• Applied Microscopy
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• v.51
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• pp.6.1-6.9
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• 2021

Histopathology is a well-established standard diagnosis employed for the majority of malignancies, including breast cancer. Nevertheless, despite training and standardization, it is considered operator-dependent and errors are still a concern. Fractal dimension analysis is a computational image processing technique that allows assessing the degree of complexity in patterns. We aimed here at providing a robust and easily attainable method for introducing computer-assisted techniques to histopathology laboratories. Slides from two databases were used: A) Breast Cancer Histopathological; and B) Grand Challenge on Breast Cancer Histology. Set A contained 2480 images from 24 patients with benign alterations, and 5429 images from 58 patients with breast cancer. Set B comprised 100 images of each type: normal tissue, benign alterations, in situ carcinoma, and invasive carcinoma. All images were analyzed with the FracLac algorithm in the ImageJ computational environment to yield the box count fractal dimension (Db) results. Images on set A on 40x magnification were statistically different (p = 0.0003), whereas images on 400x did not present differences in their means. On set B, the mean Db values presented promising statistical differences when comparing. Normal and/or benign images to in situ and/or invasive carcinoma (all p < 0.0001). Interestingly, there was no difference when comparing normal tissue to benign alterations. These data corroborate with previous work in which fractal analysis allowed differentiating malignancies. Computer-aided diagnosis algorithms may beneficiate from using Db data; specific Db cut-off values may yield ~ 99% specificity in diagnosing breast cancer. Furthermore, the fact that it allows assessing tissue complexity, this tool may be used to understand the progression of the histological alterations in cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1231-1233
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• 2012

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the expression of DLC-l in breast carcinoma and any association with tumor metastasis. Methods: 51 surgical specimens of human breast carcinoma, divided into high invasive and low invasive groups according to their clinicopathological features, 30 cases of adjacent normal tissue and 28 benign breast lesions were examined by qRT-PCR for expression of DLC-1. Results: Expression level of DLC-1 in adjacent normal tissue and benign breast lesion specimens was higher than that in breast carcinoma (P<0.0001); the values in the high invasive group with synchronous metastases were also lower than in the low invasive group (P=0.0275). The correlation between DLC-1 expression level and tumor progression and metastasis of breast cancer was negative. Conclusion: As an anti-oncogene, DLC-1 could play an important part in breast carcinoma occurrence, progression, invasiveness and metastasis. Detecting the changes of the expression of DLC-1 in the breast carcinoma may contribute to earlier auxiliary diagnosis of invasiveness, metastasis and recrudescence.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.643-646
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• 2014

Objective: This study aimed to explore the expression of tissue factor (TF), protease activated receptor-2 (PAR-2), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line and influence on invasiveness. Methods: Stable MCF-7 cells transfected with TF cDNA and with TF ShRNA were established. TF, PAR-2, and MMP-9 protein expression was analyzed using indirect immunofluorescence and invasiveness was evaluated using a cell invasion test. Effects of an exogenous PAR-2 agonist were also examined. Results: TF protein expression significantly differed between the TF cDNA and TF ShRNA groups. MMP-9 protein expression was significantly correlated with TF protein expression, but PAR-2 protein expression was unaffected. The PAR-2 agonist significantly enhanced MMP-9 expression and slightly increased TF and PAR-2 expression in the TF ShRNA group, but did not significantly affect protein expression in MCF-7 cells transfected with TF cDNA. TF and MMP-9 expression was positively correlated with the invasiveness of tumor cells. Conclusion: TF, PAR-2, and MMP-9 affect invasiveness of MCF-7 cells. TF may increase MMP-9 expression by activating PAR-2.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.116-123
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• 2011

The incidence of breast cancer, the second most prevalent cancer type in South Korea, has increased by 6.8% annually in the last six years. The higher number of breast cancer patients has led to an increase in the cases of skin-sparing mastectomies, thereby increasing the need for reconstructive procedures. The reconstruction options include alloplastic techniques such as implant or autologous reconstruction with numerous flaps. The abdominal area is the preferred donor site for the harvest of autologous tissue for breast reconstruction. Breast reconstruction using abdonimal tissue is commonly accomplished using the transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap. The establishment of microvascular surgery led to the development of the free TRAM flap because of its increased vascularity and decreased rectus abdominis sacrifice. The muscle-sparing TRAM, DIEP, and SIEA flap techniques were later developed in an effort to decrease the abdominal-donar-site morbidity by decreasing the injury to the rectus abdominis muscle and fascia. This article summarizes the various abdominal flaps for breast reconstruction.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.89-90
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• 2018

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4063-4066
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• 2012

