Immunohistochemical detection of p53 and MDM2 expressions in liposarcoma with World health organization classification.

BACKGROUND: Liposarcomas are among the most common soft tissue sarcomas in adulthood. AIM: The purpose of the study is to perform a histopathologic typing according to World Health Organization (WHO) classification of cases diagnosed with liposarcoma and to examine the difference of p53 and MDM2 expressions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The haematoxylin-eosin stained sections of 48 subjects enrolled in the study have been evaluated on the basis of the WHO classification for liposarcoma and sections stained using p53 and MDM2. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Chi-Square test was applied. RESULTS: 20 subjects were diagnosed with well-differentiated liposarcoma (WLS), 16 myxoid liposarcoma (ML), 7 pleomorphic liposarcoma (PL), and 5 de-differentiated liposarcoma (DLS). The number of cases stained positive with MDM2 and p53 were positive correlated in all subjects (P = 0.02). p53 and MDM2 positivity increased in high grade tumors (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: p53 and MDM2 immuno-reactivity was found to be potentially useful in liposarcoma diagnosis but a definitive implication would be rather unhealthy due to the small number of cases in our study.

Nm23 expression in node-positive and node-negative endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationships between the expression of protein Nm23 and surgical stage, histologic grade, histopathologic findings, and survival in women with endometrial carcinoma. METHODS: 19 patients with lymph node involvement were matched with 24 patients without lymph node involvement and the best paraffin-embedded blocks were selected for Nm23 immunohistochemical staining. The slides were evaluated semiquantitatively according to their degree of cytoplasmic staining. Statistical analysis was performed to determine whether there was a relationship between Nm23 expression and surgical stage, histologic grade, depth of myometrial invasion, lymph node metastasis, and/or lymphovascular space involvement. Survival analysis was also performed. RESULTS: Slides from 15 patients (79%) with lymph node involvement and 22 patients (88%) without lymph node involvement were found to be positive for Nm23 (P=0.01). No significant relations were observed between Nm23 expression and surgical stage, histologic grade, depth of myometrial invasion, or lymphovascular space involvement. Nm23 expression was found to be significantly related to lower rates of lymph node metastasis and longer survival (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: Elevated Nm23 expression is related to lower rates of lymph node metastasis and longer survival.

Comparison of uroprotective efficacy of mesna and amifostine in Cyclophosphamide- induced hemorrhagic cystitis in rats.

BACKGROUND: Hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is a dose limiting side effect of cyclophosphamide (CYP). AIM: In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of amifostine in the protection of CYP-induced HC and compare its efficacy with mesna. SETTING AND DESIGN: This animal study was conducted in the Experimental Animals Breeding and Research Center of the Medical Faculty of Uludag University. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats (150-200 g; 10 rats per group) were randomly assigned to four groups. Group I (control group) received no drugs, group II received CYP (200 mg/kg, i.p.) alone, group III received amifostine (200 mg/kg, i.p.) and CYP, and group IV received CYP and mesna (40 mg/kg, i.p.) immediately and 4 and 8 h after administration of CYP. Bladders of animals were assessed macroscopically and histologically 24 h later. Gross assessment for presence of edema and hemorrhage and histological evaluation of damage to the bladder were scored according to Gray's criteria. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: For macroscopic and microscopic data, we used statistical evaluation by Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric analysis of variance followed by the Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: All the animals in group II had evidence of HC. Significant histological damage and macroscopic changes were present in this group compared to control group (P<0.001). The median scores for bladder damage in group III and IV were significantly lower compared to group II (P<0.001). When the median scores for bladder damage of group I, III, and IV were compared, there was no significant difference among these groups. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the efficacy of amifostine in prevention of cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis.

Therapy, outcome and analysis of c-kit expression in patients with extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics with special emphasis on c-kit expression and the treatment results of patients with extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma (EPSCC). The medical records of the patients with EPSCC were reviewed, and the data regarding patient and tumour characteristics, treatment and clinical outcome were retrieved and analysed. A total of 28 patients with the diagnosis of EPSCC were identified. There were 19 males and 9 females, with a mean age of 56.5 years. Patients with limited disease (LD) (n = 13) were treated with surgery, chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy with different sequences. Patients with extensive disease (ED) (n = 15) were mainly treated with combination CT. The median overall survival was 14.5 months in patients with LD compared to 11 months in those with ED (p = 0.029). Ten patients (36%) showed c-kit overexpression. There was no significant difference between the survival of c-kit-positive and c-kit-negative patients (p = 0.367). In conclusion, our study demonstrates that the prognosis of EPSCC is poor despite currently available treatments. C-kit may be considered as a potential target for novel therapeutical approaches.