Purpose and Experimental Design: Lymphovascular space invasion plays a critical role in the progression of cervical cancer and is an indicator of an unfavorable
prognosis, even in patients with ...early-stage disease. Identification and functional characterization of molecules that are
predominantly expressed in tumors able to penetrate lymphatic vessels may therefore help to improve the clinical assessment
of cervical neoplasias with unclear prognosis. We used immunohistochemical staining to assess expression of the tetraspanin
adapter protein CD9 in cervical tumors because inverse correlations with tumor invasiveness, ability to form metastases, and
poor clinical outcome have been described for several other tumor types.
Results and Conclusion: We found that CD9, strongly expressed by cells forming the basal layer of normal squamous epithelium of the cervix, is down-regulated
in most invasive cervical carcinomas (correlation with stage, P = 0.015) but apparently re-expressed at distinct regions during tumor progression. Tumor sites with pronounced localized
expression of CD9 (CD9 hotspots) include cones growing into blood or lymphatic vessels, pointing to a functional role of CD9
in transendothelial migration as a crucial step in the formation of lymph node metastases. Remarkably, CD9 hotspots were found
to be a highly significant ( P < 10 −5 ) indicator of lymphangiosis: they were observed in 15 of 18 cases with histopathologically confirmed lymphangiosis compared
with 4 of 26 other cervical carcinomas. We postulate, therefore, that clusters of tumor cells characterized by strong expression
of CD9 may be useful as an indicator of high risk of recurrence in early-stage cervical cancer, providing a basis for clinical
decisions in favor of additional treatment.
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e12024
Background: Distant spread from breast cancer is commonly found in bones, lungs, liver, and central nervous system. Metastatic involvement of peritoneum and retroperitoneum is ...unusual and unexpected. The aim of the study was to perform a comprehensive analysis of breast cancer patients with peritoneal metastases and to compare survivals depending on biological subtypes. Methods: 44 breast cancer pts with peritoneal metastases were detected out of a database of 2,500 breast cancer patients treated in one institution between 1995 and 2005. Clinical characteristics such as estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor as well as survivals were analized based on breast cancer subtypes. Results: Mean patient age was 54 years, 25 patients (56%) had ductal invasive carcinoma while 19 (44%) were diagnosed lobular invasive carcinoma. 30 (68%) patients had endocrine responsive tumors. A HER-2 percentage is not provided due to the lack of data before the year 2000. Median survival calculated from peritoneal metastases in histologic subgroups was as follows: Median progression free survival was 36.5 months for ductal invasive carcinoma, and 23.5 months for lobular invasive breast cancer. Median overall survival was 46 (Std 38.5) months for ductal invasive breast cancer and 32 (Std 54.5) months for lobular invasive breast cancer. Conclusions: Patients with peritoneal metastases are a heterogenous group with a different outcome. The histologic subtype seems to be an important predictive factor as lobular invasive breast cancer is associated with worsened progression free an overall survival rates.
No significant financial relationships to disclose.
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