• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3819-3823
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• 2013

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer mortality worldwide. The outcome of HCC depends mainly on its early diagnosis. To date, the performance of traditional biomarkers is unsatisfactory. Talins were firstly identified as cytoplasmic protein partners of integrins but Talin-1 appears to play a crucial role in cancer formation and progression. Our study was conducted to assess the diagnostic value of serum Talin-1 (TLN1) compared to the most feasible traditional biomarker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for the diagnosis of HCC. Methods: TLN1 was detected using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum samples from 120 Egyptian subjects including 40 with HCC, 40 with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 40 healthy controls (HC). Results: ROC curve analysis was used to create a predictive model for TLN1 relative to AFP in HCC diagnosis. Serum levels of TLN1 in hepatocellular carcinoma patients were significantly higher compared to the other groups (p<0.0001). The diagnostic accuracy of TLN1 was higher than that of AFP regarding sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in diagnosis of HCC. Conclusions: The present study showed for the first time that Talin-1 (TLN1) is a potential diagnostic marker for HCC, with a higher sensitivity and specificity compared to the traditional biomarker AFP.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4215-4221
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• 2013

Purposes: Lung cancer is prevalent worldwide and improvements in timely and effective diagnosis are need. Pentraxin-3 as a novel serum marker for lung cancer (LC) has not been validated in large cohort studies. The aim of the study was to assess its clinical value in diagnosis and prognosis. Methods: We analyzed serum PTX-3 levels in a total of 1,605 patients with LC, benign lung diseases and healthy controls, as well as 493 non-lung cancer patients including 12 different types of cancers. Preoperative and postoperative data were further assessed in patients undergoing LC resection. The diagnostic performance of PTX-3 for LC and early-stage LC was assessed using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) by comparing with serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin 19 fragments (CYFRA 21-1). Results: Levels of PTX-3 in serum were significantly higher in patients with LC than all controls. ROC curves showed the optimum diagnostic cutoff was 8.03ng/mL (AUC 0.823, [95%CI 0.789-0.856], sensitivity 72.8%, and specificity 77.3% in the test cohort; 0.802, [95%CI 0.762-0.843], sensitivity 69.7%, and specificity 76.4% in the validate cohort). Similar diagnostic performance of PTX-3 was observed for early-stage LC. PTX-3 decreased following surgical resection of LC and increased with tumor recurrence. Significantly elevated PTX-3 levels were also seen in patients with non-lung cancers. Conclusions: The present data revealed that PTX-3 was significantly increased in both tissue and serum samples in LC patients. PTX-3 is a valuable biomarker for LC and improved identification of patients with LC and early-stage LC from those with non-malignant lung diseases.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10363-10366
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• 2015

Background: The aim of this study was to determine diagnostic and prognostic roles of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in breast cancer patients. To date, data are limited on associations of primary breast carcinoma (PBC) and benign proliferative breast disease (BPBD) with preoperative NLR values. Materials and Methods: Our study covered of 120 female patients with PBC and 50 with BPBD. Diagnostic values of NLR were estimated using sensitivity, specificity and areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC). Results: NLR values were significantly higher in the PBC patients than in those with BPBD, with an AUC of 0.668 in the PBC case. The optimal cut-off for NLR was 2.96 and this was validated in the testing set, giving a sensitivity and a specificity of 79.7% and 76.2%, respectively, in PBC patients. Conclusions: Preoperative high NLR is a significant diagnostic predictor of distinction of breast cancer from BPBD and elevated NLR is also an important prognostic marker for primary invasive breast cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 1997

Clinical lymphadenopathies are subjected to fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) for diagnosing not only benign lesions but also malignant ones, as the first diagnostic procedure. While the diagnostic reliability in metastatic carcinoma is high, it is difficult to differentiate malignant lymphoma from reactive conditions. We evaluated the diagnostic reliability of FNAC in lymphadenopathy, and discuss the diagnostic limitation and its place in clinical practice in this study, Over 8 years from January 1988, FNAC of 1,216 lymphadenopathies were analyzed and among them 170 cases were compared with histopathology. The results are as follows. 1. Of ail the cases, 890 cases(73.2%) were diagnosed cytologically as benign, 312 cases(25.7%) as malignant, and 14 cases(1.1%) as unsatisfactory material. Reactive hyperplasia was diagnosed in 585 cases(65.7%) of the benign lesions, and among the malignant diseases, metastatic carcinoma was diagnosed in 248 cases(79.5%), and malignant lymphoma in 62 cases(19.9%). 2. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 89.2%, and no false positive case and 9 false negative results were observed among 170 cases which were proven by histopathology. Six cases of sampling error of false negative diagnoses included 3 of metastatic carcinomas and 3 of malignant lymphomas. The causes were difference between aspiration and biopsy site, poor fixation, or scanty cellularity with bloody smear. All 3 cases of misinterpretation error were malignant lympliomas, one of mixed type on biopsy which was diagnosed as reactive hyperplasia cytologically. In summary, FNAC technique is thought to be useful in the initial diagnosis of lymphadenopathies as well as in the follow-up of patients with known malignancy. Although the results of malignant lymphoma was less accurate than other malignant lesions, the application of strict cytologic criteria or lymphoid marker studies of aspiration material will reduce the false negative rate.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5353-5361
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• 2012

