Objective: To investigate the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) among different molecular subtypes of breast cancers using molecular classification with Ki-67 (ER+ PR+ HER2+ Ki-67) or without Ki-67 (ER+ PR+ HER2). Methods: One hundred and twenty-seven cases of invasive breast cancer confirmed by core needle biopsy before NAC were collected from January 2007 to December 2009 and diagnosed at West China Hospital, Sichuan University. The cases were classified into different molecular subtypes using molecular classifications with or without Ki-67. Their clinical and pathological response to NAC was evaluated and compared. Results: The different subtypes using both molecular classifications showed significant difference in clinical response(with Ki-67: χ²=22.40, P<0.01; without Ki-67: χ²=9.202, P=0.027)but not pathological(P>0.05) response to NAC. By multivariate analysis, Ki-67 was predictive for a clinical complete response (P=0.041) and clinical overall response (P<0.01); also Ki-67 was the only clinicopathological factor predictive of pathological response(P=0.041). Conclusion The molecular classification with Ki-67 is better to predict breast cancers responsiveness to NAC than the molecular classification without Ki-67.

PURPOSE: It is widely accepted that aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity is a signature of breast cancer stem cells, and high activity has been reported to be associated with poor clinical outcome. The aim of this study was to assess the expression of members of the ALDH family of isozymes in breast cancer tissues and to evaluate the implications of the results. METHODS: We analyzed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue from 160 patients with breast cancer. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was performed on the slides using antibodies against different ALDH family members. We collated the IHC results with patient clinical characteristics and determined their prognostic value. In addition, we analyzed normal, hyperplastic, and carcinomatous tissues in situ to check their ALDH distributions. RESULTS: All the tested ALDH members were detected in the various tissue types, but at different levels. Only ALDH 1A3 was found to be significantly associated with distant metastasis (p=0.001), disease-free survival (p<0.001), and overall survival (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The level of ALDH 1A3 in breast cancer tissue is a predictive marker of a poor clinical outcome.
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase* ; Antibodies ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Isoenzymes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; Prognosis ; Stem Cells

ObjectiveTo explore the effect and possible mechanism of Shenqi Pills （肾气丸） on cognitive impairment and hippocampal glucose energy metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM）. MethodsSixty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group， model group， rosiglitazone group and Shenqi Pills low-， medium- and high-dose groups， with 10 mice in each group. T2DM model was induced by a high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin in all the groups except for the control group. After successful modeling， the high-， medium-， and low-dose Shenqi Pills groups were given 2.08， 1.04， and 0.52 g/（kg·d） of Shenqi Pills granules by gavage respectively， while the rosiglitazone group was given 3 mg/（kg·d） of rosiglitazone tablets by gavage， and the control group and model group were gavaged with 10 ml/（kg·d） of distilled water， all for 8 consecutive weeks. The body weight and fasting blood glucose （FBG） level were recorded every two weeks. The Morris water maze test was performed on the 8th week of medication. After 8-week medication， oral glucose tolerance test （OGTT） and fasting insulin level were measured， hippocampal glucose energy metabolism-related products were quantitatively detected by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry， and KEGG annotation analysis was performed. ResultsCompared to those measured at the same timepoints in the control group， the body mass on week 6 and 8， as well as the FBG level on week 2， 4， 6 and 8 in the model group increased； the blood glucose level at 0， 30， 60 and 120 minutes of the OGTT test increased， while fasting insulin level after 8-week medication decreased. The escape latency of the model group was significantly prolonged on the 3rd and 4th days， and the escape latency time increased， while the total swimming distance， platform quadrant residence time and the number of platform crossings decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to those measured at the same timepoints in the model group， the body mass on week 6 in the low-dose Shenqi Pills group， on week 6 and 8 in the medium- and high-dose groups， and on week 8 in the rosiglitazone group were significantly reduced； the FBG levels in all the Shenqi Pills groups and rosiglitazone group on week 6 and 8 decreased， while fasting insulin levels increased. In the OGTT test， blood glucose in the medium-dose group of Shenqi Pills at all timepoints decreased； in the Morris water maze test， the escape latency period of the medium- and high-dose Shenqi Pills groups was shortened on the 3rd and 4th days， while the escape latency time was reduced， and the total swimming distance， platform quadrant residence time， and number of platform crossings increased in the medium-dose Shenqi Pills group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）.The medium-dose Shenqi Pills showed best effect， therefore it was selected for the targeted quantitative detection of metabolites. The medium-dose Shenqi Pills group could regulate the disorder of glucose metabolism in the hippocampus of T2DM mice， and 13 differential metabolites were found，up-regulating α-ketoglutarate and 3-phosphoglyceric acid， and down-regulating fumaric acid， glutamatic acid， lactatic acid， inosine， malic acid， adenine， fructose 1,6-diphosphate and others. KEGG annotation of differential metabolites suggested that Shenqi Pills was closely related to the regulation of glucose metabolism disorder and insulin resistance in the hippocampus region of T2DM model mice， as well as neurodegenerative diseases and ABC transport， hypoxia-inducible factor 1 （HIF）， forkhead transcription factor （FoXO） and cyclic adenosine monophosphate （cAMP） signaling pathways. ConclusionShenqi Pills can improve learning and memory abilities and cognitive impairment in T2DM mice， and may act its role by regulating glucose energy metabolism in the hippocampus of T2DM.