PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Charpin

Publications and source records attributed to C Charpin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Effects of hormone replacement therapy for menopause on prognostic factors of breast cancer].

AIM: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is widely used by post-menopausal women. Although this treatment may slightly increase the incidence of breast cancer, more and more cases are diagnosed while women are taking HRT. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the influence of HRT on prognostic factors and outcome of breast cancer. Data on all breast cancer patients, including precise information on HRT, was prospectively and systematically recorded in a data base. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1990 to 1998, 1223 post-menopausal women fulfilled the eligibility criteria for this study. The clinical features, laboratory findings and survival rates in 245 HRT users who developed breast cancer while being treated were compared with those of 245 matched breast cancer patients who had never received HRT. RESULTS: Patients who developed breast cancer during HRT had fewer locally advanced cancers and smaller and better-differentiated cancers. Estradiol receptivity was quantitatively lower in users. Metastasis-free survival were better for the users. CONCLUSION: We conclude that HRT does not affect the prognosis of breast cancer. Regular surveillance during HRT allows early detection of smaller lesions. The higher number of well-differentiated cancers and the distribution of hormone receptivity may reflect interaction between neoplastic tissue and exogenous hormones.

Adult↗

Clinicopathologic growth factors in vestibular schwannomas: a morphological and immunohistochemical study of 69 tumours.

Tumour growth of vestibular schwannomas is still difficult to predict. The aim of our study was to determine whether any defined histopathological feature was correlated with the clinical course. We did a retrospective study with 69 paraffin-embedded tumours to establish whether the number of vessels, blood cells extravasation or degree of inflammation, all semi-quantitatively assessed, could be indicative of potential of growth. An immunohistochemical study was also performed with an endothelial marker CD34, the leukocyte common antigen CD45 and the estrogen and progesterone hormone receptors. All these parameters were correlated with patient's age, duration of symptoms (d), with a clinical growth index (CLI = tumour size/d). No clinical parameters proved to be predictive of tumour growth. Tumour size was significantly (p = 0.01) related to the number of vessels and we found a significant relationship between the clinical growth index (CLI) and total number of vessels, especially when duration of symptoms lasted less than 1 year (p < 0.001). However, we found no relationship between duration of symptoms or CLI and CD34 index. The degree of inflammation was significantly correlated (p = 0.007) with duration of symptoms when it lasted more than 1 year. The CD45 index and the semi-quantitative evaluation of the inflammation were well correlated (p = 0.001). No estrogen receptors antigenic site was detected and only seven tumours expressed progesterone receptor in a few cells without any significant clinical value. These results suggest that vessel density is determinant for sporadic acoustic neuroma growth especially for a short clinical course.

Adult↗

Endometrial response to sexual steroids as assessed by prostaglandin F(2alpha) output in explant culture and hormone receptor expression.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the endometrial response to sexual steroids in organ culture using two means: prostaglandin (PG) F(2alpha) output in medium culture and steroid receptor immunoexpression in tissue. Human endometrium samples were classified in homogeneous and heterogeneous proliferative or secretory subsets. In proliferative endometrium explant culture, progesterone (10(-7) M) induced a significant decrease in PGF(2alpha) output, but this was not the case in secretory endometrium, whereas no significant effect of estradiol (10(-8) M) was observed. Before culture, homogeneous and heterogeneous proliferative endometrium presented the same pattern of estradiol receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression evaluated by quantitative immunocytochemistry. After culture, immunoreactive ER and PR were detected on the explant. PR immunoexpression rates after culture were lower than before culture in glands on homogeneous proliferative and in stroma on heterogeneous proliferative endometrium explants without in vitro steroid addition. In secretory endometrium, no significant difference was observed between ER or PR immunoexpression rates before culture and after culture. These results provided the hormonal receptivity status of endometrium after culture and will thus serve as a reference for evaluating in vitro steroid effects on endometrium explants. Our preliminary results suggest that cultures of endometrium explants are a valid model for studying the effects of hormonal treatment on homogeneous as well as heterogeneous endometrium. These data could be particularly relevant for evaluating the potential response to hormone stimulation and treatment of endometria sampled in perimenopausal patients.

Culture Techniques↗

[Infiltrating syringoadenoma of the nipple: a new case].

