Is OSNA better than imprint cytology for intraoperative diagnosis of cancer involvement of axillary sentinel node in breast cancer?

ObjectiveThe study aim was to establish Sensitivity, Specificity, Positive Predictive Value, Negative Predictive Value (NPV), and Accuracy Values of both imprint cytology (IC) and the OSNA assay for intraoperative assessment of axillary sentinel node (SN) cancer involvement in breast cancer. Specifically, we wished to find out if true positive and false negative results of IC were associated to axillary lymphadenectomy (ALND). Also, we addressed a comparative cost analysis between techniques.Methods244 patients treated for breast cancer in the Breast Unit of Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol from 2011 to 2015 were prospectively included. A transversal, consecutive design was applied to assess IC compared to the reference test (OSNA). Inclusion criteria were: T1 and T2 tumors with negative nodes, both clinically and on ultrasound.ResultsSensitivity of IC for macrometastases was 70%. The NPV of IC for macrometastases was 95,75%. Accuracy of IC was 96,12%. In the comparative cost analysis, the release time of results for OSNA doubled that of IC and was associated with an increased cost of € 370.ConclusionsIC has been stated as a good technique for intraoperative cancer involvement SN with high sensitivity and NPV compared to the OSNA assay. It allows keeping the whole node tissue and thus the possibility of improved histopathological evaluation, which can be useful for adjuvant, and offers the advantage of being less time consuming. Cost analysis shows a higher cost for OSNA, which may exceed the benefit of sorting out false negatives from IC.     

Proteins of the retinoblastoma pathway,FEN1 and MGMT are novel potential prognostic biomarkers in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Background

We studied the expression of some major proteins involved in cell-cycle regulation and DNA repair, the roles of which are not well known in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), but which have a significant impact on carcinogenesis of many other cancers.

Diagnostic utility of automated indirect immunofluorescence compared to manual indirect immunofluorescence for anti-nuclear antibodies in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

This study aimed to review and compare the analytical and clinical performance of automated indirect immunofluorescence (AIIF) and manual indirect immunofluorescence (MIIF) as anti-nuclear antibody screening assays for patients with systemic rheumatic diseases (SRDs), such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and systemic sclerosis (SSc).

切除交叉互补修复酶1表达对Ⅱ～Ⅲ期可手术非小细胞肺癌术后辅助化疗预后的相关性分析

目的铂类是肺癌化疗的基础药物,而切除交叉互补修复酶1表达水平与铂类耐药和预后有关,本研究分析可手术非小细胞肺癌的切除交叉互补修复酶1表达与术后生存期的关系,探讨它们与患者预后及与铂类耐药的相关性。方法收集2005年12月-2009年1月随访的95例Ⅱ～Ⅲ期非小细胞肺癌患者,均进行根治性手术切除及术后以铂类为基础的化疗。免疫组化法检测手术标本的切除交叉互补修复酶1表达,并进行统计分析。结果切除交叉互补修复酶1蛋白表达阳性率与患者的性别、年龄、吸烟状况、淋巴结转移情况、肿瘤组织学类型和临床分期均无明显相关性（P〉0.05）。切除交叉互补修复酶1低表达者预后好,化疗有效率高,切除交叉互补修复酶1表达阴性和阳性的无病生存期分别为34.9个月和20.0个月（P=0.015）,中位生存期分别为49.7个月和31.6个月;切除交叉互补修复酶1表达阴性的3年、5年生存率分别为58.4%、38.9%;切除交叉互补修复酶1表达阳性的3年、5年生存率分别为33.5%、18.3%（P=0.011）。结论以铂类为基础的化疗延长了非小细胞肺癌切除交叉互补修复酶1低表达患者的生存,术后可根据切除交叉互补修复酶1的表达水平决定是否选用含铂化疗。     

HLA-associated production of anti-DFS70/LEDGF autoantibodies and systemic autoimmune disease

