A novel triad for the diagnosis of endometriosis, the short anogenital distance combines with high endometrial BCL2 and low endometrial FASL.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anogenital distance from the upper verge of the anus to the posterior fourchette (AGDAF ), FASL, and BCL2 combination as a reliable and non-invasive tool for the diagnosis of endometriosis. METHODS: This study included 100 women with endometriosis and 50 women without endometriosis as the control group. All cases underwent history taking, body mass index (BMI) measurement, AGD measurement, and FASL and BCL2 immunohistochemical staining of the eutopic endometrial tissue. RESULTS: This study included 150 women divided into endometriosis and control groups. Endometriosis cases significantly had shorter AGDAF , 22.9 ± 2.6 mm, compared with the control group, 27.3 ± 3.5 mm (P < 0.001). Lower FASL and higher BCL2 expression were associated with endometriosis (P < 0.001). The combined measurement of AGDAF (cut-off point 24.55 mm) with FASL and BCL2 was associated with endometriosis (P < 0.001). The combined diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of AGDAF , FASL, and BCL2 were 83%, 78%, 87.3%, and 69.6%, respectively. The area under the curve was greater for AGDAF , FASL, and BCL2 in combination than for individual measurements. CONCLUSION: Combining short AGDAF with high BCL2 and low FASL is a highly sensitive, non-invasive diagnostic tool for endometriosis.

Prognostic values of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MYD88) and transducin (ß)-like receptor 1 (TBLR1) expression in tissues of diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients - an immunohistochemical study.

Introduction: Diffuse large B-cell non- Hodgkin lymphoma (DLBCL) is the largest common category of adult lymphoma. Recurrence and treatment resistance occurs in one-third of cases, triggering them to the progressive stage of DLBCL after treatment. Detection of novel predictive and prognostic biomarkers leads to improvement of its treatment and prognosis. Aim of the study: To assess the prognostic roles of protein expression of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MYD88) and transducin (ß)-like receptor 1 (TBLR1) in tissues of DLBCL patients. Material and methods: In the current study we included tissues from 100 cases of DLBCL. For immunohistochemistry, tissues were stained with MYD88 and TBLR1. We followed patients for about 3 years, and then we correlated their expression with clinicopathological and prognostic parameters. Results: Higher MYD88 and TBLR1 expressions were associated with presence of B symptoms, fever, night sweat, advanced stage, bone marrow involvement and bulky nodal size, presence of extra-nodal extension, unfavourable relapse-free survival, and unfavourable overall survival rates (p < 0.001). Conclusions: overexpression of MYD88 and TBLR1 expression was present in DLBCL patients and was associated with unfavourable clinicopathological and prognostic parameters.

Prognostic Roles of ZNF703 and SMAD4 Expression in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Cancer and Association with Nodal Metastasis.

It is important to detect novel predictive biomarkers of cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) to help the surgeons in making early decision of performing central lymph node dissection and aggressive management strategies in selected high-risk patients, thus improving their prognosis. Zinc finger protein 703 (ZNF703) is a member of the neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) transcription factors family which has roles in proliferation and invasion of cancer cells. SMAD4 is a protein that has a role in cellular processes including cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis through many genes' transcription. In this study, we aimed to assess the expression of ZNF703 and SMAD4 in PTC and evaluated the correlation between its expression, clinicopathological features of PTC cases, and prognostic parameters of patients to evaluate their roles in PTC progression. This is a retrospective study which included 40 cases with PTC. For immunohistochemistry, tissues stained their paraffin blocks with ZNF703 and SMAD4. We followed patients to detect disease progression and recurrence. Positive ZNF703 expression and negative SMAD4 expression were associated with higher incidence of CLNM, advanced stage and large tumor size, higher incidence of disease progression, recurrence, unfavorable PFS, and unfavorable OS rates. The higher ZNF703 expression and the lower SMAD4 expression were significantly increased in PTC patients with cervical LNM compared with those without. ZNF703 over expression and downregulation SMAD4 expression was significantly increased in PTC patients. Elevated expression of ZNF703 in tumor tissue with CLNM can be considered a predictive factor for the development of metastasis.

Immunohistochemical Expression of Fatty Acid Synthase and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Primary Colorectal Cancer: a Clinicopathological Study.

BACKGROUND: Fatty acid synthase (FAS) is a valuable lipid enzyme involved in lipid biosynthesis and suggested to contribute in tumor carcinogenesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is considered a serious angiogenic growth factor in the angiogenic pathway which is a very important in tumor growth and metastasis. Thus, inhibition of lipid biosynthesis and tumor angiogenesis can be new goals for colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. AIM OF THE WORK: The assessment of the expression of FAS and VEGF protein and the relationship between them in CRC with the clinicopathological parameters. METHODS: The present retrospective study included 63 paraffin blocks previously diagnosed as primary cases of CRC. The slides were subjected to FAS and VEGF immunohistochemical staining using a streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase. The relationships among FAS and VEGF expression and clinicopathological parameters were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The expression rate of FAS was 81% and VEGF was 84.1% in the studied cases. FAS expression was significantly associated with histopathological type (p = 0.02) and grade (p = 0.04), and highly associated with lymph node metastasis and stage (p < 0.001).VEGF was significantly associated with histopathological type (p = 0.01) and tumor depth (p = 0.02); highly associated with grade, lymph node metastasis, and stage (p < 0.001). There was a positive association between FAS and VEGF expression in CRC (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: FAS and VEGF showed a highly significant expression in the studied primary CRC cases. A significant association was observed between their expressions, suggesting the involvement of FAS in tumor angiogenesis. So they constitute potential targets in cancer prevention and treatment and make FAS an attractive antiangiogenic target.