Expression of PD-L1 in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer and Its Impact on Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Response.

OBJECTIVES: Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is a new target in breast cancer (BC) and its impact on neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACTH) response is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of PD-L1 in locally advanced invasive BC of different molecular subtypes and to elucidate its relation to tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) density, established clinicopathological factors, pathological therapy response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and patients' outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and five cases of locally advanced invasive BC were enrolled in our study. Cases were classified into five molecular subtypes according to the Immuno-histochemical data. PD-L1 immunostaining was analyzed for all studied cases and its expression was correlated with TILs density, histopathologic parameters, BC molecular subtypes, Pathological therapy response, 7-years disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: PD-L1 was expressed in 32.4% of the studied locally advanced BC cases. It showed a significant correlation with old age group (p= 0.010), high tumor grade (p= 0.046) and high pretherapy TILs density (p= <0.001). PD-L1 expression was higher in HER2/neu-enriched group (45.5%) followed by TNBC (44.4%). There were no significant relations between PD-L1 expression and DFS, OS as well as pathological therapy response, although, it revealed more expression in cases with complete and marked therapy response. CONCLUSION: In spite our results fail to prove that PD-L1 is a bad prognostic biomarker in locally advanced BC, but they indicate PD-L1 could be a new target for the treatment of patients with high grade breast carcinoma and TNBC group.

Topoisomerase II α Gene alteration in Triple Negative Breast Cancer and Its Predictive Role for Anthracycline-Based Chemotherapy (Egyptian NCI Patients)

Objective: Triple negative breast cancer is an aggressive variant of breast cancer; it forms about 15% of breast cancer cases. It lacks the responsiveness to hormonal and targeted therapies. Anthracyclines remain the treatment option for these patients. Anthracyclines are cardiotoxic, so predicting sensitivity of response by biological predictors may have a role in selecting suitable candidates for these drugs. Material and methods: This study included 50 TNBC cases, from National Cancer Institute, Cairo University(NCI-CU), Egypt, who underwent surgery and received adjuvant chemotherapy. Archived blocks were obtained and immunostaining for Ki-67 LI and Fluorescent In situ Hybridization (FISH) technique to assess TOP2A gene copy number and chromosome 17CEP status were done. Analysis of association between TOP2A alterations and CEP17 polysomy as well as Ki-67 LI with other clinicopathological parameters was done. Associations between the biological markers and event free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS), were also performed. Results: TOP2A alteration was seen in 9/50 cases (5 amplified and 4 deleted). CEP17 Polysomy was detected in 14% of cases. Most of patients (80%) showed Ki-67 LI ≥20%. There was a significant association between TOP2A gene and CEP17 status. Outcome was better with abnormal TOP2A gene status and CEP17 polysomy, radiotherapy and combined anthracyclines and taxanes in the adjuvant setting, however P-values were not significant. Conclusion: TOP2A gene alterations and CEP17 polysomy may have prognostic and predictive role in TNBC treated with adjuvant Anthracyclines.

Novel protective role of curcumin and taurine combination against experimental hepatocarcinogenesis.

Hepatocarcinogenesis is a prerequisite to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is one of the most common cancers among humans. Therefore, it is important to search for agents that protect against hepatocarcinogenesis. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of a combination of taurine and curcumin against experimental hepatocarcinogenesis induced by diethyl nitrosamine (DENA) in a rat model. A total of 100 rats were divided into eight groups. Eight weeks following DENA injection and treatment with curcumin and taurine, the rats were sacrificed to obtain blood and hepatic tissue samples for the evaluation of various markers and histopathological observations. Serum levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), α-fetoprotein (AFP) and α-L-fucosidase (AFU) were determined. Rats injected with DENA for eight weeks showed a high percentage of malignant changes in hepatic tissues, as well as a significant increases in the serum levels of AFP and AFU and significant reductions in the serum levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ. Treatment with curcumin and taurine markedly reduced the extent of malignant changes in the rat liver tissues, with their liver tissues showing patterns similar to that of the normal control rats. In addition, this combination resulted in normal serum levels of IL-2, IFN-γ, AFP and AFU. The results of the present study suggested that a combination of curcumin and taurine may be a novel prophylactic agent against hepatocarcinogenesis in high-risk groups exposed to chemical hepatocarcinogens.

