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F Squartini

Publications and source records attributed to F Squartini.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Morphologic and antigenic properties of mouse mammary tumor virus produced in a hormone-responsive fashion by C57Bl/10 mammary tumors of non-viral origin.

Bl-MaTU/A1 mouse mammary tumor cells, derived from a C57B1/10 mammary adenocarcinoma induced by dimethylbenzanthracene and mammotropic hormones, express virus particles and proteins related to mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV). Immunocytochemical analysis by means of monospecific and monoclonal anti-gp52 sera revealed a different localization of the main structural proteins of MMTV in Bl-MaTU/A1 and GR cells (the latter used as a positive virus-producing control). Immunoelectron microscopy of B-type particles budding from the microvilli of dexamethasone-stimulated Bl-MaTU/A1 cells showed remarkably weak reactivity of the viral envelope with anti-gp52-protein A-gold complexes as compared with that of dexamethasone-stimulated GR cells. Since Bl-MaTU/A1-associated MMTV originates from the amplified unit II of endogenous MMTV, which is altered probably within the env gene, the observed antigenic difference in the Bl-MaTU/A1-associated MMTV may be due to altered synthesis of gp52 glycoprotein in these cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1988

Differences in progression of BALB/cfRIII and BALB/cfC3H mammary hyperplastic alveolar nodules transplanted into the gland-free fat pads of BALB/c mice.

In BALB/cfC3H and BALB/cfRIII virgin female mice, i.e., BALB/c mice carrying milk-transmitted C3H and those carrying RIII murine mammary tumor virus infection, respectively, mammary noduligenesis and tumorigenesis are remarkably different. Focal hyperplastic alveolar changes or hyperplastic alveolar nodules were removed from BALB/cfRIII or BALB/cfC3H breeding female donors and transplanted into the gland-free mammary fat pads of syngeneic BALB/c virgin female recipients with or without hormonal supplementation. The results obtained have shown significant differences in: (a) the morphological type of outgrowths; (b) the incidence of malignant transformations; and (c) the hormonal responsiveness of the tumors arisen after pituitary transplants.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1988

Biological and immunological properties of the HMB-2 human melanoma cell line.

The HMB-2 human melanoma cell line derived from a lymph node metastatis is described. After long-term cultivation in vitro the cells retained their morphology, high growth rate, xenotransplantability into immunosuppressed mice and genotypic and phenotypic markers of human melanoma cells. Upon infection of the HMB-2 cells with temperature-sensitive mutant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSVts045) at nonpermissive temperature, a complemented virus pseudotype (VSV(HMB-2] was produced carrying assembled melanoma-associated antigens. Monoclonal antibodies prepared against HMB-2 cell membrane proteins and proteins of purified VSV(HMB-2) particles showed different reactivity with various human tumor cell lines and tissues: While the RG-12 anti-HMB-2 monoclonal antibody recognized a class II tumor-associated antigen present in melanoma and carcinoma tissues, the B-6 anti-VSV(HMB-2) antibody showed selective reactivity with melanoma cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Correlation between 5-year survival of T1-T2N0 breast cancer and some pathological parameters.

In order to more clearly define the factors influencing prognosis, 113 cases of T1-T2N0 breast cancers, all operated on by means of radical mastectomy, were reviewed. The following pathologic parameters were analyzed in relation to 5 years survival: histological type, nuclear grading, vascular embolization, size and border of the tumour, and sinus histiocytosis, diffuse cortical hyperplasia and germinal center hyperplasia of axillary nodes. We observed a close correlation between the presence of sinus histiocytosis and prognosis, as many authors have reported. Diffuse cortical hyperplasia stands out from our data as the most unfavourable prognostic factor.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Mammary cancer antigen recognized by monoclonal antibody B72.3 in apocrine metaplasia of the human breast.

Monoclonal antibody B72.3 recognizing a pan-associated carcinoma antigen expressed also in metastatic human breast cancer cells has been tested using the avidin-biotin peroxidase method applied to paraffin-embedded sections in 50 samples of mammary tissue showing apocrine metaplasia and in 58 cases of other mild or severe focal epithelial proliferative changes of the breast, including mostly in situ lobular or ductal carcinomas collateral to clinical cancer removed after radical mastectomy. The antigen detected by this antibody was present in the apocrine cells of 48 cases (96%). In the majority of these cases the reactivity was localized on the luminal border of the apocrine cells and in the luminal secretion. But ten cases showed positive staining also in the cell cytoplasm either focal or diffuse. The normal structures and mild focal hyperplastic changes collateral to clinical cancer were, in the majority of the cases (43 of 55), negative, and, when positive, displayed positivity only at the luminal border. By contrast, the independent foci of in situ carcinoma (17 of 31 examined), the intraduct papillomas (seven cases of 14), and the intraductal component of breast carcinoma (seven cases of 17) were positive, displaying a cytoplasmic focal or diffuse staining. In conclusion, mammary apocrine metaplasia, a metaplastic change of the normal epithelium that has been associated with increased breast cancer risk, shares antigens in common with breast cancer cells and/or with cells showing severe atypia. The possible clinical significance of the site of antigenic expression (cytoplasm or luminal border) needs further investigation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1987

Orientation and frequency dependence of backscatter coefficient in normal and pathological breast tissues.

