The aims of this study were to analyze the incidence and morphology of cyclin D1+ DLBCL and cases of Richter transformation (RT), and to elucidate possible molecular mechanisms of cyclin D1 overexpression. Seventy-two cases of de novo DLBCL and 12 cases of RT were included in this study. Cyclin D1 positivity was found in 10/66 (15%) cases of unselected de novo DLBCL and in 2/11 (18%) cases of RT. Seven independently identified cases of cyclin D1+ DLBCL, including one RT, were added to the study. Centroblastic morphology was found in 17/19 (89%) cases of cyclin D1+, most with a post-germinal center phenotype (CD10-, BCL6+, MUM1+). No alterations in the CCND1 gene indicative for a translocation t(11;14) were identified by FISH. Analysis of the MYC locus yielded gene copy alterations in five cases and no disruption of the gene locus in any case, suggesting an alternative mechanism of cyclin D1 deregulation.

BackgroundMetaplastic carcinoma, an uncommon subtype of breast cancer, is part of the spectrum of basal-like, triple receptor-negative breast carcinomas. The present study examined 20 surgical specimens of metaplastic breast carcinomas, for the presence of high-risk Human papillomavirus (HPV), which is suspected to be a potential carcinogenic agent for breast carcinoma.MethodsMastectomy specimens from patients harboring metaplastic breast carcinoma, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), and who attended the Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia in Mexico City, were retrieved from the files of the Department of Pathology accumulated during a 16-year period (1995–2008). Demographic and clinical information was obtained from patients’ medical records. DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumors and HPV type-specific amplification was performed by means of Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Quantitative Real-time (RT) PCR was conducted in HPV positive cases. Statistically, the association of continuous or categorical variables with HPV status was tested by the Student t, the Chi square, or Fisher’s exact tests, as appropriate.ResultsHigh-risk HPV DNA was detected in eight (40%) of 20 metaplastic breast carcinomas: seven (87.5%) HPV-16 and one (12.5%) HPV-18. Mean age of patients with HPV-positive cases was 49 years (range 24–72 years), the same as for HPV-negative cases (range, 30–73 years). There were not striking differences between HPV + and HPV– metaplastic carcinomas regarding clinical findings. Nearly all cases were negative for estrogen, progesterone and Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), but positive for Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).ConclusionsHigh-risk HPV has been strongly associated with conventional breast carcinomas, although the subtle mechanism of neoplastic transformation is poorly understood. In Mexican patients, the prevalence of HPV infection among metaplastic breast carcinomas is higher than in non-metaplastic ones, as so the HPV viral loads; notwithstanding, HPV viral loads show wide variation and remain even lower than cervical and other non-cervical carcinomas, making it difficult to assume that HPV could play a key role in breast carcinogenesis. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the meaning of the presence of high-risk HPVDNA in breast carcinomas.

Background: Trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against the HER2 receptor is currently being used in breast and other tumor types. Early studies have shown that a variable proportion of cervical carcinoma tumors overexpress the HER2 receptor as evaluated by diverse techniques and antibodies. Currently it is known that a tumor response to trastuzumab strongly correlates with the level of HER2 expression evaluated by the Hercep Test, thus, it seems desirable to evaluate the status of expression of this receptor using the FDA-approved Hercep Test and grading system to gain insight in the feasibility of using trastuzumab in cervical cancer patients.

No abstract

A 29-year-old woman presented with a breast tumor with a primary diagnosis of MALT lymphoma. A repeat biopsy revealed a hematological neoplasm with diffuse, Indian file, and targetoid patterns. The cells were intermediate size with eosinophilic granules; the immunophenotyping showed monocytic differentiation, and no lymphoepithelial lesion was observed. The diagnosis was granulocytic sarcoma. Three different bone marrow biopsies were negative for neoplastic infiltration. After treatment, she developed secondary pancytopenia which contributed to her death 16 months after primary diagnosis. Granulocytic sarcoma of the breast is uncommon. A complete panel of immunohistochemistry is necessary to perform this diagnosis.