Carcinoma ductal in situ associado a carcinoma invasivo na mesma mama: análise do grau nuclear e da expressão das proteínas p53 e C-erbB-2 e dos receptores de estrógeno

OBJETIVOS: avaliar a variação do grau nuclear e da expressão das proteínas p53 e c-erbB-2 e dos receptores de estrógeno (RE) no carcinoma ductal in situ (CDIS) e no carcinoma invasivo, presentes na mesma mama. MÉTODOS: estudo descritivo retrospectivo com 38 mulheres com CDIS associado a carcinoma invasivo da mama. Foi avaliado o grau nuclear e o realizado estudo imunohistoquímico para expressão das proteínas p53 e c-erbB-2 e para os RE. Os casos considerados positivos para a expressão das proteínas e dos RE foram aqueles com contagem de células positivas igual ou superior a 10%. A concordância entre estas variáveis no componente in situ e invasivo foi avaliada pelo coeficiente kappa (k), interpretado de acordo com os critérios de Landis e Koch. O teste de MacNemar foi usado para testar diferenças entre os dois grupos. RESULTADOS: a concordância entre o grau nuclear e a expressão dos RE nos componentes in situ e invasivo foi de 0,89 para ambos, quase perfeita. A concordância para a expressão da proteína c-erbB-2 também foi considerada quase perfeita, com coeficiente de 0,84. Já a concordância entre a expressão da proteína p53 no componente in situ e no invasivo foi de 1,0, considerada perfeita. Não houve diferenças significativas entre o grau nuclear e as expressões das proteínas e dos RE nos componentes in situ e invasivo na mesma mama. CONCLUSÕES: existe concordância alta do grau nuclear e da expressão das proteínas p53 e c-erbB-2 no CDIS e no carcinoma invasivo presentes na mesma mama.

Variação interobservador no diagnóstico histopatológico do carcinoma ductal in situ da mama

OBJETIVOS: fazer avaliação crítica do diagnóstico histopatológico do carcinoma ductal in situ (CDIS) da mama empregando a variação interobservador quanto ao diagnóstico, padrão arquitetural predominante, grau nuclear e grau histológico. MÉTODOS: oitenta e cinco casos com diagnóstico inicial de CDIS foram revisados por um mesmo patologista, especialista em patologia mamária, que selecionou 15 casos para análise interobservador. A análise foi realizada por cinco patologistas e um especialista internacional em patologia mamária, que receberam as mesmas lâminas e um protocolo para classificar as lesões em hiperplasia ductal atípica (HDA), CDIS e CDIS com microinvasão (CDIS-MIC). Caso o diagnóstico fosse de CDIS, os patologistas deveriam também classificá-lo quanto ao padrão arquitetural, grau nuclear e grau histológico. Os resultados foram analisados usando-se concordância percentual e o teste kappa. RESULTADOS: houve grande variação diagnóstica interobservador. Em um caso tivemos todos os diagnósticos, desde HDA, CDIS até CDIS-MIC. Usando o teste kappa para a comparação entre os diagnósticos dos cinco observadores e o especialista internacional obtivemos concordância interobservador mínima (<0,40). Quanto à classificação do CDIS em relação ao padrão arquitetural e ao grau histológico, os valores do teste kappa foram considerados ruins quanto à concordância interobservador. Os melhores resultados foram obtidos na análise da concordância quanto ao grau nuclear, com índices kappa de até 0,80, considerados como boa concordância. CONCLUSÃO: os baixos índices de concordância interobservador no diagnóstico e classificação do CDIS da mama indicam a dificuldade na utilização dos critérios diagnósticos mais empregados na literatura na interpretação destas lesões e a necessidade de treinamento especifico dos patologistas não-especialistas no diagnóstico destas lesões.

