Immunohistochemical Study and Clinicopathologic Correlation of Cox-2 and Her-2 Expression in Colorectal Carcinoma: A 5-Year Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common cancer in Nigeria, and it affects mostly persons in their middle age. In a bid to gain some insight into the molecular characteristics of CRC in our environment, we set out to investigate the expression of COX-2 and HER-2 among Nigerian subjects. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the expression of COX-2 and HER2 and determine their correlation with clinicopathologic parameters in surgically resected histologically diagnosed cases of colorectal cancer. METHODS: Fifty-three paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of colorectal resections and corresponding patient information were retrieved from the archives of the Anatomic and Molecular Pathology Department of Lagos University Teaching Hospital.A 4-micron slide section was obtained from each specimen and immunohistochemistry for COX-2 and HER-2 expression was performed. RESULTS: Mean age of cases was 53.9years with an almost equal M:F ratio of 1.12:1. Half of the cases were moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and 17% were high grade tumors.Eighty three percent of the tumours showed positive cytoplasmic COX-2 expression and extremely low membranous HER-2 positivity was observed in 2%. There was no significant correlation between COX-2 expression and age, gender, tumour location, tumour size, depth of invasion or lymph node status.However, COX-2 expression revealed a significant correlation with tumour grade (p= 0.013). CONCLUSION: This study detects a high COX-2 and low HER2 expression in colorectal cancer using immunohistochemistry,suggesting a possible role for COX-2 in CRC pathogenesis.This report should trigger further investigations of both markers vis-à-vis the management of CRC in our environment. WAJM 2022; 39(11): 1134­1140.

Clinico-pathological review of malignant gastric tumours in Lagos, Nigeria

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers and the 2d most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Contrary to earlier reports from Africa;prevalence of this cancer has been found to be comparable to that of other parts of the world.To describe the clinico-pathological features of gastric cancer diagnosed in Lagos and determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection in gastric adenocarcinoma.This was a retrospective histopathological study of all gastric cancer seen between 1995 and 2007 in the Morbid Anatomy Department of Lagos University Teaching Hospital as well as two other private histopathology laboratories in Lagos (2002-2007). The blocks and slides of gastric cancer tissue were the materials used for the study. The patients' bio data and relevant clinical details were extracted from the demographic records.There were 105 cases of gastric cancer (M:F = 2:1; mean age-55.3 years); 81of which occurred above 45 yrs. There were 95 cases (90) of adenocarcinomas; 8 (7.6) mesenchymal tumours with one case each of small cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and carcinoid tumour. H. pylori was detected in 15.5of 45 cases of adenocarcinoma with 36 showing evidence of chronic gastritis in adjacent non cancerous gastric tissue. All patients with clinical data had one or more alarm features; most recurring being abdominal fullness; recurrent vomiting; anorexia and weight loss.This study suggests that gastric malignancies are not uncommon in Lagos and often manifest with alarm features which should raise a suspicion particularly in our setting with poor diagnostic endoscopic facilities

Management of Giant Cell Tumour : a Nigerian Experience

Giant cell tumours (GCT) are the commonest bone tumours worldwide. It is rarely malignant but when it does it progresses to fibrosarcoma with high mortality. Otherwise it causes poor cosmesis; disability and pathological fractures. A total of 19 cases of histologically established Giant cell tumour of the bone were reviewed prospectively in a 5 year study. 14 cases were benign; 4 malignant and one was a malignant transformation. Lesions around the knee accounted for 42.2of the cases; but the radius was the commonest single bone affected with 26.3. Eleven patients had curettage; five of them had autogenous bone grafting while the remaining six had bone grafting and plate augmentation. One patient had fore-quarter amputation while seven had tumour resection. There was no recurrence recorded among those that had currretage and autogenous bone grafting. 33of those that had curettage and bone cementing as well as 16.6of those that had resection presented with recurrence. One patient died within 3 months of surgery due to metastasis to the lungs; liver and spleen. Mean follow up was 9.2 months (range of 2 to 60 months). With early presentation; curretage and bone grafting is often effective; late presentation however has an increased risk of recurrence due to soft tissue involvement; dearth of investigative tools and financial constraints