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Biological Behaviour (biological + behaviour)
Selected AbstractsInvasive pattern grading score designed as an independent prognostic indicator in oral squamous cell carcinomaHISTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Yun-Ching Chang Chang Y-C, Nieh S, Chen S-F, Jao S-W, Lin Y-L & Fu E (2010) Histopathology,57, 295,303 Invasive pattern grading score designed as an independent prognostic indicator in oral squamous cell carcinoma Aims:, To test the validity of an invasive pattern grading score (IPGS) developed for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) as a prognostic indicator and to elucidate the relationship between the IPGS and clinical parameters. Methods and results:, The IPGS was applied to a total of 153 cases of OSCC. There were significant correlations between IPGS and distant metastasis (P = 0.01) or recurrence (P = 0.001). However, there were no significant correlations between IPGS and gender, age, size or extent, location, status of lymph node metastasis, clinical staging, or histological grading. Cases of OSCC with higher IPGS were associated with poor patient survival (P < 0.001) and higher probability of tumour recurrence (P = 0.001). Intraobserver (, = 0.74) and interobserver agreement (, = 0.67) were very satisfactory. Conclusions:, Our study confirms the validity of the IPGS, an indicator that is simple and easy to use. IPGS not only provides histological assessment of biological behaviour, but also offers an independent prognostic factor that may influence the treatment of OSCC. [source] Expression of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2, MMP-9 and their tissue inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in the epithelium and stroma of salivary gland pleomorphic adenomasHISTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Xiaojun Zhang Aims:, The balance between matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) is involved in the morphogenesis of normal salivary gland as well as in the mechanisms of tumour invasion and metastasis. The role of MMPs and TIMPs in pleomorphic adenoma has not been elucidated sufficiently. Our aim was to analyse the mRNA and protein expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in the epithelium and stroma of pleomorphic adenoma and to evaluate their roles. Methods and results:, In each sample from six patients, cells from the epithelium and stroma were obtained by laser microdissection. The mRNA expression of MMPs and TIMPs was determined by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and protein expression was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Results showed that mRNA expression of MMPs and TIMPs was significantly higher in stroma than in epithelium in most patients. MMPs and TIMPs were immunoreactive mainly in epithelium rather than in stroma. Conclusions:, Our results provide preliminary evidence that stromal myoepithelium may be the primary source of MMPs and that the stroma has the potential to play a more important role than ductal epithelium in biological behaviour of pleomorphic adenomas. These findings seem worthy of further investigation. [source] A subgroup of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with an infiltrating replacement growth pattern and a resemblance to reactive proliferating bile ductules: ,bile ductular carcinoma'HISTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2007K Kozaka Aims:, The histogenesis and biological behaviour of peripheral intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (peripheral CC) remain unclarified. The aim of this study was to examine the growth pattern of peripheral CC (24 cases) in comparison with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, 27 cases) and metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma (MCA, 24 cases). Methods and results:, Tumour/surrounding liver borders were classified as: (i) fibrous encapsulation, (ii) compressive growth, and (iii) infiltrating replacement. Nineteen of 24 peripheral CCs showed (iii), whereas 23 of 27 HCCs showed (i) and 17 of 24 MCAs showed (ii). In (iii), carcinoma cells infiltrated the surrounding liver without compression, and hepatic supporting vascular structures such as portal tracts were secondarily incorporated into the tumour. In (i) and (ii), the surrounding liver was compressed and no or few portal tracts were incorporated within the tumour. Fifteen of 24 peripheral CCs were composed of carcinoma cells resembling reactive bile ductules and these cells were positive for neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), a marker of proliferating bile ductules. The remaining nine peripheral CCs were composed of ordinary adenocarcinoma and negative for NCAM. Conclusions:, A subgroup of peripheral