Background: To assess utility of immunohistochemical marker prostein for evaluation of primary and metastatic prostatic carcinomas.Methods:Fifty- six samples of clinically suspected carcinoma prostate was included. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed for assessment of Prostein (P501S). The intensity of positivity was scored from 0 to 3 as follows: score 0 = non-stained; score 1 = weak; score 2 = moderate; and score 3 = strong. The percentage of positively stained cells for each staining intensity was estimated in the respective lesions.Results:Age group 18-28 years comprised of 6 patients, 28-38 years had 12, 38- 48 years had 16 and >48 years had 22 cases. Type of cases were normal prostatic epithelium in 11, benign prostate hyperplasia in 23, HGPIN in 10, primary prostatic adenocarcinoma in 7 and metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma in 5 cases. Prostein expression was seen in 100% in normal prostatic epithelium with intensity score of 1.8-2.1, benign prostate hyperplasia having 2-2.7, HGPIN with 2-2.3, primary prostatic adenocarcinoma having 1-1.6 and metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma with 0.8-1.4 intensity score. Conclusion:Prostein is a new prostate specific marker which showed 100% sensitivity and specificity to identify normal and prostatic lesions.

Background: To assess role of platelet aggregation in metastatic breast cancer patients.Methods:40 cases (Group I) of metastatic breast cancer patients and equal number of healthy control (Group II) subjects were included. Platelet aggregation studies in vitro using ADP and Thrombin were performed using an optical aggregometer. Detection of platelet aggregation was done by Chrono log series 490 dual and four channel optical aggregometer systems.Results:There were 4 subjects in group I and 12 in group II having ADP <60, 26 subjects in group I and 28 in group II with ADP 61-72 and 10 subjects in group I with ADP >72. Low thrombin <58 was seen in 8 in group II, normal thrombin between 61-72 was seen among 11 in group I and 32 in group II and high thrombin >82 among 29 in group I respectively. Amongst patients with normal platelet count, 14 patients had platelet aggregation with ADP in the normal range and 4 patients had platelet aggregation with ADP in the lower range. In patients with high platelet count, 12 showed aggregation in the normal range, and 10 patients showed aggregation in the higher range which was statistically significant (P< 0.05) (Table III, Graph II).Conclusion: Platelet aggregation has an important part to play in the tumor metastasis of breast cancer patients.