A Pilot Study Addressing the Impact of Religious Practice on Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Patients During Chemotherapy

The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate whether religious practice can modify quality of life (QoL) in BC patients during chemotherapy. QoL and religion practice questionnaire (RPQ) scores were evaluated in a sample of BC patients in different moments. Before chemotherapy initiation, women with lower physical and social functional scores displayed higher RPQ scores. On the other hand, low RPQ patients worsened some QoL scores over time. Body image acceptance was positively correlated with religious practice and specifically praying activity. This preliminary study suggests the importance of religion in coping with cancer chemotherapy. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

New ruthenium(II)/phosphines/diimines complexes: Promising antitumor (human breast cancer) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis fighting agents

The synthesis and characterization of ruthenium compounds of the type [RuCl2(P)2(N-N)] [(P)2 = (PPh3) 2, dppb = 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butano; dppp = 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane; N-N = 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′dipyridyl (5,5′-mebipy) or 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′dipyridyl (4,4′-mebipy)] are described. The complexes were characterized using elemental analysis, UV-Vis and infrared spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry, and X-ray crystallography. In vitro evaluation of the complexes, using the MTT methodology, revealed their cytotoxic activities in a range of 5.4-15.7 μM against the MDA-MB-231 breast tumor cells and showed that, in this case, they are more active than the reference metallodrug cisplatin. The in vitro antimycobacterial activities of the complexes had their Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) for MTB cell growth measured, by the REMA method. The MICs for these complexes were found to be between 12.5 and 25.0 μg/mL. The results are comparable with the second line drug cycloserine (MIC = 12.5-50.0 μg/mL), commonly used in the treatment of TB. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Genomic and phenotypic profiles of two Brazilian breast cancer cell lines derived from primary human tumors

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women worldwide. Research using breast cancer cell lines derived from primary tumors may provide valuable additional knowledge regarding this type of cancer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the phenotypic profiles of MACL-1 and MGSO-3, the only Brazilian breast cancer cell lines available for comparative studies. We evaluated the presence of hormone receptors, proliferation, differentiation and stem cell markers, using immunohistochemical staining of the primary tumor, cultured cells and xenografts implanted in immunodeficient mice. We also investigated the ability of the cell lines to form colonies and copy number alterations by array comparative genomic hybridization. Histopathological analysis showed that the invasive primary tumor from which the MACL-1 cell line was derived, was a luminal A subtype carcinoma, while the ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) that gave rise to the MGSO-3 cell line was a HER2 subtype tumor, both showing different proliferation levels. The cell lines and the tumor xenografts in mice preserved their high proliferative potential, but did not maintain the expression of the other markers assessed. This shift in expression may be due to the selection of an 'establishment' phenotype in vitro. Whole-genome DNA evaluation showed a large amount of copy number alterations (CNAs) in the two cell lines. These findings render MACL-1 and MGSO-3 the first characterized Brazilian breast cancer cell lines to be potentially used for comparative research. © 2013 Spandidos Publications Ltd. All rights reserved.

Clinicopathological significance of ERCC1 expression in breast cancer

The excision repair cross-complementation 1 (ERCC1) enzyme plays an essential role in the nucleotide excision repair pathway and is associated with resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy in different types of cancer. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinicopathological significance of ERCC1 expression in breast cancer patients. We analyzed the immunohistochemical expression of ERCC1 in a tissue microarray from 135 primary breast carcinomas and correlated the immunohistochemical findings with clinicopathological factors and outcome data. ERCC1 expression analysis was available for 109 cases. In this group, 58 (53.2%) were positive for ERCC1. ERCC1-positive expression was correlated with smaller tumor size (P=0.007) and with positivity for estrogen receptor (P=0.040), but no correlation was found with other clinicopathological features. Although not statistically significant, triple negative breast cancers were more frequently negative for ERCC1 (61.5% of the cases) compared to the non-triple negative breast cancer cases (41.5%). In conclusion, ERCC1 expression correlated significantly with favorable prognostic factors, such as smaller tumor size and ER-positivity, suggesting a possible role for ERCC1 as a predictive and/or prognostic marker in breast cancer. © 2013 Elsevier GmbH.

Role of Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn in breast cancer: Study by X-ray fluorescence techniques and immunohistochemical analysis

In recent years, several studies have shown that concentrations of trace elements are altered in neoplastic breast tissues. However, the microenvironment and metabolic changes caused by tumors are complex and still not completely understood. Under this aspect, the combination of different techniques to investigate the role of trace elements in promoting and/or maintaining a tumor is interesting once the combination of information obtained by analytical techniques and immunohistochemical assays, associated with clinicopathological data, may allow a better metabolic understanding of trace elements in breast cancer. In this work, the role of the trace elements Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn in neoplastic breast tissues was investigated by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques and immunohistochemical assays. We determined concentrations of Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn in normal and neoplastic breast tissues using energy dispersive XRF, and these values were used to set the positive or negative expression of elements in normal and neoplastic tissues. These expressions were correlated with the spatial distributions of trace elements (evaluated by micro-XRF) and with immunoexpression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), tissue inhibitors of MMPs and vascular endothelial growth factor. The results revealed that the expression of the trace elements Fe, Cu and vascular endothelial growth factor are related, indicating that higher levels of these elements can be associated with the angiogenic process in breast cancer. Also, associations between Ca, Zn and MMPs expression have been observed, possibly because of the fact that both metals are present in these proteins. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Glutathione and glutathione peroxidase expression in breast cancer: An immunohistochemical and molecular study

