Objective To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of HER2 protein expression in different degrees in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative breast cancer and the factors related to the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer with low HER2 expression. Methods The clinicopathological data of 161 patients with HER2-negative breast cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the Department of Breast Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from March 2019 to March 2022 were retrospectively collected. The difference of clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with different levels of HER2 protein expression were analyzed, and the factors influencing the pathological complete remission (pCR) rate of breast cancer patients with low HER2 expression after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with unconditional logistic regression model were analyzed. Results Among 161 HER2 negative breast cancer patients, 108 cases were low HER2 expression, accounting for 67.1%. Compared with those with zero expression of HER2 [immunohistochemistry (IHC) 0], the patients with low HER2 expression had higher axillary lymph node metastasis rate (P=0.048), lower histological grade (P=0.006), and higher proportion of positive hormone receptor expression (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in pCR rate among the HER2 IHC 0, IHC 1+ and IHC 2+ / in situ hybridization (ISH)– (P=0.099) , and the pCR rate of low expression of HER2 was lower than that of zero expression of HER2 in the general population and Luminal subgroup, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in triple negative breast cancer subgroup (P=0.814). The logistic regression analysis showed that age, histological grade and estrogen receptor expression status were independent influencing factors for pCR rate after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with low HER2 expression (P<0.05). Conclusions Different degrees of HER2 protein expressions in patients with HER2-negative breast cancer have unique clinicopathological characteristics. The pCR rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with low HER2-expression breast cancer is lower than that in patients with zero HER2-expression breast cancer. Age, histological grade and estrogen receptor expression status are independent factors influencing the pCR rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with low HER2-expression breast cancer.
ObjectiveTo analyze the clinicopathologic features of elderly patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and explore the influencing factors of postoperative prognosis.MethodsThe TNBC patients who were pathologically confirmed in the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from January 1st, 2013 to January 1st, 2014 were retrospectively collected. The differences of clinicopathologic characteristics bwteeen elderly and young and middle-aged patients (according to the standard of 65 years old) were analyzed. At the same time, Cox risk regression model was used to analyze the prognostic factors of elderly patients with TNBC.ResultsA total of 142 patients with TNBC were collected, including 53 elderly patients and 89 young and middle-aged patients. There were no significant differences in terms of family history, histological grade, clinical TNM stage, T stage, axillary lymph node status, and postoperative chemotherapy between the elderly patients and young and middle-aged patients (P>0.05). The rate of breast conserving surgery in the young and middle-aged patients was higher than that in the elderly patients (χ2=4.665, P=0.031). All patients were followed up to 60 months, the recurrence and metastasis rate and the mortality of the elderly patients were lower than those of the young and middle-aged patients (recurrence and metastasis rate: 30.2% versus 47.2%, χ2=3.974, P=0.046; mortality: 11.3% versus 28.1%, χ2=5.474, P=0.019), and the 5-year disease-free survival rate and 5-year overall survival rate of the elderly patients were higher than those of the young and middle-aged patients (5-year disease-free survival rate: 69.8% versus 52.8%, χ2=4.106, P=0.037; 5-year overall survival rate: 88.7% versus 71.9%, χ2=5.209, P=0.022). The tumor T stage (χ2=14.806, P=0.001) and status of axillary lymph node metastasis (χ2=8.149, P=0.043) were associated with postoperative recurrence and metastasis in the elderly patients with TNBC by univariate analysis, and which were the independent risk factors for the recurrence and metastasis in the elderly patients with TNBC by multivariate analysis.ConclusionsPrognosis of elderly patients with TNBC is better than that of young and middle-aged patients. Tumor T stage and axillary lymph node status are independent risk factors affecting prognosis of elderly patients with TNBC.
ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between UBE2Q1 expression and clinicopathologic features and prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma. MethodsThis study retrospectively chose the cancer tissue and para-carcinoma tissue samples of 74 patients with stage I to III lung adenocarcinoma who received radical resection in Nanjing Chest Hospital from January 2013 to December 2016. Immunohistochemistry staining was used to detect the expression level of UBE2Q1, and patients were divided into high-expression group and low-expression group according to the Immunohistochemistry staining score. The correlation of UBE2Q1 expression level and clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed by Chi-square test. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analyzed the correlation between UBE2Q1 and prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma patients. The risk factors affecting the survival of lung adenocarcinoma patients were analyzed by univariate and multivariate Cox proportional risk models. ResultsUBE2Q1 was highly expressed in lung adenocarcinoma tissues, and the expression level was correlated with tumor diameter, lymph node metastasis, and TNM stage (P<0.05), and did not correlate with patients’ gender, age, smoking history, and tumor differentiation (P>0.05). The results of the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with low expression of UBE2Q1 compared with those with high expression of UBE2Q1 had longer DFS and OS (both P<0.05). Cox proportional risk model showed that tumor diameter, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, and high UBE2Q1 expression were the risk factors for DFS and OS, among which TNM stage was an independent risk factor. ConclusionUBE2Q1 was highly expressed in lung adenocarcinoma tissues and correlated with large tumor diameter, lymph node metastasis, late TNM stage and poorer prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma, and UBE2Q1 was a risk factor for lung adenocarcinoma.
ObjectiveTo summarize the clinicopathological characteristics of 94 patients with pure mucinous breast carcinoma (PMBC), and to retrospectively analyze the prognosis and the prognostic factors.
MethodsNinety four patients who were pathologically diagnosed with PMBC from November 1996 to October 2011 were retrieved from the database of breast cancer in West China Hospital. The clinicopathological and long term follow-up data of these patients were analyzed retrospectively.
Results① Clinicopathological characteristics:These patients accounted for 1.48% (94/6 330) of all breast cancer patients who treated in our hospital during the same period. They were all female,with a median age of 45 years old (29-85 years)and median duration of 90 d (5-2920 d). A proportion of 63.83% (60/94) of these patients were premenopausal women. Ninety three patients had unilateral lesion, one patient had bilateral lesions, totally 95 lesions. A proportion of 85.29% (58/68) tumors were in T1-T2 staging, and 82.80% (77/93) tumors were node-negative. A proportion of 1.05% (1/95) tumors had metastasized at diagnosis. A proportion of 92.54% (62/67) tumors were in Ⅰ-Ⅱ staging, 84.34% (70/83) tumors were estrogen receptor (ER) positive, 74.70% (62/83) were progesterone receptor (PR) positive, and 20.25% (16/79) were human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2/neu) positive. A proportion of 6.32% (6/95) of tumors had breast-conserving surgery. ② Preoperative diagnosis:The detection rate of malignance were 60.87% (14/23), 83.33% (40/48), and 100% (18/18), respectively for patients who were examined with mammography, ultrasonography, and mammography+ultrasonography, and there was significant difference between the three groups (P=0.006). ③ Prognosis and prognostic factors:The follow-up rate was 80.85% (76/94). Two cases had bone metastasis respectively in 14 and 26 months after operation, one of whom died. Both five-year and ten-year overall survival rate (OS) were 98.50%, both five-year and ten-year disease-free survival rate (DFS) were 95.80%. There was no lymph node involvement in patients of T1 phase, and no recurrence, metastasis or death occurred during the follow-up. The univariate analysis showed that the disease course, T staging, TNM staging, and HER-2/neu status were statistically significant prognostic factors for DFS situation (P<0.050).
ConclusionsCases in this group displayed indolent behavior and favorable prognosis which are similar to western populations. The disease course, T staging, TNM staging, and HER-2/neu status appear to be significant predictors of worse prognosis. The combination of mammography and ultrasonography could largely improve the diagnostic accuracy, and breast-conserving therapy may be recommended for patients with no contraindications.
