BRCA1-positive breast cancers in young women from Poland.

We identified 4316 unselected incident cases of early-onset breast cancers (<51 ears of age at diagnosis) in 18 Polish hospitals between 1996 and 2003. We were able to obtain a blood sample for DNA analysis from 3472 of these (80.4%). All cases were tested for the presence of three founder mutations in BRCA1. The proportion of cases with a BRCA1 mutation was 5.7%. The hereditary proportions were higher than this for women with breast cancer diagnosed before age 40 (9%), for women with cancer of medullary or atypical medullary histology (28%), for those with bilateral cancer (29%) or with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer (13%). It is reasonable to offer genetic testing to women with early-onset breast cancer in Poland.

The presence of sex hormone receptors in the vesicouterine fistula.

Although the traditional management of vesicouterine fistula is surgical, a recent review of world data showed high efficacy of hormonal manipulation by the induction of amenorrhea. The prerequisite for the action of sex hormones is the presence of target receptors in the given tissue. The current study examined the histology of the vesicouterine fistula in order to identify the possible cellular components containing sex hormone receptors. The presence of an epithelium similar to endometrium containing sex hormone receptors was demonstrated immunohistochemically and by hematoxylin-eosin staining, a finding in agreement with the definition of endometriosis. Our paper provides an explanation for the high efficacy of hormonal manipulation in the treatment of this relatively rare type of fistula.

The role of Bak expression in apoptosis of the oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and metastases to lymph nodes (LNMs).

The immunohistochemical method was applied to show Bak expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma and its metastases to lymph nodes (LNMs). Bak expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical methods in specimens with oral squamous cell carcinomas and their lymph node metastases. Immunohistochemical studies were performed, using goat polyclonal Bak antibodies (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, USA) at 1:200 dilution. Our studies revealed over expression (64%) of Bak in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells in primary tumours (PTs) and in (75%) LNMs. No statistically significant correlations were observed between Bak immunoreactivity and age, pT and G of the carcinoma in PTs and LNMs. We conclude that expression of Bak may be useful for better characterising and predicting the prognosis of OSCC but cooperative studies are needed to assess its applications in the clinical practice.

Proliferating activity in the epithelial and stromal component of fibroadenomas and phyllodes tumours of the breast.

The aim of the study was an evaluation of PCNA and Ki-67 expression in the epithelial and stromal component of fibroepithelial tumours (FT) of the breast in correlation with morphological parameters. A series of 11 fibroadenomas (FA), including 8 cases of the cellular type (FAC), 19 benign phyllodes tumours (PTLGM), 8 bordeline (PTBM) and 6 malignant phyllodes tumours were assessed, using immunohistochemistry. The expressions of Ki-67 and PCNA in the epithelial component were significantly higher in PTLGM, when compared with FA and PTBM. A significant increase of Ki-67 and PCNA stromal expressions was associated with the progression from PTLGM to PTHGM. Our results show that Ki-67 and PCNA may be useful in the evaluation of stromal proliferation in phyllodes tumours (PT), which play an integral part in the progression from PTLGM through PTBM to PTHGM.

Insulin-like growth factor-I receptor in human oral cancer.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the expression of IGF-IR in primary tumours and lymph node metastases of oral cancers and the correlation between expression of IGF-IR and some clinicopathological features. Fifty-seven (57) oral cancers were examined by immunohistochemical studies, using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method. Our study included only oral cancers, classified histopathologically as squamous cell carcinoma (7 cases in G1 grade, 44 (G2) and 6 (G3); 23/pT1 stage, 18/pT2, 7/pT3 and 9/pT4). Positive immunostaining for IGF-IR was noted in 32, out of 57 (56.1%) of oral tumours. We found a tendency (p=0.081) toward an association between IGF-IR expression in the primary tumours and their stage (pT3 and pT4). A comparison between the primary tumours and matching lymph node metastases revealed that 13, out of 20, (65%) cases showed a convergence between primary tumours and matching lymph node metastases with regard to either negative or positive staining.

The Bcl-2 protein expression in germinal centers of hypertrophied adenoids in children.

