Placental Histopathologic Findings in the Setting of Prenatally Diagnosed Major Congenital Heart Disease.

Objectives: Studies suggest an association between placenta and congenital heart disease (CHD). We evaluated placental pathologies associated with major CHD. Methods: A prospective study included fetuses with major CHD, identified by fetal echocardiography. Fetal Doppler of umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), and placental histopathology were assessed. Outcome was measured by mortality at one month of age. Results: 21 cases were analyzed. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome was the commonest lesion (23.8%). Significant differences were detected among categories regarding MCA systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratio & pulsatility index (p = 0.023; 0.036), respectively. Placental histopathologies were demonstrated in 18(85.7%), predominately involved fetal malperfusion lesions 16/21(76.2%), especially chorangiosis (33.3%). No significant association was detected between placental histopathological abnormalities and Doppler parameter, diagnostic category, or mortality. Conclusion: The high prevalence of abnormal placental histopathological findings in major fetal CHD provides additional evidence of placental-cardiac interlinkage. No association was detected between abnormal placental histopathology and fetal Doppler measurements or neonatal outcome of CHD.

Syndecan-1 could be added to hormonal receptors and HER2/neu in routine assessment of invasive breast carcinoma, relation of its expression to prognosis and clinicopathological parameters.

INTRODUCTION: Syndecan-1 is heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) that is used as coreceptors for signaling of growth factors. The comprehensive effect of syndecan-1 is to augment receptor stimulation at little ligand concentrations. THE GOAL OF THIS RESEARCH: is to study syndecan-1 expression in breast carcinoma and its value in predicting the prognosis in comparison to other clinicopathological parameters. MATERIAL &METHODS: immunohistochemistry study for syndecan-1 is done on 103 cases of invasive breast carcinoma. Its expression is assessed and correlated to other clinicopathological parameters and prognosis. RESULTS: overexpression was significantly related to high histologic grade (p = 0.001), large tumor size (p = 0.043), HER2-positive status (p = 0.001), and ER&PR-negative status (p = 0.001). It was also have a negative impact on the overall survival (p=0.012) and disease free survival (p = 0.009). Syndecan-1 expression showed weak positive correlation with Her 2 expression (Correlation Coefficient (co): 0.332, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: syndecan-1 is a good predictor of poor overall survival and recurrence/ metastasis free survival. It is associated with aggressive phenotype as HER2 enriched and Triple negative rather than luminal subtypes of breast carcinoma. So it can be added to the hormonal receptors and HER 2 assay in the routine management of invasive breast cancer after confirmation on a more larger study.

Ki-67 as a prognostic marker according to breast cancer molecular subtype.

OBJECTIVE: Ki-67 plays an important function in cell division, but its exact role is still unknown. Moreover, few works regarding its overall function were published. The present study evaluated the clinical significance of Ki-67 index as a prognostic marker and predictor of recurrence in different molecular subtypes of breast cancer. The relationship of Ki-67 index with different clinicopathological factors was also analyzed. METHODS: Ki-67 index was measured in 107 cases of primary breast cancer from 2010-2012. These patients were evaluated for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2. Ki-67 was divided according to percentage levels: < 15% and > 15%. Follow-up ranged from 32 months up to 6 years. RESULTS: Approximately 44, 23, 15, and 25 cases were grouped as luminal A, luminal B, HER2 subtype, and triple-negative (TN), respectively. No luminal A patients showed Ki-67 level higher than 15%, and their recurrence was 20%. In luminal B group, Ki-67 level higher than 15% was observed in 69% of patients, and recurrence was 39%. In HER2 subtype, Ki-67 was higher than 15% in 34% of cases, and recurrence was 40%. In triple-negative cases, Ki-67 was higher than 15% in 60% of cases, and recurrence was detected in 32% of patients. Patients with Ki-67 less than 15% displayed better overall survival than those with Ki-67 higher than 15% (P = 0.01). Patients with Ki-67 higher than 15% exhibited higher incidence of metastasis and recurrence than those with Ki-67 less than 15% (P = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Ki-67 may be considered as a valuable biomarker in breast cancer patients.