Biomedical subjects

D Killander

Publications and source records attributed to D Killander.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Optimizing flow cytometric DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction as independent prognostic markers for node-negative breast cancer specimens.

Developing a reliable and quantitative assessment of the potential virulence of a malignancy has been a long-standing goal in clinical cytometry. DNA histogram analysis provides valuable information on the cycling activity of a tumor population through S-phase estimates; it also identifies nondiploid populations, a possible indicator of genetic instability and subsequent predisposition to metastasis. Because of conflicting studies in the literature, the clinical relevance of both of these potential prognostic markers has been questioned for the management of breast cancer patients. The purposes of this study are to present a set of 10 adjustments derived from a single large study that optimizes the prognostic strength of both DNA ploidy and S-phase and to test the validity of this approach on two other large multicenter studies. Ten adjustments to both DNA ploidy and S-phase were developed from a single node-negative breast cancer database from Baylor College (n = 961 cases). Seven of the adjustments were used to reclassify histograms into low-risk and high-risk ploidy patterns based on aneuploid fraction and DNA index optimum thresholds resulting in prognostic P values changing from little (P < 0.02) or no significance to P < 0.000005. Other databases from Sweden (n = 210 cases) and France (n = 220 cases) demonstrated similar improvement of DNA ploidy prognostic significance, P < 0.02 to P < 0.0009 and P < 0.12 to P < 0.002, respectively. Three other adjustments were applied to diploid and aneuploid S-phases. These adjustments eliminated a spurious correlation between DNA ploidy and S-phase and enabled them to combine independently into a powerful prognostic model capable of stratifying patients into low, intermediate, and high-risk groups (P < 0.000005). When the Baylor prognostic model was applied to the Sweden and French databases, similar significant patient stratifications were observed (P < 0.0003 and P < 0.00001, respectively). The successful transference of the Baylor prognostic model to other studies suggests that the proposed adjustments may play an important role in standardizing this test and provide valuable prognostic information to those involved in the management of breast cancer patients.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed2001

Voluntary associations for cancer patients in Sweden: supportive activities.

Our aim was to describe voluntary associations for patients with cancer in Sweden (n=108) and their activities, type and extent of member support, and the associations' collaboration with the health care system. A specially constructed questionnaire with structured and open questions was used for the investigation. The frequency of answers was 89%. The results show in the broadest sense that the associations have two missions. The direct patient-related mission concerns providing patients with support in the form of close proximity, approachability and through distribution of knowledge together with financial and practical support; the indirect patient-related mission deals with activities aimed at improving conditions for patients in general within the health care system and by influencing authorities as well as supporting family members and significant others and providing financing. The associations collaborate with the health care system, although they face difficulties in becoming 'sanctioned' and in establishing positive relationships with the health care community. The associations display a positive attitude towards their cause and the personal gratification that the voluntary work brings. In general, the findings indicate that the associations have a potential to help patients live and cope with their cancer disease.

Health Care Coalitions↗

PubMed2001

DNA and cell cycle analysis as prognostic indicators in breast tumors revisited.

Both DNA ploidy and S-phase ploidy are promising prognostic factors for node-negative breast cancer patients. Based largely on the analysis of one large study, much of the reported problems with these factors have been caused by some unappreciated complexities in categorizing DNA ploidy into low- and high-risk groups and the lack of some necessary adjustments to eliminate unwanted correlations between DNA S-phase and ploidy. When both DNA ploidy and S-phase are compensated properly, they become independent prognostic markers, forming a powerful prognostic model.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed1999

Chromosomal aberrations in breast cancer: a comparison between cytogenetics and comparative genomic hybridization.

The analysis of chromosomal imbalances in solid tumors using comparative genetic hybridization (CGH) has gained much attention. A survey of the literature suggests that CGH is more sensitive in detecting copy number aberrations than is karyotyping, although careful comparisons between CGH and cytogenetics have not been performed. Here, we compared cytogenetics and CGH in 29 invasive breast cancers after converting the karyotypes into net copy number gains and losses. We found 15 tumors (56%) with a significant agreement between the two methods and 12 tumors (44%) where the methods were in disagreement (two cases failed CGH analysis). Interestingly, in 13 of the 15 tumors where the two methods were concordant, there was also a strong correlation between chromosome index and DNA index by flow cytometry. In the opposite situation, i.e., when chromosome and DNA indices were not matching, there was disagreement between cytogenetics and CGH in 10 of the 12 tumors. Of the discordant cases, all except one had a "simple" abnormal karyotype. Unresolved chromosomal aberrations (marker chromosomes, homogeneously staining regions, double minutes) could not completely explain the differences between CGH and karyotyping. A likely explanation for the discrepancies is that the methods analyzed different cell populations. Gains and losses found by CGH represented the predominant (often aneuploid) clone, whereas the abnormal, near-diploid karyotypes represented minor cell clone(s), which, for unknown reasons, had a growth advantage in vitro.

