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Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer subtype with no targeted treatment available. Our previous study identified 38 TNBC-specific genes with altered expression comparing tumour to normal samples. This study aimed to establish whether DNA methylation contributed to these expression changes in the same cohort as well as disease progression from primary breast tumour to lymph node metastasis associated with changes in the epigenome. We obtained DNA from 23 primary TNBC samples, 12 matched lymph node metastases, and 11 matched normal adjacent tissues and assayed for differential methylation profiles using Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChips. The results were validated in an independent cohort of 70 primary TNBC samples. The expression of 16/38 TNBC-specific genes was associated with alteration in DNA methylation. Novel methylation changes between primary tumours and lymph node metastases, as well as those associated with survival were identified. Altered methylation of 18 genes associated with lymph node metastasis were identified and validated. This study reveals the important role DNA methylation plays in altered gene expression of TNBC-specific genes and lymph node metastases. The novel insights into progression of TNBC to secondary disease may provide potential prognostic indicators for this hard-to-treat breast cancer subtype.

UVB exposure leads to DNA damage, which when unrepaired induces C>T transitions. These mutations are found throughout the melanoma genome, particularly in non-transcribed regions. The global genome repair (GGR) branch of nucleotide excision repair (NER) is responsible for repairing UV-induced DNA damage across non-transcribed and silent regions of the genome. This study aimed to examine the relationship between UVB and GGR in melanoma. DNA repair capacity and relative expression of NER in melanocytes and melanoma cell lines before and after treatment with UVB was quantified. Transcript expression from 196 melanomas was compared to clinical parameters including solar elastosis and whole transcriptome data collected. Melanoma cell lines showed significantly reduced DNA repair when compared to melanocytes, most significantly in the S phase of the cell cycle. Expression of GGR components XPC, DDB1 and DDB2 was significantly lower in melanoma after UVB. In the melanoma tumours, XPC expression correlated with age of diagnosis and low XPC conferred significantly poorer survival. The same trend was seen in the TCGA melanoma dataset. Reduced GGR in melanoma may contribute to the UV mutation spectrum of the melanoma genome and adds further to the growing evidence of the link between UV, NER and melanoma., Competing Interests: The authors state no conflict of interest.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer subtype with the worst prognosis and no targeted treatments. TNBC patients are more likely to develop metastases and relapse than patients with other breast cancer subtypes. We aimed to identify TNBC-specific genes and genes associated with lymph node metastasis, one of the first signs of metastatic spread. A total of 33 TNBCs were used; 17 of which had matched normal adjacent tissues available, and 15 with matched lymph node metastases. Gene expression microarray analysis was used to reveal genes that were differentially expressed between these groups. We identified and validated 66 genes that are significantly altered when comparing tumours to normal adjacent samples. Further, we identified 83 genes that are associated with lymph node metastasis and correlated these with miRNA-expression. Pathway analysis revealed their involvement in DNA repair, recombination and cell death, chromosomal instability and other known cancer-related pathways. Finally, four genes were identified that were specific for TNBC, of which one was associated with overall survival. This study has identified novel genes involved in LN metastases in TNBC and genes that are TNBC specific that may be used as treatment targets or prognostic indicators in the future.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women world-wide. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive subtype that lacks expression of hormone receptors for estrogen, progesterone and human epidermal growth factor 2; and is associated with a high propensity for metastatic spread. Several studies have identified critical roles for microRNAs in breast cancer, but the role of two critical enzymes involved in microRNA biogenesis, Dicer and Drosha, is not well understood, particularly with respect to metastatic progression in this subtype., Methods: We examined the expression of Dicer and Drosha in a series of invasive 35 TNBCs with matched normal adjacent tissues (n = 18) and lymph node metastases (n = 15) using semi-quantitative real time RT-PCR. The relationship of their expression with clinical features including age at diagnosis, lymph node positivity and tumour size was analysed., Results: We report that Dicer was significantly decreased while Drosha was significantly increased in tumours when compared to normal adjacent tissues. While there was no difference in Drosha expression in lymph node metastases when compared to the primary tumour, Dicer was significantly increased. There was no correlation between the expression of either Dicer or Drosha to age at diagnosis, lymph node positivity and tumour size., Conclusions: In conclusion, Dicer and Drosha are dysregulated in TNBC and matched lymph node metastases however, the clinical relevance of this is still not known. The altered expression of Dicer and Drosha may serve as markers for disrupted miRNA biogenesis in TNBC.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy that develops in women, responsible for the highest cancer-associated death rates. Triple negative breast cancers represent an important subtype that have an aggressive clinical phenotype, are associated with a higher likelihood of metastasis and are not responsive to current targeted therapies. miRNAs have emerged as an attractive candidate for molecular biomarkers and treatment targets in breast cancer, but their role in the progression of triple negative breast cancer remains largely unexplored., Methods: This study has investigated miRNA expression profiles in 31 primary triple negative breast cancer cases and in 13 matched lymph node metastases compared with 23 matched normal breast tissues to determine miRNAs associated with the initiation of this disease subtype and those associated with its metastasis., Results: 71 miRNAs were differentially expressed in triple negative breast cancer, the majority of which have previously been associated with breast cancer, including members of the miR-200 family and the miR-17-92 oncogenic cluster, suggesting that the majority of miRNAs involved in the initiation of triple negative breast cancer are not subtype specific. However, the repertoire of miRNAs expressed in lymph node negative and lymph node positive triple negative breast cancers were largely distinct from one another. In particular, miRNA profiles associated with lymph node negative disease tended to be up-regulated, while those associated with lymph node positive disease were down-regulated and largely overlapped with the profiles of their matched lymph node metastases. From this, 27 miRNAs were identified that are associated with metastatic capability in the triple negative breast cancer subtype., Conclusions: These results provide novel insight into the repertoire of miRNAs that contribute to the initiation of and progression to lymph node metastasis in triple negative breast cancer and have important implications for the treatment of this breast cancer subtype.

