| 1. |
- Berglund, Pontus, et al.
(author)
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Cyclin E confers a prognostic value in premenopausal breast cancer patients with tumours exhibiting an infiltrative growth pattern
- 2008
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In: Journal of Clinical Pathology. - : BMJ. - 0021-9746 .- 1472-4146. ; 61:2, s. 184-191
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims: To investigate the prognostic value of cyclin E in relation to tumour growth pattern by analysing stage II primary breast cancers from premenopausal women not subjected to any further adjuvant treatment. To analyse the value of cyclin E as a predictor of tamoxifen response, by comparing untreated and treated patients with oestrogen receptor positive tumours. Methods: Breast cancer samples, assembled in tissue microarrays, were immunohistochemically stained for cyclin E and evaluated regarding the presence of nuclear staining. The overall growth characteristics of each tumour were assessed using whole tissue sections. Results: Tumours displaying a pushing margin phenotype were strongly associated with high cyclin E levels, lymph node negative disease, a high histological grade and oestrogen receptor negativity, and exhibited a better prognosis compared to tumours with an infiltrative growth pattern. In the total cohort of non-treated patients (n = 187), cyclin E was not associated with recurrence free survival (RFS). However, when analysing the subgroup of tumours lacking a pushing growth pattern (n = 141), cyclin E was significantly associated with RFS, independent of histological grade and node status. There was no significant difference in tamoxifen response with regard to different cyclin E levels. Conclusion: The prognostic value of cyclin E in premenopausal breast cancer is limited to patients with breast carcinomas exhibiting an exclusively infiltrative growth pattern. This limitation could be explained by the presence of a small but distinct subgroup of cyclin E-high breast cancers with a pushing margin phenotype and a more favourable outcome.
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| 2. |
- Borgquist, Signe, et al.
(author)
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Oestrogen receptors alpha and beta show different associations to clinicopathological parameters and their co-expression might predict a better response to endocrine treatment in breast cancer.
- 2008
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In: Journal of Clinical Pathology. - : BMJ. - 1472-4146 .- 0021-9746. ; 61:2, s. 197-202
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AIMS: The majority of all breast cancers are hormone responsive, traditionally defined by the expression of oestrogen receptor (ER) alpha and/or progesterone receptors. In contrast to ERalpha, the clinical significance of the relatively recently identified ERbeta is still unclear. This study aimed to define the relationship between ERbeta and clinicopathological parameters in a mixed cohort of breast cancer and, furthermore, to investigate the impact of ERbeta expression on disease outcome. METHODS: The immunohistochemical expression of ERalpha and ERbeta was analysed in tissue microarrays containing a total number of 512 tumours with all incident breast cancers diagnosed at the Malmö University Hospital between 1988 and 1992. RESULTS: 78% of the tumours were ERalpha positive and 50% were ERbeta positive. ERbeta correlated positively with ERalpha (p = 0.001). In contrast to ERalpha, ERbeta was not associated with any important clinicopathological variables. Furthermore, no overall prognostic significance could be demonstrated for ERbeta. In the ERalpha-positive subgroup, however, a low expression of ERbeta correlated with a decreased disease-free survival in patients receiving endocrine treatment (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Although interrelated, ERalpha and ERbeta seem to be differentially associated to clinicopathological parameters, and this would support the fact that they might have different functions in vivo. Furthermore, ERbeta might be a predictive marker of response to endocrine therapy, although this needs to be confirmed in additional studies, preferably randomised trials.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- DaCosta, R. S., et al.