Carcinoma ductal in situ da mama: critérios para diagnóstico e abordagem em hospitais públicos de Belo Horizonte

OBJETIVOS: avaliar os aspectos clínicos, radiológicos, anátomo-patológicos e terapêuticos de uma série de casos de carcinoma ductal in situ (CDIS) da mama de pacientes atendidos em três hospitais públicos de Belo Horizonte (MG). MÉTODOS: foram selecionados dos arquivos médicos todos os casos de câncer de mama diagnosticados entre os anos de 1985 e 2000, encontrando-se 179 casos com diagnóstico de CDIS. Fez-se revisão anátomo-patológica das lâminas e obtiveram-se dados clínicos completos, mamografias e informações sobre tratamento em 85 casos. RESULTADOS: a maioria dos casos eram assintomáticos e os diagnósticos foram feitos pela mamografia (68,2%), sendo as microcalcificações a alteração radiológica mais freqüente. Houve aumento progressivo no diagnóstico de CDIS ao longo dos anos simultâneo à introdução do exame periódico mamográfico. Houve concordância entre o diagnóstico inicial e após a revisão histopatológica em 72,9% dos casos. Em três casos, o diagnóstico original de CDIS não foi confirmado pela revisão, tratando-se de hiperplasias com atipias. O achado de microcalcificações radiológicas foi confirmado no estudo histopatológico em 95,6%. A metade dos pacientes foi submetida à mastectomia. Nos casos submetidos à linfadenectomia axilar, todos os linfonodos dissecados foram negativos para metástases. CONCLUSÕES: os dados encontrados estão de acordo com a literatura, que mostra um aumento do diagnóstico do CDIS a partir de 1990. Houve importante variação interobservador entre os diagnósticos anátomo-patológicos iniciais e os da revisão, sendo que os diagnósticos iniciais tendiam para malignidade. Houve grande número de tratamentos mais radicais como a mastectomia e esvaziamentos axilares, que provavelmente, com os conhecimentos atuais, seriam substituídos por tratamentos conservadores e biópsia do linfonodo sentinela.

Ciclooxigenase-2 nos carcinomas ductais de mama invasivos com componente ductal in situ e no epitélio adjacente

OBJETIVO: avaliar a presença da ciclooxigenase-2 (COX-2) nos carcinomas de mama ductal in situ (CDIS) e ductal invasivo (CDI), no estroma adjacente normal e no epitélio. A correlação entre os níveis de expressão com os graus nuclear e histológico, tamanho do tumor e idade da paciente foi também analisada. MÉTODOS: foram incluídos 47 espécimes cirúrgicos provenientes de mastectomias e quadrantectomias com CDI e CDIS concomitantes, estádios clínicos I e II. Foram utilizados anticorpos policlonais anti-COX-2 para determinar a expressão da enzima. As amostras foram categorizadas em escores de zero a três, de acordo com a intensidade e o número de células coradas. RESULTADOS: COX-2 foi positivamente expressa em CDI, CDIS e epitélio normal em 86,7, 84,4 e 73,3% dos casos, respectivamente. Quanto ao grau nuclear (GN), a expressão da COX-2 foi positiva em 80% dos casos de GN-I; 81,5 e 78,9% de GN-II; e 88,5 e 96,1% de GN-III no CDIS e CDI, respectivamente. A expressão da COX-2 ocorreu em 78,9% dos CDIS com comedonecrose e em 89,3% sem comedonecrose. Quanto ao grau histológico (GH) do CDI, a COX-2 foi positiva em 83,3% de GH-I; 89,9% de GH-II e 80% de GH-III. Em relação ao diâmetro tumoral, COX-2 esteve presente em 86,1% de CDI e 83,3% de CDIS em tumores com >2 cm de diâmetro e 11% em CDI; e CDIS em tumores ≤ 2 cm. A faixa etária ≥ 50 anos apresentou 90% de expressão para CDI e 86,7% para CDIS, e 92,5% de COX-2 para ambos CDI e CDIS em pacientes com idade <50 anos. CONCLUSÕES: nossos resultados demonstram alta correlação entre as expressões da COX-2 nos CDI, CDIS e epitélio normal, o que é consistente com a hipótese de que a superexpressão da COX-2 é um evento precoce na carcinogênese mamária. Não houve diferença quando da análise do grau histológico, presença de comedonecrose, grupo etário e tamanho do tumor.

