Search

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in patients with invasive breast cancer in relation to its serum levels in patients with benign breast disease, and to investigate correlation between MDA serum levels with pathohistological prognostic factors (tumor size, lymph node involvement, and histologic grade [HG]), estrogen receptor (ER) status, and with breast cancer patient’s age and menopausal status. Methods: A total of 43 with well-documented invasive breast cancer were included in this study: 27 with positive axillary’s lymph nodes, and 16 with negative axillary’s lymph nodes, and 39 patients with findings of benign breast diseases. MDA determination in serum of breast cancer and benign breast disease patients was performed by the fluorimetric method, immunohistochemical staining was performed for ER, and routine pathohistological examination was conducted for pathohistological factors. Results: MDA serum levels in breast cancer patients were significantly higher than MDA serum levels in benign breast disease patients (p = 0.042). No statistically significant difference between MDA serum levels in breast cancer patients with and without lymph node metastases was found (p = 0.238). No statistically significant correlations between MDA serum levels and tumor size (p = 0.256), HG (p = 0.124), or number of positive lymph nodes (0.113) were found. A statistically significant correlation between serum MDA levels and ages of breast cancer patients with lymph node metastases was found (p = 0.006). Conclusion: Obtained results support the importance of MDA in the carcinogenesis of breast cancer. According to our findings, serum level of MDA could not be a useful prognostic factor in breast cancer.

Introduction: Previous studies have showed that fluorimetric analysis may be used as a simple, rapid, low cost and reliable method for authentication botanical origin of honey. Primary aims of this study were to record fluorescence spactra of acacia, meadow and honeydew honey samples and to determine content of flavonoid and polyphenoles in relation to colour intensity of honey. Material and methods: Fluorescence spectra of honey samples were recorded. Spectrophotometric analysis was used to determine flavonoid and polyphenols content. The honey color scoring was developed by the authors as the arbitrary system. Results: Acacia honey showed high fluorescence emission intensity after an excitation at 340 nm, 390 nm and 440 nm. Meadow honey showed fluorescence after excitation at 390 nm and 440 nm, while fluorescence, caused by excitation at 340 nm, was absent. Honeydew honey showed low intensity of fluorescence at 440 nm excitation while fluorescence was absent at 340 nm and 390 nm excitation, respectively. Statistically significant difference was found for flavonoids and polyphenols levels, between honeydew and acacia honey. Statistically significant difference in polyphenols levels between meadow and acacia honey was found. There was no statistically significant difference of flavonoids and polyphenols between samples of meadow and honeydew honey. Conclusion: Fluorimetric profiles, flavonoid and polyphenols content, together with colour intensity of honey may be useful in authenitication of botanical origin of honey.

VEGF-A is the most potent angiogenic factor in tumour angiogenesis. Its effects are mediated via two receptors VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2. Primary aim of our study was to examine the expression of VEGFR-1 in breast cancer and its correlation to VEGF expression, lymph node status, tumour size, histological grade, and hormone receptor status. To examine the VEGFR-1 and VEGF expressions in tumour and surrounding tissue of 51 breast cancer patients, and in healthy breast tissue of 30 benign breast diseases patients, we used three-step immunohistochemical staining. VEGFR-1 and VEGF expressions were significantly increased in breast cancer tumour in relation to surrounding tissue (P<0.01), and the VEGF expression was significantly increased in lymph node positive breast cancer patients (P<0.01). VEGFR-1 and VEGF expressions were significantly higher in breast cancer tumour compared with healthy breast tissue (P<0.01). Significant correlation between VEGF and VEGFR-1 expressions was found (P<0.05). No significant correlations between VEGF and VEGFR-1 expressions and tumour size, histological grade, and hormone receptor status were found. Increased expression of VEGFR-1 and VEGF in breast cancer tumour and significant correlation between these proteins suggest the possible role of VEGF/VEGFR-1 signalization in breast cancer development, although VEGFR-1 potential prognostic value was not confirmed.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and the expression levels of the interleukin 13 (IL-13) in the primary breast cancer tumour tissue in relation to the unchanged breast tissue in the same patients and to the breast tissue in the patients with benign breast disease, and to investigate the correlation between the IL-13 expression levels and the pathohistological factors, and between IL-13 expression and estrogens and progesterone receptor status. Materials and methods: 50 patients with invasive ductal breast cancer and 20 patients with benign breast diseases were included in this prospective case-control study. The three-step immunohistoc-hemical staining was used for testing the levels of IL-13 expression and hormone receptor status. Results: IL-13 was present in breast cancer tumour tissue, and in the surrounding unchanged tissue in the same patients, and in breast tissue in patients with benign breast disease. The expression of IL-13 was significantly higher in breast cancer tumour compared with surrounding tissue (P < 0.05) of the same, lymph node-positive patients. In addition, IL-13 expression was significantly higher in brea-st cancer tumour compared with breast tissue in patients with benign breast diseases (P < 0.01). The-re was significant correlation between IL-13 expression and tumour size in patients with lymph node-negative breast cancer (r = 0.405, P = 0.050). There was no significant correlation between IL-13 expression and the other pathohistological factors, and no significant correlation between IL-13 expression and the lymph node status. Conclusion: Obtained results suggest possible involvement of IL-13 in breast carcinogenesis.

