Hepatocyte growth factor: A novel tumor marker for breast cancer.

Context: The present study concentrates on the need for a novel tumor marker in breast carcinoma, which could be the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). It is a fibroblast-derived growth factor which acts on cells of mainly epithelial origin, known for its mitogenic, motogenic, and morphogenic activities. Aims: The aim of this study is to correlate serum HGF levels with clinicopathological parameters of breast cancer. Subjects and Methods: Forty-four consecutive patients with breast cancer diagnosed on fine-needle aspiration cytology were prospectively included and evaluated. Venous blood samples were collected before the surgery. Sera were obtained by centrifugation and stored at -20°C until assayed. The control group consisted of 38 healthy, age-matched participants. Serum concentrations of HGF were measured by the quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique and correlated with clinicopathological parameters of breast cancer. The Student's t-test was used to assess the significance of HGF in breast cancer, using SPSS statistics version 22. Results: The mean value of circulating HGF level in breast cancer patients was 527.05 ± 214.72 pg/mL and that of control group was 297.61 ± 149.2 pg/mL, and the difference was significant (P < 0.01). With univariate analysis, patients in postmenopause (P = 0.01), with poorly differentiated tumors (P < 0.001) and distant metastasis (P < 0.01), were shown to have significantly higher serum concentrations of HGF. Furthermore, it correlated significantly with mitotic figures (P < 0.01) and nuclear pleomorphism (P = 0.008). Conclusions: Preoperative serum HGF is a promising tumor marker of breast cancer that could predict the prognosis of breast cancer.

Sertoliform Endometrioid Tumor of Ovary Presenting as Torsion.

Sertoliform endometrioid carcinoma of the ovary (SEC) is an uncommon variant that bears histologic similarity to sertoli and sertoli-leydig cell tumors. We report an interesting case of SEC in a 55-year-old female with a left ovarian mass with torsion. Histology revealed an SEC, featuring foci of typical endometrioid carcinoma, and areas composed of uniform, small, hollow tubules lined by columnar cells with apical cytoplasm. Tumor cells were strongly immunoreactive for EMA and cytokeratin but negative for inhibin; thus, confirming the diagnosis of SEC ovary. Recognition of this tumor is important as it is a well-differentiated, low-grade malignancy that displays good prognosis when confined to the ovary.

Colorectal malakoplakia in a child presenting as multiple polyposis coli.

Malakoplakia of the gastrointestinal tract is a rare chronic inflammatory disorder, usually affecting the descending colon, sigmoid colon and rectum. It is commonly seen in adults. Only few cases have been reported in children. We report a case of malakoplakia of colon and rectum in a 7-year-old child who presented with multiple polyposis coli.