Objective To detect the expressions of osteopontin （OPN）， breast tumor kinase （Brk）， and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） in the breast cancer tissue， the adjacent （2cm） normal breast tissue， and the distal（＞5cm） normal breast tissue， and analyze their clinical significances. Method The immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expressions of OPN， Brk， and VEGF in the breast cancer tissue， the adjacent （2cm） normal breast tissue， and the distal （＞5cm） normal breast tissue from 40 cases of breast cancer. Results ① The expressions of OPN，Brk， and VEGF in the breast cancer tissue were significantly higher than those of the adjacent （2cm） normal breast tissue and the distal （＞5cm） normal breast tissue （P＜0.01）， the expression of Brk in the adjacent （2cm） normal breast tissue was significantly higher than that of the distal （＞5 cm） normal breast tissue （P＜0.05）. ② In the breast cancer tissue， the OPN and Brk protein expressions were not associated with age， tumor diameter， and histological grade （P＞0.05），were associated with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage （P＜0.05）. The VEGF protein expression was not associated with age and tumor diameter （P＞0.05）， but was associated with histological grade， lymph node metastasis， and TNM staging （P＜0.05）. ③ In the breast cancer tissue， OPN， Brk， and VEGF had positive correlation with each other （P＜0.05）， but not in the adjacent （2cm） normal breast tissue and the distal （＞5 cm） normal breast tissue （P＞0.05）. Conclusions The expressions of OPN and Brk from the same signal pathway increase by turns in the distal （＞5 cm） normal breast tissue， adjacent （2cm） normal breast tissue， and breast cancer tissue. OPN induced the adhesion and migration of endothelial cells to accelerate vascular repair through VEGF and Brk has correlation with the progress of tumor invasion and metastasis through participating in tumor vascularization.
Objective To study the relationship between metalloproteinases (MMPs) and breast cancer. Methods The literature in recent years on the relationship between the expression of MMPs and breast cancer was reviewed. Results The balance between MMPs and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) is keeping normally kept in human body. Many of the studies showed that the expression of MMPs is increased in breast cancer. Conclusion The growth, invasion and metastasis of breast cancer is closely related with the increased expression of MMPs. This suggests that MMPs is a valuable prognostic marker and TIMPs would be a novel drug against cancer.
ObjectiveTo analyze the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of breast cancer patients with low human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) expression. MethodsThe breast cancer patients underwent initially surgical resection in the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from October 2015 to October 2017 and met the criterion of this study were retrospectively gathered. Based on the immunohistochemical / in situ hybridization detection results, the patients were divided into three subtypes of HER2 zero, low, and positive expressions, and the differences in the clinicopathologic characteristics, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of the three subtypes of breast cancer patients were compared. At the same time, the risk factors affecting the OS and DFS of breast cancer patients with low HER2 expression were analyzed. ResultsA total of 315 eligible patients were gathered in this study, including 68 patients with HER2 zero expression, 121 patients with low HER2 expression, and 126 patients with positive HER2 expression. There were no statistic differences in the menstrual status, T stage, and histological classification between the breast cancer patients with low HER2 and positive HER2 expressions (P>0.05), but the proportions of the patients with lymph node metastasis, histological grade Ⅲ, negative hormone receptor (HR) and high Ki67 expression in the low HER2 expression patients were lower than those in the positive HER2 expression patients. And compared with HER2 zero expression breast cancer patients, the proportions of premenopausal / perimenopausal, T2–4, N1–3, histological grade Ⅱ, ductal carcinoma, negative HR, and low Ki67 expression patients in the breast cancer patients with low HER2 expression were higher (P<0.05). While the survival curves of OS and DFS by Kaplan-Meier method had no statistic differences among the three subtypes of the breast cancer patients (χ2=0.070, P=0.966; χ2=0.362, P=0.835). The multivariate analysis results by Cox proportional hazards regression found that the low HER2 expression breast cancer patients with histological grade Ⅲ and negative HR had the higher risks of OS and DFS shortening (P<0.05). In addition, the risk of DFS shortening in the patients with T stage 2–4 and N stage 1–3 was increased (P<0.05). ConclusionsFrom the results of this study, breast cancer patients with low HER2 expression is different from the other two subtypes of breast cancer in terms of clinicopathologic characteristics. However, there are no statistical significances in comparing the OS and DFS of three types of breast cancer patients, but it is found that histological grading and HR are related to the OS and DFS of breast cancer patients with low HER2 expression, and it is also found that T stage and N stage are related to the DFS of breast cancer patients with low HER2 expression, so more attentions should be paid to the treatment plans.