Aneuploidy↗

PubMed1998

Genetic aberrations in hypodiploid breast cancer: frequent loss of chromosome 4 and amplification of cyclin D1 oncogene.

The evolution of somatic genetic aberrations in breast cancer has remained poorly understood. The most common chromosomal abnormality is hyperdiploidy, which is thought to arise via a transient hypodiploid state. However, hypodiploidy persists in 1 to 2% of breast tumors, which are characterized by a poor prognosis. We studied the genetic aberrations in 15 flow cytometrically hypodiploid breast cancers by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Surprisingly, numerous copy number gains were detected in addition to the copy number losses. The number of gains per tumor was 4.3 +/- 3.2 and that of losses was 4.5 +/- 3.3 (mean +/- SD), which is similar to that previously observed in hyperdiploid breast cancers. Gains at chromosomes or chromosomal regions at 11q13, 1q, 19, and 16p and losses of 2q, 4, 6q, 9p, 13, and 18 were most commonly observed. Compared with unselected breast carcinomas, hypodiploid tumors showed certain differences. Loss of chromosome 4 (53%) and gain of 11q13 (60%) were significantly more common in hypodiploid tumors. The gain at 11q13 was found by FISH to harbor amplification of the Cyclin D1 oncogene, which is therefore three to four times more common in hypodiploid than in unselected breast cancers (15 to 20%). Structural chromosomal aberrations (such as Cyclin D1 amplification) were present both in diploid and hypodiploid tumor cell populations, as assessed by FISH and CGH after flow cytometric sorting. Together these results indicate that hypodiploid tumors form a distinct genetic entity of invasive breast cancer, although they probably share a common genetic evolution pathway where structural chromosomal aberrations precede gross DNA ploidy changes.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Proliferative index obtained by DNA image cytometry. Does it add prognostic information in Auer IV breast cancer?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the S + G2/M fraction (proliferative index) is a prognostic determinant in breast cancers classified as Auer IV. STUDY DESIGN: Prognostic evaluation of Auer IV DNA histograms with respect to the high versus low S + G2/M fraction, obtained by image cytometry on consecutive breast cancer imprint preparations. RESULTS: When studying recurrence-free survival (n = 136), the prognostic value of S + G2/M was found to vary with time: it was negligible before the median time to relapse (1.5 years) but thereafter statistically significant, in both univariate and multivariate analysis. The same pattern was found when overall survival was used as the end point; the effect was delayed to about the median time until death (three years). Tumors with a low S + G2/M fraction were smaller and more often estrogen receptor- and progesterone receptor-positive than those with a high S + G2/M fraction. CONCLUSION: According to ICM-DNA values corresponding to the S + G2/M region, patients with breast cancers classified as Auer IV can be divided into subgroups with different tumor characteristics and prognoses.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed1997

Identification of TP53 gene mutations in uterine corpus cancer with short follow-up.

The involvement of the TP53 tumor suppressor gene in uterine corpus cancer was investigated by single-stranded conformation polymorphism and sequence analysis of its exons 4 to 10. Mutations were found in 12 (18.5%) of 65 cases. Ten of these 12 were single-base substitutions (8 missense and 2 nonsense mutations), whereas 2 were frame-shifting mutations. TP53 gene mutations correlated significantly with advanced surgical stage of disease (P = 0.006) and unfavorable tumor histology types (P = 0.003), whereas the association to myometrial wall invasion did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.054). TP53 gene mutations also correlated significantly with allelic loss at TP53 locus (P = 0.024), absence of estrogen (P = 0.045) and progesterone receptors (P = 0.001), DNA nondiploidy (P = 0.002), and high S-phase fraction values (P = 0.002). Our results suggest that inactivation of the TP53 checkpoint function is associated with disease transition into a stage of rapid progression and spread.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Flow cytometric S-phase fraction in soft-tissue sarcoma: prognostic importance analysed in 160 patients.

