Serum resistin is inversely related to breast cancer risk in premenopausal women.

Background: Adipokines have been suggested as potential mediators linking obesity and breast cancer. Resistin is the least-studied adipokine with diverse findings regarding its association with disease development and progression. The present study aimed to determine resistin serum levels in breast cancer in relation to the histological type of disease and to investigate their association with breast cancer risk.

Bioanalytical LC-MS Method for the Quantification of Plasma Androgens and Androgen Glucuronides in Breast Cancer.

The physiological and pathological development of the breast is strongly affected by the hormonal milieu consisting of steroid hormones. Mass spectrometry (MS) technologies of high sensitivity and specificity enable the quantification of androgens and consequently the characterization of the hormonal status. The aim of this study is the assessment of plasma androgens and androgen glucuronides, in the par excellence hormone-sensitive tissue of the breast, through the application of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

Prognostic role of sex steroid receptors in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

From the available literature, it is unclear what proportion of pancreatic adenocarcinomas express estrogen receptors (ERα, ERβ), progesterone receptors (PR), and androgen receptors (AR), and if any of these markers have prognostic significance. We aimed to assess (1) the expression and (2) the correlation of the aforementioned markers with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. During a five-year period, 60 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma underwent surgical resection at a single institution.

Serum irisin levels are lower in patients with breast cancer: association with disease diagnosis and tumor characteristics.

Background: Irisin is a recently discovered myokine, involved in the browning of white adipose tissue. To date, its function has been mainly associated with energy homeostasis and metabolism, and it has been proposed as a promising therapeutic target for obesity and metabolic diseases. This is the first study investigating the role of irisin in human breast cancer.

Immunohistochemical expression of sex steroid hormone receptors, cell cycle regulators and angiogenesis factors in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms: an explorative study.

Aim: The objectives of our explorative study were to (i) evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of sex steroid hormone receptors (estrogen receptor a [ERα], estrogen receptor β [ERβ], progesterone receptor [PR] and androgen receptor [AR]), angiogenesis factors (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] and inhibitor of differentiation/DNA synthesis 1 [Id-1]) and cell-cycle regulators (cyclin D1, p16 and p27) in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) in comparison to normal adjacent pancreatic tissues and (ii) assess their correlation with the grade and histological sub-type of those lesions.

Materials And Methods: Paraffin-embedded specimens from 12 consecutive patients with IPMNs were immunostained for the studied markers and staining quantification was assessed by an image analysis system.

Results: AR H-score and cyclin D1 H-score were significantly higher in the IPMN lesions (0.

Interleukins as markers of inflammation in malignant and benign thyroid disease.

Background: Thyroid disorders, including thyroid cancer and autoimmune thyroid diseases, have been closely associated with inflammation.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the role of inflammation in thyroid disease by assessing serum cytokine levels in patients with malignant and benign thyroid conditions.

Methods: Serum levels of ten interleukins (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 and IL-13) were quantitatively determined in 20 patients with thyroid cancer, 38 patients with benign thyroid disease and 50 healthy controls by multiplex technology.

Tumor suppressor PTEN in breast cancer: heterozygosity, mutations and protein expression.

Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) is one of the most frequently mutated human tumor suppressor genes, implicated in cell growth and survival and suppressing tumor formation. Loss of PTEN activity, either at the protein or genomic level, has been related to many primary and metastatic malignancies including breast cancer. The present study investigates the heterozygosity, mutation spectrum and protein expression of PTEN in 43 patients with breast cancer or precursor lesions of the breast and 10 healthy individuals.

Androgen glucuronides analysis by liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry: could it raise new perspectives in the diagnostic field of hormone-dependent malignancies?

Breast and prostate constitute organs of intense steroidogenic activity. Clinical and epidemiologic data provide strong evidence on the influence of androgens and estrogens on the risk of typical hormone-dependent malignancies, like breast and prostate cancer. Recent studies have focused on the role of androgen metabolites in regulating androgen concentrations in hormone-sensitive tissues.

Effect of breast cancer adjuvant therapies on potential biomarkers of pulmonary inflammation.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of breast cancer adjuvant therapies on the levels of circulating surfactant protein-D (SP-D), C-Reactive protein (CRP) and soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE), as potential biomarkers of subclinical pulmonary inflammation.

Materials And Methods: The soluble molecules were serially determined in 38 patients, prior to the initiation of radiation therapy (RT) and during adjuvant treatment, using immunoassays.

Results: Significantly higher levels of all three biomarkers were observed in patients prior to the initiation of RT compared to healthy controls (CRP: p<0.

Soluble human leukocyte antigen-G expression in patients with ductal and lobular breast malignancy.

