ABSTRACT
Objective To identify a aldehyde dehydrogenases positive (ALDH+) cancer stem cell subpopulation in MCF-7 cells and to investigate the proliferation and differentiation characteristics of these cells in vitro.Methods ALDH+ breast cancer stem cells were isolated from MCF-7 cells by flow cytometry and the biological property of ALDH+ breast cancer stem cells were examined by scarification test,MTT,growth curvature and Transwell migration assay.Results The ratio of CD-/low24 CD+44 cells was about 1.4 ％ in MCF-7 cells.The ratio of ALDH+ CD-/low24CD+44 cells was about 1.2 ％.The growth curvature of ALDH+ breast cancer stem cells was almost the same with that of CD-/low24 CD+44 cells.The distance between cells was obviously shorter in both CD-/low24 CD+44 cells scarification zone and ALDH+ CD-/low24 CD+44 cells scarification zone.The migration ability of CD-/low24CD+44 cells and ALDH+ CD-/low24CD+44 cells was stronger than control group cells.There were migration ability differences between CD-/low24CD+44 cells and ALDH+ CD-/low24CD+44 cells.The results of Transwell experiments were in coincidence with above results.Lots of CD-/low24CD+44 cells and ALDH+ CD-/low24CD+44 cells were through the membrane.In MTT assay,absorbance values were 1.05±0.098,1.56±0.075 and 1.67±0.032.Conclusion CD--/low24CD+44 and ALDH+ CD-/low24CD+44 breast cancer stem cell subpopulation exist in MCF-7 cells.ALDH could potentially be used as a molecular marker to identify breast cancer stem cell subpopulation.
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of the axillary conservative surgery by sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) using preoperative lymphoscintigraph technique with 99mTc-SC and methylene blue in early-stage breast cancer patients. Methods The sentinel lymph node (SLN) of 187 patients were located with preoperative lymphoscintigraph technique with 99mTc-SC and labeled with methylene blue during the operations. The metastasis of SLN was detected using frozen section technique. There were 51 patients whose SLN were positive having been carried with modified radical mastectomy of breast cancer and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), 136 patients' SLN were negative,58 patients of those were carried with mammectomy or partial mastcctomy and ALND (group A),while 78 patients were carried out with mammectomy or partial mastectomy only (group B). The sentinel lymph nodes were detected with HE stain after surgery. All the patients were treated with chemotherapy,and the patients with partial mastcctomy must be treated with radiotherapy. There were 2 patients with micrometastasis in group B being treated with mammectomy or partial mastcctomy only,and carried out with ALND again. Results The number of cases with upper limb numbness, edema, dysfunction in group A were 36,8 and 45 cases, in group B were 2,0,0 case respectively. Group A compared with group B was increased significantly (P 0.05). Conclusion It is simple and accurate to carry out SLNB using preoperative lymphoscintigraph technique with 99mTc-SC combined with methylene blue,and the effect is reliable.
ABSTRACT
Background and purpose:Tamoxifen is the main endocrine therapy of premenopausal breast cancer with positive hormone receptors but numerous patients have developed advanced refractory breast cancer due to drug resistance.Our study investigated the role of combining oophorectomy and exemestane in the treatment of advanced refractory breast cancer.Methods:Oophorectomy was carried out in all patients.Exemestane was administered orally (25 mg/d) one week after the operation.The median time of progression (TTP),the median survival time as well as the survival rate were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier methods.Results:Seventeen patients ranging between the ages of 26 and 44 years (median:36 years) were treated resulting in an overall response rate of 64.70%,TTP was 8 months and the median survival time was 31 months.The survival rates for 1 year,3 years and 5 years were 88.24%,64.71%,29.41%,respectively.No grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ side effects appeared.Conclusion:Oophorectomy when combined with exemestane showed antitumor activity for advanced refractory premenopausal breast cancer through positive hormone receptor and it is also well-tolerated.