Guzin Demirag

Elevated serum neutrophil to lymphocyte and platelet to lymphocyte ratios could be useful in lung cancer diagnosis.

BACKGROUND Lung cancer (LC) is still the primary cause of cancer deaths worldwide, and late diagnosis is a major obstacle to improving lung cancer outcomes. Recently, elevated preoperative or pretreatment neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and mean platelet volume (MPV) detected in peripheral blood were identified as independent prognostic factors associated with poor survival with various cancers, including colon cancer, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer and breast cancer. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine whether MPV, NLR and PLR could be useful inflammatory markers to differentiate lung cancer patients from healthy controls. An investigation was also made of the relationship between these markers and other prognostic factors and histopathological subgroups. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrospectively eighty-one lung cancer patients and 81 age-sexes matched healthy subjects included into the study. Patients with hypertension, hematological and renal disease, heart failure, chronic infection, hepatic disorder and other cancer were excluded from the study. The preoperative or pretreatment blood count data was obtained from the recorded computerized database. RESULTS NLR and PLR values were significantly higher in the LC patients compared to the healthy subjects.( NLR: 4.42 vs 2.45 p=0.001, PLR: 245.1 vs 148.2 p=0.002) MPV values were similar in both groups (7.7 vs 7.8). No statistically significant relationship was determined between these markers (MPV, NLR and PLR) and histopathological subgroups and TNM stages. CONCLUSIONS NLR and PLR can be useful biomarkers in LC patients before treatment. Larger prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 expression in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 are gelatinases that play a role in the invasion and metastasis of cancer through the destruction of the basal membrane and extracellular matrix. In this study, we investigated the immunohistochemical expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and the correlation between the expression levels and prognostic clinicopathological parameters in 140 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). The staining scores for MMP-9 were negative in 21 cases (15%), mild in 27 cases (19%), and strong in 92 cases (66%). MMP-9 expression was increased in high-grade (p=0.001), triple-negative (ER, PR, HER2 negative) (p=0.006), and ER-negative tumors (p=0.004) and tumors with distant metastases (p=0.028). MMP-9 expression was increased in cases with HER2 over-expression/amplification, but no statistically significant difference was found (p=0.215). No correlation was found between lymph node metastasis or tumor size and MMP-9 expression (p=0.492 and p=0.448, respectively). The staining scores for MMP-2 in 140 cases were negative in 10 cases (7%), mild in 25 cases (18%), and strong in 105 cases (75%). MMP-2 expression was increased in ER-negative and high-grade tumors in the lymph node-negative group (p=0.025 and 0.026, respectively). High MMP-9 expression was associated with a shorter disease-free survival and overall survival times (p=0.042 and p=0.046, respectively). In conclusion, increased MMP-9 expression is related to poor prognostic clinicopathological factors in IDC, and hence, it can be utilized as a supplementary prognostic marker. The role of MMP-2 expression in the prognosis of IDC is rather limited.

Expression of Plakophilins (PKP1, PKP2, and PKP3) in Gastric Cancers

BackgroundThe importance of cell-cell junction proteins (including armadillo proteins) in tumor biology is known, but limited with regard to plakophilins. We explored the relationship between plakophilins (PKP1, PKP2, PKP3) to gastric cancer via immunohistochemical techniques.MethodsWe compared the immunohistochemistry of PKPs in 34 gastric adenocarcinomas and 20 normal gastric tissues.ResultsIn gastric cancer, PKP1 expression was unchanged but PKP2 and PKP3 were significantly decreased as compared to normal controls. There was no observable clinical association with PKP1 or PKP2 expression; however, low PKP3 level and poor prognosis appeared to correlate with regards to node number and tumor stage. The mean disease-free survival (DFS) was 38 ± 3 months (range: 32 - 44) and mean overall survival (OS) 42 ± 4 months (range: 38 - 50). Decreased PKP2 appeared to negatively impact DFS.ConclusionDecreased PKP2 and PKP3 may be early prognostic markers and loss of PKP3 expression during gastric carcinoma progression may indicate an invasive phenotype.

The value of red blood cell distribution width in endometrial cancer

Abstract Background: Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a routinely examined parameter with the complete blood count. In recent studies, RDW levels have been associated with cardiovascular, liver and renal diseases and solid tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the alterations of RDW levels in benign and malignant causes of postmenopausal bleeding and to investigate the association of RDW levels with clinicopathological parameters of endometrial cancer (EC) patients. Methods: A retrospective study was made of a total of 884 females who were admitted to hospital for postmenopausal bleeding between May 2009 and December 2013. After inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, 222 patients remained. Complete blood count data was obtained from the recorded computerized database. After pathological evaluation, the patients were divided into two groups, benign and malignant (EC). Results: The EC group (n=113) had significantly higher RDW levels compared to the benign group (14.78±2.02 vs. 13.88±1.05; p=0.000). Grade II and above EC patients had higher levels of RDW than Grade I patients (15.2±2.3 vs. 14.1±1.00; p=0.005). Correlation analyses also revealed a negative correlation between RDW and hemoglobin levels (p=0.000), RDW and mean corpuscular volume (p=0.000), RDW and lymphocyte count (p=0.035) but a positive correlation between RDW and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (p=0.030). Conclusions: The results of the current study revealed the potential predicitve role of RDW in patients with postmenopausal bleeding. Significant associations were also determined between RDW and clinicopathological characteristics in EC patients.

Yassı hücreli servikal kanserin memeye metastazı: olgu sunumu

Solid tumorlerin meme metastazina cok sik olmasa da klinik pratik hayatimizda rastlamaktayiz ancak servikal kanserin memeye yayilimi literaturde de cok nadir bildirilmektedir. Olgumuz 65 yasinda, evre IV yassi hucreli serviks kanseri nedeni ile 3 kur birinci seri kemoterapi aldiktan sonra meme metastazi gelisti. Primer meme kanseri dusunulerek alinan biyopsinin patolojik incelenmesinde az diferansiye yassi hucreli kanser metastazi oldugu goruldu. Bu olgu kanser oyusu olan hastalarda dogru tedavi karari verebilmek icin ayirici taninin onemini bir kez daha vurgulamaktadir.