Infiltrating syringomatous adenoma of the nipple is composed of small sweat ducts and solid strands, surrounded by desmoplastic stroma and preferentially develops in the superficial breast tissue and specially in the nipple. This particular and exceptional lesion deserves to be acknowlegded by pathologists concerned with breast pathology since this tumor mimics grade 1 invasive breast ductal carcinoma.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Prognostic factors in ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast: results of a retrospective study of 575 cases. The Association for Research in Oncologic Gynecology.

OBJECTIVE: Conservative treatment for ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast exposes patients to the risk of infiltrating recurrence which can lead to metastasis. The primary purposes of this retrospective study were to evaluate diagnostic and therapeutic methods over a 10-year period and to validate prognostic factors. This information should greatly improve patient selection for conservative treatment or mastectomy. STUDY DESIGN: A multi-institutional data base including 575 patients treated between 1983 and 1993 was established by combining data from 16 French institutions. Survival at 5 and 7 years was studied as a function of various prognostic factors. RESULTS: Recurrence-free survival at 7 years was 0.96 after modified radical mastectomy and 0.83 after breast-conserving treatment and radiotherapy (P=0.003). Metastasis-free survival at 7 years was 0.99 after modified radical mastectomy and 0.94 after breast-conserving treatment and radiotherapy (not significant). No factor was predictive of local recurrence after mastectomy. Clinical stage was the only factor significantly correlated with metastasis after mastectomy. Recurrence-free survival after breast-conserving treatment with radiotherapy was significantly lower for patients with comedo carcinoma, multifocal lesions, or unclear resection margins, regardless of whether the histological type was comedo or non-comedo carcinoma. Metastasis-free survival was significantly lower for patients with multifocal lesions and for patients with unclear margins after excision of comedo carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Breast-conserving treatment with radiotherapy is a valid alternative to mastectomy. Patients must be selected carefully on the basis of morphological criteria. Swift gains in therapeutic outcome can be obtained by stressing quality control at each stage of diagnosis and treatment.

Adult↗

E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression in breast medullary carcinomas.

The initial step of cancer invasion and metastasis is the escape of tumour cells from the primary site, involving disruption of normal cell-cell adhesion and E-cadherin (E-cad) and beta-catenin (beta-cat) down-regulation, as shown in various types of human malignancies including breast carcinomas. Medullary carcinomas are high grade and poorly differentiated tumours with syncytial typical pattern, and prognosis unexpectedly better than that in high grade breast carcinomas. In a series of 55 breast typical medullary carcinomas diagnosed according to the strict use of Ridolfi et al (Cancer 40: 1365-1385, 1977) criteria, E-cad and beta-cat were investigated using quantitative (SAMBA 2005 system) immunocytochemical assays on frozen sections. Results were compared to that obtained on paraffin sections and in a series (n=55) of grade 3 ductal carcinomas. It was shown that medullary carcinomas significantly (p<0.001) expressed more E-cad and beta-cat than grade 3 ductal carcinomas. E-cad and beta-cat correlated with high expression of P53, of c-erbB, and of Ki-67 antigens, and with lack of hormone receptors antigenic sites (p<0.001). It was concluded that favourable prognosis and syncytial pattern of typical breast medullary carcinomas likely results, at least partly, from a particular expression of cell-cell adhesion molecules, significantly limiting tumour growth and efficiently mastering the tumour cell dissemination, opposing to high proliferative activity (grade 3).

Adult↗

[Pelvic tumoral actinomycosis: a difficult diagnosis. Two case reports].

Two cases of intra-uterine device-associated occlusive pelvic pseudo-tumoural actinomycosis are presented. A pre-operative diagnosis of ovarian carcinoma was considered in both cases and lead to a wide and difficult surgery. Actinomycosis was confirmed by the postoperative histopathologic examination, and the patients were successfully treated with penicillin. The difficulties and limits of the clinical and histopathological diagnosis are exposed. The interest of the pre and intra-operative diagnosis which can avoid an extensive surgery with high morbidity is highlighted.

Actinomycosis↗

Impact of menopausal hormone-replacement therapy on clinical and laboratory characteristics of breast cancer.

Hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) is widely used by post-menopausal women. Although this treatment may slightly increase the incidence of breast cancer, more and more cases are diagnosed while women are taking HRT. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the influence of HRT on prognostic factors and outcome of breast cancer. Data on all breast-cancer patients, including precise information on HRT, was prospectively and systematically recorded in a data base. From 1985 to 1995, 1379 post-menopausal women fulfilled the eligibility criteria for this study. All were treated by us (P.B. and L.P.) in our ward of a large public hospital of Marseilles, France. The clinical features, laboratory findings and survival rates in 142 HRT users who developed breast cancer while being treated were compared with those of 284 matched never user breast-cancer patients. Patients who developed breast cancer during HRT had fewer locally advanced cancers and smaller and better-differentiated cancers. Lymph-node involvement was significantly less frequent in the user group than in the non-user group (non-significant). Estradiol receptivity was both qualitatively and quantitatively lower in users. There was no significant difference with regard to recurrence and metastasis-free survival and overall survival. We conclude that HRT does not affect the prognosis of breast cancer. Regular surveillance during HRT allows early detection of smaller lesions. The higher number of well-differentiated cancers and the distribution of hormone receptivity may reflect interaction between neoplastic tissue and exogenous hormones.

Adult↗

Mutations at BRCA1: the medullary breast carcinoma revisited.

BRCA1-associated breast cancers (BRCA1-BCs) frequently harbor a high histoprognostic grade, p53 alterations, and estrogen receptor negativity. Although these parameters predict a poor outlook, the overall survival in BRCA1-BCs is equivalent to or even better than that in sporadic cases. These features are reminiscent of what is observed for breast carcinoma of the medullary type, a high-grade tumor with a particular favorable course. To explore a possible relationship between this phenotype and BRCA1 mutations, we first compared 32 BRCA1-BCs and 200 consecutive cases of breast cancer without familial history for the prevalence of typical medullary breast carcinoma (TMC) using the criteria given by Ridolfi et al. [R. Ridolfi et al, Cancer (Phila.), 40: 1365-1385, 1977]. Second, we searched for BRCA1 mutations in a set of 18 cases of TMC, using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and Cleavase fragment length polymorphism scanning. Six of 32 (19%) BRCA1-BCs were of the TMC type, compared to 0 of 200 controls (P < 0.0001). Among the 18 TMCs, 2 BRCA1 nonsense mutations were found. This corresponds to almost 7 times the contribution of BRCA1 mutations in the general population. Two additional missense mutations were identified. Together, these results suggest that, although TMC and BRCA1-BCs are not strictly coincidental, an important connection between the two populations does exist.

BRCA1 Protein↗

Prognostic significance of Nm23/NDPK expression in breast carcinoma, assessed on 10-year follow-up by automated and quantitative immunocytochemical assays.

The Nm23 gene has been described as an antimetastatic gene; in some studies, disease progression in patients with solid tumours is related to Nm23 protein expression, which can be detected by immunohistochemical procedures. Detection of Nm23-H1 protein in breast cancer may be relevant for the monitoring of patient therapy, provided that the technical procedures are reliable and cost-effective. The aim of the present study was to determine the prognostic significance of Nm23, assessed by quantitative immunocytochemical assays (Nm23 ICAs), under optimal technical conditions. Nm23-H1 ICAs were performed on frozen sections, using an automated immunoperoxidase technique (Ventana) and computer-assisted analysis of digitized colour microscopic images (SAMBA), in a series of 168 breast carcinomas. The results of automated quantitative ICAs were correlated with patients' follow-up (129 months). Nm23-H1 immunocytochemical expression in histological sections of tumours in which more than 3 per cent of the surface area was positively stained was significantly (0.012) correlated with longer metastasis-free survival in both node-positive and node-negative groups of patients (P = 0.032 and P = 0.036, respectively) (Kaplan-Meier log-rank test, NCSS 6.0.1 software). Nm23 expression (cut-point 3 per cent) did not, however, correlate with overall survival, or with the recurrence-free survival. In multivariate analysis (proportional hazards regression, Cox model), the prognostic significance of Nm23 in terms of metastasis-free survival was independent of tumour size and grade, and of histological grade, in the entire cohort of patients. It is concluded that Nm23 immunodetection is only of limited practical clinical relevance in breast carcinoma, even when assessed under optimal technical conditions.

Adult↗

VCAM (IGSF) adhesion molecule expression in breast carcinomas detected by automated and quantitative immunocytochemical assays.