CCs with an infiltrating replacement growth pattern resembles reactive bile ductules and expresses NCAM. ,Bile ductular carcinoma' may be a better term for this subgroup. [source] Chromatin assembly factor-1 (CAF-1)-mediated regulation of cell proliferation and DNA repair: a link with the biological behaviour of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue?HISTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 7 2007S Staibano Aims:, Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue shows aggressive behaviour and a poor prognosis. Clinicopathological parameters fail to provide reliable prognostic information, so the search continues for new molecular markers for this tumour. Chromatin assembly factor-1 (CAF-1) plays a major role in chromatin assembly during cell replication and DNA repair and has been proposed as a new proliferation marker. The aim of this study was to investigate its expression in SCC of the tongue. Methods and results:, The immunohistochemical expression of the p60 and p150 subunits of CAF-1 were evaluated in a series of SCCs of the tongue. The findings were correlated with the expression of proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and patients' clinicopathological and follow-up data. CAF-1/p60 was expressed in all the tumours, whereas CAF-1/p150 was down-regulated in a number of cases. Overexpression of CAF-1/p60 and down-regulation of CAF-1/p150 identified SCCs with poor outcome, in addition to the classical prognostic parameters. Conclusions:, Simultaneous CAF-1-mediated deregulation of cell proliferation and DNA repair takes place in aggressive SCC of the tongue. Therefore, the evaluation of CAF-1 expression may be a valuable tool for evaluation of the biological behaviour of these tumours. This may be relevant to the introduction of improved follow-up protocols and/or alternative therapeutic regimens. [source] Pathology of lymphoma progressionHISTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2001H K Müller-Hermelink Reflecting the stepwise process of oncogenesis, lymphomas may cumulatively develop a more aggressive phenotype during the course of disease, a process referred to as lymphoma progression. Although morphological, clinical and biological aspects of lymphoma progression do not always overlap, changes in lymphoma morphology frequently indicate alterations in the clinical and biological behaviour of the disease. Indolent and aggressive lymphomas in disease progression can either be clonally related or represent clonally unrelated neoplasms. We propose to use the term ,lymphoma progression' in a biological sense denoting only clonal development of and within a lymphoma entity. The term ,composite lymphoma' should be used as a merely descriptive morphological designation for different lymphoma entities in one individual irrespective of clonal relationship. Many types of aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and Hodgkin's lymphomas are reported to secondarily develop in lymphoma progression. Genetic changes associated with lymphoma progression frequently abrogate the differentiating effects of alterations occurring in indolent lymphomas, leading to increased cell proliferation. Within different lymphoma entities, high-risk disease variants mimicking lymphoma progression exist. [source] ,, T-cell lymphomas: a homogeneous entity?HISTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2000De Wolf-Peeters ,, T-cells comprise an immunologically distinct lymphoid population, characterized by specific morphological, phenotypical and functional properties. Therefore it seems reasonable to speculate that neoplasms derived from this particular T-cell subset display distinct features. Indeed, the prototype ,, T-cell lymphoma, hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma constitutes a unique clinicopathological entitity which is intimately associated with a ,, T-cell phenotype. However, ,, T-cell lymphomas have also been described in other extranodal sites where, unlike reactive ,, T-cells and hepatosplenic ,, T-cell lymphomas, they display an important morphological heterogeneity. Moreover, these nonhepatosplenic ,, T-cell lymphomas are essentially not that different from their ,, T-cell receptor for antigen (TCR)-expressing counterparts and thus may be incorporated in the established T-cell lymphoma subclasses. However, subtle differences regarding their histopathological appearance as well as their biological behaviour indicate that further studies to determine the exact significance of TCR expression are required. Such inquiries may contribute to the general understanding of T-cell lymphomagenesis in general, which is still obscure. [source] Rethinking what constitutes suspended sedimentHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 9 2001Ian G. Droppo