We could determine the S-phase fraction (SPF) by flow cytometric DNA analysis of paraffin archival material in 160 of 260 patients with soft-tissue sarcoma of extremity and trunk wall. The prognostic value of SPF was compared with other clinicopathological factors. The median follow-up time was 16 (6-31) years. In a univariate analysis, deep tumour location, increasing tumour size and histological malignancy grade, microscopic tumour necrosis, vascular invasion, DNA non-diploidy and high SPF (>3.0%) were associated with poor metastasis-free survival. In a multivariate analysis, microscopic tumour necrosis and high SPF were independently prognostic for metastasis. Used in combination with tumour size, microscopic tumour necrosis and vascular invasion, SPF could identify a group of patients with a 5-year metastasis-free survival rate of 0.97. This group constituted one-quarter of all patients. Patients with low SPF who did recur had a prolonged clinical course both as regards metastases and local recurrence. We conclude that SPF is a valuable adjunct in prognostication in soft-tissue sarcoma.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Urokinase plasminogen activator, a strong independent prognostic factor in breast cancer, analysed in steroid receptor cytosols with a luminometric immunoassay.

Urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) is involved in the activation of different proteases which participate in the degradation of extracellular matrix, thereby enhancing the invasive capacity of tumour cells. uPA has been shown to be of prognostic importance in breast cancer. We have analysed uPA with a new luminometric immunoassay (LIA), applicable in cytosol samples routinely used for oestrogen-receptor (ER) and progesterone-receptor (PgR) analyses. At a cut-off value of 0.62 ng uPA/mg protein, 33% (230/688) samples were classified as representing high uPA tumours. High uPA content was found to be associated with shorter recurrence-free survival (median observation time: 42 months), ER and PgR negativity, increased p53 expression, DNA non-diploidy and a high S-phase fraction (SPF), but not with lymph node involvement or tumour size (< or = 20 mm versus > 20 mm). In the subgroup of patients not treated with systemic adjuvant therapy, multivariate analysis showed uPA to be an independent prognostic factor together with lymph node status and SPF. If these results can be reproduced, uPA may be a factor suitable for inclusion in a prognostic index.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗

PubMed1996

Preoperative fine needle aspiration from human breast cancer is a valuable sampling material for progesterone receptor and cytometric DNA analysis.

In a breast cancer series (n = 54), preoperative fine needle aspiration (FNA) was compared with biopsy at primary surgery as a source of material for the determination of progesterone receptor (PgR) content by enzyme immuno assay. The respective results manifested a strong correlation (r(s) = 0.82). The fact that PgR content was usually higher in FNA samples than in the corresponding biopsy samples and the finding that 11% of the tumours were PgR positive in FNA but PgR negative in the corresponding biopsy samples suggest a greater proportion of malignant cells to be obtained with FNA than in surgical biopsy. In another breast cancer series (n = 50), corresponding comparisons for DNA flow cytometry showed concordance in ploidy status (diploid vs. non-diploid) in 84% of cases and a strong correlation in S-phase fraction values (r(s) = 0.70). At DNA image cytometry, concordant results (Auer I + II vs. Auer III + IV) were obtained in 87% of the cases. To sum up, FNA seems to be a useful sampling technique for PgR determination and DNA cytometry.

Aneuploidy↗

PubMed1996

Methodological aspects of flow cytometry DNA analysis in endometrial carcinoma, with special reference to sampling and reproducibility.

Two adjacent paraffin-embedded sections manifested concordance in ploidy status in 96% of cases (45/47), and the standard deviation (SD) for SPF was 2.7%. Analysis of 'micro-heterogeneity', within a distance of < or = 700 microm, yielded results for concordant ploidy status in 94% of cases, and the SD for SPF was 1.9% (n = 17). Frozen and paraffin-embedded material yielded concordant results for ploidy status in 87% (39/45) of cases, and SPF values were significantly lower (mean difference 1.5%) in the frozen samples. Diagnostic and repeat curettage material yielded concordant results for DNA ploidy status in 85% (40/47) of cases, and no significant difference in mean SPF (12% vs. 11%) was found. Discordant DNA ploidy results were attributable to small differences in the DNA histograms influencing the interpretation of near-diploid, near-tetraploid and small non-diploid cell populations, and the influence of debris on SPF estimation. On the basis of our findings and the practical advantage we recommend paraffin-embedded material from diagnostic curettage for FCM DNA analysis; the results are available sooner and the handling and transportation of tumor samples is more convenient.

Cryopreservation↗

PubMed1995

Recurrence-free survival in breast cancer improved by adjuvant tamoxifen--especially for progesterone receptor positive tumors with a high proliferation.

