glycogen and Carcinoma--Intraductal--Noninfiltrating

We determined the proliferation rate and apoptotic activity of glycogen-rich carcinomas of the breast as opposed to non-clear cell tumors by means of MIB-1 immunohistochemistry and in situ detection of oligonucleosomal fragments (TUNEL reaction). The retrospective biopsy series included six invasive clear cell carcinomas of the glycogen-rich type as well as 15 randomly selected cases of invasive ductal carcinoma without evidence of glycogen storage. Three patients in the clear cell group and seven patients in the control cohort developed lymph-node metastasis. The MIB-1 labeling index of glycogen-rich carcinomas averaged 9.05%, while that of the controls was 30.03%. Apoptotic nuclei were present in a mean of 1.26% of glycogen-rich carcinoma cells. The control tumors exhibited an average apoptotic frequency of 5.85%. Tumor size, hormone receptor status, and presence or absence of lymph node involvement were found not to correlate with either proliferation or apoptosis. We conclude that glycogen-rich breast carcinomas are characterized by a peculiar 'low proliferation-low apoptosis' cell kinetic profile. The aggressive clinical behavior of these neoplasms may possibly be accounted for by an ineffective apoptotic elimination of otherwise slowly proliferating tumor cells.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Apoptosis; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating; Case-Control Studies; Cohort Studies; DNA Fragmentation; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Glycogen; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Lymphatic Metastasis; Middle Aged; Oligonucleotides; Random Allocation; Retrospective Studies

Twenty-one glycogen-rich clear cell carcinomas of the breast were studied. There were 13 invasive carcinomas and 8 intraductal carcinomas. Ten of the invasive carcinomas contained an intraductal component. Three intraductal carcinomas were papillary carcinomas ("intracystic" papillary carcinoma), and the others showed a mixture of solid, micropapillary, and cribriform patterns of growth. Most of the invasive carcinomas had nested, corded, or sheet-like growth patterns, and all were grade 2 or 3 neoplasms. Among patients with invasive carcinoma, two had metastases to axillary lymph nodes and three died of tumor. One patient with intraductal papillary carcinoma experienced two local recurrences, with invasion in the second recurrence. Thirteen cases (62%) exhibited focal apocrine features. Based on this small series, the clear cell morphology did not appear to influence the clinical outcome once stage and grade were taken into account. Glycogen-rich clear cell carcinoma of the breast may be a variant of apocrine carcinoma.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell; Adult; Aged; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating; Female; Glycogen; Humans; Middle Aged

Diabetes in patients with pancreatic cancer occurs in 70% to 80% of the patients and is characterized by high plasma levels of insulin. In type II diabetes that is not associated with pancreatic cancer, peripheral insulin resistance and impaired muscle glycogen synthesis are major pathogenic factors. We investigated peripheral insulin sensitivity in patients with pancreatic cancer before and after tumor removal. The effects of pancreatic tumor extracts on glycogen synthesis in skeletal muscle in vitro and the tumor content of pancreatic islet hormones were also investigated. Marked peripheral insulin resistance was found in the patients with pancreatic cancer and was more pronounced in the diabetic patients than in the nondiabetic patients. Insulin sensitivity was not correlated with weight loss, tumor size, or bilirubin levels but improved after surgery. Tumor extracts from diabetic patients with pancreatic cancer caused a marked reduction of glycogen synthesis in skeletal muscle in vitro. All tumors contained islet hormones but not in concentrations sufficient to explain the effect on glycogen synthesis. These findings indicate that a diabetogenic factor associated with pancreatic adenocarcinomas could be involved in the development of the profound peripheral insulin resistance and thereby could contribute to the high incidence of diabetes observed in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Topics: Aged; Animals; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating; Diabetes Complications; Female; Glucose Clamp Technique; Glycogen; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Male; Muscles; Pancreatic Hormones; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Radioimmunoassay; Rats; Rats, Wistar

Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating; Cytoplasmic Granules; Female; Glycogen; Humans; Lymphatic Metastasis

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adenofibroma; Adult; Aged; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma in Situ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating; Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase; Female; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; Glutamate Dehydrogenase; Glycogen; Glycosaminoglycans; Histocytochemistry; Humans; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Lymphatic Metastasis; Mammography; Middle Aged; RNA, Neoplasm; Succinate Dehydrogenase

The inter-relationships of 32 pathologic and 7 clinical parameters encountered in the study of 1000 examples of invasive breast carcinoma have been presented. In some instances the biological significance of these associations is at present unclear. In others it is to be noted that there is no information provided as to the rank of their significance. Nevertheless, the associations that were encountered not only help further characterize the various forms of breast cancer but also provide information regarding the possible biological significance of some of their features. Although it is not our intention to minimize the possible significance of the inter-relationships of pathologic parameters, most emphasis in the summarizing statements which follow has been placed upon those correlations which may relate to prognosis. In this regard reference has been made to short-term treatment failure, vis a vis local recurrence and/or metastases, which may not necessarily accurately reflect patient survival, although generally such a relationship exists. Information in this regard as well as to the rank of the significance of these pathologic features shall be forthcoming when sufficient time has elapsed since the inception of this study to allow for such conclusions, i.e. survival or long-term treatment failure rates. Lastly, it becomes evident that the guidelines followed in the examination of these specimens appear to represent at least the minimum requirements necessary for a meaningful pathologic evaluation of breast carcinoma.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous; Adult; Blood Vessels; Breast Neoplasms; Calcium; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating; Carcinoma, Papillary; Carcinosarcoma; Cell Nucleus; Connective Tissue; Elastic Tissue; Female; Glycogen; Histiocytes; Humans; Lymphatic Metastasis; Lymphocytes; Middle Aged; Mucins; Necrosis; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary; Paget's Disease, Mammary; Papilloma; Sweat Glands

Topics: Adenocarcinoma, Scirrhous; Adenofibroma; Breast Diseases; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating; Cell Line; Cells, Cultured; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Female; Glycogen; Gynecomastia; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Inclusion Bodies; Lung; Lymphatic Metastasis; Microscopy, Electron; Phyllodes Tumor; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Viruses

Topics: Adenofibroma; Breast Diseases; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating; Cysts; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Glucosyltransferases; Glycogen; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Hyperplasia; Methods; Polysaccharides