Metastasis from breast carcinoma to a tamoxifen-related endometrial polyp

Background. Metastasis of extragenital neoplasms to an endometrial polyp is rare and until now, only 6 cases of such involvement has been described

model

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of immunoregulatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene therapy on pancreas tissue rejection in a heterotopic pancreas transplantation model. Background: Modulation of inflammatory responses by anti-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-10) has been suggested to minimize organ rejection. In this context, modulation of cytokines using gene therapy could be a new therapeutic modality in preventing organ rejection. Methods: The study was performed using male inbred Wistar rats as recipients and Sprague-Dawley rats as donors. 24 h before transplantation, groups of rats, named IL-10 (n = 20) and green fluorescent protein (GFP, n = 20), were injected with viral vectors Ad5CMVhIL10 or Ad5CMVGFP. Sham-operated rats (n = 20) underwent saline injection only before transplantation. The pancreatic tissue from each of these donor rats was subsequently transplanted into the corresponding groups of streptozotocin-induced diabetic recipient rats. Recipients were thus transfected with either IL-10 (n = 20), GFP-only carrying viral vectors (n = 20) or no viral vectors (normal saline, n = 20). A selected (n = 5) was sacrificed at weekly intervals for 3 weeks and some were further followed up to 12 weeks before sacrifice. Histological assessment of the pancreatic tissue was made based on rejection and GFP expression. Blood glucose levels were checked daily in all groups until sacrifice. Upon sacrifice, serum cytokine and insulin levels were measured. Histopathological correlations between blood glucose levels, serum insulin levels and serum IL-10 levels were made. Results: IL-10 gene therapy significantly attenuated pancreas rejection compared to controls, provided more normal blood glucose levels and elevated plasma insulin levels. Upon assumed natural deactivation of transferred viruses after 4 weeks, differences between groups in terms of rejection, blood glucose and insulin levels disappeared. Conclusion: These findings suggest that IL-10 gene therapy significantly reduced pancreas rejection. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.C1 Osmangazi Univ, Fac Med, Dept Anat, Eskischir, Turkey.Osmangazi Univ, Fac Med, Dept Pathol, Eskischir, Turkey.Osmangazi Univ, Fac Med, Dept Biochem, Eskischir, Turkey.Pamukkale Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Denizli, Turkey

Congenital supratentorial cystic hemangioblastoma

PubMed ID: 18154025Supratentorial hemangioblastomas are rarely encountered tumors even in the pediatric population; an extensive review of the literature has revealed approximately 118 cases. However, only five of these occurred in infants, and three occurred during the first 2 months of life. A 5-week-old boy presented with emesis, irritability, a bulging anterior fontanelle, and a head circumference that had gradually expanded since birth. His medical and family histories were uninformative in terms of cancer or inherited diseases. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a large loculated cyst with a heterogeneous contrast-enhancing 3-cm nodule, first pushing the left frontal and parietal lobes and then displacing into this region. After being exposed via a left frontoparietal craniotomy, the cyst was evacuated by a soft drain, and then the mass was totally excised. The histopathological diagnosis was a reticular variant of hemangioblastoma. Given that von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene mutations may be associated with hemangioblastomas, sequencing analysis of the VHL gene was performed; sequencing of the three exons of the VHL gene showed no exonic mutations. Clinical and neuroimaging follow-up of the patient have revealed an improved health status during the last 23 months. The authors reviewed the literature concerning congenital supratentorial hemangioblastomas, and they discuss the clinical and histopathological characteristics and differential diagnosis associated with such lesions

The clinical relevance of Ki-67 expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of Ki-67 immunostaining in patients affected by laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. A systematic review was carried out in a tertiary university referral center. An appropriate string was run on PubMed to retrieve articles dealing with Ki-67 immunohistochemical staining and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. A double cross-check was performed on citations and full-text articles by two investigators independently to review all manuscripts and perform a comprehensive quality assessment. Of 85 abstracts identified, 18 articles were included. These studies reported on 1,342 patients with histological confirmed diagnosis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Most studies showed a statistical association between Ki-67 immunohistochemical expression and at least one of the clinical and histopathological parameters considered by the authors. Overall the studies analyzed suggested that the tumoral proliferative index was statistically connected respectively with T stage (2/18), N stage (4/18), grading (6/18), disease-free survival (10/18) and overall survival (4/18). Our review strongly suggests that immunohistochemical staining of Ki-67 correlates with tumoral aggressiveness and worse prognosis in patients affected by laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Further high-quality prospective studies should be carried out to confirm our finding and determine the eventual differences between cancers of specific laryngeal subsites