Arzu Tasdemir

Lack of any Association between Blood Groups and Lung Cancer, Independent of Histology

INTRODUCTION Lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths, is divided into 2 main classes based on its biology, therapy and prognosis: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Many cases are at an advanced stage at diagnosis, which is a major obstacle to improving outcomes. It is important to define the high risk group patients for early diagnosis and chance of cure. Blood group antigens are chemical components on erythrocyte membranes but they are also expressed on a variety of epithelial cells. Links between ABO blood groups with benign or malignant diseases, such as gastric and pancreas cancers, have been observed for a long time. In this study, we aimed to investigate any possible relationship between lung cancer histological subtypes and ABO-Rh blood groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS The files of 307 pathologically confirmed lung cancer patients were were reviewed retrospectively. Cases with a serologically determined blood group and Rh factor were included and those with a history of another primary cancer were excluded, leaving a total of 221. The distribution of blood groups of the lung cancer patients were compared with the distribution of blood groups of healthy donors admitted to the Turkish Red Crescent Blood Service in our city in the year 2012. RESULTS There was no significant difference between patients with lung cancer of either type and the control group in terms of distribution of ABO blood groups and Rh factor (p: 0.073). There was also no relationship with non small cell cancer histological subtypes. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we found no relationship between the ABO-Rhesus blood groups and NSCLC and SCLC groups. To our knowledge this is the first analysis of ABO blood groups in SCLC patients.

A Huge Solitary Fibrous Tumor Localized in the Pancreas: A Young Women

CONTEXT Solitary fibrous tumor is an uncommon spindle cell tumor which were first described in 1931 at pleura; it should be seen rarely in extra-pleural localization. CASE REPORT We report the ninth case of pancreatic solitary fibrous tumor in a 24-year-old woman who presented with mild epigastric pain radiating to the back and chronic constipation. Imaging studies confirmed a solitary mass in the epigastric region that begins from posterior of stomach, fills little curvature and extends to pelvis, invades vascular structures by encircling them and extends to retroperitoneal regions that was considered as it may have mesenchymal origin. The patient underwent an enucleation of the mass which was diagnosed as solitary fibrous tumor, supported by immunohistochemical studies showing positivity for CD34, vimentin and SMA. CONCLUSION There is limited data regarding biological behavior of solitary fibrous tumors with extra-pleural localization, because they are rare tumors. They are generally asymptomatic and slow growing tumors and it is difficult to distinguish them from other mesenchymal tumors. These issues as well as the prior nine cases are discussed.

Is human kallikrein-11 in gastric cancer treated with surgery and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy associated with survival?

Human kallikreins (hKs) have been reported to be involved in human cancers, and several hKs are promising biomarkers of various cancers, such as prostate, ovarian, breast, and testicular cancer. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of immunohistochemical expression of hK11 in patients with gastric cancer. The study included 55 (36 men and 19 women; 58 ± 10 years of mean age) patients with gastric cancer treated with surgery and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Tissue sections were evaluated immunohistochemically with a monoclonal anti-hK11 antibody. Of the 55 patients, 35 (63.6%) were hK11-positive and 20 (36.4%) were hK11-negative. Disease-free and overall survival rates were significantly higher in patients with hK11 positive than in those with hK-11 negative expression (24 months vs. 11 months, p: 0.043; 29 months vs. 13 months, p: 0.038, respectively). In conclusion, hK11 expression in gastric cancer appears to be associated with a better prognosis. hK11 may be a prognostic biomarker of gastric cancer. On the other hand, it is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the regulation of hK11 expression in gastric cancer.

Primary gangrenous cutaneous mucormycosis of the scalp in a child: a case report.

Primary cutaneous mucormycosis (MM) is a rare fungal infection of childhood and is most often encountered in immunocompromised patients. It is a potentially lethal opportunistic fungal infection with rapid progression and high mortality. A report of cutaneous MM involving the head region is very rare. We herein report a case of primary cutaneous MM in a malnourished patient. The infection progressed rapidly, and the infant died from infection. The diagnosis was made at postmortem examination. Early diagnosis and surgery should be undertaken to prevent fatal outcome, and complete study of the etiologic agent must be carried out in all cases.

Is Human Kallikrein 11 in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Treated Chemoradiotherapy Associated with Survival?

Purpose Involvement of human kallikreins (hKs) in human cancers has been reported and several hKs are promising biomarkers of various cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of hK11 expression in patients with non-metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods The study included 44 patients with NSCLC. hK11 expression was determined by immunohistochemical staining. Results The estimation of disease-free and overall survival by Kaplan-Meier was 11 months and 17 months, respectively. The estimation of overall survival by Kaplan-Meier was significantly higher in patients with hK11 strongly positive (2+) than in those with hK11 weakly positive (1+) (20 months vs. 11 months, p=0.032). Although not statistically different, the estimation of disease-free survival by Kaplan-Meier was higher in patients with hK11 strongly positive (2+) than in those with hK11 weakly positive (1+) (12 months vs. 9 months, p=0.113). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the overall survival rates were significantly associated with response to chemoradiotherapy and the degree of staining with hK11. Conclusion The stronger hK11 expression in NSCLC appears to be associated with better survival rates. hK11 may be a prognostic biomarker of NSCLC.

