The purpose of the present study was to identify site-specific prognostic biomarkers in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). For this purpose, Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Stat3, H-ras, c-myc, p53, cyclin D1, p16, Rb and Bcl-2 were localized immunohistochemically in buccal mucosa carcinoma (n=74) and tongue carcinoma (n=61) patients. Expression of markers was compared between buccal mucosa and tongue carcinoma and assessed for their prognostic value in site-specific manner. On comparison, only cyclin D1 showed significant difference in expression with higher accumulation in tongue tumors (r=+0.177, p=0.039). Moreover, univariate survival analysis showed that in buccal mucosa patients, loss of p16 and overexpression of H-ras were significant prognosticators for relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS), respectively. However, in Cox multivariate analysis, they lost their significance after adjusting for significant clinicopathological parameters. On the other hand, in tongue cancer patients, Cox multivariate analysis showed that for RFS, Stat3 and c-myc, and for OS, Stat3, Bcl-2 and p53 were significant prognosticators after adjusting for significant confounding factors. Our findings indicated that buccal mucosa and tongue carcinoma exhibit different biological behavior which is reflected in prognosis. Therefore, this approach might be helpful to precisely identify patients for more effectively tailored treatment strategy.

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Background and Objective:Persistent high risk human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is probably the best predictor of increased risk of cervical cancer, but expression of certain markers of cell proliferation and apoptosis have been studied. The present study was conducted to evaluate the expression of p53 and bcl2 in premalignant and malignant lesions of cervix and its correlation with HPV type 16 and 18.Materials and Methods:The study comprised of 35 cases (including 24 prospective cases and 11 retrospective cases) of premalignant and malignant lesions of the cervix. Slides were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin and p53, bcl2 (immunohistochemistry), HPV 16 and HPV 18 (in situ hybridization).Results:p53 positivity was seen in 8/19 (42.1%) cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and 8/16 (50%) cases of carcinoma cervix, the difference not significant statistically. The difference in bcl2 expression in CIN versus carcinoma cervix (84.21% vs. 43.75%) was statistically significant (P = 0.030). There was no significant difference between p53 and bcl2 expression and the stage and grade of the tumors. Seven out of 19 cases of CIN (36.84%) were positive for HPV 16/18 infection and 8/16 cases (50%) of carcinoma cervix were HPV positive (P = 0.628).Conclusions:No significant association was found between HPV 16/18 infection and p53 and bcl2 expression in premalignant and malignant lesions of uterine cervix. Although, bcl2 staining showed a significant difference between CIN and carcinoma cervix, a larger case series is required to assess the association between HPV infection and overexpression of p53 and bcl2 proteins in these lesions.

Background:Breast cancer has emerged as a leading site of cancer among women in India. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has been routinely applied in assessment of breast lesions. Cytological evaluation in breast lesions is subjective with a “gray zone” of 6.9–20%. Quantitative evaluation of nuclear size, shape, texture, and density parameters by morphometry can be of diagnostic help in breast tumor.Aims:To apply nuclear morphometry on cytological breast aspirates and assess its role in differentiating between benign and malignant breast lesions with derivation of suitable cut-off values between the two groups.Settings and Designs:The present study was a descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study of nuclear morphometric parameters of benign and malignant cases.Materials and Methods:The study included 50 benign breast disease (BBD), 8 atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), and 64 carcinoma cases. Image analysis was performed on Papanicolaou-stained FNAC slides by Nikon Imaging Software (NIS)–Elements Advanced Research software (Version 4.00). Nuclear morphometric parameters analyzed included 5 nuclear size, 2 shape, 4 texture, and 2 density parameters.Results:Nuclear morphometry could differentiate between benign and malignant aspirates with a gradually increasing nuclear size parameters from BBD to ADH to carcinoma. Cut-off values of 31.93 μm2, 6.325 μm, 5.865 μm, 7.855 μm, and 21.55 μm for mean nuclear area, equivalent diameter, minimum feret, maximum ferret, and perimeter, respectively, were derived between benign and malignant cases, which could correctly classify 7 out of 8 ADH cases.Conclusion:Nuclear morphometry is a highly objective tool that could be used to supplement FNAC in differentiating benign from malignant lesions, with an important role in cases with diagnostic dilemma.

The present study aimed to determine significance of E-cadherin, a cell adhesion molecule, and sialyl Lewis-X (sLe X ), a cell surface antigen, in oral carcinogenesis. Expressions of E-cadherin and sLe X were detected using western blot analysis from oral malignant (n=25), and oral precancerous tissues (OPC, n=20) and their adjacent normal tissues. An altered expression of E-cadherin (E-cad) and sLe X was observed in malignant and precancerous tissues. E-cad western blot revealed presence of two bands, a 120 kDa (native, E-cad 120 ) and a 97 kDa (known as truncated E-cad 97 ). The accumulation of truncated E-cad 97 and sLe X in malignant and OPC tissues compared to their adjacent normal tissues was observed. Receiver's Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve analysis showed good discriminatory efficacy of E-cad 97 , E-cad 97:120 ratio and sLe X between the malignant and adjacent. normal tissues. Further, a positive correlation of E-cad 97 and sLe X overexpression with advanced stage of the disease and lymphnode metastasis was observed. The data suggest that E-cadherin truncation and sLe X overexpression are early events which may facilitate the tumor cells to metastasize. Also, overexpression E-cad 97 and sLe X in OPC tissues may be useful to predict metastatic potentials of tumors at an early stage of oral carcinogenesis.