IntroductionInvasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is the most common type of breast cancer in women and accounts for about 80% of all breast cancers.Material and methodsThe material consisted of histological preparations derived from 691 patients treated for IDC-NST.ResultsIn our own study material, invasive ductal breast cancer of no special type accounted for more than 60% of cases, with the largest percentage of tumors being classified as G2 (53.96%) and G3 (28.98%). In terms of tumor size, the most common IDC-NST tumors were those of stage T1c (34.59%) and T2 (35.31%). The incidence of lymph node involvement was also assessed to reveal that no lymph node metastases were present in 45.44% of IDC-NST tumors. In the histopathological analysis of IDC-NST, significant statistical correlation was demonstrated between the presence of lymph node metastases and the histological malignancy grade (N0/G1-G3 p = 0.0103; N1A/G1-G3 p = 0.0498; N1B/G1-G3 p< 0.001; N3/G1-G3 p = 0.0027; N4/G1-G3 p < 0.001), between the presence of lymph node metastases and the tumor size (N0/T1-T4 p = 0.00295; N1B/T1-T4 p < 0.001; N2/T1-T4 p < 0.001; N2A/T1-T2 p < 0.001; N4/T1-T4 p < 0.001; Nx/T1-T4 p = 0.0447), as well as between the histological malignancy grade and the tumor size (G1/T1-T4 p < 0.001; G1/2/T1-T4 p < 0.001; G2/3/T1-T4 p < 0.0267).ConclusionsOwn research demonstrated that the most common histological type of breast cancer is invasive ductal carcinoma of no special type (IDC-NST); statistically significant correlations were demonstrated in IDC-NST patients between the lymph node involvement status and the histological malignancy grade or tumor size as well as between the histological malignancy grade and the tumor size.

Introduction: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by a worse prognosis than other breast cancer subtypes. TNBC is defined by lack of expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the relationship between immunohistochemical expression of novel prognostic markers (erythropoietin (EPO) and erythropoietin receptor (EPO-R)) and clinicopathological features of TNBC and non-TNBC patients. Material and methods: Our analysis was conducted on a group of 162 patients with breast carcinoma with lymph node metastasis (111 TNBC and 51 non-TNBC). All statistical analyses were performed with SPSS software v 12.0. Results: Histopathologic subtyping of the 111 triple negative breast cancers identified 89.1% invasive ductal carcinomas of no special type and 10.9% other special types of cancers. TNBC more often presented EPO-R and EPO expression (36%; 37.8%) than non-TNBC (23.5%; 29.4%). Non-TNBC subgroup showed statistically significant correlation only between Ki-67 expression and histological grade (G1-G3) (p < 0.001), while TNBC subgroup demonstrated significant correlation between Ki-67 expression and histological grade (G1-G3) and tumor size (pT1-pT4) as well (p = 0.002; p = 0.042), between the EPO-R expression and histological grade (G1-G3) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The relationship between the expression of EPO-R and histological malignancy grade in triple negative breast cancer, suggests that the present EPO-R expression in TNBC may constitute an additional prognostic factor.

Introduction: Breast cancer and cervical cancer are the most common cancers in women. Early diagnosis of the disease can reduce mortality, so it plays an important role in the field of prevention measures. An important aspect is education, the aim of which is to provide information on the risk factors for cervical cancer and breast cancer, as well as the possibility of eliminating them from the life of women, but also shaping women's need to perform regular diagnostics. Aim of the research: To evaluate the level of knowledge and its practical application in the private lives of medical school students. Material and methods: Two hundred and fifty female medical school students from different faculties were invited to take part in the investigation. The research used an original questionnaire by the authors. Results:The statistical analysis showed highly developed theoretical knowledge in the field of cancer prevention. The following risk factors of breast cancer were mentioned: genetic factors (87.6%) and age (65.2%); and risk factors of cervical cancer: numerous sexual partners (77.2%) and past viral infections (72%). Nevertheless, despite their knowledge on HPV influence on cervical cancer development, BRCA gene mutations, and other associated risk factors, 63.6% of students considered their knowledge unsatisfactory. Moreover, breast self-examinations were performed by 86% of respondents but only 44.5% had Pap tests performed. Conclusions: Despite the medical education of the respondents, it is highly recommended that actions aimed at promoting preventive diagnostics be intensified. Even though the students showed a high level of theoretical knowledge, it is crucial to increase and promote its practical application.

IntroductionTriple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with lack of expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors and HER2 and is the subgroup of breast cancers with the worst prognosis. Osteopontin is a phosphorylated glycoprotein whose overexpression may occur in pathological states such as cancers. The main purpose of our study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of osteopontin in connection with the analysis of recognized clinical and pathological prognostic factors in primary sites of TNBC with and without lymph node metastases.Material and methodsThe immunohistochemical evaluation of osteopontin expression in 35 women with TNBC, chosen from a group of 726 patients, was performed. The material came from the excisional biopsies of primary breast cancers and total mastectomies.ResultsAll patients showed expression of osteopontin, in most cases the expression of osteopontin rated at [+] (57.1%) and [++] (42.9%). Our study analyzed the relationship between the expression of osteopontin and traditional prognostic markers, such as the tumor grade, size, and lymph node involvement. We found a strong relationship only between the expression of osteopontin and the presence of lymph node metastases (p ≤ 0.0001). 93% of patients for whom the expression of osteopontin was determined at [++] had metastasis to lymph nodes and, for comparison, only 15% of women for whom the expression of osteopontin was rated at [+] showed the presence of metastases in the lymphatic nodes.ConclusionsThere is a correlation between osteopontin expression and the presence of lymph node metastases in TNBC, suggesting that osteopontin plays an important role in the invasiveness of TNBC.