VEGF Immunoexpression in Prostate Adenocarcinoma.

Angiogenesis is a basic biomolecular mechanism for tumor progression, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) being one of the main enhancers of this complex process. In this study, we analyzed VEGF-A immunoexpression in 61 prostate adenocarcinomas (PAs), related to the prognostic parameters of the lesions. VEGF scores were higher in PAs that associated serum PSA values above 20ng/ml, in tumors with pure complex or mixed growth patterns, as well as in high-grade and advanced lesions. The results obtained indicate the involvement of VEGF in prostate angiogenesis and the usefulness of the maker for the identification of aggressive lesions.

The role of androgen receptors in vascular and cell proliferation of the prostate adenocarcinomas.

Prostate adenocarcinoma (PA) is by incidence and prognosis a unique model for investigating the biomolecular mechanisms involved in tumor progression. In this study, we analyzed the immunoexpression of androgen receptor (AR), cluster of differentiation 105 (CD105) and Ki67 for 61 cases of PA, in relation to the main clinicopathological parameters of the lesions. The AR scores, CD105 microvessel density (MVD) and Ki67 proliferation index (PI) were significantly higher in patients with serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) above 20 ng∕mL, in ductal, colloid and sarcomatoid types of PA, in growth patterns 4-5 or mixed, respectively in the case of high-grade advanced stage tumors, with perineural and vascular invasion, as well as in groups with a reserved prognosis. The results obtained, reflected in the positive linear correlation of AR, CD105 and Ki67 expression, indicate synchronous endocrine, angiogenic and proliferative mechanisms involved in tumor progression, which can be used to optimize the targeted tumor therapy.

Analysis of Prostate Adenocarcinoma Histopathological Types in Relation to Tumor Grade.

Prostate adenocarcinomas are some of the most common malignancies diagnosed in men, and the evaluation of tumor growth patterns is the basis for establishing the aggressiveness of the lesions. The study included 283 cases of prostate adenocarcinomas for which histopathological type and tumor grade were analyzed. The results indicated the association of ductal, sarcomatoid and signet ring-like cell types with aggressive growth patterns and high scores, atrophic and pseudohyperplastic types with mild growth patterns and low scores, foamy gland type presented intermediate growth patterns/scores, while conventional and colloid types had variable aspects. The grading systems used may be considered consistent with the histological types of prostate adenocarcinomas.

Improved diagnosis and long-term recurrence rate reduction for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients undergoing fluorescent hexylaminolevulinate photodynamic diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer (BC) currently accounts for 5% of all malignancies and the most common tumor of the urinary tract. Diagnosis of bladder cancer is based on urine cytology and white-light cystoscopy (WLC) performed for patients with suspected bladder mass and÷or hematuria. Recent studies suggest that using the fluorescence photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) significantly improves diagnostic sensitivity with a positive influence upon the recurrence rate of bladder cancer. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic efficiency and long-term influence upon the tumor recurrence rate for patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) undergoing hexaminolevulinate PDD compared to standard WLC. PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2009 and 2011, 113 primary NMIBC patients were enrolled in our prospective study and randomized in two parallel groups: 57 patients in the study group (PDD) and 56 patients in the control group (WLC). All patients had primary Ta÷T1 NMIBC with good life expectancy and no significant bladder outlet obstruction [postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) <100 mL]. RESULTS: Fluorescence cystoscopy examination identified 26.3% more tumors than the conventional examination (p=0.034) in the PDD group. Tumor recurrence rate analysis proved a significant reduction by up to 20% after five years of follow-up by using PDD [hazard ratio (HR) 0.566, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.343-0.936; p=0.0267]. CONCLUSIONS: The use of PDD for patients with NMIBC results in a significant 26% diagnostic sensitivity improvement as well as superior patient prognosis and quality of life following conservative treatment by reducing the tumor recurrence rate with up to 20% after five years of follow-up.

Pregnancy resulting from IMSI after testicular biopsy in a patient with obstructive azoospermia.

In this article, we report a case of pregnancy obtained in an infertile couple diagnosed with severe male factor infertility. The couple attended for fertility examination reporting a history of 10 years of infertility. The cause of infertility was obstructive azoospermia. The treatment consists of in vitro fertilization (IVF). The ovarian stimulation of female patient was done with antagonist protocol and after ovarian puncture was obtained nine oocytes. The urologist performed testicular sperm extraction (TESE). There were selected nine sperm cells by intra-cytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI). For this purpose, we used an inverted microscope with high magnification equipped with ×60 air objectives with modulation contrast illumination. After intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) of sperm into the oocytes there were obtained six normal embryos from which three embryos were transferred into the uterus. A singleton pregnancy was achieved which was completed with birth of a healthy baby in time. This successful outcome shows that use of IMSI and ICSI procedures are really useful in selection of best spermatozoa obtained by TESE in treatment of obstructive azoospermia.

Paratesticular liposarcoma of the spermatic cord: a case report and review of the literature.

Spermatic cord liposarcoma is a rare medical condition and liposarcomas are most commonly found in the retroperitoneum, in the extremities and less often in the head and the neck area. The spermatic cord is a rare site of origin, accounting for about 3-7% of all liposarcomas. We report a case of liposarcoma of spermatic cord. A 62-year-old male patient presented with a painless right inguinal mass. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) showed a fatty mass in the right inguinoscrotal region, and was interpreted as an inguinal hernia containing omentum protruding into scrotum. The mass was removed with right testis and spermatic cord. The surgical margins were negative. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry revealed a well-differentiated liposarcoma. In this article, we discuss the clinical behavior of the spermatic cord liposarcoma and currently recommended treatment of the spermatic cord liposarcoma by reviewing the literature. In conclusion, spermatic cord liposarcoma are rare neoplasm that present as firm, slow-growing palpable paratesticular masses and the surgical treatment should include a wide resection around the inguinal canal, with removal of the spermatic cord and the surrounding soft tissue deep to the internal inguinal ring.