Background Clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) represents the majority of renal neoplasms with usual late presentation. Metastasis of ccRCC is very common owing to the vascular nature of this tumor. Identifying markers that could predict tumor behavior and metastatic potential is crucial to improve patient prognosis. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a recently identified vascular marker that is expressed in many cancer types. This study aimed at evaluation of its clinicopathologic role in ccRCC. Materials and methods A total of 40 cases of ccRCC were recruited and subjected to immunohistochemical staining for PSMA. Statistical analysis was performed to assess its expression and its relationship with different clinicopathologic parameters. Results PSMA expression was positive in 72.5% of all cases. High expression was detected in 52.5% of cases, with positive correlation with high tumor grade (P=0.01), stage (0.04), and lymphovascular invasion (P=0.03). PSMA expression was positive in 83.3% of cases of tumor thrombus tissue, and 50% of these cases showed high expression. Two (50%) cases of metastatic lesions showed low positive expression for PSMA with high PSMA expression in 75% of the corresponding primary lesions. Conclusion PSMA is specifically expressed in the vasculature of ccRCC, showing a positive correlation with poor prognostic parameters. This renders PSMA as a promising prognostic marker and therapeutic target.

Background Oral squamous-cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common oral malignancy with a dismal prognosis. Exploring markers predict tumor behavior, help in diagnosis, and therapy is crucial. Actinin alpha 1 (ACTN1) is known to be a prognostic biomarker in acute myeloid leukemia. It also plays a role in many tumors. The epithelial–mesenchymal transition has been suggested as one of the mechanisms of action for ACTN1. The role of ACTN1 in OSCC is still unclear. This study aimed at evaluating the role of ACTN1 in OSCC. Materials and methods This study was performed on 68 OSCC cases and 68 normal-tissue samples. Immunohistochemical staining of ACTN1 and E-cadherin was done and evaluated. Correlation to clinicopathologic parameters and survival was statistically analyzed. Results ACTN1 expression was high in 47 (69.1%) cases. E-cadherin expression was high in 27 (39.7%) cases with a significant inverse correlation between both expressions. Cases with high ACTN1/low E-cadherin expressions were significantly associated with tumor grade, stage, presence of tumor buds, lymph-node metastasis, recurrence, and distant metastasis. They also show statistically significant shorter overall survival and disease-free survival. Conclusion ACTN1 is a promising prognostic marker that correlates with tumor staging, node metastasis, and poor survival. It might also serve as a therapeutic target in OSCC. Its role in epithelial–mesenchymal transition is strongly suggested by this study.

Background Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is is one of most aggressive tumors with dismal prognosis. This poor prognosis necessitates deep understanding of different signaling pathway in order to improve prognostic prediction and therapeutic options. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and its receptor CD74 are found to be associated with poor prognosis in mesothelioma. However, this is still not well studied. Besides, the underlying mechanism of its action is in need for more understanding. Playing on immune checkpoints as well as angiogenesis are two of its potential mechanisms of action. Serum VEGF levels is one of the highest circulating markers in mesothelioma with correlation with poor prognosis. This study aimed at evaluating the expression of VEGF and CD74 on stored retrospective 50 paraffin embedded mesothelioma specimens. In 44 out of 50 of the cases, the relationship between both markers’ expression as well as tumor response to chemotherapy Gemcitabine and platinum combination was also studied. The study also elucidated the effect of VEGF and CD74 on the progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of the studied patients. Patients and Methods Tissues were immunohistochemically stained for VEGF and CD74. The former was scored from 0 to 3 represent the percentage of cytoplasmic positively of stained tumour cells. The latter was scored in the tumor and the stroma in a sem-iquantitative manner using the histoscore method. Then after, Both CD74 and VEGF markers were furtherly categorized into none (0)/low (1) vs medium (2)/high expression (3) for statistical purposes. Results Poor response to gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy was correlated with combined med/high expression of CD74-TS (P=0.03). High CD74 (T) and (S) as well as high VEGF expression were significantly correlated with short overall survival. Significant correlation is found between VEGF and each of CD74 (T) and CD74 (S) immunohistochemical expression levels. Conclusion High expression of CD74 T&S are inversely correlated with OS and response to Chemotherapy with Gemcytabine and cisplatin in mesothelioma patients.

Background Despite recent advancement, prostate cancer (PC) remains to represent a leading cause of cancer mortality and morbidity in men. Diagnosis of PC faces many challenges, especially on core biopsies. Multiple signaling pathways have been involved in PC progression. However, castration resistance eventually develops, especially in metastatic PC. Identifying a marker that helps in distinguishing invasive tumor from benign and precursor lesions, as well as predicts its metastatic and prognostic potentials, is needed. LIM-domain kinase 1 (LIMK1) is a newly identified marker that affects the cytoskeleton of cancer cells. Its role in PC is still not well understood. This study aimed at evaluating LIMK1 expression in benign prostatic hyperplasia (30 cases), high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (27 cases), and PC prostatic adenocarcinoma (60 cases) and its association with the prognostic clinicopathological parameters in PC. Results No strong expression was detected in benign prostatic hyperplasia expression compared with 25.9% and 48.3% in high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and prostatic adenocarcinoma (Pca) groups. The expression was statistically higher in the Pca group than the other groups. There was significant association with poor prognostic parameters in Pca groups, including higher prostate-specific antigen levels, tumor percentage, Gleason scores, grade groups, T stage, positive lymph-node metastases, extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle invasion, distant metastasis, and prognostic-stage group. Conclusion LIMK1 is considered a promising diagnostic and prognostic marker in Pca.

Background Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is an essential therapeutic approach for patients with breast cancer, with the goal of improving pathological complete response rate (pCR) by decreasing staging and evaluating treatment response for prognostic purposes. Proliferation index estimated by Ki67 has a significant effect on tumor prognosis with a cutoff value of 30%. However, data are still insufficient about the predictive cutoff value for pCR after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pathologic response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer, to examine the effect of Ki67 index on the rate of pathologic response with the estimation of the proper predictive cutoff value. We also studied the correlation of the pCR rate with different prognostic histopathological parameters. Patients and methods The study included 84 patients with breast cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Baseline Ki67 immunohistochemical expression was evaluated. Results Overall, 25% of the patients achieved pCR. The optimal cutoff point for Ki67 was 25%. There is a significant correlation between pCR and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), T stage before therapy, lymph node metastasis, and postmenopausal state. Linear regression analysis showed that Ki67 and TILs were associated with an increased rate of pCR after neoadjuvant therapy with a highly significant correlation. Conclusion In patients with breast cancer, Ki67 expression with a cutoff threshold of 25% could be used to predict the probability of achieving a complete response to neoadjuvant therapy. TILs are strongly associated with pCR.