Delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4) in the plasma and neoplastic tissues from breast cancer patients: correlation with metastasis.

Delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4) is a ligand of the notch pathway. In tumor angiogenesis, DLL4 switches to vascular maturation by providing a negative feedback on VEGFR2 activity. We investigated the expression of DLL4 in the plasma and cancer tissues from breast cancer patients.

Serum VEGF levels and tissue activation of VEGFR2/KDR receptors in patients with breast and gynecologic cancer.

Objectives: Vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in the biology of gynecological cancer, usually linked with aggressive tumour behaviour and a poor postoperative outcome. Yet, its role in benign breast/gynecological conditions is less clear.

Methods: Serum VEGF was analysed in a series of 49 patients with gynecological cancer and 61 patients with benign disease and compared to those of 12 normal female subjects.

Smoking and AMH levels in women with normal reproductive history.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of age and smoking on the AMH levels in normal cycling healthy women with normal reproductive history.

Materials And Methods: In 137 women, blood samples were taken on day 3 of a spontaneous cycle. Serum FSH, LH, E2, progesterone and AMH were measured in all blood samples.

Differential expression of tenascin-C in the developing human lung: an immunohistochemical study.

Much of the specification for the basic embryonic body plan is the result of a hierarchy of developmental decisions at different developmental times. The extracellular matrix (ECM) appears to be a very dynamic structure during embryogenesis. One of the mesenchymal ECM proteins, tenascin, is reported to be transiently expressed during embryonic tissue development, and is absent or much reduced in most fully developed organs.

Intraoperative estimation of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer by imprint cytology.

Background: Frozen section biopsy has been widely used for intraoperative diagnosis and evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes, so a decision can be made regarding whether to perform axillary clearance during primary surgery. This study aims to discuss the reliability of a simpler and faster method - touch imprint cytology - in the interpretation of metastasis from breast cancer.

Methods: A retrospective review of 41 sentinel lymph node biopsies from patients with breast cancer were examined by intraoperative imprint cytology using rapid Diff-Quick staining.