RESUMO
Changes in mitochondrial DNA (mt-DNA) copy number in blood/tissue have been linked to increased risk of several cancers; however, studies on their association in breast cancer is still lacking. In this pilot study, we investigated mt-DNA copy number variation in peripheral blood and tissue samples from metastatic breast cancer patients and compared their differences. For the study, peripheral blood samples from non-cancer individuals (control) and breast cancer patients, along with resected tissues from adjacent and tumor sites from same breast cancer patients were collected. Total genomic DNA was isolated and changes in mt-DNA copy number were measured by relative quantification using SYBR green based quantitative real time PCR method. Our results indicated a significant reduction in mt-DNA copy number in blood samples of breast cancer patients compared to control. However, a significantly higher mt-DNA copy number was observed in tumor tissue when compared with paired non tumor tissue. There was no significant difference in mt-DNA copy number between blood and adjacent tumor tissue samples of the breast cancer patients. Overall, our study reports for the first time a comparison of mt-DNA copy number in blood and paired tissue together and suggested that mt-DNA copy number is differentially regulated in blood and tumor tissues in breast cancer.
RESUMO
CONTEXT: To share clinicopathological data of thyroid carcinoma from a high volume Tertiary Care Centre in East India. AIM: To share the epidemiology and clinicopathological presentation of thyroid cancer at a high volume Tertiary Care Center in East India. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-two consecutive patients of thyroid neoplasm diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and primarily underwent surgical treatment from July 2005 to June 2012 were included. Retrospective data analyses of patient's records were done. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The statistical analysis was performed using Epi Info version 3.5.3. RESULTS: Forty-two patients underwent surgery for thyroid neoplasm. Median age of diagnosis was 39 years. It was 6 times more common in females (female:male - 6:1). Papillary carcinoma consists of 63.15%, follicular carcinoma consists of 23.68%, and medullary carcinoma and anaplastic carcinoma each consist of 5.26% of malignant cases. Out of them, lymph node metastases were seen in 17 patients (44.73%). FNAC shows positive predictive value of 89.74%. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, differentiated thyroid cancers were found to be more common in younger age group. Cervical lymph node metastases occur in a large number of patients. Central compartment lymph node dissection with exploration of lateral neck and modified neck dissection whenever needed is helpful in all cases of thyroid carcinoma for proper pathological staging. FNAC is rapid and efficient procedure with high positive predictive value in diagnosing thyroid neoplastic lesions.