Aims: Oestrogen receptor b (ERb) is present in breast tumours, although its prognostic and pathophysiological roles remain to be established. Methods: Standard immunohistochemistry with a specific monoclonal antibody was performed on paraffin wax embedded sections; 10% of strongly immunostained carcinoma cells was used as the cutoff point to classify tumours as ERb positive. Statistical correlations were sought with clinicopathological variables (including hormone receptor status) and disease free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in a well documented series of 181 invasive breast carcinomas. Cell proliferation was assessed immunohistochemically by topoisomerase IIa (TopoIIa) index; p53 protein accumulation and c-erbB-2 oncoprotein expression were also taken into account. Results: ERb immunoreactivity was detected in most specimens (71.2%); it was positively linked to ERa immunoreactivity and increased TopoIIa index, and inversely to c-erbB-2 overexpression. There were no correlations with p53 immunostaining or other clinicopathological parameters. A significant favourable impact of ERb immunopositivity emerged with regard to DFS and OS in both univariate and multivariate analysis; ERb immunopositivity retained its favourable significance with regard to DFS in the subgroups of stage I and II patients when they were examined separately. Progesterone receptor expression also had an independent favourable influence on survival, albeit with less significance. In contrast, survival was not significantly influenced by ERa status. Conclusions: Because of the positive association between ERb immunoreactivity and TopoIIa expression, the presence of ERb in breast cancer cells could be considered an indication of increased proliferation. Nevertheless, ERb immunoreactivity emerges as a valuable, independent indicator of favourable prognosis.

HighlightsPenetration of the visceral peritoneum by a mucinous neoplasm consists the cardinal point in the management and prognosis.Patients with LAMN confined to the muscularis propria after histologic examination of the entire appendix (pTis) have essentially no risk of recurrence.There are no clear guidelines regarding appropriate management of appendiceal LAMNs with positive margins, especially when confined within the serosa.A simple cecectomy is traditionally suggested by some authors, but according to more recent data its necessity is debated.LAMN may rarely recur in the form of a polypoid protrusion into the cecal lumen and this may originate from the buried stump of the appendix on the ground of a positive margin.