Abstract Although cohesive suspended sediment is now known to be transported primarily as flocculated material, there is still a misconception of what constitutes suspended sediment. Flocs represent a complex matrix of microbial communities, organic particles (e.g. detritus, extracellular polymers and cellular debris), inorganic particles (e.g. clays and silts) and substantial interfloc spaces (pores), which allow for the retention or flow through of water. Flocculation results in significant alteration of the hydrodynamics of the constituent particles (by modifying their effective size, shape, density and porosity), thereby affecting the transport of sediment and associated contaminants. The composition and structure of a floc is in a continuous state of change as the medium in which it is transported provides the floc with further building materials, energy, nutrients and chemicals for biological growth, chemical reactions and morphological development. As such, a floc's physical (e.g. transport), chemical (e.g. contaminant adsorption) and biological (community development and contaminant biotransformation) behaviour are also in a continuous state of change, with concomitant effects on their aquatic environment as a whole. Although it is recognized that floc form will influence floc behaviour, there is still a basic lack of knowledge of the complex links between the structural components of a floc and how their individual properties and behaviours in combination with others will influence a floc's physical, chemical and biological behaviour. This paper provides a comprehensive conceptual model that links the many interrelated structural components of typical flocs and their interrelated behavioural aspects, in order to enhance our understanding of what constitutes suspended sediment. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Age-related histopathological lesions in the Mongolian gerbil ventral prostate as a good model for studies of spontaneous hormone-related disordersINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY, Issue 1 2008Silvana Gisele Pegorin Campos Summary The Meriones unguiculatus (Mongolian) gerbil has demonstrated significant prostatic responses to hormonal treatments, and to drugs against human prostatic hyperplasia Spontaneous neoplasia develops in the older animals. Thirty gerbils (age 18 months) were divided into non-affected and prostatic lesion bearers and the prostate lesions were evaluated morphologically, immunohistochemically and quantitatively. The most frequent changes were in epithelial sites and, namely prostatic intraepithelial neoplasias, microinvasive carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. In the stromal compartment, cellular hyperplasia, when verified, was always associated with the sites of anomalous epithelium. Additionally, larger deposition of collagen fibrils, generating stromal fibrosis, was found in all the old gerbils analysed. The quantitative analysis showed that prostatic tissue proportions differed in altered areas, being specific for each lesion type. Isolated nuclear and nucleolar parameters were not effective in diagnosing the malign potential of lesions. However, the cellular proliferation and death indexes indicated larger cellular turnover in invasive lesions such as carcinomas. With these analyses, it could be verified that old gerbils present high propensity to develop spontaneous prostate changes and this may aid in a better understanding of the biological behaviour of human prostate cancer. [source] Atypical nevi of the scalp in adolescentsJOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS PATHOLOGY, Issue 5 2007Giujeppe Fabrizi Background:, A few reports in the literature point out that in special areas of the body, nevi can have peculiar pseudomelanomatous features. In our routine work, we have met few examples of atypical nevi with peculiar features on the scalp of teenagers. To evaluate the frequency and the biological behaviour of these lesions, we have conducted a complete survey on melanocytic lesions on the scalp in a significant group of patients. Materials and methods:, Thirty-nine nevi of the scalp were from adolescents (12,18 years), 160 from adults, and 30 from children below the age of 12 years. Results:, About 10% of the melanocytic nevi of the scalp of adolescents have atypical cytological and architectural aspects that are different from those seen in Clark's dysplastic nevus. The most striking features were the presence of large bizarrely shaped nests scattered disorderly along the junction with follicular involvement. Other findings were pagetoid spread of cells above the junction and the discohesive pattern of the melanocytes in the nests. Mild cytological atypia was present but less significant. Such distinctive aspects are not