The distribution of immuno-reactive tenascin in the epithelial-mesenchymal junctional areas of benign and malignant squamous epithelia

Tenascin is an extra cellular matrix glycoprotein which is distributed in the mesenchyme surrounding various organs during embryogenesis. It has also been demonstrated in some normal adult tissues and in the matrix of human tumours. The present study has been carried out to analyse the distribution of tenascin in non malignant and malignant skin disorders, in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck, in squamous cell carcinoma xenografts and in a squamous cell carcinoma cell line grown on collagen gel. Immunohistochemical localisation of tenascin was performed, using a monoclonal antibody specific for tenascin, by the indirect immunoperoxidase method with silver enhancement. Tenascin was heterogeneously distributed in the extra cellular matrix of squamous cell carcinomas and in squamous cell carcinoma xenografts. It was absent in basal cell carcinoma and in the squamous cell carcinoma cell line grown on collagen gel. The distribution of tenascin in squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma is discussed in relation to tumour invasion and differentiation.     

Clinico-pathological aspects of immunotherapy by intralesional injection of BCG cell walls or live BCG in bovine ocular squamous cell carcinoma

Summary Bovine ocular squamous cell carcinoma (BOSCC) of clinical stage I, mostly situated in the third eyelid, was chosen as a therapy model for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in humans. Block resection was found to be the best method of treatment. Regression was noticed in 19 out of 30 cows treated intratumourously with a single injection of live BCG or BCG cell wall vaccine, followed by recurrence in 8 cases. In 2 untreated cows, complete lasting regression occurred. Regression was significantly more frequently encountered in intratumourously treated cows than in controls. Regression was associated with a high mitotic index, severe infiltrating growth and small amounts of cellular (lymphoid) infiltration.Metastasis was found in 14 out of 50 cows: 5 in 10 untreated controls, 8 in 30 BCG treated cows and 1 in 10 surgically treated cows. The growth rate of progressively growing untreated and of some treated tumours was not associated with the mitotic index nor with other morphological characteristics tested. The mitotic index was found to be higher in the deep infiltrating layer than in the superficial layer of the primary tumour, suggesting that a single biopsy is not sufficiently representative for cell kinetic studies.Animals were maintained under the guidelines set forth by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, State University, Utrecht, The NetherlandsGrant recipient of the Koningin Wilhelmina Fonds (The Netherlands Cancer Foundation)     

Correlation of the expression of double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (p68) with differentiation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

p68 is an inducible protein kinase which is believed to be an important factor in the regulation of both viral and cellular protein synthesis. We have produced a monoclonal antibody (TJ4C4) which specifically detects p68, and which can be used to detect this antigen in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. Because p68 plays an important role in cellular protein synthesis, we hypothesized that it may correlate with normal and neoplastic cellular differentiation. One hundred and seventy-seven head and neck squamous cell carcinoma specimens, representing 82 patients, were studied. The relative amount, frequency, and distribution of p68 expression were determined by microscopic evaluation of ABC immunoperoxidase-stained specimens. A spectrum of immunoreactivity was detected in 156 of 177 tumors, as well as within the normal squamous epithelium. Normal, actively proliferating cells, such as the basal layer of squamous epithelium, expressed comparatively little p68. Increased p68 expression was noted to parallel the morphologic features of cellular differentiation. In neoplastic tissue, p68 expression also increased with the degree of cellular differentiation. These data demonstrate that the expression of p68 parallels the degree of cellular differentiation in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region, as well as within normal squamous mucosa. Therefore, p68 may provide an objective biologic measure of cellular differentiation which does not depend on morphologic features.     

