The value of E-cadherin/beta-catenin expression in imprints of NCSLC: relationship with clinicopathological factors.

Metastasis is specific for malignant tumors and its control is one of the most important problems in the design of therapies for cancer patients. Loss or reduction of E-cadherin expression and/or beta-catenin expression plays a casual role in tumor progression and metastasis and is associated with poor prognosis. The purpose of the study is to investigate the expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin and their significance as independent prognostic markers in imprints of resected nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The prognostic significance of COX-2 and survivin expression in ovarian cancer.

We investigated the prognostic significance of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and survivin in ovarian carcinoma. Imprint smears were obtained from 100 ovarian carcinoma specimens and were studied immunocytochemically for the expression of COX-2 and survivin. The results were correlated with several clinicopathological parameters, including 5-year survival.

Association between microvessel density and histologic grade in renal cell carcinomas.

Angiogenesis seems to contribute to tumor growth and the development of metastases. There may be an association between the vascular density of individual tumors and their prognosis. In the present survey we studied 53 cases of renal cell carcinoma investigating possible relationship between histologic grade and microvessel density (MVD) measured by an image analysis system.

The expression of metallothioneins on imprint smears of prostate carcinoma: correlation with clinicopathologic parameters and tumor proliferative capacity.

Aims And Background: Metallothioneins are a family of metalbinding cysteine-rich proteins that play an important role in cellular processes such as proliferation and apoptosis, protection against oxidative stress and metal ion homeostasis and detoxification. Recent findings suggest that metallothioneins might play a significant role in the development and progression of prostate cancer. It has been also demonstrated that Ki67 expression may have prognostic value for disease-free survival in cases of prostate carcinoma.

The prognostic value of PTEN, p53, and beta-catenin in endometrial carcinoma: a prospective immunocytochemical study.

Mutations of the PTEN, p53, and beta-catenin genes are the most frequent molecular defects in endometrial carcinomas. The aim of this study was to investigate their prognostic significance in this form of cancer. Imprint smears were obtained from 80 fresh endometrial tumor specimens and studied immunocytochemically for the expression of PTEN, p53, and beta-catenin proteins.

Prognostic value of DNA analysis of prostate adenocarcinoma: correlation to clinicopathologic predictors.

The ability to accurately predict tumor behavior and patient survival is a problem in managing patients with prostate cancer. DNA ploidy provides important information for the evaluation of the prognosis of prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the DNA ploidy in imprints from prostate adenocarcinomas in a group of 70 patients in relation to Gleason score, tumor differentiation, stage and PSA serum levels.

Expression of p120, Ki-67 and PCNA as proliferation biomarkers in imprint smears of prostate carcinoma and their prognostic value.

The cell proliferation markers p120, Ki-67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) recognize nuclear antigens. The expression of these proteins by immunostaining methods was reported to be of value in determining the prognosis of patients with malignant diseases. In this study, we evaluated the prognostic significance of the expression of nuclear antigens p120, PCNA and Ki-67 in prostate cancer and compared the results with other prognostic factors.

Diagnostic approach of effusion cytology using computerized image analysis.

The objective of this study is to investigate whether image cytometry is a sensitive and specific method for the differential diagnosis of equivocal cells in routine cytology of effusion smears. One hundred four effusion smears were studied from routine cytologic material. Cytologically 56 (53.

Correlations between nuclear/cytoplasmic area ratio and classification of cervical smears.

The aim of this study was to assess the nuclear/cytoplasmic (N/C) ratio using computerized image analysis of cervical smears with intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade I to III associated or not with cellular changes of human papillomavirus (HPV) in an attempt to determine if this method is more sensitive for the estimation of the grade of CIN. One hundred and ten cervical smears from women with a mean age 35.03 years were studied.

p53 protein expression and oestrogen and progesterone receptor status in invasive ductal breast carcinomas.

p53 protein expression and oestrogen and progesterone receptor status in invasive ductal breast carcinomas The p53 protein expression and oestrogen and progesterone receptors status was investigated in correlation to the grade of malignancy of primary breast carcinomas. Our material constituted imprints from surgical biopsies of 75 invasive ductal breast cancer cases. The p53 protein expression was investigated immunocytologically using the monoclonal antibody p53 DO-7 (DAKO).

Non-cryopreserved peripheral blood progenitor cells collected by a single very large-volume leukapheresis: a simplified and effective procedure for support of high-dose chemotherapy.

High-dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) support has become a widely used treatment strategy. In order to simplify the procedure, a single very large-volume leukapheresis programme combined with short-term refrigerated storage of the PBPC was developed. Seventy-two patients suffering from various relatively chemosensitive malignancies received high-dose chemotherapy, consisting of agents with short in vivo half-lives and 24 to 48 hours later, the refrigerated PBPC were reinfused.

p53 protein expression and proliferative activity in ductal breast carcinomas.

The immunocytochemical expression of p53 protein and Ki-67 labelling index in tumour cells of 100 ductal breast carcinomas of different histological grade and stage was evaluated in cytological material. In order to investigate p53 expression and Ki-67 expression an avidin-extravidin immunocytochemical technique was applied to imprints. Monoclonal antibody (MoAb) DO-p53 and proliferating cell monoclonal antibody were used as primary antibodies.

Moc-31, fibronectin and CEA in the differential diagnosis of malignant effusions: an immunocytochemical study.