Expressão da proteína erbB-2 e dos receptores de hormônios na transição das regiões in situ para invasora de tumores da mama

OBJETIVOS: avaliar a expressão de erbB-2 e dos receptores hormonais para estrógeno e progesterona (RE/RP) nas regiões de transição entre as frações in situ e invasoras de neoplasias ductais da mama (CDIS e CDI, respectivamente). MÉTODOS: oitenta e cinco casos de neoplasias mamárias, contendo regiões contíguas de CDIS e CDI, foram selecionados. Espécimes histológicos das áreas de CDIS e de CDI foram obtidos através da técnica de tissue microarray (TMA). As expressões da erbB-2 e dos RE/RP foram avaliadas por meio de imunoistoquímica convencional. A comparação da expressão da erbB-2 e dos RE/RP nas frações in situ e invasoras da mama foi realizada com emprego do teste de McNemar. Os intervalos de confiança foram determinados em 5% (p=0,05). Foram calculados coeficientes de correlação intraclasse (ICC) para avaliar a concordância na tabulação cruzada da expressão de erbB-2 e RE/RP nas frações de CDIS e CDI. RESULTADOS: a expressão da erbB-2 não diferiu entre as áreas de CDIS e CDI (p=0,38). Comparando caso a caso suas áreas de CDIS e CDI, houve boa concordância na expressão da erbB-2 (coeficiente de correlação intraclasse, ICC=0,64), dos RP (ICC = 0,71) e dos RE (ICC = 0,64). Considerando apenas tumores cujo componente in situ apresentasse áreas de necrose (comedo), o ICC para erbB-2 foi de 0,4, comparado a 0,6 no conjunto completo de casos. Os ICC não diferiram substancialmente daqueles obtidos com o conjunto completo de espécimes em relação aos RE/RP: para RE, ICC=0,7 (versus 0,7 no conjunto completo), e para RP, ICC=0,7 (versus 0,6 no conjunto completo). CONCLUSÕES: nossos achados sugerem que as expressões de erbB-2 e RE/RP não diferem nos componentes contíguos in situ e invasivo em tumores ductais da mama.

Comparison of nuclear grade and immunohistochemical features in situ and invasive components of ductal carcinoma of breast

PURPOSE:To compare the prognostic and predictive features between in situ and invasive components of ductal breast carcinomas. METHODS:We selected 146 consecutive breast samples with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) associated with adjacent invasive breast carcinoma (IBC). We evaluated nuclear grade and immunohistochemical expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in both components, in situ and invasive, and the Ki-67 percentage of cells in the invasive part. The DCIS and IBC were classified in molecular surrogate types determined by the immunohistochemical profile as luminal (RE/PR-positive/ HER2-negative), triple-positive (RE/RP/HER2-positive), HER2-enriched (ER/PR-negative/HER2-positive), and triple-negative (RE/RP/HER2-negative). Discrimination between luminal A and luminal B was not performed due to statistical purposes. Correlations between the categories in the two groups were made using the Spearman correlation method. RESULTS:There was a significant correlation between nuclear grade (p<0.0001), expression of RE/RP (p<0.0001), overexpression of HER2 (p<0.0001), expression of EGFR (p<0.0001), and molecular profile (p<0.0001) between components in situ and IBC. CK 5/6 showed different distribution in DCIS and IBC, presenting a significant association with the triple-negative phenotype in IBC, but a negative association among DCIS. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that classical prognostic and predictive features of IBC are already determined in the preinvasive stage of the disease. However the role of CK5/6 in invasive carcinoma may be different from the precursor lesions.

Lobular Carcinoma in Situ with Atypical Mass Presentation: a Case Report

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and accounts for 1 to 2% of all breast cancers. LCIS diagnosis currently remains one of the major identifiable risk factors for subsequent breast cancer development. Imaging methods are becoming increasingly sensitive, and the consequent detection of small lesions and subtle abnormalities increases the chance of detection of in situ and invasive carcinomas, leading to a reduction in mortality. This report describes a case of a palpable complaint with abnormal imaging findings, including a solid LCIS mass.