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is an immune-stimulatory cytokine with antitumor activity in preclinical models. It plays pivotal roles in linking inflammatory immune responses and tumor progression and is a useful candidate in gene therapy of lymphoma or lymphoid leukemia. A phase I study of recombinant human IL-18 (rhIL-18) in patients with advanced cancer concluded that rhIL-18 can be safely given in biologically active doses to patients with advanced cancer. Some viruses can induce the secretion of IL-18 for immune evasion. The individual cytokine activity might be potentiated or inhibited by combinations of cytokines. Here we focus on combinational effects of cytokines with IL-18 in cancer progression. IL-18 is an important non-invasive marker suspected of contributing to metastasis. Serum IL-18 may a useful biological marker as independent prognostic factor of survival. In this review we cover roles of IL-18 in immune evasion, metastasis and angiogenesis, applications for chemotherapy and prognostic or diagnostic significance.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6545-6548
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• 2015

Background: Synovial sarcoma is a mesenchymal neoplasm that accounts for around 10% of all soft tissue sarcomas. The diagnosis of synovial sarcoma can be a challenging task, particularly with small biopsy specimens. Aim: We investigated transducer-like enhancer of split 1 (TLE1), monoclonal antibody, expression by immunohistochemical analysis in a group of 74 synovial sarcoma cases, 20 cases of MPNST, 12 cases of neurofibroma, 15 cases of schwannoma, 5 cases of MFH, 10 cases of lieomyosarcoma and 10 cases of solitary fibrous tumor. Materials and Methods: Whole tissue sections were examined: (39 biphasic and 35 monophasic). Nuclear immunoreactivity was scored as negative (<5% of cells positive), 1+(mild /5-25%), 2+ (moderate/25-50%), and 3+ (strong >50%). Results: Overall, 71 (96%) of 74 synovial sarcomas were positive for TLE1, including 37 biphasic (95%) and 34 monophasic (97%) tumors. Other spindle cell tumors showed very low or absent staining of TLE1. Conclusions: We conclude that TLE1 is a sensitive marker and can be a useful diagnostic marker for synovial sarcoma, particularly the monophasic forms.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.50-59
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• 2019

Anti-$M{\ddot{u}}llerian$ hormone (AMH), a peptide growth factor of the transforming growth $factor-{\beta}$ family, is a reliable marker of ovarian reserve. Regarding assisted reproductive technology, AMH has been efficiently used as a marker to predict ovarian response to stimulation. The clinical use of AMH has recently been extended and emphasized. The uses of AMH as a predictive marker of menopause onset, diagnostic tool for polycystic ovary syndrome, and assessment of ovarian function before and after gynecologic surgeries or gonadotoxic agents such as chemotherapy have been investigated. Serum AMH levels can also be affected by environmental and genetic factors; thus, the effects of factors that may alter AMH test results should be considered. This review summarizes the findings of recent studies focusing on the clinical application of AMH and factors that influence the AMH level and opinions on the use of the AMH level to assess the probability of conception before reproductive life planning as a "fertility test."

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.61.1-61.13
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• 2021

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary hepatic malignancy in humans and dogs. Several differentially expressed molecules have been studied and reported in human hepatocellular carcinoma and non-neoplastic liver lesions. However, studies on the features of canine hepatocellular carcinoma are limited, especially related to the differential characteristics of neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions. Objectives: The study's objective was 1) to examine and evaluate the expression of arginase-1, P-glycoprotein, and cytokeratin 19 in canine liver tissues and 2) to investigate the differential features of hepatocellular carcinomas, liver tissue with non-neoplastic lesions, and paracancerous liver tissues in dogs. Methods: The expression levels of three markers underwent immunohistochemical analysis in 40 non-neoplastic liver tissues, 32 hepatocellular carcinoma tissues, and 11 paracancerous liver tissues. Scoring of each marker was performed semi-quantitatively. Results: Arginase-1 and P-glycoprotein were significantly downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma, compared with hepatic tissues with non-neoplastic diseases (p < 0.001). Expression levels of arginase-1 and P-glycoprotein were also significantly lower in hepatocellular carcinoma than in paracancerous liver tissues (arginase-1, p = 0.0195; P-glycoprotein, p = 0.047). Few cytokeratin 19-positive hepatocytes were detected and only in one hepatocellular carcinoma and one cirrhotic liver sample. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that downregulation of arginase-1 and P-glycoprotein is a feature of canine hepatocellular carcinoma; thus, those markers are potential candidates for use in differentiating hepatocellular carcinomas from non-neoplastic liver lesions in dogs.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.sup1
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• pp.76-90
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• 2008

$^{18}F-FDG$ PET in combination with conventional imaging modalities could help avoid unnecessary biopsy for the primary mass, and it also has a high diagnostic accuracy in patients with dense breasts. In the assessment of metastasis, $^{18}F-FDG$ PET was useful to select patients who required sentinel lymph node biopsy and to detect extra-axillary lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis. To increase the sensitivity for osteoblastic bone metastasis, bone scintigraphy should be added. In the detection of recurrence, $^{18}F-FDG$ PET showed a higher diagnostic accuracy than tumor marker or computed tomography, and therefore it can be used in routine breast cancer follow-up. $^{18}F-FDG$ PET has been reported that it correctly predicted the response of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on as early as 8th day of treatment. Therefore, it is useful for the early detect of therapeutic response in advanced breast cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1057-1060
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• 2013

Recent investigations have confirmed up-regulation of serum miR-21 and its diagnostic and prognostic value in several human malignancies. In this study, we examined serum miR-21 levels in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients, and explored its association with clinicopathological factors and prognosis. The results showed significantly higher serum miR-21 levels in EOC patients than in healthy controls. In addition, increased serum miR-21 expression was correlated with advanced FIGO stage, high tumor grade, and shortened overall survival. These findings indicate that serum miR-21 may serve as a novel diagnostic and prognostic marker, and be used as a therapeutic target for the treatment of EOC.