Solitary fibrous tumor of the buccal vestibule: report of two cases.

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare benign tumor that occurs most frequently in the pleura. It is considered rare in the maxillofacial area. Two new cases of SFT of the buccal vestibule are reported.

EML4-ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer in a patient treated with azathioprine for ulcerative colitis.

EML4-ALK-positive lung cancer is a novel cancer entity associated with light or never smoking, younger age, and adenocarcinoma with acinar or signet-ring cell type histology. Another mutation of ALK with NPM, resulting in NPM-ALK fusion mutation, was described in patients with anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). It was subsequently reported in organ transplant recipients and patiens undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.

Localization of PKCη in cell membranes as a predictor for breast cancer response to treatment.

Background: Successful treatment of breast cancer is frequently limited by the resistance of tumors to chemotherapy. Recent studies suggested a role for protein kinase C (PKC) in the resistance to chemotherapy. Here we used retrospective analysis of breast cancer biopsies of neoadjuvantly treated patients to investigate the correlation of PKC expression with aggressiveness and resistance to chemotherapy.

The prognostic importance of cathepsin D and E-cadherin in early breast cancer: A single-institution experience.

Molecular tools have increasingly been used for decision-making in patients with early breast cancer (EBC). Nevertheless, simple tools such as immunohistochemistry may still be required in particular cases to complement traditional and molecular prognosticators. In this study, the prognostic significance of three well-known immunohistochemical biomarkers, cathepsin D, E-cadherin and Ki67, was studied in 270 patients with EBC, followed by a median time of 126 months in a single institution.

PKCη is a novel prognostic marker in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Novel biomarkers which may serve as therapeutic targets are essential for lung cancer treatment. Here we investigated the prognostic significance of protein kinase Cη (PKCη), a cell cycle regulator involved in tumorigenesis and chemotherapy resistance, in patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: Sixty-three chemotherapy-naïve patients were examined for PKCη by immunohistochemistry and divided into PKCη H-Score tertiles (low, intermediate and high).

Measles virus antigens in breast cancer.

Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women in Western countries, showing a bimodal age distribution with peaks at 50 and 70 years. Multiple factors are encountered in the etiology of BC, including hereditary and hormonal causes. A few viruses, including MMTV, EBV and HPV have been reported to be associated with BC.

Oral lipoma: analysis of 58 new cases and review of the literature.

Lipomas are common soft-tissue tumors but occur infrequently in the oral region. Here, we present 58 new cases of oral lipoma (OL), their clinical features, diagnostic workup, and management. The records of 58 patients with OL were reviewed.

The impact of the 21-gene recurrence score assay on decision making about adjuvant chemotherapy in early-stage estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer in an oncology practice with a unified treatment policy.

Background: The 21-gene recurrence score (RS) assay has been validated in retrospective studies as prognostic of distant disease recurrence and predictive of the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer (BC). There is limited published data on the impact of the assay on clinical practice, particularly in the context of a single practice with a unified treatment policy.

Patients And Methods: Between 2006 and 2009, RS was obtained on 135 patients in a single practice with a uniform treatment policy.

p27kip1 Expression in non-small cell lung cancer is not an independent prognostic factor.

Background: p27(Kip1) (p27) plays an important role in cancer cell cycle regulation. Recent evidence however, suggests that p27 may function as an oncogene rather than a tumour suppressor gene.

Patients And Methods: Ninety-two patients with previously untreated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were studied for the association between the immunohistochemical localization of p27 through a semi-quantitative method and time-to-progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS).

Measles virus: evidence for association with lung cancer.

In recent years the frequency of nonsmokers among lung cancer patients has increased to 10% to 15%. The measles virus has rarely been evoked as an etiological agent in malignant tumors and its role in carcinogenesis remains doubtful. It has been suggested that measles virus phosphoprotein may inhibit ubiquitination of Pirh2, which has been reported to be overexpressed in lung carcinoma and is responsible for degrading the cell cycle regulator p53.

Stage I breast cancer in a regional oncology practice in Israel 2002-2006: clinicopathologic features, risk estimation and planned therapy of 328 consecutive patients.

We present the clinicopathologic features and treatment plans of 328 consecutive stage I (T1N0M0) breast cancer patients seen at a regional medical center in Israel. Predicted 10-year mortality risk was calculated using the Adjuvant! Online website. The 21-gene recurrence score (RS) (OncotypeDx) was obtained on a minority of patients.

Unexpected location of pilonidal sinuses.

Pilonidal sinuses usually occur in the sacrococcygeal area in young men, and occasionally can be found in other ectopic sites. We present a retrospective case review on unusual locations of pilonidal sinuses in the past 4 years. The lesion sites were as follows: one on the penis, two on the scalp, two on the abdomen, one on the neck, two in the groin and two in the axilla.

Acute interstitial pneumonia-Hamman-Rich syndrome: clinical characteristics and diagnostic and therapeutic considerations.

Background: Acute interstitial pneumonia is a rapidly progressive disease frequently leading to respiratory failure and mechanical ventilation. The prognosis is usually poor despite aggressive diagnostic and treatment efforts.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort survey, we enrolled patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure who met predefined criteria of acute idiopathic interstitial pneumonia.

