"Hidden margins"...This explains a lot

[R.B.]

And another link to reproduction - growth factors involved at a very fundamanental level.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...=pubmed_DocSum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...=pubmed_DocSum

1: Dev Biol. 1999 Nov 15;215(2):399-406.Click here to read Links
Members of the ErbB receptor tyrosine kinases are involved in germ cell development in fetal mouse gonads.

* Toyoda-Ohno H,
* Obinata M,
* Matsui Y.

Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Development, Aging, and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1, Seiryo-machi, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan.

To isolate the genes involved in mouse primordial germ cell (PGC) development, we carried out subtraction cDNA cloning between PGC-derived embryonic germ (EG) cells and inner cell mass-derived embryonic stem cells. Among the genes preferentially expressed in EG cells, we found a gene encoding a receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB3. By in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical staining, the expression of ErbB3 as well as that of ErbB2, a coreceptor for ErbB3, was detected in PGCs in genital ridges at 12.5 dpc (days postcoitum). The expression was, however, downregulated at 14.5 dpc when the PGCs underwent growth cessation. Neuregulin-beta, a ligand for ErbB2 and ErbB3, was also expressed in genital ridges. In addition, a recombinant Neuregulin-beta enhanced the number of PGCs in 12.5-dpc embryos in culture. Taken together, these observations suggest that ErbB signaling controls the growth or survival of PGCs in genital ridges. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

PMID: 10545246 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Emmay]

My sister was told that having a breast-conserving lumpectomy would be just as effective as a mastectomy, so she had the lumpectomy for the 2.3cm tumor, clear margins, no positive lymph nodes. She wasn't even done with chemo when she found two local recurrences 6 months after the lumpectomy, which then, of course, mandated a mastectomy. Her oncologist said a recurrence that soon while still on the strongest chemo was very unusual. She started Herceptin soon after the mastectomy, had radiation to the site of the mastectomy, and 5 months after completing radiation she was diagnosed with brain mets. I can't help but wonder - if she'd had a mastectomy initially instead of a lumpectomy, and if Herceptin had been available then for earlier stage bc - if the cancer might have been fully arrested.

As I have said before on this site.....I had clear margins but they found a tumor in my supraclavicular node. If you have a breast tumor with positive nodes....doesn't that say that the margins are NOT clear. The lack of logic in this just baffles the mind!!! RB my understanding is that the ER pathway is not understood. I only wish it was.

Cathy

[StephN]

TOm -
I guess I was not clear in my post - too busy mulling over the info you put up.

I was talked out of the mastectomy. The tumor was close to the chest wall, but they thought they had a wide enough "clear" margin. I am not a busty person, so did not have a whole lot of room.

Several women here have posted having a mastectomy when the margins are not clear after initial lumpectomy was tried. Hopefully better imaging will save these double surgeries.

I did have breast MRIs just prior to my lumpectomy which were supposed to give an accurate picture of my disease at that time.