Expression of vascular cell adhesion molecules (VCAM) in tumors is associated with endothelial cell activation and may facilitate adherence of carcinomatous cells to the vessel wall, promoting bloodborne metastases. Expression of VCAM was investigated in 202 breast carcinomas using automated (Ventana System) and quantitative (SAMBA image analyzer) immunoperoxidase staining of frozen sections. Positive VCAM immunoreactivity was observed in 83 tumors (41%) (mean immunostained surface, 12.4%; SD, 10.5). The mean area of immunostaining was correlated with clinical and pathologic prognostic indicators and with the immunohistochemical expression in tissue sections of various indicators of cell proliferation, metastatic potential, and drug resistance or sensitivity, evaluated according to the same method. There was no correlation of VCAM immunoreactivity with tumor size, type, or grade or with nodal status. Also, no significant correlation was observed between VCAM and MIB1/Ki67, p53, Bcl-2, E cadherin, CD44v, cathepsin D, CD31, P-gp, ER, PR, or pS2. However, VCAM immunoreactivity was significantly correlated with ELAM and VLA2 (P = .001) and VLAs (P = .008) expression. The results suggest that VCAM expression in breast carcinoma tissue sections is likely not a prognostic indicator. Its practical clinical relevance, if any, must be established by correlation with patients' outcomes and tumor sensitivity to drugs.

Adult↗

VLA2 integrin expression in breast carcinomas evaluated by automated and quantitative immunohistochemistry.

VLA2 is thought to be involved in the metastatic process in malignant tumours, in particular in carcinomatous cell adhesion to vessel basement membrane. VLA2 expression was immunohistochemically investigated in 204 breast carcinomas. Frozen tissue sections were probed with monoclonal anti-VLA2 using automated (Ventana ES 320 System) and quantitative (SAMBA 2005 image processor) immunoperoxidase. A positive anti-VLA2 immunoreaction was observed in 48 tumours (23.5%), within epithelial carcinomatous cells. The VLA2-positive surface in tumours varied from 3% to 20% (mean 8.75, S.D. 7.17) and was correlated with histoprognostic indicators and tumour expression of various antigens detected using the same method as that for VLA2. The results show that VLA2 immunoexpression was independent of the tumour size, grade, type and aneuploidy, and of the nodal status. VLA2 significantly correlated with ELAM, VCAM, VLA3 and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) (P < 0.01) and inversely correlated with cathepsin D (P < 0.001), but was independent of Ki67/MIB1, p53, bcl-2, c-erbB-2, E cadherin, CD44v, CD31, oestrogen and progesterone receptors' (ER, PR) antigenic sites and pS2. The exact role, if any, of VLA2 in tumour cell dissemination remains to be elucidated and the clinical relevance of VLA2 immunodetection in breast carcinomas requires further investigation of the correlation between VLA2 immunocytochemical expression and patients' outcome and response to chemotherapy.

Adult↗

Reduced E-cadherin immunohistochemical expression in node-negative breast carcinomas correlates with 10-year survival.

E-cadherin immunodetection was performed on frozen sections, using an immunoperoxidase procedure and with computer-assisted analysis of digitized colored microscopic images in a series of 179 breast carcinomas. Quantitative immunocytochemical assays were correlated with follow-up (129 months). The results showed that reduced E-cadherin immunocytochemical expression in tumors (cut point, 4%) significantly correlated with shorter overall survival in node-negative patients (Kaplan Meier log rank test). But E-cadherin immunostained expression (cut point, 4%) did not correlate with metastasis-free or recurrence-free survival. In multivariate analysis (Cox proportional hazards regression model), E-cadherin prognostic significance for overall survival in node-negative patients was independent of the tumor size, grade, and histologic type. The results suggest that reduced E-cadherin expression detected in optimum technical conditions (frozen samples and quantitative immunohistochemistry) is an independent indicator of poor survival in node-negative patients and may be clinically relevant for the treatment of patients with breast carcinomas.

Adult↗

bcl-2 automated and quantitative immunocytochemical assays in breast carcinomas: correlation with 10-year follow-up.

