TYMS/KRAS/BRAF molecular profiling predicts survival following adjuvant chemotherapy in colorectal cancer.

Background: Patients with stage II-III colorectal cancer (CRC) treated with adjuvant chemotherapy, gain a 25% survival benefit. In the context of personalized medicine, there is a need to identify patients with CRC who may benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. Molecular profiling could guide treatment decisions in these patients.

Integrating , and testing in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Aim: To investigate the impact of thymidylate synthase (), and in the survival of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients treated with chemotherapy.

Methods: Clinical data were collected retrospectively from records of consecutive patients with mCRC treated with fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy from 1/2005 to 1/2007. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues were retrieved for analysis.

A functional microRNA library screen reveals miR-410 as a novel anti-apoptotic regulator of cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma is characterized by late diagnosis and a poor survival rate. MicroRNAs have been involved in the pathogenesis of different cancer types, including cholangiocarcinoma. Our aim was to identify novel microRNAs regulating cholangiocarcinoma cell growth in vitro and in vivo.

Cascaded learning vector quantizer neural networks for the discrimination of thyroid lesions.

Objective: To investigate capability of combination of learning vector quantizer (LVQ) neural networks (NNs) in discrimination of benign from malignant thyroid lesions.

Study Design: The study included 335 liquid-based cytology, fine needle aspiration (FNA), Papanicolaou-stained specimens. All cases were compared to the histologic diagnosis.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 gene amplification in gastric cancer using tissue microarray technology.

Aim: To assess human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-status in gastric cancer and matched lymph node metastases by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH).

Methods: 120 cases of primary gastric carcinomas and 45 matched lymph node metastases from patients with full clinicopathological features were mounted onto multiple-punch and single-punch tissue microarrays, respectively, and examined for HER2 overexpression and gene amplification by IHC and CISH.

Results: Twenty-four tumors (20%) expressed HER2 immunohistochemically.

Cell cycle analysis of colorectal brushings collected in liquid-based cytology.

Objective: To evaluate the possibility of robust cell cycle analysis from liquid-based cytology samples.

Study Design: Brushings were obtained after surgical resection of tumor samples. For each patient, one brushing sample was obtained from the macroscopically identified tumor, and a matched sample from a distant normal-appearing site.

Intratumoral budding as a potential parameter of tumor progression in mismatch repair-proficient and mismatch repair-deficient colorectal cancer patients.

In colorectal cancer, tumor budding at the invasive front (peritumoral budding) is an established prognostic parameter and decreased in mismatch repair-deficient tumors. In contrast, the clinical relevance of tumor budding within the tumor center (intratumoral budding) is not yet known. The aim of the study was to determine the correlation of intratumoral budding with peritumoral budding and mismatch repair status and the prognostic impact of intratumoral budding using 2 independent patient cohorts.

Systematic analysis of proteins from different signaling pathways in the tumor center and the invasive front of colorectal cancer.

In colorectal cancer, the functional impact of proteins from different signaling pathways varies between tumor center and tumor front. Our objective was to identify differential protein expression profiles between the tumor center and the tumor front of colorectal cancer. Twenty proteins from different signaling pathways (epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR], phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated kinase [pERK], receptor for hyalouronic acid mediated motility [RHAMM], Raf-1 kinase inhibitor protein [RKIP], β-catenin, E-cadherin, phosphorylated AK transforming [pAKT], p16, p21, Ki-67, B-cell Lymphoma-2 [BCL2], vascular endothelial growth factor, apoptosis protease activating factor 1 [APAF-1], mucin1 [MUC1], ephrin B2 receptor [EphB2], matrix metalloproteinase 7 [MMP7], phosphorylated mothers against decapentaplegic 2 [pSMAD2], caudal type homeobox transcription factor 2 [CDX2], Laminin5γ2, and mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 [MST1]) involved in colorectal cancer progression were studied immunohistochemically on 220 well-characterized patients using a multiple-punch tissue microarray including 437 and 430 samples from the tumor center and the invasive front, respectively.

Systematic assessment of protein phenotypes characterizing high-grade tumour budding in mismatch repair-proficient colorectal cancer.

Aims: A tumour bud is defined as a single tumour cell or tumour cell cluster of up to five cells at the invasive tumour front. Significant differences in survival have been detected in colorectal cancer patients with low- compared to high-grade budding. The aim of this study was to identify potential multi-marker phenotypes characterizing low- and high-grade budding in mismatch repair (MMR)-proficient colorectal cancer.

Tumor infiltration by FcγRIII (CD16)+ myeloid cells is associated with improved survival in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

The prognostic significance of macrophage and natural killer (NK) cell infiltration in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) microenvironment is unclear. We investigated the CRC innate inflammatory infiltrate in over 1,600 CRC using two independent tissue microarrays and immunohistochemistry. Survival time was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis in a multivariable setting.

Expression of p16 in lymph node metastases of adjuvantly treated stage III colorectal cancer patients identifies poor prognostic subgroups: a retrospective analysis of biomarkers in matched primary tumor and lymph node metastases.

Background: The objective of identifying protein biomarkers for patients with stage III and IV colorectal cancer is to improve risk stratification and, thus, to identify patients in the postoperative setting who may benefit from more targeted treatment. The objective of the current study was to determine the prognostic value of 19 protein markers assessed in primary tumors and matched lymph node (LN) metastases from patients with stage III and IV colorectal cancer.