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) orchestrates the repair of helix distorting DNA damage, induced by both ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and cisplatin. There is evidence that the global genome repair (GGR) arm of NER is dysfunctional in melanoma and it is known to have limited induction in melanoma cell lines after cisplatin treatment. The aims of this study were to examine mRNA transcript levels of regulators of GGR and to investigate the downstream effect on global transcript expression in melanoma cell lines after cisplatin treatment and in melanoma tumours. The GGR regulators, BRCA1 and PCNA, were induced in melanocytes after cisplatin, but not in melanoma cell lines. Transcripts associated with BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM and CHEK2 showed altered expression in melanoma cell lines after cisplatin treatment. In melanoma tumour tissue BRCA1 transcript expression correlated with poor survival and XPB expression correlated with solar elastosis levels. Taken together, these findings provide evidence of the mechanisms underlying NER deficiency in melanoma.

Background and Objective: The literature on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology for papillary lesions presents a very mixed picture. Many authors advocate mandatory excision of these lesions. This recommendation is largely based on the 'atypical' nature of the FNA report. The aim of this work is to see if breast papillomas can be treated conservatively., Study Design: We report a retrospective study of outcomes for patients with a provisional diagnosis of a 'papillary breast lesion' based on assessment by palpation (no clinically suspicious features), sonography (benign or probably benign according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System 'BI-RADS®'), and FNA (benign cytological category with a papillary architecture) findings from one integrated breast service., Results: Thirty-six cases were identified over a period of 6 years. Thirty-four of the patients had surgical excision. All of the 34 surgical cases were confirmed to be benign in nature on histopathology (intraduct papilloma). The remaining 2 cases were stable on follow-up., Conclusion: We believe that a policy of mandatory excision of papillary lesions of the breast is unnecessarily cautious., (Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Ten dermal cylindromas have been studied using histological, ultrastructural and immunocytochemical techniques. The clinical data from the ten patients have also been reviewed. The results indicate histogenesis from the intradermal coiled duct region of the eccrine sweat gland.

