Biomedical subjects

Dimitrios Koukouras

Publications and source records attributed to Dimitrios Koukouras.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Non-palpable breast carcinomas: correlation of mammographically detected malignant-appearing microcalcifications and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family expression.

Malignant-appearing microcalcifications (MAMCs) represent one of the earliest mammographic findings of non-palpable breast carcinomas (NPBCs). In the present study, we have evaluated the expression of all EGFR family members in NPBCs and its possible association with MAMCs. Three hundred and fifty patients with non-palpable suspicious breast lesions detected during screening mammography were studied. EGFR family proteins' expression was found to be present since the preclinical phase of breast carcinomas and was strongly correlated (except HER-3) with MAMCs. The co-expression pattern of EGFR family members combined with other molecular prognostic factors and the mammographic appearance might predict the natural history of NPBCs.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

PubMed2006

Estrogen receptor polymorphisms in tamoxifen-treated women with breast cancer.

In postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer, long-term tamoxifen administration has proved beneficial after surgical treatment and subsequent chemotherapy. One of the major adverse effects of tamoxifen is the development of endometrial pathology (polyps, endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer). PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms of the estrogen receptor-alpha gene (ERalpha) and RsaI and AluI polymorphisms of the estrogen receptor-beta gene (ERbeta) have been associated with breast cancer. Thus the present study aimed to identify whether ER gene polymorphisms are associated with breast cancer stage or endometrial responsiveness to long-term tamoxifen treatment in 87 postmenopausal, tamoxifen-treated women with ER-positive breast cancer. The mean age of the patients was 58.7 +/- 4.7 years and the mean duration of tamoxifen treatment was 3.9 +/- 1.1 years. At diagnosis, the stage of breast cancer was determined as follows: 29 women (32%) at Stage I, 49 (58%) at Stage II and 9 (10%) at Stage III. The frequency distributions of the estrogen receptor polymorphisms in all women with breast cancer were not different from those predicted by the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium hypothesis (p > 0.10). None of the ER polymorphisms studied was linked to either the presence of endometrial pathology or the stage of breast cancer.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed2006

A web-based system for supporting collaboration towards resolving oncology issues.

The coordinated consideration of diverse perspectives and knowledge sources in medical decision-making contexts is undoubtedly of crucial importance, in that it augments the quality of both the overall process and decisions to be made. Towards this end, this study presents a web-based system that aims at the exploitation of personalized knowledge through a structured process of collaborative and argumentative resolution of issues raised in such settings. By using the system, a consensus emerges through the process of collaboratively considering alternative interpretations of the issue under consideration. Using an illustrative example of collaboration between a group of experts deciding on the most appropriate treatment for a particular case of breast cancer, we present the design rationale, features and functionality of the proposed system. Much attention is also paid to the associated knowledge management issues. The system can be used for distributed, asynchronous collaboration, allowing users to surpass the requirements of working at the same place and time.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed2002

Non-palpable breast carcinomas: correlation of mammographically detected malignant-appearing microcalcifications and molecular prognostic factors.

Screening mammography has greatly increased the number of non-palpable breast carcinomas diagnosed in asymptomatic women. Malignant-appearing microcalcifications represent one of the earliest mammographic findings of non-palpable breast carcinomas. Many studies have attempted to correlate radiological and histological features of malignant-appearing microcalcifications. In the present study, we evaluated the association between mammographically detected malignant-appearing microcalcifications and the expression profile of selected biological markers in non-palpable breast carcinomas. Two hundred and eighty patients with non-palpable suspicious breast lesions that were detected during screening mammography were studied. All patients underwent mammographically-guided needle localization-excision breast biopsy. Histological examination showed 74 (26.4%) carcinomas of various subtypes. Immunohistochemistry was carried out in 58/74 carcinomas by using a panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), HER-2/neu, Bcl-2, Bax, Fas and DNA fragmentation factor (DFF). Malignant-appearing microcalcifications was the major mammographic finding in 45/58 (77%) patients. Nuclear ER positivity (65.5%) and PR positivity (46.5%) of non-palpable breast carcinomas were statistically correlated with malignant-appearing microcalcifications (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). Statistically significant associations were also found between malignant-appearing microcalcifications and HER-2/neu positivity (p < 0.01), Bax positivity (p < 0.01), Fas positivity (p < 0.05) and DFF positivity (p < 0.01), whereas no statistical correlation was found with Bcl-2 positivity (p > 0.05). Malignant-appearing microcalcifications detected during screening mammography represent a diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic challenge. The mammographic/biological associations and their potential implications in the management of women with non-palpable breast carcinomas are thoroughly discussed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia relapse in the breast diagnosed with gray-scale and color Doppler sonography.

Extramedullary relapses of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children and young adults are rare and in most cases are localized in the central nervous system, testes, or both. We describe a rare case of extramedullary relapse of ALL in the breast of a 17-year-old girl. The patient, who had been diagnosed with ALL 1 year before and had been in complete remission for 5 months, was admitted to the hospital for investigation of a mass in her left breast. On clinical examination, she had a large, palpable, nontender mass in her left breast. Mammography revealed a very dense mass. On gray-scale and power Doppler sonography, the appearance of the mass was consistent with malignancy. Histopathologic examination of a surgical biopsy specimen permitted accurate diagnosis of ALL.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Expression of p27KIP1, p21WAF1 and p53 does not correlate with prognosis in node-negative invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

The expressions ofp27Kip1 (p27) and p21waf1 (p21) cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors and p53 were examined in a series of 170 node-negative breast carcinomas (NNBCs) to evaluate their prognostic significance. Low nuclear (p27TN) and cytoplasmic (p27TC) p27 expressions were noted in 66% and 81% of NNBCs, respectively. p21 and p53 overexpressions were detected in 56% and 26%, respectively. Low p27TN was significantly associated with high grade (p=0.001), age < or = 50 years (p=0.01), negative hormone receptors (p<0.001), low p27TC (p<0.001) and p53 overexpression (p=0.02). Low p27TC was associated with negative hormone receptors (p<0.001). p53 overexpression was associated with high grade (p<0.001) and negative hormone receptors (p<0.001). p21 overexpression, although not correlated with the examined parameters, was associated with increased disease-free survival in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, p27TN, p27TC, p21 and p53 were not associated with disease-free survival or overall survival. These findings argue against the prognostic value of p27, p21 and p53 in NNBC.

Adult↗