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C Giani

Publications and source records attributed to C Giani.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Relationship between progesterone receptor and productive fibrosis as an index of tumor differentiation in breast cancer.

We studied the relationship between steroid receptors (SR) and various stromal parameters in 100 breast cancers. Each specimen was submitted to SR determination by the dextran-coated charcoal assay and to histologic examination. No relationship was found between the presence of SR and necrosis or fibroblastic cell content. There was an inverse correlation between SR positivity and the extent of lymphocyte infiltration (p less than 0.05). ER + PR + status was strongly correlated with marked productive fibrosis (PF) (p less than 0.005). When SR were separately assayed, only the presence of PR was correlated with PF (p less than 0.005); similar results were obtained for PR levels (p less than 0.01). PF was also associated with a higher nuclear grade (p less than 0.001). In conclusion, in this study a strong correlation between PR positivity or concentration and extent of PF was demonstrated in breast cancer. Since PR synthesis is an expression of an intact regulatory pathway, our data suggest that stromal production in breast cancer is related to the degree of differentiation of malignant epithelial cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Estrogen and progesterone receptors in benign breast tumors and lesions: relationship with histological and cytological features.

The pattern of estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) and their relationship to histo- and cyto-pathological parameters has been studied in 97 cases of benign breast disease and benign phyllode tumors (95 women, of whom 76 were premenopausal, and 2 men). Total (cytosolic + nuclear) ER and PR were assayed by a single-saturating dose method using a tris-KCl buffer. The cut-off between positive and negative ER and PR assay was 100 femtomoles/g tissue. All specimens were processed for histological examination: epithelial and fibroblastic proliferation, epithelial/stromal ratio and presence of focal or diffuse hyalinosis. In 33% of the 46 cases of fibrocystic disease one receptor at least was present (13% ER+, 31% PR+). All the 8 cases in which infiltrating epitheliosis was present were PR+ and 4 of them were also ER+. In 72% of the 31 fibroadenomas one receptor at least was present (19% ER+, 71% PR+). In all these cases levels of receptors were lower than in malignant tumors. An inverse correlation between PR + prevalence and fibrohyalinosis was observed; on the other hand a positive relationship between PR + and fibroblastic (p less than 0.001) or epithelial (p less than 0.01) proliferation was found. In all 5 benign phyllode tumors examined PR + were present at a very high level, almost as high as in malignant tumors. Of the 15 other benign breast lesions, all but one (1 hamartoma) were ER- and PR-.

Adenofibroma↗
PubMed1986

Role of autoimmune and familial factors in goiter prevalence. Studies performed in a moderately endemic area.

The goitrogenic role of autoimmune phenomena in endemic goiter is still uncertain. Scanty and discrepant results have been reported in different areas of the world. This prompted us to evaluate the prevalence of circulating thyroid antibodies in an area of North-Western Tuscany during a survey for endemic goiter. The survey was carried out according to the P.A.H.O. criteria in a stable community. In all schoolchildren (n = 142, age range 7-15 yr) and in most of their parents (n = 159), thyroid size was evaluated and urine was collected for iodine determination. Blood was drawn for determination of circulating thyroid microsomal (MAb) and thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb), TT3, TT4 and TSH. Prevalence of goiter in schoolchildren was 77.9% and 94.8% in their parents. Mean (+/- SD) urinary iodine excretion was 55.0 +/- 2.1 micrograms/24 h. The overall frequency of TgAb and MAb in the adult population was 14.4%, statistically higher than that of control subjects matched for sex and age. The frequency in schoolchildren was 4.3%. The presence of goiter in children was unrelated to the presence of thyroid antibodies in parents, whether goitrous or nongoitrous. A higher prevalence of goiter was found in children with goitrous parents as compared to children with nongoitrous parents (p less than 0.005). In conclusion, the frequency of thyroid autoantibodies in the adult population of the endemic area studied was increased, but showed no relation with the presence of goiter. The prevalence of goiter in children was associated with the presence of goiter but not of thyroid autoantibodies in parents. These data suggest that autoimmune phenomena are of limited importance in the development of endemic goiter.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Thyroid autoimmunity and endemic goiter.

