Locally Advanced Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Breast-A Case Report with a Review of the Literature.

Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease distinguished by four main subtypes based on the expression of estrogen, progesterone receptors, and human epidermal growth factor-2 on the cancer cells. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) consists of approximately 10-20% of all BCs and is characterized by a poor prognosis. Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast is a rare, special type of TNBC with low metastatic potential and usually favorable prognosis. There are no established recommendations concerning systemic therapy in advanced ACC. We present a case of a 70-year-old woman with locally advanced ACC with progression after radical mastectomy, and review the literature concerning the treatment of metastatic disease focused on systemic therapy.

Predictive Role of Soluble IL-6R, TNF-R1/2, and Cell Adhesion Molecules Serum Levels in the Preoperative and Adjuvant Therapy in Women with Nonmetastatic Breast Cancer: A Preliminary Study.

Soluble cell adhesion molecules (sCAMs) are involved in the development of neoplastic diseases. sCAMs can block lymphocytes and promote angiogenesis and migration of breast cancer (BC) cells. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) enhance metastatic potential via upregulation of CAMs. We assessed soluble interleukin-6 receptor subunit alpha (IL-6Ra), TNF-R1, TNF-R2, E-selectin, P-selectin, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and EpCAM in 89 women with stage I-III BC and 28 healthy women. Blood samples were obtained at the beginning of neoadjuvant/induction (N = 49) or adjuvant treatment (N = 40), and after 2 months. Surgery revealed complete response in 29.4% of patients, partial response in 67%, and stable disease in 5.9%. Achieving a pathological response was 4 times greater for baseline levels of sIL-6Ra >5.63 ng/mL [odds ratio (OR) = 4.1, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.8-20.4, P = 0.08] and more than 6 times for soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNF-R1) ≥ 0.97 ng/mL (OR = 6.2, 95% CI: 1.2-32.3, P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, serum sP-selectin, soluble epithelial cell adhesion molecule (sEpCAM), and sTNF-R2 concentrations were significantly higher in patients who started adjuvant therapy (P < 0.05) and preoperative therapy (P < 0.01). Baseline serum sIL-6Ra concentrations were significantly higher in patients before surgery than in patients after tumor resection (P < 0.05), independent of the follow-up time. The baseline serum soluble receptors of IL-6 (sIL-6R) and TNF-α (sTNF-R1) concentrations have a predictive value for preoperative therapy in patients with BC.

The Predictive Role of Serum Levels of Soluble Cell Adhesion Molecules (sCAMs) in the Therapy of Advanced Breast Cancer-A Single-Centre Study.

Background and Objectives: Soluble cell adhesion molecules (sCAMs) play a significant role in the metastatic potential of breast cancer (BC). They might block lymphocytes and promote angiogenesis and migration of cancer cells. We assessed the usefulness of sCAMs in the prognosis and monitoring of the progression of advanced BC. Materials and Methods: We assessed soluble E-selectin, P-selectin, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, EpCAM, IL-6Ra, TNF-R1, and TNF-R2 in 39 women with aBC. Blood samples were obtained at the beginning of the treatment and after 2 months. Results: The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 9 months, and overall survival (OS) was 27 months. The higher levels of sICAM-1 (HR = 2.60, p = 0.06) and lower levels of sEpCAM (HR = 2.72, p < 0.05) were associated with faster progression of aBC. High levels of sEpCAM through the follow-up period were significantly associated with a lower risk of progression (HR = 0.40, p < 0.01). We found the independent predictive value of higher than median sICAM-1 levels for PFS (HR = 2.07, p = 0.08) and of sVCAM-1 levels for OS (HR = 2.59, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our data support the predictive value of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 and suggest that they could become markers for tailoring new therapies in aBC. sEpCAM level could be used as an early indicator of response to the therapy.

The use of Hericium erinaceus and Trametes versicolor extracts in supportive treatment in oncology.

Substances available in nature with potential therapeutic effects are the subject of research that raises tremendous hopes for new challenges in medicine. Fungi are the most common organisms in the ecosystem and the most interesting in this respect. This review discusses two species of edible fungi, used for centuries in Eastern natural medicine, with the best-documented effect - Hericium erinaceus (He) and Trametes versicolor (Tv). The results of in vivo and in vitro studies conducted on mice and human cell lines demonstrate immunomodulatory, potentially, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and neuroregenerative effects of substances isolated from these fungi. The substances contained in the extracts of He and Tv seem to have immunomodulatory effects that may support chemotherapy. The use of these extracts is justified stronger than the other supportive treat ments based on supplements.

CA125 as a Marker of Heart Failure in the Older Women: Population-Based Analysis.

(1) Background: Cancer antigen 125 (CA125) is a glycoprotein that is expressed by tissue derived from coelomic epithelium in the pleura, peritoneum, pericardium. It has been shown that CA125 concentrations are correlated with NT-proBNP in older with congestive heart failure (HF). We conducted a study on the association between concentrations of CA125 and NT-proBNP in a population-based cohort of older Polish women. (2) Methods: The current research is sub-study of a large, cross-sectional research project (PolSenior). The study group consisted of 1565 Caucasian women aged 65-102 years. To assess the relationship between CA125 and other variables a stepwise backward multivariate normal and skew-t regression analyses were performed. (3) Results: The median of CA125 concentration was 13.0 U/mL and values over the upper normal range limit (35 U/mL) were observed in 5.1% (n = 79) of the study cohort. The concentration of CA125 was positively related to age, hospitalization for HF and history of atrial fibrillation and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, levels of NT-proBNP, IL-6, hs-CRP and triglycerides. We found, in multivariate analyses, that increased CA125 levels were independently associated with log10 (IL-6) (ß = 11.022), history of hospitalization for HF (ß = 4.619), log10 (NT-proBNP) (ß = 4.416) and age (ß = 3.93 for 10 years). (4) Conclusion: Despite the association between CA125 and NT-proBNP, the usefulness of CA125 for the detection of HF in older women is limited by factors such as inflammatory status and age.