Serum Leptin Level in Breast Cancer

Leptin is a polypeptide which is mostly produced in white fat tissue and is an important proinflammatory, proangiogenic, proinvasive and mitotic factor. There is ever more evidence suggesting the key role of leptin in the occurrence of breast cancer. The aim of the study was to investigate serum leptin levels in patients with benign breast tumors, as well as in various breast cancer phenotypes, taking into account leptin levels connected to menopausal status and body mass index (BMI). The study included 97 patients having their breast tumor surgically removed. Serum leptin level was determined by ELISA method in all study patients. Study results showed that significantly more women, regardless of having malignant or benign tumors, were postmenopausal and had a significantly higher level of leptin compared to the premenopausal group. The highest level of leptin was recorded in the group of postmenopausal obese women compared to other postmenopausal women but also compared to premenopausal women. According to BMI alone, obese women had a significantly higher level of leptin regardless of the type of tumor. The most significant differences in leptin levels observed through BMI were found in the Luminal B1 group. In conclusion, serum leptin level was shown to be a good diagnostic parameter suggesting a higher possibility of breast cancer development.

Differential Expression of TFF Genes and Proteins in Breast Tumors

SUMMARY – The objective of this study was to determine differential expression of TFF1, TFF2 and TFF3 genes and proteins in breast tumor subtypes. In addition, we investigated the correlation between TFF genes within tumor subgroups, and TFF genes with clinical and pathologic characteristics of the tumor. Study group included 122 patients with surgically removed breast tumors. Samples were investigated using qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. TFF1 and TFF3 genes and proteins were expressed in breast tumors, while the levels of TFF2 gene and protein expression were very low or undetectable. TFF1 was significantly more expressed in benign tumors, while TFF3 was more expressed in malignant tumors. Gene and protein expression of both TFF1 and TFF3 was greater in lymph node-negative tumors, hormone positive tumors, tumors with moderate levels of Ki67 expression, and in grade II tumors. A strong positive correlation was found between TFF1 and TFF3 genes, and the expression of both negatively correlated with Ki67 and the level of tumor histologic differentiation. Our results suggest that TFF1 and TFF3, but not TFF2, may have a role in breast tumor pathogenesis and could be used in the assessment of tumor differentiation and malignancy.

PAX8-PPARgamma oncogene in follicular thyroid tumors: RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analyses

US-guided fine needle aspiration cytology is currently the best diagnostic tool for thyroid nodules. However, it is not sensitive and specific enough for differentiating between benign and malignant follicular tumors. A potentially useful marker for this differentiation is the PAX8-PPARgamma rearrangement, identified in follicular thyroid carcinomas, but not in follicular adenomas or other types of thyroid tumors. The aim of this research was to determine the clinical significance of the PAX8-PPARgamma oncogene in diagnostics follicular thyroid tumors. The study included 62 patients with follicular or Hürthle cell tumors. Gene expression was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from paraffin embedded tissues, and PCR products were checked using the agarose gel electrophoresis. The immunohistochemical analysis was performed on archive paraffin embedded tissues with the monoclonal PPARgamma antibody. The statistical analysis has indicated that neither the expression of PAX8-PPARgamma mRNA, nor the immunohystochemical analysis with the PPARgamma antibody correlate with the patohystological diagnosis. The oncogene, PAX8-PPARgamma has not met the expectations as a reliable tumor marker for differentiation between benign and malignant thyroid tumors, which makes the only reliable histological criteria--capsular and vascular invasion.

[Croatian Society for Clinical Cytology guidelines for thyroid cytology]

The main purpose of thyroid FNA (fine needle aspiration) is to separate malignant and possibly malignant nodules from benign thyroid lesions. Every patient with thyroid nodule is a candidate for FNA. Before a decision to perform an FNA, a complete history, a physical examination directed to the thyroid and cervical lymph nodes, a serum thyrotropin level, and thyroid ultrasound should be obtained. Thyroid lesion with a maximum diameter greater than 1.5 cm or nodule of any size with sonographically suspicious features is an indication for FNA. Ultrasound-guided FNA of the thyroid is recommended. The requisition form that accompanies FNA should contain the identifying data, location and size of the nodule, and relevant laboratory and clinical data. FNA diagnosis of thyroid disease is a clinicocytologic diagnosis, and correlation with clinical findings is mandatory for success. Thyroid FNA classification scheme consists of a four diagnostic categories according to the risk of malignancy: benign lesions, indeterminate lesions according to malignancy, malignant tumors, and non-diagnostic. Ancillary studies (immunocytochemistry, RT-PCR, flow cytometry) are usually helpful in borderline cases.

