Avaliação clínica do efeito da irradiação pós-opratória do laser de baixa intensidade na cicatrização de gengivoplastias em humanos

Many studies have been made to understand the process of tissular cicatrization, as well as the possible effects of laser therapy in the wound healing. However, the influence of low frequency laser irradiation in the repairing process is not completely understood. Our study has the purpose to assess clinically the effect of postoperative irradiation of the low frequency laser in humans, and the gingival repairing process postgingivoplasty performed with the extern bevel technique. Twenty-four patients with inflammatory gingival hyperplasia were enrolled in this study, which did not reduce with basic periodontal procedures, and patients with melanin pigmentation, with esthetic indications. After surgery the test group, randomly selected by a drawing, received laser application with energy density of 4 J/cm2, immediately after surgery and each 48 hours, during a week, with a total of 4 sections. The control group did not receive irradiation. The visual clinical analyses were performed by a single blind examiner, in the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 15th and 21st days post surgery. For statistic analyses of the data was used a Q-square test. Concerning the color, the results showed a better wound healing during days 6 to 8. when assessed the degree of progress of surgical wound, the results showed that the test group had a better cicatrization compared with the control group in the 2nd, 6th, 8th and 15th days post surgery, and at the 21st day both groups had the same results. Our results confirm that the laser had clinical influence in the repairing process after gingivoplasty surgery during days 2 to 15 post surgery

Expressão Imuno-histoquímica da triptase em mastócitos nos Fibromas de Células Gigantes e Hiperplasias Fibrosas de Mucosa Oral

The giant cell fibroma is a benign neoplasm characterized by the presence of mono, bi or multinucleate cells, which can have a connection to the presence of mast cells. This research aims to analyze, descriptively and comparatively, the immunohystochemistry expression of the tryptase in mast cells of the giant cell f ibroma, f ibrous hyperplasia and samples of the normal oral mucosa. Thirty cases of giant cell fibroma, ten cases of fibrous hyperplasia and ten cases of normal oral mucosa were selected for the analysis of the immunohistochemistry expression, determination of the number of present mast cells, as well as their location and shape. It could be stated that there was a statistically signif icant difference (p<0,001) in relation to the quantity of mast cells among other samples analyzed where the giant cell f ibroma presented lesser quantity of mast cell and the hyperplasia showed higher concentration of this cellular type. Although the oral mucosa has presented a higher quantity of mast cells when compared to the giant cells fibroma, these were found in usual locations in the connective tissue in normal tissues. There could be noticed a statistically significant difference in relation to the number of non-granulated mast cells (p<0,001). On the areas of fibrosis, we could observe a statistically signif icant difference (p<0,006) among the samples. In relation to the present mast cells in perivascular location, no statistically signif icant difference was found. On the morphological analysis there was a predominance of oval mast cells. It was concluded that despite of the fact there was a lesser quantity of mast cells present in cases of giant cell f ibroma, they appeared to have a stronger relation to the present giant fibroblasts in this lesions, around 59,62%, being also evidenced a strong relation between these cells and the fibrosis areas in both cases of giant cell f ibroma and f ibrous hyperplasias and samples of normal oral mucosa, used as control group in our study, confirming, this way, the role of the mast cells as fibrinogenous inductor

Análise de células t regulatórias foxp3+no líquen plano oral

T regulatory cells have the function of controlling immune responses and maintaining self-tolerance. The FoxP3 has been considered the most specific marker for Treg cells. The aiming of this paper was to evaluate the immunoexpression of FoxP3 in the inflammatory infiltrate from oral lichen planus (OLP) and to compare it with the infiltrate in fibrous inflammatory hyperplasia (FIH) and then, between reticular and erosive forms of OLP. The samples were composed by 32 cases of OLP (17 reticular and 15 erosive) beyond 10 cases of FIH that were submitted to immunohistochemistry staining for FoxP3. Localization of the staining was classified in underepithelial and intraepithelial and the amount of FoxP3+ cells was evaluated through cells counting in 10 consecutive fields, at 400x power magnification. The values were expressed in mean ± standart deviation, and submitted to statistical tests with 5% of significance level. It was observed a statistical significant difference in the amount of FoxP3+ Treg cells between the two combined forms of OLP (1,6 ± 2,2) and the FIH (0,5 ±0,4) (P<0,05). This maybe could be explained by immunological mechanism of OLP, which involves a permanent antigenic induction likely with consequent perpetuation of lesion, eliciting the proliferation and constant recruitment of Treg cells. Otherwise, FIH presents a different etiopathogenesis, in which there is also generation of a variable inflammatory infiltrate, however qualitatively distinct from that seen in OLP. The erosive form of OLP exhibited a greater number (1,7 ± 2,4) of FoxP3+ Treg cells than reticular form (1,5 ± 2,1). These alterations could have relation with the great disease activity verified in erosive OLP, or also, with abnormalities in the regulatory function of Treg cells that could cause the increase observed. Considering the capacity already well established in the literature, both about Treg cells in modulating immune responses, as in the oral mucosa in showing great potential for regeneration, it is suggested that the possibility of development and implantation of immunotherapeutic strategies that regulate the frequency and function of these cells, may help in future treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases such as OLP

