Characterization of immunohistochemical markers in triple negative breast carcinomas.

PURPOSE: Triple negative (TN) breast carcinomas (estrogen receptor/ER, progesterone receptor/PR and HER-2/neu negative) constitute 15-25% of all breast carcinomas and have been correlated with aggressive behavior and poor prognosis. Our aim was to describe and characterize the immunophenotype of these tumors in a group of patients from Turkey. METHODS: We used the immunohistochemical markers CK5/6, CK14, EGFR, E-cadherin, p53 and androgen receptor. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from 51 breast carcinoma patients (36 TN and 15 non TN) were included into this study. RESULTS: The mean values of the distribution of immunohistochemical markers in TN vs non-TN groups were as follows: CK5/6 78.4 vs 5.3%, CK14 84.8 vs 8%, EGFR 87.2 vs 8%, E-cadherin 96.9 vs 53.2%, p53 87.3 vs 7.3% and androgen receptor 89.5 vs 33.3% (all p-values<0.001). CK5/6 stained significantly different in the grade 2 and 3 cases (p=0.035) in the TN group.The other markers demonstrated no significant differences between grades. CONCLUSION: TN breast carcinomas in Turkish patients express basal cytokeratins, and have high levels of p53 compared to non-TN breast carcinomas.

Evaluation of hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-hepatitis C virus and anti-human immunodeficiency virus antibodies and syphilis seropositivity in blood donors: six years' seropositivity.

This retrospective study was carried out to evaluate the seropositivity of hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg), anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV), anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis in blood donors in Manisa Government Hospital. Data were evaluated in 10,189 blood donors between April 1, 1997, which is the time from which regular records began to be collected, and April 1, 2003. The blood samples of the blood center from April 1, 1997, to January 1, 1998, were examined via the card method, those between January 1, 1998, and January 1, 2002, were examined via micro enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method and the rest were evaluated with macro ELISA methods. In blood donors, the positivity of HbsAg, anti-HCV anti-HIV and the rapid plasmin reagin test were 2.95%, 0.68%, 0.00% and 0.16%, respectively.

Cyclosporine A toxicity in association with reduced renal mass.

The long-term effect of cyclosporine A (CsA) in male Wistar rats with reduced renal mass was studied. The aim of the study was to highlight the relationship of CsA effect on rats, simulating patients with two functioning kidneys (eg, heart, liver transplant recipients) and one kidney (renal transplant recipients). The Wistar rats were subjected to unilateral nephrectomy (Unx, n = 14) and to 5/6 nephrectomy (STnx, n = 14). Half of these rats and half of the sham operated ones (control, n = 13) were administered CsA (10 mg/kg/d) for 28 days IP. The serum creatinine (S(CR)), total protein (S(P)), and urine protein (U(P)) values as well as the whole blood CsA levels were determined on the 28th day of the study. The remnant kidneys were evaluated by image analyses and semiquantitative methods after sacrifice on the 28th day. In the three non-CsA-treated groups (Unx, STnx, and control) S(CR) was significantly higher in STnx rats than in Unx rats (P =.011). Percent of renal scarring (PRS) was significantly higher in Unx (P =.02) and in STnx rats (P =.017), compared with the control group. Among CsA-treated three groups S(CR) was significantly higher in STnx rats compared with Unx (P =.017). In addition, segmental sclerosis rate (SSR) was higher in STnx rats, compared with the control group (P =.008), whereas S(P) was higher in the control group (P =.005). When CsA-treated groups were compared with non-CsA-treated ones, U(P) of the Unx rats not receiving CsA were significantly higher than the Unx rats receiving CsA (P =.026). Also, U(P) was higher in non-CsA-treated groups (P =.014), whereas S(CR) (P =.001), S(P) (P =.001), and PRS (P =.001) were higher in CsA-treated rats. In conclusion, we suggest that preserved renal mass is not enough to prevent CsA toxicity and that CsA should be administered to patients with both kidneys (eg, heart, pancreas recipients) as carefully as to patients with one functioning kidney (renal transplant recipients).

Immunohistochemical analysis of thyroid follicular neoplasms and BRAF mutation correlation.