Phase II study of low-dose fixed-rate infusion of gemcitabine combined with cisplatin and dexamethasone in resistant non-Hodgkin lymphoma and correlation with Bcl-2 and MDR expression.

This study aims to assess the efficacy of low-dose fixed-rate infusion of gemcitabine, cisplatin and dexamethasone in resistant non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients in addition to evaluating the prognostic value of B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and multidrug resistant (MDR) expression in this cohort of patients. Patients with relapsed/refractory NHL following at least two chemotherapy regimens were enrolled. They received gemcitabine 800 mg/m2 in fixed infusion rate of 10 mg/m2/min, cisplatin 35 mg/m2 in days 1, 15 and dexamethasone 20 mg days 1-4, 15-18 every 28 day. Response to treatment, time to disease progression (TTP) and 1-year progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed together with their association with Bcl-2, MDR expression and other prognostic variables. Overall response to treatment was 32% (14% complete response). Median TTP and 1-year PFS were 2 months and 31.3%, respectively. Predictors of response to treatment were early stage [odd ratio (OR)=4.6, 95% CI 1.3-16.4], low/low intermediate International Prognostic Index (IPI) (OR=6.2, 95% CI 1.2-31.7), negative/low Bcl-2 expression (OR=6.2, 95% CI 1.2-31.7) and negative/low MDR expression (OR=18, 95% CI 1.4-28.9). However, IPI status lost its value in multivariate analysis. TTP and 1-year PFS were significantly associated with Bcl-2 expression (p=0.04), tumor status before enrollment (relapse vs. refractory, p<0.0001) and tumor stage (p<0.000). In multivariate analysis, clinical stage was the only predictor of TTP and 1-year PFS. Fixed-rate gemcitabine infusion with cisplatin and dexamethasone had reasonable activity in resistant NHL. Clinical stage, Bcl-2 and MDR expressions were predictors of response to treatment, while only clinical stage was associated with TTP and 1-year PFS.

Differential expression of p53 family proteins in colorectal adenomas and carcinomas: Prognostic and predictive values.

BACKGROUND: We studied the contribution of p53 family proteins and their isoforms to the development and progression of colorectal carcinoma in relation to VEGF. METHODS: p53, p63, p73 and VEGF proteins were assessed in 45 colorectal adenomas (CRAs), 80 carcinomas (CRCs) and 36 normal colonic tissue samples (NCT) by immunohistochemistry. Different p63 and p73 isoforms were assessed by RT-PCR. Aberrant protein and RNA expressions were correlated to patients' characteristics, disease free and overall survival (DFS and OS). RESULTS: p53, p63, p73 and VEGF proteins were detected in 22.2%, 73.3%, 33.3%, 46.7% CRAs; in 68.8%, 38.8%, 62.5%, 62.5% CRCs and 16.7%, 83.3%; 13.9%, 41.7% NCT (p<0.05 except for VEGF). Commonest isoforms were TAp63α, ΔNp63, TAp73α in CRA and ΔNp63, TAp63α, ΔNp73, TAp73ß in CRC. Significant correlations were found between aggressive tumor phenotypes and aberrations in p73, p53, p63, VEGF. DFS correlated with advanced stage, p73 and VEGF aberrations. While advanced stage, positive lymph nodes, p73 and p53 correlated with OS. Prognosis was worse in patients with aberrant p63 and p73 than in those with normal p63 and p73 expression regardless of p53 gene status (p⟨0.05). CONCLUSIONS: p53 family proteins and VEGF play a pivotal role in colorectal carcinogenesis. p53 prognostic potential is augmented by p73 and p63 aberrations indicating a synergistic effect between the three family members. Nodal status, stage, p73, VEGF and p53 could be used as predictors of DFS and OS.

Aberrant expression of cell cycle regulatory genes predicts overall and disease free survival in malignant pleural mesothelioma patients.

