Breast cancer incidence is actually the highest one among all cancers. Overall breast cancer management is associated with challenges considering risk assessment and predictive diagnostics, targeted prevention of metastatic disease, appropriate treatment options, and cost-effectiveness of approaches applied. Accumulated research evidence indicates promising anti-cancer effects of phytochemicals protecting cells against malignant transformation, inhibiting carcinogenesis and metastatic spread, supporting immune system and increasing effectiveness of conventional anti-cancer therapies, among others. Molecular and sub-/cellular mechanisms are highly complex affecting several pathways considered potent targets for advanced diagnostics and cost-effective treatments. Demonstrated anti-cancer affects, therefore, are clinically relevant for improving individual outcomes and might be applicable to the primary (protection against initial cancer development), secondary (protection against potential metastatic disease development), and tertiary (towards cascading complications) care. However, a detailed data analysis is essential to adapt treatment algorithms to individuals’ and patients’ needs. Consequently, advanced concepts of patient stratification, predictive diagnostics, targeted prevention, and treatments tailored to the individualized patient profile are instrumental for the cost-effective application of natural anti-cancer substances to improve overall breast cancer management benefiting affected individuals and the society at large.

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Annual gynecological examination with cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination ensures the appropriate prevention of the onset and progression of cervical cancer. Currently, efforts are being made to find new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Fascin, an actin-bundling protein, promotes cellular migration. Its overexpression has been observed in many types of squamous carcinomas and was usually correlated with a worse prognosis and metastasis. However, the data on fascin expression in cervical lesions are limited. This study focuses on the quantitative evaluation of fascin expression, the immunoreaction intensity and subcellular localization of fascin expression in low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Fascin expression was also correlated with the routinely used diagnostic markers p16 and Ki-67. Biopsy specimens (n = 67) of LSIL, HSIL and SCC were taken from adult women in the age range 20-86 years. Fascin expression was detected by immunohistochemical analysis and quantified using morphometric software. Analysis of variance confirmed statistically significant differences in the percentage of fascin-positive cells between the LSIL, HSIL and SCC groups. Finally, the results showed a significant positive correlation between fascin expression and p16 and Ki-67 expression.

Objectives: Considerable differences are known between proximal and distal colon, these include embryological, anatomical, histological, biochemical, and physiological characteristics. Above mentioned distinctions may influence development of variable clinico-morphological entities. Multifunctional antiapoptotic protein survivin participates in regulation of cell cycle, apoptotic cascades, and stimulates angiogenesis. Material and methods: We assessed immunohistochemically expression pattern of antiapoptotic protein survivin in a panel of 243 colon adenomas to determine its association with colon localization. In each section, subcellular compartmentalization of survivin and intensity of immunoreaction were evaluated. Results: Survivin was expressed in 190 cases (78.2%). Statistical analysis confirmed a significant correlation of subcellular survivin compartmentalization and intensity of immunoreaction with colon localization of adenomas. Conclusions: Taking into account unique features of survivin, its expression pattern in proximally sided adenomas, and distinctions between left and right colon, we suppose that survivin level may contribute to higher proliferative phenotype of proximal adenomas.