found in nevi of the same site in adults or younger children. The general pattern of these atypical nevi of the scalp of adolescents closely recalls that of the so-called atypical nevi on special sites, i.e. nevi on mammary line, genitalia and body's folds. Despite the architectural and cytological atypia, clinical follow-up does not show any tendency to recur or proclivity to malignant behaviour. Conclusions:, Despite their similarities with melanoma, the nevi with atypical features of the scalp of adolescents are probably an entirely benign entity, at least at the moment of their excision. However, although benign, the relationship of this peculiar group of nevi with melanomas developed in adulthood remains entirely unknown, and the complete excision with conservative margins seems a recommendable procedure. [source] Outcome following removal of canine spindle cell tumours in first opinion practice: 104 casesJOURNAL OF SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE, Issue 11 2009D. Chase Objectives:To define the outcome of a cohort of canine patients with a histological diagnosis of spindle cell tumour of soft tissue managed solely by surgery in first opinion practice. Methods:Clinical details of 104 spindle cell sarcomas submitted to Finn Pathologists during the year 2000 were reviewed. Questionnaires were sent to the submitting veterinarians, requesting details about the tumour, surgery performed and ultimate outcome of the patient. Results:The method of surgical resection was described as marginal in 45 dogs (44·2 per cent). Excision margins of 3 cm or more were described in less than 10 per cent of cases. Tumours recurred locally in 29 dogs (27·9 per cent). Eighteen dogs (21·7 per cent) died of tumour-related causes. Most deaths were unrelated to sarcoma (50 dogs, 60·2 per cent) or unknown (15 dogs, 18 per cent). The median survival time was 1013 days. Tumour size, location or degree of surgical resection were not significantly related to survival or tumour recurrence. A palpable assessment of tumour invasion into underlying tissues was significantly associated with decreased disease-free interval (P<0·0001) and survival time (P = 0·0070). Clinical Significance:The results of this retrospective study indicate that many spindle cell tumours managed in first opinion practice exhibit a low-grade biological behaviour and may respond well to more conservative surgery than current recommendations advise. [source] Effects of interleukin 18 on injury and activation of human proximal tubular epithelial cellsNEPHROLOGY, Issue 1 2007DONG LIANG SUMMARY: Background/Aims: Injury and activation of tubular proximal epithelial cells (TEC) play central roles in renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF), but its mechanisms remain obscure. Interleukin 18 (IL-18) is overproduced during chronic kidney diseases (CKD), but how IL-18 affects the biological behaviour of TEC is not clear. The aim of the present study is to reveal the role of IL-18 in renal TIF. Methods: The expressions of IL-18 and IL-18 receptor in TEC were detected by immunohistochemical staining in vivo and by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in vitro. TEC line (HK-2 cells) were incubated without or with IL-18. Cell proliferation and cell cycle were evaluated by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay and flow cytometric analysis, respectively. Cell apoptosis was assessed by Hoechst 33258 staining. Expression of ,-smooth muscle actin was evaluated by RT-PCR, immunocytochemical staining and flow cytometric analysis, respectively. Type I collagen, fibronectin, MCP-1 and RANTES in cultured supernatants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: IL-18 expression in TEC increased significantly in CKD state. IL-18 receptor was constitutively expressed in normal proximal TEC, and its expression increased strongly in CKD state. Proliferation and cell cycle of HK-2 cells were not affected by IL-18. Cell apoptosis, ,-smooth muscle actin expression, type I collagen and fibronectin production as well as MCP-1 secretion were promoted by IL-18 in dosage- and/or time-dependent manners, but RANTES secretion was not affected. Conclusion: IL-18 may play a crucial role in the process of TIF by promoting TEC injury and activation, and could be a target of the therapeutic approaches against TIF. [source] hTERT expression in sporadic renal cell carcinomasTHE JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY, Issue 2 2001Valérie Paradis Abstract Human telomerase is a specialized reverse transcriptase that catalyses telomeric repeat addition at the ends of chromosomes. Activation of this enzyme is one of the key steps in cell immortalization and carcinogenesis, and one of its components, hTERT, is considered as the rate-limiting factor. While