Immunoexpression of HER2 pathway related markers in HER2 invasive breast carcinomas treated with trastuzumab.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the immunoexpression of potential markers involved in the HER2 pathway in invasive breast carcinoma with HER2 amplification treated with trastuzumab. METHODS: Samples of ninety patients diagnosed and treated at two public Brazilian hospitals with overexpressed invasive carcinoma between 2009 and 2018 were included. Several markers (Bcl-2, CDK4, cyclin D1, EGFR, IGF1, IGF-1R, MDM2, MUC4, p16, p21, p27, p53, PTEN, RA, TNFα, and VEGF) were immune analyzed in the tumor by immunohistochemistry and then correlated with clinicopathological variables. RESULTS: Tumor sample expression results determined potential markers of good prognosis with statistically significant values: cyclin D1 with a nuclear grade, and recurrence; IGF-1 with tumor size, and death; p16 with a response after treatment; PTEN with a response after treatment, and death. Markers of poor prognosis: p53 with histological, and nuclear grade; IGF-1R with a compromised lymph node. The treatment resistance rate after trastuzumab was 40%; the overall survival was 4.13 years (95% CI 5.1-12.5) and the disease-free survival was 3.6 years (95% CI 5.1-13.1). CONCLUSIONS: The tumor samples profile demonstrated that cyclin D1, IGF-1, p16, and PTEN presented the potential for a good prognosis and p53 and IGF-1R for worse.

Cytotoxicity, Inflammatory Activity, and Angiogenesis Are Induced by Different Silicone Implants.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate cytotoxicity, inflammatory response, and angiogenesis induced by silicone gel breast implants with different textured surfaces in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the in vitro study, murine fibroblast cells (L929) were cultured for 1, 3, and 5 days with silicone membranes of three different textures: nanotextured, microtextured, and silicone foam. In the in vivo study, a total of 30 male rats (Rattus, norvegicus, albinos, Wistar) were distributed into three groups (10 animals per group), with 2 implants in each rat: nanotextured silicone gel breast implants group, microtextured silicone gel breast implants group, and silicone gel breast foam implants group. RESULTS: The Alamar Blue assay detected higher viability of cells cultured in the presence of nanotextured silicone surface for 1 and 3 days. The MTT assay showed higher cytotoxicity of silicone foam after 1 and 3 days of exposure. Nanotextured silicone breast implants induced a more prolonged inflammatory response, denoting a delay in the healing process and subsequent organization of the fibrous capsule as depicted by the collagen fiber types found. VEGF expression did not differ between experimental groups. CONCLUSION: Gel foam breast implants are more biocompatible when compared to micro- or nano-textured silicone breast implants.