Prediction of recurrence risk in early breast cancer using human epidermal growth factor 2 and cyclin A2 / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) is one of the most important prediction factors, but only 25% - 30% of breast cancer patients HER2 are positive. It is unknown whether there are other molecular markers that could be used to predict prognosis and recurrence in HER2 negative patients. This study investigated correlations of cyclin A2 and HER2 levels with clinical outcomes in 281 patients with invasive breast cancer in order to identify whether cyclin A2 can serve as a prognostic factor in HER2 negative patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect cyclin A2 and HER2 expression in 281 patients. Cyclin A2 and HER2 gene amplifications were analyzed using gene analysis and RT-PCR in 12 patients. Risk and survival estimates were analyzed using Log-rank, Kaplan-Meier, and Cox regression analysis; cyclin A2 and HER2 consistency with survival were analyzed using Kappa analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Patients with higher cyclin A2 and HER2 expressions had significantly shorter disease-free survival periods (P = 0.047 and P = 0.05, respectively). Kappa analysis performed that cyclin A2 and HER2 showed a low Kappa index (kappa = 0.37), allowing us to conclude that cyclin A2 and HER2 detect different pathologies. Gene analysis and RT-PCR showed that cyclin A2 was upregulated in patients with early relapse; the average increase was 3.69 - 2.74 fold.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Cyclin A2 and HER2 are associated with proliferation and high recurrence, particularly when combined. Cyclin A2 is easily detected by nuclear staining and might be a useful biomarker for recurrence risk in HER2 negative patients.</p>

FTIR spectroscopic characterization of freshly removed breast cancer tissues / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify the FTIR spectroscopic characterization of breast cancer and explore the possibility of application of FTIR in differentiation of malignant and benign breast lesions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>FTIR spectra of surgically removed fresh breast tissues were measured by spectrometer equipped with mid-infrared fiber optics and an ATR probe. Peaks in the spectra were measured and relative intensity ratios were calculated and analyzed if there are significant differences between the spectra of malignant and benign breast lesions.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were significant differences (P < 0.05) between the spectra of malignant breast cancers and benign breast tissues in the relative intensity ratios of different peaks (I1640/ I1550 and I1160/I1120 for protein structures; I1640/I1460 and I1550/I1460 for relative content of protein and lipid; I1460/I1400 for lipid structures; I1310/I1240 for nucleic acid).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>FTIR spectroscopy could be a useful tool in clinical diagnosis of breast cancer.</p>