BACKGROUNDAmplification of DNA in certain chromosomal regions plays a crucial role in the development and progression of human malignancies, specifically when protooncogenic target genes within those amplicons are overexpressed. Comparative genomic hybridization studies have revealed frequent amplification at 20q in primary breast tumors. The aim of the current study was to identify specific genes in the 20q amplicon that were likely to have clinical significance.METHODSThe authors examined 38 primary breast tumors by using a quantitative real‐time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction assay to determine expression levels of 18 potential targets for amplification events involving 20q. Potential correlations between elevated expression of the genes in question and clinicopathologic parameters or clinical outcomes were analyzed.RESULTSElevated expression of NABC1 was significantly associated with positive estrogen (P < 0.001) and progesterone (P = 0.027) receptors in breast tumors, and high expression of PTK6 was significantly correlated with positive estrogen receptor status (P = 0.022) and postmenopausal status (P = 0.008). Patients whose tumors showed elevated expression of NCOA3 (AIB1) had significantly shorter disease‐free (P = 0.017) and overall (P = 0.0021) survival times after surgery than did other patients with breast tumors. Reduced disease‐free survival, but not reduced overall survival, was associated with high expression of TOP1 (P = 0.035) and TFAP2C (P = 0.035).CONCLUSIONSTOP1, TFAP2C, and (particularly) NCOA3 may be prognostic indicators for patients with breast tumors. Cancer 2003;98:18–23. © 2003 American Cancer Society.DOI 10.1002/cncr.11482

Objective: A phase I study of weekly intravenous paclitaxel combined with a fixed dose of S-1, a dihydropyrimidine-dehydrogenase-inhibitory oral fluoropyrimidine, was conducted for patients with advanced or recurrent gastric cancer (ARGC). Endpoints of this study were to examine the toxicity profile of this regimen and to determine the recommended dose (RD) of paclitaxel. Methods: S-1 was fixed at a dose of 80 mg/m² per day and was administered for 2 weeks (days 1–14) followed by a 2-week rest. Two dose levels of paclitaxel (level 1: 60 mg/m², level 0: 50 mg/m²) were studied. Paclitaxel was infused over 1 h on days 1, 8, and 15. Plasma sampling was performed to characterize the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of paclitaxel in some patients. Fifteen patients were enrolled (6 patients in level 1, and 9 patients in level 0). Dose-limiting toxicities were defined as grade 4 hematological (including grade 3 febrile neutropenia) and grade 3 non-hematological (except anorexia, nausea, vomiting and depilation) toxicities. Results: Three of 6 patients in level 1 developed grade 4 neutropenia or grade 3 febrile neutropenia, and 1 of them also showed grade 3 diarrhea, which settled the maximum-tolerated dose at this level. At level 0, 2 of 9 patients developed grade 4 neutropenia or grade 3 febrile neutropenia, and the RD of paclitaxel for this protocol was set at this level. Pharmacologic studies demonstrated the persistence of significant serum paclitaxel levels over 24 h after drug administration at both levels. Objective responses according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors were observed in 3 of 6 patients who had measurable disease. Conclusion: A combination of S-1 and weekly paclitaxel was feasible and well tolerated, and is suggested to produce a worthwhile response in ARGC. These results warrant further investigation, and a phase II study has already been started.

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We present a 39-year-old nulliparous woman who consulted our clinic for an 8-year history of infertility with no notable symptoms. There apparent uterine leiomyomas were found incidentally on clinical examination and imaging. The surgically enucleated specimens were white in color with variable consistency poorly defined margins. The tissues stained positive for cytokeratin but were negative for CD34 antibodies, indicating a mesothelial origin. Staining for vimentin and HBME1 was also strongly positive, supporting a mesothelial origin of the tumors. The patient became pregnant 6 months after surgery. A healthy male infant was delivered at term. Immunohistochemical staining establish the diagnosis of benign adenomatoid tumors derived from mesothelial tissue.

Preoperative evaluation for intraductal spread by CE-MRI should be more useful than by MMG for breast cancer. When making the surgical decision regarding excision range, particular attention should be paid to this consideration for patients with larger-sized cancer tumors.