Cytogenetic damage of radiotherapy in long-term head and neck cancer survivors

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate cytogenetic damage of radiotherapy (RT) and chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in long-term head and neck cancer survivors. Materials and methods: This study included 20 patients treated with RT (10 patients) or CRT (10 patients) for head and neck cancer. Nine healthy volunteers were included as control subjects. Cytochalasin B-blocked micronucleus (CBMN) assay was used to evaluate cytogenetic damage. To evaluate micronucleus (MN) by CBMN, the venous blood samples were drawn median 68 months (range 60–239 months) after the completion of treatment (RT or CRT) for head and neck cancer. Results: Nuclear division index (NDI) and number of MN in mononuclear and binuclear lymphocytes were significantly higher in patients with head and neck cancer than in control subjects [1.19 (1.08–1.47) vs. 1.07 (1.04–1.14), p < 0.001; 11.0 (2.0–22.0) vs. 1.0 (0–3.0), p < 0.001 and 15.0 (5.0–45.0) vs. 9.0 (2.0–15.0), p = 0.020, respectively]. NDI and number of MN in mononuclear lymphocytes were significantly lower in control subjects compared patients received CRT and those received only RT, but there was no significant difference between patients received CRT and those received only RT. Number of MN in binuclear lymphocytes was significantly lower in control subjects compared to patients received CRT, but there was no significant difference between control subjects and those received only RT. Also there was no significant difference between patients received CRT and those received only RT in terms of number of MN in binuclear lymphocytes. Conclusions: MN frequency of mononuclear and binuclear lymphocytes in medical follow-up of patients with head and neck cancer after RT could be important in evaluating cytogenetic damage of RT. However, further investigations are needed to provide quantitative correlations between MN yields and the clinical features in post-radiotherapy period.

Prognostic value of NF-κB, CD9, and VEGF in gastrointestinal stromal tumors

Aim of the study Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most frequent mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal system. We aimed to determine whether nuclear transcription factor κB (NF-κB), CD9 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have prognostic value in patients with GIST. Material and methods Thirty-five patients with GIST, who were diagnosed in the Pathology Department of Erciyes University, were included in the study. Cases were classified based on the 2002 NIH consensus. CD9, VEGF, and NF-κB immunohistochemistry were applied to GIST cases positive for CD117 and CD34, which are used to evaluate GISTs immunohistochemically. Results Although there are no statistically significant differences between NF-κB (p = 0.329), CD9 (p = 0.269), and VEGF (p = 0.372) and risk groups, 79.22% of cases that stained positive for NF-κB, 81% of cases that stained positive for CD9, and 80% of cases that stained positive of VEGF were in the high risk group. Conclusions It was found that NF-κB, CD9, and VEGF, which are important in predicting behaviors of other malign tumors, were expressed at high rates in high risk group GISTs. This can be used to determine prognosis with tumor diameter, mitosis rate under 50 BBS, Ki-67 proliferation index and other parameters.

Gastroenteric Duplication Cysts in a Newborn: Unusual Clinical and Radiologic Presentations

Because both respiratory and digestive tracts develop from the primitive foregut, cysts derived from them are considered to have a common enteric origin [1]. We describe a case of gastroenteric duplication cyst consisting of 2 noncommunicating components, 1 in thorax and the other in the abdomen of a newborn, because of their unusual clinical and radiologic presentations. The mother was 20 years old, referred to our prenatal diagnosis unit because of thoracic and abdominal cysts detected in her fetus at 24 weeks of gestation. Her obstetric history was uneventful. During the follow-up, no hydropic changes related to mediastinal compression or de novo fetal malformations were noted. The neonate was delivered at term. On physical examination of the neonate, there was a palpable abdominal mass filling the entire right abdomen. There was no gastrointestinal hemorrhage or volvulus. No associated abnormalities, such as respiratory distress or circulatory insufficiency, were observed. Posteroanterior chest radiography showed a large radiopacity in the right hemithorax, a right-sided hemivertebra at T1, and a left-sided hemivertebra at T5 (Fig. 1A). Ultrasonographic examination showed 2

Stewart-Treves Syndrome after Bilateral Mastectomy and Radiotherapy for Breast Carcinoma: Case Report

Stewart-Treves syndrome is an angiosarcoma that occurs because of chronic lymphedema, which in most cases is a complication after mastectomy with axillary node dissection and postoperative radiation. Prognosis for this rare tumor is poor. The best therapy is early and radical excision. Chronic lymphedema seems to be an important pathogenic factor. We report a 59-year-old patient with chronic lymphedema and lymphangiosarcoma of the left upper limb who had a left modified radical mastectomy with axillary node dissection and postoperative radiation nine years ago. Additionally, the patient underwent a right modified radical mastectomy with axillary node dissection and postoperative radiation one year ago. In this report, we present a case of Stewart-Treves syndrome after the patient was operated for bilateral breast carcinoma, a review of literature, and principles of treatment.

Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast: A rare carcinoma with chondroid metaplasia

Metaplastic breast carcinoma accounts for less than 1% of breast malignancies. Huvos et al. first introduced the term metaplastic carcinoma in 1974. It is usually seen together with poorly differentiated ductal carcinoma of the breast. Within its mesenchymal components, undifferentiated connective tissue cells, fibroblasts, osteoblasts and chondroblasts can be found. Metaplastic breast carcinoma is an aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. In this report, a case of a 45-year-old female patient who underwent segmental mastectomy with a diagnosis of metaplastic carcinoma of the breast is presented.