ObjectiveTo analyze the relation between age and postoperative pathological features of patients with colorectal cancer from Database from Colorectal Cancerr (DACCA). MethodsThe data in DACCA were updated on January 5, 2022. The patients were selected from DACCA according to the established screening conditions, then were divided into ≤35, 35–59, and ≥60 years old groups. The differences of postoperative pathological (p) TNM (pTNM), pT, pN, pM stages, perineural invasion (PNI), high-risk factors grade, and tumor regression grade (TRG) among the three age groups were analyzed, and the correlation between them was analyzed. ResultsAfter screening, 5 628 data rows were enrolled, of whom 196 patients were <35 years old, 2 382 patients were 35–59 years old, and 3 050 patients were >59 years old. Statistical analysis showed that: ① There were statistical differences in the proportions of pN stage, PNI, and high-risk factors grade in the patients of different age groups (H=27.867, P<0.001; H=6.248, P=0.044; H=19.712, P<0.001, respectively); However, it was not found that there were statistical differences in the proportions of pTNM, pT, pM stages, and TRG after neoadjuvant therapy among different age patients (H=0.920, P=0.631; H=4.923, P=0.085; H=2.272, P=0.321; H=2.337, P=0.311, respectively). The Spearman correlation analysis results showed that there was a weakly negative correlation between the age and pN stage or grade of high-risk factors (rs=–0.070, P<0.001; rs=–0.067, P<0.001, respectively) and a weakly positive correlation between age and TRG after neoadjuvant therapy (rs=0.100, P=0.009). ConclusionDACCA data analysis finds that patients of different age groups shows a negative correlation trend with pN stage or grade of high-risk factors and a positive correlation trend with TRG, which needs to be further verified.
Objective To investigate the relationship between thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) and clinicopathological features of breast cancer. Methods Thyroid function data, general clinical data and data reflecting pathological characteristics of breast cancer of 136 breast cancer patients admitted to the Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, People’s Hospital of Wuhan University from December 2019 to April 2022 were collected. According to the TPOAb and TGAb antibody levels of patients, 136 breast cancer patients were divided into positive group (antibody level ≥60 U/mL) and negative group (antibody level < 60 U/mL). The general clinical data, thyroid function, breast cancer markers, tumor size, pathological classification, clinical TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and immunohistochemical index expression characteristics of the two groups were analyzed. Results There was no statistically significant difference between the TPOAb positive group and the TPOAb negative group, as well as between the TgAb positive group and the TgAb negative group in terms of age, previous chronic medical history, surgical medical history and menstrual status of breast cancer patients (P>0.05), and there was no significant difference in the results of preoperative ultrasound and molybdenum target examination (P>0.05).Compared with the TPOAb negative group, the level of triiodothyronine (T3) in the TPOAb positive group was lower (P=0.020), and the level of thyroidstimulating hormone (TSH) was higher (P=0.001). TSH level in the TgAb positive group was higher than that in the TgAb negative group (P=0.036). There was no significant difference in tumor markers (carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 125 and 153) and the number of lymph nodes cleared during operation between the positive and negative groups of TPOAb and TgAb (P>0.05). Compared with the respective negative groups, there was no significant difference tumor size, pathological classification, clinical TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, pathological molecular classification, and the expression of ER, PR and Ki-67 in the TPOAb positive group and the TgAb positive group (P>0.05). The positive rate of HER-2 expression in the TPOAb positive group was higher than that in the TPOAb negative group (P=0.033). There was no significant difference in HER-2 expression between the TgAb positive group and the TgAb negative group (P>0.05). There was no significant difference between the TPOAb positive group and the TPOAb negative group, as well as the TgAb positive group and the TgAb negative group in terms of chemotherapy, invasive carcinoma with carcinoma in situ, with benign lesions and nerve invasion (P>0.05). There was no significant difference between TPOAb positive group and negative group in vascular tumor thrombus rate and single cancer focus rate (P>0.05). Compared with the TgAb negative group, the TgAb positive group had a lower vascular tumor thrombus rate (P=0.034) and a higher single cancer focus rate (P=0.045). Conclusions Thyroid autoantibodies positive breast cancer patients have lower T3 level and higher TSH level, and the positive expression of thyroid autoantibodies is related to HER-2 expression, vascular tumor thrombus and the number of tumor foci in breast cancer. It suggests that thyroid autoantibodies TPOAb and TgAb may have an impact on the prognosis of breast cancer.
Objective To compare the differences in clinicopathological features, molecular phenotypes, and prognosis between atypical type A thymoma (AAT) and classic type A thymoma (TAT), and to clarify the aggressive nature of AAT. Methods The data of AAT patients (AAT group) and classic TAT patients (TAT group) who underwent surgical resection for thymoma at West China Hospital of Sichuan University between January 2016 and November 2024 were retrospectively collected. Comparisons on the clinical data, histopathology, immunohistochemistry (CD20, Ki-67), GTF2I mutation status, and survival outcomes were performed between the two groups. Results A total of 53 patients were enrolled, including 22 in the AAT group and 31 in the TAT group. There was no significant difference in age, sex, or initial presenting symptoms between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with the TAT group, the AAT group had larger tumors [(5.6±2.7) vs. (4.1±2.0) cm, P=0.043], a lower proportion of Masaoka stage Ⅰ (31.6% vs. 61.3%, P=0.041), and worse survival outcomes [progression-free survival: hazard ratio (HR)=2.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.42, 5.81), P=0.004; overall survival: HR=1.96, 95%CI (1.02, 3.78), P=0.013]. Pathologically, the AAT group showed more mitotic figures (mean 6/2 mm2), and tumor necrosis was observed in 45.5% of cases. There was no statistically significant difference in the CD20 expression rate (20.0% vs. 41.9%), Ki-67 index [(11.0±6.0)% vs. (8.0±6.9)%], or GTF2I mutation rate (86.7% vs. 92.3%) between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions AAT is a subtype of TAT with distinct aggressive pathological features, including higher mitotic activity, a tendency for necrosis, and a greater propensity for recurrence and metastasis. Pathological diagnosis should integrate morphology and molecular testing to guide more aggressive treatment and follow-up strategies.
Objective To observe the high-risk histopathological feature (HRF) and their correlation with prognosis in children with intraocular retinoblastoma (RB) in the intraocular stage after failed eye-preserving treatment and enucleation surgery. MethodsA single-center retrospective case study. From August 2018 to January 2023, 64 children (64 eyes) with advanced intraocular RB who were diagnosed in Department of Ophthalmology of Beijing Children's Hospital and underwent enucleation surgery after failed eye-preserving treatment were included in the study. The median follow-up time was 51 months. The gender of the children patients, the age of visit and enucleation, International Intraocular Retinoblastoma Classification (IIRC), the initial chemotherapy regimen (hereinafter referred to as "chemotherapy"), the time of enucleation surgery, pathological results, post-enucleation treatment methods and prognosis were collected. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between groups. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank test was used for comparison between groups. ResultsAmong 64 cases and 64 eyes, 37 were male and 27 were female. The age of seeking medical treatment was 20 (11-31) months. The age at which the surgery was performed was 29 (16-40) months. The number of eyes in IIRC stage D and E was 16 and 48 respectively. The initial chemotherapy regimens simply applied (hereinafter referred to as "alone") intravenous systemic chemotherapy (IVC) and ophthalmic artery infusion chemotherapy (IAC) in 40 cases and 11 cases, 13 cases of IVC+IAC. All patients with positive HRF received systemic adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery. There were 37 eyes (57.8%, 37/64) positive for HRF. There was no statistically significant difference in the positive rate of HRF between children in IIRC stage D and stage E (χ2=0.021, P=0.884). Among the 37 eyes with HRF, the numbers of eyes with extensive choroidal invasion, posterior lamina cribrosa optic nerve invasion, scleral invasion and optic nerve stump involvement were 17 (45.9%, 17/37), 16 (43.2%, 16/37), 3 (8.1%, 3/37) and 3 (8.1%, 3/37), respectively. During the follow-up period, there were 5 cases (7.8%, 5/64) of extraocular metastasis of the tumor and death, all of which were stage E and had HRF. Among them, the initial treatment plan was IAC for 4 cases, one case of IVC. The survival rates of children among the IVC, IAC or IVC+IAC regimens were 97.5% (39/40), 63.6% (7/11), and 100.0% (13/13), respectively. The comparison of survival rates among different chemotherapy regimens showed statistically significant differences (χ2=14.233, P<0.001). The results of survival analysis showed that the cumulative survival rate of those with extensive choroidal invasion, posterior lamina cribrosa optic nerve infiltration, and those who received IAC was significantly lower than that of those without extensive choroidal invasion, posterior lamina cribrosa optic nerve infiltration, and those who received IVC+IAC and IVC (P<0.05). ConclusionsEye-preserving treatment for children with advanced intraocular RB may increase the positive rate of HRF and the risk of extraocular metastasis. The IVC+IAC eye-protecting treatment plan can improve the survival rate of children.
ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between different RAS/BRAF mutation sites and the clinicopathological characteristics, metastatic sites, and prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinicopathological data of 415 patients with stage Ⅰ –Ⅲ microsatellite stability (MSS) colorectal cancer who underwent radical surgery at the Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, and the Department of General Surgery, Gansu Provincial People’s Hospital, from March 1, 2017, to October 1, 2022, and had next-generation sequencing data. According to the presence and sites of RAS/BRAF mutations, patients were divided into five groups: RAS/BRAF wild-type group, KRAS G12 codon mutation group, KRAS G13 codon mutation group, BRAFV600E mutation group, and other RAS codon mutation group. The clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic differences between the four groups of RAS/BRAF mutant colorectal cancer patients and the RAS/BRAF wild-type colorectal cancer patients were compared. ResultsAmong stage Ⅰ –Ⅲ MSS colorectal cancer patients, there were 166 cases (40.0%) of wild-type RAS/BRAF without mutation, 124 cases (29.9%) of KRAS G12 mutation, 55 cases (13.3%) of KRAS G13 mutation, 23 cases (5.5%) of BRAFV600E mutation, and 47 cases (11.3%) of other RAS codon mutations. Clinicopathological characteristics analysis revealed that BRAFV600E mutation was associated with mucinous adenocarcinoma (P=0.033). Compared with the wild-type group, KRAS G12 mutation could increase the probability of metachronous lung metastasis (P=0.003) and reduce the probability of metachronous liver metastasis (P=0.013); the KRAS G13 mutation and other RAS mutations could increase the probability of metachronous lung metastasis (P=0.004, P=0.006). Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that among the RAS/BRAF codon mutations, only KRAS G13 mutation was an independent prognostic factor for poor prognosis in stage Ⅰ –Ⅲ colorectal cancer. ConclusionsDifferent RAS/BRAF gene codon mutations are associated with distinct clinicopathological characteristics and organ metastatic sites in colorectal cancer. KRAS G13 codon mutation is an independent prognostic factor for poor prognosis in stage Ⅰ –Ⅲ colorectal cancer. It is recommended that routine detection of RAS/BRAF gene site mutations should be performed in stage Ⅰ –Ⅲ colorectal cancer patients to guide the follow-up management and help clinicians make rational clinical decisions after tumor recurrence.
Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) is a multi-potential tumor based on mesenchymal cells distributed around capillaries. The main affected population is female, and the clinical manifestations are not specific. It can affect all parts of the body. There are more PEComa in the uterus and very few PEComa in the liver. Due to its low incidence, clinicians lack awareness of it. Based on the relevant literature, this article reviews the clinicopathological features, imaging features, molecular phenotypes, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment of liver PEComa, so as to strengthen the understanding of the disease, prevent missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis, and guide clinical work.