Optimization and validation of the solid-liquid extraction technique for determination of picloram in soils by high performance liquid chromatography

The objective of this study was to optimize and validate the solid-liquid extraction (ESL) technique for determination of picloram residues in soil samples. At the optimization stage, the optimal conditions for extraction of soil samples were determined using univariate analysis. Ratio soil/solution extraction, type and time of agitation, ionic strength and pH of extraction solution were evaluated. Based on the optimized parameters, the following method of extraction and analysis of picloram was developed: weigh 2.00 g of soil dried and sieved through a sieve mesh of 2.0 mm pore, add 20.0 mL of KCl concentration of 0.5 mol L-1, shake the bottle in the vortex for 10 seconds to form suspension and adjust to pH 7.00, with alkaline KOH 0.1 mol L-1. Homogenate the system in a shaker system for 60 minutes and then let it stand for 10 minutes. The bottles are centrifuged for 10 minutes at 3,500 rpm. After the settlement of the soil particles and cleaning of the supernatant extract, an aliquot is withdrawn and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. The optimized method was validated by determining the selectivity, linearity, detection and quantification limits, precision and accuracy. The ESL methodology was efficient for analysis of residues of the pesticides studied, with percentages of recovery above 90%. The limits of detection and quantification were 20.0 and 66.0 mg kg-1 soil for the PVA, and 40.0 and 132.0 mg kg-1 soil for the VLA. The coefficients of variation (CV) were equal to 2.32 and 2.69 for PVA and TH soils, respectively. The methodology resulted in low organic solvent consumption and cleaner extracts, as well as no purification steps for chromatographic analysis were required. The parameters evaluated in the validation process indicated that the ESL methodology is efficient for the extraction of picloram residues in soils, with low limits of detection and quantification.

Interphase cytogenetics using fluorescence in situ hybridization: an overview of its application to diffuse and solid tissue

Interphase cytogenetics, utilizing fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques, has been successfully applied to diffuse and solid tissue specimens. Most studies have been performed on isolated cells, such as blood or bone marrow cells; a few have been performed on cells from body fluids, such as amniotic fluid, urine, sperm, and sputum. Mechanically or chemically disaggregated cells from solid tissues have also been used as single cell suspensions for FISH. Additionally, intact organized tissue samples represented by touch preparations or thin tissue sections have been used, especially in cancer studies. Advantages and pitfalls of application of FISH methodology to each type of specimen and some significant biological findings achieved are illustrated in this overview.

Detection of adrenocortical autoantibodies in Addison's disease with a peroxidase-labelled protein A technique

Adrenocortical autoantibodies (ACA), present in 60-80% of patients with idiopathic Addison's disease, are conventionally detected by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) on frozen sections of adrenal glands. The large-scale use of IIF is limited in part by the need for a fluorescence microscope and the fact that histological sections cannot be stored for long periods of time. To circumvent these restrictions we developed a novel peroxidase-labelled protein A (PLPA) technique for the detection of ACA in patients with Addison's disease and compared the results with those obtained with the classical IIF assay. We studied serum samples from 90 healthy control subjects and 22 patients with Addison's disease, who had been clinically classified into two groups: idiopathic (N = 13) and granulomatous (N = 9). ACA-PLPA were detected in 10/22 (45%) patients: 9/13 (69%) with the idiopathic form and 1/9 (11%) with the granulomatous form, whereas ACA-IIF were detected in 11/22 patients (50%): 10/13 (77%) with the idiopathic form and 1/9 (11%) with the granulomatous form. Twelve of the 13 idiopathic addisonians (92%) were positive for either ACA-PLPA or ACA-IIF, but only 7 were positive by both methods. In contrast, none of 90 healthy subjects was found to be positive for ACA. Thus, our study shows that the PLPA-based technique is useful, has technical advantages over the IIF method (by not requiring the use of a fluorescence microscope and by permitting section storage for long periods of time). However, since it is only 60% concordant with the ACA-IIF method, it should be considered complementary instead of an alternative method to IIF for the detection of ACA in human sera.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia: the study of t(15;17) translocation by fluorescent in situ hybridization, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and cytogenetic techniques

