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Ksenija Lucin

Publications and source records attributed to Ksenija Lucin.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Osteopontin expression correlates with prognostic variables and survival in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Osteopontin (OPN) is a phosphorylated glycoprotein with diverse functions including tumorigenesis and tumor cell metastasis. Recently, it has been detected in a growing number of human tumors, and assessed as a potential prognostic marker. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of OPN in normal renal tissue and clear cell renal cell carcinomas (CRCCs), and to assess its prognostic significance. METHODS: The expression of OPN protein was immunohistochemically analyzed in 171 CRCCs and compared to usual clinicopathological parameters such as tumor size, nuclear grade, pathological stage, Ki-67 proliferation index, and cancer-specific survival. RESULTS: In normal renal parenchyma, the expression of OPN was seen in distal tubular epithelial cells, calcifications, and some stromal cells. The upregulation of OPN was observed in 61 CRCCs (35.7%) in the form of cytoplasmic granular staining of various intensities. Statistical analysis showed correlation of the OPN expression with tumor size (P < 0.001), Fuhrman nuclear grade (P < 0.001), pathological stage (P = 0.011), and Ki-67 proliferation index (P < 0.001). Moreover, patients with OPN-positive tumors had significantly worse prognosis in comparison to patients with tumors lacking OPN protein (P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that overexpression of OPN is involved in the progression of CRCC.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗
PubMed2006

Intravascular lymphoma and thyroid gland.

Intravascular lymphoma (IVL) is a rare disease characterized by the proliferation of neoplastic cells in the small blood vessels that frequently goes undiagnosed until the time of autopsy. The neoplastic cells are usually of B-cell origin. The clinical course was examined to determine factors that would facilitate antemortem diagnosis. IVL is observed with clinical, histopathological and immunohystochemical methods. This is a unique case because the thyroid gland is a rare place for IVL. Accent is given on immunohystochemical methods and tissue biopsy in the differential diagnosis of IVL when nervous system and thyroid gland dysfunction occur This report indicates that micro-ecosystem of multinodular goitrous might influence the expression of chemokines and/or adhesion moleculs on endothelial and lymphoma cells, leading to heavy infiltration of thyroid gland. Concurrently, that may guide the physician to tissue biopsy facilitating antemortem diagnosis and institution of appropriate therapy.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Ochronosis of the aortic valve and aorta.

A 64-year-old male patient with unknown alkaptonuria and severe aortic stenosis and ischemic heart disease was admitted to the authors' institution for elective surgery. The patient underwent aortic valve replacement with a 25-mm aortic valve (ATS Medical, Inc.) and single venous aortocoronary artery bypass grafting for a right coronary artery. Aortotomy revealed typical ochronotic pigmentation of a severely calcified aortic valve and aortic intima. A diagnosis of alkaptonuria was confirmed by evidence of homogentisic acid in the patient's urine, together with histopathological analysis.

Alkaptonuria↗
PubMed2005

Expression of osteopontin and CD44 molecule in papillary renal cell tumors.

The aim of the study was to analyze the expression of CD44 adhesion molecule and its ligand osteopontin in papillary renal cell tumors, and to assess the possible prognostic significance of CD44 and osteopontin expression in papillary renal cell carcinomas. The expression of the standard and v6 exon containing isoforms of CD44 molecule, as well as of its ligand osteopontin, was immunohistochemically evaluated in 43 papillary renal cell tumors, which included 5 adenomas and 38 carcinomas. In order to assess their prognostic significance, the results obtained in papillary renal cell carcinomas were compared to usual clinicopathological parameters such as tumor size, histological grade, pathological stage, and Ki-67 proliferation index. Normal renal tissue was negative for CD44s and v6 isoforms, while the expression of osteopontin was found in distal tubular epithelial cells in the form of cytoplasmic granular positivity. CD44s and v6 isoforms were upregulated in 22 (58%) and 12 (32%) out of 38 carcinomas, respectively. Among all clinicopathological parameters examined, we only found significant association of CD44s-positive carcinomas with lower pathological stage (p=0.026). Papillary renal cell adenomas were generally negative for CD44s, except for focal positivity found in one sample. The osteopontin protein was detected in all adenomas and all papillary renal cell carcinomas, except one. Our results show constitutive expression of osteopontin in papillary renal tumors, including papillary renal cell adenomas. The upregulation of CD44s and v6 isoforms, although found in a considerable number of papillary renal cell carcinomas, does not appear to have any prognostic value in this type of renal cancer.

Adenoma↗
PubMed2004

Prognostic significance of CD44 molecule in renal cell carcinoma.

AIM: To analyze the expression and the prognostic value of CD44s and variant v5 and v6 isoforms in a large series of conventional renal cell carcinomas. METHODS: The expression of CD44 isoforms was immunohistochemically evaluated in 173 conventional renal cell carcinomas, and was compared with the usual clinicopathological parameters such as tumor size, histological grade, pathological stage, and Ki-67 proliferative index. The relationship of the CD44 expression to the cancer-specific survival was evaluated by log rank test. RESULTS: While normal renal tissue was negative for CD44s protein, it was upregulated in 70 (40.5%) out of 173 carcinomas, and its expression significantly correlated with histological grade (p<0.001), pathological stage (p=0.023), and Ki-67 proliferative index (p<0.001). Moreover, the expression of CD44s protein was an adverse prognostic parameter in univariate survival analysis for patients with tumors expressing high levels of CD44s protein (p=0.003). CD44v5 and v6 isoforms were expressed in 11 (6.4%) and 28 (16.2%) tumors, respectively. Their expression was significantly higher in tumors with higher histological grade (p=0.001 and p=0.001, respectively). Also, the expression of v6 isoform was higher in tumors with high proliferation activity (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: CD44s molecule may play a role in the progression of conventional renal cell carcinoma, and may be used in the evaluation of disease outcome.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pulmonary valve papillary fibroelastoma. A case report.

We present a case of pulmonary valve fibroelastoma diagnosed by echocardiogram which was confirmed by surgical resection in a patient in whom elective coronary artery bypass surgery was performed. The patient had no clinical or constitutional symptoms suggesting the presence of an intracardiac tumor. Routine preoperative transthoracic echocardiography revealed a pulmonary valve tumor. Histopathological analysis resulted in a diagnosis of papillary fibroelastoma. Papillary fibroelastomas are rare and benign cardiac tumors. They usually arise from the cardiac valves. In the literature we found only a few cases, so it seems there is a need for further description of additional cases of pulmonary valve fibroelastoma.

Coronary Artery Bypass↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Persistent and progressive ST segment elevation caused by myocardial metastasis.

This is a case of a female patient with collecting duct carcinoma of the right kidney and myocardial metastasis. On electrocardiogram the myocardial metastasis presented with a prolonged and progressive ST elevation and a gradual decrease of the R wave amplitude in leads V3-V6. Echocardiography and autopsy findings confirmed the diagnosis.

Aged↗