Chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells in lymph nodes show frequent NOTCH1 activation

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common adult leukemia in the Western world. Pathogenic mechanisms involve multiple external events (such as microenvironmental and antigenic stimuli) and internal events (genetic and epigenetic alterations) that are associated with the transformation, progression and evolution of CLL. CLL is characterized by an accumulation of mature B cells in peripheral blood, bone marrow and lymphoid tissues. Extracellular stimuli play an important role in the development and maintenance of neoplastic cells. B-CLL cells proliferate and activate pathogenic signaling pathways in anatomical structures known as proliferation centers, which are usually more conspicuous in involved lymph nodes.1 Its clinical course is quite heterogeneous, whereby some patients progress rapidly and have short survival, whereas others have a more stable clinical course that may not need treatment for years.This work was supported by grants from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) (SAF2013-47416-R) Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)- FEDER – MINECO- AES (CP11/00018, PI10/00621, RD012/0036/0060), and Asociación Española contra el Cancer (AECC). MS-B is supported by a Miguel Servet contract from ISCIII-FEDER (CP11/00018). Salary support to SG is provided by CP11/00018, from ISCIII-FEDER. JG-R is supported by a predoctoral grant from the Fundación Investigación Puerta de Hierro.S

Family History and Breast Cancer Hormone Receptor Status in a Spanish Cohort

Breast cancer is a heterogenous disease that impacts racial/ethnic groups differently. Differences in genetic composition, lifestyles, reproductive factors, or environmental exposures may contribute to the differential presentation of breast cancer among Hispanic women.A population-based study was conducted in the city of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. A total of 645 women diagnosed with operable invasive breast cancer between 1992 and 2005 participated in the study. Data on demographics, breast cancer risk factors, and clinico-pathological characteristics of the tumors were collected. Hormone receptor negative tumors were compared with hormone receptor postive tumors on their clinico-pathological characteristics as well as risk factor profiles.Among the 645 breast cancer patients, 78% were estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) or progesterone receptor-positive (PR+), and 22% were ER−&PR−. Women with a family history of breast cancer were more likely to have ER−&PR− tumors than women without a family history (Odds ratio, 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.91–2.26). This association was limited to cancers diagnosed before age 50 (Odds ratio, 2.79; 95% confidence interval, 1.34–5.81).An increased proportion of ER−&PR− breast cancer was observed among younger Spanish women with a family history of the disease

Association between select breast cancer risk factors and hormone receptor status.

1<p>Results were estimated from case-only logistic regressions with adjustment for age at diagnosis.</p

Family history and breast cancer hormone receptor status by age at diagnosis.

1<p>Subjects with missing information of ER, PR, or family history were removed from analyses.</p>2<p>Results were estimated from case-only logistic regressions with adjustment for age at diagnosis.</p

Clinicopathological, karyometric, and immunohistochemical characteristics of breast cancer by family history.

1<p>Ps for categorical variables were estimated from χ² tests. P for the comparison of median ages was esimated from Wilcoxon Rank-Sum test and Ps for other continuous variables were estimated from t-tests.</p>2<p>Histology, lymph node metastasis, grade, MIB1, P53 expression and DNA ploidy index were unknown for 11, 48, 2, 7, 106, 121, 230 and 1 cases, respectively.</p>3<p>Data on nuclear are, perimeter and DNA shape were available for only 353 cases.</p>4<p>Mean ±standard deviation.</p

Clinicopathological, Karyometric, and Immunohistochemical Characteristics of Breast Cancer Cases and by ER and PR status.

1<p>Ps for categorical variables were estimated from χ² tests. P for the comparison of median ages was esimated from Wilcoxon Rank-Sum test and Ps for other continuous variables were estimated from t-tests.</p>2<p>Histology, lymph node metastasis, grade, MIB1, P53 expression and DNA ploidy index, were unknown for 2, 7, 106, 121, 230 and 1 cases, respectively.</p>3<p>Data on nuclear are, perimeter and DNA shape were available for only 353 cases.</p>4<p>Mean ±standard deviation.</p

Family history and breast cancer subtypes further stratified by DNA ploidy.

1<p>Subjects with missing information of ER, PR, or family history were removed from analyses.</p>2<p>Results were estimated from case-only logistic regressions with adjustment for age at diagnosis.</p