DESIGN: Immunohistochemical expression of IGFBP-2 protein was semi-quantitatively assessed in tissue microarrays containing 9 normal cervix, 10 low grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (LGCIN), 10 high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (HGCIN) and 42 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cases. The gene expression profiles of IGFBP-2, IGF-1, IGF-1R, PTEN, MDM2, AKT1 and TP53 were determined in three cervical tissue samples each from normal cervix, human papillomavirus (HPV)-infected LGCIN, HGCIN and SCC, using Human Transcriptome Array 2.0.
RESULTS: IGFBP-2 protein was highly expressed in the cytoplasm of SCC cells compared to normal cervix (p = .013). The expression was not significantly associated with CIN grade or SCC stage. Transcriptomics profiling demonstrated upregulation of IGFBP-2 and TP53 in HGCIN and SCC compared to normal cervix. IGF-1, IGF-1R and PTEN genes were downregulated in all histological groups. IGF-1 gene was significantly downregulated in SCC (p = .031), while PTEN gene was significantly downregulated in HGCIN (p = .012), compared to normal cervix. MDM2 and AKT1 genes were downregulated in LGCIN and HGCIN, while upregulated in SCC.
CONCLUSION: In cervical carcinogenesis, IGFBP-2 appears to play an oncogenic role, probably through an IGF-independent mechanism.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Silver nanoparticles (dAgNps) were synthesized by reacting phytochemicals of D. microcarpum leaves with silver nitrate for 12 hours. Cell viability assay was carried out to investigate the cytotoxic effect of dAgNps on HeLa and PANC-1 cells.
RESULTS: Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy(TEM) results revealed the average sizes of dAgNps are 81 nm and 84 nm respectively. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of dAgNps was similar to that of face centered cubic(fcc) structure of silver as reported by joint committee on powder diffraction standards (JCPDS) and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed that some phytochemicals of D. microcarpum such as polyphenols and flavonoids were likely involved in the reduction of Ag+ to form nanoparticles. Finally, cell viability assay revealed dAgNps inhibited PANC-1 and HeLa cell proliferations with IC50 values of 84 and 31.5 µg/ml respectively.
CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the synthesized nanoparticles from D. microcarpum leaves (dAgNps) have inhibitory effect on pancreatic and cervical cancer cells.
OBJECTIVE: This study was done to evaluate the cellular fixation, morphology, quality of smear in gynae cytology, and diagnostic interpretation of cervical cytological smears produced by the PathTezt liquid-based processor.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 400 pap smear samples were taken and processed using the PathTezt 2000 processor. The slides were evaluated in terms of sample adequacy, percentage of the circle covered by epithelial cells, cellular distribution, obscuring factors, and cell fixation.
RESULTS: About 95.25% (381) of the samples were satisfactory for the evaluation. In 19 (4.75%) of the samples, epithelial cells covered less than 50% of the circle. A sample with good cellular distribution was seen in 92% of the cases, while 354 (88.5%) samples showed minimal inflammatory background. Almost all the smears (95.75%) had no erythrocytes in the background. All smears showed good quality fixation features toward nuclear, cytoplasm, and microorganisms. The total performance rate was 99%.
CONCLUSION: Although the PathTezt liquid-based processor is still new compared to other first-generation LBP, the smears produced by this method were of high quality and it was cost-effective.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1997 to 1999, 55 patients with FIGO stage Ib1 lymph nodes-negative cervical carcinoma limited to the cervix were prescribed RT following radical surgery, based on their RS, as follows: RS <40, RT is omitted; RS >40 to <120, modified (smaller) field RT; and RS >120, standard field pelvic RT. Their incidence and site of recurrence were compared with a similar cohort of 40 patients who were treated prior to 1997.
RESULTS: Prior to 1997, of the 40 patients, 10 patients were given standard field RT. There were 2 (5%) recurrent diseases. The mean duration of follow-up was 61.6 months (range, 1 to 103 months). The RS of 23 of the 30 patients who were not given RT were available. The mean RS was 22 with 5 patients having a score of >40. From 1997 onwards, of the 55 patients, 28 (51%) did not require RT, 13 (23%) were treated with modified (smaller) field RT and 14 (26%) were given standard field RT. There were 2 (3.6%) cases of relapse. The mean duration of follow-up was 36.4 months (range, 5 to 60 months). All patients with a RS of <40 did not suffer any relapse. Their survival outcomes were better when compared to patients who did not have any RT in the GOG Study.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicated that postoperative adjuvant RT given to patients with a high GOG RS of >120, significantly improved their 5-year recurrence rate and disease-free survival, as compared with the similar group of patients who were without adjuvant therapy in the GOG study. Patients with a GOG risk-score of <40 may be safely spared from adjuvant pelvic RT. The current treatment protocol did not compromise the outcome in patients, compared with the use of a less precise treatment protocol in the past.