Biomedical subjects

I Ferri

Publications and source records attributed to I Ferri.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Computer-assisted immunocytochemical determination of breast cancer steroid receptors. Frozen sections vs paraffin sections.

Previously we have demonstrated that determination of oestrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors by immunocytochemical assay (ICA) on frozen sections (FS) and cytological smears with image analysis is effective for evaluating steroid receptors. The aim of this study was to determine concordance between ER and PR assessed by ICA on FS and paraffin sections (PS) both evaluated by image analysis. There were 115 breast carcinomas selected. For all cases, ER and PR determination was performed on FS and PS. Computer-assisted image analysis was performed using CAS 200. Results were expressed as percent positive area of neoplastic nuclei compared with total nuclear area of the examined neoplastic cells. Good correlation was demonstrated for both ER (r=0.759; concordance=83.4%) and PR (r=0.800; concordance=87.8%). The unexpected relatively low concordance for ER led to further investigations. We divided the 115 cases in two groups. The first group included specimens from our hospital; the second group specimens from suburban hospitals. In the first group there was better correlation for both ER (r=0.897) and PR (r=0.915) with a concordance of 91.5% and 93.6%, respectively. In the second group, correlation was worse for both ER (r=0.724) and PR (r=0.708), with a concordance of 77.9% and 83.9% respectively. From analysis of discordant cases we conclude that reduction in correlation and concordance with increased false negative cases in group 2 are probably due to delayed fixation. Our data suggest that ICA with automated image analysis is efficient in evaluating ER and PR on paraffin section only when the tumour samples are correctly fixed.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1999

Computer-assisted immunocytochemical determination of breast cancer steroid receptors on cytological smears of excised surgical specimens compared with frozen sections.

BACKGROUND: Due to the widespread use of fine needle aspirate biopsy the practice of determining estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors in breast carcinoma from cytological smears (CS) is becoming very common. The aim of this study was to determine concordance between ER and PR assessed by immunocytochemical assay (ICA) on CS and FS both evaluated by image analysis since we have found no data in literature on this. METHODS: 104 breast carcinoma cases were selected. For all cases ER and PR determination was performed on CS, obtained by light scraping of the freshly cut surface of the excised surgical tumors at the time of frozen section diagnosis, and FS using the same monoclonal antibodies. Computer-assisted image analysis was performed in all cases using CAS 200. Results were expressed as percent positive area of neoplastic nuclei compared with total nuclear area of the examined neoplastic cells. RESULTS: Good correlation was demonstrated between percent positive nuclear neoplastic area by ER-ICA on CS and FS (r = 0.759; P < 0.0001). Concordance of results was 90.19% (P < 0.001). Good correlation was also demonstrated between percent positive nuclear neoplastic area by PR-ICA in CS and FS (r = 0.889; P < 0. 0001). Concordance of results was 97.02% (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that ICA on CS with automated image analysis is efficient in evaluating ER and PR content in human breast cancer, especially when CS is the only method pathologists have to evaluate receptor status e.g. in advanced breast cancer cases when neoadjuvant therapy is necessary before surgery or when surgery is impossible.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Combined overexpression of urokinase, urokinase receptor, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 is associated with breast cancer progression: an immunohistochemical comparison of normal, benign, and malignant breast tissues.

BACKGROUND: A strong positive correlation exists between the breast cancer tissue content of either urokinase-plasminogen activator (uPA) or plasminogen activator, inhibitor type I (PAI-1), quantified in the tissue extracts by immunoassays, and the survival of patients with breast cancer. Furthermore, several studies assign to the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) a pivotal role in triggering the proteolytic activity of the urokinase pathway involved in tumor stroma degradation, tumor spread and metastasis. However, the pattern of distribution of uPAR in normal and cancerous human tissue and the pattern of coexpression of activators and inhibitors that occurs in breast cancer tissues is not completely known. METHODS: The immunohistochemical localization of uPAR, uPA, tPA) and PAI-1 was evaluated by using the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique and affinity-purified monoclonal antibodies from American Diagnostica Inc. Studies were performed in formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue prepared from 23 surgically excised non-neoplastic breast tissues and 18 ductal breast carcinomas. RESULTS: While the expression of uPAR protein represents a constant feature of invasive ductal breast cancer, it was also observed in most of the breast tissue samples, including the normal breast tissues. The staining for uPAR was mainly localized on normal or tumoral epithelial cells, even if the co-expression of uPAR in stromal cells was frequently observed in adjacent slides. A semiquantitative analysis of immunohistochemical results showed that uPAR and PAI-1 were overexpressed in invasive breast cancer in comparison with normal and benign breast tissues. In addition, uPA was higher in both invasive breast carcinomas and benign breast lesions with respect to normal breast tissues. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that overexpression of uPAR, uPA, and its main inhibitor, PAI-1, is a constant feature of invasive ductal breast carcinomas. However, the expression of the above fibrinolytic reactants is not specific for breast cancer since positive staining for these molecules was frequently observed in benign breast lesions as well as in normal breast tissues. The combined increased expression of uPA and its cellular receptor, uPAR on the surface of tumor epithelial cells may account for the activation of the proteolytic system which occurs in breast cancer.

