Burkitt lymphoma with a granulomatous reaction: an M1/Th1-polarised microenvironment is associated with controlled growth and spontaneous regression.

AIMS: Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is an aggressive B-cell lymphoma that, in some instances, may show a granulomatous reaction associated with a favourable prognosis and occasional spontaneous regression. In the present study, we aimed to define the tumour microenvironment (TME) in four such cases, two of which regressed spontaneously. METHODS AND RESULTS: All cases showed aggregates of tumour cells with the typical morphology, molecular cytogenetics and immunophenotype of BL surrounded by a florid epithelioid granulomatous reaction. All four cases were Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive with type I latency. Investigation of the TME showed similar features in all four cases. The analysis revealed a proinflammatory response triggered by Th1 lymphocytes and M1 polarised macrophages encircling the neoplastic cells with a peculiar topographic distribution. CONCLUSIONS: Our data provide an in-vivo picture of the role that specific immune cell subsets might play during the early phase of BL, which may be capable of maintaining the tumour in a self-limited state or inducing its regression. These novel results may provide insights into new potential therapeutic avenues in EBV-positive BL patients in the era of cellular immunotherapy.

The prognostic relationship between histopathological and immunohistochemical features of hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and mixed type.

Hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma are the most common cancers of the liver. In this study, our first aim is to evaluate the relationship between prognosis and clinicopathological parameters. The second aim involves investigating the need for immunohistochemical staining and patterns of tumours to differentiate between them. Sixty-one cases were included in this study. For IHC, we used Hep par-1, CK7, CK19, CD56 and p53 staining, and the patterns of tumours were evaluated in haematoyxylin-eosin sections. No significant differences were found in Kaplan-Meier life analysis between the tumour types and OS and DFS values, but these values were greater in HCC than in ICC. There were no relationships between clinicopathologic parameters and OS and DFS. Although the multifocality, stage and grade of tumour were higher in HCC than in ICC, the perineural invasion and lymph node metastasis were more common in ICC than in HCC. The diagnosis was changed in 4 cases, from HCC to ICC in one case and to combined type in 3 cases after IHC. Pathologist should be alert to mixed patterns in terms of diagnosis and IHC, because it helps differential diagnosis in these cases.

Does it take three to tango? An unsuspected multimorbidity of CD8+ T cell lymphoproliferative disorder, malaria, and EBV infection.

BACKGROUND: Malaria is known to cause acute and deadly complications. However, malaria can cause unforeseen pathologies due to its chronicity. It increases the risk of endemic Burkitt Lymphoma development by inducing DNA damage in germinal centre (GC) B cells, and leading higher frequency of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected cells in GCs. EBV is well known for its tropism for B cells. However, less is known about EBV's interaction with T cells and its association with T cell lymphoma. CASE PRESENTATION: A 43-year-old Sudanese male admitted to hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, a non-endemic country, with hyperpigmented painful skin rashes on his whole body. A complete blood count and a peripheral blood smear during admission revealed large granular lymphocytes (LGLs) with abnormally higher CD8 T cell numbers. Additional skin biopsy and pathology results were compatible with CD8+ T cell lymphoproliferative disorder with skin involvement. Patient was treated and discharged. However, a pathologist noticed unusual structures in skin tissue samples. Careful evaluation of skin biopsy samples by polarized microscopy revealed birefringent crystalloid structures resembling malarial haemozoin mainly loaded in macrophages and giant histiocytes. After purification of DNA from the skin biopsy samples, nested PCR was performed for the detection of Plasmodium parasites and Plasmodium falciparum DNA was amplified. Because, the co-presence of EBV infection with malaria is a well-known aetiology of lymphoma, EBV-early RNA (EBER) transcripts were investigated in paraffin-embedded tissue samples and found to be positive in macrophage-like histiocytes. CONCLUSIONS: This is a unique case of malaria and EBV infection in a T-LGL lymphoma patient who presented in a non-endemic country. This case emphasizes the clinical importance of EBV monitoring in T-LGL patients with skin involvement. Notably, Plasmodium infection should be examined in patients from malaria endemic regions by pathological and molecular investigations.

Living donor right lobe liver transplantation as a treatment for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis: report of three cases.