Análise da resposta th17 em líquen plano oral

Th17 cells have been strongly associated with the pathogenesis of several autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. IL-17 and IL-23 are important cytokines associated with this lineage. The aim of this study was to analyze, through immunohistochemical methods, the immunoexpression of IL-17 and IL-23 in the inflammatory infiltrate of oral lichen planus (OLP) lesion compared to that of inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia (IFH) and between clinical forms reticular and erosive of OLP. The sample included 41 cases of OLP, of which 23 were reticular and 18 erosive and 10 cases of IFH. The results were subjected to nonparametric statistical tests with a 5% significance level. In OLP lesions histomorphological analysis, the most common findings were: hyperparakeratinization, specimens with atrophic epithelium in erosive clinical form (p = 0.011), epithelial projections in most of reticular type of lesions, in addition Civatte bodies were identified in most samples of both clinical forms. For immunohistochemistry analysis, five fields with strong immunoreactivity for IL-17 and IL-23 were photomicrographed at 400x magnification, images were transferred to a computer where with ImageJ software®, lymphocytes that exhibited cytoplasmic immunostaining for these cytokines were counted. A mean was established after for each case. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of imunopositive lymphocytes for IL-17 and IL-23 among the group of OLP and IFH group, however a larger amount of lymphocytes imunopositive for IL-17 was found in the LPO group (p = 0.079) and significantly higher amounts of those lymphocytes were found in the erosive OLP when compared to the group of reticular OLP and IFH (p = 0.019). Furthermore, a marker epithelial immunopositivity for IL-17 was observed in OLP group. Although the results of this study do not permit the forceful assertion about the participation of Th17 lineage in OLP lesions, the findings of immunopositive lymphocytes counting for IL-17 and IL-23, which are potent proinflammatory cytokines, together with the the marked epithelial immunopositivity found for IL-17 in this study, suggest a possible role of this lineage in the pathogenesis of this disorder

Avaliação da expressão da BMP -2/4 e BMPR-IA em Carcinoma Epidermóide Oral metastático e não metastático

The expression of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) is altered in a variety of human canceres. The BMP-2/4 and BMPR-IA were recently shown to be overexpressed in high-risk premalignant and malignant lesions of oral epithelium. The present study analysed the expression of BMP-2/4 and BMPR-IA in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) such as their implications in disease prognostic using munohistochemistry. Ten cases of Oral Fibroepithelial Hiperplasia were selected as a control group. The experimental group included 16 cases of OSCC without metastases and 7 cases of OSCC metastatic. The presence or absence of nodal metastases was used as parameter to evaluated the disease prognostic. The results demonstrated weak immunoreactivity for BMP-2/4 and BMPR-IA in every case of the control group. In the cases of OSCC with metastases an overexpression of BMP-2/4 (71,4%) was observed while the BMPR-IA showed weak expression (85,7%). In the cases of OSCC without metastases BMP-2/4 (62,5%) and BMPR-IA showed strong immunostaining standing out an overexpression of the receptor in all the specimens. Observed statistical significance for correlation between the oral cancer prognostic and the staining intensity of the BMP-2/4 (p=0,002). There wasn t statistical significance for association between the staining intensity of the BMPR-IA and the disease prognostic (p<0,001). In conclusion, this findings suggest that the overexpression of BMP-2/4 associated with the loss of expression of the BMPR-IA in OSCC metastatic has prognostic relevance, as the loss of sensitivity to BMPs can be an indicative of metastases development in OSCC

Estudo clínico-patológico do carcinoma epidermóide de língua e imunoistoquímico das proteínas BMP-2, BMPR-IA, BMPR-II e endoglina

