Prognostic implications of p53 and bcl-2 expression in 108 women with stage two breast cancer

BACKGROUND

The mortality and morbidity of patients with breast cancer can vary even between individuals with similar histological stage at diagnosis. Identification of those individuals with prognostically poorer tumours is an essential prerequisite in planning adjuvant therapies. Some prognostic indices of tumour size, grade, oestrogen receptor status and nodal status are well established.

AIM

The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic role of information relating to proto-oncogene and tumour suppressor gene expression.

METHODS

108 women with stage II breast cancer were studied. Tumour expression of p53 and bcl-2 were scored and then correlated with recurrence and mortality.

RESULTS

We have shown that individuals poorly expressing bcl-2 in their tumours have a poorer disease-free and overall survival than those who express bcl-2. When p53 was strongly expressed, it was associated with poorer disease-free and overall survival.

CONCLUSION

The profiling of individual tumour genetic expression of proto-oncogenes may allow for more specific identification of patients at higher risk of recurrence in breast cancer.

Causes of inconsistency in diagnosing and classifying intraductal proliferations of the breast. European Commission Working Group on Breast Screening Pathology

It is now widely recognised that classifying ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast and diagnosing atypical ductal hyperplasia are associated with significant interobserver variation. Two possible reasons for this inconsistency are differences in the interpretation of specified histological features and field selection where morphology is heterogeneous. In order to investigate the relative contribution of these two factors to inconsistent interpretation of intraductal proliferations, histological sections of 32 lesions were sent to 23 European pathologists followed 3 years later by images of small parts of these sections. Kappa statistics for diagnosing hyperplasia of usual type, atypical ductal hyperplasia and ductal carcinoma in situ were 0.54, 0.35 and 0.78 for sections and 0.47, 0.29 and 0.78 for images, respectively, showing that most of the inconsistency is due to differences in morphological interpretation. Improvements can thus be expected only if diagnostic criteria or methodology are changed. In contrast, kappa for classifying DCIS by growth pattern was very low at 0.23 for sections and better at 0.47 for images, reflecting the widely recognised variation in the growth pattern of DCIS. Higher kappa statistics were obtained when any mention of an individual growth pattern was included in that category, thus allowing multiple categories per case; but kappa was still higher for images than sections. Classifying DCIS by nuclear grade gave kappa values of 0.36 for sections and 0.49 for images, indicating that intralesional heterogeneity has hitherto been underestimated as a cause of inconsistency in classifying DCIS by this method. More rigorous assessment of the proportions of the different nuclear grades present could lead to an improvement in consistency.

Consistency achieved by 23 European pathologists from 12 countries in diagnosing breast disease and reporting prognostic features of carcinomas. European Commission Working Group on Breast Screening Pathology

A detailed analysis of the consistency with which pathologists from 12 different European countries diagnose and classify breast disease was undertaken as part of the quality assurance programme of the European Breast Screening Pilot Network funded by the Europe against Cancer Programme. Altogether 107 cases were examined by 23 pathologists in 4 rounds. Kappa statistics for major diagnostic categories were: benign (not otherwise specified) 0.74, atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) 0.27, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) 0.87 and invasive carcinoma 0.94. ADH was the majority diagnosis in only 2 cases but was diagnosed by at least 2 participants in another 14, in 9 of which the majority diagnosis was benign (explaining the relatively low kappa for this category). DCIS in 4 (all low nuclear grade) and invasive carcinoma (a solitary 1-mm focus) in 1. The histological features of these cases were extremely variable; although one feature that nearly all shared was the presence of cells with small, uniform, hyperchromatic nuclei and a high nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio. The majority diagnosis was DCIS in 33 cases; kappa for classifying by nuclear grade was 0.38 using three categories and 0.46 when only two (high and other) were used. When ADH was included with low nuclear grade DCIS there was only a slight improvement in kappa. Size measurement of DCIS was less consistent than that of invasive carcinoma. The majority diagnosis was invasive carcinoma in 57 cases, the size of the majority being 100% in 49. The remainder were either special subtypes (adenoid cystic, tubular, colloid, secretory, ductal/medullary) or possible microinvasive carcinomas. Subtyping was most consistent for mucinous (kappa, 0.92) and least consistent for medullary carcinomas (kappa, 0.56). Consistency of grading using the Nottingham method was moderate (kappa=0.53) and consistency of diagnosing vascular invasion, fair (kappa=0.38). There was no tendency for consistency to improve from one round to the next, suggesting that further improvements are unlikely without changes in guidelines or methodology.