Echinococcus alveolaris is a parasite from tenia family which causes tumor-like lesions in the livers of infected people. If it is not diagnosed in the early stage of the disease, it frequently causes multiple cysts in the liver. The clinical importance of the disease is rapid progression, infiltration into different tissues like a malignant tumor and capacity of creating metastatic masses. The disease could be treated either by surgical resection or liver transplantation. The resection of the cystic disease is the preferred treatment method. In cases where resection is not possible, liver transplantation is the choice of treatment. Here we present three cases which were admitted to the hospital with unresectable hepatic alveolar echinococcosis and treated by liver transplantation successfully. Patients for whom surgical resection is not possible, we recommend liver transplantation as the treatment method.

Endocervical glandular involvement, multicentricity, and extent of the disease are features of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

This study aimed to evaluate the rate of endocervical glandular involvement, positive surgical margins, multicentricity, and disease extent between low-grade and high-grade cervical intraepithelial lesions after loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). Pathology medical records of patients who underwent LEEP were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with negative LEEP results were excluded. Loop electrosurgical excision procedure reports of patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1, 2, and 3 were compared. There was no statistically significant difference between patients with CIN 1 (n=24), CIN 2 (n=27), and CIN 3 (n=64) when age and surgical margin positivity were considered. Endocervical glandular involvement, multicentricity, and disease extent were higher in patients with CIN 3 (P=.001, P=.002, and P=.001, respectively). In conclusion, we recommend that patients with endocervical glandular involvement, lesions involving more than two-thirds of the LEEP specimen, and multicentricity be followed up more closely.

Xanthomatous hyperplastic polyps of the stomach: clinicopathologic study of 5 patients with polypoid gastric lesions showing combined features of gastric xanthelasma and hyperplastic polyp.

Gastric xanthelasmas are uncommon benign lesions that are macroscopically well-demarcated yellow or yellow-white plaques and are microscopically formed by collections of foamy macrophages. Because gastric hyperplastic polyps may rarely be associated with xanthelasma, we aimed to report 5 cases of combined lesions showing features of gastric xanthelasma and hyperplastic polyps observed over the past 3 years at our institution among 4497 patients who underwent gastric endoscopy. The patients were 3 men and 2 women aged 45 to 78 years. The lesions were located in oxyntic mucosa, except one in the antrum, and measured 2 to 6 mm. Three patients showed associated chronic gastritis; none showed evidence of Helicobacter pylori infection. Combined lesions of hyperplastic polyp with xanthelasma appear to have an association with chronic gastritis, and the lipid accumulation may be the cause of hyperplasia in the overlying mucosa.

Female genital system tuberculosis: a retrospective clinicopathological study of 1,548 cases in Turkish women.

PURPOSE: The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) has increased worldwide in the past decade and it still remains an important global public health problem. METHOD: A retrospective clinicopathological study of 1,548 cases of female genital tuberculosis between 1940 and 2011 was conducted. RESULTS: The mean age of the cases was 29.49 years. Involvement of the endometrium was noted in 1,073, fallopian tubes in 164, cervix in 157, and 154 had multiple organ involvement. Clinically, 115 cases (7.4%) were diagnosed as having primary infertility and 12 cases (0.8%) as having secondary infertility. There was a coexistent carcinoma in 1.5% of the cases. Peritoneal tuberculosis in 21 cases and tuberculous lymphadenitis in 7 cases were seen as well. CONCLUSION: The clinicopathological criteria of female genital tuberculosis in the different organs are described, and special attention is paid to infertility associated with tuberculous lesion, and awareness of the fact that the disease is still with us is thus particularly important.

Biliary complications after right lobe living donor liver transplantation: a single-centre experience.

BACKGROUND: Biliary complications that developed after right lobe liver transplantation from living donors were studied in a single centre. METHODS: From 2004 to 2010, 200 consecutive living donor right lobe liver transplantations were performed. The database was evaluated retrospectively. Biliary complications were diagnosed according to clinical, biochemical and radiological tests. The number of biliary ducts in the transplanted graft, the surgical techniques used for anastomosis, biliary strictures and bile leakage rates were analysed. RESULTS: Of a total of 200 grafts, 117 invloved a single bile duct, 77 had two bile ducts and in six grafts there were three bile ducts. In 166 transplants, the anastomosis was performed as a single duct to duct, in 21 transplants double duct to ducts, in one transplant, three duct to ducts and in 12 transplants as a Roux-en-Y reconstruction. In all, 40 bile leakages (20%) and 17 biliary strictures (8.5%) were observed in 49 patients resulting in a total of 57 biliary complications (28.5%). Seventeen patients were re-operated (12 as a result of bile leakages and five owing to biliary strictures). CONCLUSION: Identification of more than one biliary orifice in the graft resulted in an increase in the complication rates. In grafts containing multiple orifices, performing multiple duct-to-duct (DD) or Roux-en-Y anastomoses led to a lower number of complications.