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (AML M3) is a well-defined subtype of leukemia with specific and peculiar characteristics. Immediate identification of t(15;17) or the PML/RARA gene rearrangement is fundamental for treatment. The objective of the present study was to compare fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and karyotyping in 18 samples (12 at diagnosis and 6 after treatment) from 13 AML M3 patients. Bone marrow samples were submitted to karyotype G-banding, FISH and RT-PCR. At diagnosis, cytogenetics was successful in 10 of 12 samples, 8 with t(15;17) and 2 without. FISH was positive in 11/12 cases (one had no cells for analysis) and positivity varied from 25 to 93% (mean: 56%). RT-PCR was done in 6/12 cases and all were positive. Four of 8 patients with t(15;17) presented positive RT-PCR as well as 2 without metaphases. The lack of RT-PCR results in the other samples was due to poor quality RNA. When the three tests were compared at diagnosis, karyotyping presented the translocation in 80% of the tested samples while FISH and RT-PCR showed the PML/RARA rearrangement in 100% of them. Of 6 samples evaluated after treatment, 3 showed a normal karyotype, 1 persistence of an abnormal clone and 2 no metaphases. FISH was negative in 4 samples studied and 2 had no material for analysis. RT-PCR was positive in 4 (2 of which showed negative FISH, indicating residual disease) and negative in 2. When the three tests were compared after treatment, they showed concordance in 2 of 6 samples or, when there were not enough cells for all tests, concordance between karyotype and RT-PCR in one. At remission, RT-PCR was the most sensitive test in detecting residual disease, as expected (positive in 4/6 samples). An incidence of about 40% of 5' breaks and 60% of 3' breaks, i.e., bcr3 and bcr1/bcr2, respectively, was observed.

In situ variation of cervical mucus pH during exposure to atmospheric air

The objective of the present study was to determine if exposure of cervical mucus to air during specular examination could modify mucus pH. Detection of changes is justified because of their possible interference with sperm-mucus interaction, since an acidic pH is unfavorable to sperm penetration and is associated with infertility due to the cervical factor. Twenty women with good quality mucus were evaluated. pH measurements of ecto- and endocervical mucus were made in situ using a glass electrode after 0-, 5- and 10-min exposure to air. There was a progressive alkalinization of mucus pH. Mean values of ectocervical mucus pH were 6.91, 7.16 and 7.27, while mean values of endocervical mucus pH were 7.09, 7.34 and 7.46 at 0, 5 and 10 min, respectively. Significant differences were found between the mean values obtained at 0 and 5 min, and at 0 and 10 min (P<0.05), whereas the differences in mean values at 5 and 10 min were not significant at either site. We conclude that 5 to 10 min of exposure to atmospheric air affects cervical mucus pH in a significant way. Since tests used to evaluate sperm-mucus interaction generally have not considered this possibility, we suggest that they should be performed immediately after mucus collection in order to avoid misinterpretation of the results.

Presence of ductal carcinoma in situ confers an improved prognosis for patients with T1N0M0 invasive breast carcinoma

We have retrospectively analyzed a series of 155 sequential cases of T1N0M0 ductal carcinomas of which 51 tumors had a ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) component for correlation between the presence of DCIS and clinicopathological variables, recurrence and patient survival. No correlations between the presence of DCIS and age, menopausal status, size, estrogen or progesterone receptors were found. High-grade infiltrative tumors tended not to present a DCIS component (P = 0.08). Patients with tumors associated with DCIS form a subgroup with few recurrences (P = 0.003) and good survival (P = 0.008). When tumors were classified by size, an association between large tumors (>1.0 cm) and increased recurrence and shortened overall survival was found. The presence of DCIS in this subgroup significantly reduced the relative risk of death.