Application of International association for the study of lung cancer/American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society criteria for the diagnosis of lung carcinomas on small biopsies: A tertiary care center experience.

BACKGROUND: The new IASLC/ATS/ERS classification provides standardized terminology for lung cancer diagnosis in small biopsies and cytology specimens. OBJECTIVES: The aim was to study the feasibility of the guidelines using one marker for adenocarcinoma (ADC) and one for squamous cell carcinoma (SQCC) in non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs). SUBJECT AND METHODS: In this study, we reviewed all the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks diagnosed as lung carcinoma between July 2016 and December 2017. Cases were labeled as SCLC, ADC, SQCC, NSCLC favor ADC, NSCLC favor SQCC, NSCLC-not otherwise specified (NOS), and NSCLC-NOS possible adeno-SQCC (ADSQCC) as per IASLC/ATS/ERS 2011 guidelines. A three-step approach incorporating morphology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and molecular analysis was used. RESULTS: One hundred and nine cases were included. Six of the 109 cases were SCLC and 1 case was of large-cell neuroendocrine type. Of the remaining 102, 51 were diagnosed based on their classical histomorphology into SQCC (8) and ADC (43). Remaining 51 cases required IHC/special stains for categorization. The panel comprised anti-CK7, anti-thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1), and anti-p63. Twenty-nine were positive for anti-TTF-1 and thus labeled as NSCLC favor ADC. Fifteen were labeled as NSCLC favor SQCC as they were highlighted by anti-p63. Four cases showed reaction to both the antibodies in different sets of tumor cells and thus were classified as NSCLC-NOS, possible ADSQCC. Remaining 3 cases did not show reaction to any of the antibodies and hence were labeled NSCLC-NOS. CONCLUSION: The need for every laboratory to use minimal tissue for ancillary tests to diagnose lung carcinoma on small biopsies is reemphasized. Tissue from small biopsies needs to be preserved not only for the diagnosis but also for molecular testing and evaluation of markers of resistance to therapy, in this era of personalized medicine.

Green synthesis and characterization of selenium nanoparticles and its augmented cytotoxicity with doxorubicin on cancer cells.

Green synthesis of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) was achieved by a simple biological procedure using the reducing power of fenugreek seed extract. This method is capable of producing SeNPs in a size range of about 50-150 nm, under ambient conditions. The synthesized nanoparticles can be separated easily from the aqueous sols by a high-speed centrifuge. These selenium nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and elemental analysis by X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF). Nanocrystalline SeNPs were obtained without post-annealing treatment. FTIR spectrum confirms the presence of various functional groups in the plant extract, which may possibly influence the reduction process and stabilization of nanoparticles. The cytotoxicity of SeNPs was assayed against human breast-cancer cells (MCF-7). It was found that SeNPs are able to inhibit the cell growth by dose-dependent manner. In addition, combination of SeNPs and doxorubicin shows better anticancer effect than individual treatments.