Archive of Oncology

Impressum

Archive of Oncology — 2023-12-08

Intro with Editoral Board

Archive of Oncology — 2023-12-08

Word of the Editor-in-Chief

Archive of Oncology — 2023-12-08

SDHx mutations are associated with the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in vagal paragangliomas

Anastasiya Snezhkina — 2023-12-08

Background: Vagal paraganglioma (VPGL) is a very rare neuroendocrine tumor arising from the paraganglion associated with the vagus nerve. VPGL is mainly characterized by an asymptomatic course and slow growth. However, up to 19% of tumors can metastasize. Due to the rarity of this tumor, information about VPGL is limited to single cases and small sample sets; the data on molecular genetic features is extremely scarce.

Methods: For the first time we have analyzed the enrichment of biological pathways associated with mutations in the SDHx genes in VPGLs. Bioinformatics analysis was performed based on the results of high-throughput transcriptome sequencing on an Illumina platform for 33 tumor tissues obtained from patients with vagal paragangliomas.

Results: Eight pathways of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database with gene overrepresentation (top-40 mode) have been identified. Significant changes were shown for the cancer-associated PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and interconnected pathways of focal adhesion and interaction of receptors with the extracellular matrix enriched by overexpressed genes.

Conclusion: Our result indicates the association of SDHx mutations with changes in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in vagal paraganglioma. The potential mechanism of deregulation in this pathway could be linked with a state of pseudohypoxia induced by the dysfunction of succinate dehydrogenase due to mutations in the SDHx genes.

Key words: Head and neck paraganglioma, vagal paraganglioma, SDHx mutations, high-throughput sequencing, transcriptome, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

The role of the nutritional status of geriatric patients with gastrointestinal cancer in developing postoperative complications

Sanja Starčević — 2023-12-08

Background: Many studies have shown that geriatric patients with altered nutritional status are at higher risk of developing complications during medical treatment. Our study aimed to examine the role of preoperative nutritional status in developing postoperative complications and the length of hospital stay in geriatric patients who suffer from cancer and undergo major abdominal surgery.

Methods: Prospective research was conducted at the Oncology Institute of Vojvodina from January 2020 until April 2021. This study included 82 patients over 65 years old, who were admitted to have radical surgery for gastrointestinal cancer performed. There were 6 patients excluded from the study. Nutritional status analysis was performed using BMI (Body mass index), preoperative serum albumin level, MNA-SF (Mini nutritional assessment- short form), and GNRI (Geriatric nutritional risk index). The classification of surgical complications was done using the Clavien-Dindo classification scale.

Results: Of the total number of patients, 57 of them (75%) developed at least one surgical complication. Nonsurgical complications have been recognized in 28 patients (36.84%). Overweight patients, according to BMI, had a greater chance of developing grade I (p < 0.01) and grade II (p < 0.05) surgical complications of the Clavien-Dindo classification. Patients with normal serum albumin levels had a significantly lower chance of developing surgical complications of any grade (p = 0.00). BMI and MNA- SF were the most important predictors of delirium. Patients without GNRI risk (GNRI: >98) had a significantly lower chance of developing nonsurgical complications regarding comorbidity exacerbation (p = 0.03), and delirium (p = 0.00).

Conclusion: None of the nutritional assessment tools used in our study were better or more efficient than the others in our sample of patients. Precise nutritional status assessment is complex and we cannot use only one scoring system or scale to get accurate results.

Keywords: nutritional status, diagnosis, malnutrition, geriatric

The role of imunohistochemical analysis in the diagnosis of lung metastases

Ljuban Blanuša — 2023-12-08

Background: Metastatic tumors are tumors whose primary origin is not the organ in which they are located, but have reached the target tissue by metastasis from the primary site of the tumor. The presence of metastases of the primary tumor in other organs is responsible for the highest number of cancer mortalities, and in addition, their presence significantly changes the treatment of an oncologic patient in relation to a patient to whom the primary tumor is not disseminated. The goal of this study was to determine the importance of immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of metastatic lung tumors.

Methods: A retrospective study included 84 patients with a pathohistologically proven metastatic lung disease at the Institute of Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina from April 1 2013 to March 31 2018. The material for pathohistological and immunohistochemical analysis was studied at the Institute for Histopathology and Molecular Diagnostics of the Institute.

Results: Out of a total of 84 patients, in 42 (50%) patients, the origin of pulmonary metastases was colorectal cancer, 15 (17%) renal cell carcinoma, 11 (13%) breast cancer, 4 (4%) malignant melanoma, 3 (4%) leiomyosarcoma of the uterus, and in the other 9 (11%) individual tumor cases. Antibodies used in the immunohistochemical assay are CK20 and CDX2 (colorectal cancer), CD10, RCC, Vimentin (renal cell carcinoma), PR, ER, Mamaglobin (breast cancer), HMB45, S100, Vimentin, MelanA (melanoma) SMA, Myosin, Desmin (uterine leiomyosarcoma).

Conclusion: For the purpose of faster and more precise diagnostic and timely treatment of patients with disseminated malignant disease, it is necessary to supplement the standard pathohistological analysis with immunohistochemistry analysis, which is an important method in determining the primary origin of metastatic tumors.

Keywords: Lung Neoplasms; immunohistochemistry; pathology; metastases.

Variable metaplastic entities in pleomorphic adenoma - a review of a rare case report with a note on its significance

Niva Mahapatra — 2023-12-08

Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common benign salivary gland neoplasm principally affecting the parotid gland of the salivary gland and the palate of the minor salivary gland. The term pleomorphic is assigned due to its varied histopathological presentation. We hereby describe a rare case of pleomorphic adenoma in a male patient in his 7^th decade of life complaining of swelling in the hard palate for the past 3 years. This case report emphasizes the unique representation of squamous and lipomatous differentiation which was erroneously diagnosed as OSCC or mucoepidermoid carcinoma. We have also included a literature search of such cases that exhibited lipomatous and squamous differentiation in PA listed from the last 10 years.

Key words: Pleomorphic adenoma, minor salivary gland, lipomatous differentiation, squamous differentiation.

Literature review on breast cancer-related lymphedema and related factors

Shaimaa Shamoun — 2023-12-08

A potential complication that affects a patient's quality of life is breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). Due to lymphatic system failure brought on by breast cancer treatment, it is secondary lymphedema.

This literature review examines 50 articles that are connected to BCRL. Research conducted in the English language between 2017 and 2022 is included. The definition, occurrence, severity, symptoms, risk factors, aspects of quality of life, and total decongestive therapy are all incorporated in this review of BCRL.

The severity of the BCRL is assessed using International Staging Lymphology, 2020 from mild to severe. The documented incidence rates of BCRL in the literature range greatly, between less than 5% and more than 50%. The most significant risk factors of BCRL are related to lymph node surgery, in particular, axillary lymph node excision, and radiation therapy. If BCRL is not properly diagnosed and managed, it could have debilitating, long-lasting and late crippling side-effects of breast cancer treatment. It frequently has a devastating impact on the quality of life in many domains.

To better understand the behaviors and management of lymphedema risk reduction, patients with breast cancer need extra information. To evaluate the effectiveness of complete decongestive therapy as a risk reduction behavior rather than for management and treatment, more study needs be done with a larger sample and longer supervision.

Keywords: breast cancer, lymphedema, skin care, treatment, compression

In Memoriam

Archive of Oncology — 2023-12-08

Ovaj tekst nema abstract

Instructions for authors

Archive of Oncology — 2023-12-08