ObjectiveTo summarize the mechanism of action of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) inhibitors, the application in breast cancer in recent years and the advances in the study of their bio-markers of effects. MethodRelevant literatures on PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and the study in the field of breast cancer were reviewed and summarized.ResultsIn recent years, the monotherapy of immune checkpoint inhibitors represented by PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors or in combination with other therapies had brought new hope for patients with breast cancer especially triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, only a small number of patients could benefit from breast cancer immunotherapy. The current researchers think that the efficacy of these drugs is related to PD-L1 expression in tumor tissue, tumor mutation burden (TMB), high level of microsatellite instability (MSI-H) and deficient mismatch repair (dMMR).ConclusionBreast cancer can benefit from the immunotherapy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, but formulating personalized medicine model, finding biomarkers that can predict efficacy and selecting patients with breast cancer who can benefit from it for targeted therapy are the new requirements in the new era of breast cancer immunotherapy.
Objective To observe the effectiveness of IMPACT management mode on self-care and management abilities of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy with implantable venous access port (VAP). Methods Breast cancer patients who underwent chemotherapy with VAP at Shangjin Hospital, West China Hospital, Sichuan University between March 2020 and June 2021 were prospectively included. IMPACT mode was used for self-management training guidance. The patient self-care abilities before training and at 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months of training were compared, and the patient self-management abilities at 1 month and 3 months of training were compared. Results A total of 74 patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy with VAP were included. The total score of self-care ability of patients before training and at 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months of training was 112.11±14.63, 123.20±15.73, 127.95±13.89, and 131.92±13.60, respectively, and all the between-time-point differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). In terms of self-concept score, all the between-time-point differences were statistically significant (P<0.05) with increasing score over time, except the difference between the score at 3 months of training and that at 2 months of training (P>0.05). In terms of self-responsibility and self-care skill scores, all the between-time-point differences were statistically significant (P<0.05) with increasing scores over time, except the difference between the score at 2 months of training and that at 1 month of training (P>0.05). In terms of health knowledge level, the scores at 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months of training were higher than that before training (P<0.05), and the score at 3 months of training was higher than that at 1 month of training (P<0.05). The self-management ability scores in all dimensions at 3 months of training were higher than those at 1 month of training, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion The IMPACT management mode can effectively improve the self-care and management abilities of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy with VAP, thereby ensuring the normal use of VAP, reducing the occurrence of complications, and reducing the burden on families and society.
ObjectiveTo investigate effectiveness of the combination of serratus anterior muscle flap and breast implants for breast reconstruction after modified radical mastectomy.MethodsBetween January 2015 and December 2015, 25 female patients with breast cancer were enrolled, aged 24-62 years (mean, 40.6 years). The tumor located at left side in 9 cases and right side in 16 cases; 14 cases were in the left upper quadrant, 4 cases were in the left lower quadrant, 7 cases were on the top of the breast. All cases were invasive ductal carcinoma. According to TNM staging, 14 cases were at stageⅠand 11 cases were at stageⅡA. The diameter of lumps were all less than 3 cm. All those lumps were solitary and without distant metastasis. The sentinel nodes were all negative. After modified radical mastectomy, the breasts were reconstructed by serratus anterior muscle flap and breast implants. The nipples were spared in 22 cases.ResultsThe operation time was 113-148 minutes (mean, 136 minutes). All breasts survived and incisions healed at stageⅠ. There was no complication such as hematoma, infection, etc. All patients were followed up 6-18 months (mean, 15 months). Except 1 case, the others were evaluated according to the criteria of the reconstructed breast at 12 months after operation. Among them, 23 cases were evaluated as good and 1 case as fair. There was no tumor recurrence during the follow-up period.ConclusionThe combination of serratus anterior muscle flap and breast implants after the modified radical mastectomy is a handy approach of breast reconstruction which is less harmful with few postoperative complications. It also gains a high degree of satisfaction from patients for good breast shape.