Methods: Matched primary tumors and LN metastases from 82 patients with stage III and IV colorectal cancer were mounted onto a multiple-punch tissue microarray and were stained for 19 protein markers involved in tumor progression (β-catenin, E-cadherin, epidermal growth factor receptor, phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase [pERK], receptor for hyaluronic acid-mediated motility, phosphorylated protein kinase B, p21, p16, B-cell lymphoma 2, Ki67, apoptotic protease activating factor 1, mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1, Raf kinase inhibitor protein, vascular endothelial growth factor, ephrin type-B receptor 2, matrix metalloproteinase 7, laminin5γ2, mucin 1 [MUC1], and caudal-related homeobox 2).

Role of tumor size in the pre-operative management of rectal cancer patients.

Background: Clinical management of rectal cancer patients relies on pre-operative staging. Studies however continue to report moderate degrees of over/understaging as well as inter-observer variability. The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of tumor size for predicting T and N stages in pre-operatively untreated rectal cancers.

Initial ultrasonographic assessment for blunt abdominal trauma: is it a reliable diagnostic modality for emergency laparotomy?

Abdominal ultrasound has been proposed as a tool for the evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma. The aim of this study was to evaluate ultrasound's ability to identify intraabdominal injuries that require surgical treatment. Data from 1463 patients were examined retrospectively during a 2-year time period, which were ultrasonographically evaluated for blunt abdominal injury.

Good results after major pancreatic resections in a middle-volume center.

Objectives: Recently, hospital and surgeon volume is widely discussed as a prognostic factor after major pancreatic surgery. We present our experience regarding major pancreatectomy in a middle-volume center.

Methods: During the last 11 years, 66 patients underwent major pancreatectomy (pancreaticoduodenectomy [n = 52], distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy [n = 13], and central pancreatectomy [n = 1]).

Successful pancreaticoduodenectomy with immediate vascular reconstruction in a patient with cancer of the pancreatic head and celiac artery stenosis. A case report.

Context: Celiac artery stenosis is observed in a significant percentage of individuals in the general population. Although usually clinically silent and insignificant, due to the presence of extensive collaterals between the celiac artery and the superior mesenteric artery, celiac artery stenosis may be associated with potentially catastrophic ischemic complications in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy, due to the abrupt interruption of the collateral pathways. Therefore, revascularization may be indicated in selected patients with celiac artery stenosis undergoing a PD.

Ultrasound-guided catheterization of the internal jugular vein in oncologic patients; comparison with the classical anatomic landmark technique: a prospective study.

Aim: To compare the traditional anatomic landmark technique with the ultrasound-guided method for central venous catheterization.

Material And Methods: During three years, 551 patients underwent internal jugular vein catheterization; in 347 patients, the ultrasound-guided technique was used, while in the other 204 patients the catheter was introduced by using the classical anatomic landmark method. Operating time, complications (pneumothorax, puncture of carotid artery with or without hematoma formation), and number of attempts to achieve central venous catheterization were recorded.

Telecytology: a tool for quality assessment and improvement in the evaluation of thyroid fine-needle aspiration specimens.

The objective of this study was to investigate the role of telecytology as a tool with increased quality standards in the optimal evaluation of thyroid fine-needle aspiration specimens prepared by the ThinPrep(R) technique (Cytyc Co., Boxborough, MA). The study was performed on 252 adequate specimens of 157 patients referred to the Cytopathology Department of University Hospital "Attikon" for preoperative evaluation of thyroid nodules.

Peritoneal tuberculosis in pregnancy mimicking advanced ovarian cancer: a plea to avoid hasty, radical and irreversible surgical decisions.

Tuberculous peritonitis is rare in most Western counties, and can cause significant diagnostic and therapeutic problems. A 28-year-old pregnant female presented with nausea and vomiting, right lower quadrant abdominal pain, fever and intra-abdominal fluid. During surgery for presumed complicated acute appendicitis, many small masses (considered to be 'implants') were found within the peritoneal cavity, with a larger mass in the pelvis, mainly on the right.

Gastric Outlet Obstruction due to Cytomegalovirus Infection in an Immunocompromised Patient.

A case of gastric outlet obstruction accompanied by diffuse gastritis and gastric ulcer due to cytomegalovirus infection is presented. The patient, a woman aged 67 years with a long history of rheumatoid arthritis under immunosuppressive treatment (methotrexate), was admitted to our department complaining mostly of abdominal pain located in the epigastrium and the right abdomen. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed the presence of gastritis accompanied by ulcer in the prepyloric area and gastric outlet obstruction due to cytomegalovirus infection which was confirmed histologically.

The genetic basis of hereditary medullary thyroid cancer: clinical implications for the surgeon, with a particular emphasis on the role of prophylactic thyroidectomy.

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) may occur either sporadically or on a hereditary basis. Hereditary MTC may be observed with either multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes (MEN 2A and MEN 2B) or as familial MTC (FMTC). Despite the rarity of these syndromes, early diagnosis is especially important, since MTC is a lethal disease if not promptly and appropriately treated.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinomas and expression of p53, Bcl-2, and Bcl-X(L).

p53 protein promotes apoptosis, whereas Bcl-2 family proteins have an antiapoptotic function. This study determines the predictive value of selected clinical and histopathological factors in correlation with the expression of p53, Bcl-2, and Bcl-X(L) proteins in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Paraffin-embedded sections from 19 surgically resected primary esophageal SCCs were examined by immunohistochemistry.