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A b s t r a c t Introduction: The inguinal region is a locus of minor resistance in the abdominal wall. Hernias in this area occur in the space described as the myopectineal orifice (Fruchaud

Vacuum-assisted core biopsy is a minimally invasive and efficient method used for diagnosing intraductal papilloma of the breast. If histopathological examination confirms a benign character of the lesion, surgery may be avoided but regular follow-up is recommended. However, in all cases histopathological diagnosis of papilloma with atypical hyperplasia, should always be indication for surgical excision.

INTROduCTION Chemokines are cytokines with chemotactic functions in the initiation and maintenance of immune reactions. They have also been shown to regulate other processes such as cancer progression and cancer cell migration.ObjECTIvEs The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic role of serum levels of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (CCL5) in patients with colorectal cancer. PATIENTs ANd METhOdsThe study included a group of 45 patients with colorectal cancer. The serum concentrations of CCL2 and CCL5 were measured preoperatively. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients' blood were isolated and cultured alone or with cancer cells. The concentrations of chemokines in serum and culture supernatants were measured using the cytometric bead array method. The cut-off points for serum chemokine levels were set based on the receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis at a level of 103.6 pg/ml for CCL2 and of 11933.2 pg/ml for CCL5. The survival analysis and multivariate analysis of prognostic factors were performed. REsuLTsThe 5-year survival was 57.5% for the group with low CCL2 levels and 23.87% for the group with high CCL2 levels. For the groups with low and high CCL5 levels, the survival was 18.3% and 49.3%, respectively. For CCL2, the survival of the low-level group was significantly better than that of the highlevel group (P = 0.0028). In the Cox proportional hazard model, radicality of resection (P = 0.001) and CCL2 levels (P = 0.029) were independent prognostic factors.CONCLusIONs The serum level of CCL2 in patients with colorectal cancer may have prognostic value. One of the possible mechanisms of CCL2 production is the interaction of PBMC with cancer cells.

The aim of the study was to assess the value of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) measurements in breast cancer patients with respect to recognized clinicopathological prognostic factors. The study was conducted in 87 women with histologically confirmed breast cancer who underwent surgical treatment and 37 healthy women. Vascular endothelial growth factor concentration levels in the blood samples of patients were correlated with the size of the primary tumor, lymph nodes in the armpit, cancer stage, histological type, grading, multifocality, status of estrogen and progesterone receptors and HER-2 protein expression. Statistical analysis did not show any correlation between concentrations of VEGF and any of the selected parameters. The comparison of VEGF concentrations showed a slightly raised level of VEGF in women with the disease as opposed to the healthy subjects but the differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.472). Similar results were obtained for marker CEA (p = 0.09), while the level of Ca 15-3 in both groups differed significantly (p < 0.001) reaching higher values in the patients with diagnosed breast cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor concentrations in breast cancer patients do not correlate with recognized clinicopathological prognostic factors and CEA and Ca 15-3 markers, which does not preclude the potential role of VEGF as an independent prognostic factor.