lncRNA XIST Interacts with Regulatory T Cells within the Tumor Microenvironment in Chronic Hepatitis B-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Objective:&nbsp;Alterations in the expression of several long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown in chronic hepatitis B-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (CHB-HCC). Here, we aimed to investigate the association between the expression of inflammation-associated lncRNA X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) and the type of inflammatory cells within the tumor microenvironment.Material and methods:&nbsp;Twenty-one consecutive cirrhotic patients with CHB-HCC were included. XIST expression levels were investigated on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumoral and peritumoral tissue samples by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunohistochemical staining for CD3, CD4, CD8, CD25, CD163, CTLA4, and PD-1 were performed. The findings were statistically analyzed.Results:&nbsp;Of the 21 cases, 11 (52.4%) had tumoral and 10 (47.6%) had peritumoral XIST expression. No significant association was found between the degree of inflammation and XIST expression. The number of intratumoral CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD20 positive cells was higher in XIST-expressing tumors, albeit without statistical significance. Tumoral and peritumoral XIST expression tended to be more common in patients with tumoral and peritumoral CD4high inflammation. The number of intratumoral CD25 positive cells was significantly higher in XIST-expressing tumors (p=0.01). Tumoral XIST expression was significantly more common in intratumoral CD25high cases (p=0.04). Peritumoral XIST expression was also more common among patients with CD25high peritumoral inflammation, albeit without statistical significance (p=0.19).Conclusion:&nbsp;lncRNA XIST is expressed in CHB-HCC and its expression is significantly associated with the inflammatory tumor microenvironment, particularly with the presence and number of CD25 (+) regulatory T cells. In vitro studies are needed to explore the detailed mechanism.</p

The Prognostic Significance of Modified Lymph Node Ratio and LODDS in HER-2(+) Breast Cancer

Objective: The overexpression of human epidermal growht factor-2 (HER-2) receptor is detected in 20% of patients with breast cancer. The prognosis is poor in patients with HER-2(+) breast cancer not receiving systemic therapy. Modified lymph node ratio (mLNR) and log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS) are the novel ratio-based classifications of lymph nodes in breast cancer. In literatüre, the data about the prognostic significance of mLNR ve LODDS is limited in patients with HER-2(+) breast cancer. The objective of the study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of mLNR and LODDS in patients with HER-2(+) breast cancer. Method: This study included 75 patients who were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy and trastuzumab for the diagnosis of HER-2(+) breast cancer between 2008-2013. The patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy or patients without axillary dissection were excluded from the study. Results: The mean disease-free survival and overall survival were 126.36±4.38 months (range: 117.78-134.95) and 128.87±3.32 months (range: 122.37-135.38), respectively. The mean disease-free survival was 127.30 months in patients with mLNR≤ 0.5 and 118.08 months in patients with mLNR&gt; 0.5 (p=0.690). When the patients were classified into three groups according to LODDS values as LODDS1 (LODDS≤ -1.0), LODDS2 (-1.0&lt;LODDS≤0) and LODDS3 (LODDS&gt;0), the mean disease-free survival were 128.65 months, 114.07 months and 111.78 months, respectively (p=0.641). Conclusion: In this study, patients with HER-2(+) breast cancer were divided into risk groups according to mLNR and LODDS values, and a survival difference that could be clinically meaningful was observed between the groups, but was not statistically significant. There is a need for studies involving more patients on this subject. Our study highlights the prognostic significance of mLNR and LODDS in HER-2(+) breast cancer. Dividing HER-2(+) breast cancer into risk groups through mLNR and LODDS will help clinicians to develop optimal treatment and follow-up strategies.</jats:p