(author)
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Autofluorescence characterisation of isolated whole crypts and primary cultured human epithelial cells from normal, hyperplastic, and adenomatous colonic mucosa
- 2005
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In: Journal of Clinical Pathology. - : BMJ. - 0021-9746 .- 1472-4146. ; 58:7, s. 766-774
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background/Aims: In vivo autofluorescence endoscopic imaging and spectroscopy have been used to detect and differentiate benign ( hyperplastic) and preneoplastic ( adenomatous) colonic lesions. This fluorescence is composed of contributions from the epithelium, lamina propria, and submucosa. Because epithelial autofluorescence in normal and diseased tissues is poorly understood, this was the focus of the present study. Methods: Whole colonic crypts were isolated, and short term primary cultures of epithelial cells were established from biopsies of normal, hyperplastic, and adenomatous colon. Autofluorescence ( 488 nm excitation) was examined by confocal fluorescence microscopy. Fluorescently labelled organelle probes and transmission electron microscopy were used to identify subcellular sources of fluorescence. Results: Mitochondria and lysosomes were identified as the main intracellular fluorescent components in all cell types. Normal and hyperplastic epithelial cells were weakly autofluorescent and had similar numbers of mitochondria and lysosomes, whereas adenomatous ( dysplastic) epithelial cells showed much higher autofluorescence, and numerous highly autofluorescent lysosomal ( lipofuscin) granules. Conclusions: Short term primary cell cultures from endoscopic biopsies provide a novel model to understand differences in colonic tissue autofluorescence at the glandular ( crypt) and cellular levels. The differences between normal, hyperplastic, and adenomatous epithelial cells are attributed in part to differences in the intrinsic numbers of mitochondria and lysosomes. This suggests that the detection of colonic epithelial fluorescence alone, if possible, may be sufficient to differentiate benign ( hyperplastic) from preneoplastic and neoplastic ( adenomatous) colonic intramucosal lesions during in vivo fluorescence endoscopy. Furthermore, highly orange/red autofluorescent intracellular granules found only in dysplastic epithelial cells may serve as a potential biomarker.
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| 5. |
- Gräns, Hanna, et al.
(author)
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Reduced levels of oestrogen receptor beta mRNA in Swedish patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.
- 2007
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In: Journal of Clinical Pathology. - : BMJ. - 0021-9746 .- 1472-4146. ; 60:2, s. 195-8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an illness with unknown aetiology and pathophysiology. The difference in incidence by sex observed for CFS indicates a role for oestrogen and oestrogen receptors in disease development. Furthermore, an immunomediated pathogenesis has been suggested for CFS, providing an additional connection to oestrogen, which displays immunomodular functions. AIMS: To investigate a possible association of oestrogen receptor (ER) mRNAs and two ERbeta single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with CFS. METHODS: Messenger RNA levels of ERalpha, ERbeta wt and ERbeta cx were investigated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 30 patients with CFS and 36 healthy controls by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Two ERbeta SNPs were scored in the same material. RESULTS: The CFS group showed significantly lower mRNA expression levels of ERbeta wt compared with the healthy control group. No differences were observed for ERalpha or ERbeta cx between patients and controls. There were no significant differences in frequency for the investigated ERbeta SNPs between cases and controls. CONCLUSIONS: The reduced ERbeta wt expression level observed in this study is consistent with an immune-mediated pathogenesis of CFS. Additionally, the observation that ERbeta wt expression is decreased in CFS could provide an entry point to identify interesting, potentially disease-causing, candidate molecules for further study. A possible connection between oestrogen, oestrogen receptors and CFS should be evaluated further.
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| 6. |
- Halvarsson, Britta, et al.
(author)
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Phenotypic heterogeneity in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer: identical germline mutations associated with variable tumor morphology and immunohistochemical expression.
- 2007
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In: Journal of Clinical Pathology. - : BMJ. - 1472-4146 .- 0021-9746. ; 60:7, s. 781-786
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is associated with high risks for colorectal and endometrial cancer, young age at onset and an increased risk of multiple primary tumours. Colorectal cancer in HNPCC is characterised by poor tumour differentiation, an expanding growth pattern, and a pronounced lymphocytic reaction with tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes. Aims and METHODS: The mutation spectrum in HNPCC is diverse and in order to clarify whether the HNPCC tumour phenotype is influenced by the underlying genetic alteration, 29 colorectal cancers and 12 adenomas from 24 individuals in two HNPCC families were morphologically and immunohistochemically characterised. RESULTS: The tumour morphology as well as the immunohistochemical expression of beta-catenin varied extensively within the families as well as between synchronous/metachronous colorectal cancers from the same individual. Poor tumour differentiation, an expanding growth pattern, and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes occurred at higher frequencies in proximal tumours, whereas distal colorectal cancers often lacked distinct HNPCC-associated morphological features. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical, morphological and immunohistochemical variability observed within these families indicates that other mechanisms than the underlying germline mutation influence the HNPCC phenotype. Since morphological features linked to HNPCC are less frequent in distal cancers, it may be particularly relevant to obtain family history and age of onset in these tumours in order to identify individuals with HNPCC.
