Immunosuppressive Effect of Disseminated Breast Carcinoma on Severity of Hepatic Candidiasis

This study aims to demonstrate this relationship by observing the histopathological changes of the livers harvested from female Balb/c mice which were experimentally induced with breast cancer and inoculated with candida. The mice were randomly assigned to 5 different groups (n = 12). The first group (Group 1) was injected with Phosphate Buffer Solution (PBS), the second group (Group 2) with candida, third group (Group 3) with breast cancer and the final two groups, fourth and fifth group (Group 4, 5) having co-existence of candidiasis and breast cancer at 2 different doses of candidiasis, respectively. The prepared slides with the livers were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin (H and E), Periodic Acidic Schiff (PAS) and Gomori Methenamine Silver (GMS) stains for histopathology analysis. Grading of primary tumour and identification of metastatic deposits were done. Scoring of inflammation and congestion in the liver was done. Statistical tests done to compare group 2 and 4 showed that group 4 exhibited a highly statistically significant increase in inflammation and congestion (p<0.01). The median severity of candidiasis was also increased in group 4 as compared to group 2. In conclusion, based on the above evidences, hepatic candidiasis was significantly increased in mice with breast cancer.