Discrepancies in Lymphoma Diagnosis Over the Years: A 13-Year Experience in a Tertiary Center.

OBJECTIVE: In the past, accurate diagnosis of lymphoma was challenging since there were multiple competing classification systems that caused confusion and debate. After establishment of the World Health Organization lymphoma classification, lymphomas still remain a diagnostic challenge among general pathologists. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the discordance among centers has declined over the years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All lymphoma or lymphoma-suspected specimens that had been sent to the Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine between 2000 and 2013 for a second opinion were deemed eligible. To evaluate the change in the discrepancy rates over time we compared the rates of revision between 2000-2008 and 2009-2013. RESULTS: A total of 1824 patients in two time periods met the inclusion criteria. The overall discordance rate was 45.6%. This rate showed significant variations between different histologic subtypes. Discordance rates also varied significantly over time and decreased from 51.3% in 2000-2008 to 38.7% in 2009-2013 (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The high discordance rate, especially in the second period, indicates the need for easily accessible hematopathology consultation centers.

What does the Data of 354,725 Patients from Turkey Tell Us About Cervical Smear Epithelial Cell Abnormalities? - The Epithelial Cell Abnormality Rate is Increasing - Quality Control Studies and Corrective Activity are Musts.

OBJECTIVE: There is no other screening program close to the success rate of PAP test. Cervical cytology constitutes a large workload so that quality control in cervical cytology is important for the quality assurance of pathology laboratories. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In this study, we collected the cervical cytology results from all over Turkey and discussed the parameters influencing the quality of the PAP test. The study was conducted with Turkish gynaecopathology working group and 38 centers (totally 45 hospitals) agreed to contribute from 24 different cities. The study was designed to cover the cervical cytology results during 2013. The results were evaluated from the data based on an online questionnaire. RESULTS: The total number of Epithelial Cell Abnormality was 18,020 and the global Epithelial Cell Abnormality rate was 5.08% in the total 354,725 smears and ranging between 0.3% to 16.64% among centers. The Atypical squamous cells /Squamous intraepithelial lesion ratios changed within the range of 0.21-13.94 with an average of 2.61. When the centers were asked whether they performed quality assurance studies, only 14 out of 28 centers, which shared the information, had such a control study and some quality parameters were better in these centers. CONCLUSION: There is an increase in the global Epithelial Cell Abnormality rate and there are great differences among centers. Quality control studies including the Atypical squamous cells/Squamous intraepithelial lesion ratio are important. Corrective and preventive action according to quality control parameters is a must. A cervical cytology subspecialist in every center can be utopic but a dedicated pathologist in the center is certainly needed.

The Role of Epstein-Barr Virus LMP-1 Immunohistochemical Staining in Childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: There are a few published studies about prognostic markers of Epstein-B virus (EBV) related to outcomes in pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL). OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the prognostic value and effect of EBV on survival by using biopsy materials in children and adolescents diagnosed with HL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: EBV LMP-1 expression was examined using immunohistochemical methods in 58 tumor samples. Clinical features, overall survival (OS) and failure free survival time (FFS) were compared between EBV LMP-1 positive and negative patients. RESULTS: In 20 (35%) patients tumors were LMP-1 positive. When compared with patients above 10 years old, EBV LMP-1 was often positive in patients under 10 years old (30% vs. 70%, P = 0.02). In our most cases having B symptoms and advanced stage, EBV positiveness in Hodgkin Reed-Stenberg cells (H-RS) was not a significant determinant for survival (P = 0.78). Half of the past clinical trials in childhood HL reported longer survival rates in EBV LMP-1 positive patients. In some trials similar to our results there was no significant relationship between EBV and prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: The reason of diminished EBV positiviness may be related to technical methods such as not using immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization for EBER antigen but in laboratory conditions painting of control tissues with EBV impair this probability. In addition, cases enrolled to our study were living in Istanbul where social and economical factors are improved rather than generally.