Although the beneficial effect on breast cancer of adjuvant tamoxifen (TAM) is well established, in the series studied by our group this effect seems to have been restricted to patients with steroid receptor (especially progesterone receptor (PgR)) positive tumors. However, as some patients with PgR-positive tumors manifested recurrence despite adjuvant TAM treatment, the question arose whether some other biological factor(s) could be used to identify these non-responding cases. The level of the S-phase fraction (SPF), as measured by flow cytometry, has been shown to be a useful prognostic marker, prognosis being better in cases where the SPF is low than in those where it is high. The aim of the present study was to relate the prognosis after adjuvant TAM to SPF among patients with PgR-positive tumors. In the PgR-positive group as a whole, the effect of TAM on prognosis was more pronounced in the high SPF group than in the low SPF group (p = 0.005) the respective decrease in 3 year recurrence rate was from 19 to 43% and from 17 to 9%. Multivariate analysis of the data for the TAM-treated group showed the level of PgR concentration (low positive vs. high positive), lymph node status, and tumor size to be independent predictive factors, but not the level of SPF (i.e. high vs. low). By contrast, among patients not treated with TAM, the SPF was a strong independent prognostic factor. To sum up, SPF was a strong independent predictor of outcome only for patients receiving no systemic adjuvant therapy, but not in patients receiving adjuvant TAM. Patients with PgR-positive and high S-phase tumors derived more benefit from TAM than patients with PgR-positive and low SPF tumors.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Progress in identifying clinical relevance of inhibition, stimulation and measurements of poly ADP-ribosylation.

Our laboratory, in collaboration with Oxigene Inc, has been involved in identifying commercially feasible clinical applications of measurement or modulation of ADP-ribosylation as a core technology. For this purpose a pivotal regulatory role for ADP-ribosylation in the repair of DNA lesions leading to cytotoxic as well as mutagenic events has been hypothesized. A new class of DNA repair inhibitors, the N-substituted benzamides, has been identified which can react with radiation to produce reactive intermediates that oxidize thiol amino acids. Their proposed mechanisms of action are two-fold: ie they can interact with radiation: i) to directly enhance DNA damage; and ii) to react with thiols in the zinc finger DNA binding domain of poly ADP-ribosyl transferase to inhibit DNA repair and thereby increase DNA damage. Sensamide, a clinically relevant formulation of metoclopramide which is an N-substituted benzamide, has indicated enhancement of tumor response and survival in patients with inoperable squamous cell carcinoma of the lung when it was administered as a radiosensitizer in a phase I/II trial and compared to historical controls. A mechanism of endogenous regulation of human mononuclear leucocyte ADP-ribosylation has been identified to be HOCl/N-chloramine production via the oxidative burst of phagocytes. HOCl/N-chloramines are potent oxidants of thiol-containing proteins. Quantitative estimation of N-chloramine sensitive plasma thiols has been identified as an effective surrogate measure of leucocyte poly ADPRT.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1995

A phase I/II evaluation of metoclopramide as a radiosensitiser in patients with inoperable squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

The feasibility of administering metoclopramide (MCA) as a radiosensitizer has been evaluated in 23 patients with a pathological or cytological diagnosis of a squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, clinically evaluated as inoperable. All patients received 40-60 Gy radiotherapy fractionated into 1.8 Gy fractions 5 times per week (Monday-Friday). Two MCA treatment regimens were used: (i) MCA at 2 mg/kg administered by intravenous-infusion 1-2 h prior to radiotherapy 3 times per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday); and (ii) MCA at 1 mg/kg administered by intravenous infusion 1-2 h prior to radiotherapy 5 times per week (Monday-Friday). 11 of the 23 patients treated with radiotherapy and MCA had none to mild pneumonitis or fibrosis and another 8 of the 23 had moderate levels. No patient had their therapy interrupted due to radiation-related side-effects. The MCA-related side-effects were as expected, i.e. 78% of the patients experienced sedation/tiredness and 48% expressed restlessness/anxiety symptoms. Both the total dose and serum levels of MCA were significantly associated to the MCA side-effect profile. Tumour response, duration of tumour response and survival were significantly positively correlated to the total and weekly doses of MCA administered to the patients during their radiotherapy treatment. These favourable phase II data have justified the initiation of a phase II/III randomised multicentred trial being carried out in Europe to evaluate MCA as a radiosensitiser.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

Prognostic significance of p53 overexpression in primary breast cancer; a novel luminometric immunoassay applicable on steroid receptor cytosols.

