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L Machin

Publications and source records attributed to L Machin.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

The effect of intra-tumour heterogeneity on the distribution of phosphorus-containing metabolites within human breast tumours: an in vitro study using 31P NMR spectroscopy.

The concentration of phosphorus-containing metabolites was determined in extracts of multiple samples from six human breast tumours and in samples from normal and inflamed breast tissue. The degree of lymphoid infiltrate, necrotic fraction and tumour cell and normal tissue fraction were determined on sections taken from each of the tumour samples. In four of the tumours there was a very high degree of variation between samples in the absolute concentration of metabolites. Three of these tumours showed a high degree of intra-tumour variation in the distribution of tumour cells and of normal tissue. The other two tumours were relatively homogeneous with respect to both tumour cellularity and the distribution of phosphorus-containing metabolites. Samples from normal breast tissue was found to contain only low concentrations of phosphorus-containing metabolites. However one of the inflamed samples, which consisted predominantly of macrophages, contained high levels of such compounds. The effect of time delay between resection and freezing on the levels of metabolites in human breast tumours was also examined.

Breast

A comparison of in vivo and in vitro 31P NMR spectra from human breast tumours: variations in phospholipid metabolism.

An in vivo 31P NMR spectrum was obtained from each of four human breast tumours. The phosphomonoester and phosphodiester region of each spectrum consisted of a broad peak. Chemical extracts from samples of each of the tumours obtained at resection were examined on a high field strength NMR system. The phosphomonoester region in the spectrum from each extract resolved into three peaks consisting of phosphocholine, phosphoethanolamine and a nucleoside monophosphate. The phosphodiester region resolved into two components, glycerophosphorylcholine and glycerophosphorylethanolamine. Comparing the in vivo and in vitro data from each tumour showed that the contribution of phosphodiester was much lower in the in vitro spectra. We believe this to be a consequence of phospholipid, which would not appear in the aqueous extract, contributing to the phosphodiester peak in vivo.

Breast Neoplasms

Immunohistochemical distribution of c-erbB-2 in in situ breast carcinoma--a detailed morphological analysis.

An immunohistochemical study of c-erbB-2 expression was carried out on in situ (non-invasive) breast carcinoma, using antibody 21N, raised to the intracytoplasmic domain of the c-erbB-2 oncogene product. Strong membrane staining was observed in 44 out of 74 (59 per cent) cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), but none of 48 lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) lesions. A detailed comparative morphological evaluation using several different parameters, including histological subtypes, was performed within the DCIS group. The results showed that there was a significant correlation between c-erbB-2 expression and the presence of large cell size, periductal lymphoid cell infiltration, marked nuclear pleomorphism, multinucleation, and a high mitotic rate. Of these, cell size appears to be the most important predictor of c-erbB-2 status, followed by the presence of periductal lymphoid cell infiltration. These results indicate, firstly, that LCIS and DCIS are biologically (as well as histologically) different and, secondly, that a subgroup of DCIS, which is associated with c-erbB-2 over-expression, exists and appears to have distinct histological features. The subgroup of DCIS cases which over-express c-erbB-2 may be a biologically definable category with prognostic importance. These results may therefore have relevance to breast screening programmes, but a larger study incorporating clinical data would be necessary to correlate these findings with clinical outcome.

Analysis of Variance

A case of breast carcinoma with sarcomatous metaplasia.

We report the distinct mammographic appearance of a breast carcinoma in a woman of 58 years, which proved on histology to be adenocarcinoma with metaplasia to osteosarcoma. The unusual appearance may alert radiologists, surgeons and pathologists to the possibility of an uncommon tumour.

Adenocarcinoma