Evaluation of Ki-67 antigen expression in the zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex of female rats in persistent estrus.

BACKGROUND: Hyperandrogenism and chronic anovulation are basic characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and androgens from the adrenal glands play an important role in the hyperandrogenism. Our aim was to evaluate the proliferative activity in the zona reticularis cells of the adrenal cortex of female rats in persistent estrus, a model developed to mimic PCOS. METHODS: Forty-four female Wistar-Hannover rats were randomly divided into two groups: control (n = 17) and animals which received 1.25 mg testosterone propionate s.c. on the second day of life (n = 27). At 90 days of age, after confirmation of persistent estrus, the animals were sacrificed, and the adrenal glands were removed and fixed in 10% buffered formalin to investigate Ki-67 antigen (marker of proliferation) expression by immunohistochemical analysis. Student's t-test and Levene's test were used in the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean percentage of Ki-67-stained nuclei per 1000 cells in the zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex was 15.58 +/- 1.14 (SEM) and 51.59 +/- 1.81 in the control and persistent estrus animals, respectively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Proliferative activity in the zona reticularis cells of the adrenal cortex of the androgenized female rats was significantly greater than that of the control animals.

Effects of raloxifene on Ki-67 and CD34 antigen expression in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of raloxifene on CD34 and Ki-67 antigen expression in breast cancer specimens from postmenopausal women. METHODS: Sixteen postmenopausal patients with operable, stage II (>or=3 cm), estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, who took 60 mg of raloxifene daily for 28 days, participated in this study. Immunohistochemistry was carried out in tumor samples prior to and following raloxifene treatment to evaluate CD34 and Ki-67 protein expression. Angiogenesis was quantified in 10 randomly selected fields per slide, and Ki-67-stained nuclei were counted in 1,000 cells per slide using an image capture and analysis system with 400x magnification. Student's t test for paired samples was used for the statistical analysis of data. Statistical significance was established at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The mean number of microvessels was 44.44 +/- 3.54 prior to raloxifene therapy and 22.63 +/- 1.61 following therapy (p < 0.001), and the mean percentage of Ki-67-stained nuclei was 19.28 +/- 1.61 and 12.13 +/- 1.48 prior to and following raloxifene treatment, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Raloxifene significantly reduces CD34 and Ki-67 protein expression in breast carcinoma in postmenopausal women.

Morphometric analysis of the urethra of castrated female rats treated with tamoxifen.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of tamoxifen on the weight and thickness of the urethral epithelium of castrated female rats. METHODS: Forty castrated adult female Wistar-Hannover rats were randomly divided into two groups: Group I (n=20) in which the animals received only the vehicle (propylene glycol) and Group II (n=20) in which the rats received tamoxifen 250microg/day by gavage. After 30 days of treatment, all animals were sacrificed and the urethra was immediately removed for weighing. Next, the urethra was divided into the proximal and distal segments, which were fixed in 10% formaldehyde and submitted to routine histological techniques for morphometric study. The data were analyzed using the weighted minimum mean-square error method and Student's t-test for two independent samples (p<0.05). RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the mean weight of the urethra in the rats of Group II compared to the control group, 32.0+/-2.0mg and 22.0+/-1.6mg, respectively (p<0.001). The mean thickness of the distal urethral epithelium of the animals treated with tamoxifen was significantly greater than that of the control group, 42.8+/-2.0microm and 36.6+/-1.5microm, respectively (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with respect to the epithelial thickness of the proximal urethra (p=0.514). CONCLUSION: Treating castrated adult rats with 250microg/day of tamoxifen for 30 days may increase the weight of the urethra and the thickness of the distal urethral epithelium.

Cavernous hemangioma in the axillary region mimicking malignant neoplasia.

Cavernous hemangiomas of the breast are rare and when present, are generally well defined. Their presentation in the axilla mimicking cancer is extremely rare. This report describes the case of a premenopausal woman with a cavernous hemangioma in the axillary region with clinical, mammographic, and sonographic characteristics strongly suggestive of malignancy. The definitive diagnosis was based on histological analysis of the lesion complemented by immunohistochemistry for the CD34 marker. Cavernous hemangioma in the axillary region is extremely rare and the possibility of its presentation in this location mimicking cancer should be considered.

Rosai-Dorfman disease of the breast mimicking cancer.

Rosai-Dorfman disease or sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy is a rare proliferative histiocytic disorder of the lymph nodes. Extranodal involvement occurs in a considerable number of cases; however, involvement of the breast is very rare, and it is even rarer for the lesion to be localized in the breast alone without affecting any other sites. This report describes the case of a 50-year-old Brazilian woman with a lump confined to her left breast that had clinical and radiological characteristics indistinguishable from cancer. The proliferation of histiocytes, displaying lymphophagocytosis and an S-100 protein immunophenotype on a core biopsy of the lesion, led to a diagnosis of Rosai-Dorfman disease and permitted conservative therapy. Recognition of this rare condition, when occurring at an unexpected site such as the breast, is difficult, and the correct diagnosis is important prior to therapeutic management.

Morphological and morphometric analysis of the adrenal cortex of androgenized female rats.

AIM: We evaluated the thickness of the adrenal cortex zones of female rats androgenized to mimic polycystic ovary syndrome. METHODS: Forty-four female virgin Wistar-Hannover rats were divided into two groups: controls (n = 17) and animals which received testosterone propionate on the 2nd day of life (n = 27). At 90 days of life, after confirmation of persistent estrus, the animals were sacrificed, and the adrenal cortex zones were evaluated. Student's t test and Levene's test were used in the statistical analysis (p < 0.05 considered significant). RESULTS: The adrenal glands of the androgenized rats were more voluminous and had a more intensely vascularized zona reticularis than the control animals. The mean thicknesses of zona glomerulosa and zona reticularis in the androgenized rats were 58.4 and 730.7 mum, respectively, significantly thicker than the values in the control group (45.0 and 328.3 mum, respectively). CONCLUSION: Zona reticularis and zona glomerulosa of the androgenized female rats were significantly thicker than those of the control animals.

