Clinicopathological Characteristics of BRAF V600E Mutated Melanomas in the Dalmatian Region of Croatia.

A high proportion of cutaneous melanomas harbor activating mutations of the BRAF or NRAS genes, which are components of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathway. The importance of BRAF V600E mutation in melanoma is not only related to the possibility of the administration of the targeted therapy, but also to the fact that BRAF V600E mutated melanomas have distinct clinicopathological features. We investigated the clinicopathological features of 80 primary skin melanomas with known BRAF V600E mutation status excised in the Dalmatian region of Croatia, with comparison of these features between the mutated and wild-type group.

Inter-laboratory comparison of Ki-67 proliferating index detected by visual assessment and automated digital image analysis.

Background: Proliferation rate is a major determinant of the biologic behavior of the tumor and provides information that can be used to guide treatment decisions.

Methods: This ring study included 27 pathologists from 14 Institutions, in order to assess inter-observer concordance between pathologists in Croatia. We analyzed Ki-67 proliferative index on ten randomly selected breast cancer samples comparing consistency between visual assessment using light microscopy compared to digital image analyses results from one central laboratory as a referral value.

INTERLABORATORY CONCORDANCE IN HER-2 POSITIVE BREAST CANCER.

Accurate assessment of HER-2 status is essential for identifying patients who will benefit from HER-2 targeted therapy. The aim of the present study was to show results on the concordance between local and central laboratory testing results in HER-2 positive breast cancer patients. In cases with discordant findings, the immunohistochemical (IHC) and/or in situ hybridization (FISH/SISH) analysis was performed in central laboratories.

[The proportion of non-invasive (Tis) and minimal invasive cancers (T1a,b) among breast cancer in Split region].

As a result of the use of screening mammography and the introduction of programs for early detection of breast cancers, many breast biopsies are now performed for small, non-palpable, mammographically detected abnormalities. In contrast to breast biopsies in the premammographic era, breast biopsies for mammographic abnormalities contain a greater number of minimal invasive breast cancers (T1a,b), non-invasive-in situ cancers (Tis), and histological types of breast cancers with excellent prognosis. The aim of this study was to estimate the basic histopathologic features of breast cancers in Split region, with emphasis on in situ and minimal invasive cancers.