The goitrogenic role of autoimmune phenomena in endemic goiter is still uncertain. Scanty and discrepant results have been reported in different areas of the world. This prompted us to evaluate the prevalence of circulating thyroid antibodies in an area of northwestern Tuscany during a survey for endemic goiter. The survey was carried out according to the P.A.H.O. criteria in a stable community. In all schoolchildren (n = 142; age range 7-15 years) and in most of their parents (n = 159), thyroid size was evaluated and urine was collected for iodine determination. Blood was drawn for determination of circulating thyroid microsomal (MAb) and thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb). TSH binding-inhibiting (TBIAb) and thyroid growth-stimulating antibodies (TGSAb), TT3, TT4 and TSH. Prevalence of goiter in schoolchildren was 77.9% and 94.8% in their parents. Mean (+/- S.D.) urinary iodine excretion was 55.0 +/- 2.1 micrograms/24 h. The overall frequency of TgAB and MAB in the adult population was 14.4, statistically higher than of control subjects matched for sex and age. The frequency in schoolchildren was 4.3%. TBIAb and TGSAb were undetectable in all tested cases. The presence of goiter in children was unrelated with the presence of thyroid antibodies in parents, whether goitrous or non-goitrois. A higher prevalence of goiter was found in children with goitrous parents as compared to children with non-goitrous parents (P less than less than 0.005). In conclusion, the frequency of thyroid autoantibodies in the adult population of the endemic area studies was increased, but showed no relation with the presence of goiter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Reciprocal changes of serum thyroglobulin and TSH in residents of a moderate endemic goitre area.

Subjects living in iodine deficient areas were reported to have elevated serum thyroglobulin (Tg) concentrations. This finding was interpreted as related to thyroid stimulation. Discrepant results, however, were found when serum Tg concentrations were correlated either with serum TSH or with goitre size. In this study we investigated the relationships between goitre size, serum Tg and serum TSH in 488 unselected adult subjects living in an endemic area of North-Western Tuscany (Garfagnana district). The control group comprised 352 subjects residing in a non-endemic area. In the endemic area a high prevalence of goitre was found (80.1%), thyroid enlargement being slight to moderate in the majority of cases and very large only in six subjects. Serum Tg concentrations increased and serum TSH levels decreased with the size of goitre. Statistical analysis by the chi-square cross correlation test showed that the converse changes of serum Tg and serum TSH in relation to goitre size were highly significant. These findings indicate that the increase of serum Tg occurring in endemic goitrous subjects may be related to factors other than TSH stimulation. Functional autonomy of the thyroid may account for the finding of low serum TSH and elevated serum Tg values in patients with large goitres. The present data do not exclude the possibility that the release of Tg is influenced by TSH stimulation, but indicate that other factors may be responsible for the increased levels of Tg found in endemic goitre.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Serum thyroglobulin concentrations and 131I whole body scans in the diagnosis of metastases from differentiated thyroid carcinoma (after thyroidectomy).

Measurements of circulating thyroglobulin (hTg) and 131I whole body scan were performed in 101 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma who had been subjected to surgical thyroidectomy and 131I ablation of remaining thyroid tissue. All 45 patients with positive scans (i.e. functioning metastases) had elevated hTg concentrations. Of fifty-six patients with negative scans forty-two had undetectable or very low hTg levels and were considered to be free of metastatic thyroid tissue, whereas fourteen showed the presence of non-functioning metastases in the clinical and/or radiological examination. In this group of patients, eleven had elevated serum hTg levels while the other three patients had detectable hTg concentrations within the normal range. These results indicate that serum hTg measurements correlate very well with scan findings and have the added advantage of detecting non-functioning metastases which would not be detected by scanning. We concluded that measurement of serum hTg may be used together with scanning, as the first step in the follow-up of thyroidectomized patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serum thyroglobulin in thyroid carcinoma and other thyroid disorders.

Measurements of serum thyroglobulin (hTg) were performed using a specific radioimmunoassay. Sera with detectable anti-thyroglobulin (anti-Tg) antibody titers (> or = 1:10) as assessed by passive hemagglutination were discarded. Assays were carried out under conditions in which anti-Tg titers less than 1:10 produced no interference. The assay sensitivity was 1.25 ng/ml and the mean +/- SE concentration of serum hTg in 58 control subjects was 9.5 +/- 0.9 ng/ml (range < 1.25-27 ng/ml). A slight but significant (p < 0.025) increase in the mean hTg level was observed in 12 pregnant women at delivery (25.7 +/- 5.2 ng/ml). Moderate to marked elevations of serum hTg were observed in patients with nontoxic goiter (61.4 +/- 15 ng/ml; n = 23), subacute thyroiditis (138 +/- 67 ng/ml; n = 5), toxic adenoma (129 +/- 47 ng/ml; n = 13), untreated (424 +/- 101 ng/ml; n = 35) or treated (328 +/- 222 ng/ml; n = 14) toxic diffuse goiter. 88 patients with thyroid carcinoma and 10 with nonthyroidal malignancies were studied. The mean level of serum hTg was increased in untreated differentiated thyroid carcinoma (89.5 +/- 19 ng/ml; n = 13) but not in undifferentiated (10 +/- 2.9 ng/ml; n = 6) or medullary (0.8 +/- 0.2 ng/ml; = 3) carcinoma. In treated differentiated thyroid carcinoma the mean hTg levels were normal (8.2 +/- 0.2 ng/ml) in patients (n = 24) with no evidence of either a thyroid residue or metastatic disease, moderately increased (56.6 +/- 16 ng/ml) in patients (n = 27) with residual thyroid tissue, markedly elevated in patients with lymph node metastases (199 +/- 50 ng/ml; n = 5) and extremely elevated in those with bone (4004 +/- 982 ng/ml; n = 8) or lung (2520 +/- 620 ng/ml; n = 5) metastases. There was no significant difference in serum hTg between functioning (n = 23) and nonfunctioning (n = 5) metastases as assessed by 131I whole body scan. A slight but significant (p < 0.0005) increase in the mean concentration of hTg was observed in nonthyroidal malignancies (21.7 +/- 4.5 ng/ml; n = 10). Serial measurements showed a transient increase of serum hTg after 131I therapy of differentiated thyroid carcinoma, toxic diffuse goiter or toxic adenoma, with peak values usually occurring within the first three days. A fall of serum hTg after administration of suppressive doses of thyroid hormone to patients with nontoxic goiter and a rise after discontinuation of thyroid suppressive therapy in patients with metastatic differentiated thyroid carcinoma was observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) immunohistochemistry in breast cancer: relationship with the most important morphological and biochemical prognostic parameters.