A novel quantitative luminometric immunoassay (LIA) has been developed for the measurement of wild-type and mutant p53 protein in extracts from breast tumour tissue. The LIA was found to yield reliable estimates of p53 expression in cytosol samples routinely prepared for steroid receptor analysis as compared with results obtained with immunohistochemical analysis. The LIA was evaluated on 205 primary breast tumour cytosols prepared for steroid receptor analysis and stored frozen at -80 degrees C for 6-8 years, p53 protein being detected in 65% of the samples (range 0.01-23 ng mg-1 protein). Using an arbitrary cut-off value of 0.15 ng mg-1 protein, 30% of the tumours were classified as manifesting p53 overexpression. Significant and independent correlations were found to exist between p53 overexpression and shorter disease-free (P < 0.001) and overall survival (P = 0.039) at a median duration of follow-up of 50 months. p53 overexpression was related to low oestrogen receptor content and high proliferation rate (S-phase fraction). No relationship was found to tumour size or the presence of lymph node metastasis. Three tumours possessed an extremely high p53 content (> 10 ng mg-1 protein), all of which were of medullary or high-grade ductal type, oestrogen and progesterone receptor negative, DNA non-diploid, had S-phase fractions of > 22% and recurred within 1-2 years. In summary, a new sensitive and quantitative LIA suitable for routine analysis of p53 protein in steroid receptor cytosol preparations from breast tumours has been developed to confirm the prognostic importance of p53 protein accumulation in human breast cancer.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed1995

The prognostic information of DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction may vary with histologic grade in endometrial carcinoma.

DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction (SPF) were determined by flow cytometry on paraffin-embedded tumor material from 243 patients treated during 1980-1985. Patients with well differentiated and moderately differentiated tumors without solid areas (n = 351) formed a low-risk group (corrected 5-year survival 90%). Twenty-four patients, dead of disease within 5 years, were compared with 52 survivors. The estimated death risk was higher for those with SPF > or = 8.0% compared with those with SPF < 8.0% (odds ratio = 18.2; p < 0.001). SPF was the only independent prognostic factor in a multivariate analysis also including age, clinical stage and grade of differentiation. Patients with moderately differentiated tumors with solid areas or poorly differentiated tumors (n = 208) were regarded as a high-risk group. There was a difference in survival according to ploidy; the corrected 5-year survival was 75% for 106 patients with diploid tumors compared with 44% for those with non-diploid tumors (p < 0.0001). In a multivariate analysis DNA ploidy, age and clinical stage were independent prognostic factors, whereas SPF was no longer significant. Thus, DNA ploidy and SPF have different prognostic values depending on histological grade of endometrial carcinoma.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

ERBB2 amplification is associated with tamoxifen resistance in steroid-receptor positive breast cancer.

Amplification and overexpression of the ERBB2 (HER-2/neu) oncogene has been implicated as contributing to the development of human breast cancer, and as a predictor of poor survival. In the present non-randomized study of 871 primary invasive breast tumours, ERBB2 activation was significantly correlated to a shorter disease-free and overall survival in the subgroup of patients receiving adjuvant tamoxifen therapy, but not in the untreated group. Further subcategorization demonstrated the relationship to poor prognosis to be confined to lymph node positive and steroid receptor-positive tumours. We suggest that steroid receptor and ERBB2-positive breast tumours are resistant to tamoxifen therapy and, supported by experimental evidence showing an oestrogen receptor dependent up-regulation of ERBB2 expression upon tamoxifen administration, possibly even growth stimulated by the drug.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed1994

Cathepsin D, both a prognostic factor and a predictive factor for the effect of adjuvant tamoxifen in breast cancer. South Sweden Breast Cancer Group.

Cathepsin D is a lysosomal protease implicated in cancer metastasis. Its concentration in breast tumours has also been shown to be of prognostic importance, although to what extent this is subject to lymph node status, the use of adjuvant therapy and menopausal status has not been clearly evaluated. At a cut-off level of 45 pmol/mg protein (61% of the 623 samples were classified as high cathepsin D tumours; immunoradiometric assay), we found cathepsin D to be of prognostic importance only among breast cancer patients with lymph node-positive (N+) disease not treated with adjuvant tamoxifen. When the series was stratified according to cathepsin D content of their tumours, progesterone receptor (PgR) status and lymph node involvement, adjuvant tamoxifen was found to have a significant beneficial effect only among patients with N+ and PgR-positive breast cancer whose tumours had a high cathepsin D content.

Aged↗