The backscatter coefficient was measured on five groups of normal and pathological breast specimens: (1) as a function of frequency (in the range 4-14 MHz) and (2) at a single fixed frequency (10 MHz), as a function of the angle of incidence between the beam and the specimen (approximately 60 degrees). The results of the study are discussed in relation to the content of cells and collagen fibers in breast tissues. The absolute value of backscatter coefficient is larger in tissues with a prevalence of collagenous fibers in comparison to tissues with only cells. In fibrofatty tissue, the inhomogeneity of the specimens is probably responsible for the highest backscatter value. The power law frequency dependence of the backscatter coefficient is of a diffractive nature in tissues characterized by only cells; in tissues with a strong prevalence of collagenous fibers, the power law frequency dependence increases. Periodicities in the angular patterns have been quantified by the autocorrelation functions for each group of specimens. The results of the study suggest a means for assessing tissue structure in normal and pathological breast tissue.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1987

Lung colonization and metastasis of murine mammary tumors: relationship to various characteristics of the primary tumors.

The ability to metastasize via the bloodstream of mammary tumors occurring in Balb/cfC3H and Balb/cfRIII mice (two substrains of identical Balb/c genotype carrying milk-transmitted C3H or RIII murine mammary tumor virus (MuMTV) infection, respectively) has been compared in MuMTV-free Balb/c virgin female recipients given intravenous tumor cell suspensions or subcutaneous solid tumor transplants from mammary tumor-bearing Balb/cfC3H and Balb/cfRIII breeding female donors. Tumor cell suspensions different for MuMTV inducing variant, growth rate, tumor size, and clinical duration, injected intravenously to Balb/c virgin female recipients, have been compared with respect to the foci of lung colonization induced in recipient hosts. The results obtained indicate that MuMTV variant, growth rate and clinical duration of the primary mammary tumor, but not the size of the primary tumor, significantly influence the lung colonization. Similar results were obtained with solid subcutaneous transplants of the same mammary tumors. The significance of these results for the understanding of the general mechanisms of tumor metastases is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Uneven distribution and significant concentration of apocrine metaplasia in lower breast quadrants.

Two hundred human breasts removed for clinical cancer by radical mastectomy were analyzed to determine whether apocrine metaplasia and apocrine cysts have predilective sites in the four mammary quadrants. One block of tissue randomly removed for each quadrant was examined in one or more histologic sections. The results showed a concentration of apocrine metaplasia and apocrine cysts in the lower mammary quadrants (17.5% versus 8.2%), which is highly significant (chi 2 = 15.25; P less than 0.001). The different distribution between breast cancer (showing predilection for the upper quadrants) and apocrine metaplasia is emphasized, together with the highly significant association between apocrine metaplasia and breast cancer. Based on these data, the usefulness of the clinical detection of cysts in the lower mammary quadrants and needle aspiration of their fluid for the morphologic or biochemical diagnosis of apocrine metaplasia in the screening and management of women at risk is suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Reciprocal interference between milk-transmitted mammary tumor virus and Friend leukemia viruses in mice: possible role of the interferon system.

We have previously shown that mice simultaneously infected with the murine mammary tumor virus (MuMTV) and with certain slow murine leukemia viruses (MLV) have an increased resistance to the pathological effects of both agents. Here we report that milk-transmitted MuMTV also delays the development of the acute erythroleukemia induced by Friend leukemia virus (FLV), and retards, or prevents in some cases, the development of long-term lymphomas caused by its helper component. This is confirmed by the observation that the average life span of MuMTV-carrying mice infected with FLV or its helper component is prolonged by over 30% as compared to that of MuMTV-free animals infected with the same agents and by the finding that the replication of Friend viruses is reduced in mice neonatally exposed to MuMTV. Since the antibody responses of mice to MuMTV and to FLV were not cross-reactive, we searched for antiviral activity in the tissues of mice exposed to MuMTV, FLV, or the helper component of FLV. Low levels of interferon-alpha/beta were consistently detected in spleen extracts from mice infected with all these agents but could not be demonstrated in the spleens of uninfected BALB/c mice; thus, the chronic production of endogenous interferon is likely to play a major role in the reciprocal interference in vivo between retroviruses belonging to different genera.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Atherosclerosis detection by ultrasounds. A comparative histologic study on aortic specimens.

