Inflammation on the cervical papanicolaou smear: evidence for infection in asymptomatic women?

Background: The significance of the possible presence of infection on the Pap smear of asymptomatic women based on cytological criteria is practically unknown.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1117 asymptomatic nonpregnant women had Pap smear tests and vaginal as well as cervical cultures completed (622 with and 495 without inflammation on the Pap smear).

Results: Out of the 622 women with inflammation on Pap test, 251 (40.

Extra copies of chromosomes 16 and X in invasive breast carcinomas are related to aggressive phenotype and poor prognosis.

Background: Breast cancer is a genetically complex disease, which involves the accumulation of various structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations.

Aim: To assess the numerical status of chromosomes 16 and X by interphase cytogenetics, in 114 women with primary invasive breast carcinomas, in relation to clinicopathological parameters, patients' overall survival and indices of cell growth (c-erbB-2, topoisomerase IIalpha (topoIIalpha)) and cell survival (caspase-3, bcl-2).

Experimental Design: Chromogenic in situ hybridisation with pericentromeric probes was performed for molecular analysis, while oestrogen and progesterone receptors, cerbB-2, topoIIalpha, caspase-3 and bcl-2 expression was immunohistochemically detected (ABC/HRP).

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 as a multifunctional molecule of which the expression is associated with adverse prognosis of patients with urothelial bladder carcinomas.

Purpose: Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) regulate matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity controlling the breakdown of extracellular matrix components and, thus, play an important role in the process of invasion and metastasis. Moreover, there are several new functions, growth control, apoptosis, and angiogenesis-, in which TIMPs seem to be involved. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of TIMP-2 in human urothelial cancer assessing TIMP-2 protein expression in 106 urothelial bladder carcinomas and evaluating its importance relative to clinicopathologic parameters (age, gender, histological grade, and stage) and patient survival, as well as to markers associated with cell growth and apoptosis (Ki-67, p53, and bcl-2).

MMP-2 protein in invasive breast cancer and the impact of MMP-2/TIMP-2 phenotype on overall survival.

Crucial event in the metastasis of cancer cells is the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are responsible for the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM). Among them, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is a gelatinase, which degrades basement membrane type-IV collagen. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect MMP-2 protein in 135 infiltrative breast carcinomas.

Enhanced mRNA expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in breast carcinomas is correlated with adverse prognosis.

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) has emerged as a multifunctional protein with the contrasting activities of inhibiting tissue-degrading enzymes and promoting cellular growth. In an attempt to elucidate the clinical significance of TIMP-1 in breast cancer, the expression of TIMP-1 mRNA was evaluated in 117 invasive breast carcinomas by mRNA in situ hybridization, in correlation with clinicopathological parameters, immunohistochemical prognostic factors (Ki-67, c-erb-B-2, bcl-2) and clinical outcome. TIMP-1 was detected in stromal cells in areas within the tumours and at the tumour margin.

Aneuploidy of chromosome 20 in invasive breast cancer correlates with poor outcome.

Breast carcinoma is a genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous disease and is frequently associated with nonrandom chromosomal alterations. The aim of this study was to investigate the numerical aberrations of chromosome 20 in breast cancer. The observed chromosome-specific numerical abnormalities were evaluated along with the established clinicopathological parameters, the immunohistochemical expression of ER, PR, p53, c-erbB-2, Ki-67 and patients' survival.

Correlation of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 with proliferative activity and patients' survival in breast cancer.

Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are endogenous regulators of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). They are believed to possess several distinct cellular functions, particularly the contradictory activities of inhibiting MMPs and promoting tumor cell growth. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect TIMP-2 protein in 136 infiltrative breast carcinomas.