Over-expression of CEP55 Predicts Favorable Prognosis in Colorectal Cancer Patients With Lymph Node Involvement.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To characterize the potential roles of CEP55 in colorectal cancer development and assess its eligibility as a prognostic diagnosis tool for colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of CEP55 immunoreactivity in 166 cancer specimens from colorectal cancer patients. RESULTS: CEP55 was not found to statistically significantly affect different patient clinical parameters. Multivariate analysis illustrated that patients with N stage (1+2) colorectal cancer and high CEP55 expression had a significantly lower five-year survival rate than patients with N stage (1+2) colorectal cancer and low CEP55 expression. CONCLUSION: There is a correlation between CEP55 and advanced N-stage colorectal cancer. Thus, CEP55 may be a potential diagnostic biomarker for colorectal cancer patients.

Robotic- Versus Endoscopic-Assisted Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy with Immediate Prosthesis Breast Reconstruction in the Management of Breast Cancer: A Case-Control Comparison Study with Analysis of Clinical Outcomes, Learning Curve, Patient-Reported Aesthetic Results, and Medical Cost.

BACKGROUND: New surgical innovations of nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM), such as endoscopic NSM (E-NSM) or robotic NSM (R-NSM), were emerging. However, there was a lack of evidence comparing the effectiveness and safety in the management of breast cancer. METHODS: A case-control comparison study was conducted for patients with breast cancer underwent E-NSM or R-NSM with immediate prosthesis breast reconstruction (IPBR) from July 2010 to February 2019 at a single institution to compare the clinical outcomes, learning curve, patient-reported cosmetic results, and medical cost. RESULTS: A total of 91 E-NSM and 40 R-NSM procedures were retrieved and analyzed. The surgical margin involvement rate in both R-NSM (2.5%) and E-NSM (4.4%) procedures were relatively low (P = 0.52). The R-NSM group was associated with higher satisfaction rates in terms of scar appearance, scar length, and surgical wound position compared with the E-NSM group. Compared with E-NSM, the R-NSM operation time took longer (241 ± 61 vs. 215 ± 70 min, P = 0.01), less blood loss (32 ± 29 vs. 79 ± 62 ml, P < 0.01), and higher medical cost (10,587 ± 554 vs. 6855 ± 936 U.S. dollars, P < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in nipple ischemia/necrosis or overall complication between R-NSM and E-NSM. In the learning curve analysis, it took the 27th procedure in E-NSM and 10th procedure in R-NSM to decrease operation time significantly. CONCLUSIONS: R-NSM was associated with higher wound-related satisfaction, lesser blood loss, and shorter learning curve compared with E-NSM, however, at the price of longer operation time and higher medical cost.

Clinicopathologic factors related to surgical margin involvement, reoperation, and residual cancer in primary operable breast cancer - An analysis of 2050 patients.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate whether clinicopathologic factors are related to surgical margin involvement, reoperation, and residual cancer in primary operable breast cancer. METHODS: Identification of patients at increased risk for positive surgical margins may enhance clinical preoperative decision-making and lower the reoperation rate. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the factors associated with positive surgical margins, the need for re-excision, and residual cancer detection in re-excised specimens in a cohort of 2050 women who underwent either breast-conserving surgery (BCS) or mastectomy for primary operable breast cancer. RESULTS: Positive surgical margins were detected in 151 (7.4%) of the 2050 patients. The incidence of positive surgical margins was 11.3% (118/1042) in the BCS group and 3.3% (33/1008) in the mastectomy group (P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, lower body mass index (BMI), larger tumor size, and pathologic evidence of multifocal disease were associated with positive surgical margin involvement in the BCS group. Younger age and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) histologic subtypes (Odds ratio (OR) = 2.165, 95% CI = 1.253-4.323) were associated with higher risk of re-operations. Preoperative MRI examination was associated with decreased risk for margin involvement in the BCS group (OR = 0.530, 95% CI = 0.332-0.842) and reoperation (OR = 0.302, 95% CI = 0.119-0.728). DCIS histologic subtypes were associated with higher residual tumor incidence than other types of breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Lower BMI, larger tumor size, pathologic evidence of multifocal disease, and no preoperative MRI evaluation were associated with increased risk for positive surgical margin involvement. DCIS with positive surgical margins was associated with increased risk for reoperation and residual cancer detection at re-excision.

