Evaluation of colorectal adenocarcinomas at single-institution with respect to microsatellite instability.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Hereditary non-poliposis colorectal cancers exhibit a high rate of microsatellite instability. Comparative studies involving stage and other prognostic parameters demonstrate a better prognosis in the presence of microsatellite instability versus colon cancers without microsatellite instability. METHODS: Our study included 608 cases diagnosed with colorectal adenocarcinoma by our laboratory between 2004-2010. The cases were re-evaluated with respect to criteria defined for MSI, taking into consideration age, anatomic localization, and histopathological criteria. Immunohistochemical study was performed in appropriate blocks for using MLH-1, MSH-2, MSH-6, and PMS-2. RESULTS: The specimens were re-evaluated according to the histological criteria defined for microsatellite instability. Anti-MLH-1, anti-MSH-2, anti-MSH-6, and anti-PMS-2 antibodies were applied to the paraffin blocks of 27 cases which presented morphological criteria suggestive of DNA repair mutation and had a high Mspath score. Immunohistochemical study with MLH-1, MSH-2, MSH-6, and PMS-2 for the analysis of mismatch repair was refined using the cases with higher Mspath scores. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we reviewed the clinical and histopathological features of 608 cases with colorectal adenocarcinoma diagnosed in our laboratory between 2004-2010 and assessed pathological features in terms of microsatellite instability. The results were discussed in view of the literature.

ERCC1 is not expressed in hepatocellular cancer: A turkish oncology group, gastrointestinal oncology subgroup study.

PURPOSE: hepatocellular cancer (HCC) is a common malignancy with a high mortality rate. Existence of excisional repair cross complementation1 (ERCC1) is implicated in resistance to cisplatin treatment. Expression of ERCC1 in HCC is not known. In this study we aimed to find out whether a subset of HCC patients can be identified to benefit from cisplatin. METHODS: sixty-one patients with HCC who had enough tissue to do immunohistochemistry were identified in 3 institutions. Immunohistochemical staining was performed manually using the standard streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase method. Monoclonal anti-ERCC 1 (D-10) antibody from Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Santa Cruz, CA) was used. RESULTS: only one out of 61 patients (1.6%) had ERCC1 expression. CONCLUSION: although around 10% of HCC patients respond to cisplatin, this is unlikely to be due to ERCC1 negativity. Pathways other than ERCC1 should be searched to find ways to help these patients' treatment strategies.

FHIT expression in neoplastic, hyperplastic, and normal endometrium.

Fragile histidine triad (FHIT), a candidate of tumor suppressor protein, expression was examined on paraffin-embedded specimens in proliferative, secretory, hyperplastic, and neoplastic human endometrium by immunohistochemistry. The results of FHIT immunoreactivity in endometrial carcinomas were compared with prognostic indicators as well as with p53 overexpression. Forty-four cases of endometrial carcinoma, 30 normal functional (15 proliferative, 15 secretory), and 24 hyperplastic endometrium (12 without atypia, 12 with atypia) specimens were studied using polyclonal FHIT antibody. The streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase detection system was used, and the intensity and the distribution of immunoreactivity were evaluated semiquantitatively. There were no significant differences in FHIT expression in the proliferative, secretory, hyperplastic, either with or without atypia, or carcinomatous endometria. No significant difference in FHIT expression of endometrial carcinomas was detected when prognostic parameters or p53 overexpression were considered. Loss or reduced FHIT expression was not found to predict disease-free or cumulative survivals. This study showed that loss or reduction in FHIT protein expression is present in normal functional and hyperplastic endometria as well as in neoplastic endometrium. FHIT protein seems not to be involved directly in endometrial carcinogenesis, but rather, it regulates cell proliferation both in physiologic and in pathologic conditions of endometrium.

Clear cell carcinoma of the breast with solid papillary pattern: a case report with immunohistochemical profile.

Glycogen rich clear cell carcinoma of the breast is a rare neoplasm with different morphological characteristics to ordinary breast carcinomas. However, it has some common features with clear cell carcinomas of other organs. This report describes a case of clear cell carcinoma of the breast with a solid papillary pattern centrally localised in the left breast of a 45 year old woman. Antibodies directed against cytokeratin 7 (CK7), CK10, CK14, CK17, CK18, CK19, CK20, CK5/6/18, CK8/18, high molecular weight cytokeratin AE3, high molecular weight cytokeratin 34betaE12, the oestrogen receptor, the progesterone receptor, chromogranin, S-100 protein, smooth muscle actin, vimentin, and carcinoembryogenic antigen were applied to analyse the immunophenotypical profile of this rare neoplasm.

Spectroscopic and electrochemical investigation of ternary complexes of D- or L-aspartic acid containing polyacrylamides-Cu(2+)-bovine serum albumin and their radio-stability.

D- or L-aspartic acid containing polyacrylamides were synthesized. Binary and ternary complex formation between these polymers with copper and bovine serum albumin was studied by spectroscopic and electrochemical measurement. Depending on the ratio of the polymer/copper and protein/polymer, the mixture exhibited water-soluble and insoluble character. A hypothetical structural scheme for the formation of ternary complexes is proposed. The effect of radiation on these complexes was also investigated.