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are cytokines involved in proliferation and angiogenesis of many kind of human cancer. The present study analyzed the immunohistochemical expression of BMP-2, BMPR-II, BMPR-IA and endoglin (CD105) and their relationship with the biological behavior and local angiogenesis in tongue oral squamous cells carcinoma (SCC). The sample consisted of 25 cases of tongue SCC without metastasis, 25 tongue SCC with metastasis and 25 cases of Inflamatory Fibrous Hyperplasia (IFH).The histological grade of malignancy proposed by Bryne (1998), adapted by Miranda (2002) was used to classify all tongue SCC cases. Score 0 was attributed to absent-weak immunoexpression and score 1 for strong immunostaning and pattern of distribution was focal or diffuse. Microvessel counts (MVC) was established for CD105. Most of the patients with tongue SCC was male. The principal age in tongue SCC without metastasis was over 65 years and in tongue SCC with metastasis was between 45-65 years. There were predominance of stage II in TNM and in the specimens with high-grade, independent of studied group. For BMP-2, 56% of tongue SCC without metastasis and 72% tongue SCC with metastasis exhibited score 1 while the IFH showed secore 0 in 72% of the cases, with statistical association (p=0,007). Considering the BMPR-II, 52% of tongue SCC without metastasis exhibited score 0; 56% tongue SCC with metastasis and 60% IFH showed score 1. The majority cases of BMPR-IA demonstrated score 1 and 100% of CD105 exhibited strong immunoexpression in tongue SCC. Regarding the pattern distribution, it was noted a tendency to diffuse pattern for the proteins in all groups. The means of MVC were similar in tongue SCC without metastasis (32,91) and in tongue SCC with metastasis (32,05), however existed statistical difference with IFH (p<0,001). There was statistical association of BMP-2 expression with BMPR-II (p=0,008), BMPR-IA (p=0,006) and CD105 (p=0,046). An association between TNM and BMP-2 immunoexpression and their receptors was not detected, nevertheless this association was found with MVC (p=0,047) whose averages were higher for the stages II (35,97) e IV (35,69). No association between histological grading and these proteins was observed. This study suggests that the superexpression of BMP-2 signaling pathways acts on cell proliferation in tongue SCC and can be implicated with more invasive potential. Additionaly, the CD105 is a potent biological marker of neovascularization in this neoplasm and their association with BMP-2 and BMPR-IA receptor, showed that this type of cancer in BMP-2 is presented as pro-angiogenic in the metastatic process

Avaliacao de polimorfismos nos genes XPD e XRCC3 em carcinomas orais de celulas escamosas

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide despite recent advances in treatment. There are several studies aiming to find markers that may improve the assessment of this disease prognosis. Studies about genetic polymorphisms have gained prominence due to their influence on individual susceptibility to cancer development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the frequency of polymorphisms XPD Lys751Gln and XRCC3 Thr241Met and clinicopathological features of OSCC cases, including age, sex, presence or absence of metastases, and histological grading of malignancy according to Bryne (1998). Sample consisted of 54 cases of OSCC and 40 cases of inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia (IFH). OSCC cases were classified as low or high grade. DNA samples were previously extracted from paraffin blocks. Genotypes for each case were determined through PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism). Results were analyzed by Fisher s exact test and Chi-square test and the odds ratio was calculated considering p < 0.05 to indicate statistical significance. For XPD, Lys/Gln genotype was more common in IFHs (n=28; 70%) than in OSCCs (n=24; 44.4%) (OR: 0.3; p<0.05). Frequency of Gln allele was higher in high-grade lesions when compared to low grade lesions (0.48 and 0.21, respectively) (OR: 3.4; p<0.05). For XRCC3, Met allele was more common in OSCC than in IFH (0.49 and 0.35, respectively) (OR: 2.6; p<0.05). Met/Met genotype was associated with presence of metastases (OR: 8.1; p<0.05). There was no statistically significant association between the genotypes and the age or sex of patients. In the present sample, the higher frequency of XPD Gln allele in IFH reveals a possible protective role of this variant against the development of OSCC. However, its association with high-grade lesions indicates that this allele could influence the tumor progression after the neoplasia development. The presence of XRCC3 Met allele, in turn, seems to contribute to the development of OSCC and metastases

O refluxo duodeno-gástrico (RDG), através do piloro, induz lesões proliferativas gástricas em ratos?