BACKGROUND: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly aggressive disease with a generally poor prognosis. Since escape from cell cycle checkpoint control is common in several solid tumors, the present study was performed to evaluate the role of some cell cycle regulatory genes in the development and progression of MPM. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Aberrant expression of p14(ARF), p16(INK4A), p21(waf), p27(KIP), p53, mdm2 and Rb was assessed in 55 MPM cases from Egypt using immunohistochemistry and PCR techniques. Results were correlated with clinico-pathological prognostic factors, overall and disease free survival (OS&DFS). RESULTS: Altered expression of p14(ARF), p16(INK4A), p21(waf), p27(KIP1), Rb, p53 and mdm2 proteins was detected in 50.9%, 54.5%, 53.3%, 61.8%, 53.3%, 58.2%, and 50.8% of cases, respectively. SV40 infection significantly correlated with p14(ARF), 16(INK4A), p27(kip1) and Rb aberrations (p=0.014, p=0.02, p=0.01, p=-0.01). Asbestos exposure significantly correlated with p53, p21(waf) and mdm2 aberrations (p=0.001, p=0.03, p=0.02). On multivariate analysis PS ≥ 2, p27(KIP1) and Rb aberrations were independent prognostic factors for OS (p=0.016, p=0.011, p=0.003) whereas on tumor recurrence, p27(KIP1) and Rb aberrations were independent prognostic factors for DFS (p=0.002, p=0.03, p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: MPM is a complex disease characterized by multiple genetic aberrations; some of them involve cell cycle regulatory genes. p14(ARF), p16(INK4A), Rb and p27(KIP1) seem to be involved in SV40-associated MPM whereas mdm2, p53 and p21(WAF) are related to asbestos exposure. In addition to recurrence and PS, only p27(KIP1)and Rb could be used as molecular prognostic markers in MPM.

A comparative study of rectal and colonic carcinoma: demographic, pathologic and TNM staging analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim is to determine the relative frequency of rectal carcinoma in a large recent surgical series. In addition, rectal carcinoma is compared with colonic carcinoma with regard to demographic data, histological types and TNM stages. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective pathologic study was conducted on 215 patients with colorectal carcinomas, all treated by radical surgery during the years 2003-2005. Tumors of unfavorable histology included: Mucinous carcinoma, signet-ring carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma. For tumor staging, the international TNM staging system was adopted. RESULTS: The mean age was 51 years and male to female ratio was 1.1. Rectal tumors contributed only 27% of cases, contrary to much higher previous reports from Egypt. Tumors of unfavorable histology constituted 24.2% of cases. Patients presented at advanced stages (78.6% stages II and III) with 46.5% lymph node metastases. Patients with rectal carcinomas were younger, with more risk of suboptimal distal surgical margins. CONCLUSIONS: Egyptian patients with rectal carcinoma are younger than those with colonic carcinoma. Otherwise, patients with rectal carcinoma are similar to colonic carcinoma with regard to sex distribution, histological types and TNM stages.

Predictive factors of local recurrence and survival following primary surgical treatment of phyllodes tumors of the breast.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The phyllodes tumor is characterized by its tendency to recur locally and occasionally to metastasize. Local recurrence and death from metastases are occasional, but consistent, theme in reports of patients with phyllodes tumors (PTs). The aim of this study was to determine parameters that influence outcome in this uncommon neoplasm. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from 79 patients with phyllodes tumors were reviewed retrospectively, reclassifying the pathological material using the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 42 years with a range from 16 to 70 years. The tumor size ranged from 2.5 to 24 cm, with a median of 11 cm. Based on the criteria proposed by WHO, 31 cases were benign tumors (39.2%), 27 borderline tumors (34.2%), and 21 malignant tumors (26.6%). The median duration of follow up was 60 months ranging from 3 to 138 months. Following local excision, the local recurrence rates were 14.3%, 50%, and 75% in patients with benign, borderline, and malignant tumors; respectively, while after wide local excision the local recurrence rates were 0%, 36.3% and 40%; respectively. Whereas, 0%, 8.3%, and 8.3% of patients with benign, borderline and malignant tumors; respectively, locally recurred after mastectomy. The 5-year disease free survival was 63.3% after local excision, 70% after wide local excision, and was 87% after mastectomy (p=0.04). Distant metastases (DM) were recorded in 10 patients (12.6%) after a median duration of 14 months (range 3- 36). All cases with DM died after an average of 5 months with a range of 1 to 11 months. Distant metastases developed in 3.2%, 11.1%, and in 28.6% of patients with benign, borderline and malignant tumors; respectively. The 5-year survival with no evidence of disease was 90% for the patients with benign tumors compared to 69% for borderline and 61% for malignant PTs (p= 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The histotype of phyllodes tumors and resection margins were the principal determinants of local recurrence and distant metastases. Complete surgical excision by either wide local excision or mastectomy if necessary is important in the primary surgical treatment of phyllodes tumors.