The use of prognostic markers for breast cancer allows therapeutic strategies to be defined more efficiently. The expression of glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in tumor cells has been evaluated as a predictor of prognosis and response to cytotoxic treatments. Its immunoexpression was assessed in 63 women diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in a retrospective study. The results showed that high GSH expression was associated with tumors negative for the estrogen receptor (ER) (P<0.05), and GPX expression was associated with tumors negative for the progesterone receptor (PR) and patient mortality. Focusing on the 37 patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy/radiotherapy (Group I), high expression of GPX was associated with a high rate of patient mortality (P<0.05). The 19 patients who received only adjuvant chemotherapy (Group II) showed high expression of GSH in relation to metastasis (P<0.05). In addition, high levels of GPX expression were significantly associated with a shorter overall survival (P<0.05). To confirm this, the expression of precursor genes of GSH [glutamate cysteine ligase (GCLC) and glutathione synthetase (GSS)] and the GPX gene was analyzed using quantitative PCR in cultured neoplastic mammary cells treated with doxorubicin. Doxorubicin treatment was able to eliminate tumor cells without alterations in the gene expression of GSS, but led to underexpression of the GCLC and GPX genes. Our results suggest that high levels of GPX may be related to the development of resistance to chemotherapy in these tumors, response to treatment and the clinical course of the breast cancer patients.

Development and characterization of a new bio-nanocomposite (bio-NCP) for diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer

Breast cancer is a public health problem throughout the world. Moreover, breast cancer cells have a great affinity for hydroxyapatite, leading to a high occurrence of bone metastasis. In this work we developed a bio-nanocomposite (bio-NCP) in order to use such affinity in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. The bio-NCP consists of magnetic nanoparticles of Mn and Zn ferrite inside a polymeric coating (chitosan) modified with nanocrystals of apatite. The materials were characterized with synchrotron X-ray Powder Diffraction (XPD), Time-of-Flight Neutron Powder Diffraction (NPD), Fourier Transformed Infra-red Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and magnetic measurement with a Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS). We obtained ferrite nanoparticles with a high inversion degree of the spinel structure regarding the Fe and Mn, but with all the Zn in the A site. The coating of such nanoparticles with chitosan had no notable effects to the ferrite microstructure. In addition, the polymeric surface can be easily modified with apatite nanocrystals since the hydration of the bio-NCP during synthesis can be controlled. The resulting bio-NCP presents a spherical shape with a narrow size distribution and high magnetic response at room temperature and is a very promising material for early diagnosis of breast cancer and its treatment. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Investigation of single-strand conformational polymorphism of the TP53 gene in women with a family history of breast cancer

Breast cancer in families with germ line mutations in the TP53 gene has been described in the medical literature. Mutation screening for susceptibility genes should allow effective prophylactic and preventive measures. Using single-strand conformational polymorphism, we screened for mutations in exons 5, 6, 7 and 8 of gene TP53 in the peripheral blood of 8 young non-affected members (17 to 36 years old) of families with a history of breast cancer. Studies of this type on young patients (mean age, 25 years) are very rare in the literature. The identification of these mutations would contribute to genetic counseling of members of families with predisposition to breast cancer. The results obtained did not show any polymorphism indicating mutation. In our sample, the familial tumorigenesis is probably related to other gene etiologies.

Effect of melatonin on tumor growth and angiogenesis in xenograft model of breast cancer

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Exposure to lard-based high-fat diet during fetal and lactation periods modifies breast cancer susceptibility in adulthood in rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

N-acetylglucosaminidase, myeloperoxidase and vascular endothelial growth factor serum levels in breast cancer patients

Inflammatory cells surround breast carcinomas and may act promoting tumor development or stimulating anti-tumor immunity. N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) has been employed to detect macrophage accumulation/activation. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is considered a marker for neutrophils activity/accumulation. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is as strong pro-angiogenic cytokine. The aim of this study was to measure the systemic inflammatory response by measuring serum levels of NAG, MPO and VEGF in women diagnosed with breast cancer and associate this response to the peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate and to prognostic factors. Serum samples obtained from women with no evidence of disease (n = 31) and with breast cancer (n = 68) were analyzed for the activities of NAG, MPO and VEGF by enzymatic assay. Serum levels of NAG and VEGF were higher in healthy volunteers (P < 0.0001) and serum levels of MPO were higher in patients with breast cancer (P = 0.002). Serum levels of NAG were positively correlated to serum levels of MPO and VEGF (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0012, respectively) and MPO and VEGF serum levels had also a positive correlation (P = 0.0018). The inflammatory infiltrate was not associated to serum levels of the inflammatory markers, and higher levels of MPO were associated to lymphovascular invasion negativity (P = 0.0175). (C) 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Ethanolic extract of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia leaves: Chemical characterization and cytotoxic effect on human breast cancer MCF-7 cell line

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)