Recent in situ hybridization experiments have shown a high content of IGF-II mRNA in breast cancer stroma. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between IGF-II protein expression and several prognostic parameters in 75 infiltrating ductal carcinomas (IDC) of the breast. Tissue sections were evaluated for proliferative activity, IGF-II protein, ER, PgR, p53, and p21 expression using immunohistochemical procedures. The degree of stromal proliferation was assessed. Menopausal status, axillary lymph node involvement and nuclear grade were known. Thirty-five patients (44.3%) were premenopausal and 47 (62.6%) had lymph node metastases. Marked stromal proliferation was found in 34 (45.3%) specimens and high nuclear grade in 20 (26.5%). Eighteen tumors (24%) showed no IGF-II immunostaining. In the positive cases, IGF-II was detected both in the tumor stroma and in the cytoplasm of epithelial cancer cells: a high IGF-II content was found in 12 specimens (16.0%), a low content in 14 (18.7%) and a moderate content in 31 (41.3%). Twenty-four tumors (32.0%) showed high proliferative activity. Both ER and PgR were expressed in the nucleus of cancer cells: 49 tumors (65.3%) were ER positive (ER+) and 34 (45.3%) PgR positive (PgR+). p21 protein was detected in 37 tumors (49.6%) and p53 in 12 (16%). IGF-II protein was not correlated with menopausal status, lymph node metastases, nuclear grade, proliferative activity, ER or p53. In contrast, IGF-II correlated strongly with stromal proliferation (p=0.008), PgR (p=0.03) and p21 (p=0.01). This study demonstrates that in IDC of the breast IGF-II protein is expressed in the epithelium and stroma of the majority of tumors and is correlated with stromal amount, PgR and p21 expression. These preliminary results indicate that IGF-II expression in breast cancer is connected with two important regulators of breast cancer growth and differentiation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Value of ER-D5 immunocytochemical determination in routine tissue sections of human breast cancer.

ER-D5 is a recently identified protein related to estrogen receptors (ER). Generally ER measurement requires fresh frozen tissue and for ER-D5 assay ethanol (E) fixation of the specimen is recommended. We evaluated the possibility of immunocytochemical detection of ER-D5 in routine formalin-fixed (F) sections in 51 breast cancers comparing the results with those obtained in the same specimens using E as fixative. The results of ER-D5 assay were expressed by the staining index (SI) taking values greater than or equal to 5 as positive. In all tumors ER was also assayed by a biochemical method (DCCA). The sensitivity of ER-D5 detection in F was only 33.3%, while the specificity was 94.4%. A lower cut-off value of SI for F sections (greater than or equal to 2) increased the sensitivity to 66.6%, leaving the specificity unchanged. A strong correlation was found between the SI of ER-D5 in E and F (p less than 0.001). The SI of ER-D5 in F sections was also well correlated with ER concentrations (p less than 0.001). These results suggest that immunocytochemical determination of ER-D5 in routine sections may be useful in retrospective studies of hormone dependence in breast cancer.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Estrogen, progesterone receptors and proliferating activity evaluated by immunocytochemistry in breast cancer.

The correlation of the most important prognostic indicators was evaluated in 75 breast cancer cases. Estrogen-progesterone receptors and proliferating activity were analyzed by immunocytochemical methods (ER-ICA, PR-ICA, Ki-67). Both steroid receptors were inversely correlated with the proliferating activity (ER-ICA vs Ki-67, p less than 0.003; PR-ICA vs. Ki-67, p less than 0.0001). No correlation was found between steroid receptors or cell kinetics and tumor size or lymph node status. These findings confirm the relevance of biochemical and kinetic parameters as independent markers in breast cancer and suggest a routine use of the simple immunocytochemical methods in assessing the biological behavior of tumors.

Adult↗