PURPOSE: bcl-2 protein is detectable in human cancers and may be involved in the response to antineoplastic drugs or endocrine therapy in breast carcinomas. In a previous study, we had developed optimal technical conditions for bcl-2 immunodetection. The aim of the present report was to determine the prognostic significance of bcl-2 expression in breast carinomas by the use of a similar immunocytochemical procedure. METHODS: bcl-2 immunocytochemical assays were performed on frozen sections by automated immunoperoxidase technique (Ventana) and computer-assisted analysis of digitized colored microscopic images (SAMBA) in a series of 170 breast carcinomas. The results of automated quantitative immunocytochemical assays were correlated with patient follow-up (120 months). RESULTS: Intense bcl-2 immunocytochemical expression in tumors (cutpoint, 15%) significantly correlated with longer disease-free survival and longer recurrence-free survival in the entire cohort of patients (P = .028 and P = .035, respectively) and also in node-negative subgroups of patients (P = .028 and P = .01; Kaplan-Meier long-rank test; NCSS 6.0.1 software). But bcl-2 immunostained surfaces (cutpoint, 15%) did not correlate with overall survival. In multivariate analysis (proportional hazards regression, Cox model), bcl-2 prognostic significance in terms of disease-free survival was only independent of the tumor size and grade and histoprognostic index (Nottingham prognostic index [NPI]). CONCLUSION: bcl-2 immunohistochemical expression is a significant indicator of favorable outcome only in terms of disease-free and local recurrence-free survival. However, bcl-2 expression in tumors is an independent weakly prognostic indicator in breast carcinomas. bcl-2 immunodetection assessed in optimal technical conditions (frozen samples, automation, quantitative analysis, scatter diagram cutoffs) may have some limited practical clinical relevance for the management of patients with breast carcinomas.

Adult↗

Immunoexpression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin correlates to survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinomas.

Expression of E-cadherin (E-cad) and -catenin ( -cat) was investigated immunohistologically in 91 cases of excised hepatocellular carcinomas. Immunodectection was altered in 56% of tumours for E-cad and in 30.8% for -cat. Downregulation of E-cad and -cat correlated with the size of tumours, and high nuclear grade, but only E-cad alteration correlated with the mitotic index. Alterations of E-cad and -cat expression correlated with survival. Although E-cad and -cat immunodetections were independent prognostic factors, their prognostic value was lower than that of current clinicopathological parameters.

Adult↗

ELAM selectin expression in breast carcinomas detected by automated and quantitative immunohistochemical assays.

ELAM is an E-Selectin adhesion molecule involved in the inflammatory process but it is also thought to potentially participate in the development of blood borne metastases, by facilitating tumour cell adhesion to vessels wall. ELAM expression in tumours was immunohistochemically investigated in 203 breast carcinomas. Frozen tissue sections were probed with monoclonal anti ELAM (Clone 1.2B6) using automated and quantitative immunoperoxidase systems. A positive anti-ELAM immunoreaction was observed in 113 tumours (57%). The mean surface of positive tumours varied from 3% to 50% (mean = 11.75%, SD = 8.7) and was correlated with histoprognostic indicators and tumour expression of various antigens detected according to the same method as ELAM. The results showed that ELAM immunoexpression was independent of the tumour size, grade and type and of the nodal status but significantly increased parallel to patients' age (p<0. 01). ELAM expression was independent of Ki-67/MIB1, anti-P53 and anti-Bcl2, anti-CD44v, anti-c-erbB-2, anti-CD31, anti-RE/RP, anti-PS2, and anti-VLA3 immunoreactions. But ELAM expression correlated with that of the VCAM vascular cell adhesion molecule (p=0.0004), VLA2 (p<0.0001), P-glycoprotein (p=0.025), and of Cathepsin D to a lower degree (p=0.06) and inversely correlated with E-cadherin (p=0.03). The results suggest that endothelial cell activation is independent of tumour cell proliferative activity and of stromal angiogenesis and that the precise role and regulation of ELAM in tumours remains to be elucidated. Also the clinical relevance of ELAM immunohistochemical expression requires further investigation and correlation with patients' follow-up.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

[Polycystic disease of the salivary glands: report of an attack of the submaxillary glands].

Bilateral dysgenetic polycystic disease of parotid glands is an extremely rare pathologic condition in which salivary parenchyma is partially replaced by multiple epithelial-lined cysts arising from intercalated ducts. Review of the fourteen cases published in literature shows that it affects nearly exclusively women with an history of asymptomatic progressive enlargement of almost always both parotid glands. We report here the first case, to our knowledge, of a polycystic disease involving both submandibular salivary gland in a man.

Cysts↗

[Prognostic value of E-cadherin expression in hepatocellular carcinoma].

Expression of E-cadherin (E-cad) was investigated immunohistologically in 91 cases of operated hepatocellular carcinomas. An alteration of E-cad immunodetection was found in 56% of tumours. These alterations were correlated with histopathologic features of prognostic value including tumour size (> 3 cm), high nuclear grade and mitotic index. Patients with down-regulated E-cad expression had statistically significant shorter survival than the others. Although E-cad immunodetection was an independent prognostic factor, the Cox multivariate analysis showed that its prognostic value was low when compared to other prognostic factors.

Adult↗