Summary C-myc and c-erbB-2 amplification and/or overexpression as well as total cathepsin-D (CD) concentration have been reported to be associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer. The prognostic significance, however, remains somewhat controversial, partly because of discrepancies among the different methodologies used. We determined the amplification and overexpression of c-myc oncogene in 152 breast cancer patients and examined its prognostic value in relation to c-erbB-2 amplification and overexpression, high concentration of CD (≥ 60 pmol mg -1 protein) and standard clinicopathological prognostic factors of the disease. High CD concentration, as well as c-myc amplification and overexpression, proved to be the best of the new variables examined for prediction of early relapse (ER; before 3 years). After multivariate analysis only CD remained significant, which suggests that the prognostic power of these variables is similar. Using univariate analysis we proved that c-myc amplification and overexpression were highly significant for disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.0016 and P = 0.0001 respectively) and overall survival (OS) (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0095 respectively), although by multivariate analysis c-myc overexpression was statistically significant only for DFS (P = 0.0001) and c-myc amplification only for OS (P = 0.0006). With regard to c-erbB-2, only its overexpression appeared to be significant for DFS and OS, although after multivariate analysis its prognostic power was weaker (P = 0.030 and P = 0.024 respectively). c-myc amplification and overexpression exhibited a tendency for locoregional recurrence (LRR) (P = 0.0024 and P = 0.0075 respectively), however, their prognostic value was lower after multivariate analysis and only CD remained significant. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaign Keywords: c-myc; c-erbB-2; cathepsin-D; early relapse; relapse-free survival; overall survival; locoregional recurrence; breast cancer 1385British Journal of Cancer (1999) 81(8), 1385-1391© 1999 Cancer Research Campaign Article no. bjoc.1999 Received 15 down-regulated the expression of c-erbB-2 and this effect was reversed by anti-oestrogens. It has been hypothesized that the activation of the two genes might share the same metabolic pathway; in fact, the c-erbB-2 gene has been identified as a cellular target for negative regulation by  (Suen and Hung, 1991), whereas c-erbB-2 tyrosine kinase-mediated signals seem to down-regulate the immediate-early genes (Sistonen et al, 1990).To express its full potential in systemic disease, however, the gene may have to act in concert with other events which also render the cell capable of metastasizing. Tumours with activated c-erbB-2 show several characteristics of the aggressive phenotype and are implicated in early relapse and shortened overall survival (Allred et al, 1998;Sjogren et al, 1998). One of the molecular mechanisms involved in the process of metastasis may be overproduction of proteases that degrade the basement membrane and the extracellular matrix (Rochefort, 1...

Single doses (0.3 MAC) of thiopentone or fentanyl did not affect the serum liver enzyme concentrations (SGPT, SGOT) in the rat. 0.3 MAC of fentanyl but not of thiopentone given for six consecutive days led to significantly higher SGPT levels (P

No abstract

The Swedish Two-County Trial is a randomized controlled study of invitation to breast cancer screening. It was initiated in late 1977. The follow-up to the end of 1998 provides results at approximately the twentieth anniversary of the trial. A significant decrease in breast cancer death among women invited to screening was published 7-8 years after randomization and at 20-year follow up there is a significant 32% reduction in mortality associated with invitation to screening. The advent of screen-film mammographic screening with the ability to detect potentially fatal tumors at an early stage provides an opportunity to study the natural history of breast cancer at an earlier phase in its development than was possible in the past. Our findings show that breast cancer is not a systemic disease at its inception, but is a progressive disease and its development can be arrested by screening. Detection of < 15 mm and lymph node negative invasive tumors will save lives and confer an opportunity for less radical treatment.Mammography is clearly a very useful tool, not only for early detection of cancers but also for successful discrimination between the highly fatal and nonfatal cancers. The four mammographic prognostic features will be presented.

No abstract