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There is a growing body of data reporting the association of genetic alterations in chromosome 9P21 with the risk of developing cancer. In the current study, we studied the association of a genetic variant in CDKN2A/B, rs1333049, with the risk of developing breast cancer. A total of 339 participants with and without breast cancer entered to the study. Genotyping was done by the TaqMan real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) method and gene expression analysis was ran by RT‐PCR. Our data showed that the minor allele homozygote in the total population was 10%, whereas for heterozygote was 38%. The dominant genetic model demonstrated that individuals with breast cancer had advanced TNM classification. Moreover, the logistic regression revealed that individuals who had CC/CG genotypes might have an enhanced risk of developing breast cancer when compared to the holders of GG genotype (e.g., OR = 2.8; 95% CI,1.4–5.4; p =.001), after regulated for confounders; age and body mass index. Furthermore, our analysis showed that the CDKN2A/B gene was downregulated in patients (p <.001). We showed a meaningful relationship of CDKN2A/B with the risk of breast cancer, cancer, showing the importance of studies in great sample size and several centers for studying the value of the marker as a risk classification in the management of patients with breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the common malignant human tumors with high morbidity worldwide. Aberrant activation of the oncogenic phosphoinositide 3‐kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) signaling is related to clinicopathological features of HCC. Emerging data revealed that microRNAs (miRNAs) have prominent implications for regulating cellular proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and metabolism through targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling axis. The recognition of the crucial role of miRNAs in hepatocarcinogenesis represents a promising area to identify novel anticancer therapeutics for HCC. The present study summarizes the major findings about the regulatory role of miRNAs in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in the pathogenesis of HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Naser. Meibodi, Yalda. Nahidi, Zahra. Meshkat, Habibollah. Esmaili, Masoumeh. Gharib, Aida. Gholoobi Background: Seborrheic keratosis (SK) is a benign epidermal tumor of unknown etiology. Because of its wart-like morphology, [...]

Background and Objective: The primary goal of this study is to develop a rigorous understanding of the correlation between COX-2 expression and malignant melanoma prognostic factors. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed 60 cases of cutaneous malignant melanoma. The related stained slides were reviewed by two pathologists. The results were interpreted according to the COX2 staining index (SI), tumor thickness (Breslow, Clark), number of mitoses per 10 hpf, and melanoma types. Gender, lymph node involvement, metastasis, and survival were considered as evaluation factors as well. Results: The expression of the COX-2 protein was evident in 98.4% of cases. A strong Staining Index(SI) was reported in 60% of all melanomas, moderate staining was detected in 20.8% and weak staining in 10%; 1.6% of studied cases showed no staining. Benign nevus specimens showed no staining for the COX-2 enzyme. Conclusion: We have demonstrated that COX-2 is strongly expressed in the majority of malignant melanomas and that the SI score of COX-2 is related to the number of mitoses, tumor thickness (based on Clark level and Breslow), melanoma sub-type, lymph node involvement, and metastases; No association was noted between the anatomic site, gender, and survival. COX-2 can be applied as a prognostic factor in malignant melanoma and a promising candidate for future target therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusess a study on methotrexate based regimen as initial treatment of patients with idiopathic granulomatous mastitis. It mentions that overall, three patients experienced relapse of symptoms during follow‐up period, and in all of them, the severity of symptoms and signs were mild to moderate and they were all responded well to retreatment with low dose methotrexate.

