Phagocytosis of cancer cells by mast cells in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Mast cells (MCs) remain enigmatic more than 100 years after their discovery by Paul Ehrlich. Continuous research over the last 20 years has finally characterized the origin of MCs and determined many of the factors involved in MC differentiation and proliferation. MCs are traditionally known for mediating allergic reactions. In addition, these cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of clinical conditions. Studies on the role of MCs in cancer have given contrasting results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 50 cases of invasive ductal breast cancer not otherwise specified (NOS): 25 of them were highly hormone-receptive (HHR) cancers with estrogen and progesterone receptor values not lower than 50%, 25 were minimally hormone-receptive (MHR) cancers (<5%). In both groups, mast cells were quantified in the peritumoral area. Twenty cases of surgical interventions without cancer were included as controls. RESULTS: It was found that in infiltrating ductal breast cancers having a high hormone receptor content (>50% for both estrogen and progesterone), there was a highly significant increase in MCs with respect to hypo-hormonal cancers in the same location and to controls (p<0.0001). MCs have thus proven to be very important cells because they have been found in sites playing an active role in opposing the aggression of the cancer cells (CCs). MCs may represent a protective factor of the human body against cancer aggresion. Two biological phenomena with the same goal can be observed: CCs are first phagocytized by MCs and then completely destroyed by karyocytoplasmic chemolysis through the action of toxicophore granulations. It was demonstrated that one or more CCs are surrounded by an MC's pseudopodia and then engulfed in its cytoplasm. The phagocytized cell progressively loses its chromatic and volumetric characteristics until complete achromia and almost complete reduction of its volume and consistency occur. The cell nucleus soon degenerates to pyknosis and becomes no longer detectable.

Mast cells in invasive ductal breast cancer: different behavior in high and minimum hormone-receptive cancers.

BACKGROUND: Studies on the role of mast cells (MC) in cancer have given contrasting results. In order to contribute to the clarification of their role, research on breast cancer was carried out, because some aspects of its carcinogenesis, such as the diversity of the hormonal component, differ greatly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 50 cases of invasive ductal breast cancer not otherwise specified (NOS): 25 of them were high hormone-receptive (HHR) cancers with estrogen and progesterone receptor values not lower than 50%, 25 were minimum hormone-receptive (MHR) cancers (< 5%). In both groups, mast cells were quantified in the peritumoral area. Twenty cases of surgical interventions for non-neoplastic esthetic prosthesis in healthy women were examined as controls. The proliferation index Ki-67 (MIB1) and the c-erb B2 receptor protein were also considered in cancer patients. Mast cells were detected using Giemsa and Alcian blue stains. RESULTS: The results obtained showed that there was a highly significant increase in the number of mast cells mainly in the peritumoral area in HHR cancer cases (p < 0.0001) compared to MHR cancers and controls (p < 0.0001). Comparison between mast cells in MHR cancer and control cases was not significant (p = 0.114). Hormone-receptive cancers have a less severe prognosis for their higher responsiveness to therapy. This element may suggest that the higher mast cell number present in these types of cancer is a favorable prognostic factor. Moreover, mast cells tend to accumulate around the cancer area and this can be seen as an attempt to oppose the progression of the anomalous tissue. Mast cells were reported to exhibit cytolytic activity against tumor cells.

Histamine and selenium in lung cancer.

The relationship between allergies and cancer incidence and the role played by histamine on the immune system and on inhibiting tumor growth have been the subject of study in our group. The influence of histamine dosage on free radicals was investigated in both lung cancer and healthy subjects. Plasmatic selenium levels in the same patients were assayed in order to highlight the role played by free radicals in lung cancer. The role of selenium on the genesis of lung cancer is well known. Thirty-seven male patients with lung adenocarcinoma or squamous carcinoma were tested. The control group included thirty-nine healthy male subjects. The results indicated a significant decrease in histamine plasma levels in subjects with cancer (p=0.0038) compared to the healthy subjects. Smoking significantly reduced the histamine plasma levels in cancer patients (p=0.0044). Such a decrease was not significant in the controls (p=0.063). A significant decrease in selenium plasma levels in the cancer patients (p=0.005) was also observed. The data suggest that histamine and selenium are two factors involved in the pathogenesis of lung cancer, which could be used in protective and therapeutic strategies.

Vitamins A, E, microelements and membrane lipid peroxidation in patients with neoplastic disease treated with calcium antagonists and antagonists of receptors H2.

We studied the serum levels of vitamins A, E, zinc and copper in two hundred and twenty-five subjects of both sexes. They were divided into two groups: 87 healthy subjects who served as controls and 138 patients with neoplastic disease. The patients were subdivided according to the absence (n = 79) or the presence of metastatic disease (n =59). In 59 patients with cancer, who were in therapy with scavenger drugs of free radical such as calcium antagonists and the antagonists of receptors H2, we also studied the possible effect of the same therapy on the serum levels of vitamins, on the concentrations of the microelements and on membrane lipid peroxidation. We found that membrane lipid peroxidation, evaluated from the time of in vitro formation in the blood of so-called "Heinz bodies," decreased in all patients treated with scavenger drugs. In these patients the permeability of the erythrocyte membrane was similar to the controls and the serum levels of the vitamins were equal to the levels in patients who did not receive these therapies. Zinc concentration increased while copper remained unchanged. We also studied the levels of vitamins in some organs. The results are discussed considering the role of free radicals. We underline the importance of vitamins A and E in the protection from membranous peroxidation and from free radicals and the need to consider cancer as a systemic morbid event, apart from the contingent actual location.