Objetivo: Estudar o desenvolvimento de lesões proliferativas na mucosa gástrica de ratos Wistar submetidos ao refluxo duodeno-gástrico (RDG) através do piloro e, também, avaliar os efeitos da interrupção do RDG sobre o desenvolvimento das mesmas. Métodos: Constituíram-se três grupos experimentais: No CT (n = 20) os ratos foram submetidos a uma gastrotomia; nos grupos RDG54 (n = 16) e RDG36 (n = 14) realizou-se a indução do RDG e, somente no último, interrompeu-se o RDG após 36 semanas. O RDG foi obtido através da realização de anastomose entre o jejuno proximal e a parede gástrica anterior, seguido por secção completa e fechamento das bocas distal e proximal do jejuno a cerca de 1cm antes do início da gastroenteroanastomose. Na 54ª semana do seguimento, todos os ratos foram submetidos à eutanásia. Resultados: Diagnosticaram-se três tipos de lesões proliferativas: na mucosa glandular, a hiperplasia adenomatosa e o adenocarcinoma e, no epitélio escamoso, a hiperplasia escamosa. No grupo CT, não se diagnosticaram lesões proliferativas. Na região da mucosa pilórica dos grupos RDG54 e RDG36, a incidência da hiperplasia adenomatosa foi, respectivamente, de 68,75% e 50% (p > 0,30), enquanto na região da gastroenteroanastomose, de 43,75% no RDG54 e 85,71% no RDG36 (p < 0,05). No epitélio escamoso, a incidência da hiperplasia escamosa no RDG54 e RDG36 foi, respectivamente, de 62,5% e 14,2% (p < 0,001). O adenocarcinoma foi diagnosticado na região da anastomose de uma única peça histológica do RDG54. Através de um sistema de análise digital, determinaram-se as áreas da hiperplasia adenomatosa. Na região da mucosa pilórica, obteve-se mediana de 8,583mm² no RDG54 e de 0,2690mm² no RDG36 (p < 0,001). Na gastroenteroanastomose, obteve-se zero no RDG54 e 0,5295mm² no RDG36 (p > 0,50). Conclusões: O RDG propiciou o desenvolvimento de lesões proliferativas, predominantemente benignas. A interrupção do RDG refreou o crescimento da área da hiperplasia adenomatosa na mucosa pilórica e diminuiu a incidência da hiperplasia escamosa. Na região da gastroenteroanastomose, o procedimento cirúrgico favoreceu a manutenção do processo prolifera tivo, mesmo após a interrupção do RDG através do piloro.

Carcinogenesis of the upper gastrointestinal tract induced by N-methyl-N '-nitro-nitrosoguanidine and reflux of duodenal contents in the rat

Purpose: To investigate the combined effects of reflux of duodenal contents through the pylorus and treatment with N-methyl-N'-nitro-nitrosoguanidine ( MNNG) on the development of lesions in the glandular stomach, at the gastrojejunal anastomosis and in the forestomach of rats. Methods: Eighty Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: G1: MNNG + Reflux, G2: Reflux, G3: MNNG and G4: Gastrostomy. MNNG was given in the drinking water ( 100 mg/ml) for 12 weeks and then two groups ( G1 and G2) were submitted to a gastrojejunal anastomosis followed by section of the afferent loop and suture of both stumps to allow reflux of duodenal contents through the pylorus. The animals were sacrificed 18 and 36 weeks after surgery. The lesions obtained in the antral mucosa, at the gastrojejunal anastomosis and in the forestomach were analysed histologically. Results: Duodenal reflux induced proliferative lesions at both glandular and squamous mucosa of the stomach. In the antrum, adenomatous hyperplasia (AH) was observed in 20% and 50% of the animals at the 18(th) and 36(th) weeks respectively. Aditionally 85% of the animals presented AH at the gastrojejunal anastomosis and 60% developed squamous hyperplasia at the squamous portion of the stomach. MNNG treatment plus duodenal reflux enhanced the development of malignant tumors at both glandular and squamous mucosa, since there were 30% of antral adenocarcinomas and 45% of squamous carcinomas at the 18th week and the frequency of these malignant tumors rose to 50% in the antrum and 65% in the squamous mucosa at the 36th week. Conclusion: The reflux of duodenal contents through the pylorus enhanced the development of proliferative lesions, benign and malignant, in the glandular stomach and in the forestomach of rats.

