Primary small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast is a rare and aggressive neoplasm without an established treatment protocol because so few cases have been described. We report a case of primary small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in a 31-year-old woman. The patient came to our hospital 10 days after consulting another clinic, where a diagnosis of locally advanced breast cancer suitable for neoadjuvant chemotherapy had been made. Core needle biopsy under ultrasonographic guidance revealed invasive carcinoma. The doubling time of the tumor progression was calculated as 12 days based on ultrasonographic measurement. After three cycles of chemotherapeutic regimens consisting of adriamycin plus docetaxel, the disease was judged to be progressive and the patient underwent surgery. Definitive histopathological examination revealed primary small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. Local and mediastinal recurrence with multiple liver metastases developed only 5 weeks after surgery. Cisplatin plus irinotecan combination chemotherapy was started; however, the patient died of aggressive recurrent tumor progression 6 months after surgery, in spite of the transient tumor regression achieved by chemotherapy. This case reinforces the importance of an early correct diagnosis and the standardization of a treatment regimen for this very rare tumor.

A technique for permanently capturing a replica impression of biological cells has been developed to facilitate analysis using nanometer resolution imaging tools, namely the atomic force microscope (AFM). The method, termed Bioimprint™, creates a permanent cell 'footprint' in a non-biohazardous Poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) polymer composite. The transfer of nanometer scale biological information is presented as an alternative imaging technique at a resolution beyond that of optical microscopy. By transferring cell topology into a rigid medium more suited for AFM imaging, many of the limitations associated with scanning of biological specimens can be overcome. Potential for this technique is demonstrated by analyzing Bioimprint™ replicas created from human endometrial cancer cells. The high resolution transfer of this process is further detailed by imaging membrane morphological structures consistent with exocytosis. The integration of soft lithography to replicate biological materials presents an enhanced method for the study of biological systems at the nanoscale.

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Non-uniform AC electric fields generated by interdigitated microelectrode arrays have been used to manipulate and control biological cells by dielectrophoresis. This technique is incorporated on an integrated Biochip platform designed as a non-destructive system for trapping and immobilising living cells into cavities. Using dielectrophoresis-based single particle traps, cells have been directed into cavities aligned between the interdigitated electrodes by both positive and negative dielectrophoresis. The motivation for development of the Biochip is to analyse the cell structure in response to various stimuli by atomic force microscopy.

We report a rare case of a 64-year-old female with metachronous secondary primary left occult breast cancer initially presenting right axillary lymph node metastases. The patient, who had received breast-conserving therapy for left breast cancer at another hospital about 4.5 years ago, came to our hospital complaining of right axillary node swelling. After both breast and systemic examination, she received complete right axillary lymph node dissection. Just after the operation, she was diagnosed with right occult breast cancer by a review of the right axillary lymph nodes and previous left breast cancer. She was followed by radiation and systemic chemoendocrine therapies. One year after axillary lymph node dissection, mammography and ultrasonography showed a new lesion in her left breast. Core needle biopsy revealed similar findings to right axillary lymph node metastasis. After salvage surgery, the diagnosis was revised. We recommend that patients without clinical findings except for axillary lymph node metastasis, especially post-breast-conserving surgery followed by radiation therapy, should be considered not only as having ipsilateral but also contralateral occult breast cancer. If there is no evidence of a primary lesion, axillary lymph node dissection needs to be carried out, and the patient should be offered the choice of radiation therapy or mastectomy followed by proper systemic therapy.