Frequent overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in mammary high grade ductal carcinomas with myoepithelial differentiation

AIMS

To evaluate the expression of common biological markers and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in mammary high grade ductal carcinomas with myoepithelial differentiation (DCMDs).

MATERIALS/METHODS

Thirty DCMDs were clinicopathologically and immunohistochemically analysed and compared with 36 control cases of high grade conventional invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC).

RESULTS

EGFR, HER2/neu, oestrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and p53 expression was seen in 21, one, three, four, and 20 of the 30 DCMDs, compared with eight, nine, 18, 17, and five of the 36 conventional IDCs (p<0.05), respectively. In 16 of the 30 DCMDs, metastases were found in the brain, lung, bone, and liver, within a maximum of 47 months (mean, 13.9) after initial surgery, whereas only four of the 36 conventional IDCs metastasised to the lung and bone within a maximum of 27 months (mean, 18.0) after initial surgery (p=0.0001). There was a significant difference in disease free survival between DCMD and conventional IDC (p=0.001). EGFR was frequently overexpressed in DCMD compared with conventional IDC, whereas the expression of HER2/neu and hormone receptors was lower in DCMD. Fluorescent in situ hybridisation revealed that the mean EGFR to chromosome 7 centromere (CEP7) ratio of the 24 DCMD cases available for evaluation was 1.03, and EGFR gene amplification was not detected in the 21 DCMD cases with EGFR overexpression.

CONCLUSION

Immunohistochemistry for myoepithelial markers and EGFR is useful for the accurate diagnosis and molecular target treatment of high grade DCMD.

Relationship between aging and recovery of the underlying mucosa immediately after removal of pressure: the first molar region in the mandible

To investigate changes in the characteristics of edentulous mucosa in the alveolar ridge with aging, we applied pressure to the mucosa of the alveolar ridge in subjects of various ages and evaluated the recovery amount and time after the pressure was removed. Twenty-three subjects ranging from 23 to 79 years of age, who had lost the first mandibular molar tooth, were selected. Displacing pressure was applied to the mucosa corresponding to the mandibular first molar region. After release the pressure, we measured the recovery amount of mucosa from its displacement, which was expressed as the movement of a target which had been placed on the mucosa as measured by an indirect displacement measurement device. The levels of displacement were set at 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm and 0.3 mm, and the time to achieve the selected displacement level was set at 1 second. The initial recovery of the mucosa immediately after the pressure has been released was designated as the initial recovery amount, and the time needed for recovering to 90% of the previous state was designated as the final recovery time. Then we investigated the relationships between the measures of the initial recovery amount, the final recovery time, and the subjects' ages. The initial recovery amount of mucosa was lower and the final recovery time was longer in older subjects, and this tendency was exaggerated when the displacement was increased.

A study on the tapping point drawing method for registration of maxillomandibular relationships in edentulous patients: Part I. Influence of the tapping force on the tapping point

To investigate the registration of maxillomandibular relationships by the tapping point drawing method, the characteristics of tapping points were measured in ten edentulous subjects by tracing the tapping points when various tapping forces were used. In seven subjects, when tapping involved a heavy force, the tapping point position markedly shifted from the position when light force was used. The position of the tapping point shifted in the antero-posterior direction in five subjects and in the right-left direction in two others. The tapping point position of the other three subjects did not change when stronger tapping forces were applied; these tapping points either coincided with the apex of the gothic arch or included it. Furthermore, in all subjects, the tapping point size increased when the degree of tapping force increased. However, the degree of increase in tapping point size was smaller in the subjects in whom the tapping point position coincided with the apex of the gothic arch or included it. From these findings, we have confirmed that accurate tapping point tracing necessitates controlling the tapping force.

[Two cases of congenital urethral stenosis complicated with vesicoureteral reflux]

Secondary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is not uncommon, but is rarely accompanied by congenital urethral stenosis in children. We report 2 cases. Case 1 was in a 3-year-old boy who had congenital anterior urethral stenosis accompanied by VUR. Urethroplasty by Johanson's operation was performed and 6 years later VUR disappeared. Case 2 was in a 7-year-old girl, who had congenital peripheral urethral stenosis accompanied by VUR. The urethra was dilated by a balloon-dilator and about 1 year later VUR disappeared.

Studies on bioactive gangliosides: II. Requirement of ganglioside GD1a for prolonged GQ1b-driven nerve growth promotion in neuroblastoma cell lines

The novel effects of gangliosides from human brain on the number of nuclei of nerve cells and neurite outgrowth were studied in cultures of human neuroblastoma cell lines GOTO and NB-1. Ganglioside GQ1b at a nanomolar level stimulated cell proliferation and neurite outgrowth during culture for 24 hours, as reported previously [J Biochem 94: 303-306, 1983]. Although the neurite promoting activity of GQ1b was similar to those of total human brain gangliosides (GS) and nerve growth factor (NGF), its activity on cell proliferation did not persist on longer culture; that is, the number of GQ1b-treated cells rapidly decreased to the control level during culture for 48 or 72 hours. In contrast, on treatment with GS or NGF, the number of cell nuclei increased continuously during prolonged culture. These results showed that either some other molecular species of ganglioside(s) than GQ1b or other substances such as proteins present in the GS fraction were responsible for the long-term activity. Studies on the GS fraction after its treatment with proteases and neuraminidases revealed that ganglioside GD1a (20 ng/ml) had the ability to prolong the activity of GQ1b. Namely, GQ1b and GD1a gangliosides cooperated in maintaining the number of nuclei in long-term cultures of neuroblastoma cell lines.