telomerase activity was found to be prognostically relevant in various cancers, results obtained from renal cell carcinomas (RCC) failed to show any correlation with the usual prognostic factors. The aim of the study was to reassess the role of telomerase and its hTERT component in the biological behaviour of RCC using new quantitative techniques, such as the quantitative evaluation of hTERT mRNA level by a real-time RT-PCR procedure and the mesuring of telomerase activity by an ELISA TRAP assay. Since experimental evidence supports a relationship between cell proliferation or c-myc expression and telomerase, the proliferation index and c-myc mRNA levels were also studied. Forty-one RCC (29 conventional renal cell carcinomas (CRCC), 10 papillary RCC and two urothelial carcinomas) were studied. In 73% of cases, normalized hTERT mRNA expression was significantly higher in the tumour sample than in the normal tissue. Telomerase activity was detected in 63% of RCC, while corresponding normal tissue was always negative. Analysis of correlations showed firstly that both telomerase activity and hTERT mRNA level were lower in the group of CRCC versus non-CRCC (TRAP: 0.3±0.1 versus 0.6±0.2, p<0.05; hTERT/PO mRNA: 5±3 versus 37±8, p<0.001, respectively); secondly, that in the group of CRCC, hTERT mRNA expression level was correlated with the stage of the tumour (p=0.01); and thirdly, that no correlation was observed between c-myc mRNA level and hTERT mRNA level. In conclusion, these results support the involvement of telomerase in RCC and the potential interest of hTERT mRNA quantification. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Expression of CD44s and CD44v6 in transitional cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder: comparison with tumour grade, proliferative activity and p53 immunoreactivity of tumour cells,APMIS, Issue 11 2007JITKA KUNCOVÁ Alterations of CD44 glycoproteins have been shown to play an important role in progression of various malignancies, including urothelial cancer. We investigated expression patterns of CD44s and CD44v6 in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder in relation to tumour grade, proliferative activity, and immunoreactivity for p53. The selected markers were detected immunohistochemically in 122 samples of TCC. We found a close relationship between CD44s and CD44v6 expression and tumour grade. The extension of positive staining for CD44s and CD44v6 towards the luminal surface was a predominant feature of differentiated carcinomas (grades 1 and 2), suggesting deranged maturation of cancer cells related to their neoplastic transformation. Heterogeneous expression of CD44s and CD44v6 predominated in poorly differentiated tumours (G3,4). However, areas of squamous differentiation within the high-grade tumours displayed strong immunoreactivity for both CD44s and CD44v6. The proliferative activity and p53 overexpression increased with the dedifferentiation of the tumour. The results of this study are discussed in relation to the significance of CD44 expression in TCC and to the explanation for controversial results reported in previous studies on the relationship between CD44 expression and the biological behaviour of urothelial cells. [source] Giant basal cell carcinoma masquerading as an osteogenic sarcomaAUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2009Paul Cherian SUMMARY An 88-year-old man presented to the dermatology outpatient clinic with an 11-month history of a rapidly growing mass overlying a clavicular fracture site. The lesion was 8 × 6 cm, painful, fixed to deeper structures and ulcerated. Superficial and deep biopsies yielded invasive basal cell carcinoma. Imaging demonstrated extensive soft tissue invasion into muscle, bone and potentially into the lung parenchyma. Due to complications arising from subsequent diagnostic procedures, the patient declined further invasive tests. The cutaneous lesion was treated with palliative radiotherapy. We explore the literature regarding the tumorigenic effects of peri-fracture cytokines on the biological behaviour of basal cell neoplasms. [source] Prognostic value of the expression of Ki-67, CD44 and vascular endothelial growth factor, and microvessel invasion, in renal cell carcinomaBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 7 2004E. Yildiz OBJECTIVE To determine if use of cell proliferation, cell adhesion, level of angiogenesis-related factors and presence of microscopic vascular invasion (MVI) could better predict the biological behaviour of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which has a widely variable clinical outcome despite the use of conventional prognostic factors (staging and grading). MATERIALS AND METHODS The expression of Ki-67, CD44H and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were