Increased osteopontin expression in endometrial carcinoma is associated with better survival outcome

Objectives: Osteopontin (OPN) is a key extracellular matrix protein that is involved in cancer progression. The aim of thecurrent study is to investigate the relation of OPN immunostaining in endometrial carcinoma with clinicopathologicalparameters.Material and methods: Archival 71 endometrial carcinomas and 30 non-neoplastic endometrial tissues were obtained fromthe Department of Pathology at King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Tissue microarrays were constructed. Tissuesections were stained using anti-human OPN monoclonal antibody. Immunostaining results were recorded and analysed.Results: In non-neoplastic endometrial tissues, high (increased) OPN immunostaining was observed in 100%. In endometrialcarcinoma, high (increased) OPN immunostaining was seen in 64.8% of cases. High (increased) OPN immunostainingwas more frequent in non-neoplastic tissues than in endometrial carcinoma (p < 0.001). OPN immunostaining showed noassociation with histological type, FIGO tumour grade, tumour size, myometrial invasion, lymphovascular invasion, surgicalresection margin or lymph node metastasis. On the other hand, high (increased) OPN immunostaining was associated withbetter overall survival [Log Rank (Mantel-Cox) = 4.385, p = 0.003].Conclusions: In endometrial carcinoma, immunohistochemical staining of OPN could be a helpful tool in the predictionsurvival pattern. OPN immunostaining showed no association with most clinicopathological features. Further investigationsboth clinical and molecular are needed to explore the downstream of OPN in endometrial carcinoma

GLUT 1 expression is a supportive mean in predicting prognosis and survival estimates of endometrial carcinoma

Objectives: This study will investigate the phenotype of Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) in endometrial cancer and the association of its expression with tumor’s clinicopathological factors. Material and methods: Standard immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining protocol was utilized to identify the location and expression pattern of GLUT1 in a panel of 71 endometrial carcinomas compared to 30 normal tissues using tissue microarrays. Results: High scores of GLUT1 staining are more frequent in cancer cases, it was recognized in 64 (90%) endometrial cancers and 12 (40%) control cases. Tissue histotype (cancer versus non-cancerous) was associated with IHC staining of GLUT1 (p = 0.000). Significant association between strong GLUT1 staining of malignant epithelial cells and stage of tumor (p = 0.000) was observed, advanced disease stages were more prevalent with high GLUT1 staining in malignant epithelial cells. There is also a significant association between high scores of GLUT1 staining and location of expression in transformed epithelium, cytoplasmic and membranous (p = 0.000), 100% of cases with cytoplasmic and membranous expression showed high GLUT1 staining scores. Considerable varied survival models were observed with positive GLUT 1 neoplasm regarding diagnosis, grade, stage, differentiation, and recurrence (p-values 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.002, and 0.000 respectively). Survival estimates are considerably healthier in positive GLUT1 staining cases of endometrial carcinoma, which have low grade, low stage and no recurrence. Conclusions: GLUT1 expression has been found upregulated in endometrial carcinoma. IHC staining of GLUT1 can be a supportive mean in predicting prognosis and survival estimates of endometrial carcinoma with specific clinical factors

Immunoexpression of cyclin D1 in colorectal carcinomas is not correlated with survival outcome

AbstractBackgroundColon and colorectal cancer (CRC) research has entered a new era with recent updates of molecular events and prognostic markers. Among other prognostic markers, exaggerated expression of nuclear CCND1 has key role in tumour pathogenesis and metastases of CRC and has also been claimed to predict response to treatment.ObjectivesThis study was designed to evaluate the prognostic and predictive value of CCND1 in CRC and the correlation of CCND1 expression with the different clinicopathological parameters.MethodsParaffin blocks from 117 primary CRC were retrieved from the archives of the Department of Pathology at King Abdulaziz University. Tissue microarrays were designed and constructed. The immunostaining of CCND1 was performed and analysed.ResultsThere were more cases with low nuclear immunoexpression of CCND1in both primary tumours and nodal metastasis (p<0.001). Cyclin D1 did not show association with clinicopathological features except with lymphovascular invasion. Low nuclear immunoexpression of CCND1 was associated with negative lymphovascular invasion (p=0.046). There was no statistically significant correlation between CCND1 immunoexpression and survival probability (Log Rank=2.474, p=0.116).ConclusionOur study indicates that CCND1 immunoexpression cannot be used as a predictor of survival in CRC. It also shows no significant correlation with clinicopathological features except with lymphovascular invasion

Anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities of date palm pollen (Phoenix dactylifera) on experimentally-induced atypical prostatic hyperplasia in rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Atypical prostatic hyperplasia (APH) is a pseudoneoplastic lesion that can mimic prostate adenocarcinoma because of its cytologic and architectural features. Suspension of date palm pollen (DPP) is an herbal mixture that is widely used in folk medicine for male infertility. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of DPP suspension and extract on APH-induced rats.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>APH was induced in adult castrated Wistar rats by both s.c. injection of testosterone (0.5 mg/rat/day) and smearing citral on shaved skin once every 3 days for 30 days. Saw palmetto (100mg/kg), DPP suspension (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg), and lyophilized DPP extract (150,300 and 600 mg/kg) were given orally daily for 30 days. All medications were started 7 days after castration and along with testosterone and citral.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The histopathological feature in APH-induced prostate rats showed evidence of hyperplasia and inflammation. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that the expressions of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, IGF-1 and clusterin were increased, while the expression of TGF-β1 was decreased that correlates with presence of inflammation. Moreover, histopathological examination revealed increased cellular proliferation and reduced apoptosis in ventral prostate. Both saw palmetto and DPP treatment has ameliorated these histopathological and immunohistochemical changes in APH-induced rats. These improvements were not associated with reduction in the prostatic weight that may be attributed to the persistence of edema.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>DPP may have a potential protective effect in APH-induced Wistar rats through modulation of cytokine expression and/or upregulation of their autocrine/paracrine receptors.</p

BRAF mutations in thyroid tumors from an ethnically diverse group

BACKGROUND: The molecular etiology of thyroid carcinoma (TC) and other thyroid diseases which may present malignant precursor lesions is not fully explored yet. The purpose of this study was to estimate frequency, type and clinicopathological value of BRAF exon 15 mutations in different types of cancerous and non-cancerous thyroid lesions originating in an ethnically diverse population. METHODS: BRAF exon 15 was sequenced in 381 cases of thyroid lesions including Hashimoto´s thyroiditis, nodular goiters, hyperplastic nodules, follicular adenomas (FA), papillary TC (PTC), follicular variant PTC (FVPTC), microcarcinomas of PTC (micro PTC; tumor size ≤ 1 cm), follicular TC (FTC), and non-well differentiated TC (non-WDTC). RESULTS: We identified BRAF mutations in one of 69 FA, 72 of 115 (63%) PTC, seven of 42 (17%) FVPTC, 10 of 56 (18%) micro PTC, one of 17 (6%) FTC, and one of eight (13%) non-WDTC. Most of the cases showed the common V600E mutation. One case each of PTC, FVPTC, and FTC harbored a K601E mutation. A novel BRAF mutation was identified in a FA leading to deletion of threonine at codon 599 (p.T599del). A rare 3-base pair insertion was detected in a stage III PTC resulting in duplication of threonine at codon 599 (p.T599dup). Patients with PTC harboring no BRAF mutation (BRAF(wt)) were on average younger than those with a BRAF mutation (BRAF(mut)) in the PTC (36.6 years vs. 43.8 years). Older age (≥ 45 years) in patients with PTC was significantly associated with tumor size ≥ 4 cm (P = 0.018), vessel invasion (P = 0.004), and distant metastasis (P = 0.001). Lymph node (LN) involvement in PTC significantly correlated with tumor size (P = 0.044), and vessel invasion (P = 0.013). Of notice, taken the whole TC group, family history of thyroid disease positively correlated with capsular invasion (P = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Older age is manifold associated with unfavorable tumor markers in our series. The K601E identified in a PTC, FVPTC, and FTC seems to be more distributed among different histological types of TC than previously thought. The T599del is a yet undescribed mutation and the rare T599dup has not been reported as a mutation in PTC so far

Immunomodulatory Effect of Red Onion ( Allium cepa

Red onion scales (ROS) contain large amounts of flavonoids that are responsible for the reported antioxidant activity, immune enhancement, and anticancer property. Atypical prostatic hyperplasia (APH) was induced in adult castrated Wistar rats by both s.c. injection of testosterone (0.5 mg/rat/day) and by smearing citral on shaved skin once every 3 days for 30 days. Saw palmetto (100 mg/kg) as a positive control and ROS suspension at doses of 75, 150, and 300 mg/kg/day were given orally every day for 30 days. All medications were started 7 days after castration and along with testosterone and citral. The HPLC profile of ROS methanolic extract displayed two major peaks identified as quercetin and quercetin-4′-β-O-D-glucoside. Histopathological examination of APH-induced prostatic rats revealed evidence of hyperplasia and inflammation with cellular proliferation and reduced apoptosis Immunohistochemistry showed increased tissue expressions of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, IGF-1, and clusterin, while TGF-β1 was decreased, which correlates with the presence of inflammation. Both saw palmetto and RO scale treatment have ameliorated these changes. These ameliorative effects were more evident in RO scale groups and were dose dependent. In conclusion, methanolic extract of ROS showed a protective effect against APH induced rats that may be attributed to potential anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects