ABSTRACT
Thirty-three primary breast cancers were analyzed for prognostic markers, Immunohistochemical assay of c-erbB-2 oncoprotein was performed in formalin fixed paraffin-embedded tissue. Enzyme immunoassay and radioreceptor assay for ER and PR were respectively done in tumor cytosol. Pre-opertive blood sample obtained from this group of patients were analyzed for CEA, CA15-3 and MCA levels. About 54% of tumor had c-erbB-2 positive staining. Direct association was observed between tumor size, pathological stage, serum CEA levels and c-erbB-2 expression. No significant association existed between the expression of c-erbB-2 and lymph node invasion, histological type, ER and PR status, serum CA15-3 or MCA levels. Increased incidence of c-erbB-2 overexpression among breast cancer patients with large tumor, more advanced stage and elevated CEA level suggests its value for indicating of greater tumor aggressiveness.
ABSTRACT
“Terpinen-4-ol” a cyclic terpene alcohol isolated from oil of Zingiber cassumunar Roxb., was tested for its antifertility effect in hamsters. The fertility test was performed according to the MB 55 WHO protocol (52 days of treatment). The results of the experiment revealed that at dose levels of 100 and 200 mg/kg, the number of epididymal sperm decreased significantly, by 65 and 74 percent respectively. More than 90 percent of the sperm abnormal morphology, especially at the midpiece portion of the tail; motility was also markedly depressed. The sperm motility rate of the group receiving 100 mg/kg varied from 0 to 40 percent compared with 74 percent of the control group. The sperm motility rate was totally zero in the group treated with 200 mg/kg. When the males were mated with females, the pregnancy rate of the mated females was 0 percent (with both low and high doses) compared with 100 percent for the control group; there was no evidence of abnormal, live or dead fetuses or other parameter connected with pregnancy. Blood levels of FRH, LH and testerone were not significantly changed. Histological study of the testis revealed no interference with spermatogenesis at all doses tested. Moreover, no significant alteration in body weight, or in adrenal gland, testicular and accessory sex organ weights except for the weights of the cauda and total epididymis which were significantly decreased. When the modified MB 55 protocol (22 days of treatment) was applied, exactly similar results, as described above were obtained. When Terpinen-4-ol was tested for its antifertility effect in female hamsters, no significant alteration on fertility parameters, namely pregnancy rate, number of live fetuses including abnormal fetuses, implantation sites and corpus luteum of pregnancy was observed. These results indicate with certainty that this compound possesses potent antipermatogenesis and antifertility effects in males only. Further study to again more information would certainly be worthwhile and may lead to the development of a male contraceptive for human use in the future.