Background: Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) has been closely associated with diagnosis and prognosis in many types of human cancer. The current study aims to investigate soluble (s) HLA-G expression in patients with breast malignancy.

Patients And Methods: sHLA-G plasma expression was determined in 120 patients with breast cancer and 40 healthy controls using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy: more cores, more hematomas?

Background: Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) is used for the diagnosis of non-palpable breast lesions. Hematoma has been recognized as the main complication of the procedure. Its main disadvantage is the underestimation rate.

Serum levels of HSP90 in the continuum of breast ductal and lobular lesions.

Background: Heat-shock protein 90 (HSP90) is an abundant protein in mammalian cells. It interacts with a variety of proteins that play key roles in breast neoplasia. This is the first study to assess serum levels of HSP90 in atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), lobular neoplasia (LN), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and infiltrative lobular carcinoma (ILC).

Electrochemotherapy in cancer patients: first clinical trial in Greece.

Electrochemotherapy is currently undergoing intensive investigation in the field of local control of cancer. In Greece, five medical centers have co-operated to perform ECT for the efficient management of growing, recurrent or newly emerging cutaneous and subcutaneous tumor nodules. ECT was applied alone or in combination with external beam radiation therapy, brachytherapy and surgery in 52 cancer patients, using bleomycin according to standard protocols.

Serum MMPs and TIMPs: may be predictors of breast carcinogenesis?

Background: The involvement of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) in breast cancer has been documented on palpable lesions. This study aims to assess serum MMP1, MMP-2, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 in atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), lobular neoplasia (LN), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) specifically in non-palpable mammographic breast lesions.

Methods: On women with benign (n=65), precursor [ADH (n=18) and LN (n=15)], preinvasive [DCIS (n=32)] and invasive [IDC (n=28)] lesions the serum concentrations of MMP-1, MMP-2, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, TPS, and TPA were determined with immunoenzymatic assays.

Circulating levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and their complex MMP-9/NGAL in breast cancer disease.

Background: Recent evidence suggests that neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) expression is induced in many types of human cancer, while detection of its complex with matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is correlated with cancer disease status. We aim to evaluate the serum expression of MMP-9, NGAL and their complex (MMP-9/NGAL) during the diagnostic work-up of women with breast abnormalities and investigate their correlation with disease severity.

Methods: The study included 113 women with non-palpable breast lesions undergoing vacuum-assisted breast biopsy for histological diagnosis, and 30 healthy women, which served as controls.

Excisional breast biopsy under local anesthesia: stress-related neuroendocrine, metabolic and immune reactions during the procedure.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate three axes: the sympathetic system (adrenaline and noradrenaline), surgical stress-related endocrine factors (prolactin, cortisol, insulin, glucose and growth hormone) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6) during excisional breast biopsy under local anesthesia (EBBLA).

Patients And Methods: On 14 women undergoing EBBLA, all the aforementioned molecules were measured in peripheral venous blood samples prior (baseline), during (at 10 and 30 minutes), at the end of EBBLA (46+/-9 minutes) and one hour after its end.

Results: Serum growth hormone glucose and cortisol were found elevated at the 10th and 30th minute and at the end of EBBLA.

Hematoma after vacuum-assisted breast biopsy: are interleukins predictors?

Background: Hematoma is the main complication of vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB). This study aims to evaluate the associations between interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 and hematoma progression.

Methods: This study included 36 women who underwent VABB (11G).

Evaluation of pain experienced during breast ductal endoscopy.

Purpose: Ductal endoscopy is valuable for the differential diagnosis of bloody nipple discharge; however, the pain associated with this procedure has not been evaluated. This study aims to assess the pain experienced by patients during ductal endoscopy.

Methods: We studied a consecutive series of women who underwent ductal endoscopy, to investigate the cause of bloody nipple discharge.

Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy: insight into stress-induced endocrine events.

Background: Stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) is used for the assessment of non-palpable mammographic lesions. This study aims to evaluate stress- and anxiety-related endocrine responses during VABB.

Materials And Methods: VABB (11 G, Fischer's table) was performed on 22 women.

Secondary breast lymphoma diagnosed by vacuum-assisted breast biopsy: a case report.

Introduction: Breast lymphoma, either as a manifestation of primary extranodal disease or as secondary involvement, is a rare malignancy, and its diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment have not been clearly defined. On the other hand, Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) is a minimally invasive technique with ever-growing use for the diagnosis of mammographically detected, non-palpable breast lesions.

Case Presentation: A symptom-free, 56-year-old woman presented with a non-palpable BI-RADS 4B lesion without microcalcifications.