title: Computer-assisted image analysis of breast fine needle aspiration in a randomized chemoprevention trial of fenretinide vs. placebo in HRT users.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Digital nuclear morphometric analysis can capture subtle differences along neoplastic progression. Studies showed different profiles from normal to cancer lesions. Our goal is to utilize this method as biomarker in chemoprevention trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postmenopausal women were randomized to oral (CEE) or transdermal (E2) estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) in association with fenretinide or placebo. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) was performed at baseline and after 12 months in a subset of subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten samples were analyzed by karyometry. E2 compared with CEE increased nuclear area (p=0.01). A similar pattern was observed for other DNA content and chromatin texture features. Fenretinide vs. placebo, increased nuclear area and shape while decreased slope, peak and entropy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preliminary results indicate that nuclear morphometry is feasible on FNA samples. ERT and fenretinide induced significant karyometric changes. These results support further investigation of this procedure as surrogate biomarker in chemoprevention trial.
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemoprevention, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy. davide.serrano@ieo.it
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gandini
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bonanni
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santinelli
authors.forename: Aliana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guerrieri-Gonzaga
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pelosi
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cassano
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montironi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Decensi
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D001940:Breast / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000379:methods*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D017313:Fenretinide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007620:Karyometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
chemical_list: D017313:Fenretinide; D004958:Estradiol