Loss of p16 protein expression and its association with epstein-barr virus lmp-1 expression in hodgkin's lymphoma

Expression of Epstein-Barr virus Latent Member Protein-1 [EBV LMP- 1] and loss of P16 protein expression are documented in lymphoma, indicating a relationship between them, but this relationship is not clear and sometimes contradictory. Thus, this study was conducted to examine the relationship between the loss of P16 and EBV LMP-1 expression in Jordanian patients diagnosed with lymphoma. Sections were made from archival formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded blocks from 55 patients diagnosed with lymphoma. P16 expression and LMP-1 expression were detected by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies. In Hodgkin's Lymphoma [HL], the loss of P16 was higher in LMP-1 positive cases [61%] than LMP-1 negative cases [25%; P=0.072]. Conversely, in Non- Hodgkin's Lymphoma [NHL], none of LMP-1 positive samples showed loss of P16. Furthermore, among LMP-1 HL positive cases, the loss of P16 was more frequent in male [75%] than female [33%]. Also, there was a significantly higher proportion of LMP-1 positive cases showing loss of P16 in HL [11: 18], compared to those in NHL [0: 8, P<0.001], confirming a difference between HL and NHL, concerning the LMP-1/P16 relationship. A trend for an association between loss of P16 and LMP-1 expression was observed in HL but not NHL patients. These findings suggest that there are molecular and clinical differences in the pathogenesis and development of different subtypes of lymphoma

P53 and carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA] as immunocytochemical markers to differentiate malignant from benign serous effusions

Serous effusions occur as a manifestation of a variety of different diseases of a benign and malignant nature. Cytological diagnosis of serous effusions is based upon the distinction between benign and malignant cells at the light microscope level. This differentiation is not easy to perform in all cases due to the fact that benign reactive mesothelial cells may resemble the cells derived from adenocarcinoma or mesotheliomas. This study is an attempt to improve the diagnostic accuracy of the cytological diagnosis of malignant effusions by investigating cytologic and immunocytochemical changes in cells exfoliated in those effusions. A total of [50] inpatients with effusions [pleural and ascitic], and having a high risk of malignancy were included in this study. Effusion fluids were aspirated. All of the 50 specimens obtained were processed and examined by conventional cytologic technique and immunocytochemical technique using 2 monoclonal antibodies [p53 and CEA]. All of the cases were followed up and the final clinical diagnosis were recorded that included various other investigations done including histopathology and the final clinician's opinion. The final clinical diagnosis was regarded then as the gold standard for comparative statistical work of this study. The final clinical diagnosis revealed that 36 [72%] cases were malignant and 14 [28%] were benign. The sensitivity of cytology was 86.1%; specificity was 92.85%, with an overall accuracy of 88%. While the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of p53 were [63.8%, 92.8%, 72%] and of CEA were [72.22%, 85.7%, 76%] respectively. combined p53 and CEA results showed a sensitivity of 83.33%, specificity of 85.71%, and an accuracy of 84%. And when both cytology and immunocytochemistry were combined in parallel the sensitivity was 91.66%, specificity was 85.7%, and the accuracy was 90%. Adenocarcinoma of lung followed by that of breast were the most frequent primary tumors metastasizing to the pleural cavity. While adenocarcinoma of the ovary and stomach were the most frequent primary tumors metastasizing to the peritoneal cavity. It is concluded that using 2 or more [panel] selected monoclonal antibodies will surely enhance the accuracy of immunocytochemical technique for malignancy detection while combined cytology and immunocytochemistry have higher accuracy than each of them alone

Fine needle aspiration cytology of tuberculous cervical lymph nodes

Fine needle aspiration cytology of 29 histologically confirmed tuberculous cervical lesions were studied. Twenty smears revealed cells typical of granulomatous lymphadenopathy, that is epitheloid and multinucleated giant cells. Twenty smears had bacteriological staining by Ziehl=Neelsen technique. Ten [50%] of which were positive for acid fast bacilli. As aspiration biopsy diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenopathy was made in 21 patients [72.4%]. When the aspirates certain purulent material or when tuberculosis is suspected, staining and culture for Mycobacteria were performed. FNA biopsy [cytology] is a sensitive, specific and cost effective way to diagnose tuberculous cervical lymphadenopathy and is recommended