Genes associated with histopathologic features of triple negative breast tumors predict molecular subtypes.

Distinct subtypes of triple negative (TN) breast cancer have been identified by tumor expression profiling. However, little is known about the relationship between histopathologic features of TN tumors, which reflect aspects of both tumor behavior and tumor microenvironment, and molecular TN subtypes. The histopathologic features of TN tumors were assessed by central review and 593 TN tumors were subjected to whole genome expression profiling using the Illumina Whole Genome DASL array.

Genetic variation in mitotic regulatory pathway genes is associated with breast tumor grade.

Mitotic index is an important component of histologic grade and has an etiologic role in breast tumorigenesis. Several small candidate gene studies have reported associations between variation in mitotic genes and breast cancer risk. We measured associations between 2156 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 194 mitotic genes and breast cancer risk, overall and by histologic grade, in the Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC) iCOGS study (n = 39 067 cases; n = 42 106 controls).

A clinicopathological review of 33 patients with vulvar melanoma identifies c-KIT as a prognostic marker.

Vulvar melanoma is the second most common vulvar cancer. Patients with vulvar melanoma usually present with the disease at a late stage and have a poor prognosis. The prognostic predictors reported in the literature are not unequivocal and the role of lichen sclerosus and c-KIT mutations in the aetiology of vulvar melanoma is unclear.

Thyroid disease is a favorable prognostic factor in achieving sustained virologic response in chronic hepatitis C undergoing combination therapy: A nested case control study.

Background: Interferon-α in combination with ribavirin is the current gold standard for treatment of chronic hepatitis C. It is unknown if the development of autoimmune thyroid disease (TD) during treatment confers an improved chance of achieving sustained virologic response. The aim of this study is to assess the chance of achieving sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients who developed TD during treatment when compared with those who did not.

The natural history of interferon-α induced thyroiditis in chronic hepatitis c patients: a long term study.

Background: Autoimmune thyroid disease is a common complication of patients with chronic hepatitis C undergoing combination pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin treatment. A small proportion develops interferon-induced thyroiditis of which the long term natural history is unknown and how it compares with de novo thyroiditis. The aim of the study is to determine the natural history of thyroid disease including antibody profile in this particular setting 36 months from the completion of therapy.

Apoptosis is a major cause of so-called "caseous necrosis" in mycobacterial granulomas in HIV-infected patients.

Aim: To demonstrate that so-called "caseous necrosis" is the result of apoptosis and investigate the association of B and T cells, and macrophages with the granulomas and their relationship to some apoptosis-related proteins.

Methods: Cervical lymph node biopsy specimens from 55 HIV-infected Thai patients with caseating granulomas, confluent caseating granulomas, sarcoid-like granulomas, foamy macrophage response, pseudo-inflammatory tumour response or non-specific lymphoid hyperplasia were examined histologically and for apoptosis by immunostaining for caspase 3 and TUNEL. Classic tuberculoid caseating granulomas in cervical lymph node and lungs from non-HIV-infected patients were also stained with caspase 3.

Mucinous differentiation in colonic adenocarcinoma is associated with a reduction in tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes.

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the density of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in colorectal carcinomas showing mucinous differentiation.

Methods: We examined 33 adenocarcinomas showing variable mucinous differentiation and compared the density of TILs with that of 65 adenocarcinomas of no special type (NOS) showing no mucinous differentiation.

Results: Mucinous differentiation is associated with a significantly lower density of TILs compared to adenocarcinoma NOS (P=0.