Search

Sorafenib represents the first effective targeted therapy for advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, adequate patient stratification regarding sorafenib-responsiveness is still missing. Our aim was to analyse the association between the pretreatment microRNA profile of HCC and patient survival under sorafenib treatment. Total RNA was extracted from diagnostic fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) cytological smears of 20 advanced stage HCC patients collected between June 2008 and July 2012. All patients underwent sorafenib administration after FNA. Clinicopathological and survival data were recorded. Fourteen frequently deregulated miRNAs in HCC (miR-17-5p, miR-18a, miR-21, miR-34a, miR-122, miR-195, miR-210, miR-214, miR-221, miR-222, miR-223, miR-224, miR-140, miR-328) were tested by qRT-PCR. NormFinder software was used to select proper miR (mir-140) as a reference. Satisfactory amount of total RNA was obtained from all the considered samples (mean 10.8 ± 9.3 µg, range 0.2–32.2 µg). Among the analysed miRNAs, high miR-214 expression was associated with smaller tumor size (p=0.019), whereas high miR-17-5p expression correlated with better Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (p=0.003). The survival analysis revealed that high miR-224 expression was associated with increased progression-free and overall survival (PFS p=0.029; OS p=0.012). Pretreatment microRNA profiling, especially miR-224 expression, might serve as an ancillary tool for the better assessment of expected survival rates for patients under sorafenib treatment.

Updated classification of urothelial cell cancer differentiates low-grade and high-grade cancers, which determines potential clinical outcome. Substantial interobserver variability necessitates new biomarkers to ensure classification. Claudins’ specific expression pattern characterizes normal tissues, different tumor types, and defined grades of tumor differentiation. The aim of this study was to examine the expression pattern of claudins and proliferation marker Ki-67 in low-grade and high-grade urothelial cell cancers compared with independent control samples of non-tumorous urothelium, as well as to reveal the predictive usefulness of claudins. The expression of claudins-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -7, and -10 and Ki-67 was studied with quantitative immunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR with relative quantification in 103 samples: 86 urothelial cell cancers (27 low grade, 59 high grade) and 17 non-tumorous urothelia. Results were analyzed regarding overall survival and recurrence-free period as well. High-grade tumors overall showed significantly higher claudin-4 and Ki-67 and significantly lower claudin-7 expression when compared with low-grade ones. High-grade tumors revealed significantly shorter overall survival in Kaplan-Meier analysis. Claudin-4, claudin-7, and Ki-67 might be used as potential markers to differentiate low-grade and high-grade urothelial cell cancers, thereby possibly enhancing accuracy of pathological diagnosis and adding further information to clinical outcome.

The members of the claudin family are major integral transmembrane protein constituents of tight junctions. Normal and neoplastic tissues can be characterized by unique qualitative and quantitative distribution of claudin subtypes, which may be related to clinicopathological features. Differential diagnosis and prognosis of nonmuscle invasive tumor entities of urinary bladder epithelium are often challenging. The aim was to investigate the expression profile of claudins in inverted urothelial papillomas (IUPs), urothelial papillomas (UPs), papillary urothelial neoplasms of low malignant potential (PUNLMPs), and intraepithelial (Ta), low-grade urothelial cell carcinomas (LG-UCCs) in order to reveal potential prognostic and differential diagnostic values of certain claudins. Claudin-1, -2, -4, and -7 protein expressions detected by immunohistochemistry and clinical data were analyzed in 15 IUPs, 20 UPs, 20 PUNLMPs, and 20 LG-UCCs. UPs, PUNLMPs, and LG-UCCs showed significantly decreased claudin-1 expression in comparison to IUPs. LG-UCCs expressing claudin-4 over the median were associated with significantly shorter recurrence-free survival. PUNLMPs expressing claudin-1 over the median revealed significantly longer recurrence-free survival. High claudin-1 protein expression might help to differentiate IUP from UPs, PUNLMPs, and LG-UCCs. High claudin-4 expression may determine an unfavorable clinical course of LG-UCCs, while high claudin-1 expression in PUNLMP was associated with markedly better clinical outcome.

A neoadjuváns kemoterápiára adott patológiai választ kívántuk elemezni az emlőtumorok immunhisztokémiai fenotípusai, valamint az alkalmazott kemoterápiás protokollok tükrében. 1998 és 2009 között 92 neoadjuváns kezelésen átesett emlőtumoros nőbeteg klinikai adatait, biopsziás és műtéti anyagát valamint túlélési mutatóit vizsgáltuk. A biopsziás- és műtéti anyagokon hormonreceptor (ER, PgR), Ki-67, p53, HER2 státusz meghatározás történt immunhisztokémiai módszerrel. A patológiai válasz megítélésére a Chevallier-osztályozást használtuk. 88 esetben elemeztük a betegségmentes- és a teljes túlélést a patológiai válasz függvényében. Patológiai komplett remisszió (pCR = Chevallier I és II) volt kimutatható 13/92 esetben (14,1%). A preoperatív daganatjellemzők alapján a patológiai komplett remissziót mutató daganatok a tripla negatív (9/13) valamint az ER-/HER2+ (1/13) és az ER+/HER2+ (3/13) csoportokból kerültek ki. 24 beteg részesült taxán-, 30 antraciklin-, 33 taxán+antraciklin alapú terápiában, 2 CMF típusú neoadjuváns kezelésben, 3 esetben nem állt rendelkezésünkre ez az adat. A taxánnal kezelt betegek 29,1%-ában, az antraciklin-származékkal kezelt betegek 6,6%-ában, a kombinált kezelésben részesült betegek 12,1%-ában volt kimutatható pCR. A pCR-t mutató csoportban kevesebb volt a recidíva és a távoli áttét kialakulása, de nem tudtunk szignifikáns különbséget igazolni. A kezelésre reagáló (Chevallier III) és a nem reagáló (Chevallier IV) csoport között ebben a tekintetben szignifikáns különbséget találtunk (p=0,006). A betegségspecifikus halálozás szignifikánsan alacsonyabb volt a pCR betegcsoportban (p=0,050). Eredményeink alapján a patológiai komplett remissziót mutató esetek a tripla negatív és a HER2-pozitív csoportból kerültek ki. A neoadjuváns kezelés az ER+/HER2- tumorcsoportban volt a legkevésbé hatékony.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of p21waf1/cip1, p27kip1, p63 and androgen receptor proteins in relation to serum prostate specific antigen levels in low and high Gleason score prostate cancers. Biopsies of patients suffering from prostate adenocarcinoma of low (3 + 3 to 3 + 4) and high (5 + 4 to 5 + 5) Gleason scores (13 cases each group) were immunostained for positive regulators of cell cycle control (p21waf1/cip1 and p27kip1), and essential markers of normal prostate gland ontogeny (p63) and growth (androgen receptor) to find differentially expressed markers of malignant progression. Serum prostate specific antigen levels were also monitored at the time of biopsy and following anti-androgen therapy. All cases except one in each group were androgen receptor positive. P63 and p21waf1/cip1 proteins detected in normal basal cell nuclei were lost in all but one studied tumors respectively. P27kip1 protein, however, was detected in all low Gleason score prostate cancers, but it was found in only 7/13 high score cases. Prostate specific antigen levels, either pre- or post-treatment, did not show strict correlation with the p27kip1 results. The low to high grade dedifferentiation of prostate adenocarcinoma is accompanied with the down-regulation of p27kip1 protein, which may be an important molecular sign of the lost cell cycle control.

Abstract: The authors analyzed the expression of E-cadherin, one of the most important cell adhesion molecules, on paraffin sections of tumors of bladder cancer patients. The aim of the study was to see whether there is any association between E-cadherin expression and tumor grade, stage, age and gender of the patients, number of recurrences, or overall survival. The samples were examined in 51 primary bladder transitional cell carcinomas (TCC) of 50 patients, resected by transurethral resection (TUR) between January 1, 1996 and January 1, 1997. Immunoreactions were performed with monoclonal anti-human E-cadherin antibody. Forty of the fifty patients could be clinically followed. The analysis of the results on these forty patients was performed by contingency analysis and significance was assessed by Ξ2 test. No significant association between E-cadherin expression and tumor grade, stage, age or gender of the patients, the number of recurrences, or overall survival could be seen. (Pathology Oncology Research Vol 12, No 2, 73–77)

Sarcomas of the great vessels are rare. Altogether 400 such cases have been described in the aorta, the pulmonary artery, and inferior vena cava. The clinical symptoms are generally related to embolic phenomena, aneurysm formation, and widespread metastases, especially to bones. With improved diagnostic modalities more cases are diagnosed and treated surgically. Resection of the tumor may prolong the patient’s life. In this paper authors present two cases of such rare sarcomas. In our first case a tumor has developed in the thoracic aorta with symptoms of imminent aortic dissection. The tumorous nature of the lesion was revealed only histologically, since neither the operation, nor macroscopic picture gave any clue to its tumorous nature. The second case was a male patient with a huge retroperitoneal tumor arising from the inferior vena cava, which was clinically suspected to be a carcinomaarising in the adrenal gland.

Abstract: Primary melanin pigment containing tumors of the breast are rare. We report a pigmented papillary carcinoma of a 60-year-old male patient who presented a firm mass 1.7 cm in diameter with an ill defined border on ultrasonography behind the mamilla. To the best of our knowledge this is the third case report of this type of tumor in male breast.

Abstract: A 28 year old female patient developed hematuria in the 32th week of her pregnancy. She was given antibiotic treatment, since a urinary tract infection was suspected. After delivery symptoms of acute pyelonephritis, then sepsis developed, and conservative therapy had no effect. Ultrasound examination showed unusual renal destruction, so nephrectomy was performed. Surgical intervention revealed the presence of an advanced tumor of the kidney, while histological examination confirmed a Bellini duct carcinoma of the kidney.

Leiomyosarcomas of the breast are rare tumors. Less than 15 such cases have been reported in the literature so far. In this paper authors describe a case of leiomyosarcoma of a female breast presenting as a firm lobulated mass, mimicking a phylloid tumor radiographically. By fine needle aspiration biopsy, on the smears discohesive malignant looking cells were conclusive to a poorly differentiated invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. The mastectomy specimen contained a lobulated mass, microscopically showing a partly epithelioid spindle cell tumor, immunoreactive for vimentin, desmin, smooth muscle actin antibodies, and negative for epithelial markers, hormone and growth factor receptors. Axillary lymph nodes were free of tumor. A primary leiomyosarcoma of the breast was diagnosed.

Hepatic angiomyolipomas are rare tumors, especially in comparison with those occurring in the kidney. Nevertheless, it is important to be aware of their existence, especially when occurring in the liver, where they might have different subtypes. Not infrequently they are composed of rather irregular cells with epithelioid appearance. In these cases hepatocellular carcinoma or the possibility of other malignant tumors has to be ruled out, with the aid of numerous immunohistochemical reactions. The authors present a case of a female patient, whose liver lesion was first diagnosed on cytological examination as a hepatocellular carcinoma. Based on the preoperative cytological diagnosis, a large liver lobe resection was performed. Histological examination found an angiomyolipoma of the above-mentioned type, and the final diagnosis was ascertained with the aid of vimentin, smooth muscle actin (SMA), and HMB-45.