Biomedical subjects

Grazyna Pasz-Walczak

Publications and source records attributed to Grazyna Pasz-Walczak.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

A comparative assessment of HER2 status in operable breast cancer by real-time RT-PCR and by immunohistochemistry.

BACKGROUND: The most commonly used methods for detecting HER2 gene amplification in breast cancer are immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in-situ hybridization. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess HER2 expression by real-time RT-PCR. MATERIAL/METHODS: Expression of HER2 was analyzed by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry in specimens of invasive ductal breast cancer tissue obtained from 131 women during radical mastectomy. RESULTS: There was a highly significant difference in mean relative gene expression between HER2-positive and HER2-negative patients as assessed by immunostaining (22.10+/-41.89 vs. 3.17+/-8.76; p<0.001). With a median follow-up of 56 months, the cancer-specific survival of HER2-positive patients assessed by RT-PCR was worse in all cases and in the node-positive group. In multivariate analysis, HER2 status was an independent prognostic factor in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Real-time RT-PCR is a valuable method for determining HER2 status, but the selection of the cut-off point of the relative gene expression differentiating between HER2-negative and -positive tumors is essential.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Cyclin E expression in operable breast cancer quantified using real-time RT-PCR: a comparative study with immunostaining.

OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of this retrospective study was to compare cyclin E expression levels in operable breast cancer patients determined using real-time RT-PCR and immunostaining. The prognostic relevance of cyclin E was also investigated. METHODS: Specimens of invasive ductal breast cancer tissues obtained from 124 women during radical mastectomy were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the tumor samples, 40.3 and 59.7% showed high expression of cyclin E in RT-PCR and immunostaining, respectively. The overall agreement probability was 0.032 according to Scott's pi statistic. With a median follow-up of 55.5 months, cyclin E expression assessed using immunostaining was an independent negative prognostic factor in the node positive group (hazard ratio 3.1; 95% CI 1.0-9.2; P = 0.045). Cyclin E expression correlated with absence of steroid receptors and younger age. RT-PCR results did not predict survival in any group of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Disagreement between real-time RT-PCR and immunostaining was demonstrated. Immunostaining seems to be the more reliable method for assessing cyclin E in breast cancer cells.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

The first description of sentinel node biopsy in a patient with amelanotic melanoma of the glans penis.

We present the first description of sentinel node biopsy in a patient with amelanotic melanoma of the glans penis. The patient underwent partial amputation of the penis due to tumor of the glans. Pathologic examination of the postoperative specimen revealed the presence of a very rare malignancy--amelanotic melanoma. Sentinel node biopsy, with the use of the combined radiotracer/blue dye technique, was performed. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy was performed the day before surgery. During surgery, blue dye mapping and intraoperative detection of gamma radiation were used. Two sentinel nodes were identified in the left inguinal region and one sentinel node in the right inguinal region. All sentinel nodes were an intense violet color; in each case, the level of radiation in the sentinel node was almost 20 times higher than the level of radiation in the node bed. Routine hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry (HMB-45) revealed the presence of micrometastasis in one of the sentinel nodes harvested from the left inguinal region. Consequently, left inguinal, iliac and obturatory lymphadenectomies were performed. The final pathologic examination revealed the presence of one metastasis (diameter, 2 mm) in one of the resected non-sentinel nodes. No relapse has been observed during 18 months of follow-up.

Humans↗

PubMed2005

[Sclerosing stromal tumor of the ovary in a 30-year-old woman. A case report and review of the literature].

Sclerosing stromal tumor of the ovary (SST) is an extremely rare neoplasm occurring predominantly in the second and third decades of life. It is a distinct benign neoplasm that differs from fibromas, thecomas, luteinized tumors and lipoid cell tumors. It presents most often with non-specific symptoms. We describe the case of a 30-year-old woman who developed menstrual irregularities and pelvic pain. She was diagnosed and treated operatively at our Department. During surgery, a benign tumor was found in the right ovary. Light microscopic and ultrastructural study confirmed the diagnosis of sclerosing stromal tumor of the ovary.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Rhabdomyosarcomatous (myoblastic?) phenotype of metastatic malignant melanoma. A case report.

Melanoma may present a great variety of cell morphology and mimic virtually almost all other neoplasms, and metastatic lesions pose major diagnostic difficulties. A typical immunoreactive profile of melanoma is: S-100p- and HMB-45-positivity, but these markers are not always present. Other new antigens for melanoma are NKIC3 and Anti-Melan-A (MART-1). This tumor may also present expression of unspecific markers, as cytokeratin, CEA, EMA, desmin, NFP, GFAP, CD68 and actins. We present here unusual features of two metastatic melanomas, showing the anaplastic pattern, immunopositive for desmin.

Adult↗