No abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the progression of breast cancer. Some miRNAs, especially the miR-200 family, miR-9, and miR-155 have been reported to be associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) phenotypes. This study was designed to evaluate the expression levels of these miRNAs in human breast cancer samples and analyzed their relationship with clinicopathologic features of the tumor including breast cancer subtype, EMT, BCSC phenotype, and prognosis. Expression levels of the miR-200 family, miR-9, and miR-155 were quantified using qRT-PCR. Breast cancer subtype, BCSC phenotype (CD44+/CD24- and ALDH1+), and expression of EMT markers (vimentin expression and E-cadherin loss) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. miR-9 was more highly expressed in HER2+ and triple-negative subtypes than in luminal subtypes. Its expression level was significantly higher in tumors with high T stage, high histologic grade, p53 overexpression, and high proliferation index. Expression of miR-9 was also higher in tumors showing the CD44+/CD24- phenotype, vimentin expression, and E-cadherin loss. Furthermore, high level of miR-9 expression was found to be an independent prognostic factor for poor disease-free survival of the patients. Expression of miR-200a and miR-141 was highest in luminal A subtype, and miR-155 expression was highest in triple-negative subtype. Although the expression levels of some miR-200 family members and miR-155 showed difference with regard to EMT or BCSC phenotype, they were not associated with patients' prognosis. In conclusion, overexpression of miR-9 is found in tumors with aggressive phenotypes and is associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer, suggesting that it may serve as a potential biomarker for breast cancer progression and a target for treatment.

CD4+ TIL subset and FOXP3+/CD8+ T cell ratio have different prognostic significance in breast cancer according to hormone receptor status.

This study was designed to evaluate usefulness of additional fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using other reference genes on chromosome 17 for assessment of HER2 status in invasive breast cancers with increased centromere 17 copy number, and to compare this approach with conventional methods based on the 2007 and 2013 ASCO/CAP guidelines. We performed FISH with probes for SMS, RARA, and TP53 on 253 breast cancers with centromeric probe CEP17 copy number ≥ 2.6 using tissue microarrays. If one or more gene had a mean copy number <2.6, the largest number for that gene(s) was chosen as an alternative to CEP17 copy number. Of the 243 cases in which re-grading was possible, only 2 had copy numbers ≥ 2.6 for RARA, SMS, and TP53. Of the 151 breast cancers which were considered HER2 non-amplified by the 2007 ASCO/CAP guidelines using the HER2:CEP17 ratio, 42 (27.8%) were re-graded as amplified and 33 (21.8%) as equivocal after FISH using additional reference genes. Of the 101 HER2-non-amplified cases by the 2013 ASCO/CAP guidelines, 2 (2.0%) were reclassified as amplified and 24 (23.8%) as equivocal. Of 46 equivocal cases, 35 (76.1%) were re-graded as amplified. After re-grading, HER2-amplified cases were significantly increased, and the concordance between HER2 FISH and HER2 immunohistochemistry decreased. And some pathologic features of the cases which were designated to have HER2 amplification after additional FISH were not compatible with those of HER2-amplified breast cancers. The use of additional reference genes has been suggested as an option for accurate assessment of HER2 status in breast cancers with increased CEP17 copy number. However, this has limitations in that it can cause over-grading of HER2 status in tumors that lose the new reference genes. Thus, at present, it seems that additional FISH using other reference gene such as SMS, RARA, and TP53 for the cases with increased CEP17 copy number is not suitable for daily practice.

Background: The immune microenvironment in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and its significance are not well established. This study was conducted to evaluate the immune microenvironment of DCIS including the composition of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) subsets and PD-L1+ immune cells and to compare it with that of invasive breast cancer. Materials and methods: A total of 671 cases including three different disease groups of pure DCIS, DCIS with microinvasion (DCIS-M), and invasive carcinoma were included in this study. CD4+, CD8+, and FOXP3+ TIL subsets and PD-L1+ immune cells were detected with immunohistochemistry using tissue microarrays and were analyzed in relation to clinicopathologic characteristics and different disease groups. Results: In pure DCIS, high infiltrations of CD4+, CD8+, and FOXP3+ T cells and the presence of PD-L1+ immune cells were associated with high nuclear grade, comedo-type necrosis, hormone receptor (HR) negativity, and high Ki-67 proliferation index. All immune cell infiltrations were higher in invasive carcinoma than in pure DCIS regardless of the HR status. While CD4+ T cells were more abundant than CD8+ T cells in pure DCIS, CD8+ T cells were dominant in invasive carcinoma, especially in HR-negative tumors. Within individual cases of invasive carcinoma with DCIS component, all immune cell subset infiltration was higher in the invasive component than in the DCIS component; however, CD4+ TIL infiltration did not differ between the two components in HR-negative tumors. Comparing pure DCIS, DCIS-M, and DCIS associated with invasive carcinoma (DCIS-INV), CD4+ TIL infiltration revealed a gradual increase from pure DCIS to DCIS-M and DCIS-INV in the HR-negative group, whereas FOXP3+ TIL infiltration was significantly increased in DCIS-INV than in pure DCIS in the HR-positive group. The high infiltration of FOXP3+ TIL and the presence of PD-L1+ immune cells were associated with tumor recurrence in patients with pure DCIS. Conclusions: Our study showed that the immune microenvironment differs significantly not only between DCIS and invasive carcinoma but also between pure DCIS, DCIS-M, and DCIS-INV depending on the HR status.