Distribution of CXCR4 and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes in breast cancer subtypes; their relationship with each other, axillary lymph node involvement, and other prognostic indicators.

We have investigated the distribution of chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and CD8-positive, tumour-infiltrating T lymphocytes (CD8+ TILs) in breast cancer subtypes and explored the relationship between them and the well-established conventional prognostic markers, including axillary lymph node involvement. A total of 250 breast cancer patients were included in the study. The patients were separated into luminal A+B, HER2 enriched/overexpressed (HER2+), and triple- negative, on the basis of their staining characteristics, via conventional staining methods. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for CXCR4 and CD8+ TILs were performed on the archival tissues from each patient. With increasing intensity of CXCR4 staining, there was a higher incidence of lymph node metastasis (p < 0.01). Similarly, there was a positive correlation between the primary tumour size, HER2+ subtype, lymphovascular invasion, and axillary lymph node involvement. Dense lymphocytic infiltration was observed in HER2+ and triple-negative patients. No correlation between CD8+ TILs in all sites and breast cancer subtypes was discovered. A reverse correlation was discovered with CD8+ TILs stained only intratumorally and CXCR4 expression. In conclusion, lymph node involvement correlates with higher CXCR4 expression in all breast cancer subtypes. Conversely, no such correlation is found with CD8+ TILs.

CXCR-4 and COX-2 expression in basal cell carcinomas and well-differentiated squamous cell carcinomas of the skin; their relationship with tumor invasiveness and histological subtype.

OBJECTIVE: Both CXCR-4 and COX-2 are biological markers that play a significant role in several neoplastic processes. We explored the differences in expression of these markers in certain subtypes of basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinomas in general. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In this study, we investigated the differences between 38 patients with basal cell carcinoma (nodular, infiltrative and micro-nodular subtypes) and 24 patients with well-differentiated squamous cell carcinomas with respect to their depth of invasion, tumor location, age, and CXCR-4 and COX-2 expression. RESULTS: Statistically, we found no significant difference between squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carcinoma in terms of CXCR-4 and COX-2 expression; however, the degree of marker expression became stronger with increasing depth of invasion in both tumors. The expression of both markers was also higher in infiltrative type basal cell carcinoma compared to all the other subtypes. The results were statistically significant (p<0.05). Additionally, a significantly positive correlation also existed between COX2 and CXCR4 expression (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The degree of expression of CXCR-4 and COX-2 is related to invasiveness in both malignancies; thus, infiltrative type of basal cell carcinoma displays the highest degree of CXCR-4 and COX-2 expression among all the subtypes. Furthermore, our results indicate that these two biological markers may both be involved in the process of carcinogenesis and require investigation with further molecular and genetic studies in larger series.

An analysis of salivary gland neoplasms: a 12-year, single-institution experience in Turkey.

The epidemiology of salivary gland tumors worldwide is not very well defined. Although many studies on this subject have been undertaken, the data are generally focused on specific topics such as parotid gland neoplasms or tumors of the major salivary glands. We conducted a study to establish the prevalence and distribution of benign and malignant neoplasms of both the major and minor salivary glands at a single institution. We reviewed 244,204 cases that had come through our pathology department from January 1994 through December 2005 and found 235 cases of a salivary gland neoplasm (0.09%). The female-to-male ratio was 1.04:1, and the mean age of the patients was 47 years. Of the 235 neoplasms, 159 (67.66%) were located in the parotid gland, 34 (14.47%) in the submandibular gland, and 42 (17.87%) in the minor salivary glands. A total of 146 tumors (62.13%) were benign and 89 (37.87%) were malignant. Pleomorphic adenoma was the most common neoplasm, occurring in 98 cases (41.70%). The most common malignancy was mucoepidermoid carcinoma, with 27 cases (11.49%). Our data demonstrate that the characteristics of salivary gland tumors in a Turkish population at a single institution are similar to those reported in the literature worldwide.

Human papillomavirus genome detection by in situ hybridization in fine-needle aspirates of metastatic lesions from head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

BACKGROUND: Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) often present with metastatic disease. The diagnosis of metastatic lesions usually is determined by fine-needle aspiration. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is now being considered as a causative agent in a subset of HNSCC. The objectives of this study were, first; to search for the presence of HPV DNA by in situ hybridization (ISH) in metastatic lesions from HNSCC using alcohol-fixed, archival, cytopathologic material; second, to characterize the cytologic features of HPV-positive metastatic lesions of HNSCC; and, third, to determine whether there is a correlation between the presence of HPV DNA and the origin of metastatic lesions. METHODS: The authors performed chromogenic ISH analysis for HPV DNA on fine-needle aspiration materials from metastatic lesions from 26 patients with HNSCC. Along with the ISH analysis, a detailed cytologic review was performed, and cytopathologic features were recorded. The HPV DNA status in metastatic lesion was correlated with cytopathologic features and primary tumor location. RESULTS: The integration of HPV DNA was visualized microscopically on tumor cell nuclei in 15% of aspirates. The anatomic locations of the study samples were as follows: 16 lymph node aspirates (11 cervical lymph nodes and 5 lymph nodes at other sites other), 5 tracheostomy sites, and 5 miscellaneous sites located on the head and neck area. Cytologic review revealed 13 keratinized and 13 nonkeratinized metastatic tumors. HPV DNA was detected in four metastatic sites (three lymph nodes and one tracheostomy site). All HPV DNA-positive tumors were of the nonkeratinizing type (P < 0.05; Fisher exact test). The origins of HPV-positive tumors included two laryngeal sites, one nasopharyngeal site, and one oral cavity site. CONCLUSIONS: The current findings showed that archival cytology slides can be used for HPV DNA detection with ISH. The results also showed that HPV DNA-containing HNSCC has distinctively nonkeratinizing cytologic features. The authors concluded that HPV DNA not only is involved in the initiation of tumoral processes but also plays an important role in the development of metastatic disease.