BACKGROUND: The accurate diagnosis of benign and malign thyroid tumors is very important for the clinical management of patients. The distinction of thyroid papillary carcinoma follicular variant and follicular adenoma can be difficult. AIM: To investigate the alternative methods like immunohistochemistry and exon 15 in the BRAF gene 1799 T/A mutation analyses for distinguishing thyroid tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We applied immunohistochemical markers; CK19, HMWCK, Galectin-3, HBME-1 and Fibronectin and mutant allele-specific PCR amplification technique was used to determine 1799 T/A mutation within the BRAF gene. Formalin-fixed parafin embedded tissues from 45 surgically total resected thyroids, included 26 thyroid papillary carcinoma follicular variant (FV-TPC), 8 Follicular Adenoma (FA), 6 Minimal invasive follicular carcinoma (MIFC) and 5 Follicular Carcinoma (FC). Statistical Analyses Used: Pearson Chi-Square and Kruskal Wallis tests were performed. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between FV-TPC and HMWCK, CK 19, HBME1, Galectin 3, fibronectin (P < 0.05), but there was no correlation with FV-TPC and BRAF gene mutation (P > 0.05). HBME-1 and CK 19 stained strong and diffuse positive in FV-TPCs but weak and focal in FAs. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that morphologic features combined with immunohistochemical panel of HMWCK, CK19, HBME-1, Galectin-3 and fibronectin can help to distinguish benign and malign thyroid neoplasms and FV-TPC from follicular adenomas. BRAF gene 1799 T/A mutation has been non-specific but its detection can be a useful tool combined with immunohistochemistry for diagnosing FV-TPC.

Does angiogenesis predict recurrence in superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder?

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of angiogenesis in predicting tumor recurrence and its correlation with established clinicopathologic prognostic factors in superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. METHODS: The paraffin sections of 80 superficial papillary transitional cell bladder carcinoma specimens were stained with CD31 antibody to label the vascular endothelium using the standard streptavidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase method. The vascular surface density (VSD) equivalent to the vascular surface area per unit of tissue volume and number of vessels per square millimeter of stroma (NVES) were assessed by means of stereology, and these morphometric parameters of angiogenesis were statistically analyzed to interpret the relation to tumor recurrence in addition to tumor stage, grade, size, and number and the presence of carcinoma in situ. RESULTS: VSD and NVES values showed no statistically significant difference between pTa and pT1 tumors or patients with and without recurrence. In contrast, VSD and NVES values were found to increase in higher grade tumors (P = 0.019). VSD values were also higher in patients with coexisting carcinoma in situ in pTa tumors (P <0.001). Tumor number and size and recurrence number and time to the first recurrence did not correlate with any vascular parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Stereologic assessment of angiogenesis does not help to predict recurrence in superficial bladder cancer. Angiogenic parameters appeared to be well correlated with the conventional histologic grading system. Otherwise, the present study did not show any correlation of angiogenesis with any potential prognostic factors. This may be due to the diverse angiogenic pathways occurring in invasive and superficial tumors.

Expression of pS2 protein and its relation with the Ki-67 proliferative indices and tumor recurrence in superficial bladder carcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and possible role of pS2 protein as a predictor of tumor recurrence in superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and to determine its relation with tumor stage, grade, size, number, recurrence and proliferative activity. METHODS: Paraffin sections of transurethral resection material from 80 patients with superficial transitional cell bladder carcinoma were stained with pS2 and Ki-67 antibodies using the standard streptavidin biotin immunoperoxidase method. Cytoplasmic pS2 staining was scored on a scale of 1-3 and the Ki-67-labelling index was determined as a percentage of positively staining tumor cells. RESULTS: An inverse relationship was found between pS2 expression and Ki-67 index (p<0.001). pS2 expression showed no relation with any clinicopathological prognostic parameters as well as the recurrence rate. The recurrence rate was only associated with increased tumor number (p = 0.05), while the time to first recurrence was significantly related to tumor size, proliferative activity and tumor grade (p = 0.04, p<0.001, and p = 0.03, respectively). On the other hand, higher tumor grade was correlated with increased tumor number, Ki-67 index and tumor stage (p = 0.016, p = 0.006, and p<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: pS2 expression is associated with a low proliferative potential of superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, while it does not seem to be related to the recurrence rate of the tumor and other prognostic factors. Tumor size and proliferative activity may aid in the estimation of the time to the first recurrence.