c-erbB2 and topoisomerase IIα protein expression independently predict poor survival in primary human breast cancer: a retrospective study

INTRODUCTION: c-erbB2 (also known as HER-2/neu) and topoisomerase IIα are frequently overexpressed in breast cancer. The aim of the study was to analyze retrospectively whether the expression of c-erbB2 and topoisomerase IIα protein influences the long-term outcome of patients with primary breast cancer. METHODS: In this study c-erbB2 and topoisomerase IIα protein were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue from 225 samples of primary breast cancer, obtained between 1986 and 1998. The prognostic value of these markers was analyzed. RESULTS: Of 225 primary breast tumor samples, 78 (34.7%) showed overexpression of either c-erbB2 (9.8%) or topoisomerase IIα protein (24.9%), whereas in 21 tumors (9.3%) both proteins were found to be overexpressed. Patients lacking both c-erbB2 and topoisomerase IIα overexpression had the best long-term survival. Overexpression of either c-erbB2 or topoisomerase IIα was associated with shortened survival, whereas patients overexpressing both c-erbB2 and topoisomerase IIα showed the worst disease outcome (P < 0.0001). Treatment with anthracyclines was not capable of reversing the negative prognostic impact of topoisomerase IIα or c-erbB2 overexpression. CONCLUSION: The results of this exploratory study suggest that protein expression of c-erbB2 and topoisomerase IIα in primary breast cancer tissues are independent prognostic factors and are not exclusively predictive factors for anthracycline response in patients with primary breast cancer

Vibrational and electronic structure of the dinuclear bis(µ-nitrido) vanadium(V) complex [V(N{N }2)(µ-N)]2: spectroscopic properties of the M2(µ-N)2 diamond core

The vibrational and electronic structure of the bis-µ-nitrido bridged complex [V(N{N¿}2)(µ-N)]2 (1) (where [N{N¿}2]2- = [(Me3Si)N{CH 2CH2N(SiMe3)}2]2-) is analyzed. Assignment of the five modes of the V2(µ-N)2 core is based on 15N isotope shifts and a DFT calculation on the calculated structure I which is an exact reproduction of 1. The three Raman active modes of the planar V2(µ-N)2 core are found in the Raman spectrum whereas the two IR allowed vibrations are identified in the infrared spectrum. Furthermore, the electronic structure of 1 is described which complements earlier theoretical studies on the reaction pathway leading to 1 (V. M. E. Bates, G. K. B. Clentsmith, F. G. N. Cloke, J. C. Green, H. D. L. Jenkin, Chem. Commun., 2000, 927). Based on the MO scheme of I the UV-vis transitions of 1 are assigned

Fe(II) spin-crossover in ultrathin films: Electronic structure and spin-state switching by visible and vacuum-UV light

The electronic structure of the iron(II) spin crossover complex [Fe(H2bpz)2(phen)] deposited as an ultrathin film on Au(111) is determined by means of UV-photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) in the high-spin and in the low-spin state. This also allows monitoring the thermal as well as photoinduced spin transition in this system. Moreover, the complex is excited to the metastable high-spin state by irradiation with vacuum-UV light. Relaxation rates after photoexcitation are determined as a function of temperature. They exhibit a transition from thermally activated to tunneling behavior and are two orders of magnitude higher than in the bulk material