Emerin expression in well differentiated epithelial lesions of thyroid: implications in papillary thyroid carcinoma diagnosis and predicting malignant behavior.

Recently, it has been reported that identifying nuclear membrane irregularities with anti-emerin antibody is useful for papillary thyroid carcinoma diagnosis. However, literature regarding the significance of emerin immunohistochemistry in thyroid is limited. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the well-established nuclear alterations, nuclear protrusions and recently described nuclear shapes (garlands and star-like shapes) with emerin immunohistochemistry and hematoxylin- eosin stain in thyroid lesions. We further evaluated the diagnostic accuracy measures of tissue microarrays evaluated with both stains, to detect whether emerin immunohistochemistry improves the diagnostic accuracy for papillary thyroid carcinoma. For papillary thyroid carcinoma, pseudo- inclusions were best performers with emerin (diagnostic accuracy: 0.91), whereas with hematoxylin- eosin diagnostic accuracy of grooves was the highest (0.92). For follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma, with both stains, predominately oval nuclear shape had the best diagnostic performance (diagnostic accuracy: 0.95). Nuclear protrusions were poor identifiers for papillary thyroid carcinoma. However, with emerin immunohistochemistry, they could successfully identify malignancy in 83% of the cases. Using emerin immunohistochemistry, in addition to hematoxylin- eosin improved the diagnostic accuracy for papillary thyroid carcinoma when compared to hematoxylin- eosin evaluation only (sensitivity: 0.70 vs 0.86, negative predictive value: 0.81 vs. 0.94, diagnostic accuracy: 0.87 vs. 0.94). Consistent with the previous literature, our findings indicate that emerin immunohistochemistry may be used as an adjunct diagnostic method to identify papillary thyroid carcinoma. Additionally, we suggest that nuclear protrusions detected with emerin imunohistochemistry may be used as indicators of malignant behavior in small tissue samples of thyroid.

Co-existence of BRAF V600E Gene Mutation in Tumor and Non-tumoral Surrounding Tissues in Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The murine sarcoma viral (V-Raf) oncogene homolog B (BRAF) V600E mutation, which increases protein kinase activity in BRAF-mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) - extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) (mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)) signaling, is found in 5-40% of all colorectal carcinoma cases. Proteins with this mutation are reported to be 130-fold more active, which results in induced proliferation, differentiation, cellular survival, and angiogenesis. The aim of the present study was to investigate tumor tissues, together with the surrounding non-tumoral tissues, for BRAF mutation presence, which may be an indicator for possible recurrence or prognosis as in the 'field carcinogenesis' model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The BRAF V600E genotype of 152 colorectal adenocarcinoma paraffin-embedded specimens were determined by mutant-allele-specific amplification-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: According to our results, the presence of BRAF mutation increases risk of lymph node invasion by 1.55-fold [χ(2)=3.83, p=0.05, odds ratio (OR)=1.55, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.00-2.42], histologically medium or high-grade tumor by 1.60-fold (χ(2)=4.34, p=0.030, OR=1.60, 95% CI=1.03-2.48), vascular invasion by 1.55-fold (χ(2)=3.55, p=0.05, OR=1.55, 95% CI=0.99-2.42), perineural invasion by 1.50-fold (χ(2)=3.16, p=0.07, OR=1.5, 95% CI=0.96-2.33) and the combination of these poor prognostic features by 1.54-fold (χ(2)=2.47, p=0.11, OR=1.54, 95% CI=0.93-2.53). We also found that females are more prone to having the mutation and that being female increases the risk of having this mutation by 1.54-fold (χ(2)=3.58, p=0.05, OR=1.54, 95% CI=0.97-2.44). CONCLUSION: BRAF V600E mutation in non-tumoral surrounding tissue in patients with colorectal cancer may be used as a valuable marker to foresee clinical outcome or a possible recurrence. To our knowledge, this was the first study to take into consideration the non-tumoral surrounding tissues in addition to the tumor tissue.

Low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma of the vagina: A tumor, not previously reported at this site.

This report presents the first case of low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS) arising from the vaginal wall (a rare soft-tissue sarcoma of subfascial planes) and draws attention to differential diagnosis of masses arising from the vaginal wall. A patient presenting with abdominal pain to emergency department was diagnosed to have an ovarian mass filling the Douglas space. At laparoscopy, the origin of the mass was identified as the posterior vaginal wall. After vaginal excision of the gelatinous mass, pathologic diagnosis revealed a rare tumor, LGFMS. We discussed the differential diagnosis of vaginal LGFMS.