KLF6 inhibited oral cancer migration and invasion via downregulation of mesenchymal markers and inhibition of MMP-9 activities.

Krüppel-like factors can bind to specific DNA motifs and regulate various cellular functions, such as metabolism, cell proliferation, and differentiation. Krüppel-like factor 6 (KLF6), a member of this family, is downregulated in human cancers. Oral cancer is a highly prevalent type in Taiwan. Although KLF6 overexpression in human cancer cells inhibits cell proliferation, induces apoptosis, and attenuates cell migration, the effects of KLF6 on oral cancer remains poorly elucidated. This study investigated the role of KLF6 in oral cancer tumorigenesis. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that nuclear KLF6 level was significantly and inversely associated with tumor size and stages. KLF6 overexpression attenuated the migration and invasion of oral cancer SAS cells. Zymography assay demonstrated that KLF6 inhibited the activities of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and weakened the expression of mesenchymal markers, such as snail, slug, and vimentin. Our study is the first to provide demonstrate that KLF6 functions as a tumor suppressor gene and prevents the metastasis of oral cancer cells.

High nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio of Cdk1 expression predicts poor prognosis in colorectal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Cdk1 (cyclin-dependent kinase 1) is critical regulator of the G2-M checkpoint. Cyclin-dependent kinase pathways are considered possible targets for cancer treatment; however, the prognostic role of Cdk1 in colorectal cancer is still controversial. Therefore, we attempted to determine the impact of Cdk1 on the clinical outcome of colorectal cancer patients to further identify its role in colorectal cancer. METHODS: Cdk1 immunoreactivity was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 164 cancer specimens from primary colorectal cancer patients. The medium follow-up time after surgery was 3.7 years (range: 0.01 to 13.10 years). The prognostic value of Cdk1 on overall survival was determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: All samples displayed detectable Cdk1 expression with predominant location in the cytoplasm and nucleus. A high Cdk1 nuclear/cytoplasmic (N/C) expression ratio was correlated with poor overall survival (5-year survival rate: 26.3% vs 46.9%, N/C ratio ≥1.5 vs N/C ratio <1.5, log-rank p = 0.027). Accordingly, a Cdk1 N/C expression ratio ≥1.5 was identified as an independent risk factor by multivariate analysis (hazard ratio = 1.712, P = 0.039). CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that Cdk1 N/C expression ratio determined by IHC staining could be an independent prognostic marker for colorectal cancer.

Transitional cell carcinoma in a patient with X-linked hyperimmunoglobulin M syndrome.

Patients with X-linked hyperimmunoglobulin M syndrome (XHIGM) have a defective CD40-CD40 ligand system and further immunoglobulin class-switching. They may present with recurrent infection and malignancy involving the liver, pancreas or biliary tract. We report here a case of poorly differentiated transitional cell carcinoma in a young man with XHIGM even on regular treatment and discuss the possible pathogenesis. Given that the triggering of the CD40-CD40 ligand system has been found to improve tumor immunogenicity in recent studies, future immunotherapy targeting the CD40 ligand for these patients may be feasible to prolong their survival.

Borderline clear cell adenofibroma with extensive hemorrhagic necrosis.

Borderline clear cell adenofibroma of the ovary is rather rare since most of clear cell tumors are carcinomas. We report a case of ovarian borderline clear cell adenofibroma in a 52-year-old postmenopausal woman. The tumor had the characteristic histologic features of borderline clear cell adenofibroma except for central extensive hemorrhagic necrosis. The prognosis of borderline clear cell adenofibroma is excellent. Because the invasiveness cannot be assessed in the necrotic areas, our patient needed long-term follow-up.