Piotr Sęk

HER2 molecular subtype is a dominant subtype of mammary Paget's cells. An immunohistochemical study.

Sek P, Zawrocki A, Biernat W & Piekarski J H
(2010) Histopathology57, 564–571
HER2 molecular subtype is a dominant subtype of mammary Paget’s cells. An immunohistochemical study

TRAIL protein expression in breast cancer cells correlates with nuclear grade

Introduction TRAIL protein may serve as an escape mechanism for cancer cells from the immune response. The aim of the study was to assess whether the presence of TRAIL protein correlates with unfavourable prognostic factors in breast carcinoma. Material and methods The study group was composed of breast cancer patients treated surgically in the Department of Surgical Oncology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland, from January to December 2003. Inclusion criteria for the study were fulfilled by 117 women. The immunohistochemical study of TRAIL protein expression was performed in 118 breast carcinomas diagnosed in the study group. TRAIL protein expression was correlated with other variables: tumour size, lymph node status, grade, histological type of carcinoma, oestrogen and progesterone receptor status, HER2 expression, presence of lymphovascular invasion and age of the patient. Results Expression of TRAIL protein was present in 73% of breast carcinomas. The percentage of TRAIL-expressing breast carcinoma cells correlated with the nuclear grade (τ = 0.26, p < 0.05; Tau Kendall test). The intensity of TRAIL expression (intensity of staining) in breast carcinoma cells correlated with the nuclear grade (τ = 0.15, p < 0.05; Tau Kendall test). TRAIL expression in breast carcinoma did not correlate with other studied variables. Conclusions Our analysis revealed that expression of TRAIL protein in breast carcinoma cells correlates with nuclear grade of carcinoma.

Recurrence of cholangiogenous carcinoma in port-sites two years after laparoscopic removal of noncancerous gallbladder

We present a unique case of carcinoma diagnosed in port-site, two years after uncomplicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy for benign cholecystitis. Analysis of morphology and cytokeratin profile (CK19+ and CK20+/-) of resected port-site tumor allows us to establish the diagnosis of tubular carcinoma with probable cholangiogenic origin. The primary carcinoma was not diagnosed in archival gallbladder tissue, despite repeated histological examination. No other primary tumor was identified during follow-up. Patient history and histological/immunohistochemical picture of the recurrent tumor suggested that primary carcinoma was probably located in the gallbladder, but was not detected during initial and repeated histological examinations of postoperative specimen. The patient is still alive, 12 months after the first port-site recurrence and 36 months after initial laparoscopy.

Construction of a tissue microarray with two millimeters cores of endometrioid endometrial cancer: factors affecting the quality of the recipient block

The tissue microarray (TMA) method currently is not used to render a primary diagnosis of cancer, but its scientific value has been proved in studies of various cancer types. TMA technology still is not used often for uterine tumors, however. We investigated the repeatability of histological diagnosis of endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) using conventional histology and TMA using 2 mm cores. We examined EEC tissues from 171 patients. Formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue donor blocks from EEC specimens were selected and examined histologically. Duplicate 2 mm tissue cores were inserted into a TMA recipient block. EEC tissues were examined as hematoxylin-eosin stained sections from the TMAs. EEC tissue was identified in the TMAs in 158 cases (92.4%) and not found in 13 cases (7.6%). On the TMA slides, both EEC positive cores were identified in 129 cases (75.4%), but only one core in 29 cases (17.0%). Among 342 biopsies of the donor blocks (each case in duplicate), EEC was found in 287 cases (83.9%) using the TMA: 124/146 (84.9%) with superficial infiltration, 153/178 (86.0%) with deep myometrial infiltration, and 10/18 (55.6%) without myometrial infiltration. We concluded that two 2 mm tissue cores from a biopsy of a donor block inserted into a TMA recipient block were sufficient to diagnose EEC in more than 90% of cases. EEC was identified in the TMAs with similar frequency with respect to superficial and deep myometrial infiltration. Cases without myometrial infiltration were identified less often.

Membrane expression of trail receptors DcR1 and DcR2 in the normal endometrium, endometrial atypical hyperplasia and endometrioid endometrial cancer

Abstract We aimed to evaluate the membrane expression of DcR1 and DcR2 in the normal endometrium (NE), endometrial atypical hyperplasia (EAH) and endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC). The study comprised 101 patients: 20 NE, 14 EAH and 67 EEC. Membrane expression of DcR1 and DcR2 was examined and presented as total score (TS). The membrane expression of both DcR1 and DcR2 was more common in EEC than in NE (p < 0.001; p < 0.001). A strong correlation was found between type of endometrial tissue (NE/EAH/EEC) and the TS of DcR1 (p = 0.001) and DcR2 (p < 0.001). In EEC, the TS of DcR1 and DcR2 was not related to grading and survival. The TS of DcR1 negatively correlated with staging (p = 0.018), but DcR2 did not. The membrane expression of decoy receptors for TRAIL DcR1 and DcR2 is greater in NE than EEC. In EEC patients, membrane expression of DcR1 and DcR2 are not independent predictors of survival.

Membrane expression of the death ligand trail receptors DR4 and DR5 in the normal endometrium, endometrial atypical hyperplasia and endometrioid endometrial cancer

To assess membrane expression of DR4 and DR5 in the normal endometrium (NE), endometrial atypical hyperplasia (EAH) and endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC), the study examined 101 patients: 20 NE, 14 EAH and 67 EEC. The expression of DR4 and DR5 was examined and presented as the total score (TS). DR4 expression was seen in 18 NE, 11 EAH and 10 EEC. DR5 expression was seen in 20 NE, 13 EAH and 21 EEC. A strong correlation between type of endometrial tissue and TS of both receptors was identified. In EEC TS of DR4 and DR5 was not related to grading, staging or survival. Malignant transformation in the endometrium is related to reduction of membrane DR4 and DR5 expression. The level of membrane staining of the receptors in EEC is not dependent on grading and staging, and is not sufficient to predict survival in EEC patients.

Ex vivo Search for Sentinel Node in Postmastectomy Specimens: Should We Use a Transverse Incision for Mastectomy?

BackgroundAccording to the concept of sentinel node (SN), the lymphatic pathway leading to SN should be regarded as the main and the most important lymphatic route from primary tumor to regional lymph nodes. We performed ex vivo blue-dye SN mapping in postmastectomy specimens to assess whether the main lymphatic tract leading to SN is completely removed during mastectomy. We assumed that ex vivo identification of SN may be possible only if the entire lymphatic tract leading to sentinel node is removed from within the postmastectomy specimen.MethodsBlue dye (1 mL) was injected intracutaenously, periareolary into each of 28 postmastectomy specimens. In 13 cases mastectomy was performed with the use of transverse skin incision; in 15 cases oblique incision was used.ResultsThe use of transverse skin incision during modified radical mastectomy allowed identification of the sentinel node and removal of the entire lymphatic pathway leading to sentinel node only in 4 of 15 cases (31%). Conversely, the use of oblique skin incision during modified radical mastectomy allowed identification of the sentinel node and removal of the entire lymphatic pathway leading to sentinel node in 12 of 15 cases (80%).ConclusionsOur experiment revealed that the use of transverse skin incision during modified radical mastectomy may not be the best choice for breast cancer patients. In our opinion, this observation may be especially important for patients not irradiated postoperatively.