The authors review literature published worldwide regarding the possible causes of colorectal haemorrhages and evaluate the probability of determining their site and nature. Knowledge of this probability, alongside an opportune use of presently available diagnostic methods, makes it possible to choose a suitable from of therapy based, according to the case in question, on endoscopic, angiographic or surgical haemostasis. A series of 38 cases is presented, subdivided by etiopathology and site, and two different diagnostic and treatment flow charts are proposed according to whether the haemorrhage is acute and massive or chronic. Diagnosis is,. however, sometimes difficult, even when supported by the latest techniques in scintigraphy, angiography and endoscopy (endoscopic Doppler, intestinal enteroscope). At present, notwithstanding the promising results from endoscopic and angiographic techniques, surgical treatment still gives the highest percentage of curability. This surgical treatment is based on segmental resections in cases of precise localisation of the site of the haemorrhage and on immediate subtotal colectomy in cases of massive bleeding of unknown origin.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Epidermal growth factor-receptor expression correlates with tumor cell proliferation and prognosis in gastric cancer.

Currently, the most accurate prognostic indicator in gastric cancer is stage. Studies on proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in gastric cancer have demonstrated that the PCNA labeling index correlates with depth of invasion, organ metastasis, vascular invasion, and tumor stage, suggesting that this marker may be a valuable prognostic factor. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) promotes the growth of cells of both ectodermal and mesodermal origin, and plays an important role in cellular proliferation and differentiation. Furthermore, there has been increasing evidence that growth factors and their receptors are involved in carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between expression of the EGF-receptor (EGF-r) and proliferative activity (PCNA labeling index) in gastric cancer by immunohistochemical analysis. Our preliminary results on 56 gastric cancers indicate that the PCNA labeling index correlates with EGF-r immunoreactivity. Furthermore, survival was significantly lower in patients with EGF-r positive tumors and a high PCNA labeling index. These in situ observations suggest that EGF-r may play an important role in the growth regulation of human gastric carcinomas.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of microvessel density with tumor associated macrophages in invasive breast carcinoma.

Neovascularization, the growth and formation of capillary blood vessels, is an essential component of solid tumor growth and a critical step in metastasis. Tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) have several functions related to tumor biology including growth, proliferative rate, stroma formation and dissolution, and neovascularization. The aim of this study was to define the TAM and microvessel density (MD) in human invasive breast carcinoma NOS and to correlate their values with lymph node status, tumor size, tumor grade and mitotic activity index (MAI), and, finally, to determine whether MD is connected with TAMs. A total number of 57 invasive breast carcinomas NOS were processed for immunohistochemical analysis using mAb to F-VIII to visualize endothelial cells and mAb to CD68 antigens for macrophages. Statistical analysis showed only a positive correlation between TAMs and MAI (p = 0.004). These results support the notion that intensity of tumor angiogenesis does not provide additional prognostic significance, while TAMs may play a positive role in breast cancer micro system since they regulate tumor proliferation.

Biomarkers↗