Lack of Correlations among Histopathological Parameters, Ki-67 Proliferation Index and Prognosis in Pheochromocytoma Patients

Ocal, Irfan,Avci, Arzu,Cakalagaoglu, Fulya,Can, Huseyin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.4

Background: In this study prognostic correlations of histopathologic parameters and the Ki-67 proliferation index and as well as the diagnostic value of immunohistochemical markers in pheochromocytomas were evaluated. Materials and Methods: A total of 22 patients diagnosed with a pheochromocytoma between 2000-2010 in Izmir Katip Celebi University Ataturk Training and Research Hospital were included. Diagnostic value of the PASS scoring system, and prognostic correlations of histopathologic parameters and Ki-67 proliferation index were investigated. SPSS for Windows 17.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: There was no statistically significant correlation between recurrence and clinicopathologic parameters or the PASS score (PASS>4). In addition, there were no statistically significant correlations between PASS score and clinicopathologic parameters, such as diameter (5 cm), weight (>100g), gender (female/male ratio) and age (25-45/45-55/>55). Besides, there were no significant correlation between diameter and clinicopathological parameters and also recurrence. However, there was a statistically significant correlation between Ki-67 proliferation index and capsule invasion (p=0.047). Conclusions: Some but not most of the findings in our study were concordant with the literature. To clarify relationships, investigations with standard scoring systems which are not affected by subjective factors and feature appropriate histopathological criteria should be made on larger study groups.

Hormone Receptor, HER2/NEU and EGFR Expression in Ovarian Carcinoma - is here a Prognostic Phenotype?

Demir, Lutfiye,Yigit, Seyran,Sadullahoglu, Canan,Akyol, Murat,Cokmert, Suna,Kucukzeybek, Yuksel,Alacacioglu, Ahmet,Cakalagaoglu, Fulya,Tarhan, Mustafa Oktay Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.22

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the effects of hormone receptor, HER2, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression on epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) prognosis and investigate whether or not phenotypic subtypes might exist. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 82 patients who were diagnosed with EOC between 2003 and 2012 and treated by platinum-based chemotherapy were retrospectively evaluated. Expression of EGFR, oestrogen (ER), progesterone (PR), and cerbB2 (HER2) receptors were assessed immunohistochemically on paraffin-embedded tissues of these patients. Three phenotypic subtypes were defined according to ER, PR, and HER2 expression and associations of these with EGFR expression, clinicopathologic features, platinum sensitivity, and survival were investigated. Results: When we classified EOC patients into three subtypes, 63.4% had hormone receptor positive (HR(+)) (considering breast cancer subtypes, luminal A), 18.3% had triple negative, and 18.3% had HER2(+) disease. EGFR positivity was observed in 37 patients (45.1%) and was significantly more frequent with advanced disease (p=0.013). However, no significant association with other clinicopathologic features and platinum sensitivity was observed. HER2(+) patients had significantly poorer outcomes than HER2(-) counterparts (triple negative and HR positive patients) (p=0.019). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the strongest risk factor for death was residual disease after primary surgery. Conclusions: Triple negative EOC may not be an aggressive phenotype as in breast cancer. The HER2 positive EOC has more aggressive behaviour compared to triple negative and HR(+) phenotypes. EGFR expression is more frequent in advanced tumours, but is not related with poorer outcome. Additional ovarian cancer molecular subtyping using gene expression analysis may provide more reliable data.

Comparison between Radiological and Invasive Diagnostic Modalities in Diagnosis of Breast Cancer

Onur, Gulcin Ozkan,Tarcan, Ercument,Onur, Asim,Can, Huseyin,Atahan, Murat Kemal,Yigit, Seyran Ceri,Cakalagaoglu, Fulya Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.10

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cause of deaths of cancer in women. Nowadays, following completion of imaging methods, mainly fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and core biopsy methods have been used for establishing cytopathological diagnosis although discussions regarding superiority continue. Materials and Methods: Those with a complaint of "mass in breast" along with those diagnosed to have a mass as a result of routine physical examination among all patients applying to our clinic between 01.01.2009 and 31.12.2011 were retrospectively assessed. Totals of 146 and 64 patients with complete radiological observation who had undergone FNAB and core biopsies, respectively, were evaluated. Postoperative pathological results of patients of both groups receiving surgery were also taken into consideration. All results were compared in terms of false positivity/negativity, sensitivity/specifity, surgery types and distribution of postoperative results with regard to diagnoses along with those of malignant/benign masses with regard to quadrants determined. Results: Diagnostic malignancy power of mammographic BIRADS classification was 87.3%. However, the value was 75% in the core biopsy group. Sensitivity and specifity following comparison of FNAB and postoperative pathology results of those receiving surgery were 85.4% and 92.9% while they were 93.5% and 100% in the core biopsy group. Diagnostic malignancy power, calculated by determining AUC in ROC analysis, of FNAB was 89.1% while that of core biopsy was 96.7%. Conclusions: It was shown that core biopsy is superior to FNAB in terms of sensitivity, specificity and accurate histopathological classification. However; quick, cheap and basic diagnosis by means of FNAB should not be ignored. Sensitivity of FNAB is rather high in experienced hands and furthermore it would be expected to be lower than with core biopsy.

Does Immunohistochemistry Provide Additional Prognostic Data in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors?

Demir, Lutfiye,Ekinci, Nese,Erten, Cigdem,Kucukzeybek, Yuksel,Alacacioglu, Ahmet,Somali, Isil,Can, Alper,Dirican, Ahmet,Bayoglu, Vedat,Akyol, Murat,Cakalagaoglu, Fulya,Tarhan, Mustafa Oktay Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.8

Background: To investigate the predictive and prognostic effects of clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical (IHC) features in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs). Materials and Methods: Fifty-six patients who were diagnosed with GIST between 2002 and 2012 were retrospectively evaluated. Relationships between clinicopathologic/immunohistochemical factors and prognosis were investigated. Results: Median overall survival (OS) of the whole study group was 74.9 months (42.8-107.1 months), while it was 95.2 months in resectable and 44.7 months in metastatic patients respectively (p=0.007). Epitheliolid tumor morphology was significantly associated with shortened OS as compared to other histologies (p=0.001). SMA(+) tumours were significantly correlated with low (<10/50HPF) mitotic activity (p=0.034). Moreover, SMA(+) patients tended to survive longer and had significantly longer disease-free survival (DFS) times than SMA (-) patients (37.7 months vs 15.9 months; p=0.002). High Ki-67 level (${\geq}30%$) was significantly associated with shorter OS (34 vs 95.2 months; 95%CI; p=0.001). CD34 (-) tumours were significantly associated with low proliferative tumours (Ki-67<%10) (p=0.026). Median PFS (progression-free survival) of the patients who received imatinib was 36 months (27.7-44.2 months). CD34 (-) patients had significantly longer PFS times than that of negative tumours; (50.8 vs 29.8 months; p=0.045). S100 and desmin expression did not play any role in predicting the prognosis of GISTs. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that ${\geq}10/50HPF$ mitotic activity/HPF was the only independent factor for risk of death in GIST patients. Conclusions: Despite the negative prognostic and predictive effect of high Ki-67 and CD34 expression, mitotic activity remains the strongest prognostic factor in GIST patients. SMA positivity seems to affect GIST prognosis positively. However, large-scale, multicenter studies are required to provide supportive data for these findings.