMI-1 and homologous recombination proteins. Using tissue microarrays containing 239 cases of primary breast tumors, the expression of Bmi-1, BRCA-1, H2AX, Rad51, p53, Ki-67, topoIIIß, estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), and HER-2 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. We observed high Bmi-1 expression in 66 cases (27.6%). Immunohistochemical overexpression of BMI-1 was related to ER (p=0.004), PR (p<0.001), Ki-67 (p<0.001), p53 (p=0.003), BRCA-1 (p= 0.003), H2AX (p=0.024) and topoIIIß (p<0,001). Our results show a relationship between the expression of BMI-1 and HR regulatory genes, suggesting that Bmi-1 overexpression might be an important event in HR regulation. However, further studies are necessary to understand the mechanisms in which Bmi-1 could regulate HR pathways in invasive ductal breast carcinomas.

Topoisomerase expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma: relationship with cancer stem cells profiles and lymph node metastasis.

BACKGROUND The relationship between predictive proteins and tumors presenting cancer stem cells (CSCs) profiles in oral tumors is still poorly understood. This study aims to identify the relationship between topoisomerases I, IIα, and IIIα and putative CSCs immunophenotype in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and determine its influence on prognosis. METHODS The following data were retrieved from 127 patients: age, gender, primary anatomic site, smoking and alcohol intake, recurrence, metastases, histologic classification, treatment, and survival. An immunohistochemical study for topoisomerases I, IIα, and IIIα was performed in a tissue microarray containing 127 paraffin blocks of OSCCs. RESULTS In univariate analysis, topoisomerases expression showed significant differences according to CSCs profiles and p53 immunoexpression, but not with survival. Topoisomerases IIα and IIIα also showed significant relationship with lymph node metastasis. The multivariate test confirmed these associations. CONCLUSIONS The results that all topoisomerases correlates with OSCC CSCs may indicate a role for topoisomerases in head and neck carcinogenesis. Notwithstanding, it is plausible that other members of topoisomerases family could represent novel therapeutical targets in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Topoisomerase expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND The relationship between predictive proteins and tumors presenting cancer stem cells (CSCs) profiles in oral tumors is still poorly understood. This study aims to identify the relationship between topoisomerases I, IIα, and IIIα and putative CSCs immunophenotype in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and determine its influence on prognosis. METHODS The following data were retrieved from 127 patients: age, gender, primary anatomic site, smoking and alcohol intake, recurrence, metastases, histologic classification, treatment, and survival. An immunohistochemical study for topoisomerases I, IIα, and IIIα was performed in a tissue microarray containing 127 paraffin blocks of OSCCs. RESULTS In univariate analysis, topoisomerases expression showed significant differences according to CSCs profiles and p53 immunoexpression, but not with survival. Topoisomerases IIα and IIIα also showed significant relationship with lymph node metastasis. The multivariate test confirmed these associations. CONCLUSIONS The results that all topoisomerases correlates with OSCC CSCs may indicate a role for topoisomerases in head and neck carcinogenesis. Notwithstanding, it is plausible that other members of topoisomerases family could represent novel therapeutical targets in oral squamous cell carcinoma.