Aberrant activation of the HGF/c‐Met signalling pathway is reported to be associated with cell proliferation, progression, and metastasis features of several tumor types, including cervical cancer, suggesting that it may be of potential value as a novel therapeutic target. Furthermore, HPV‐positive patients had a higher serum level of HGF or c‐Met protein, compared with HPV‐negative patients. c‐Met or HGF overexpression in lesions of cervical cancer is reported to be related to a poorer prognosis, and hence this may be of value as a prognostic and predictive biomarker. Several approaches have been developed for targeting HGF and/or c‐Met. One of these is crizotinib (a dual c‐Met/ALK inhibitor). This has been approved by FDA for the treatment of lung‐cancer. Further investigations are required to evaluate and optimize the use of c‐Met inhibitors in cervical cancer or parallel targeting signalling pathway associated/activated via MET/HGF pathway. The main aim of current review was to give an overview of the potential of the c‐Met/HGF pathway as a prognostic, or predictive biomarker in cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cervical cancer (CC) is the third most common malignancy in women globally, and persistent infection with the oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPV) is recognized as the major risk factor. The pathogenesis of CC relies on the interplay between the tumorigenic properties of the HPV and host factors. Host-related genetic factors, including the presence of susceptibility loci for cervix tumor is substantial importance. Preclinical and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have reported the associations of genetic variations in several susceptibility loci for the development of cervical cancer. However, many of these reports are inconsistent. In this review, we discuss the findings to date of candidate gene association studies, and GWAS in cervical cancer. The associations between these genetic variations with response to chemotherapy are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) of kidney is a rare clinical condition. We report a young girl with PNET of kidney. Case Presentation: A 14-year-old female presented with chronic flank pain. Imaging studies revealed a huge renal mass with left renal vein thrombosis. Histopathological findings were consistent with PNET, which was later confirmed by immunohistochemistry and she received adjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusions: PNET is a rare clinical condition in urology and it should be considered in young patients with a renal mass, especially when it is huge. Treatment plan includes radical nephrectomy along with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Esophageal cancer is a common gastro ntestinal malignancy. One of the most common techniques of surgery in esophageal cancer is transhiatal esophagectomy with esophagogastric anastomosis in the neck. This technique is accompanied by complications like chronic gastero-esophegeal reflux and late stenosis. This study was designed to compare the risk of complications after two surgical techniques for esophageal cancer: esophagogastric anastomosis with partial fundoplication and esophagogastric anastomosis without it. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study 100 patients with distal two thirds of esophageal cancer who underwent transhiatal esophagectomy in Ghaem and Omid hospitals Mashhad University of Medical Sciences from 2005 to 2010 were included. Esophagogastric anastomosis to the posterior gastric wall was performed with a partial gastric fundoplication in the first group but simple routine anastomosis was done to the posterior gastric wall in the second group. Results: In a retrospective cohort study 100 patients entered the study with 59 male & 41 female and with a mean age 54.6±6.4 years. Squamous cell carcinoma was observed in 77% of the patients and adenocarcinoma was reported in 23% of them. Seventy-two percent of tumours were located in distal third and 28% were in middle third of esophagus. Esophagogastric anastomotic leakage was observed in 3 cases of fundoplication group and 7 cases of simple anastomosis technique (P=0.182) so there was no significant difference between the two groups. Benign anastomosis stricture was reported in one of the patients who underwent esophagogastric anastomosis with fundoplication, but it was observed in 8 cases with simple anastomosis technique (P=0.03) so there was a significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: Esophagogastric anastomosis with partial fundal fundoplication is a safe technique with low incidence of anatomic leakage and late stenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: The histologic distinction of small cell from non-small cell lung carcinoma and correct identification of all subtype s of lung carcinoma are very important in treatment management. The main method for histologic classification of lung tumors is based on morphology. However, in small bronchoscopic biopsies in particular, distinction is very difficult upon morphology alone. The current study aimed at evaluating the utility of a panel of antibodies, consisting of thyroid transcription factor (TTF-1), P63, high molecular weight keratin [HMWK (34βE12)], cytokeratin (CK7), and cluster of differentiation (CD56) for accurate distinction of bronchogenic carcinomas., Methods: Bronchoscopic biopsies of 60 lung carcinoma cases including 20 small cell carcinomas, 20 adenocarcinomas, and 20 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) with typical morphologic features were selected. All these cases were immunohistochemically stained for TTF-1, P63, HMWK (34βE12), CK7, and CD56. All immunostained slides were scored as either positive or negative., Results: The mean age of the patients was 60 years; ranged from 35 to 81. Sixteen patients were female and 44 were male. All adenocarcinomas were positive for CK7 and most of them (18/20; 90%) were positive for TTF-1. Most of small cell lung carcinomas were positive for TTF-1 (17/20; 85%), and CD56 (18/20; 90%). All squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) were negative for TTF-1, but most of them were positive for HMWK (34βE12) and P63., Conclusion: The obtained data showed that TTF-1, P63, CK7, CD56 and/or 34βE12 represent a useful panel of antibodies to identify lung carcinoma subtypes in small bronchoscopic biopsies., Competing Interests: The authors declared no conflict of interest.