Características clínicas e histopatológicas da placa aural em eqüinos das raças Mangalarga e Quarto de Milha

Placa aural é uma variante da papilomatose eqüina. Foram examinados 306 eqüinos da raça Mangalarga e 275 da raça Quarto de Milha, com o objetivo de comparar a ocorrência da placa aural entre os animais destas raças, e caracterizar os achados clínicos e histopatológicos desta enfermidade. A ocorrência da placa aural foi 57% nos eqüinos da raça Mangalarga e 35% nos eqüinos da raça Quarto de Milha. Clinicamente as lesões consistiram de placas aplainadas, descamativas e hipocrômicas, formadas com freqüência pela coalescência de pequenas pápulas. Os principais achados histopatológicos foram hiperplasia epidérmica e hipomelanose levando à alteração abrupta entre o epitélio normal e o epitélio acometido pela placa aural.

Óxido nítrico, GSTP-1 e p53: qual o papel desses biomarcadores nas lesões prostáticas do cão?

Confeccionou-se um microarranjo de tecido (TMA) com 146 amostras de lesões prostáticas caninas. Este continha 17,2% de hiperplasia prostática benigna (HPB), 32,4% de atrofia inflamatória proliferativa (PIA), 2,6% de prostatite, 8,6% de focos de neoplasia intraepitelial prostática (PIN), 29,1% de carcinomas e 9,3% de próstatas normais. Cortes histológicos sequenciais foram feitos e utilizados para reação de imunoistoquímica com os anticorpos primários anti-p-53, anti-NOS-2 e anti-GSTP. Avaliou-se de cada core o escore de células marcadas para cada anticorpo utilizado. Os resultados foram tabulados por grupo diagnóstico e submetidos ao teste Tuckey. Os carcinomas prostáticos do cão e a PIA apresentaram maior número de amostras (41) com mais de 75% das células positivas para NOS-2, demonstrando a influência do estresse oxidativo no desenvolvimento dessas lesões. As próstatas normais e as afecções desta glândula, HPB, PIA, PIN, prostatite e carcinoma, expressaram a proteína GSTP-1, o que conferiu proteção ao tecido prostático canino a danos oxidativos. A proteína p53 estava presente em todas as amostras estudadas, incluindo o tecido prostático normal, porém as lesões prostáticas apresentaram maior número de amostras com escores mais elevados de marcação (escores três e quatro), presente em 95% dos focos de PIA e carcinoma. Concluiu-se que o aumento de expressão de óxido nítrico nas lesões prostáticas no cão e a expressão de GSTP-1 podem ter protegido o tecido prostático canino e que a expressão de p53 foi positiva e uniforme nas próstatas normais e com lesões hiperplásicas e displásicas.

Imunoterapia de úlceras venosas com ß-(1-3) glucana insolúvel

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Estudo Longitudinal, Bioquímico e Histoquímico, de Placentas de Ratas Diabéticas: Relação com a Macrossomia e o Retardo de Crescimento Intra-uterino

Objetivo: o estudo longitudinal, entre o 18º e o 21º dias de prenhez, das alterações bioquímicas e histoquímicas das placentas de ratas diabéticas, cujos fetos tiveram macrossomia e retardo de crescimento intra-uterino (CIUR). Material e Método: usando modelo experimental em ratas, foram estudados 3 grupos: controle, diabete moderado e grave. A prenhez foi resolvida por cesárea no 18º ou no 21º dia. Compararam-se as glicemias materna e fetal; a incidência de recém-nascidos (RN) de peso pequeno (PIP), adequado (AIP) e grande (GIP) para tempo de prenhez; peso, índice e conteúdo de DNA, RNA e proteínas placentários e quantidade de glicogênio na superfície de trocas materno-fetais. Resultados: no diabete moderado houve maior proporção de RN-GIP com placentas ricas em DNA e diminuição progressiva de glicogênio em suas membranas no final da prenhez. No diabete grave houve predomínio de RN-GIP e as placentas exibiram menor conteúdo de DNA, síntese aumentada de RNA e tendência a maior produção protéica, com manutenção dos depósitos de glicogênio. Conclusões: concluiu-se que, entre o 18º e o 21º dias, os desvios do crescimento fetal no diabete materno, moderado e grave relacionam-se a alterações placentárias distintas. No moderado há apenas hiperplasia celular, com desaparecimento do glicogênio no final da prenhez. No grave, a superfície de trocas materno-fetais é mais espessada e, além de hiperplasia, há hipertrofia das células, com manutenção dos estoques placentários de glicogênio.

