Shinji Shimatani

Quantitation of c-erbB-2 Gene Amplification in Breast Cancer Tissue by Competitive PCR

Controversy exists regarding the relationship of the degree of c-erbB-2 amplification to other prognostic factors in breast cancer. To determine the degree of amplification of c-erbB-2 exactly, a sensitive and quantitative method is required. We have developed a competitive PCR method to quantitatively determine the amplification of the c-erbB-2 oncogene. Using this method, we evaluated DNA from 27 breast cancer tissue specimens and DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes from a normal individual. Regarding the relationship between the degree of c-erbB-2 amplification and clinicopathological factors, we found a greater degree of amplification of the c-erbB-2 oncogene in estrogen receptor- negative or progesterone receptor-negative specimens than in positive ones and in lymph node metastasis-positive specimens than in negative specimens, in stages II, III, and IV of disease compared with stage I disease, and in samples with positive lymphatic vessel invasion than with no lymphatic vessel invasion. Generally, these factors were seen in the group of patients who had a bad prognosis. By univariate analysis and multivariate analysis, reverse correlation was observed between amplification of c-erbB-2 and overall survival. Regarding disease-free survival, these relationships were observed only with univariate analysis in our group of patients.

A Case of Primary Lung Adenocarcinoma with a Thin-Walled Cavity.

薄壁空洞を形成した原発性肺腺癌を経験した.症例は59歳, 男性.咳嗽, 血痰, 発熱を主訴に近医受診, 胸部X線写真およびCT写真上, 右上葉に直径約6.5cm大の薄壁空洞を伴う陰影を認め当院紹介となった.精査にて原発性肺腺癌と診断, 右上葉切除術を施行した.病理診断で低分化型腺癌と診断 (P-T3NOMO), また空洞壁内には壊死組織凝血壊死像やfibrinの析出を認めた.空洞形成の原因は腫瘍内部の壊死によると考えられた.術後5カ月目に左肺野に同様の薄壁空洞が多数出現し転移と診断, その後も空洞は急速に発育し, 10カ月目に癌死した.肺癌における薄壁空洞形成は比較的稀である.自験例における空洞形成の成因は病理所見, 臨床経過などから癌細胞自体から分泌される蛋白分解酵素によるCell Autophagism説が疑われた.文献的考察を加え報告する.

Resection and reconstruction of sternnum

In case of sternal resection, it is necessary to preserve bone material indispensable for the stability of the anterior chest wall and air tightness of the thoracic cavity, and the support of the chest wall integrity must be restored by some means. Various techniques have been applied to the reconstruction of the chest wall following resection. During the last 10 years, we have performed reconstructive operation for 6 cases of the chest wall following resection of the sternum in recurrent cases of breast cancer or invaded case of primary breast cancer. In these patients, the chest wall was reconstructed using a rib-latissimus dorsi osteomyocutaneolus flap or a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap. The sternum was totally resected in 3 cases, and in all 3 cases, reconstructed using a rib-latissimus dorsi osteomyocutaneous flap. Although postoperative pulmonary function decreased, all cases could be relieved from endotracheal intubation within 17 hours after operation, and had no problems in activities of daily living or occurrence of chest flailing or paradoxical movement of the chest. An artificial material (expanded polytetrafluoroethlene patch) was used in only one patient for the reconstruction of the osseous thorax, but this case developed infection during postoperative chemotherapy. After this experience, we used only biological materials for the reconstruction of the chest wall and postoperatively performed radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy on all cases. We have observed no flap infection or detachment since then. One characteristic of using the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap is that it is easily elevated and rarely causes serious postoperative esthetic or functional problems. The flap is also easily utilized to reinforce the osseous thorax because ribs immediately below the latissimus dorsi muscle are readily mobilized as a pedicle graft. Reconstruction of the chest wall following resection of the sternum, described in this report, allowed us to perform radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy without serious postoperative complications on the cases relapsing after treatment of breast cancer. The 2-year survival rate is 50% and one of these cases survived up to 10 years after resection of the sternum. Thus we prefer to perform resection of the sternum for sternal recurrence of breast cancer if there are no metastatic lesions in other organs.

Adenomyoepithelioma of the breast: a case report and a review of the literature

A 74-year-old woman complained of a small nodule in the outer lower quadrant of her left breast. On physical examination, a 0.9 × 0.8 cm, round-shaped and firmly elastic nodule was palpated.Excisional biopsy was performed. Histologically, the tumor was separated into, with a bicellular pattern, containing both numerous glandular structures and numerous spindle-shaped cells.Immunohistochemical staining for EMA and cytokeratin showed strongly positive immunoreactivity for epithelial cells. Staining for α-SMA showed strongly positive immunoreactivity for myoepithelial components. Staining for keratin and S-100 protein showed weakly positive immunoreactivity for myoepithelial cells. Microscopically, the tumor was diagnosed as adenomyoepithelioma of the breast.Immunohistochemical examination is needed to distinguish epithelial cell proliferation from myoepithelial cell proliferation.Immunohistochemical examination using antibodies against EMA, α-SMA, keratin, cytokeratin and S-100 protein, is indispensable.