Immunohistochemical expression of hypoxia inducible factor in breast cancer

The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression of hypoxia inducible factor of l alpha [HIF - l alpha] in breast carcinoma and its relation to various pathological prognostic indicators of breast carcinoma. We examined, by immunohistochemical analysis, the expression of HIF-l alpha in 66 cases of invasive breast carcinoma and 10 cases of non-carcinoatous breast lesions as a control group [5 fibroadenomas and 5 cases of fibrocystic disease]. In invasive breast carcinoma, we correlate the expression of HIF- l alpha with tumor size, histological grade of carcinoma, angiolymphatic embolization, lymph node status and the level of hormonal receptors expression. HIF-l alpha was detected in tumor cell nuclei of 50/66 [75%] of our cases while the control group was negative. Positive correlation was present between HIF-l alpha expression and higher histological grade, larger tumor size, positive angiolymphatic embolization, lymph node positivity and hormonal receptor negativity. These findings suggest that HIF-l alpha may be closely linked to an aggressive phenotype in breast cancer

Evaluation of expression and prognostic values of survivin and Ki67 in bladder carcinoma

Survivin is a member of the inhibitor of apoplosis family that inhibit apoptosis controls mitotic progression and induces tumour cell invasion. Our objectives were to evaluate the association of survivin expression in the various types of bladder cancer and the clinical outcome. Immunohistochemical staining for survivin and ki67 was performed on 5 normal bladder and 51 patients: 9 cases had PNTCC [papillary non infiltrating transitional cell carcinoma], 16 had invasive TCC [transitional cell carcinoma], 10 had TCC with squamous differentiation and 16 had SCC [squamous cell carcinoma] among the 51 patients examined there were 10 known recurrent cases. Survivin and Ki67 were not expressed in normal bladder urothelium.Survivin was over expressed with higher tumour grade in both TCC [p=0.05] and SCC [p=0.04] and with high tumour stage in TCC [p=0.004]. Survivin expression might help identify patients of bladder carcinoma at high risk of disease recurrence and progression who would benefit from closer follow-up or more aggressive therapy