Large mammary hamartoma of axillary supernumerary breast tissue.

Hamartoma is an uncommon breast tumor and it is extremely rare to find it in ectopic breast tissue. We report the first case, to our knowledge, of a large hamartoma axillary supernumerary breast tissue. This report describes the case of a 33-year-old Brazilian patient who detected a lump in her left axillary supernumerary breast tissue at the same time as she was diagnosed with systemic erythematous lupus and corticoid treatment was initiated. The lesion showed progressive growth, reaching considerable proportions within a year, and it was removed with good esthetic and functional results.

Primary tuberculosis of the breast mimicking carcinoma.

This report describes a well-documented case of primary, nodular-form tuberculosis of the breast that mimicked cancer in a 73-year-old patient. This is a disease that rarely affects the breast.

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the uterus associated with uterine inversion in an adolescent: a case report and published work review.

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas of the uterus are extremely rare malignant tumors and their association with uterine inversion is even rarer. The present case report refers to a 15-year-old Brazilian girl admitted to hospital with a 3-month history of transvaginal bleeding and a mass protruding from the vaginal introitus. Following biopsy of the lesion and confirmation of the diagnosis of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, the patient was submitted to total abdominal hysterectomy followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The patient died 9 months after surgery. Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the uterus is very rare and extremely aggressive. According to a published work review, there has been only one report to date on the association of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the uterus and uterine inversion.

Melanoma metastasis to the breast masquerading as fibroadenoma.

BACKGROUND: Although primary malignant breast lesions are common, tumor metastasis to the breast is rare. Melanoma metastasis to the breast occurs even more rarely. CASE: In the present case report, we describe an adolescent girl with malignant melanoma metastasis to the breast masquerading as fibroadenoma, in which it was impossible to perform differential diagnosis based only on the physical examination and ultrasonographic evaluation. The definitive diagnosis both of the primary and of the metastatic lesion was reached by immunohistochemistry, which revealed positivity to Mart-1 antibody. CONCLUSION: Melanoma metastasizing to the breast is occasionally indistinguishable from a benign lesion at ultrasonographic evaluation. Emphasis should be made on the importance of a correct diagnosis prior to therapeutic management.

Efeitos do raloxifeno sobre a angiogênese do carcinoma de mama de mulheres menopausadas / Effects of raloxifene on angiogenesis of the breast carcinoma of menopausal women

OBJETIVO: avaliar o efeito do raloxifeno sobre a angiogênese do carcinoma de mama em mulheres menopausadas. MÉTODOS: dezesseis pacientes menopausadas com carcinoma de mama operável, estádio II (diâmetro >3 cm), positivo para receptor de estrógeno, foram incluídas no estudo. Após confirmação do diagnóstico por biópsia incisional, as pacientes receberam 60 mg de raloxifeno diariamente por 28 dias, previamente à cirurgia definitiva. Exame imunohistoquímico foi realizado nas amostras tumorais, obtidas por ocasião da biópsia para diagnóstico e avaliação do status do receptor de estrógeno e da cirurgia definitiva. O anticorpo monoclonal anti-CD34 foi usado como marcador das células endoteliais. A unidade vascular considerada foi qualquer célula ou grupo de células endoteliais coradas, nitidamente separadas de microvasos adjacentes, células tumorais ou tecido conjuntivo, formando ou não lúmen. A contagem de microvasos antes e após tratamento com raloxifeno foi realizada em dez campos aleatórios, usando microscópio acoplado a sistema de captura e análise de imagem (Imagelab®) com magnificação de 400X. O teste t de Student para duas amostras pareadas foi usado para análise estatística dos dados (p<0,05). RESULTADOS: as médias da quantidade de microvasos antes e após o tratamento com raloxifeno foi 44,4±3,5 e 22,6±1,6, respectivamente. Foi observada redução significativa da quantidade de microvasos após tratamento com raloxifeno (p<0,001). CONCLUSÕES: o tratamento primário com raloxifeno reduz significantemente a quantidade de microvasos no carcinoma de mama positivo para receptor de estrógeno em mulheres na pós-menopausa.

PURPOSE: to evaluate the effect of raloxifene on breast cancer angiogenesis of menopausal women. METHODS: sixteen menopausal women with stage II (>3 cm) estrogen receptor positive operable breast cancer were enrolled in this study. Following confirmation of the diagnosis by incisional biopsy, the patients received 60 mg raloxifene daily for 28 days prior to the definitive surgery. Immunohistochemical study was performed on the sample tumors obtained during the biopsy for the diagnosis and evaluation of the status of estrogen receptor and during the definitive surgery. The anti-CD34 monoclonal antibody was used as a marker for endothelial cells. The vascular unit was considered as any endothelial cell or group of cells of a brownish color, clearly separated from adjacent microvessels, tumor cells or other connective tissue, forming or not lumen. Microvessel count was performed in ten fields of each slide using a 40X objective lens (400X magnification). A microscope coupled to a system of capture and analysis of image was used (Imagelab®). Statistical analysis of data was carried out using the paired Student t-test and significance level was established at p<0.05. RESULTS: mean numbers of anti-CD34 antibody-stained microvessels before and after raloxifene treatment were 44.4±3.5 and 22.6±1.6, respectively. A significant reduction in the number of microvessels following raloxifene therapy was observed (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: when administered as primary therapy for menopausal women with breast carcinoma, raloxifene significantly reduced tumoral angiogenesis.