TOP2A copy number and TOP2A expression in uterine benign smooth muscle tumours and leiomyosarcoma.

AIMS: To examine TOP2A copy number, TOP2A expression, and its prognostic value in uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS) and other benign smooth muscle tumours. METHODS: We analysed 37 patients treated for uterine LMS with immunohistochemistry for protein expression and fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) for copy number. Twelve cases of leiomyoma variants (LMVs), 4 smooth muscle tumours of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) and 23 leiomyomas (LMs) were also included. RESULTS: Eighteen patients with LMS (48.6%) were International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage I, six (16.2%) were stage II, four (10.8%) were stage III, and nine (24.3%) were stage IV. Twenty-one (56.8%) patients with LMS showed high expression of TOP2A. Greater TOP2A levels were found in patients with stage ≥II disease compared with stage I and also in high mitotic index tumours (>20/10 HPF (high power field)). Eleven (36.7%) cases had abnormal TOP2A copy numbers. There was no link between TOP2A copy number and TOP2A expression. All patients with benign smooth muscle tumours had low TOP2A immunohistochemical expression and one (7.7%) patient had TOP2A amplification. TOP2A expression and TOP2A copy number had no impact on disease outcomes. Only the presence of disease outside of the uterus negatively impacted survival compared with early disease (53.4 vs 15.8 months; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: TOP2A is highly expressed in advanced LMS but not in non-malignant diseases. TOP2A expression does not correlate with FISH results and does not predict outcome. TOP2A levels are higher in high-mitotic index tumours and in more advanced stages of disease.

Oral carcinoma epidemiology in Paraná State, Southern Brazil.

Oral carcinoma is the sixth most frequent type of cancer in the world and the seventh most common in Brazil (the country with the highest incidence in Latin America). Mean five-year survival remains one of the lowest among the main cancers, thus justifying studies that contribute to the development of preventive strategies. The aim of this study was to compare the epidemiological, clinical, and histological characteristics of 91 patients with oral carcinoma. Mean age was 58.62 +/- 10.46 years, and male-to-female ratio was 6.6:1.0 (79 men and 12 women). European descendants predominated with 79 patients (86.8%). Eighty-five individuals (93.4%) smoked and 70 (76.9%) consumed alcohol regularly. Anatomical distribution of tumors was: 27 (29.7%) tongue; 18 (19.8%) floor of mouth; 11 (12.1%) oropharynx; and 11 (12.1%) oral mucosa. Fifty-seven patients (62.6%) presented lymph node involvement and three (3.3%) had distant metastases. Surgery and radiotherapy were used in 43.2% of patients. With the exception of the male/female ratio (which was higher), our data are consistent with previous studies on oral carcinoma patients.

Oral carcinoma epidemiology in Paraná State, Southern Brazil / Epidemiologia do câncer bucal em pacientes do Estado do Paraná, Sul do Brasil

Oral carcinoma is the sixth most frequent type of cancer in the world and the seventh most common in Brazil (the country with the highest incidence in Latin America). Mean five-year survival remains one of the lowest among the main cancers, thus justifying studies that contribute to the development of preventive strategies. The aim of this study was to compare the epidemiological, clinical, and histological characteristics of 91 patients with oral carcinoma. Mean age was 58.62 ± 10.46 years, and male-to-female ratio was 6.6:1.0 (79 men and 12 women). European descendants predominated with 79 patients (86.8 percent). Eighty-five individuals (93.4 percent) smoked and 70 (76.9 percent) consumed alcohol regularly. Anatomical distribution of tumors was: 27 (29.7 percent) tongue; 18 (19.8 percent) floor of mouth; 11 (12.1 percent) oropharynx; and 11 (12.1 percent) oral mucosa. Fifty-seven patients (62.6 percent) presented lymph node involvement and three (3.3 percent) had distant metastases. Surgery and radiotherapy were used in 43.2 percent of patients. With the exception of the male/female ratio (which was higher), our data are consistent with previous studies on oral carcinoma patients.

O carcinoma bucal é o sexto tipo mais comum de câncer no mundo e o sétimo no Brasil, onde ocorre a maior incidência da América Latina. A sobrevida média de aproximadamente cinco anos permanece como uma das menores entre os principais cânceres, justificando estudos que auxiliem no delineamento de estratégias de prevenção. Este estudo objetivou avaliar em uma amostra de 91 pacientes portadores de carcinomas bucais características epidemiológicas; fatores de risco, clínicos e histopatológicos. A média de idade foi de 58,62 ± 10,46 anos e a razão sexual de 6,6:1,0 (79 homens e 12 mulheres). A etnia euro-descendente foi predominante com 79 (86,8 por cento) pacientes. Oitenta e cinco (93,4 por cento) indivíduos eram tabagistas e 70 (76,9 por cento) etilistas. As localizações anatômicas prevalentes foram: 27 tumores (29,7 por cento) de língua; 18 (19,8 por cento) de assoalho; 11(12,1 por cento) de orofaringe e 11 (12,1 por cento) de mucosa. Cinqüenta e sete (62,6 por cento) pacientes apresentaram os linfonodos comprometidos e três apresentaram (3,3 por cento) metástases à distância. A maioria dos pacientes (43,2 por cento) recebeu tratamento cirúrgico e radioterápico. Com exceção da proporção sexual, nossos dados concordam com os freqüentemente descritos para portadores de carcinomas bucais.

Lack of association among polymorphic xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme genotypes and the occurrence and progression of oral carcinoma in a Brazilian population.

BACKGROUND: A case control association study was carried out to investigate polymorphisms in genes CYP1A1 (3801T > C), GSTM1, and GSTT1 (null genotypes) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), including a correlation with some histopathological findings (tumor size, lymph node invasion and degree of tumor differentiation). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The patients (n = 91) and the controls (n = 81) were matched by age, sex, ethnicity and smoking habits. The molecular analysis was carried out using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restrict Length Polymorphisms PCR-RFLP (CYP1A1) and Multiplex-PCR (GSTM1/GSTT1). RESULTS: No association was found for any of the studied genes: CYP1A1 (odds ratio (OR) = 1.24; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.67-2.31), GSTM1 (OR = 0.61; CI 95% = 0.33-1.11), and GSTT1 (OR = 1.24; CI 95% = 0.65-2.38). The analysis of combining genotypes also showed lack of association. Comparison with the histopathological findings did not, in general, detect any statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: CYP1A1, GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms do not appear to influence the genetic susceptibility to OSCC or the progression to more advanced stages.