RESUMO
Background: This study aimed to characterise epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) expression patterns in colorectal carcinomas (CRC) from Nigerian patients, its association with E-cadherin and tumour characteristics, to forecast patient selection for anti-EpCAM therapy among whom no data existed previously. Methods: Tissue microarray blocks of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded CRC tissues, with their non-cancer margins of resection, were sectioned and stained with EpCAM and E-cadherin primary antibodies. Scoring for antibody staining was done semiquantitatively by combining staining proportion and intensity. The outcome was correlated with patient age, gender and tumour histological parameters with p ≤ 0.05 regarded as statistically significant. Results: Sixty-three carcinoma tissues had staining status for the two markers and were included in this study. Of these, 36 (57.1%) showed positive EpCAM expression (immunoscore ≥3) out of which 83% (30/36 positive cases) were overexpressed (combined immunoscore ≥4) while 12 (19%) tissues were positive for E-cadherin. Non-tumour margins of resection tissues showed less EpCAM positivity in 24% (6/25) of histospots. The difference in staining between tumour and non-tumour margin tissues with EpCAM was significant (p < 0.001). Also, EpCAM overexpression was significantly associated with reduced E-cadherin (p < 0.035) expression in tumour cells. Tumour extent within the gut wall was equal (50% each) for early and late pT stages among EpCAM overexpressing tumours but two-thirds (8/12) of cases expressing E-cadherin had later pT stage paradoxically, while distant metastasis was negligible among tumours bearing both markers. Also, tumours overexpressing EpCAM had significant association with tumour-associated lymphocytes (p < 0.02 each). Conclusion: CRC in this study preferentially overexpress EpCAM over E-cadherin whose strong cell-cell contact inhibitory role is weakened even when expressed, resulting in further local tumour spread. This, and the observed immune response, supports targeted therapy among eligible patients.
RESUMO
Background: Cystic ovarian lesions are defined by an ovarian fluid containing space limited by a membrane. The exact prevalence of the disease is unknown. A proper diagnosis is imperative for the choice of appropriate therapy. The objective of this study is to establish the different histological variants of ovarian cysts diagnosed at the Histopathology Department of Jos University Teaching Hospital between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2019. Methodology: This is a descriptive study of consecutive cases of ovarian cysts at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2019. Demographic and histopathologic data were collated from patients' request forms and duplicate copies of histology reports of all histologically diagnosed cases of ovarian cysts at the Histopathology Department during the study period. Result: A total of 236cases of cystic ovarian lesions were seen during the period of the study. Benign and malignant cases constituted 226(95.76%) and 10(4.24%) cases respectively. Corpus luteum cyst was the commonest histological type accounting for 28.33% of cases. Lesions located on the right ovary were 145(61.44%), while those on the left were 95(40.25%). The commonest symptom was abdominal pain. The age range was 4-70years, with a mean, median and mode of 35.02+11.9 years, 33.0 years, and 35.0 years respectively. Conclusion: The vast majority of ovarian cysts in our environment are benign, and commonly occurs in women during their reproductive age. Abdominal pain is the commonest presentation and cysts of the ovary occur more on the right.