Giant mucocele originating from the middle concha in a 5-year-old child: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Mucoceles are mucus-filled, epithelial-lined sacs that slowly develop in the paranasal sinuses when sinus or concha bullosa drainage is obstructed by inflammatory processes, trauma, or prior surgery. They are extremely rare in children. Symptoms usually arise from the nasal obstruction or compression of neighboring structures. CASE PRESENTATION: This case report describes a 5-year-old Turkish boy with a 3-year history of nasal obstruction. A computed tomography scan showed a well-defined soft tissue density lesion, seemingly originating in the region of the middle concha and was suggestive of a middle concha mucocele. The mass was removed by endoscopic sinus surgery. CONCLUSIONS: In the case of a child presenting with nasal obstruction, mucocele should be remembered in the differential diagnosis of intranasal tumors. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are helpful in making the diagnosis and endoscopic nasal surgery has proven successful in the treatment.

Three-step approach versus see-and-treat approach in patients with cytological abnormalities.

The aim of this study was to compare the results of see-and-treat procedure with the classical three-step procedure in terms of initial cytology and LEEP reports. We searched the pathology charts of patients that had LEEP were searched retrospectively and then they were divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of a cervical biopsy before LEEP. There were 116 patients in the study. Of the patients with ASCUS/LSIL cytology and a positive cervical biopsy 48.4% had CIN 2-3 at LEEP, in contrast only 19% of the patients without a prior cervical biopsy had CIN 2-3 at LEEP (p=0.031); there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 procedures in patients with a HSIL and ASC-H smear result (p=0.726 and p=1.0 respectively). In conclusion patients with ASC-H and HSIL cytology see-and-treat approach seems more advantageous, avoids delay in treatment, noncompliance and risk of skipping lesions at biopsy.

Patients with epithelial cell abnormality in PAP smears: correlation of results with follow-up smears and cervical biopsies.

OBJECTIVE: Cervical carcinoma has been included in the preventable diseases category ever since the use of cervical cytology in routine practice. The Pap test is an efficient screening test. We aimed to compare the cervical cytology diagnosis with biopsy and smear follow up results in our institution. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We aimed to compare the diagnosis of cytology material examined in our institution during the 2009-2012 period with their biopsy and smear follow ups. The diagnoses were compared with the follow up smears and/or cervical biopsies. RESULTS: 13610 Pap tests were examined during September 2009-July 2012. Among these cases, there were 370 atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), 29 atypical squamous cells-high grade intraepithelial lesions cannot be excluded (ASC-H), 155 low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), 33 high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), and 5 atypical glandular cell (AGC) diagnoses. The ratio of atypical squamous cell (ASCUS and ASC-H) to squamous intraepithelial lesions was 2.12. Squamous intraepithelial lesion was verified in 47 of 91 ASCUS cases. Among patients who had a cervical biopsy, 52 of 64 LSIL cases and all of the 21 HSIL cases had biopsy-proven SIL. CONCLUSION: Atypical squamous cell (ASC) is the most common diagnosis in abnormal cervical cytology. As it is indefinite, ASC is used as a quality assurance parameter and the aim is to decrease its use. As the ratio of epithelial cell abnormality is variable in different populations, the ASC/SIL is a more definite variable to be used for quality assurance. The efficiency in clinical use of the cervical cytology screening test is determined by biopsy verification. Our epithelial cell abnormality, ASC/SIL ratio and cytology-histology correlation values were parallel to the literature, proving that the methods are used reliably at our institution.

Xanthogranulomatous sialadenitis clinically mimicking a malignancy: case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Xanthogranulomatous tissue reaction is a well-documented process that is most common in kidney. There are other uncommon sites being documented as case reports in the literature. We would like to describe the clinicopathologic findings in a case of xanthogranulomatous sialadenitis that involved the parotid gland, which was clinically thought to be a tumoral mass, and compare it with the 4 previously reported cases. CASE REPORT: A 52-year-old man presented with a left parotid mass. Fine needle aspiration biopsy was consistent with Warthin's tumor. The mass lesion was excised. DISCUSSION: The lesion measured 2.5 × 1.5 × 1.5 cm. Microscopic examination revealed sheets of foamy macrophages centrally admixed with neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, plasma cells and scattered giant cells indicating a xanthogranulomatous reaction. As a conclusion xanthogranulomatous tissue reaction can mimic neoplasms.

