Tritiated thymidine labeling index of benign and malignant human breast epithelium

Abstract

38 specimens of benign breast tissue from young women and 92 primary breast carcinomas were evaluated for tritiated thymidine ([3H]TdR) labeling index (TLI) by in vitro pulse labeling. The TLI on nonneoplastic, terminal breast ducts was significantly higher during the latter half than during the first half of the menstrual cycle (P less than 0.001), and a geometric mean TLI of 1.5 during the latter half of the cycle is consistent with approximately 47% turnover of these cells during the menstrual cycle. Ducts of fibroadenomas showed similar menstrual variation TLI. The range of TLI observed in the carcinomas was 0.04-18.6, arithmetic mean 3.7, geometric mean 2.1. The TLI of carcinomas was not significantly correlated with size of the tumor, but tended to be higher in women less than 50 yr old than in women older than 50 yr (P less than 0.05), and in the presence of two or more metastatic axillary lymph nodes than when fewer than two nodes were involved (P less than 0.02).

Epithelial cell kinetics. A review of methods of study and their application to oral mucosa in health and disease

“…For example, the spread of Mi's and Li's amongst leukoplakia speeimens within separate investigations ranged from 2 to >f 0-fold, while the spread of values amongst eontrol tissue from the same studies was only of the order of 2 to 4-fold. Similar high levels in inter-patient variation have been reported for squamous eell carcinoma of the oral cavity (Breseiani et al 1974, Chavaudra et al 1979, basal eell eareinotna (Weinstein & Frost 1970), cervical earcinoma (Dixon et al 1977, Siracky et al 1977, gastric and eolonie carcinoma (Britton et al 1975, Lesher et al f977, Maskens & Deschner 1977) and breast cancer (Meyer & Bauer 1976, Sklarew et al 1977. Sueh wide variation between individuals probably contributes to the failure to deteet signifieant differenees between patient and control groups in some studies.…”

Breast carcinoma malignancy grading by Bloom–Richardson system vs proliferation index: reproducibility of grade and advantages of proliferation index

“…Reproducibility of DNA labeling has been demonstrated by replicate counting, 49,50 replicate sampling, 49,51 and comparison between primary breast cancer and lymph nodal metastasis. 50 Approximately 25 min is required to count 2000 cells visually.…”

“…Although absolute differences decline with decreasing labeling index, interobserver coefficients of variation increase because of fewer labeled cells counted. 49 Field selection also contributes to interobserver variability. In all, 61% of 65 primary breast cancers were regionally heterogeneous for labeling index by criterion of significantly more intersample variance than intrasample variance.…”

Cell proliferation in fibrocystic disease and postmenopausal breast ducts measured by thymidine labeling

“…FUdR is known to potentiate the labeling of S-phase cells with 'H-TdR.''." (2)In-depth labeling of the slices was enhanced by use of hyperbaric oxygen during incubation. (3) The resultant high grain counts over labeled nuclei sharply discriminated them from background.…”