To determine the clinical outcome of breast cancer BI-RADS 4 lesions and seek a more effective management guideline, we conducted a retrospective study of all BI-RADS4 patients diagnosed between 2003-2008 with follow up time not less than 2 years. A total of 392 cases of BI-RADS 4 were identified and 320 could be sub-categorised as 4a, 4b and 4c. Overall malignant positive results were 7.65, 38.7 and 58.percent, respectively. In all cases assigned to the close follow up group, no malignancy was detectable (P<0.02). The results of the study suggested that BI-RADS sub-categories have benefit for cancer diagnosis and treatment decisions of clinicians and it might be possible to set up a safe follow-up guideline in selected groups of patients to minimize un-necessary tissue biopsy for breast cancer detection.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.4357-4361
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• 2016

Background: Whether there is any relationship between human papilloma virus (HPV) and breast carcinoma is not clear. Some previous studies have indicated a possible role in oncogenesis in the breast. In this study, we therefore analyzed the presence of HPV infection in breast tissues of Iranian women from Yazd city. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from 87 patients with breast cancer and 84 cases with breast fibrocystic lesions (control group) were selected from a tissue archive. Grade of tumors and fibrocystic tissues were determined by two pathologists. The nested-PCR method was performed for detection of HPVs in samples. HPV genotypes were determined by sequencing and the phylogenetic tree depicted by MEGA software. Results: Of the 87 women with breast cancer, 22.9% (20 isolates) had positive results for HPV DNA. In the control group no HPV was detected. The HPV genotypes in positive samples were HPV-16 (35%) HPV-18 (15%), HPV-6 (45%) and HPV-11 (5%). The data did not approved a significant correlation between tissue pathology of breast cancer and the HPV genotype frequency. Conclusions: The data did not provide any evidence for a role of high risk HPV types in oncogenesis in the breast.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3685-3688
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• 2013

Background: Clinicians determine degree of mammographic density based on tissue firmness on breast examination. The study aimed to compare breast density in mammography and clinical breast examination. Materials and Methods: Six-hundred sixty three women 40 years of age or older were studied. The breast exam density was graded from 1 to 4 by two expert surgeons and the mammographic parenchymal density by two expert radiologists. Then for practical reasons, grades 1 and 2 were considered as low-density and grades 3 and 4 as high-density. Results: High and low densities were detected in 84.5% and 15.5% of clinical breast examinations and 59.7% and 40.3% of mammographies, respectively. The statistical analysis showed a significant difference between the breast tissue densities in breast examination with those in mammography. Conclusions: A clinically dense breast does not necessarily imply a dense mammographic picture.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.4
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• pp.813-819
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• 2024

Ectopic breast tissue, which results from incomplete regression of the mammary line during embryogenesis, is observed in 0.2%-6% of the population. Carcinoma development in ectopic breast tissue, especially in the abdominal or chest wall, is rare. Here we present the unusual case of a 38-year-old woman with invasive ductal carcinoma in the ectopic breast tissue on the left side of the chest wall and concurrent fibroadenoma in the ectopic breast tissue on the right side. We also describe the US and MR findings of these masses.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3197-3203
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• 2013

Background: microRNAs (miRNAs) that regulate proliferation, invasion and metastasis are considered to be the principal molecular basis of tumor heterogeneity. Breast cancer is not a homogeneous tissue. Thus, it is very important to perform microarray-based miRNA screening of tumors at different sites. Methods: Breast tissue samples from the centers and edges of tumors of 30 patients were classified into 5 clinicopathological subtypes. In each group, 6 specimens were examined by microRNA array. All differential miRNAs were analyzed between the edges and centers of the tumors. Results: Seventeen kinds of miRNAs were heterogeneously distributed in the tumors from different clinicopathological subtypes that included 1 kind of miRNA in Luminal A and Luminal B Her2+ subtypes, 4 kinds in Luminal A and Her2 overexpression subtypes, 6 kinds in Luminal B Ki67+ and Luminal B Her2+ subtypes, 2 kinds between Luminal B Ki67+ and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtypes, 2 kinds between Luminal B Her2+ and TNBC subtypes, and 2 kinds between Luminal B Ki67+, Luminal B Her2+, and TNBC subtypes. Twenty kinds of miRNAs were homogenously distributed in the tumors from different clinicopathological subtypes that included 6 kinds of miRNAs in Luminal B Ki67+ and Luminal B Her2+ subtypes, 1 kind in Luminal B Ki67+ and Her2 overexpression subtypes, 10 kinds between Luminal B Ki67+ and TNBC subtypes, 2 kinds in Luminal B Her2+ and TNBC subtypes, and 1 kind between Luminal B Ki67+, Luminal B Her2+, and TNBC subtypes. Conclusions: A total of 37 miRNAs were significantly distributed in tumors from the centers to edges, and in all clinicopathological subtypes.