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Background: Disruption of the balance between apoptosis and proliferation is considered to be an important factor in the development and progression of tumor. In this study we determined the in vivo cell kinetics along the spectrum of apparently normal epithelium, hyperplasia, preinvasive lesions and invasive carcinoma, in breast tissues affected by fibrocystic changes in which preinvasive and/or invasive lesions developed, as a model of breast carcinogenesis. Materials and method: A total of 32 areas of apparently normal epithelium and 135 ductal proliferative and neoplastic lesions were studied. More than one epithelial lesion per case was analyzed. The apoptotic index (AI) and the proliferative index (PI) were expressed as the percentage of TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP-nick end-labelling) and Ki-67 positive cells, respectively. The proliferative/apoptotic index (P/A) was calculated for each case. Results: Statistical analysis demonstrated significant differences among the tissue groups for both indices (P < 0.0001). The Als and PIs were significantly higher in hyperplasia than in apparently normal epithelium (P = 0.04 and P = 0.0005, respectively), in atypical hyperplasia than in hyperplasia (P = 0.01 and P = 0.04, respectively) and in invasive carcinoma than in in situ carcinoma (P = 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). The two indices were similar in atypical hyperplasia and in in situ carcinoma. The P/A index increased significantly from normal epithelium to hyperplasia (P = 0.01) and from preinvasive lesions to invasive carcinoma (P = 0.04), whereas it was decreased (NS) from hyperplasia to preinvasive lesions. A strong positive correlation between the Als and the Pls was found (r = 0.83; P < 0.0001). Conclusion: These findings suggest accelerating cell turnover along the continuum of breast carcinogenesis. Atypical hyperplasias and in situ carcinomas might be kinetically similar lesions. In the transition from normal epithelium to hyperplasia and from preinvasive lesions to invasive carcinoma, the net growth of epithelial cells results from a growth imbalance in favour of proliferation. In the transition from hyperplasia to preinvasive lesions there is an imbalance in favour of apoptosis.

Background: Disruption of the balance between apoptosis and proliferation is considered to be an important factor in the development and progression of tumor. In this study we determined the in vivo cell kinetics along the spectrum of apparently normal epithelium, hyperplasia, preinvasive lesions and invasive carcinoma, in breast tissues affected by fibrocystic changes in which preinvasive and/or invasive lesions developed, as a model of breast carcinogenesis. Materials and method: A total of 32 areas of apparently normal epithelium and 135 ductal proliferative and neoplastic lesions were studied. More than one epithelial lesion per case was analyzed. The apoptotic index (AI) and the proliferative index (PI) were expressed as the percentage of TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP-nick end-labelling) and Ki-67 positive cells, respectively. The proliferative/apoptotic index (P/A) was calculated for each case. Results: Statistical analysis demonstrated significant differences among the tissue groups for both indices (P < 0.0001). The Als and PIs were significantly higher in hyperplasia than in apparently normal epithelium (P = 0.04 and P = 0.0005, respectively), in atypical hyperplasia than in hyperplasia (P = 0.01 and P = 0.04, respectively) and in invasive carcinoma than in in situ carcinoma (P = 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). The two indices were similar in atypical hyperplasia and in in situ carcinoma. The P/A index increased significantly from normal epithelium to hyperplasia (P = 0.01) and from preinvasive lesions to invasive carcinoma (P = 0.04), whereas it was decreased (NS) from hyperplasia to preinvasive lesions. A strong positive correlation between the Als and the Pls was found (r = 0.83; P < 0.0001). Conclusion: These findings suggest accelerating cell turnover along the continuum of breast carcinogenesis. Atypical hyperplasias and in situ carcinomas might be kinetically similar lesions. In the transition from normal epithelium to hyperplasia and from preinvasive lesions to invasive carcinoma, the net growth of epithelial cells results from a growth imbalance in favour of proliferation. In the transition from hyperplasia to preinvasive lesions there is an imbalance in favour of apoptosis. A2 Rescue of HER-2-positive breast carcinoma cells from dormancy by growth factors produced during wound healing R Agresti, E Tagliabue, C Ghirelli, D Morelli, R Giovanazzi, G Somenzi, M Campiglio, M Greco, A Balsari, S MenardMolecular Targeting Unit and General Surgery, Breast Unit, National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy Background: Clinical and experimental data have raised the possibility that surgical removal of the primary tumor promotes the growth of metastatic lesions. Purpose: This study was undertaken to determine the effect of wound healing drainages and postsurgical sera obtained from breast carcinoma (BC) patients on proliferation of dormant BC cells and to assess the role of HER2 oncoprotein in this proliferation. Method: Proliferation of dormant BC cells was evaluated in vitro by SRB colorimetric assay. ...

Background: Disruption of the balance between apoptosis and proliferation is considered to be an important factor in the development and progression of tumor. In this study we determined the in vivo cell kinetics along the spectrum of apparently normal epithelium, hyperplasia, preinvasive lesions and invasive carcinoma, in breast tissues affected by fibrocystic changes in which preinvasive and/or invasive lesions developed, as a model of breast carcinogenesis. Materials and method: A total of 32 areas of apparently normal epithelium and 135 ductal proliferative and neoplastic lesions were studied. More than one epithelial lesion per case was analyzed. The apoptotic index (AI) and the proliferative index (PI) were expressed as the percentage of TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP-nick end-labelling) and Ki-67 positive cells, respectively. The proliferative/apoptotic index (P/A) was calculated for each case. Results: Statistical analysis demonstrated significant differences among the tissue groups for both indices (P < 0.0001). The Als and PIs were significantly higher in hyperplasia than in apparently normal epithelium (P = 0.04 and P = 0.0005, respectively), in atypical hyperplasia than in hyperplasia (P = 0.01 and P = 0.04, respectively) and in invasive carcinoma than in in situ carcinoma (P = 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). The two indices were similar in atypical hyperplasia and in in situ carcinoma. The P/A index increased significantly from normal epithelium to hyperplasia (P = 0.01) and from preinvasive lesions to invasive carcinoma (P = 0.04), whereas it was decreased (NS) from hyperplasia to preinvasive lesions. A strong positive correlation between the Als and the Pls was found (r = 0.83; P < 0.0001). Conclusion:These findings suggest accelerating cell turnover along the continuum of breast carcinogenesis. Atypical hyperplasias and in situ carcinomas might be kinetically similar lesions. In the transition from normal epithelium to hyperplasia and from preinvasive lesions to invasive carcinoma, the net growth of epithelial cells results from a growth imbalance in favour of proliferation. In the transition from hyperplasia to preinvasive lesions there is an imbalance in favour of apoptosis.

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