The aim of this study was to evaluate Bcl-2 expression in the germinal centers of adenoid in children on the assumption that it can be treated as a marker of adenoidal tissue function. The study involved 95 children. The patients were divided into three age groups: aged up to 5, 5-10 and above 10 years. The analysed material were adenoids removed on the grounds of hypertrophy. Immunohistochemical analyses were carried out using monoclonal antibodies (DAKO/Bcl-2, No. M0887) directed against human Bcl-2 protein. The presence of Bcl-2 positive lymphocytes within the lymphoid follicles and Bcl-2 immunostaining were scored. The immunohistochemical staining showed Bcl-2 positive lymphocytes in the examined sections of adenoidal tissue and their characteristic location, mainly within the mantle zone. Bcl-2 reactivity was widespread in hyperplastic lymphoid tissue, including germinal centers surroundings, scattered cells within the germinal centers and the T-cell areas in general. We have not found statistically significant correlation between Bcl-2 expression and clinical status and change in Bcl-2 expression level according to age. The apoptosis presence within the germinal centers and its lack in mantle zone, the manifestation of which is Bcl-2 expression, is a sign of a proper lymphocytes maturation within lymphoid follicles. It seems that these processes are not influenced by age, so the adenoid involution is probably associated with the changes in the number of lymphoid follicles rather than change or inhibition of the processes that take place in them.

[Expression of PCNA antigen in cellular proliferative activity of cervical carcinoma]. / Ekspresja antygenu PCNA w ocenie aktywnosci proliferacyjnej komorek raka szyjki macicy.

The proliferative activity of cervical carcinoma was examined using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) staining. Labelling index (LI) have been counted in sections of routinely processed paraffin embedded tissue blocks. Significant variation in PCNA LI were observed between study groups (p < 0.0235). The results obtained indicate that the evaluation of proliferative activity of cells expressed by high PCNA LI is assessed with worse prognosis.

[Heterogeneity of ovarian epithelial tumors in analysis of nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) expression]. / Heterogennosc nowotworów nablonkowych jajnika w analizie ekspresji bialek regionów organizatorów jaderkowych (NORS).

Nonhistone proteins associated with the nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) can be visualized by a silver-staining technique on paraffin-embedded tissues. The number of black dots (AgNORs) appearing on the nuclei are thought to reflect cell differentiation and can be used as a measurement of cellular proliferative activity. In this study we tested AgNOR staining in ovarian epithelial tumors to evaluate its diagnostic potential in distinguishing between borderline tumors and carcinomas.

[The use of exfoliative cytology in the detection of dysplastic changes in the laryngeal mucosa of postop cancer patients]. / Zastosowanie cytodiagnostyki zluszczeniowej w wykrywaniu i obserwacji zmian dysplastycznych blon sluzowych u chorych po operacji raka krtani.

Second primary neoplasms are the cause of failure in treatment of head and neck carcinoma in 1-34% of cases. The majority of SPM are located within mouth, pharynx, lung or oesophagus. This study was designed to evaluate to effectiveness of exfoliative cytology in postoperative follow-up of patients with carcinoma of the larynx treated with surgery. The group consisted of 81 patients who had cytological evaluation between 1994 and 1996. Cytological smears were taken from six different places in mouth, pharynx and tracheostoma. If cytomorphotic changes, parakeratosis or inflammation was found, the examination was repeated every 6 months. In the first study among 548 smears cytomorphotic changes were found in 16 (2.91%) taken from 8 patients (9.87%). 9 smears presented small or medium degree of dysplasia, 4-severe degree of dysplasia, and 3 smears demonstrated neoplastic cells. Upon completing second and third cytologic examination full remission was found in cases of small and medium dysplasia as in parakeratosis and inflammation. Stagnation was detected in cases of severe dysplasia. In the patient whose smear revealed neoplastic cells SPN of the oesophagus was diagnosed. It seems that exfoliative cytology might be a useful method for follow-up and early diagnosis of SPN in patient after laryngectomy.