The aim of the study was to establish whether ultrasonic tissue characterization may be an useful tool in atherosclerosis detection. Ultrasonic measurements were performed on fresh aortic specimens taken from autopsy. Four hundred aortic regions were studied in vitro and histologically classified in four groups of 100 samples each: normal walls, fibrous, fibro-fatty and calcified plaques. Two different indices were measured, one derived from the Fourier transform of the echo produced by a specular reflector placed behind the specimen under study and named integrated attenuation index (IAI); the other derived from the Fourier transform of the echo reflected from the specimen under study and named integrated backscatter index (IBI). Results obtained from ultrasonic and histologic analyses showed that both attenuation and backscatter indices increase in atherosclerotic specimens where a deposition of biochemical components such as collagen and calcium salts takes place. This is not true for fatty tissue that reduces the echogenicity of the atherosclerotic profile of the arterial wall.

Aorta↗
PubMed1986

Comparative ultrasonic-histologic study in breast lesions detection.

The aim of this study is to establish whether a comparative morphologic-ultrasonic analysis is able to identify acoustical parameters for mammary lesions characterization. Breast specimens from radical mastectomy have been selected by frozen sections and then analyzed by nonconventional techniques based on ultrasonic attenuation measurements. After histologic examination of the fixed specimens, both ultrasonic and morphologic appearances have been compared. Our results suggest that the slope index is able to differentiate breast lesions on the basis of the amount of cells and collagen fibers they contain. The slope increases with increasing collagen fibers content while necrosis reduces the overall attenuation of the specimen. On the basis of the above results, it appears possible to differentiate both malignant breast tumors characterized by productive fibrosis and breast dysplasia. Malignant breast tumors without productive fibrosis cannot be distinguished from benign tumors.

Breast↗
PubMed1986

Multicentricity in breast cancer: a submacroscopic study.

One hundred human female breasts surgically removed by radical mastectomy for clinical cancer were analyzed under a dissecting microscope to search for other submacroscopic (less than 0.5 cm) foci collateral to and independent from the clinical one. These foci were found in 36 percent of cases, either in situ (17 percent), or infiltrating (12 percent), or both in situ and infiltrating (7 percent). This high percentage of multiple cancer confirms previous data, suggesting the wide intramammary distribution of breast cancer disease. Multicentricity appears to be significantly associated with the incidence of familial breast cancer (p less than 0.05) and advanced patient age in the range between 71 and 80 years (p less than 0.005). Axillary lymph node metastases are significantly associated with collateral foci of in situ cancer (p less than 0.025), but not with submacroscopic foci of infiltrating cancer and the general character of the mammary glandular parenchyma, tumor size or histologic type of the clinical neoplasm. The critical question is whether multicentricity makes a difference clinically and especially to women who do not have their entire breast removed. Radical mastectomy results in a severe cosmetic and functional problem for patients. According to many authors, the goal of the treatment should be the removal of breast cancer by conservative surgical techniques (lumpectomy, subcutaneous mastectomy, quadrantectomy), using adjuvant radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. The use of radiotherapy as primary treatment of early breast cancer has been also suggested. There is disagreement about surgical management of breast cancer. In fact, some investigators emphasize that the natural biologic history of multicentric cancers has not been documented by any adequate follow-up series in women who do not have their entire breast removed. Thus far, no difference has been seen in disease-free or overall survival between groups of patients with early breast cancer treated by an alternative therapeutic procedure and patients treated by radical mastectomy. However, Veronesi et al. (1981) refer to 4 second primary tumors of the ipsilateral breast in the 352 cases of small cancers treated by quadrantectomy, axillary dissection, and adjuvant radiotherapy. Moreover, Hellman et al. (1980), using radiation therapy without mastectomy for the primary treatment of 176 patients with early breast cancer, found 1 case of new cancer in a separate quadrant. Further evaluation is necessary to establish the long-term results of the alternative treatments of breast cancer and for the understanding of the clinical significance of microscopic multifocal tumor in the mammary gland.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Morphology and progression of preneoplastic changes in methylcholanthrene-induced mouse mammary tumorigenesis.

Susceptible BALB/c virgin female mice were treated with 3-methylcholanthrene in almond oil (0.5%) by skin painting and killed at monthly intervals. The mammary glands were prepared as whole mounts for stereoscopic study of the glandular tree with removal of any focal change for histology. The results showed a marked disarrangement in the architecture of the glandular tree, a prevalent ductal tree, and an overcrowding of ducts. Focal hyperplastic changes were frequently observed, including hyperplastic alveolar nodules, hyperplastic ductal nodules, noduloids and intraductal epithelial growths, and their respective rates of malignant transformation observed at histology were 22%, 15%, 7% and 50%. Data suggest a different weight of these preneoplastic changes as sources of malignant transformation and a prevalent ductal origin of the methylcholanthrene-induced neoplasms.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Factors that affect metastasis in virus-induced mouse mammary tumors.

