DNA ploidy level and S-phase fraction as prognostic factors in breast cancer

Magnetization transfer ratios of musculoskeletal tumors

The magnetization transfer method is a relatively new technique that creates contrast by the exchange of magnetization protons associated with macromolecules and bulk water protons through cross-relaxation or chemical exchange. We measured the magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and compared it with the DNA index to determine whether MTR can serve as an indicator of malignancy in musculoskeletal tumors. The DNA index correlated with MTR in such musculoskeletal tumors ( P < 0.05). This suggests that MTR can be used as a parameter to quantitatively indicate malignancy.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: an analysis of proliferative activity, DNA flow cytometry and p53 overexpression with emphasis on its progression

The aim of this study is to evaluate the degree and spectrum of malignancy of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) in the aspect of proliferative activity, flow cytometric DNA analysis, and p53 immunoreactivity. Twenty-three tumors from 19 cases of DFSP including three cases of DFSP with fibrosarcomatous areas (DFSP-FS) were studied in comparison with its allied fibrohistiocytic tumors; that is, dermatofibroma (DF; 46 cases), fibrosarcoma (FS; four cases), and malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH; 11 cases). MIB-1 labeling index (LI) of DFSP was significantly higher than that of DF and was lower than those of FS and of MFH. In ordinary DFSP, the recurrent tumors exhibited significantly higher MIB-1 LI than that of the primary tumors, whereas the primary tumors showed almost the same proliferative activity of DF. DFSP-FS tended to have a higher proliferative activity than DFSP without FS-area (ordinary DFSP). In five of 19 cases of DFSP, aneuploidy (near-diploidy) was found in four recurrent and one primary tumors. Immunohistochemical p53 overexpression was found in three of 19 cases of DFSP which also showed higher proliferative activity and aneuploidy. All cases of DF were immunohistochemically negative for p53, but most of the cases of FS and MFH were positive. Although DFSP has been classified in a category of fibrohistiocytic tumor of intermediate malignancy, the recurrent DFSP, DFSP-FS, and DFSP with aneuploidy and/or p53 overexpression could be a subgroup of DFSP with more aggressive clinical behavior than ordinary primary ones.

A solid and cystic tumor of the pancreas in a 10-year-old girl: report of a case and review of the literature

We report herein the unusual case of a 10-year-old girl in whom a neoplasm developed in the head of the pancreas. Complete extirpation of the tumor was performed, which was histologically classified as a "solid and cystic tumor of the pancreas." Postoperative DNA analysis revealed a diploid pattern. The patient remains well with no sign of tumor recurrence 2 years after her operation. Thus, complete tumor extirpation without pancreatectomy is recommended for pediatric patients when there is no direct invasion to the adjacent organs or distant tumor metastasis.

Markers of prognosis in breast cancer--the relationship between binding of the lectin HPA and histological grade, SPF, and ploidy

Abnormal cellular glycosylation as demonstrated by the binding of a lectin from Helix pomatia (HPA) to paraffin-embedded sections has been shown in several studies to be associated with aggressive biological behaviour and poor long-term patient prognosis in breast cancer. This study aims to address the possibility that expression of the HPA binding ligand may be of prognostic significance through an association with increased cellular proliferation (as measured by S-phase fraction and histological grade), anaplasia (reflected in histological grade), or ploidy (DNA index). In a 24 year retrospective study, paraffin-embedded sections of 366 primary breast cancers were stained for binding of HPA. All tumours were assessed for histological grade. Flow cytometry was performed on all cases for which sufficient tumour tissue was available (358/366 cases) and S-phase fraction (SPF) and ploidy calculated. Data regarding patient age at diagnosis, nodal status, and tumour size were also recorded. Life table analyses revealed survival advantage for HPA 'non stainers' in comparison to 'stainers' (p < 0.001); for patients with tumours of low grade vs. high grade (p < 0.001); and for those with tumours of low SPF vs. high SPF (p < 0.001). No survival advantage was shown for those with diploid vs. aneuploid tumours (p = 0.17). No association was apparent between HPA binding and grade, SPF, or ploidy (Chi squared values not significant). This was confirmed by multivariate analysis in which nodal status, tumour size, and SPF were independently predictive of survival. There was no confounding effect of grade, SPF, or ploidy upon the correlation between survival and HPA binding. HPA was, however, not independently predictive owing to its strong association with nodal status. The results of this study suggest that the prognostic significance of altered glycosylation, as detected by HPA binding, is unlikely to be through an association with proliferative rate, degree of anaplasia, or cellular ploidy, but may rather be through a direct association with the presence of nodal metastases.