The Predictive and Prognostic Significance of c-erb-B2, EGFR, PTEN, mTOR, PI3K, p27, and ERCC1 Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common fatal cancer and an important healthcare problem worldwide. There are many studies describing the prognostic and predictive effects of epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (c-erb-B2) and epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (EGFR), transmembrane tyrosine kinases that influence cell growth and proliferation in many tumors. OBJECTIVES: The current study aimed to investigate the expression levels of c-erb-B2, EGFR, PTEN, mTOR, PI3K, p27, and ERCC1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their correlation with other clinicopathologic features. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty HCC cases were stained immunohistochemically with these markers. Correlations between the markers and clinicopathologic characteristics and survival rates were analyzed. RESULTS: No membranous c-erb-B2 staining was seen, whereas cytoplasmic positivity was present in 92% of HCC samples, membranous EGFR was observed in 40%, PI3K was found in all samples, and mTOR was seen in 30%, whereas reduced or absent PTEN expression was observed in 56% of samples and loss of p27 was seen in 92% of the cases. c-erb-B2 and mTOR overexpression, as well as reduced expression of p27, all correlated with multiple tumors (P = 0.041, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively). P27 loss, and mTOR and EGFR positivity were significantly correlated with AFP (P = 0.047, P = 0.004, and P = 0.008, respectively). Angiolymphatic invasion was more commonly seen in EGFR- and ERCC1-positive cases (P = 0.003 and P = 0.005). EGFR was also correlated with histological grade (P = 0.039). No significant correlations were found among PTEN , PI3K, and the clinicopathological parameters. Disease-free or overall survival rates showed significant differences among therapy modalities, AFP levels, angiolymphatic or lymph node invasions, and ERCC1 and p27 expression levels (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: c-erb-B2, EGFR, mTOR, ERCC1 overexpression levels, and loss of p27 may play roles in hepatocarcinogenesis and may be significant predictors of aggressive tumor behavior. These markers were found to be correlated with certain clinicopathologic features, therapy modalities, and survival rates in the current study. These findings may help in planning new, targeted treatment strategies .

CDX2, COX2 and MUC2 expressions in Barrett's esophagus: can they be useful in determination of the dysplasia?

OBJECTIVE: The description of Barrett's esophagus which is a risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma has differences, and the need of goblet cells for diagnosis is controversial. However, the pathophysiology in the metaplasia seen in Barrett's esophagus is not totally understood and new methods are searched for the assessment of progression to dysplasia. We aimed to search the immunohistochemical expression of CDX2, COX2 and MUC2 in Barrett's esophagus to detect any early evidence of intestinal metaplasia or dysplasia. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The staining properties were examined in the intestinal metaplastic (goblet cell-containing columnar epithelium), columnar (non-goblet columnar epithelium), distant columnar (non-goblet columnar epithelium distant from intestinal metaplastic epithelium) and squamous epithelium in 59 pathologically diagnosed Barrett's esophagus, 22 of which having dysplasia. The results were compared statistically with Pearson and Fisher exact tests. RESULTS: The distribution of the staining of intestinal metaplastic, non-goblet columnar distant columnar, and squamous epithelium, respectively were as follows: for CDX2 76.3%, 23.7%, 1.7%, 0%; for COX-2 93.2%, 47.5%, 8%, 62.9%; for MUC2 93.2%, 11.9%, 4% and 0%. The expression of CDX2, COX2 and MUC2 in the intestinal metaplastic epithelium was higher than the expression in distant and non-goblet columnar epithelium. The expression of CDX2, COX2 and MUC2 in the foci of dysplasia decreased significantly (18.2%, 27.3%, 31.9%, and p=0.039, 0.0001, 0.0001, respectively). COX2 expression in squamous epithelium was also lower when the adjacent mucosa has dysplasia (p=0.014). CONCLUSION: The CDX2, COX2 and MUC2 expressions were seen in the intestinal epithelium having goblet cells. The use of the markers in the diagnosis is controversial but the difference in the Barrett esophagus-dysplasia sequence seems to be meaningful.