Mnogi su objavljeni podaci o raku dojke i prolaktinu (PRL) proturječni. PRL je prvo bio prepoznat kao hormon koji ima važnu ulogu u inicijaciji i napredovanju raka dojke kod glodavaca i barem djelomično kod ljudi. Ljudske stanice raka dojke u kulturi sintetiziraju biološki aktivni PRL te on djeluje u autokrinoj/ parakrinoj stimulacijskoj petlji (engl. autocrine/paracrine stimulatory loop) unutar tkiva dojke. Aktivnošću tog liganda posreduje izooblik prolaktinskog receptora (receptor prolaktina, PRLR) koji se nalazi na epitelu, odnosno kojeg luči epitel dojke kod ljudi. Kompleks PRL/PRLR se povezuje te aktivira nekoliko signalnih putova koje dijeli s drugim članovima nadskupine receptora citokina. Prijenos signala PRLR započinje s tri tirozin-kinaze, odnosno Jak2, Src i Tec. U nedavno objavljenim podacima upućuje se na funkcionalnu ulogu PRL unutar jezgre gdje on djeluje zajedno s cikloBlinom B kao pobuđivačem transkripcije. Nekoliko epidemioloških istraživanja ukazalo je na moguću funkciju PRL kao čimbenika napredovanja raka dojke kod ljudi. PRL bi mogao biti važan lokalni promotor rasta uključen u patogenezu raka dojke kod žena. Hiperprolaktinemija bi mogla biti pokazateljem napredovanja bolesti i nepovoljne prognoze. U kliničke pristupe kontroliranju bolesti trebalo bi uključiti antagoniste interakcije PRL/PRLR ili signalnu transdukciju povezanu s recep-torom PRL., Much of the literature on human breast cancer and prolactin (PRL) appears to be contradictory. PRL has been Brst recognized as a hormone that plays an important role in breast cancer initiation and development in rodents, and, at least partly, in humans. Bioactive PRL is synthesized by human breast cancer cells in culture and acts in an autocrine/paracrine stimulatory loop within breast tissue. The actions of this ligand are mediated by PRL receptor (PRLR) isoforms found on, or secreted by, human breast epithelium. The PRL/PRLR complex associates with, and activates, several signaling pathways that are shared with other members of the cytokine receptor superfamily. Proximal PRLR signaling is initiated by three tyrosine kinases, namely Jak2, Src, and Tec. Some recent literature data have indicated a functional role for PRL within the nucleus where it acts in a complex with cyclophilin B as a transcrip-tional inducer. Several epidemiological studies have indicated that PRL may also function as a progression factor for human breast cancer. PRL might be an important local growth promoter involved in the pathogenesis of human breast cancer. Hyperprolactinemia could be an indicator of disease progression and poor prognosis and clinical approaches to controlling this disease need to incorporate antagonists of PRL/PRLR interaction or PRL receptor-associated signal transduction.