CD9在口腔鳞状细胞癌中的表达水平及其临床意义

目的:口腔鳞状细胞癌是一类极易发生局部侵袭和淋巴结转移的恶性肿瘤,CD9蛋白在多种肿瘤的发生发展及侵袭转移过程中起到重要作用,本研究旨在分析CD9蛋白在口腔鳞状细胞癌中的表达水平及其临床意义。方法:收集我院诊断明确的口腔鳞癌肿瘤患者石蜡标本合计80例,通过免疫组化手段对CD9蛋白表达水平进行评价,并根据CD9蛋白的表达水平分组,分析患者的临床病理学特征与CD9蛋白的关系。结果:CD9在正常组织和癌旁组织正常表达,在肿瘤组织中表达率低,其表达水平和口腔鳞癌的分化程度,淋巴结转移及最终分期有相关性(P0.05)。结论:本研究结果揭示,CD9在口腔鳞状细胞癌的发生发展中起到重要作用,CD9蛋白水平的低表达或不表达可能预测着肿瘤具有更明显的恶性生物学行为,并可能成为口腔鳞状细胞癌预后的生物学指标及基因治疗的新靶点。     

Cytologic diagnosis of vaginal papillary squamotransitional cell carcinoma. A case report

BACKGROUND: Papillary squamous and squamotransitional cell carcinomas of the cervix and vagina are infrequent morphologic variants of squamous cell carcinoma that may be underdiagnosed due to a bland histologic appearance. To our knowledge, this entity has not been previously detected by Pap smear evaluation. CASE: Vaginal wall pap smears were collected from a patient with a previous hysterectomy for microinvasive cervicovaginal squamous cell carcinoma and extensive carcinoma in situ. The smears were characterized by: (1) large, darkly staining, three-dimensional, branching, papillary epithelial fragments with prominent fibrovascular cores and lined with loosely cohesive epithelial cells; (2) a highly cellular background population of dissociated single epithelial cells with features of severe dysplasia, including hyperchromatic, coarse chromatin; scant, delicate, frayed cytoplasm and karyorrhectic debris; (3) syncytial aggregates of severely dysplastic epithelial cells morphologically similar to the single cells; and (4) lack of a recognizable, morphologically distinct "transitional cell" population. CONCLUSION: Papillary squamotransitional cell carcinoma of the vagina is a rare morphologic variant of squamous cell carcinoma that should be distinguished from benign vaginal squamous papillomas, condylomatous lesions and verrucous carcinoma. However, this lesion is also related to human papillomavirus infection, particularly the high-risk types. Papillary squamotransitional cell carcinoma can be suspected on Pap smear when high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion features are found in combination with three-dimensional papillary tissue fragments with prominent fibrovascular cores.     

舌鳞癌层粘连蛋白的表达及意义

采用免疫组织化学技术,研究了正常、异常增生组织、舌癌及舌癌淋巴结转移灶中层粘连蛋白的表达、分布及意义。结果发现：正常舌粘膜、轻度异常增生组织的基底膜处层粘连蛋白呈连续线状分布,中度和重度异常增生组织基底膜层粘连蛋白的分布有局部断裂。舌癌中层粘连蛋白的分布呈多种形式,分化好的舌癌层粘连蛋白呈线状,但明显不连续,分化差的舌癌中的层粘连蛋白常呈碎片状,而舌癌的淋巴结转移灶中层粘连蛋白的分布与原发灶相似。统计分析表明,层粘连蛋白的表达与舌癌的分化程度相关,而与舌癌的转移无关。观察结果表明：舌癌分化程度愈低,层粘连蛋白的缺损愈严重,层粘连蛋白的表达、分布特点可以作为判断癌恶性程度的指标,但不能判断舌癌的转移     

人肺癌细胞系HB-99的建立及其生物学特征

利用一例肺鳞癌手术标本通过原代培养建立了肺癌细胞系命名为HB-99。该细胞系呈单层贴壁生长,从相差显微镜和电镜分析具有细胞的多形性,细胞倍增时间为24小时,克隆形成率40%,染色体改变复杂,众数63-65。将细胞移植到裸鼠体内而生长的肿块具有与原始病人手术标本相似的组织形态。免疫组织化学分析,近100%的细胞表达角蛋白17（CK17）,10%的细胞表达波形蛋白（vimentin）。根据该细胞系的生物学特征提示HB-99是一新建立的肺鳞癌细胞系。 Abstract：We have established a human lung squamous carcinoma cell line ,designed HB-99, by culturing primary tumor sample. The cells of HB-99 derived from resected specimen of a male patient with lung squamous cancer. They grew in monolayers and showed cellular morphology by phase contrast and electronic microscopy. The HB-99 cells had a doubling time of 24 hours and a cloning efficiency of 40%. Chromosomal analysis showed complicated rearrangements with a modal number of 63～65. When hetero-transplanted to nude mice, HB-99 grew to form tumor with the same morphology as the original one from the patient. The results of immunohistochemistry suggested that CK17 expressed in almost all cells while only 5%～10% cells had Vimentin. HB-99 is really a newly established cell line of lung squamous carcinoma.     