Inhaled corticosteroids may reduce neutrophilic inflammation in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Although both inhaled and oral corticosteroids have anti-inflammatory effects causing improvement in clinical symptoms and spirometry in the treatment of asthma, the role of corticosteroids in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is controversial. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of inhaled corticosteroids on sputum neutrophilia in clinically stable COPD patients. METHODS: In total, 18 patients were enrolled in the study. During 2 months, 9 patients in group A inhaled fluticasone propionate (FP) 500 microg 3 times daily. In group B 9 patients received placebo. All of the patients continued to inhale both salbutamol and ipratropium bromide. In 9 patients, sustained-released theophylline was also administered. Blood samples, spirometric tests, blood gas analyses, and either spontaneous or induced sputum cultures were evaluated on entry into the study, after a 2 months of treatment and following the 6-week washout period. RESULTS: After the 2-month FP treatment, no significant changes in the number of peripheral blood neutrophils, blood gas and spirometry data were observed in both groups. In group A, the total cell number and the number of neutrophils decreased from a mean of 3. 4 +/- 1.3 x 10(6) cells/g and 0.6 +/- 0.3 x 10(6) neutrophils/g on entry into study to 1.9 +/- 0.6 x 10(6) cells/g and 0.02 +/- 0.01 x 10(6) neutrophils/g after 8-week treatment with FP, returning to 3.3 +/- 1.1 x 10(6) cells/g and 0.5 +/- 0.3 x 10(6) neutrophils/g following the washout period. The percentages of neutrophils were 55. 6 and 77.9% in groups A and B after 2 months of FP treatment. There was no significant change in group B values during the study. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that neutrophilic inflammation in sputum may be decreased by inhaled corticosteroids in clinically stable COPD patients.

Solitary calcaneal metastasis in superficial bladder carcinoma.

We report a case of a solitary calcaneal metastasis in a patient with superficial bladder carcinoma. The patient underwent transurethral tumor resection twice because of local recurrence. Both histologic examinations revealed a grade 2 PT1 superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. The metastasis was detected four months after the initial cystoscopy, due to severe leg pain. The lesion was curetted and filled with bone cement. A year later, a below knee amputation was performed because of local recurrence. This case deserves special attention, for two reasons. First, metastatic carcinoma to the bones of the foot is very rare. Although bony metastasis by transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder can be seen, presenting as a symptomatic solitary lesion after superficial bladder carcinoma is extremely unusual. Second, failure to control bladder tumours by local means might be an indication for an early cystectomy, even in tumours with no evidence of muscle invasion, in order to prevent distant metastasis.

Amplification of the c-myc oncogene in non-small cell lung cancer.

Fresh non-small cell lung carcinoma surgical specimens were taken from 17 patients and 3 controls and screened for genetic abnormalities of the c-myc oncogene. Southern blot hybridization analysis demonstrated two- to fivefold amplification of the c-myc gene in 10 cases, i.e., 7 of 13 epidermoid lung carcinomas, 2 of 3 adenocarcinomas and 1 of 1 osteogenic sarcoma metastatic to the lung. Two- to fivefold amplification was observed in tissues from stage III and IV epidermoid carcinomas and adenocarcinomas of the lung. A correlation between cancer stage and c-myc gene amplification was found.

Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum samples by polymerase chain reaction using a simplified procedure.

A repetitive sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), from sputum samples, for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. The method of heating the sample in a boiling water bath to break down the bacterial cell wall and to release the DNA was compared with that of enzymatic lysis of bacteria and then phenol-chloroform extraction of DNA. Heating the sample was the better method with a sensitivity of approximately 10 microorganisms. A total of 78 sputum specimens prepared by heating were examined by PCR, and the results were compared with the results of acid-fast stained smears, cultures, and clinical data. M. tuberculosis was detected by PCR in all smear- and culture-positive and smear-negative, culture-positive cases. Additionally, PCR was capable of detecting four of nine cases which were smear and culture negative but clinically suspected of tuberculosis. DNA amplification by PCR is a sensitive and specific method for the diagnosis of tuberculosis, and with this simplified DNA isolation procedure it can be used in routine clinical practice.

Tuberculous pleural effusions: ultrasonic diagnosis.

Twenty patients with tuberculous pleural effusions were studied with ultrasonography. In 18 patients, ultrasonography demonstrated regular pleural thickening which was less than 1 cm except in 1 case. In 4 cases there were a few pleural nodules, whereas in 2 cases the pleural surface showed small nodularity. The latter finding may be diagnostic for a tuberculous etiology. Eighteen patients had multiple, delicate, mobile septations in the effusions, and a lattice-like appearance had formed in 6 cases. Computed tomography was obtained in 7 cases, and pleural thickening was demonstrated in 6 of them. Ultrasonography is a useful imaging modality in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy.