Osteopontin expression correlates with invasiveness in cervical cancer.

Aim: Osteopontin is a secreted, integrin-binding glycophosphoprotein that is overexpressed in many types of cancers and appears to be involved in carcinogenesis and cancer progression. To understand the role of osteopontin in carcinogenesis of cervical cancer, this study was designed to determine whether osteopontin is expressed in cervical cancer and carcinoma in situ (CIS) tissue as well as in normal cervical tissue.

Methods: The expression of osteopontin was immunohistochemically analysed from 68 normal cervix, 55 CIS and 52 invasive cervical cancer tissues using a paraffin-embedded tissue array.

BAG-1 expression in normal endometrium, endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer.

Background: BAG-1 (Bcl-2-associated athanogene 1) is a BCL-2 binding anti-apoptotic protein that may play a role in carcinogenesis. The purpose of this study is to compare the expression rate of BAG-1 in normal endometrium, endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer, and further to determine a correlation between BAG-1 expression and clinicopathological parameters, and overall survival.

Methods: Tissue samples from 43 patients who were diagnosed with endometrial cancer, tissue samples from 20 patients with endometrial hyperplasia and tissue samples from 20 normal patients were included in the study.

Prenatal diagnosis of a large subchorionic placental cyst with intracystic hematomas. A case report.

A large intrauterine cyst containing a heterogenous mass was found by ultrasound in the placenta of a 35-year-old gravida 2 para 1 woman. The cyst, measuring 10.9 x 10.

Significance of CD44v6 expression in gynecologic malignancies.

Aim: Variants of CD44 have been proposed to be important in cancer invasion and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of CD44v6 expression in gynecologic malignancies.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of CD44v6 in samples from a series of 65 cases of early cervical cancer, 76 cases of endometrial samples and 57 cases of serous epithelial ovarian tumors.

Occurrence of c-kit+ tumor cells in hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma.

Progenitor cells, termed oval cells, are involved in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in animal models. By immunolabeling for c-kit and CD34 in human hepatitis B virus-associated cirrhosis with HCC (50 cases) and those with cirrhosis alone (10 cases), we found c-kit+ tumor cells in tumor tissue in 40 of 50 HCCs. The proportion was less than 0.

Accuracy and reproducibility of telecytology diagnosis of cervical smears. A tool for quality assurance programs.

We randomly selected 50 cervical smears (benign, 14; atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance [ASCUS], 5; low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion [LSIL], 10; high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), 12; squamous cell carcinoma, 6; adenocarcinoma, 3) and captured 1,181 digital images (518 MB) at a maximum resolution of 1,600 x 1,200 pixels and transmitted them by e-mail. Diagnosis of glass slides and digital images was done independently in a double-blind manner by 3 pathologists and 3 cytotechnologists, commencing with the diagnosis of digital images followed by diagnosis of glass slides 3 months later. The procedure was repeated after 3 months.

Practical telepathology using a digital camera and the internet.

Digital camera technology has developed rapidly and a large choice of reasonably priced, user-oriented models are now available. These can be used for both macroscopic and microscopic photography with good resolution. Internet transmission of digital images also makes it possible to consult pathologists anywhere in the world.