Absence of correlation between chemo- and radioresistance in a range of human tumour cell lines

The correlation between cellular resistance to radiation and to chemotherapeutic drugs has been investigated in a number of solid tumour cell lines, and preliminary results indicate no direct relationship. The acquisition of a multidrug resistance (MDR) profile by adriamycin-selected variants of a human squamous lung carcinoma, an ovarian carcinoma, a cervical carcinoma and by a colchicine-selected variant of a Chinese hamster ovarian carcinoma resulted in alterations to their radiosensitivity. However, the degree of change in the radiosensitivity of the MDR cell lines could not be predicted from their level of resistance to adriamycin. Clonal populations derived from DLKP-A, an adriamycin-selected MDR variant of the human lung carcinoma cell line DLKP, exhibited individual radiosensitivity profiles, which did not correlate with their chemoresistance. Exposure of DLKP to consecutive increasing doses of radiation did not confer cross-resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs.Abbreviations LD₅₀ Radiation dose which kills 50% of the cell population - IC₅₀ Chemotherapeutic drug concentration which kills 50% of the cell population - MDR Multidrug resistance - Gy Gray - EMS Ethyl methanesulfonate     

Potential involvement of MYC- and p53-related pathways in tumorigenesis in human oral squamous cell carcinoma revealed by proteomic analysis

Oral squamous cellular carcinoma is a malignant tumor with poor prognosis. Discovery of early markers to discriminate between malignant and normal cells is of high importance in clinical diagnosis. Subcellular fractions from 10 oral squamous cell carcinoma and corresponding control samples, enriched in mitochondrial and cytosolic proteins, as well as blood from the tumor were analyzed by proteomics, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Three-hundred and fifty different gene products were identified. Twenty proteins showed deranged levels in oral squamous cell carcinoma in comparison with the control samples and are potentially involved in tumor growth and metastasis. Of these, 16 proteins were upregulated. By applying pathway analysis, we found 8 of the upregulated gene products to be linked to three main locus genes, p53, MYC, and MYCN, and could be candidate biomarkers for OSCC. The findings of this pilot study show that OSCC gene ontology combined with proteomic analysis is a powerful tool in systems biology for the elucidation of the complexity of expression profiles in cellular processes. Application of such pathway analysis has the potential to generate new insights into complex molecular mechanisms underlying disease related processes and could therefore significantly contribute to the efficient performance of the entire discovery process.     

Mechanisms involved in lung cancer development in COPD

Lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. They share a common environmental risk factor in cigarette smoke exposure and a genetic predisposition represented by the incidence of these diseases in only a fraction of smokers. COPD is also a major independent risk factor for lung carcinoma, among long-term smokers. Smokers with COPD also have a higher risk of developing a specific histological subtype of non-small cell lung cancer termed squamous cell carcinoma. For these reasons the focus of this review is on the potential pathogenic molecular links between tobacco smoking-related COPD and squamous cell carcinoma. We believe that we need to promote more studies on the molecular and cellular pathobiology of smokers with premalignant bronchial lesions of the squamous cell lung carcinoma compared with a control group of smokers with and without COPD to unravel the complex molecular interactions between COPD and early squamous cell lung carcinoma. These studies should also look at younger healthy smokers in combination with risk models of lung cancer and COPD. Overall these studies may allow the discovery of new molecular targets of the early carcinogenesis process that in the foreseeable future may render the early diagnosis and treatment, and may be even the prevention, of invasive squamous cell lung carcinoma a reality.     