C-kit (CD117) immunostain is useful for the diagnosis of Giardia lamblia in duodenal biopsies.

Giardia lamblia is the most common protozoan isolated from the gastrointestinal tract. Giardiasis affects predominantly children and young adults, and its usual symptoms are abdominal pain, diarrhea, and malabsorption. Interestingly, the intestinal mucosa may appear unremarkable even in clinically severe giardiasis.

Compound nevus with congenital features and balloon cell changes--an immunohistochemical study.

Balloon cell nevi and balloon cell changes in nevi have rarely been reported in the literature. We describe a compound nevus showing focal balloon cell changes in a 20-year-old man. The melanocytic nature of the balloon cells is confirmed by an immunohistochemical study.

MiR-92b and miR-9/9* are specifically expressed in brain primary tumors and can be used to differentiate primary from metastatic brain tumors.

A recurring challenge for brain pathologists is to diagnose whether a brain malignancy is a primary tumor or a metastasis from some other tissue. The accurate diagnosis of brain malignancies is essential for selection of proper treatment. MicroRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNA species that regulate gene expression; many exhibit tissue-specific expression and are misregulated in cancer.

MMP-2, TIMP-1, E-cadherin, and beta-catenin expression in endometrial serous carcinoma compared with low-grade endometrial endometrioid carcinoma and proliferative endometrium.

Objective: To investigate the expression of MMP-2, TIMP-1, E-cadherin and beta-catenin in endometrial serous carcinoma (ESC), low-grade endometrial endometrioid carcinoma (EEC), and proliferative endometrium.

Methods: We performed an immunohistochemical study on 14 cases of ESC, 15 cases of low-grade EEC, and 10 cases of proliferative endometrium.

Results: Compared with low-grade EEC, ESC showed significantly increased MMP-2 and TIMP-1 expression, as well as decreased membranous beta-catenin staining.

Harnessing soluble NK cell killer receptors for the generation of novel cancer immune therapy.

The natural cytotoxic receptors (NCRs) are a unique set of activating proteins expressed mainly on the surface of natural killer (NK) cells. The NCRs, which include three members; NKp46, NKp44 and NKp30, are critically involved in NK cytotoxicity against different targets, including a wide range of tumor cells derived from various origins. Even though the tumor ligands of the NCRs have not been identified yet, the selective manner by which these receptors target tumor cells may provide an excellent basis for the development of novel anti-tumor therapies.

A rare case of enterobacter endocarditis superimposed on a mitral valve rheumatoid nodule.

We present the case of a 56-year-old man with longstanding seropositive active erosive and deforming rheumatoid arthritis with no peripheral rheumatoid nodules; he immigrated from the former Soviet Union (where he did not receive any disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs) to Israel in 1995. In February 2005, he had a buccogingival mucosal abscess on his lower lip, which was treated by surgical drainage, followed by prolonged antibiotic therapy. One and a half years later, he had 2 episodes of transient ischemic attacks characterized by speech difficulties and moderate weakness on his right side.

MicroRNAs accurately identify cancer tissue origin.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) belong to a class of noncoding, regulatory RNAs that is involved in oncogenesis and shows remarkable tissue specificity. Their potential for tumor classification suggests they may be used in identifying the tissue in which cancers of unknown primary origin arose, a major clinical problem. We measured miRNA expression levels in 400 paraffin-embedded and fresh-frozen samples from 22 different tumor tissues and metastases.

Matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9, E-cadherin, and beta-catenin expression in endometriosis, low-grade endometrial carcinoma and non-neoplastic eutopic endometrium.

Objectives: Endometriosis and endometrial endometrioid carcinoma are both capable of invasion and metastasis, but their biological behavior is strikingly different. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and changes in adhesion molecules have a role in the pathogenesis of various physiological and pathological processes, as well as in the development of endometriosis and endometrioid endometrial carcinoma. We hypothesized that endometriosis, being a benign process, will show different MMPs and adhesion molecules expressions, compared to endometrioid endometrial carcinoma, a disease with potential of malignant behavior.

Ethnicity and its significance in the pathobiology of prostatic carcinoma in Southern Israel.

Background: Several studies have noted ethnic differences in the natural history of prostatic carcinoma. Southern Israel has been regarded as a melting pot and, perhaps more than the rest of the country, has encouraged the ingathering of immigrants from several countries, as well as a large Bedouin community.

Objectives: In an attempt to determine any differences that may exist in population groups in Israel, we have examined clinical and biologic markers in patients diagnosed with prostatic cancer in Southern Israel in 1996-2000.

Solitary angiokeratoma of the tongue.

Angiokeratoma is a rare cutaneous lesion. It can be either a generalized systemic form, presenting as multiple asymptomatic papules on the skin, associated with metabolic diseases or a solitary cutaneous form. Oral cavity involvement is more common in the systemic form, as a part of a more generalized cutaneous disease, but very rare in the localized form of angiokeratoma.