Basic and Clinical Cancer Research
Volume:6 Issue: 1, Winter 2014

A long-lasting problem in the analysis of tissue samples is the time-consuming and repetitive process of histologic preparation and pathologic review of tissue sections. These two critical factors, innate nonuniformity in preparation and subjectivity of analysis, therefore limit the scientific and statistical thoroughness of tissue based studies. Employing tissue microarray (TMA) technique provides a potential solution to each of these problems. This review discusses the methods of creating tissue microarrays, the advantages and disadvantages of the technology, analysis methods, and recent TMA applications.

Considering the ease of administration of capecitabne instead of infusional 5FU for concurrent radiochemotherapy (RcT) of rectal cancer، the use of capecitabine has increased significantly in our radiation oncology department in the past years. Thus we decided to compare the safety and survival with these 2 drugs by a retrospective review. Files of all patients receiving RcT either pre- or post-operatively for rectal cancer in our department in the 5 years of 2004-2008 were reviewed. Side effects were compared for all patients treated by capecitabine versus 5FU; while for homogeneity of data، disease-free survival was only compared in the patients treated pre-operatively. During the review period، 322 rectal cancer patients had received concurrent RcT in our department. Radiation dose-fractionation regimens were mostly 45 or 50 Gy in 25 fractions or 5040 in 28 fractions. The use of pre-operative treatments increased from 33% in 2004 to 67% in 2008. The use of capecitabine versus 5FU also went up from 2% in 2004 to 65% in 2008. The grades of leucopenia، thrombocytopenia and radiation dermatitis were significantly higher in the 5FU group (p<0. 05). There was only one case of hand-foot syndrome، observed in the capecitabine group. In the 102 patients (66. 7% male with a mean age of 53. 7 years) who had received pre-operative RcT، median disease-free survival was 53% for all patients، with no statistically significant difference between the patients treated by capecitabine and 5FU. The use of capecitabine for concurrent RcT of rectal cancer in our patients was easy and safe، with a favorable acute side-effect profile compared to 5FU، and comparable survival.

Gestational choriocarcinoma usually occurs following an intrauterine pregnancy. We report a case of metastatic choriocarcinoma to the left kidney and lungs with long term intermittent amenorrhea and vaginal bleeding after a normal vaginal delivery.A 43 year old rural woman presented with three years intermittent amenorrhea and vaginal bleeding following normal vaginal delivery. She also complained of gross hematuria and left flank pain and had a rising titer of serum β- hCG. Pathologic examination of endometrial curettage specimen revealed choriocarcinoma. Ultrasound revealed enlarged uterus involved by an irregular mass with heterogenous echo pattern and extensive myometrial invasion. A mass with similar echo pattern was also evident in the left kidney. Computerized tomography confirmed the intrauterine mass and involvement of the left kidney. On chest X ray, metastatic nodules were seen in both lungs and in the left retrocardiac space. The patient underwent chemotherapy with EMA-CO regimen (etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide, and vincristine/oncovine). During chemotherapy, she became pancytopenic and febrile. This condition was successfully managed with G-CSF, leukovorin and antibiotics. The patient is now well and still under the chemotherapy. Her serum β- hCG level has fell to 6 IU/ml.