Diagnosis of a case of pulmonary carcinosarcoma by detection of rhabdomyosarcoma cells in sputum

Cytologic examination of sputum samples from an elderly patient revealed the presence of two cell populations: squamous cell carcinoma cells and rhabdomyosarcoma cells. The abnormal squamous cells showed both keratinizing and nonkeratinizing forms while some of the rhabdomyosarcoma cells showed cross striations. Sputum cytology was thus able to suggest a diagnosis of pulmonary carcinosarcoma. Histologically, the tumor was composed mainly of sarcomatous tissue showing various kinds of cells: fusiform or fibrous cells, round anaplastic cells, spindled cells with typical cross striations and myoblastic cells. A partially myxomatous degeneration was present. In addition, squamous cell carcinoma proliferated along the bronchi and formed small invasive cell nests in the sarcomatous tissue. No transition between the two components was noted. Both cellular constituents had metastasized to an interlobar lymph node.     

鳞癌细胞增殖能力与岩藻糖基转移酶表达水平及糖蛋白岩藻糖基化修饰有关

岩藻糖基转移酶（fucosyltransferases,FUTs）是一类催化糖蛋白和糖脂发生岩藻糖基化（修饰）酶,主要包括FUT1~FUT9。已有研究证明,很多癌组织中都有不同FUT基因表达升高的现象。本研究证明,表皮鳞癌细胞的增殖能力与几种FUT基因表达水平有关。本文比较研究了人表皮鳞癌A431和SCC12细胞的增殖速度和几种FUT的表达状况,以揭示鳞癌细胞增殖能力与几种FUT基因表达水平的关系。细胞倍增时间结合MTT法揭示,鳞癌A431细胞的倍增时间约为26 h,而鳞癌SCC12细胞的倍增时间约为33 h（P < 0.05）,提示A431细胞增殖速度比SCC12细胞明显加快。与增殖速度一致的是,Western 印迹显示,A431细胞中与DNA合成相关的增殖细胞核抗原（proliferating cell nuclear antigen,PCNA）蛋白表达水平比SCC12细胞高。实时定量PCR（qPCR）检测FUT1-9基因 mRNA转录本,揭示A431细胞中几种FUT基因的mRNA水平均显著高于SCC12细胞。凝集素免疫印迹法和Western 印迹法进一步证明,A431细胞中总蛋白的岩藻糖基化水平比SCC12细胞中的明显升高。敲低FUT4基因表达后,A431细胞中LeY寡糖的表达水平下调,细胞增殖被明显抑制。这些结果证明,较强的表皮鳞癌细胞增殖能力可能与几种FUT基因的高表达,以及糖蛋白的岩藻糖基化（修饰）相关。岩藻糖基转移酶表达水平与临床表皮鳞癌的恶性增生的相关性有待进一步证明。     

LCM纯化的人支气管上皮癌变各阶段组织的定量蛋白质组学研究

为分析支气管上皮癌变进程中的差异表达蛋白质,筛选肺鳞癌早期诊断标志物,以人支气管上皮癌变各阶段组织为研究对象,先采用激光捕获显微切割技术(LCM) 纯化人正常支气管上皮组织、鳞状化生、不典型增生、原位癌、浸润性肺鳞癌组织,再用同位素标记相对和绝对定量 (iTRAQ) 技术结合二维液相色谱串联质谱（2D LC-MS/MS）鉴定支气管上皮癌变进程中各阶段的差异表达蛋白质。结果共鉴定了1036个蛋白质,筛选出102个与人支气管上皮癌变相关的差异蛋白质,在这些差异蛋白质中,有的在支气管上皮癌变过程中进行性上调,有的在支气管上皮癌变过程中进行性下调,有的呈阶段特异性改变;功能分析表明,这些差异蛋白质涉及代谢、细胞凋亡、增殖、分化、信号传导、转录、翻译、细胞粘附、免疫反应与发育等。Western blotting 及免疫组织化学技术验证了其中 2个差异蛋白(S100A9和 CKB) 的表达,证实了定量蛋白质组学结果的可靠性。研究结果提示：这些差异表达蛋白质与支气管上皮癌变相关,并可成为肺鳞癌的早期诊断标志物,进一步研究差异蛋白的生物学功能,将有助于阐明支气管上皮的癌变机制,从而为肺鳞癌的早期诊断与发病机制研究提供新思路。     