Two hundred and forty-one mammary tumor-bearing breeding female mice of the BALB/cf C3H and BALB/ cfRIII strains, carrying milk-transmitted murine mammary tumor virus (MuMTV) of C3H and RIII origin, respectively, were studied to evaluate the factors that affect tumor metastasis. Only lung metastases were considered and the following factors taken in account: MuMTV inducing variant (C3H, RIII), number of deliveries, tumor histotype , number of tumors per mouse, clinical duration of tumors, tumor size, and tumor growth rate. Only the number of deliveries, the tumor size and the number of tumors per mouse were found to significantly influence the rate of metastasis. The tumor growth rate affects concurrently with tumor size the metastatic process. In fact, the larger the tumor the higher the tumor growth rate. This direct relationship is significant (P less than 0.01) and, in case of lung metastases at autopsy, there was a prevalence of large tumors (greater than 2 cm) and high growth rate (greater than 0.3 mm/day). The discordance of these data with those concerning mammary tumor metastasis in virgin females of the same two strains, the enhancing effect of pregnancies on metastatic spread of tumors, and the significance of results for the understanding of the general mechanisms of tumor metastasis are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Independent submacroscopic foci of infiltrating carcinoma in breasts removed for clinical cancer.

The aim of our study was the detection and the characterization of submacroscopic foci of infiltrating carcinoma in the human female mammary glandular tree collateral to clinical cancer. Accordingly, we analyzed 100 breasts surgically removed by radical mastectomy. Five thin slices per case were analyzed under a dissecting microscope by subgross method of observation. Submacroscopic foci of invasive cancer, well separated and apparently independent of the primary tumor, were found in 19% of the cases and were confirmed by histologic examination. Foci of submacroscopic cancer were either single (79%) or multiple (21%), and were located in slices including or not the main tumor mass (31% and 69% of cases, respectively). Their size ranged from 1 to 4 mm. Four histologic types were represented: 1) invasive ductal NOS with productive fibrosis, scirrhous type (36% of cases); 2) invasive ductal NOS without productive fibrosis, simplex type (32% of cases); 3) invasive ductal with tubular component (16% of cases); 4) medullary (16% of cases). Concordance between histology of clinical and submacroscopic cancers was assessed in 42% of cases. A significant association of the tubular type (invasive ductal carcinoma with a consistent tubular component) of primary tumor was demonstrated (P less than 0.05), as well as with the presence of ductal and lobular proliferative changes in the collateral glandular tree (intraductal papillomas, P less than 0.01; atypical lobules, P less than 0.02). No relationship was found between submacroscopic foci of infiltrating carcinoma and neoplastic familiarity, patients' age by decades, axillary lymph node metastases, size of clinical tumor or profile of the collateral mammary glandular tree. These data support the hypothesis of a multicentric origin of human breast cancer and suggest a systemic nature of the neoplastic mammary disease. Prognostic and therapeutic implications of this concept are discussed.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗
PubMed1984

Morphologic assessment of reactivity to monoclonal antibodies generated against breast cancer cells in mammary tissues removed for clinical dysplasia or cancer.

Monoclonal antibodies B 6.2, B 72.3 and B 1.1, reactive against tumor-associated antigens of human breast cancer, have been tested on histologic sections of paraffin blocks from 49 cases of breast cancer and from 13 cases of mammary dysplasia. The results have shown that: (a) the three monoclonal antibodies recognize different antigenic determinants of the cancer cells; (b) monoclonal antibodies B 6.2 and B 1.1 recognize antigens which are frequently expressed in cancer cells; (c) the antigen recognized by monoclonal antibody B 72.3, at the concentrations used, is less frequently expressed in tumors, while it seems to be selective for the apical cell border and luminal secretions of apocrine metaplastic lobules or cysts occurring in mammary dysplasia; (d) intracytoplasmic expression of the antigens is observed only in cancer cells, with rare exceptions; (e) tumor cell populations are heterogeneous in respect to the expression of the antigens detected by the monoclonal antibodies tested; (f) the antigens detected are unrelated to the tumor histotype; (g) the frequency of axillary lymph nodal metastases is not influenced by the presence or intensity of antigenic expression in the primary tumors; but (h) in metastatic tumor cell populations the antigenic expression is higher than in primary tumors. This fact suggests some relationship between tumor metastatization and the expression of antigens recognized by the monoclonal antibodies tested.

Adult↗