Breast metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma diagnosed with fine needle aspiration cytology: a case report.

Metastases to the breast from extramammary neoplasms are very rare. Correct diagnosis of breast malignancy is important for establishing appropriate management and for avoiding unnecessary radical surgery. Metastasized breast malignancies from non-small cell lung carcinoma are extremely rare. Here we report a 55-year old female patient with breast metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma which was diagnosed with fine needle aspiration cytology and confirmed by immunocytochemistry.

[Clinical recommendations for diagnosing, treatment and monitoring patients with non-small cell lung cancer]. / Klinicke upute za dijagnozu, lijecenje i pracenje bolesnika oboljelih od karcinoma pluca nemalih stanica.

In Croatia, lung cancer is the most common malignant disease among male population and the third common among female population where 85% of patients have non-small cell lung cancer. Due to significance of this disease it is necessary to define and implement standardized approach for diagnostic and treatment algorithm as well to patients monitoring. Several multidisciplinary sessions were organized in achieving this goal. The sessions' results are given in the form of the Clinical guidelines.

PCR-quality DNA isolation from human bronchial aspirates and buccal and eyelid swabs by a simple procedure based on alkaline lysis.

There are only a few systematic reports about DNA extraction from routine diagnostic cytological specimens. An inevitable drawback of such techniques is increased spending of time and funds required for obligatory DNA purification. To implement a simple protocol for human DNA isolation from cytological specimens related to lung cancer, bronchial aspirates together with samples collected by swabbing of the inner cheek and eyelid were used. By combining alkaline and temperature lyses it was possible to isolate DNA solution ready for PCR in less than an hour. Testing the method used for amplification of sex chromatin gene fragments showed that it is highly efficient. The presented protocol preserves high-quality DNA that is suitable for PCR-based assays.

[Erlotinib in non-small cell lung cancer: experience of clinical hospital for lung diseases Jordanovac]. / Erlotinib u lijecenju bolesnika s uznapredovalim karcinomom pluca nemalih stanica: iskustvo klinicke bolnice za plucne bolesti "Jordanovac".

Treatment with erlotinib, an inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptors, has significantly improved the overall survival rate and quality of life in patients with non-small cell lung cancer who had failed the standard first- or second-line chemotherapy. In Clinical hospital for lung diseases "Jordanovac" a total of 36 patients were treated with erlotinib. The response rate was as follows: in four patients (11%) complete response was achieved, in five (4%) partial response, while fourteen patients (39%) had stable disease. Hence, the evident clinical benefit of treatment with erlotinib was registered in 23 patients (64%) altogether. The treatment was well tolerated and it was not associated with significant toxicity. Our results confirm the antitumour efficacy of erlotinib and show a clear treatment benefit for patients with non-small cell lung cancer in our country.