Background and objective:To evaluate p53 and p21 proteins over expression in gliomas and their relation to some clinico-pathological parameters. Methods: From September 2009 to July 2010, a formalin fixed, paraffin embedded blocks of 60 gliomas cases were collected in addition to 44 astrocytomas, 5 oligodendrogliomas, 2 oligoastrocytomas, and 9 ependymomas. These cases were evaluated by immunohistochemistry using streptavidin-biotin method. Results: Overall, 53% of gliomas were positive for p53; these cases formed 66% of astrocytomas, 20% of oligodendrogliomas and 100% of oligoastrocytomas. In contrast to astrocytomas, all ependymoma cases were negative for p53 protein. There was a significant association of p53 expression with patient's age and tumor site. On the other hand, p21 expression was positive in 25% of gliomas; they comprised 23% of astrocytomas, 40% of oligodendrogliomas, 50% of oligoastrocytomas and 22% of ependymomas. Both p53 and p21 expressions seemed to be raising from low to high grades astrocytoma but they did not reach level of significance. Conclusion:The results of the present study suggest that p53 overexpression is common in gliomas and p21 expression is less common. There was a trend of both marker expressions increasing with higher grades.

Background and objective: Colorectal carcinoma is one of the commonest cancers and the second leading cause of cancer death in Europe and North America. Despite the improved surgeries and adjuvant therapies, the prognosis of colorectal cancer remains poor, and the survival rate is unsatisfactory. Overexpression of HER2 gene has been noticed in many human cancers, and it is associated with poor prognosis. This study aimed to detect the frequency of the HER2/neu immunoexpression in colorectal carcinoma and investigate its association with the clinicopathological parameters. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out in Rizgary teaching hospital and private laboratories in Erbil city for the period from January 2014 -December 2017. A total of 103 formalin fixed, paraffin embedded, archival tissue blocks of colectomy samples of colorectal carcinoma cases were collected. Immunostaining was done in a private laboratory (Vin Lab) in Dohuk city. Scoring of the HER2/neu immunostaining was managed according to published criteria for breast carcinoma. Results: Fifty-five cases (53.4%) were labeled as positive for HER2/neu immunoexpression. While 48 (46.6%) of the cases were labeled as negative. HER2/neu status was significantly associated with the tumor grade (P = 0.02), while no significant association was found between HER2/neu expression and other clinicopathological parameters. Conclusion: HER2/neu immunoexpression was observed in 53.4% of the cases of colorectal carcinoma, and it was significantly associated with tumor grade.

Glioma is one of the primary tumors of the central nervous system that occurs in the spinal cord or brain and the origin of the tumor is from glial cell cells. The most common site of glioma tumors is the brain. Glioma accounts for 30% of all central nervous system tumors and 80% of malignant brain tumors. Alpha-thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked (ATRX) mutations are frequently distinguished in gliomas. Current research is an attempt to assess ATRX immunoexpression in different types of gliomas diagnosed, in Erbil-Iraq, and to evaluate its association with patient's age, gender, tumor location, grade and type. From January 2015 to January 2017, we reviewed and analyzed 97 cases of glioma. Immunohistochemical staining, for ATRX, was performed using an automated immunostainer technique. According to the WHO grading system for brain tumors, 16 (16.5%) cases were grade I gliomas, 27 (27.8%) were grade II, 10 (10.3%) were anaplastic gliomas (grade III), and 44 (45.3%) cases were glioblastomas WHO (grade IV). Positive ATRX immunoexpression was demonstrated in 27 (27.8%) cases. The highest rates of ATRX expression (55.6%) were among 30-39 years' age group, supratentorial (34.2%), and among grade II and III tumors (40.7% and 30% respectively). A significant association was observed between ATRX expression and patient's age, tumor location, tumor type and grade (p-values 0.010, 0.004, 0.004, and 0.037 respectively). No significant association was found between ATRX expression and patient's gender (p-value 0.097). It was found that ATRX is frequently expressed in grade II and III astrocytomas and was significantly related to the patient's age, tumor location, type and grade, so it can be used as a good diagnostic and prognostic indicator for glioma.

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Background and objectives:cyclooxygenase-2 is well known to be overexpressed in breast cancer and it plays nega- tive effects on tumor growth and progression. The aims of this study were to determine the frequency of Cyclooxygen- ase-2 immunoexpression in invasive breast carcinoma and to evaluate its relationship with some clinicopathological parameters. Methods: During the period January 2015 to July 2016, 100 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens of invasive breast carcinoma were collected from pathology departments of Rizgary teaching hospital and private labs in Erbil city. Using labeled polymer and enhanced polymer system (DakoEnVisionTMFlex) Dakoprotocol, Cyclooxygenase-2 expression was assessed immunohistochemically. Results:The Cyclooxygenase-2 immunoexpression was detected in 48% of invasive breast carcinoma. A statistically significant association was found between Cyclooxygenase-2 immunoexpression and lymphovascular invasion. Also a rising trend of Cyclooxygenase-2 immu- noexpression was observed with increasing age, tumor size and tumor stage but didn’t reach a statistically significant level. No any statistical significant association was found between Cyclooxygenase-2 immunoexpression and tumor grade. Conclusions:cyclooxygenase-2 overexpression is observed in 48% of cases of invasive breast carcinoma and was significantly correlated to lymphovascular invasion.