Breast↗

PubMed1994

Granular cell tumor: an immunohistochemical study.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Granular cell tumor, usually a benign neoplasm, has been the object of many studies because of its uncertain histogenesis and based on many immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies it has been suggested that it originates from the Schwann cell. Our recent observation that granular cell tumor is positive with PG-M1, a new anti-macrophage monoclonal antibody, led us to further investigate the immunophenotypic profile of the tumor. STUDY DESIGN: We studied 11 granular cell tumors using a panel of 20 antibodies, 13 monoclonal and 7 polyclonal. RESULTS: The immunohistochemical study showed in all cases a constant diffuse positivity for S-100 protein, neuron-specific enolase, vimentin, KP1 and PG-M1, as well as occasional and focal positivity for alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin and lysozyme. CONCLUSIONS: The immunophenotypic profile constantly observed could be the expression, on one hand, of the neuroectodermic nature of the neoplasm, proven by positivity for S-100 protein, neuron specific enolase and vimentin, and on the other could be the expression of the phagocytic activity of the tumor cell, proven by positivity for KP1 and PG-M1 antibodies and also by the presence of numerous phagolysosomes.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Changing patterns in gastric carcinoma.

In order to document any modifications in age and sex distributions, tumor locations and histological types, a retrospective study was performed comparing 377 consecutive cases of gastric cancers observed from 1942 to 1956 with 359 cases diagnosed from 1986 to 1987. The mean age at diagnosis rose from 57 to 66 years with no significant male/female ratio variations (1.6 vs 1.7). Tumors located in the proximal stomach increased from 13 to 23% (p less than 0.001) whereas those arising in the distal stomach decreased from 66 to 50% (p less than 0.001). Intestinal type gastric carcinoma decreased from 65.6 to 52.6% (p less than 0.001). The diffuse type rose from 24 to 43% (p less than 0.001) and the mucoid type fell from 10.3 to 4.4% (p less than 0.001). In spite of the overall decline in intestinal type carcinomas, this form remained more common in the upper third area and increased from 55 to 70% (p less than 0.001). Significant modifications in the distribution of diffuse, mucoid and signet ring cell type carcinomas were also noted. The possible significance and implications of these observations are discussed.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Value of c-erbB-2 and p53 oncoprotein co-overexpression in human breast cancer.

p53 and c-erbB-2 protein expression was immunohistochemically examined in a consecutive series of 49 primary breast cancer patients with a 10-year follow-up. The study was performed on paraffin sections using the monoclonal antibodies DO7 and CBE1; the former recognizes both the wild-type and the mutant p53 forms, the latter recognizes the external domain of the transmembrane c-erbB-2 protein. Positive staining was expressed in 12.2% and 16.3% of cases for p53 and c-erbB-2 proteins, respectively. The results were related to clinicopathological parameters by the chi 2 test. A significant correlation was found between positive c-erbB-2 immunostaining and poor survival (P = 0.04) and between p53 and c-erbB-2 overexpression (P = 0.003); this co-overexpression correlated well with a poor clinical outcome (P = 0.040). From our results, we may speculate that simultaneous expression of p53 and c-erbB-2 oncoproteins could be a critical event in breast tumor progression, and therefore, of prognostic value to identify patients at high risk.

Breast Neoplasms↗