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| 7. |
- Henriksson, Anders E., et al.
(author)
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Neuroendocrine tumour cells in the wall of a splenic artery aneurysm
- 2007
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In: Journal of Clinical Pathology. - : BMJ. - 0021-9746 .- 1472-4146. ; 60:7, s. 837-838
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Neuroendocrine tumours are reported from the alimentary and respiratory tracts. A case of a 57-year-old man with an unsuspected histopathological finding of neuroendocrine tumour cells in the wall of a splenic artery aneurysm is reported. Visceral artery aneurysms are uncommon but clinically important owing to the risk of rupture and of intra-abdominal bleeding.1 There are several possible aetiologies, atherosclerosis being one, and often the cause is unknown or at least not stated.1 The case of a patient with two visceral artery aneurysms and unsuspected histopathological finding is reported.
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| 8. |
- Jatta, Ken, et al.
(author)
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Overexpression of von Hippel-Lindau protein in skeletal muscles of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- 2009
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In: Journal of Clinical Pathology. - London : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 0021-9746 .- 1472-4146. ; 62:1, s. 70-76
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background/aim: A Significant number of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exhibit skeletal muscle wasting and decreased capillary area formation which have been correlated to increased mortality. The current study aimed to determine the molecular mechanisms mediating decreased capillary formation in COPD.Methods: Twenty-four COPD patients and twelve matching controls were recruited. COPD patients were divided into mild, moderate and severe groups according to GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) criteria. Skeletal muscle biopsies were obtained from the tibialis anterior muscle. Fibre typing and capillary formation together with messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF-1á and HIF-3á ), vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF-A, -B and -C isoforms) and von Hippel Lindau (VHL) were determined. VHL expression and localization was further studied by immunohistochemistry.Results: Skeletal muscle capillary formation was significantly decreased with ascending disease severity. Compared to controls, a tendency to mRNA overexpression of HIF-1á, HIF-3á and VEGF isoforms was observed at mild and moderate COPD that decreased at the severe stage. By contrast, skeletal muscle biopsies from COPD patients exhibited significant overexpression of VHL both on the mRNA and protein levels by immunohistochemistry. VHL protein was further determined to be localized to satellite cells.Conclusions: Overexpression of VHL was identified in the skeletal muscle of patients with COPD. Increased VHL activity may exert a negative impact on transducing the hypoxic signal and may contribute to decreased capillarization in skeletal muscles of patients with COPD.
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| 9. |
- Jirström, Karin, et al.
(author)
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Pathology parameters and adjuvant tamoxifen response in a randomised premenopausal breast cancer trial
- 2005
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In: Journal of Clinical Pathology. - : BMJ. - 0021-9746 .- 1472-4146. ; 58:11, s. 1135-1142
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Subgroups of breast cancer that have an impaired response to endocrine treatment, despite hormone receptor positivity, are still poorly defined. Breast cancer can be subdivided according to standard pathological parameters including histological type, grade, and assessment of proliferation. These parameters are the net result of combinations of genetic alterations effecting tumour behaviour and could potentially reflect subtypes that respond differently to endocrine treatment.Aims: To investigate the usefulness of these parameters as predictors of the response to tamoxifen in premenopausal women with breast cancer.Materials/methods: Clinically established pathological parameters were assessed and related to the tamoxifen response in 500 available tumour specimens from 564 premenopausal patients with breast cancer randomised to either two years of tamoxifen or no treatment with 14 years of follow up. Proliferation was further evaluated by immunohistochemical Ki-67 expression.Results: Oestrogen receptor positive ductal carcinomas responded as expected to tamoxifen, whereas the difference in recurrence free survival between control and tamoxifen treated patients was less apparent in the relatively few lobular carcinomas. For histological grade, there was no obvious difference in treatment response between the groups. The relation between proliferation and tamoxifen response seemed to be more complex, with a clear response in tumours with high and low proliferation, whereas tumours with intermediate proliferation defined by Ki-67 responded more poorly.Conclusions: Clinically established pathology parameters seem to mirror the endocrine treatment response and could potentially be valuable in future treatment decisions for patients with breast cancer.
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| 10. |
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