A young man arrived at the accident and emergency department after attempting suicidal self-hanging. He was cyanosed and showed severe respiratory distress. His posture, hyperreflexia and state of consciousness suggested decerebration. A dire prognosis was expected. Four days later he recovered. No residual physical or mental sequelae were found during follow up. The "post-suspension syndrome" in our case was similar to those recorded in several continental reviews. Apart from a case report of a "miraculous deliverance" following an unsuccessful judicial hanging at Oxford in 1650, no other report of this syndrome has been made in the English literature. This syndrome has an excellent prognosis and requires very little active intervention to ensure a favourable outcome.

The authors have developed an improved method for immunogold-silver staining of paraffin sections. Using a manual capillary action staining system, they were able to simplify the technical aspects of the procedure, permitting rapid processing of large batches of slides with better reproducibility. Background staining was decreased by use of buffers containing a detergent. The use of a light-stable silver reagent permitted greater control of the enhancement stage. The method yielded a high degree of contrast with negligible nonspecific staining. Sensitivity was comparable to that obtained with conventional enzymatic immunostaining. However, the authors noted that trypsinization of sections was rendered unnecessary for those antigens for which such pretreatment was usually required, and the need for special fixatives could be eliminated. The method was also applicable to immunostaining of frozen sections. Immunogold-silver staining by capillary action deserves consideration as an alternative to existing immunohistochemical methods in diagnostic histopathology.

Fourteen cases of mixed müllerian tumour (MMT) of the endometrium, six stromal sarcomas, five uterine leiomyosarcomas, and five leiomyomas were examined, using an immunoperoxidase technique, for the presence of alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT), alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (A1ACT), actin, and myosin. In addition, six cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma were examined for the presence of A1AT and A1ACT. Eleven MMT were positive for A1AT and 13 for A1ACT. All stromal sarcomas, four adenocarcinomas, four leiomyomas, and three leiomyosarcomas were positive for both. All leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas were positive for myosin as were seven. MMT and three stromal sarcomas. Four leiomyomas, four leiomyosarcomas, six MMT, and three stromal sarcomas were positive for actin. These findings are related to those in the normal uterus and their practical and theoretical significance discussed.

A case of leiomyosarcoma of the uterus with osteoclast-like giant cells was examined by light and electron microscopy, histochemistry, and immunoperoxidase techniques. A panel of antibodies was used, including monoclonal antibodies raised against various macrophage determinants and PD 7/26, which detects a leucocyte-common antigen. The giant cells contained nonspecific esterase, stained with PD 7/26 and with two antimacrophage antibodies. These findings strongly suggest that these giant cells are derived from macrophages.

A 46-year-old female presented with a 1-week history of mental change, confusion and headaches. Investigations revealed evidence of sterile meningitis. CAT scanning of the brain demonstrated marked contrast enhancement around the ependyma, and later examinations showed extension of the process deep into the white matter, Cerebral biopsies were non-diagnostic and, despite ventricular drainage and treatment with antibiotics and high dose steriods, the patent died. At postmortem there was extensive tumour tissue distributed in a butterfly shape around the ventricles, and microscopy revealed typical apperances of primary CNS lymphoma. On the basis of the experience of this case and a review of recent literature, it is suggested that the CAT scan appearances of this tumour are quite typical, and that cranial irradiation may be justified in the absence of specific histological diagnosis.

Antibodies raised against human milk fat globule (HMFG 1 and 2) and carcinoembryonic antigen were used in an immunoperoxidase technique to differentiate mesothelioma, carcinoma, and benign, reactive mesothelium. Sixteen mesotheliomas, 27 lung carcinomas, and 13 specimens of reactive mesothelium were examined. Staining for carcinoembryonic antigen was not seen in reactive mesothelium or mesothelioma but was present in 22 of 27 carcinomas. Mesothelioma and carcinoma usually stained with HMFG 1 and 2; reactive mesothelium did not. These three antibodies may help to distinguish carcinoma, mesothelioma, and reactive mesothelium.