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Aim There is an urgent need to set up a useful biomarker for ovarian cancer. Galectin-1 is a promising carbohydrate-binding protein which plays a remarkable role in various malignancies yet its clinical significance is questionable. In this study, we have tested the clinical implications of serum Galectin-1 levels in patients with ovarian tumours. Main methods Serum Galectin-1 levels were quantified in 84 newly diagnosed ovarian tumour patients and 20 healthy controls by Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay during the course of the disease. Therefore the samples were taken at diagnosis, after surgery and after chemotherapy. Key findings The Galectin-1 levels were found to be associated with various variables of Ovarian Cancer patients. The levels were found to be prominently high in postmenopausal patients. Galectin-1 levels were raised in epithelial ovarian tumours with significantly high levels in serous subtype. A decrease in Galectin-1 levels post-surgical intervention and after receiving chemotherapy was found. Galectin-1 levels evidently distinguished between normal, benign, malignant and metastatic cases as compared to CA125 levels. Galectin-1 demonstrated to be a better biomarker than CA125 according to the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Significance The study emphasizes that serum Galectin-1 may serve as a better surrogate biomarker in Ovarian Cancer for early detection, discriminating between malignant and benign abdominal masses and monitoring the progression of the disease and response to treatment.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a predominant life-threatening cancer, with liver and peritoneal metastases as the primary causes of death. Intestinal inflammation, a known CRC risk factor, nurtures a local inflammatory environment enriched with tumor cells, endothelial cells, immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, immunosuppressive cells, and secretory growth factors. The complex interactions of aberrantly expressed cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and matrix-remodeling enzymes promote CRC pathogenesis and evoke systemic responses that affect disease outcomes. Mounting evidence suggests that these cytokines and chemokines play a role in the progression of CRC through immunosuppression and modulation of the tumor microenvironment, which is partly achieved by the recruitment of immunosuppressive cells. These cells impart features such as cancer stem cell-like properties, drug resistance, invasion, and formation of the premetastatic niche in distant organs, promoting metastasis and aggressive CRC growth. A deeper understanding of the cytokine- and chemokine-mediated signaling networks that link tumor progression and metastasis will provide insights into the mechanistic details of disease aggressiveness and facilitate the development of novel therapeutics for CRC. Here, we summarized the current knowledge of cytokine- and chemokine-mediated crosstalk in the inflammatory tumor microenvironment, which drives immunosuppression, resistance to therapeutics, and metastasis during CRC progression. We also outlined the potential of this crosstalk as a novel therapeutic target for CRC. The major cytokine/chemokine pathways involved in cancer immunotherapy are also discussed in this review.

Background: Cutaneous and subcutaneous metastatic deposits are rare and can be seen in 0.8-5% cases.This study was done to evaluate the role of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology(FNAC) in the diagnosis of cutaneous and subcutaneous nodules in patients with known malignancy or as a primary manifestation of an unknown malignancy. Materials and methods : It was a 5 year retrospective study and the record of patients subjected to FNAC during this period was reviewed. Results: Out of total number of 13572 patients 58(0.42%) were diagnosed as cutaneous /subcutaneous metastatic deposits .In 51 cases ,the primary was known and in 7 cases it was an initial manifestation of an unknown primary.There were 39 males and 19 females with age range of 27-82 years . Conclusion: Commonest site of metastases was chest wall and most common primary was lung. Adenocarcinoma was the commonest diagnosis on morphology. This study emphasizes the efficacy of FNAC on the accurate diagnosis of subcutaneous nodules especially in patients with known malignancy .It also offers clue to the underlying malignancy in occult primary. DOI: 10.21276/AABS.2017.1368

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the clinicopathological characteristics of Triple Negative Breast Carcinomas with Non Triple Negative Breast Carcinomas(NTNBC).Evaluation of expression of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), CK5/6 in TNBC and their comparison with NTNBC was done. METHODS: 25 TNBC and 35 NTNBC were selected.The clinicopathological parameters of these two groups were compared. Each group was further immunostained for basal markers(CK5/6 and EGFR).The expression of markers in these two groups was studied and compared with each other. RESULTS : The mean age of TNBC and NTNBC were 47 and 49 years respectively. The majority (48%) of cases from TNBC as well as NTNBC (45%)were in size range of 2-5 cm(T2 stage). IDC-NOS was predominant histological type seen in 92% of TNBC and 100% NTNBC.TNBCs had a significantly higher tumor grade than NTNBC at presentation. LVI was seen in 40% TNBC cases and 42% NTNBC cases. Majority (52%) of TNBC cases were node negative while majority (37.14%) of NTNBC cases belonged to N1 stage. IIA was the most common stage in 36% TNBC cases . In NTNBC, majority of the cases (34%) belonged to Stage IIIA.Expression of basal markers was significantly associated with triple negative breast cancers. CONCLUSION: TNBCs had a significantly higher tumor grade than NTNBCs at presentation. Expression of basal markers was significantly associated with TNBCs. Since EGFR was significantly associated with triple negative phenotype,TNBC could potentially benefit from EGFR targeted therapeutic strategies. DOI: 10.21276/AABS.2017.1339