Expression of Caveolin-1 in tongue squamous cell carcinoma by quantum dots

Quantum dots (QDs) are a new class of fluorescent probes to detect biomarker expression. The role of caveolin-1 (Cav-1) in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the expression profile of Cav-1 in carcinogenesis and development of TSCC by QDs immunofluorescence histochemistry (QDs-IHC) and discuss the relationship between the Cav-1 expression and the clinicopathological outcomes. QDs-IHC was used to detect Cav-1 expression in tissue microarrays including normal tongue mucosa (NTM; n=10), hyperplastic tongue mucosa (HTM; n=10), tongue pre-cancer lesions (TPL; n=15) and primary tongue squamous cell carcinoma (PTSCC; n=61). Correlations between the Cav-1 expression and clinicopathologic variables were evaluated statistically. Cells positive for Cav-1 were clearly detected and bright images were obtained in a fine, granular pattern at the cell membrane and cytoplasm using QDs-IHC. The rate of Cav-1 immunoreactivity increased progressively from NTM (0%), HTM (0%), TPL (36%) to PTSCC (74%). When compared with each other, there was statistical significance among PTSCC, TPL and NTM as well as among PTSCC, TPL and HTM. Moreover, Cav-1 expression level in PTSCC was correlated positively with clinical stage and histologic grade. QDs-IHC could accurately detect protein location in tongue mucosa. An increased expression of Cav-1 in the stepwise carcinogenesis from NTM, HTM, TPL to PTSCC suggested that Cav-1 might be an oncogene in the development of tongue squamous cell carcinoma.Key words: tongue squamous cell carcinoma, caveolin-1, quantum dots.     

A comparative cytopathologic study of noninvasive and invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the lung

Atypical cells and tissue fragments from the sputum of patients with early and advanced stages of squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchus are objectively characterized and quantitatively compared in this paper. Four classes of single-cell features of cytoplasm, nucleus, nucleolus and nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio are analyzed as a function of cell size and tumor development stage. Distinct differences in the cellular patterns are observed which may enhance cytologic discrimination between noninvasive and invasive stages of squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchus. Initial results justify the application of more sensitive measurement techniques (i.e., automated cytology) to an enlarged data base.     

Morphometric characteristics of cell proliferation and p53 expression in development of experimentally induced respiratory tumors

OBJECTIVE: To study, under controlled conditions, the applicability of automated image analysis of immunohistochemical markers as an indicator of development and progression in tobacco component-induced tumors in the respiratory tract. STUDY DESIGN: Amount, location, size, shape and intensity of staining of proliferating cell and p53 antigen in chemically induced precursors and squamous cell carcinoma of the hamster lung were determined by computer-assisted morphometry. RESULTS: The total expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and p53 expression increased consistently during the formation of papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx, trachea, bronchi and lungs. Individual preneoplastic cells in epithelial dysplasia expressed PCNA staining, increasing with increasing cell size and optical density, indicating antibody- staining intensity, in relation to the increased degree of cellular atypia. In malignant tumors, cell size decreased with decreasing differentiation, while antibody staining intensity remained unchanged. The increased alterations in cell shape and percent PCNA-positive cells observed in dysplastic epithelium and squamous cell carcinomas were statistically significant using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Squamous cell carcinomas consisted of two tumor cell populations with different cell shapes, and PCNA and p53 staining intensity. Altering measurement conditions-antibody threshold levels, size of measured area and repeating measurements-showed computer-assisted image analysis to give sensitive, reliable and consistent results. CONCLUSION: Computer-assisted analysis of immunohistochemical staining showed high sensitivity and reproducibility; however, the results depended upon the method of study.     

