Does the degree of cell lesion in breast cancer after inductive chemotherapy have any prognostic value?

During 1991 and 1992, 77 patients with breast cancer were treated with induction chemotherapy using the CMFV and FAC protocols at the Lublin Oncological Centre. The degree of cancer cell damage in the specimens obtained postoperatively was evaluated by microscopy. Complete or substantial damage of neoplastic cells was found in 29% of the cases; whereas minimal to no damage was found in 71% of specimens. After assessing the 5-year survival periods of our patients in relation to the degree of cancer cell damage after induction chemotherapy, a statistically significant correlation was noted. Five-year survival without cancer symptoms was observed in 64% of cases in which the cell damage was estimated as considerable, and only in 34% in which the damage was slight or not notable. A much weaker correlation was observed between the degree of breast cancer cell damage after inductive chemotherapy and clinical response.

DNA index as prognostic factor in breast cancer.

Enzymatically dissociated cells exhibited growth in most cases while mechanically dissociated cells did not grow in short term cultures and were not suitable for cytometric study. Breast cancer cells obtained by enzymatic dissociation were examined for DNA content and S-phase fraction. The most of the primary and metastatic breast cancer cells were aneuploid. The 74% rate of invasive and 62% of primary breast cancers had aneuploid (> G0/G1) DNA content, 22% of metastatic breast cancer cells and 37% of primary tumors cells were DNA diploid or near diploid tumor stemlines. The means of DNA diploid and near diploid tumor cells were higher in primary tumors. DNA index was higher in more aggressive and metastatic tumors. S-phase fractions were higher in cells of metastatic tumors than those in primary tumors. Nuclear DNA content and S-phase fraction can be considered a valuable prognostic indicators in breast cancer.

Preliminary studies on the effect of Ukrain (Tris(2-([5bS-(5ba,6b,12ba)]- 5b,6,7,12b,13,14-hexahydro-13-methyl[1,3] benzodioxolo[5,6-v]-1-3- dioxolo[4,5-i]phenanthridinium-6-ol]-Ethaneaminyl)Phosphinesulfide.6HCl ) on the immunological response in patients with malignant tumours.

Preliminary clinical observations and studies on immunological response-indicators were made in eight patients with malignant tumours, who had been administered parenteral injections of Ukrain. The results suggest that the preparation is a non-toxic immunostimulator inducing production of thymodependent T lymphocytes. The preparation improves general health of patients, has anti-allergic action, and sedative and anti-inflammatory effects. It can inhibit growth of malignant tumours.