Biomedical subjects

A Zaher

Publications and source records attributed to A Zaher.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Immunohistochemical evaluation is not prognostic for recurrence in fully staged high-risk endometrial cancer.

The objective of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of common immunohistochemical pathologic risk factors in fully staged high-risk endometrial cancers. Sixty-two of 265 consecutive endometrioid adenocarcinomas were considered high risk for recurrence because of deep myometrial invasion and poor differentiation (stage IC, G3), cervical metastasis (stage II), ovarian metastasis (stage IIIA) or lymph node metastasis (stage IIIC). All patients underwent complete surgical staging with bilateral pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy. Expression of estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, p53, HER-2/neu, c-myc, bcl-2, FVIII, and Ki-67 were analyzed by immunohistochemistry using commercially available monoclonal antibodies. A general linear model multiple regression analysis was used to determine if any of the immunostains, along with grade or stage, were predictors of recurrence. Mean age was 68 years and mean weight 188 pounds. Sixty-eight percent of patients had associated medical illness. The majority of tumors were poorly differentiated (44%) and were stage IIIC (29%). Mean follow-up was 4.3 years. Fourteen patients (22%) developed tumor recurrence. Using multiple regression analysis, none of the immunostains were predictive for recurrence (P = 0.19-.96). Only stage and grade were predictive of tumor recurrence (P = 0.04,.02). We conclude that in completely staged high risk endometrial cancer, commonly used immunohistochemical risk factors are not predictive for recurrence.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Tumor markers in the detection of recurrent transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: a brief review.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the status of the most promising tumor markers of bladder cancer, including comparison with cytology, technical complexity and utility in patient management. STUDY DESIGN: An extensive literature search was performed, and multiple markers were evaluated. The markers with the greatest potential for use as an adjunct to cytology were reviewed to determine the value of clinical implementation. Markers with a paucity of clinical research and poor results in clinical trials were omitted from review, as were genetic and cytologic prognostic determinants. RESULTS: NMP22, bladder tumor antigen, fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products, telomerase and QUANTICYT image analysis cytometry produced the most favorable and reproducible results. Each test obtained favorable sensitivities in comparison with cytology, especially in the detection of low grade lesions. Many also retrospectively placed patients in high- and low-risk groups based on the test results, allowing increased follow-up time between cystoscopies. However, inability to detect some high grade lesions reduces their utility. CONCLUSION: Continued clinical trials using these and other predictors of bladder cancer will eventually find a test that is suitable, in sensitivity and specificity, for use in urology clinics. Until that time, these tests may be useful in conjunction with cytology to prolong the interval between cystoscopies.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Expression of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor may be related to outcome in prostate cancer patients.

The urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) exists as a GPI anchored glycoprotein (Mr=50-60 kDa) on the surface of various cell types. This receptor can be bound by or cleaved by urokinase. The cleaved receptor, soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), with an Mr=35 kDa has no known physiological function and can be identified circulating in the blood of normal individuals. Although no function has been characterized, the soluble receptor has been reported to be of clinical significance. The objective of this study is to characterize novel serum markers that can be used for the early detection of prostate cancer and to predict patient prognosis. Thirty-nine patients at the University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon, West Africa were examined for prostatic disorders. Of these, 46% were diagnosed with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), while 44% of the patients were diagnosed via biopsy with prostate cancer and graded accordingly. Here we show that serum from patients with BPH or prostate cancer contains elevated levels of suPAR. To examine the significance of suPAR as a diagnostic factor, we used a suPAR ELISA kit and compared these results with serum levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA), the current diagnostic marker for prostate cancer. PSA and serum suPAR levels in BPH and cancer patients were greatly elevated in the majority of patients, while others had undetectable levels of either. Serum levels of suPAR were high in cancer patients as well as, although to a lesser degree, in patients with BPH. Cancer patients who died during the follow-up period were found to have consistently higher serum suPAR levels than correlating serum PSA levels. These preliminary findings are the first evaluating serum suPAR levels as a possible diagnostic marker for the early detection of prostate cancer and for the prediction of patient prognosis.

Aged↗