Our data showed that lymph node metastases, immunopositivity of p53 and Ki67, and non-triple-negative tumors were associated with high regulatory T-cell infiltration. The role of immunologic balance as a prognostic marker for recurrence must be evaluated more clearly in the future study.

EMT features were particularly seen in TN-type breast cancer (P < 0.001). EMT was also significantly associated with high histological grade (P < 0.001).

The precise clinicopathologic significance of myeloid differentiation primary response gene (MYD88) L265P mutation in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) remains elusive. To investigate the frequency and clinicopathologic significance of the MYD88 L265P mutation in DLBCLs, we conducted a meta-analysis of 40 published studies on 2736 DLBCL patients. We collected relevant published research findings identified using the PubMed and Embase databases. The effect sizes of outcome parameters were calculated using a random-effects model. In this meta-analysis, the MYD88 L265P mutation in DLBCL showed a significant difference according to tumor sites. The overall incidence of the MYD88 L265P mutation in DLBCLs, excluding the central nervous system and testicular DLBCLs, was 16.5%. Notably, the MYD88 L265P mutation rates of CNS and testicular DLBCL patients were 60% and 77%, respectively. Interestingly, the MYD88 L265P mutation was more frequently detected in activated B-cell-like (ABC) or non-germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) than GCB subtype (OR = 3.414, p < 0.001). The MYD88 L265P mutation was significantly associated with old age and poor overall survival, but not with sex and clinical stage. This pooled analysis demonstrates that the MYD88 L265P mutation is significantly associated with the tumor sites and molecular subtypes in DLBCL patients.Myeloid differentiation primary response gene (MYD88) is an adaptor protein that activates the nuclear transcription factor κB (NF-κB) signaling through most of the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 1 . An L265P mutation, a change from leucine (CTC) to proline (CCG), in the MYD88 Toll/interleukin (IL)-1 receptor domain, recruits MYD88 protien to the cytoplasmic tail of TLRs to form an active complex. The complex promotes NF-κB and Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK-STAT3) signaling 1 .Recently, many investigators have reported that the prevalence of MYD88 L265P mutation ranges from 0% to 94% in different series of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients 2-41 . However, since the MYD88 L265P mutation occurs at various frequencies of DLBCL, a general consensus on clinicopathologic implications has not been reached. DLBCL is a heterogeneous non-Hodgkin's lymphoma mainly comprising molecular subtypes such as germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) and activated B-cell-like (ABC) types 42 . Several studies have suggested that the frequency of MYD88 L265P mutation may vary depending on the tumor site or molecular subtype of DLBCL 2,8,21,24,30,41 , but individual studies with different designs hinder clear conclusions. Furthermore, the clinicopathologic significance of the MYD88 L265P mutation in each DLBCL patient was controversial.To address these controversies, we conducted a meta-analysis to examine the frequency of MYD88 L265P mutation and the relationship between this mutation and the clinicopathologic parameters of DLBCL patients. ResultsPrevalence of MYD88 L265P mutation in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. On pooled analysis of 40 studies, includin...

BackgroundHeregulin (HRG; also known as neuregulin) is a ligand for ErbB3. One of its isotypes, HRG-β1, binds to ErbB3 and forms heterodimers with other ErbB family members, thereby enhancing the proliferation and tumorigenesis of breast cancer cells. HRG stimulation may contribute to the progression of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor metastasis in breast cancer. Majority of studies regarding EMT has been concentrated on TGF-β signaling. Therefore, we investigated whether the HRG-β1 and ErbB3 activate Smad2 signaling during process of EMT in breast cancer cells.MethodsThe SK-BR-3 and MCF7 breast cancer cell lines were used. The expressions of phospho-Smad2 and EMT markers were observed by western blotting and immunofluorescence assays after treatment with HRG-β1. The cell motility and invasiveness were determined by wound healing and matrigel invasion assays. Smad2 and ErbB3 small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfections were performed to assess the involvement of ErbB3 and Smad2 in HRG-β1-induced EMT.ResultsHRG-β1 induced EMT through activation of Smad2. The expression of E-cadherin was decreased after HRG-β1 treatment, while the expressions of Snail, vimentin, and fibronectin were increased. The HRG-β1-induced expressions of Snail, vimentin, and fibronectin, and nuclear colocalization of phospho-Smad2 and Snail were inhibited by pretreatment with a PI3k inhibitor, LY294002, or two phospho-Smad2 inhibitors, PD169316 or SB203580 and cancer cell migration by HRG-β1 was inhibited. Knockdown of Smad2 by siRNA transfection suppressed the expressions of Snail and fibronectin in response to HRG-β1 stimulation and knockdown of ErbB3 suppressed the expressions of phospho-Smad2, Snail, and fibronectin induced by HRG-β1, whereas E-cadherin was increased compared with control siRNA-transfected cells. Knockdown of ErbB3 and Smad2 also decreased SK-BR-3 and MCF7 cell invasion.ConclusionsOur data suggest that HRG-β1 and ErbB3 induce EMT, cancer cell migration and invasion through the PI3k/Akt-phospho-Smad2-Snail signaling pathway in SK-BR-3 and MCF7 breast cancer cells.