A systems pathology model for predicting overall survival in patients with refractory, advanced non-small-cell lung cancer treated with gefitinib.

Purpose: To identify clinical and biometric features associated with overall survival of patients with advanced refractory non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with gefitinib.

Experimental Design: One hundred and nine diagnostic NSCLC samples were analysed for EGFR mutation status, EGFR immunohistochemistry, histologic morphometry and quantitative immunofluorescence of 15 markers. Support vector regression modelling using the concordance index was employed to predict overall survival.

Multifeature prostate cancer diagnosis and Gleason grading of histological images.

We present a study of image features for cancer diagnosis and Gleason grading of the histological images of prostate. In diagnosis, the tissue image is classified into the tumor and nontumor classes. In Gleason grading, which characterizes tumor aggressiveness, the image is classified as containing a low- or high-grade tumor.

Improved prediction of prostate cancer recurrence through systems pathology.

We have developed an integrated, multidisciplinary methodology, termed systems pathology, to generate highly accurate predictive tools for complex diseases, using prostate cancer for the prototype. To predict the recurrence of prostate cancer following radical prostatectomy, defined by rising serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), we used machine learning to develop a model based on clinicopathologic variables, histologic tumor characteristics, and cell type-specific quantification of biomarkers. The initial study was based on a cohort of 323 patients and identified that high levels of the androgen receptor, as detected by immunohistochemistry, were associated with a reduced time to PSA recurrence.

WT1 regulates the expression of the major glomerular podocyte membrane protein Podocalyxin.

The WT1 tumor suppressor gene encodes a zinc finger transcription factor expressed in differentiating glomerular podocytes. Complete inactivation of WT1 in the mouse leads to failure of mesenchymal induction and renal agenesis, an early developmental phenotype that prevents analysis of subsequent stages in glomerular differentiation [1]. In humans with Denys-Drash Syndrome, a heterozygous germline mutation in WT1 is associated with specific defects in glomeruli and an increased risk for developing Wilms Tumor [2,3].

Expression of Bcl-2 protein in human primary breast carcinomas and its correlation with multifocality, histopathological types and prognosis.

The Bcl-2 gene product prevents programmed cell death (apoptosis) and possibly promotes tumour development. This protein has mainly been demonstrated in the cytoplasm of various normal and neoplastic cells, including normal mammary epithelia and breast carcinomas. The aim of this retrospective study was to correlate the immunohistochemical expression of Bcl-2 protein with the multi-unifocality and the histology of the two main types of breast carcinoma.