[Tumor DNA content as a prognostic indicator in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx]. / Zawartosc DNA jako czynnik prognostyczny w raku plaskonablonkowym krtani.

Celluar DNA content has been found to be an important prognostic factor in many head and neck tumours, yet within the larynx few studies have examined its effect on survival. 31 patients with squamous carcinoma of the larynx treated in years 1983-85 by total laryngectomy were studied. The tumours were classified according to the TNM classification 1987 and graded histopathologically according to Jaccobson's classification. Quantitative DNA content was determined with the use of image cytometry performed by an image analyzer (CAS-200). Quantitative DNA analysis correlated with tumor grade and patient outcome within 6 years of follow-up.

[Second primary neoplasms in laryngeal cancer patients]. / Drugie pierwotne nowotwory u chorych na raka krtani.

In the period of 1990-1992, 238 patients underwent surgical treatment for laryngeal carcinoma in ORL Department of Medical Academy in Bialystok. Until now 27 cases of second primary malignances (SPM) have been found in this group (11.3% of the screened population). Upper aerodigestive tract was the most frequent location, i.e. it was observed in 18 cases (66.6%). There was 100% mortality among patients with SPM of stomach, oesophagus and lung estabishing 13% deaths in the whole group. There was no correlation between the stage and the location of primary laryngeal cancer and SPM. Carcinogenic influence of smoking and alcohol on primary malignancies and SPM within upper aerodigestive tract development has been confirmed.

[Analysis of the frequency of prevalence of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial adenocarcinoma based on own material in the year 1975, 1985 and 1995]. / Analiza czestosci wystepowania rozrostów blony sluzowej trzonu macicy i raka gruczolowego w materiale Kliniki w latach 1975, 1985 i 1995.

We analysed the frequency of prevalence of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial adenocarcinoma in the years 1975, 1985 and 1995. Significant differences between endometrial simple hyperplasia and complex hyperplasia with atypia was found. There were no statistic differences in the frequency of the prevalence of endometrial adenocarcinoma between analysed years.

[Immunohistochemically expression of the protein p53 evaluated in invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix]. / Immunohistochemiczna ocena ekspresji bialka p53 w inwazyjnym plaskonablonkowym raku szyjki macicy.

The p53 protein expression in the invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix was evaluated immunohistochemically. Its predictive role in the correlation with histological grading and staging was analyzed. 13.7% of examined cases (10/73) presented positive protein expression. There was no correlation between the intensified protein p53 expression and particular prognostic histological factors.

[Surgical management in the non-neoplastic and neoplastic thyroid goiter with Hürthla cells]. / Postepowanie chirurgiczne w nienowotworowym i nowotworowym wolu tarczycy z obecnoscia komórek Hürthla.

The routine preoperative cytological evaluation of pathological changes of the thyroid more and more frequently reveals single or multiple Hürthl cells in the material obtained by the method of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA). Hürthl cells are a degenerative form of epithelial follicular cells of the thyroid and cytological examination is insufficient for unequivocal differentiation between adenoma and carcinoma. Management of patients with FNA-diagnosed Hürthl cells arouses a number of controversies. Therefore, the authors of the present study subjected the thyroids of patients with cytologically diagnosed Hürthl cells to postoperative histopathological analysis. Appropriate surgical management was indicated.

Study of borderline and invasive mucinous ovarian tumors using Ki-67 (MIB 1) antibodies and nucleolar organizer region (NOR) staining.

Extensive application of new methods in histopathology has resulted in large quantities of data on molecular markers in different types of human tumors. The main purpose has been to obtain additional parameters for the characterization of various types of malignancy to give more precise information on their biological behavior. In this study we tested AgNOR and Ki-67 (MIB 1) staining in 39 ovarian mucinous tumors to evaluate its diagnostic potential in distinguishing between borderline tumors and well-differentiated carcinomas at stage I of FIGO classification. In general, there was an increase in AgNOR median values from benign (1.83 +/- 0.8) to well-differentiated carcinomas (2.91 +/- 1.3) with an intermediate value in borderline (2.3 +/- 1.6). The lowest Ki-67 labeling index (LI) was found in benign cystadenomas (5.7% +/- 3.4%) and papillary mucinous cystadenomas (7.9 +/- 5.8%). In borderline tumors mean LI was 12.2 +/- 10.9% whereas well-differentiated carcinomas had higher LI (16.8 +/- 10.2%). There were no statistically significant differences between the evaluated tumors and techniques applied. In our opinion the AgNOR count and Ki-67 LI do not appear useful for assessing differences between borderline and well-differentiated mucinous ovarian tumors at stage I of clinical advancement.