Fine needle aspiration biopsy of follicular thyroid tumors

US-guided fine needle aspiration cytology is currently the best diagnostic tool for thyroid nodules. The aim of this research was to make a detailed and objective determination of the morphological characteristics of cells in cytological smears in an attempt to distinguish benign from malignant follicular tumors. The research included 62 patients with cytologically diagnosed follicular or oncocytic tumors, and 15 patients with nodular hyperplasia. Echographic findings were divided into three groups: isoechogenic, hypoechogenic and hyperechogenic nodules. We analyzed the cellularity of the smear, cohesion between follicular cells, acinar formations, bare nuclei, characteristics of the nucleus and the cytoplasm, and the presence of colloid. The statistical analysis of cytological parameters has indicated that none of the cytological parameters alone is discriminating enough between non-tumor and tumor changes, or benign and malignant follicular thyroid nodules. The analysis of age, sex, nodule size and ultrasound findings has not shown the correlation between any of these parameters with the malignant or benign follicular tumors. The cytological analysis of the smears for patients with follicular tumors, in combination with clinical data and other diagnostic methods, contributes to more precise diagnostics, but is not sufficient for the differentiation between benign and malignant follicular tumors.

Granular cell tumor--clinically presented as lymphadenopathy

Granular cell tumors are relatively uncommon benign lesions occurring in almost any part of the body. We report the cytological diagnosis of granular cell tumor in 25-year-old male patient who presented with an inguinal mass clinically suspected to be a lymphadenopathy. Fine needle aspiration revealed polygonal cells with abundant, granular cytoplasm and eccentrically located vesicular nuclei and inconspicuous nucleoli. The histopathological examination of the surgical excision confirmed the diagnosis. If resection is complete, local surgical excision is curative for benign granular cell tumors. Granular cell tumor has a characteristic cytological appearance, and fine-needle aspiration cytology has been suggested to be diagnostic modality of choice.

Imprint cytology in laryngeal and pharyngeal tumours

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of cytology in providing a reliable diagnosis upon which the clinician can base further investigative or treatment strategies in patients with laryngeal and pharyngeal tumours.

METHODS

Imprint cytology diagnoses from 174 patients were correlated with the histological result of a corresponding biopsy.

RESULTS

We found that the imprint cytology proved to be a useful, quick and reliable method with complete diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive values of 97%, 96%, 100%, 100% and 92% respectively.

CONCLUSION

Imprint cytology allows diagnostic statements in a shorter time than is possible with histological sections and proves a useful adjunct in evaluating laryngeal and pharyngeal lesions. The validity of the method depends on the care with which the specimen is sampled and on the experience of the investigator.

Interobserver variability in cytologic subclassification of squamous intraepithelial lesions--the Bethesda System vs. World Health Organization classification

The aim of the study was to compare interobserver variability for The Bethesda System (TBS) and World Health Organization (WHO) classification of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions. A total of 1,000 conventional Papanicolaou smears (156 positive and 884 negative) were examined "blindly" by three cytologists and one cytotechnician. The degree of observer agreement was expressed by kappa statistics using a program for the calculation of interobserver variation and association "Agree" (Svanholm and Jergensen, 1989). Kappa (kappa) was determined for each cytologic diagnosis within a particular classification and total for either classification. The association with and separation from other diagnoses was determined for each cytologic diagnosis in the form of conditional probability (P(j)). In WHO classification, the diagnoses of dysplasia media and dysplasia gravis showed poor reproducibility (kappa = 0.114 and kappa = 0.259, respectively), the diagnosis of dysplasia levis good reproducibility (kappa = 0.639), and the diagnosis of carcinoma in situ excellent reproducibility (kappa = 0.762). WHO classification yielded pool kappa of 0.741. In TBS classification, the diagnosis of LSIL showed good, and HSIL excellent reproducibility (kappa = 0.542 and kappa = 0.763, respectively). TBS classification yielded pool kappa of 0.699. Dysplasia media (P(j) = 0.121) and dysplasia gravis (P(j) = 0.274) were found to be morphologically poorly defined, and carcinoma in situ (P(j) = 0.777) and dysplasia levis (P(j) = 0.651) well defined diagnoses. LSIL was morphologically moderately defined (P(j) = 0.587) and HSIL well defined (P(j) = 0.789) diagnosis. Accordingly, TBS does not substantially improve diagnostic reproducibility of the cytologic diagnoses of squamous intraepithelial lesions, while providing considerably less information to the clinician than the four-grade dysplasia/CIS terminology, thus eliminating the opportunity of choosing a different procedure for the diagnosis of dysplasia media, which is of utmost importance in the population of young nulliparae.