HSP70 In triple negative breast cancer: Prognostic value and clinical significance

BACKGROUND

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has the worst prognosis and the highest immunogenic potential of all breast cancer subtypes. It is characterized by a lack of estrogen and progesterone receptors as well as HER2. A major component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) of TNBC is tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). A chaperone heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is involved in several pathways that enable tumour growth and progression, as well as in immune modulation.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical analysis of HSP70 expression in immune cells, as well as expression of immunosuppressive markers CTLA4 and PD-L1 and major TILs components: CD8, CD4 and Tregs were analyzed in the superficial and deep tumor layer of primary TNBC and compared with established clinicopathological parameters. Clinical data and surgical tissue samples from 68 TNBC patients who underwent initial surgery were included in the analysis and 36 control samples from benign breast tissue biopsies.

RESULTS

A higher expression of TILs, CD4, CD8 and PD-L1 was found in the invasive tumor front (ITF), as compared to the tumor center (TC) (p < 0001). HSP70 positive immune cells (HSP70(+) IC) in TC were associated with adverse clinical and pathological markers: higher stage of disease (P = 0.013), higher grade (P = 0.05) and a higher pN status (P < 0.001). In addition, higher expression of HSP70(+) IC from TC was correlated with the higher expression of FOXP3(+)T cells both in ITF (N = 61, rho=0.42, p < 0.001) and in metastatic tissue from the draining lymph nodes (N = 13, rho=0.61, P = 0.026).

CONCLUSION

Correlations between HSP70 immune cells expression and individual TILs components support the hypothesis of its active role in inducing immunosuppression and tumor progression. Routine determination of HSP70 expression, in immune cells of TC, may be of added value in the clinical decision-making process concerning axillary surgery.

Single incision laparoscopic spigelian hernia repair--an approach with standard instrumentarium

Spigelian hernia is a rare type of abdominal wall ventral hernia caused by defect in the spigelian fascia and presented with pain and/or palpable mass. This diagnosis is an indication for surgical procedure due to the high risk of incarceration. There are two surgical approaches (open and laparoscopic), both using two methods of repair (mesh-free primary closure and tension-free mesh repair), depending on the hernia ring size. We present a case of a 62-year-old woman with a palpable mass localized in the left spigelian hernia belt, verified by ultrasonography as a spigelian hernia. A single incision intra-abdominal laparoscopic approach with a tension-free underlay mesh-repair technique was used to treat the condition. Operating time was 40 minutes and the procedure was completed without complications. Postoperative recovery was uneventful as well as 1-week and 2-month follow up. To our knowledge, this is the first report of spigelian hernia repair by single incision laparoscopic surgery. Although this approach is more demanding in comparison to multiport laparoscopy, it proved to be safe and feasible for experienced laparoscopic team. Besides cosmetic improvement, the single incision approach reduces to minimum the risk of bleeding, organ injury and incisional postoperative hernia. To determine optimal indications and limits of this approach, further data collection and follow up are required.

Combined sleeve gastrectomy and mini-gastric bypass in a new bariatric procedure of mini-gastric bypass and proximal sleeve gastrectomy

Surgery is the most effective method for the treatment of morbid obesity. Beneficial effects of bariatric surgery are due to both changed anatomy and consequential alterations in hormonal and metabolic status. Based on the experience with former standard bariatric procedures, the idea came out of a new combined bariatric procedure that could provide better control of glucose level and weight loss. The procedure is a hybrid of sleeve gastrectomy and mini-gastric bypass, therefore uniting advantages of both procedures: one anastomosis, achieved effects of restriction and malabsorption and affection of both dominant endocrine systems that result in an increase in incretin level and a decrease in ghrelin level. However, the procedure is yet a novel one and these hypotheses are about to be examined in the already announced research project.