Ki-67 Labeling Index in Primary Invasive Breast Cancer from Sudanese Patients: A Pilot Study

Ki-67 labeling index has been linked to patient outcome in breast cancer patients. However, very few published reports have examined Ki-67 labeling index in African breast cancer patients. Sixty-two Sudanese breast cancer patients with primary invasive tumors were immunostained for Ki-67, ER, PR, Her-2/neu, CK5/6, and CK17. Ki-67 labeling index ranged from 0% to 50%, with a median of 5% (interquartile range 0–10). Low Ki-67 labeling index (immunostaining < 10%) was detected in 43/62 (69.4%) with a median of 0 (interquartile range 0–5), whereas high Ki-67 labeling index (immunostaining ≥ 10%) was revealed in 19/62 (30.6%) with a median of 20 (interquartile range 12–26). Ki-67 labeling index was significantly associated with tumor grade (P=0.022, Mann-Whitney U Test). There were no significant group differences between Ki-67 labeling index and ER (P=0.43), PR (P=0.7), Her-2/neu (P=0.45), CK5/6 (P=0.29), CK17 (P=0.55), pathologic stage (P=0.4), tumor histology (P=0.99), breast cancer subtypes (P=0.47), tumor size (P=0.16), and age at diagnosis (P=0.6). These results suggested that Ki-67 labeling index correlates with tumor differentiation and not with the tumor size or any other tested marker in Sudanese breast cancers. Thus, Ki-67 labeling index could be considered as a reliable measure of tumor proliferative fraction in Sudan

Ki-67 Labeling Index in Primary Invasive Breast Cancer from Sudanese Patients: A Pilot Study

Ki-67 labeling index has been linked to patient outcome in breast cancer patients. However, very few published reports have examined Ki-67 labeling index in African breast cancer patients. Sixty-two Sudanese breast cancer patients with primary invasive tumors were immunostained for Ki-67, ER, PR, Her-2/neu, CK5/6, and CK17. Ki-67 labeling index ranged from 0% to 50%, with a median of 5% (interquartile range 0–10). Low Ki-67 labeling index (immunostaining < 10%) was detected in 43/62 (69.4%) with a median of 0 (interquartile range 0–5), whereas high Ki-67 labeling index (immunostaining ≥ 10%) was revealed in 19/62 (30.6%) with a median of 20 (interquartile range 12–26). Ki-67 labeling index was significantly associated with tumor grade (P=0.022, Mann-Whitney U Test). There were no significant group differences between Ki-67 labeling index and ER (P=0.43), PR (P=0.7), Her-2/neu (P=0.45), CK5/6 (P=0.29), CK17 (P=0.55), pathologic stage (P=0.4), tumor histology (P=0.99), breast cancer subtypes (P=0.47), tumor size (P=0.16), and age at diagnosis (P=0.6). These results suggested that Ki-67 labeling index correlates with tumor differentiation and not with the tumor size or any other tested marker in Sudanese breast cancers. Thus, Ki-67 labeling index could be considered as a reliable measure of tumor proliferative fraction in Sudan

Epidemiology, Pathology, Management and Open Challenges of Breast Cancer in Central Sudan: A Prototypical Limited Resource African Setting

Little is known about breast cancer in Sudan. According to the recent data published by the Khartoum Cancer Registry, breast cancer was the most common cancer among Sudanese women. Generally, breast cancer in native African women is characterized by young age at onset, occurrence in multiparous premenopausal patients, advanced stage at diagnosis, large tumor size, high‐grade and triple‐negative phenotype, with correspondingly poor prognosis. In Sudan, it was reported that about 70% of the women diagnosed with breast cancer were younger than 50 years old. We present here data from local and international publications as well as primary information from the National Cancer Institute in Wad Medani (one of the only two cancer hospitals of the country, both located in Central Sudan in Khartoum and Wad Medani). We provide an up‐to‐date situation analysis of breast cancer in Central Sudan as an example for an African reality and the various open challenges of breast cancer in a limited resource setting. A better understanding of breast cancer in black African women is of global relevance, as there is an alarming increase in breast cancer among young black women worldwide, and these patients have the lowest survival rates

A gene-environment interaction between occupation and BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations in male breast cancer?

The association of male breast cancer (MBC) with a positive breast cancer (BC) family history and with BRCA1/2 germ-line mutations points to a genetic component; a relationship with occupation has also been reported. Recently, we identified pathogenetic BRCA1/2 mutations in a population-based series of Italian MBC patients: here in, we investigated interactions between a carrier status for BRCA1/2 mutations and occupation using a case-case design and estimating case-only odds ratios (CORs). Truck-driving was the most frequent occupation (3/4 BRCA-related cases and 2/19 unrelated cases). An interaction between carrier status and working as a truck-driver emerged, when we classified MBC cases as "ever/never-held" this job title (COR 25.5; 95% Confidence Limits (CL): 1.1-1,412.5) or according to truck-driving as the "longest-held" work (COR 54.0; 95% CL: 1.6-2,997.5). The possible modifying effect on MBC risk in subjects carrying BRCA1/2 germ-line mutations of an occupation characterised by exposure to chemicals such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) that are capable of inducing DNA damage, may provide clues to the role of environmental exposures in modifying BC risk in mutation carriers in both genders. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Carotid Body and Vagal Paragangliomas: Epidemiology, Genetics, Clinicopathological Features, Imaging, and Surgical Management

ABSTRACT Carotid body and vagal paragangliomas, although considered indolent tumors, represent a challenge for the treating physician. This is mainly because of their peculiar localization, in close proximity with important anatomical structures. In addition, there is no chemotherapy available for these tumors, the role of radiation therapy is debated, and the only successful therapy is surgery. However, to achieve the best treatment goals, it is fundamental for the professional caregiver to master not only the clinical and surgical procedures but also the genetic backgrounds and the histopathological features of these tumors. We provide in this chapter a comprehensive review of the above mentioned aspects, with the aim to address the complexity of these tumors with a multidisciplinary approach

Tissue microarray (TMA) versus whole section immunohistochemistry in the assessment of ER/PR and Her-2/neu status in a breast cancer series from Sudan.

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Immunotoxicity and Sensitizing Capacity of Metal Compounds Depend on Speciation

Immunotoxicity of metal compounds is an issue of great importance due to the recent industrial application of metals with unknown toxicity on the immune system and the discovery of metal intermediary compounds not sufficiently studied yet. In this report we show results of our study on the immunotoxicity of the following metals: the Platinum group elements (Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium), Titanium and Arsenic. We applied functional and non functional assays and investigated both innate and adaptive immune systems, in particular, cell proliferation, cytokine production by PBMCs and O−2 production by neutrophils. We obtained the following results: only some Ti compounds (Titanocene, Ti ascorbate and Ti oxalate) show immunotoxicity. Trivalent As compounds (Sodium arsenite and tetraphenyl arsonium chloride) are more immunotoxic than the other investigated As compounds. Genotoxicity of Pt group compounds is in the following order: Pt < Rh < Pd. Immunotoxicity of Pt group compounds is in the following order: Pd < Pt < Rh. Lymphocytes and macrophages show a different reaction of neutrophils to metal toxicity. We can conclude that these studies show that metal immunotoxicity depends on speciation. In general speciation provides additional and often essential information in evaluating metal toxicity. However, there are many difficulties in applying speciation in investigating toxico-kinetic aspects to many metals, mainly due to the lack of information about the existence and significance of species and to the lack of analytical methods for measuring species in biological samples

Tympanojugular Paragangliomas: Surgical Management and Clinicopathological Features

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