High expression of soluble CD155 in estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The poliovirus receptor (CD155) is expressed ubiquitously at low levels on both hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells, but its expression is upregulated in various tumor cells. An activating receptor DNAM-1 expressed on cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer (NK) cells binds to CD155 and mediates the cytotoxic activity of CTLs and NK cells against tumors. Unlike mouse tissues, human tissues express a soluble form of CD155 (sCD155), which is a splicing isoform of CD155 lacking the transmembrane region. We previously reported that the serum levels of sCD155 were higher in lung, gastrointestinal, breast, and gynecologic cancer patients than in healthy donors. Here, we focus on breast cancer patients. METHODS: To analyze the association between serum level of sCD155 and clinicopathological parameters of breast cancer, we quantified sCD155 in the sera of 153 breast cancer patients by sandwich ELISA. RESULTS: sCD155 levels in the sera of breast cancer patients were positively correlated with patient age, disease stage, and invasive tumor size. Moreover, they were higher in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-negative cancers than in those with ER-positive tumors, and higher in those with Ki-67-high cancers than in those with Ki-67-low cancers. CONCLUSIONS: The serum level of sCD155 is correlated with high risk factors in breast cancer.

A case of hemorrhagic cystitis caused by nab-paclitaxel.

Nab-paclitaxel (nab-PTX) is a nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel and, as such, is free of solvents like ethanol and polyoxyethylene castor oil. The absence of solvents from this formulation has several practical advantages: it has a shorter infusion time, it negates the need for premedications for hypersensitivity reactions, and it can be administered to patients with alcoholic hypersensitivity. It is thought that nab-paclitaxel will be in widespread use in the near future because of its convenience and efficacy. Here, we report the case of a breast cancer patient who developed hemorrhagic cystitis potentially due to treatment with nab-paclitaxel. The patient was 69-year old lady with stage IIB left breast cancer. She was due to undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy and started weekly treatment with nab-paclitaxel. On the second day of the first cycle of treatment, she experienced symptoms of cystitis, but was not hemorrhagic and the symptoms were managed with antibiotics. After the third cycle, the symptoms of cystitis became severe, and she was diagnosed with hemorrhagic cystitis and discontinued chemotherapy with nab-paclitaxel. This is the first case report of hemorrhagic cystitis associated with nab-paclitaxel.