Tratamento Clínico e Seguimento das Hiperplasias de Endométrio

Objetivos: avaliar a eficácia do acetato de medroxiprogesterona e do acetato de megestrol nas hiperplasias de endométrio. Métodos: foram incluídas, retrospectivamente 47 pacientes com sangramento uterino anormal, submetidas a curetagem uterina diagnóstica e/ou biópsia de endométrio, cujo achado histopatológico foi de hiperplasia de endométrio. Nas pacientes com hiperplasia sem atipia foi iniciado a terapêutica com acetato de medroxiprogesterona por via oral, na dose de 10 mg/dia durante 10-12 dias por mês. Nas com atipia, era utilizado o acetato de megestrol por via oral, dose de 160 mg/dia, uso contínuo. O período de tratamento variou de 3 a 18 meses. Biópsia de endométrio e/ou curetagem uterina de controle foram realizadas entre três e seis meses do início do tratamento e periodicamente para avaliar a resposta terapêutica. Resultados: foram analisadas 42 pacientes com hiperplasia endometrial sem atipia e cinco com atipia. A média de idade das pacientes foi de 49,5 ± 10,6 anos, sendo 70,2% com idade superior a 45 anos. O acetato de medroxiprogesterona foi eficaz em fazer regredir as hiperplasias sem atipias em 83,2% (35/42) e o acetato de megestrol em 80% (4/5) das hiperplasias com atipia. em 16,8% (7 casos) das hiperplasias sem atipia e em 20% (1 caso) das com atipia, ocorreu persistência das lesões, apesar do tratamento. em nenhum caso ocorreu progressão para câncer de endométrio, durante o período de seguimento que foi de 3 meses a 9 anos. No acompanhamento dessas pacientes, verificamos que 18 (38,3%) apresentaram amenorréia, em 12 (25,5%) ocorreu regularização do ciclo menstrual e 17 (36,2%) permaneceram com sangramento uterino anormal, sendo submetidas a histerectomia total abdominal. O exame anatomopatológico mostrou a persistência da lesão hiperplásica em oito casos, leiomioma em quatro, adenomiose em três, mio-hipertrofia uterina difusa em um caso e útero normal em outro, tendo havido regressão das lesões hiperplásicas nesses últimos nove casos. Conclusões: o tratamento das hiperplasias de endométrio com acetato de medroxiprogesterona e/ou acetato de megestrol, representa uma alternativa satisfatória para mulheres que desejam preservar o útero ou que tenham risco cirúrgico elevado. Entretanto, é necessário monitorização cuidadosa do endométrio, o que deve ser realizado pela avaliação dos sintomas, ultra-sonografia transvaginal e biópsia periódica.

Imunoexpressão do c-erbB-2 nas lesões epiteliais proliferativas intraductais da mama de mulheres

OBJETIVOS: Alterações genéticas são relacionadas à gênese e progressão do câncer. Neoplasias de vários órgãos expressam o oncogene c-erbB-2. Nas proliferações intraductais da mama tem sido avaliado como fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de câncer. Foram avaliadas a imunoexpressão do c-erbB-2 em lesões epiteliais proliferativas intraductais e as possíveis correlações com características anatomopatológicas do carcinoma ductal in situ (CDIS). MÉTODOS: Foi utilizado material de arquivo, amostras teciduais fixadas em formalina e incluídas em blocos de parafina de 88 mulheres. Destas, 51 com CDIS e 37 com hiperplasia ductal sem atipias (HDT). A idade variou de 35 a 76 anos. Revisados todos os casos, verificou-se: o grau nuclear, a presença de necrose, o subtipo histológico predominante e sua extensão. Obteve-se material suficiente para o estudo imunohistoquímico do c-erbB-2 de 84 sujeitos do estudo. RESULTADOS: Não foi observada a expressão do oncogene nas hiperplasias sem atipias e nos tecidos adjacentes a todas amostras teciduais. A expressão do c-erbB-2 foi verificada em nove (19,1%) dos CDIS (p= 0,0001). A imunoexpressão não se relacionou à extensão das lesões. A imunoexpressão do c-erbB-2 no CDIS correlacionou-se com subtipo histológico (p=0,019), com a presença de necrose (p=0,0066), com o grau nuclear (p=0,0084) e com a Classificação de Van Nuys (p=0,039). CONCLUSÕES: A expressão do c-erbB-2 foi estatisticamente significante nas lesões proliferativas de risco (CDIS) e correlacionou-se com características histopatológicas: alto grau nuclear, presença de necrose, subtipo comedo. Não houve expressão nas hiperplasias sem atipias e tecidos adjacentes.