Correlation of microvascular density and proliferation index in undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Correlation between Cell Proliferation with Cervical Lymphoid Node Status in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients

Several studies showed that the index of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell growth could be used to assess the carcinogenesis interaction factor, development and prognosis of NPC. Cell proliferation index could always be assessed with Ki-67 protein expression test. This research was conducted to study the correlation between cell proliferation index with cervical lymphoid node status in NPC in clinical manifestation to asses the progressivity and prognosis on NPC patients. This study used cross sectional design. Biopsy tissue specimen were acquired from 35 NPC patients clinically divided into four criteria of cervical lymphoid node status (N0, N1, N2 and N3). Expression of Ki-67 protein was acquired by immunohistochemistry test using monoclonal rabbit antibody anti-human Ki-67 clone 901-325-091911 (Biocare Medical, LCC. 4040 Pike Line, CA 94520 USA). The measurement of Ki-67 protein was conducted by pathology consultant. Spearman statistic test was performed to asses the correlation between Ki-67 protein expression and cervical lymphoid node status. The statistical significance was defined as p<0.05. Positive expression of Ki-67 protein was found in 33 patients; 4 patients with N0 (11.43%), 5 patients with N1 (14.29%), 9 patients with N2 (25.71%), and 15 patients with N3. Negative expression of Ki-67 protein was found in 2 patients with N0 (5.71%). The Spearman test resulted at p=0.0001 with correlation coefficient of 0.758. The correlation between Ki-67 protein expression with cervical lymphoid node resulted in a significant correlation (p<0.05). In conclusion, cell proliferation index has correlation with cervical lymphoid node status in NPC patients.

The Primary Tumor and Regional Lymph Node Clinical Status of Distant Metastasis in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a squamous cell carcinoma derived from nasopharyngeal epithelium. NPC characteristic is highly invasive and can metastasize rapidly. The presence of distant metastasis is a major factor in determining the patient’s management and prognosis. The magnitude of radiologic and molecular costs encouraging the need to know the clinical variables associated with distant metastasis of NPC. Methods: Cross-sectional analytical retrospective studies of undifferentiated NPC (WHO type III) patients at initial diagnosis in the ORL-HNS Department of Dr. Sardjito Hospital Yogyakarta from January 2014 to December 2016. Results: At 276 NPC patients with the ratio of 197 men (71.4%) and 79 women (28.6%) was 2.5:1, mean age 48.5 years, distant metastasis was found in 37 patients (13.4%). There was no significant difference in the frequency of sex (p = 0.346), age (p = 0.784), and primary tumor clinical status (p = 0.297) between NPC with distant metastasis and without distant metastasis. There was significant difference in the frequency of regional lymph node clinical status between NPC with distant metastasis and without distant metastasis (p = 0.004; PR = 3.866). Conclusions: There is no statistically significant difference of primary tumor clinical status between NPC with and without distant metastasis. There is statistically significant difference of lymph node clinical status between NPC with and without distant metastasis.

LCN2 Promoter Methylation Status as Novel Predictive Marker for Microvessel Density and Aggressive Tumor Phenotype in Breast Cancer Patients

LCN2 (Lipocalin 2) is a 25 KD secreted acute phase protein, reported to be a novel regulator of angiogenesis in breast cancer. Up regulation of LCN2 had been observed in multiple cancers including breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and ovarian cancer. However, the role of LCN2 promoter methylation in the formation of microvessels is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of LCN 2 promoter methylation with microvessel formation and tumor cell proliferation in breast cancer patients. The LCN2 promoter methylation status was studied in 64 breast cancer tumors by methylation specific PCR (MSP). Evaluation of microvessel density (MVD) and Ki67 cell proliferation index was achieved by immunohistochemical staining using CD34 and MIB-1 antibodies, respectively. LCN2 promoter unmethylation status was observed in 43 (67.2%) of breast cancer patients whereas LCN2 methylation status was seen in 21 (32.8%). Further, LCN2 promoter unmethylation status was associated with aggressive tumor phenotype and elevated mean MVD in breast cancer patients.