Autoantibodies against DFS70/LEDGF, which is also known as an important partner of HIV-1 integrase, are found in 10% of healthy Japanese people, but in only approximately 2% of patients with systemic autoimmune disease (SAD). We wished to characterize the association of HLA class II alleles with the presence of autoantibodies against this molecule. MHC class II genes (DR, DQ, and DP alleles) were analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer method in 24 individuals with anti-DFS70 antibodies. The frequencies of HLA-DRB1*0410, -DQB1*0402, and -DPB1*0301 were increased in anti-DFS70 Ab-positive patients, while HLA-DQB1*0302 was decreased compared to Japanese controls. All anti-DFS70 Ab-positive individuals expressed at least one HLA-DQB1 allele with an aspartic acid at residue 57. The immunogenetic background of Japanese individuals with anti-DFS70 antibodies differs from that of patients with SAD. HLA class II genes influence the production of anti-DFS70 antibodies among individuals with various clinical manifestations.     

The predictive value of serum soluble E-cadherin levels in breast cancer patients undergoing preoperative systemic chemotherapy

Objectives

To date, no reliable markers are available to predict response to or to assess prognosis after preoperative systemic chemotherapy (PST) in patients with locally advanced breast cancer. Previous studies demonstrated that elevated levels of soluble E-cadherin (sE-cadherin), a product of proteolytic cleavage of cell surface E-cadherin, are associated with higher risk for metastatic disease and poor prognosis in various tumor types. We, therefore, hypothesized that serum sE-cadherin levels measured before PST may correlate with pathological response.

Design and methods

In a retrospective analysis, sE-cadherin levels were measured in sera of 108 female patients with histologically proven breast cancer before initiation of PST by using a commercially available quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. Patients received a median number of 4 (range 3–6) cycles of anthracyline-based chemotherapy. The median patient age was 51.5 (range 21–71) years. Tumor size was measured clinically and translated into the tumor–node–metastasis (TNM)-system before the start of chemotherapy. Histopathological response in surgically removed specimens was evaluated using a modified Sinn regression score. In univariate analyses the correlations between levels of sE-cadherin and pathological response to PST were calculated.

Results

The histopathological regression scores correlated significantly with tumor grading (p = 0.045), clinical lymph node status before PST (p = 0.031) and sE-cadherin levels (p = 0.039). No correlation was seen between histopathological regression scores and hormone receptor and menopausal status as well as Her2-neu status.

Conclusion

sE-cadherin may be a marker predicting response to PST for patients with breast cancer. Our findings warrant further evaluation of sE-cadherin in a prospective trial.     

Effect of β-Blockers and Other Antihypertensive Drugs On the Risk of Melanoma Recurrence and Death

ObjectiveTo verify preliminary studies on patients with melanoma exposed to β-blockers that suggested a reduced risk of disease recurrence and death.Patients and MethodsData were obtained from all consecutive patients diagnosed as having melanoma between January 1, 1993, and December 31, 2009, at the Department of Dermatology of the University of Florence, Azienda Sanitaria di Firenze. Participants were excluded if at baseline they reported a previous diagnosis of cutaneous malignant melanoma or another malignant disease. We also excluded participants with evidence of visceral, lymph nodal, and in-transit metastasis at the time of the diagnosis.ResultsOf 741 consecutive patients with melanoma, 79 (11%) were prescribed β-blockers (for hypertension in most cases) for 1 or more years (treated) and 662 (89%) were not (untreated). The multivariate Cox model indicated that the treated group had improved overall survival after a median follow-up of 4 years (P=.005). For each year of β-blocker use, the risk of death was reduced by 38%. The presence of hypertension, the use of antihypertensive agents for 1 or more years, or the use of other commonly used medicines were not associated with a better outcome for patients with melanoma.ConclusionThe results confirm and strengthen previous findings that β-blocker use is associated with a reduced risk of melanoma recurrence and death. The results also indicate the strong need for a randomized clinical trial to conclusively assess whether β-blockers afford protection against melanoma recurrence and death.