CTC count is an independent and quantitative prognostic factor in early breast cancer patients treated by NCT. It complements current prognostic models based on tumor characteristics and response to therapy.

We found that: 1) a significant number of patients with APA had somatic mutations of the KCNJ5 gene; 2) KCNJ5 mRNA levels were higher in the APA with KCNJ5 mutations; and 3) the expression of KCNJ5 mRNA was significantly higher in APA than cortisol-producing adenomas and pheochromocytomas.

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A combined method with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) has been developed for determining gold(III). Dicyclohexylamine, a new extractant for gold(III), showed excellent performance in DLLME. Acetone was indispensable to the quantitative extraction of gold(III), contributing to decrease in hydration, decrease in the difference in the dielectric constants between the supernatant phase and the sedimented phase, and dissolution of a part of chloroform as an extraction solvent to the supernatant phase as well as improvement of dipersibility. In DLLME using a mixture of 1.0mL of acetone and 100microL of chloroform containing 50mmolL(-1) of dicyclohexylamine, gold(III) could be extracted selectively and effectively from 8mL of a sample solution in the presence of iron(III), cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II), palladium(II), and platinum(IV) at pH 1. The extracted gold(III) was determinable by ETAAS; the detection limit was 0.002microgL(-1) (three times the standard deviation of the blank values, n=8) as a gold(III) concentration in 8mL of sample solution. The proposed method was applicable to the determination of gold in platinum metal and its alloy as well as effluent without any interference by the matrices.

Invasive breast cancer (IBC) with cartilaginous or osseous metaplasia is rare. Here we report two cases of this unusual variation. Case 1: The patient was a 33-year-old woman with a right breast tumor, 2.2 cm in size. Mammograms (MMG) presented no specific findings, but ultrasound (US) showed a cystic-like lesion. Excisional biopsy confirmed IBC with cartilaginous and osseous metaplasia. Biopsy was followed with a modified radical mastectomy. One lymph node was positive, and both estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) were negative. Case 2: The patient was a 43-year-old woman with a left breast tumor, 4.2 cm in size. MMGs presented no findings but US showed an irregular shaped, low-echoic area, suggesting malignancy. Core needle biopsy confirmed IBC with cartilaginous metaplasia. A total adenectomy and lymph node dissection with breast reconstruction using a lattisimus dorsi muscle flap were performed. Two of 18 lymph nodes were positive for metastasis and both ER and PgR were negative. IBC with cartilaginous or osseus metaplasia seem to be divided into two types pathologically, with or without intervening spindle cells, which is related to the prognosis. Matrix producing carcinoma (MPC) has no intervening spindle cells and a better prognosis than other types, however, MPC has been reported to have the same prognosis as ordinary breast cancer after for adjusting its stage. Our two cases were MPC's and no recurrence has been detected 5 and 3 years from the initial therapy, respectively.