Cancer-Specific Survival Stratification Derived from Tumor Expression of Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 in Non-Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Degradation of the extracellular matrix is a prerequisite for the processes of cancer cell invasion and metastasis. The purpose of our study was to assess the association of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9) and their inhibitors (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2) with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) progression and cancer-specific survival (CSS), using immunohistochemical analysis of 60 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of tumor tissue and normal tissue near the tumor from surgical T1-3bN0 M0 RCC specimens. Significant overexpression of MMP-2 in tumor and normal tissue was correlated with advanced stages, tumor size, sarcomatous differentiation and clinical symptoms.

Prognostic value of microRNA expression pattern in upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

Objective: To examine the microRNA (miRNA) expression pattern in tumour samples from patients with progressing and non-progressing upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) in order to identify putative miRNAs that may be used as prognostic markers.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a multicentre, retrospective study of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 150 patients with UTUC who had undergone radical nephroureterectomy. Global miRNA expression patterns were analysed in 18 selected samples from patients with UTUC using TaqMan arrays.

HER-2/AKT expression in upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma: prognostic implications.

Aim: To assess HER-2 and p-AKT expression in upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) in order to determine their value as prognostic factors of tumour progression and cancer-specific survival.

Patients And Methods: One hundred consecutive UTUC patients were retrospectively included, between 1990-2004, in 4 tissue microarrays for immunostaining. Median follow-up: 33.

Hoffa's fat pad resection in total knee arthroplasty.

The authors have studied the consequences of resection of Hoffa's fat pad during total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Sixty eight patients undergoing primary TKA were randomised to have Hoffa's fat pad either resected or preserved. Biopsy specimens of Hoffa's fat pad were taken for pathological study in all patients.

Antiangiogenic effects of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha therapy with infliximab in psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: Neovascularization, with an increased number of synovial vessels with a characteristic morphology, seems to contribute to the progression of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Accordingly, angiogenesis may be an important therapeutic target in PsA. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of infliximab on angiogenesis in the synovial membrane of patients with PsA who responded to this therapy.