The effects of cyclophosphamide on pulmonary thrombopoiesis in rats.

Cyclophosphamide (CP), an antineoplastic and immunosuppressive agent, even when administered in large doses, slightly affects the quantity of blood platelets. The aim of the present study was to analyse the effect of single intraperitoneal administration of CP (150 mg/kg b.w.) on the quantitative changes in platelets obtained from the left and right ventricle of the heart, as well as to evaluate the occurrence of megakaryocytes in lung tissue depending on the period of time that passed from CP administration. In control subgroups, fewer platelets were found in the blood collected from the RV compared with the left ventricle at all time intervals. After 1 and 3 days following i.p. administration of CP, a decrease was observed in the number of platelets both in the blood from the right ventricle and left ventricle when compared with control. However, after 14 days, the number of platelets in the blood from the left ventricle was higher, compared with the left ventricle and right ventricle of control animals, and significantly higher (p < 0.001747), compared with their number obtained from the right ventricle of CP-receiving animals. Simultaneous ultrastructural examinations with transmission electron microscopy revealed the increased number of platelets in the lung vascular bed of CP-receiving rats at all time intervals. However, megakaryocytes were found 7 and 14 days after administration of CP. The findings clearly indicate that the lungs could be a major place of thrombopoiesis following therapy with a single large dose of CP.

[Diagnostic value of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) in premalignant and malignant lesions of the cervix]. / Wartosc diagnostyczna ekspresji regionów organizatorów jaderkowych (NORS) w stanach przedrakowych i raku szyjki macicy.

The proliferative activity of CIN and SCC lesion was examined using silver-binding argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) staining. AgNORs have been counted in sections of routinely processed paraffin embedded tissue blocks. The specimens consisted punch biopsies, cones or surgery. The number of black dots (AgNORs) appearing on the nuclei were counted. Significant variation in AgNOR counts were observed between CIN III and SCC compared with the other study groups (p < 0.001). These results suggest that AgNOR counts may be of significance in the evaluation of cervical lesions and could elaborate histopathological diagnosis.

[Chronic cor pulmonale--a disease of the right or both ventricle(s) of the heart?]. / Przewlekle serce plucne--choroba prawej czy obu komór serca?

Some aspects of the development of chronic cor pulmonale have been presented. Special attention has been paid to the possibility of simultaneous formation of changes in the muscle of both ventricles of the heart and to an increase in the number of capillaries in the myocardium in the early stage of this disease. Angiogenesis, the role of hypoxia and endothelins in the pathogenesis of these changes have been discussed.

Overexpression of the nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) in the thyroid follicular tumours. Comparison of the cytological and histopathological examinations.

The aim of the study was to determine the usefulness of the expression of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region proteins (AgNORs) as a marker of malignancy degree in thyroid follicular tumours. The study used the postoperative material of thyroid glands and cytologic material obtained with fine needle aspiration biopsy. Follicular adenoma, carcinoma and struma nodosa hyperplastica-type changes were analysed. The comparison of the AgNOR parameters examined revealed statistically significant differences between the groups of follicular carcinoma and follicular adenoma, follicular carcinoma and nodular goitre, and between adenoma and nodular goitre. However, the "overlapping" of value ranges was observed between the groups of follicular carcinoma and adenoma, as well as follicular adenoma and nodular goitre. This referred particularly to atypical adenoma parameters found within a non-diagnostic range. No differences were observed in the counts of AgNOR dots between histologic and cytologic material obtained with fine needle aspiration biopsy.