assessed immunohistochemically in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from 48 RCCs, using a Ki-67 labelling index (LI), CD44 LI and level of VEGF expression, respectively. In addition all the pathological slides were reviewed retrospectively for the presence and absence of MVI. The prognostic value of all the variables assessed was then evaluated, and correlated with the usual prognostic variables and cancer-specific survival. RESULTS Univariate analysis of cancer-specific survival showed that tumour stage (P < 0.001), tumour size (P = 0.005), metastasis, MVI, Ki-67 LI, CD44H LI and VEGF expression (all P < 0.001) were predictors of tumour-related death. There was a statistical correlation between CD44H LI and each of Ki-67 LI (r = 0.61), expression level of VEGF (r = 0.72) and presence of MVI (r = 0.71). Independent predictors of cancer-specific survival in a multivariate analysis were: in all patients with RCC, the MVI (P = 0.003) and VEGF expression (P = 0.01); in those with no metastases, MVI (P = 0.01); in patients with no MVI, VEGF (P = 0.04); and in patients with MVI, Ki-67 LI (P = 0.003). No independent predictor was identified in patient with metastases. CONCLUSION This study suggests that cell proliferation, cell adhesion, the level of VEGF expression and the presence of MVI represent a complex tumour-host interaction that may favour the progression of RCC. Cell proliferation, CD44H and VEGF expression appear to be powerful markers for identifying patients with an adverse prognosis. [source] Pseudovascular squamous cell carcinoma of the skinCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2000Clinical dermatology, Concise report The presence of acantholysis in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) may rarely be so extreme that, histologically, it mimics a vascular tumour. However, careful histological examination and immunohistochemical study usually lead to the correct diagnosis. We describe such a case to highlight the clinico-pathological features of this rare form of cutaneous malignancy and to emphasize the difficulties in establishing the correct diagnosis. We also review similar cases reported in the literature. Pseudovascular SCC shows a higher degree of recurrence and metastasis than other variants of SCC. Acantholytic foci in these tumours may demonstrate changes in keratinocyte differentiation markers, and this may explain the more aggresive biological behaviour in the pseudovascular variant of SCC. [source] Cell blocks allow reliable evaluation of expression of basal (CK5/6) and luminal (CK8/18) cytokeratins and smooth muscle actin (SMA) in breast carcinomaCYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2010W. D. Delgallo W. D. Delgallo, J. R. P. Rodrigues, S. P. Bueno, R. M. Viero and C. T. Soares Cell blocks allow reliable evaluation of expression of basal (CK5/6) and luminal (CK8/18) cytokeratins and smooth muscle actin (SMA) in breast carcinoma Objective:, Gene expression studies have revealed several molecular subtypes of breast carcinoma with distinct clinical and biological behaviours. DNA microarray studies correlated with immunohistochemical profiling of breast carcinomas using cytokeratin (CK) markers, Her2/neu, oestrogen receptor (ER), and basal myoepithelial cell markers have identified five breast tumour subtypes: (i) luminal A (ER+; Her2/neu,), (ii) luminal B (ER+; Her2/neu+), (iii) Her2 overexpression (ER,; Her2/neu+), (iv) basal-like (ER,; Her2/neu,, CK5/6 and 14+), and (v) negative for all markers. Luminal carcinomas express cytokeratins in a luminal pattern (CK8/18), and the basal-like type expresses CK5/6 and CK14 or basal epithelial cell markers. CK5/6, CK8/18, and smooth muscle actin (SMA) expression were assessed in cell blocks and compared with expression in surgical specimens. Methods:, Sixty-two cases of breast carcinoma diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology with cell blocks and available surgical specimens were included. Cell blocks containing at least 10 high-power fields each with at least 10 tumour cells and surgical specimens were immunostained for CK5/6, CK8/18 and SMA. Results:, Percentage sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were, respectively, 77, 100, 100, 92 and 94 for CK5/6; 98, 66, 96, 80 and 95 for CK8/18; and 92, 96, 85, 98 and 95 for SMA. Conclusion:, The identification of CK5/6, CK8/18 and SMA by immunohistochemistry in cell blocks can be a reliable method that yields results close to those obtained in surgical specimens, and can contribute to the classification of breast carcinomas with luminal and basal expression patterns, providing helpful information in the choice of treatment and in the evaluation of prognostic and predictive factors. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||