In discriminating benign and malignant origins of cytologically suspicious effusion smears a panel of antibodies against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), Fibronectin (F) and MOC-31 was used with immuno-cytochemical techniques. One hundred and thirty seven effusions were studied of which 107 had a malignant and 30 a benign aetiology as determined by clinical and histological examination. Cytologically 24 were diagnosed as benign, 97 as malignant and 14 as suspicious.

p53 protein expression and proliferative activity in imprints of superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Objective: To investigate p53 protein expression and proliferative activity in imprints of tumor biopsies from superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder in relation to the histologic grade of malignancy and recurrence status.

Study Design: The study group consisted of 70 cases of superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. In order to investigate p53 protein expression and Ki-67 expression, an immunocytochemical avidin-extravidin complex technique was performed using monoclonal antibodies p53 D0-7 and proliferating cells correspondingly.

Cushing syndrome as the presenting feature of metastatic Leydig cell tumor of the testis.

We report a patient with a history of orchiectomy for Leydig cell tumor of the testis who developed Cushing syndrome. This syndrome was due to ectopic production of cortisol and was the primary feature of tumor recurrence.

DNA ploidy and p53 protein expression in superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (STCCB) is a heterogeneous group of neoplasias with an unpredictable clinical course. In recent years many techniques have been used in order to predict the behaviour of these tumours at individual patient level. The aim of this study was to investigate in imprints from tumour biopsies the DNA ploidy and p53 protein expression in a group of 80 STCCB (pTa-pT1) patients in relation to histological grade and recurrence status.

Prognostic significance of p53, bcl-2 and EGFR in carcinoma of the endometrium.

Objective: To evaluate the part played by several parameters in the prognosis of patients with endometrial carcinoma.

Study Design: Eighty imprint smears from fresh endometrial tumor specimens were studied immunocytochemically for the expression of p53, bcl-2 and epidermal growth factor receptor. Also, the presence of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) in the tumor tissue was measured.

Changes of chromosomes 1, 3, 6, and 11 in metastatic effusions arising from breast and ovarian cancer.

This cytogenetic study deals with cell material obtained from 15 pleural fluids from 11 patients with breast cancer and 27 ascitic fluids from 16 patients with ovarian cancer; in addition, 8 pleural, 5 ascitic, and 1 pericardial fluid from patients with tuberculosis, liver cirrhosis, and heart insufficiency, were studied. Using mainly direct methods, as well as short-term cell cultures, the chromosome spreads were GTG-banded. Cancerous biopsies showed a plethora of numerical and structural chromosome anomalies and exhibited broad aneuploidy.

p53 and bcl-2 protein expression in non-small-cell lung carcinoma.

The diagnostic significance of p53 and bcl-2 proteins in epithelial non-small-cell lung cancers was examined, and the relationship between these proteins expression and other disease parameters, including stage of the disease and tumor differentiation, were studied. We analyzed p53 and bcl-2 proteins expression in 60 imprint smears of freshly resected lung tumors (37 squamous and 23 adenocarcinomas) using the immunocytochemical technique. There were seven patients with stage I disease, 24 with stage II, 23 with stage IIIa, and six with stage IIIb disease, according to the International Staging System classification.

Sequential administration of doxorubicin and paclitaxel followed by cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil combination (CMF) in women with metastatic breast cancer.

Although the combination of paclitaxel with doxorubicin has yielded high response rates in metastatic breast cancer, severe cardiotoxic events have been reported in several patients. The rationale for our study was to evaluate the activity of paclitaxel/doxorubicin combination in patients with this disease but to avoid excessive cardiotoxicity. Therefore, we administered 4 cycles of doxorubicin/paclitaxel followed by 6 cycles of standard cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) regimen.

Expression of cathepsin D and pS2 in imprint smears of breast carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to add to existing information on the effects of certain tumour markers expressed by breast cancers on tumour malignancy as evidenced by size of primary and occurrence of lymph node invasion. One hundred freshly resected breast cancers were examined by immunocytochemical staining of imprint smears for Cathepsin D and pS2. Oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) were tested for by dextrose-coated charcoal (DCC) assay and the results correlated with tumour size, histology and presence or absence of lymph node metastases at the time of surgery using chi(2) analysis.

Expression of p53, bcl-2 and heat shock protein (hsp72) in malignant and benign ovarian tumours.

The occurrence of p53, bcl-2 and heat shock protein (HSP) expression in ovarian tumours was examined and the correlation was investigated between the expression of these proteins and other disease parameters, including FIGO stage, histological subtype, tumour differentiation and steroid hormone receptor status. We analysed p53, bcl-2 and HSP expression in 100 smears of patients with epithelial ovarian carcinomas, 16 smears of patients with borderline malignancy and 20 smears of patients with benign ovarian neoplasms by using immunocytochemical techniques. There were 29 patients with stage I disease, 24 with stage II disease, 40 with stage III disease and seven with stage IV disease according to the FIGO classification.

Treatment of patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma and impaired renal function with single-agent docetaxel.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of single-agent docetaxel in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma and impaired renal function.

Methods: Eleven consecutive patients previously untreated for metastatic disease with renal impairment (median serum creatinine level of 2.6 mg/dL) were treated with intravenous docetaxel 100 mg/m2 for 1 hour every 21 days.

Cathepsin D immunoreactivity in ovarian cancer: correlation with prognostic factors.

In view of the somewhat inconclusive nature of the reports of the role of Cathepsin D (Cath D) in ovarian carcinoma and its relationship with various other parameters of malignancy the present study was performed to aid in the further clarification of this role. One hundred freshly resected primary ovarian carcinomas of various histological types were studied for ER, PR and Cath D status and the results examined with respect to menopausal status, histology, size and lymph node invasion. In our series Cath D positivity was more frequent in serous than in other types of ovarian cancer but this Cath D positivity was not related to the frequency of lymph node invasion regardless of the size of the tumor.