Consistency achieved by 23 European pathologists in categorizing ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast using five classifications. European Commission Working Group on Breast Screening Pathology

The increased detection of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) by mammographic screening, the greater use of breast-conserving surgery, and the recognition that certain histological subtypes are associated with a greater risk of local recurrence has led to the formulation of several new classifications of DCIS in recent years. There are, however, no data concerning the degree of consistency with which these schemes can be applied by reasonable numbers of pathologists. Thirty-three cases of DCIS were thus examined by a working group of 23 European pathologists who categorized them using five recently published classifications: (1) that of the European Pathologists' Working Group based on differentiation (a combination of nuclear grade and cell polarization) with categories of poorly, intermediately, and well differentiated; (2) one based entirely on nuclear grade with categories of high, intermediate, and low, currently in use in the UK national and EC-funded breast screening programs; (3) the same classification in which only two categories, high nuclear grade and other, were used; (4) the Van Nuys system in which lesions are divided into high grade, non-high grade with necrosis and non-high grade without necrosis; and (5) a two-category classification based entirely on the presence or absence of comedo necrosis. Of the three systems with three categories, Van Nuys gave the highest overall kappa statistic of 0.42. Others gave similar values of 0.37 and 0.35 showing that assessing cell polarization in addition to nuclear grade neither improves nor worsens consistency. In all three systems, the middle category was associated with the lowest value for kappa. Of the two systems with two categories, that based on nuclear grade gave the highest overall kappa of 0.46 and that based on comedo necrosis the lowest of 0.34. The most robust histological features were thus high- and low-grade nuclei and necrosis as long as the latter did not involve the recognition of a comedo growth pattern. These values probably represent the maximum achievable, at least by reasonable numbers of pathologists in everyday practice. They are better than those previously reported for classification based entirely on architecture, but further improvement is needed.

Nitrofurantoin-induced hepatotoxicity mediated by CD8+ T cells

Nitrofurantoin is a synthetic nitrofuran commonly used for the treatment and prophylaxis of urinary tract infections. We describe the case of a 75-yr-old woman who was taking nitrofurantoin as prophylaxis against recurrent urinary tract infections, and who subsequently developed pulmonary and hepatic toxicity. We postulate that a breakdown product of the drug or the drug itself complexed to an endogenous peptide is presented by the class I HLA antigen on the hepatocyte cell membrane, inducing cytotoxic T cell activation and subsequently, hepatocyte death.

Effect of host Lewis and ABO blood group antigen expression on Helicobacter pylori colonisation density and the consequent inflammatory response

The Lewis(b) blood group antigen has been implicated as a putative receptor for Helicobacter pylori in the gastric mucosa. Furthermore, an increased prevalence of duodenal ulcer was found in non-secretors and it has been suggested that secretor status may influence bacterial colonisation density. Other investigators have hypothesised that severity of antral gastritis may be related to colonisation density of the bacterium alone, and that a critical bacterial load is necessary for the development of duodenal ulcer. Our objectives were to investigate whether a relationship existed between host Lewis and ABO blood group phenotype and prevalence of H. pylori infection. In addition we investigated whether bacterial colonisation density and the ensuing inflammatory response was influenced by secretor status and ABO blood group phenotype. The Lewis and ABO blood group phenotype of 207 patients undergoing upper endoscopy was determined. Of these, 136 were secretors and 62 were nonsecretors. Forty-five percent of patients were infected with H. pylori. No significant association was found between H. pylori infection and expression of Lewis(a) or Lewis(b) blood group antigen. The mean histological density of H. pylori was 1.8 +/- 0.2 among non-secretors and 1.51 +/- 0.13 among secretors (P = 0.209), with a mean grade of lymphocytic infiltration significantly greater in H. pylori-infected non-secretors (2.23 +/- 0.123 vs 1.8 +/- 0.074; P = 0.003). In addition, blood group O non-secretors had a significantly higher grade of lymphocyte infiltration of their gastric mucosa compared to non-O non-secretors (2.53 +/- 0.133 vs 1.93 +/- 0.181, P = 0.027). These results suggest that although no in vivo relationship exists between H. pylori and preferential adhesion to the putative Lewis(b) receptor, bacterial colonisation and the ensuing inflammatory response may be influenced at least in part by host expression of ABO and Lewisa blood group antigens.

Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphomas have a cytotoxic T-cell phenotype

AIMS

Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATCL) is a rare complication of coeliac disease. We investigated whether EATCLs are the neoplastic counterparts of activated cytotoxic T-cells (CTLs).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Eight cases, clinically and histologically defined, were stained with monoclonal antibodies against components of the cytotoxic granules of CTLs, granzyme B and T-cell restricted intracellular antigen (TIA-1). It was found that all cases had a cytotoxic phenotype, i.e. expression of TIA-1 in most of the tumour cells, whereas granzyme B was found in six of eight cases, mostly in a smaller number of tumour cells compared to TIA-1. Since TIA-1 and granzyme B are expressed at different stages of activation of CTLs it is hypothesized that differences in expression between granzyme B and TIA-1 in EATCL represent different stages of activation in which the tumour cells are arrested. Clinically, seven of the eight patients died within 10 months after diagnosis of EATCL.

CONCLUSIONS

EATCL is a clinicopathological entity with a grim prognosis and with tumour cells representing a unique neoplastic equivalent of CTLs arrested in varying stages of activation.

Sudden unexpected death in young adults including four cases of SADS: a 10-year review from the west of Ireland (1985-1994)

Sudden unexpected death in young adults of 18-35 years account for an important subset of deaths in our autopsy population. The case notes and autopsy reports in 44 subjects were analysed during the period 1985-94 at the Department of Histopathology, University College Hospital, Galway to establish the underlying cause of death. Subjects who were involved in road traffic accidents, cases of drowning, and patients with known congenital heart disease, chronic renal failure and malignancy were excluded. We found that a large proportion of sudden deaths in young adults were secondary to epilepsy and chemical/drug poisoning, accounting for 34 per cent and 31.8 per cent respectively. Sudden adult death syndrome (SADS) accounted for 9 per cent of the study population. Detailed case history, meticulous post-mortem examination and complete toxicological screening are recommended to arrive at the underlying cause of death.

Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma in the West of Ireland: low-frequency of Epstein-Barr virus in these tumors

The Epstein-Barr virus has been implicated in the etiology of endemic Burkitt's lymphoma, post-transplant lymphoma, large-cell anaplastic CD30 (Ki-1)-positive lymphoma, and in many T-cell lymphomas. A recent report has found Epstein-Barr virus genome in association with 4 of 11 cases (36%) of enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma. In a retrospective study, we have characterized 22 consecutive cases of enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma from the West of Ireland where celiac disease is endemic. All cases were immunophenotyped with T- and B-cell markers including the anaplastic large-cell lymphoma marker CD30 or Ki-1. Nineteen cases were studied for latent membrane protein expression and 16 for Epstein-Barr virus small RNAs by in situ hybridization using EBER oligonucleotides on routinely processed sections. Only 1 of 16 cases (6%) showed Epstein-Barr virus in tumor cells and no cases stained with latent membrane protein. Eight of 22 cases (36%) including the EBER-positive case were positive for CD30. These results suggest that the Epstein-Barr virus does not commonly play a role in the pathogenesis of enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma from this area.

Celiac-associated lymphoma. A single institution experience of 30 cases in the combination chemotherapy era

Celiac sprue (CS) is frequently complicated by malignancy, most commonly small intestinal lymphoma. Our study was performed in an area with a high prevalence of CS to define the clinical features, response to treatment, and outcome of this tumor. Of a total of 31 lymphomas complicating CS identified, 30 case records and 24 tumor specimens were reviewed. Overall 1-year survival was 9 of 29 (31%) and 5-year survival 3 of 27 (11%). Seven previously diagnosed celiac patients developed lymphoma; length on gluten-free diet ranged from 12 to 252 months (median 44 months). In this group, presentation was nonspecific, diagnosis difficult, and survival poor (lymphoma diagnosed in life in four of seven, mean survival 2.25 months). Twenty-three patients had CS and lymphoma diagnosed during the same illness. In this group, 14 of 23 presented with a surgical emergency and were treated with tumor resection and chemotherapy. Nine are disease-free and alive or died of another cause after 10-196 months (mean 74 follow-up). Celiac-associated lymphoma is a frequent, difficult to diagnose, and commonly fatal complication of CS. An aggressive diagnostic approach, including laparoscopy, is recommended. Long-term survival can be expected in a significant number of these patients and in our series was almost exclusively confined to those treated with chemotherapy.

Clear cell carcinoma arising in a pleomorphic adenoma of the submandibular gland

Clear cell carcinoma of salivary gland is a rare neoplasm. We report a third case of clear cell carcinoma arising in a pleomorphic adenoma and also in an extraparotid location. We document the immunohistochemical profile of the tumour including reactivity with a marker for the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein and suggest a myoepithelial origin for these lesions. The presence of a tetraploid stemline may account for the rapid tumour progression in this case.

Brown bowel syndrome occurring in coeliac disease in the west of Ireland

Brown bowel syndrome is the name applied to a brown discoloration of the intestine. This is due to lipofuscin deposition in intestinal smooth muscle and occurs in association with malabsorption. Three cases occurring in a coeliac registry of 559 patients are described. One patient presented with acute massive bleeding per rectum, and two were diagnosed at autopsy. The syndrome may be accompanied by vitamin E deficiency and neurologic dysfunction. Two patients had evidence of peripheral neuropathy, and one had low vitamin E levels. Concomitant vitamin D deficiency was present. Fat-soluble vitamin malabsorption, especially if there is a poor response to a gluten-free diet or neuropathy, might alert the clinician to the possibility of brown-bowel syndrome and suggests careful search for lipofuscin in biopsy material, using special histologic techniques.

Lung cavities in patients with coeliac disease

The clinical, radiological and pathological features of 7 patients with coeliac disease (CD) who developed lung abscesses or cavities are described. These patients were seen during a 20-year period during which time approximately 600 coeliacs were seen and 50 died. Six of the coeliac patients with lung abscess died. The patients were middle aged. Staphylococcal infection, Klebsiella pneumoniae, bronchial carcinoma and previous pulmonary tuberculosis accounted for the cavities in 4 patients. In the 3 other patients a definite cause could not be identified. Hyposplenism and malnutrition were common. Next to malignancy pulmonary abscess was the commonest cause of death in the coeliac population. The development of respiratory symptoms should be regarded as a potentially serious and a life-threatening event in the middle-aged coeliac patients. Lung abscess should be added to the list of respiratory diseases associated with coeliac disease.

Ulcerative enteritis--atypical features

A 40 year old man with two month history of vomiting and weight loss, was found to have multiple strictures in his small bowel. Investigations outruled known causes of small bowel ulceration, and the flat bowel mucosa did not respond to a gluten free diet. Treatment with steroids conferred a temporary benefit, however, small bowel ulceration persisted.

Coeliac proctitis

An increased association of ulcerative colitis and coeliac disease has been reported, as have the results of several small-bowel biopsy studies in ulcerative colitis. Forty-two patients from a population of 438 patients with coeliac disease had rectal biopsies. Fourteen of these showed inflammation of various degrees of severity, including three compatible with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. The presenting complaint in 34 of these patients was diarrhoea or steatorrhoea. Twenty-seven patients had coeliac disease diagnosed at the same time or after their rectal biopsy. The other 15 were previously diagnosed coeliacs. Twelve of the 14 patients with abnormal rectal biopsy specimens were known to have subtotal/total villous atrophy at the time of rectal biopsy. Proctitis as seen in these coeliac patients had no unique features to differentiate it from proctitis caused by other disorders. The diarrhoea/steatorrhoea stopped in all patients on commencement of a gluten-free diet, except in those with ulcerative colitis. Proctitis is common in patients with coeliac disease presenting with diarrhoea/steatorrhoea. This study supports the finding of an increased association of coeliac disease and ulcerative colitis and is, to our knowledge, the first rectal biopsy study of a coeliac population.