gamma-Glutamyl transpeptidase localization in esophageal exfoliative cytology of a chinese population at risk for carcinoma

gamma-Glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) localization in exfoliative esophageal specimens was evaluated in a population of 911 individuals aged 35 or older who lived in an area of China with a high incidence of esophageal squamous carcinoma. Of the total population, 24.4% was positive for gamma-GT. Graded histopathologic cellular classification revealed the following incidences: normal, 10.4% (43 of 413); hyperplasia, 22.0% (44 of 200); Grade I dysplasia, 42.4% (98 of 231); Grade II dysplasia, 46.0% (23 of 50); near-carcinoma, 100% (4 of 4); and squamous carcinoma, 77.0% (10 of 13). In these groups gamma-GT-positive cells were usually from normal esophageal squamous epithelium. A lower incidence of gamma-GT-positive cells was found for dysplastic cells (dysplasia grade I, 6.5% (15 of 231); grade II, 10.0% (5 of 50). The presence of gamma-GT-positive cells in normal esophageal squamous epithelium may prove useful for identification of suspect populations; the presence in dysplastic cells may serve as a diagnostic marker for patients who will soon progress to the carcinoma stage and who should receive early treatment and careful follow-up.     

The detection of endocervical gland involvement by high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in smears prepared from endocervical brush specimens

The cytologic features of squamous cell carcinoma in situ with endocervical gland involvement have been described in cervical smears. We evaluated the presence of two types of cellular fragments in 43 cervical smears of high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HGSIL) to assess their ability to predict glandular involvement by HGSIL in subsequent cone biopsies. an endocervical brush was used to obtain all endocervical specimens. of 16 cases without glandular involvement, fragments were present in 13 smears. of 27 cases with glandular involvement, fragments were absent in 11 smears. No statistical association was identified between the presence of abnormal cellular fragments on cervical smears of HGSIL and endocervical gland involvement on cone biopsies.     

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in the progression of cervical neoplasia and its relation to angiogenesis and p53 status

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in the successive steps of cervical neoplasia and to determine its correlation with angiogenesis and p53 status. STUDY DESIGN: Immunohistochemical staining with a VEGF monoclonal antibody was performed on a total of 161 cervical specimens representing 12 normal epithelium, 33 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1, 30 CIN 3 and 86 squamous cell carcinomas. Microvessels were immunohistochemically labeled with an antibody to CD34. Computerized image analysis was used to evaluate microvessel density (MVD). p53 Status was determined by immunohistochemistry and direct sequencing of exons 5-8 of the p53 gene. RESULTS: VEGF expression progressively increased along the continuum from normal epithelium to squamous cell carcinoma (P < .05). MVD increased significantly with cervical neoplasia progression, from normal epithelium, through CIN, to squamous cell carcinoma (P < .001). A strong correlation was observed between VEGF expression and MVD (P < .001). p53 Protein expression was not detected in the normal epithelium or in CIN 1, while 3 (10%) of 30 CIN 3 and 28 (33%) of 86 squamous cell carcinomas were positive for p53. VEGF expression correlated statistically with p53 protein expression (P < .001). In double VEGF- and p53-stained sections, the 2 markers were generally expressed in the same tumor cells. Of the 4 p53 gene mutations, 3 exhibited strong VEGF expression, and 1 exhibited moderate VEGF expression. VEGF expression did not correlate significantly with outcome variables in patients with squamous cell carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that VEGF expression is involved in the promotion of angiogenesis in cervical neoplasia and that p53 is likely to be involved in the regulation of VEGF expression.     

Fine needle aspiration cytology of high grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the breast: a case report

BACKGROUND: Primary mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the breast is a very unusual tumor. It is often misdiagnosed, masquerading under different diagnoses. The cytologic assessment is especially difficult when the lesion is high grade. One reported case was initially diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology. CASE: A 69-year-old woman presented with a 6 x 4-cm tumor located in the upper outer quadrant of the right breast. The first cytologic diagnosis suggested ductal carcinoma with atypical squamous metaplasia; further review disclosed that the clusters of epithelial ductal cells displayed a mixed pattern of glandular, squamous and intermediate cells. There also was a scant intracellular and extracellular mucous substance, confirming the diagnosis of mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Histochemistry and immunohistochemistry, performed on the tumor and lymph node metastases, showed cellular staining for periodic acid-Schiff, and keratin, epithelial membrane antigen and carcinoembryonic antigen demonstrated the epithelial origin. The high expression of Ki-67, as well as the finding of 24 metastasized nodes in the axilla, demonstrated the tumor's aggressiveness. CONCLUSION: Fine needle aspiration cytology is a very reliable tool in achieving a fast and accurate diagnosis of primary mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the breast.