Background: FNAC has become an established investigation in the diagnosis of accessible and palpable lesions. Most of the intra-abdominal masses are non-palpable and even if they are palpable, the idea of their size and shape and the extent of the lesion is not possible. Therefore, various imaging modalities like ultra-sonography, computed tomography and fluoroscopy are used as a guide for fine needle aspiration nowadays. Objectives of this study were to assess the utility of image guided fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of non-palpable intra-abdominal lesions. To study the cytomorphological features of these lesions. To evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of image guided fine needle aspiration cytology of these lesions.Methods: A prospective study of percutaneous aspiration biopsy of intra-abdominal masses, to evaluate its utility was undertaken in the department of pathology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Kashmir. FNA was performed in 183 patients.Results: Adequate cell sample was obtained in majority of the cases (83.6%). Majority of the abdominal masses were arising from the liver (65%). Location of abdominal masses also included those arising from pancreas (12.02%), kidneys (7.65%), lymph nodes (7.65%), Gall bladder (6%) omental deposits (1.09%) and adrenal gland (0.54%). Majority of US guided FNA was done in liver masses. Overall sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of image guided FNAC of intra-abdominal and retroperitoneal masses of the study was 100%, 100% and 93.54%, respectively.Conclusions: There is lack of awareness regarding dog bite and its management among the rural population.

Background: Soft tissue tumors constitute a large and heterogenous group of neoplasms. Benign tumors out number their malignant counterparts by a ratio of about 100:1 in hospital population. FNAC has emerged as a major outpatient procedure for the diagnosis of soft tissue tumors due to low cost of the procedure, less complications, feasibility, quick results and high therapeutic efficiency with specificity and sensitivity of approximately 95%. The diagnostic accuracy of FNAC of soft tissue tumors in distinguishing benign and malignant lesion is also very high. The objectives of this study were to study the role of FNAC in the diagnosis of soft tissue tumors and its correlation with histopathology. Also, this study aimed at studying various cytomorphological patterns of soft tissue tumors and correlating cytological grading with histopathological grading.Methods: It was a hospital based study of 5 years which included 479 patients of all age groups, clinically presenting with soft tissue swellings. FNAC was performed. Smears were stained with Papanicolaou (PAP)/May Grunwald Geimsa (MGG). The cytological details of soft tissue tumors were studied and broadly classified into benign, malignant and indeterminate and suspicious. Cytomorphological subtyping and grading of tumors on FNAC was done. The cytological findings were correlated with the histopathological results, wherever available.Results: Benign tumors comprised of 423 cases (88.3%) and malignant tumors comprised 56 cases (11.69%)only. Maximum number of cases were seen in well differentiated/lipomatous group (339 cases) followed by spindle cell category (88 cases). Histopathological correlation carried out in 136 out of 479 cases (benign:111 and malignant :25) revealed that out of 111 cases diagnosed as benign by cytology, one case was malignant (liposarcoma) and among 25 malignant cases diagnosed by cytology one case was benign (myofibroblastoma). Overall sensitivity and specificity of FNAC was 96% and 99% respectively. Comparison of cytological and histopathological grading of 24 sarcomas showed overall concordance of 75%.Conclusions: FNAC is an excellent diagnostic modality in early diagnosis of soft tissue tumors. FNAC is highly reliable and obviates surgical procedures especially in high risk patients thus facilitating initiation of appropriate therapy and saving time and manpower. It is also highly sensitive in detecting benign soft tissue tumors and highly specific for malignant soft issue tumors.

Glomus tumor, a benign neoplastic proliferation of modified smooth muscle cells characteristically occurs in a digital subungual location and presents with localised pain. Extra-digital locations that have been described so far include bone, tongue, stomach, rectum, lung, mediastinum, sacrum, coccyx and head and neck areas. Though the histology of glomus tumor is very characteristic, cytological features are poorly defined. Less than ten cases describing cytologic features have been reported so far. We present a case of glomus tumor of the knee joint detected on fine needle aspiration and confirmed later on histopathology, in a 55-year-old male. JMS 2011;14(2):71-73