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Objective: This study evaluated the frequency of GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA3) expression in early breast cancer and its relationship with histopathological and immunohistochemical parameters. Materials and Methods: GATA3 was analysed by immunohistochemistry in histological sections of tumors from 105 female patients, with histological diagnosis of invasive breast carcinoma (BC), at clinical stages I, II and IIIA, who underwent primary surgical treatment. GATA3 nuclear expression was determined as the percentage of positive tumor cells and further categorized as high (positive expression in more than 95% of cells) or non-high (negative or low positive expression in up to 95% of tumor cells). GATA3 expression was analysed according to the patient age, tumor and node pathological stage, histological type, histological and nuclear grade, lymphovascular invasion, and estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), androgen receptor (AR), human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) status, and Ki-67 expression. Results: GATA3 expression was positive in 103 cases (98.1%). High expression was significantly associated with low histological and nuclear grade, positive hormonal receptors, and less proliferative activity based on Ki-67 expression. A prominent feature was that 94.7% of the ER-positive/HER2- negative cases presented high-GATA3 expression, as 94.0% of the tumors showing high-GATA3 were ER-positive. In ER-negative/HER2-positive or ERnegative/HER2- negative, high-GATA3 was present in 25% while 75% were non-high-GATA3 compared with ER-positive/HER2- negative (4.1%) and ER-positive/HER2-positive (20%). Proliferative activity in triple-negative breast cancer tended to be higher among tumors with low-GATA3, irrespective of AR expression. In the group of ER-positive/HER2-negative tumors only three cases were low-GATA3 (85% and 80%), both with high proliferative activity. Conclusion: High GATA3 expression is associated with favorable histopathologic and immunohistochemical BC prognostic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Triple-negative breast carcinomas (TNBCs) correspond to a molecular heterogeneous disease defined by lack of estrogen and progesterone receptor expression, and the absence of overexpression and/or amplification of HER2. Recent data indicate that clinical outcome in TNBC is affected by tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, suggesting that they can benefit from immunotherapies. We selected 116 consecutive premenopausal patients with TNBC to compare the immunohistochemical profile of the group rich in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes with those without this characteristic. Materials and methods We reviewed all the original histological sections to assess pathological features, and to select a representative area for tissue microarrays and immunohistochemical study. Estrogen and progesterone receptors, HER2 and Ki-67 were evaluated in whole histological sections. The following markers were analyzed in tissue microarrays sections: androgen receptor, cytokeratin 5/6, cytokeratin 14, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vimentin, p16, claudin-3, -4, and -7, p63, and aldehyde dehydrogenase isoform 1 (ALDH1). Lymphocyte-predominant breast cancer (LPBC) was defined by the presence of more than 50% of lymphocytes in the intratumoral stroma. Results Twenty-six (22.4%) patients present tumors classified as LPBC and 90 (77.6%) as non-LPBC. The two groups were similar regarding age of patients, tumor grade and Ki-67 positive cells. LPBC cases presented lower frequency of expression of the basal cytokeratins, EGFR, and basal-like immunoprofile. There was a trend to higher expression of ALDH1 by stromal intratumoral cells. The expression of all other markers were similar in the two groups. Conclusions Lymphocyte-predominant TNBC in premenopausal patients are mostly of non-basal phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Breast cancer in young women has different clinical and pathologic features and a more aggressive biological behavior when compared to breast cancers in older women. However, information is limited to the group of very young women (≤25 years). Objectives The aim of the present study was to investigate the pathological characteristics of breast cancer in 149 Brazilian women who were ≤25 years old at the time of breast cancer diagnosis. Materials and methods Tumor samples diagnosed between 2003 and 2009 were analyzed from the archives of the Bacchi Laboratory. Results In our series of 149 Brazilian women ≤25 years, 8.7% presented with in situ disease only. Of 136 invasive carcinomas, 91.9% were of the ductal type and 45.6% were of histological grade III. Overall, estrogen receptor (ER) was positive in 59.6% cases, and HER2 overexpression was detected in 32.8%. We also found a low prevalence of Luminal A cases and a high prevalence of Triple Negative cases. Statistical analysis showed that HER2 and basal-like groups had a lower overall survival expectation. Follow-up data showed high frequencies of regional lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and tumor-related deaths. Conclusion The present study represents the largest series of breast cancer arising in women ≤25 years and establishes the main clinical, pathological, immunohistochemical and follow-up features of this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminate (LPD) is a rare benign disease of unknown etiology of women in reproductive age. A few reported cases of association with endometriosis have been described suggesting a possible origin from submesothelial multipotential cells. We present two cases of LPD associated with endometriosis expressing smooth muscle metaplasia, and some of the nodules with aspects of uterus-like mass. Laparoscopy, gross findings, and the pathological and immunohistochemical study of the surgical specimens were described. Our findings suggest an endometriotic origin for the LPD and indicate that the therapeutic approach might contemplate the surgical reduction of the nodules and endometriosis treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: PEComas are rare neoplasms that are sometimes associated with the tuberous sclerosis complex. They typically contain perivascular epithelioid cells that coexpress muscle and melanocytic markers. However, apart from these classical features, considerable clinical, pathologic, and immunohistochemical variation has been reported. WT1, the Wilms tumor gene product, can be expressed in various tumors from different anatomical sites, including sex-cord and other ovarian tumors with a sertoliform pattern. Neither a sex-cord–like pattern nor WT1 expression has been described in PEComas. Here, we describe a case of uterine PEComa with a pattern of infiltration into the myometrium that is similar to stromal sarcomas, characterized by tongues and endovascular growing. The architecture and cellular morphology were similar to sex-cord tumors, and the PEComa was diffusely and strongly positive for WT1. We reviewed, from our files, an additional 9 cases of PEComa from different sites, and found WT1 expression in one more soft tissue tumor. We discuss the relationship between PEComas and other uterine sarcomas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]