Karabi Konar

Simultaneous knockdown of uPA and MMP9 can reduce breast cancer progression by increasing cell-cell adhesion and modulating EMT genes

In cancer progression, proteolytic enzymes like serine proteases and metalloproteinases degrade the basement membrane enabling the tumor cells to invade the adjacent tissues. Thus, invasion and metastasis are augmented by these enzymes. Simultaneous silencing of uPA and MMP9 in breast cancer cells decreased the wound healing, migratory, invasive and adhesive capacity of the cells. After simultaneous down regulation, cells were seen to be arrested in the cell cycle. There was a remarkable increase in the expression of cell to cell adhesion molecule E–cadherin, and decrease in Vimentin and Snail expression. In addition, there was a significant decrease in the expression of the stem cell marker Oct-4. In the breast tumor samples it has been observed that, tumors, expressing higher level of uPA and MMP9, express less amount of E–cadherin. It has also been observed that few tumors also show, Vimentin positive in the ductal epithelial area. Thus, our model can help for checking the aggressive tumor invasion by blocking of uPA and MMP9. Our present observations also give the concept of the presence of aggressive epithelial cells with mesenchymal nature in the tumor micro-environment, altering the expression of EMT genes.

Preoperative cytological diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma of tunica vaginalis

Malignant mesothelioma of tunica vaginalis testis is a rare aggressive neoplasm with ∼200 cases reported so far. A correct preoperative diagnosis of this rare tumor is difficult. Fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a rapid and inexpensive diagnostic tool that may prove helpful in such cases. Very few cases have been diagnosed on cytology so far, and the descriptions of the cytological features have rarely been described in the literature. In this report we present the cytological features of malignant mesothelioma of tunica vaginalis testis which was diagnosed by FNAC and subsequently confirmed by histopatholoy and immunohistochemical (IHC) studies. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2015;43:850–854.

Annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma of conjunctiva: A case report

Annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma is a condition characterized histologically by damaged elastic fibers associated with preponderance of giant cells along with absence of necrobiosis, lipid, mucin, and pallisading granuloma. It usually occurs on sun-damaged skin and hence the previous name actinic granuloma. A similar process occurs on the conjunctiva. Over the past three decades only four cases of conjunctival actinic granuloma have been documented. All the previous patients were females with lesions in nasal or temporal bulbar conjunctiva varying 2-3 mm in size. We report a male patient aged 70 years presenting with a 14 mm × 7 mm fleshy mass on right lower bulbar conjunctiva. Clinical differential diagnoses were lymphoma, squamous cell carcinoma in situ and amyloidosis. Surgical excision followed by histopathology confirmed it to be a case of actinic granuloma. This is the first case of isolated conjunctival actinic granuloma of such a large size reported from India.

Ano-Perineal Tuberculosis simulating Carcinoma of Anal Canal

Tuberculosis is a prevalent disease entity in India, but its occurrence beyond ileocaecal junction is rare. We present a middle aged male patient with a fleshy nodular mass around anus which was clinically suspected as carcinoma of anal canal. Surgical biopsy revealed caseating granulomata and acid fast stain of the section demonstrated the presence of numerous acid fast bacilli. Pulmonary tuberculosis was detected as the primary lesion. Tuberculosis must be included as a differential diagnosis in recurrent nodular and ulcerated lesions of anal canal.

Pitfalls in the cytodiagnosis of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck: A retrospective study

Background: Lateral neck swelling in an adult is a common presentation for primary and secondary malignant lesions. Metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma often leads to various secondary changes in the lymph nodes, which makes their diagnosis on cytology a difficult task. Sometimes, the primary sites remain occult and any false negative cytological diagnosis becomes a misleading factor. Aim: Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in diagnosing metastasic squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck, and to highlight the precautions that can reduce the rate of false negative diagnosis. Materials and Methods: Two thousand five hundred and twelve patients in an age range of 18 to 80 years and presenting with a solitary lateral swelling of the neck were selected for this study. Results: Three hundred and seventy positive and 45 suspicious cases of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma were detected by FNAC; there were 15 false negative cases. All of them were associated with cystic change, abscess, or necrosis. The primary sites for carcinoma were the tonsil, tongue, pharynx, and larynx. No primary site could be detected in three cases. Histopathological confirmation was done in all the cases. The specificity and sensitivity of FNAC in the detection of positive cases of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma were 96.05 and 96.5% respectively. Conclusions: Any lateral neck swelling in adult patients that is associated with cystic change, abscess, or necrosis on FNAC should be carefully searched for malignant cells. Clinical re-evaluation and image guided surgical biopsy should supplement FNAC in suspicious cases. In spite of the possible limitation of a false negative diagnosis, FNAC remains a useful tool in diagnosing metastasis with good certainty.