BackgroundThe tumor microenvironment including immune surveillance affects malignant melanoma (MM) behavior. Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) stimulates the transcription of various genes in the nucleus and plays a role in the inflammatory process and in tumorigenesis. CD8+ T cells have cytotoxic properties important in the elimination of tumors. However, inhibitory receptors on the cell surface will bind to programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), causing CD8+ T cells to lose their ability to initiate an immune response. This study analyzed the association of NF-κB and PD-L1 expression levels and CD8+ T-cell counts with depth of invasion of acral MM, which may be a predictor of aggressiveness related to an increased risk of metastasis.MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Anatomical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran/Hasan Sadikin Hospital using 96 cases of acral melanoma. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on paraffin blocks using anti–NF-κB, –PD-L1, and -CD8 antibodies and invasion depth was measured using dotSlide-imaging software.ResultsThe study showed significant associations between the individual expression of NF-κB and PD-L1 and CD8+ T-cell number, with MM invasion depth. NF-κB was found to be a confounding variable of CD8+ T-cell number (p < .05), but not for PD-L1 expression (p = .154). Through multivariate analysis it was found that NF-κB had the greatest association with the depth of invasion (p < .001), whereas PD-L1 was unrelated to the depth of invasion because it depends on the number of CD8+ T cells (p = .870).ConclusionsNF-κB plays a major role in acral MM invasion, by decreasing the number of CD8+ T cells in acral MM.

Surgery is the treatment of choice for early-stage cervical cancer, whereas radiation is conducted during all stages where the malignancy remains localized to the pelvis. Various surgical techniques, such as laterally extended parametrectomy, are alternative therapy options for patients with stage II-B and I-B cervical cancer and lymph node metastases. (Pálfalvi and Ungár, 2003) Previously, these patients were referred for radiation therapy or neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Tujuan: Mengetahui hubungan antara gambaran spektral Doppler USG transrektal Pulse Wave Doppler dengan respon klinis terapi radiasi eksternal pada kanker serviks stadium lokal lanjut (IIB-IVA). Metode: Menggunakan metode Prepost Design secara prospektif, dilakukan pemeriksaan Pulse wave Doppler menggunakan probe transrektal pada pasien kanker serviks stadium IIB-IVA. Pada pasien dilakukan pengukuran ukuran tumor secara ultrasonografi dan klinis sebagai ukuran awal tumor untuk menilai respon radiasi. Jumlah sampel adalah 60 untuk kelompok dengan hasil spektral Doppler baik dan buruk, yang dilakukan terapi radiasi eksternal dan dilakukan pengukuran masa kembali secara USG dan klinis untuk menentukan kriteria respon terapi. Hasil: Kelompok respon klinis buruk sebanyak 9 (75,0%) memiliki spektral vaskularisasi buruk dan sebanyak 3 (25,0%) memiliki spektral vaskularusasi baik sedangkan untuk respon klinis baik sebanyak 19(41,3%) memiliki spektral vaskularisasi buruk dan sebanyak 27 (58,7%) memiliki spektral vaskularisasi baik. Pada analisis dengan uji exact Fisher ditemukan hubungan yang bermakna (p<0,05) antara gambaran spectral PW Doppler transrektal dengan respon klinis terapi radiasi eksternal pada kanker serviks stadium IIB-IVA dengan nilai Relative Risk (RR) 3.214 kali. Kesimpulan: Terdapat hubungan yang bermakna antara gambaran spektral Doppler dengan respon klinis terapi radiasi eksternal pada kanker serviks stadium IIB-IVA.

Akt is a protein that is associated with cell proliferation and is expressed at high levels in cancer cells. Some research indicates it may play a role in increasing the resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapy treatment. P53 is a tumor suppressor protein that influences the cell cycle and apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the expression of Akt and p53 in cancerous tissue before chemoradiation treatment, and the clinical response to treatment of cervical cancer patients. Twenty microscopic tissue samples were taken from cervical cancer biopsies obtained from patients before cancer treatment. The tissue samples were stained with p53 and Akt antibodies via immunohistochemistry technique, to measure expression of both proteins. After completion of chemoradiotherapy, patients' clinical response to treatment was determined using the pelvic control method. Our results revealed no correlation between expression of Akt and p53 index (P = 0.74) as well as between p53 Index and chemoradiotherapy clinical response (P=0.29). There was significant correlation between expression of Akt and cervical cancer chemoradiotherapy response (P = 0.03). There was no correlation found between p53 index and chemoradiotherapy clinical response (P = 0.29). High expression of Akt may related with high cell proliferation and resistance to chemoradiotherapy.