Background: Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are important cause of mortality in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients on treatment with intensive induction chemotherapy. Toll-like receptors, mainly Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 (TLR2 and TLR4), play a considerable role in the host defense against microorganisms.  The expression of TLRs and their association with the occurrence of IFIs in patients with AML remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between the T-lymphocyte expression of TLR2 and TLR4 and the occurrence of IFIs in AML patients treated with intensive induction chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: One hundred twenty two newly diagnosed AML patients were evaluated. The laboratory diagnostic techniques for IFIs include culture, microscopic examination, histopathology, galactomannan assay and PCR. The expressions of TLR2 and TLR4 were analyzed by flow cytometry. The Control group included 20 age and sex-matched individuals. Results: There was a significant increase in the expression of TLR4 in AML patients with IFI compared to healthy controls (p = 0.001). TLR2 and TLR4 expressions increased significantly in AML patients with mixed fungal and bacterial infection compared to healthy controls (p= 0.002 and p=0.001, respectively). Conclusion: TLRs expressions could be important biological markers for the occurrence of IFI in AML patients after intensive induction chemotherapy.   Keywords: Invasive Fungal Infection, TLR2, TLR4, Acute Myeloid Leukemia

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Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is an exceedingly diversified group of lymphoproliferative neoplasms emerging from B-, T-or natural killer-lymphocytes. This study was done to detect Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2)-735C/T gene polymorphism in patients with NHL and its relation to the clinicopathological characteristics of the studied patients in addition to detection the association between it and NHL disease susceptibility and progression. Clinico-hematological profiles were done on 50 NHL patients. The genotypes and allelic frequencies of MMP-2 polymorphisms were recognized utilizing Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). PCR products after adding restriction endonuclease were analyzed using QIAxcel advanced (automated) instrument. The CT ? TT genotypes and T allele of MMP2 735C/T were statistically significant in patients having advanced clinical stages III/IV compared to patients with stages I/II. Another significance was observed in patients with intermediate high/high IPI score and BM infiltration. Interestingly, patients with MMP2-735C/T genotype exhibit lower rate of survival. Our results demonstrated that MMP2-735C/T polymorphism may potentially affect the progression of NHL. Further larger scale studies are needed.

Background: The distinction between primary lung carcinoma and metastatic tumors is essential for patient management and treatment. However for metastatic tumors, a wedge resection is often the procedure of choice, whereas for primary pulmonary neoplasms the standard treatment is to perform at least a lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node sampling. Computed tomography scans, histology and immunohistochemical stains still have some limitations in differentiating primary neuroendocrinal lung tumors and metastatic adenocarcinoma. Estrogen and progesterone receptors, although more frequently immunoreactive in breast carcinomas and gynecologic tumors than in primary lung tumors, can be positive in metastatic pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Objective: To assess estrogen and progesterone receptor expression in primary pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors. Design: Fifty seven neuroendocrine lung neoplasms including small cell carcinomas (25), carcinoids (19), large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (6), and combined small cell carcinomas (7) were evaluated in this cross-sectional study for estrogen and progesterone receptors. Lung metastasis from gynecologic tumors (27) and non-small cell lung carcinomas (30) were also stained for comparison. Settings: Chest and gynecology departments of Assuit and Woman's Health University hospitals. Results: Neuroendocrine primary lung neoplasm demonstrated focal to diffuse estrogen and progesterone expression. There was no correlation with the size of the tumor, the sex or the age of the patients. In comparison with neuroendocrine lung carcinomas, lung metastasis from gynecologic adenocarcinomas (20 endocervical cancer, 7 endometrial cancer) expressed estrogen and progesterone receptors more frequently (p<0.7). Non-small cell carcinomas had less immunoreactivity for estrogen and progesterone than primary neuroendocrinal lung tumors and gynelogic lung metastasis (p<0.4). Conclusions: Although estrogen and progesterone receptor staining is frequently associated with gynecologic tumors, it can also be observed in “nontarget” organs. Therefore, presence of estrogen and progesterone expression in lung metastasis from gynecologic adenocarcinomas should not exclude a primary pulmonary neoplasm. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(12 Suppl):B22.