Our data imply that interleukins and beta2-microglobulin evaluation should be used in association with the International Prognostic Index to define prognostic subgroups in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients.

To evaluate the effect of salivary bypass tube (SBT) usage on the occurrence of pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) in patients after a laryngopharyngectomy, a total of 20 studies, published between 1988 and 2021, were identified including 2946 patients. We performed a meta-analysis assessing the risk of PCF occurrence in patients after SBT application compared to those without. PCF occurred in 26.8% of cases (669/2496) and SBT was applied in 33.0% of patients (820/2483). There was an overall trend towards lower PCF rates when using SBTs (22.2% vs. 35.3%; p = 0.057). We further selected five studies, comprising 580 patients who underwent laryngopharyngectomies, for meta-analysis showing that application of SBT reduced the risk of PCF formation (OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.18–1.18; p = 0.11). The meta-analysis demonstrates a beneficial effect of SBT insertion on PCF formation in patients after laryngopharyngectomy.

The aim of study was to investigate the expression of the proliferation factor Ki-67 and its relationship with histological grade, cancer stage, and treatment outcome in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. Samples from 78 patients with laryngeal cancer were analysed retrospectively. Paraffin sections of tumors were immunohistochemically stained for Ki-67 expression. The patients were divided in two groups according to the proliferative factor values (a low Ki-67 index group - Ki-67≤34 and high Ki-67 index group-Ki-67 >34). Statistical analysis of the data shows significant correlation among histological tumor grade and the value of the Ki-67 proliferative index. There was no correlation between tumoral Ki-67 expression and diagnosis, stage of the disease, or treatment outcome. In conclusion, Ki-67 expression in laryngeal cancer is not the most reliable marker for making precise diagnosis and predicting the clinical course.

The membrane EGFR (mEGFR) protein over-

Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is an important procedure in the staging of breast cancer patients. However, it is associated with a significant morbidity rate. In addition, using early diagnosis a high number of cases with negative lymph nodes can be identified. A lymph node defined as sentinel lymph node (SLN) would be the first to receive tumoral drainage. A less morbid but accurate staining procedure using mapping and SLN biopsy has been introduced. The aim of this study was to estimate the likelihood of additional disease in the axilla after SLN analysis. A total of 259 breast carcinomas and SLN biopsies followed by ALND were examined. The patient median age was 59 years, approximately 75% of them postmenopausal. Tumor size was 1.4 +/- 0.8 cm (almost 80% in pT1). SLNs were positive in 59 of 259 (22.8%) carcinomas, 30 (11.6%) with micrometastases (<2.0 mm) and 29 (11.2%) with metastases. Tumor size ( P = .004) and presence of lymphovascular invasion (LVI; P = .034) were found to be significant predictors of pathologically positive SLN. Following ALND, positive non-SLNs were present mostly in patients with metastasis >2 mm in SLN (P = .003), in carcinoma with higher nuclear grade ( P = .044), decreased estrogen receptor (ER; P = .042), and progesterone receptor (PR; P = .042). Finally, lymph node status (pN) following SLN and ALND was found to be significantly associated with tumor size ( P = .006), LVI (P = .037), PR (P = .023), and Her-2 status (P < .001). These results point to detailed analysis of primary tumor and SLN that may increase the precision of patient selection for further axillary surgery or radiotherapy.