Late-Stage Presentation of Testicular Cancer Patients Attended a Specialized Hospital: Findings of a Crosssectional Study

Background: Testicular Cancer (TC) is of interest and importance because its incidence has been increasing in most countries over the past four decades. The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency of patients with common histopathology, most common stage during presentation, biochemical and radiological findings, common levels of tumour markers. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Medical Oncology of National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH), Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2015 to June 2016. A total number of 52 patients were taken as study participants who are admitted as newly diagnosed at the NICRH. Data collection: tumour markers, USG of whole abdomen and chest X-ray were performed to all the patients for determination of the staging of the tumour. Results: The present study found the majority of the patients were found in stage III disease. Patients with Cryptorchidism needed to be educated regarding its early management to reduce the incidence of testicular tumour among them. It was observed that young people could be adequately knowledgeable and optimal awareness could be developed regarding early symptoms of the disease, then they may be found in earlier stage of their disease, which is curable with modern management method. Targeting to alter the cancer patients’ presentation by rising consciousness about TC, prognosis can be largely improved in future. Conclusion: This study was conducted to find out the features which were unknown in perspective of Bangladesh, so that burden of TC can be reduced, and prognosis can be further improved of this potentially curable disease. JOPSOM 2021; 40(1): 26-33

Computer-aided diagnosis of lung malignity using multidimensional analysis of tumour marker data

The aim of this work is assessing diagnostic performance of lung tumour markers. Three clinical laboratory tests were used for indicating lung malignancy in order to verify or predict the patient’s diagnosis. The data set of 182 patients was examined and two main groups of the patient samples were created – 86 with diagnosed malignancy (confirmed by histology) and 96 with diagnosed benign tumours or tuberculosis. The following tumour markers were analyzed: carcinoembryonic antigen and cytokeratin 19 fragment, which were sampled in the pleural exudates, and the same tumour markers in serum. In addition, the patient’s age and the gender of the corresponding individual were used as further variables in the original data matrix. Three laboratory tests were used for indicating lung malignancy in order to verify or predict the patient’s diagnosis not only by using the results of the chosen individual laboratory test but also applying multivariate statistical approach, which jointly utilizes all performed tests in the form of their optimal linear combination.

Biomarkers in Ovarian Pathology: From Screening to Diagnosis. Review of the Literature

Background: Ovarian cancer has a low incidence, but high mortality due to a habitual diagnosis in advanced cancer stages. Currently, used biomarkers have good sensitivity, but low specificity. Aim: To determine the usefulness of the biomarkers and algorithms used up to now in the screening, diagnosis, response to treatments and identification of recurrence in patients with ovarian masses. Methodology: Systematic search of publications in English in the Medline-PubMed database with the terms: “biomarkers”, “tumour”, “tumour biomarkers”, “marker”, “tumour marker”, “ovarian cancer”, “ovarian”, “Neoplasms”, “cancer”, CA-125 Antigen; Human Epididymis-specific Protein E4; Risk of Malignancy Index (RMI); Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm (ROMA); Ovarian Neoplasms. Original articles, clinical trials, reviews, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, published between January 2000 and November 2020, were selected to determine the usefulness (among others) of CA 125 and HE4 antigen in ovarian cancer. Results: Finally, 39 transcendental publications were selected to write this article to determine the usefulness of tumour markers and algorithms in ovarian cancer. Conclusions: The usefulness of the tumour markers antigen CA125 and antigen HE4 individually or as a basis for decision-making algorithms has low specificity; however, there is little evidence that confirms their usefulness as markers in ovarian cancer screening.

Correlation between tumor markers in pre and post treatment of pancreatic cancer patients

One of the main causes of death in India is pancreas cancer. Various blood tumour indicators such as 19-9 carbohydrate antigen (CA19-9), antigen125 carbohydrate (CA125), antigen carcinoembryogenic (CEA) and alphaetoprotein (AFP) imbalance are observed in therapy for cancer. In disease predictions, thorough monitoring of the change in serum tumour markers was highly essential. The present investigation was thus conducted to examine serum marker tumour profiles before and after therapy of individuals with pancreatic cancer. The study comprised 400 individuals from both sexes suffering from pancreatic carcinogenic malignancy. In the pre and post-treatment of patients we detected serum tumour markers. In post-treatment groups, serum tumour marker levels were lower than before the individuals were treated. However, using pairs of samples t-testing at pfleg.0.05 these changes were statistically significant. Marker alterations in the serum tumour have shown risk for individuals. These alterations therefore enable the cancer individuals to predict and monitor properly.

A simple immunoassay for extracellular vesicle liquid biopsy in microliters of non-processed plasma

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), released by most cell types, provide an excellent source of biomarkers in biological fluids. Here we describe a method that, using just a few microliters of patient’s plasma, identifies tumour markers exposed on EVs. Studying physico-chemical properties of EVs in solution, we demonstrate that they behave as stable colloidal suspensions and therefore, in immunocapture assays, many of them are unable to interact with a stationary functionalised surface. Using flocculation methods, like those used to destabilize colloids, we demonstrate that cationic polymers increase EV ζ-potential, diameter, and sedimentation coefficient and thus, allow a more efficient capture on antibody-coated surfaces by both ELISA and bead-assisted flow cytometry. These findings led to optimization of a protocol in microtiter plates allowing effective immunocapture of EVs, directly in plasma without previous ultracentrifugation or other EV enrichment. The method, easily adaptable to any laboratory, has been validated using plasma from lung cancer patients in which the epithelial cell marker EpCAM has been detected on EVs. This high throughput, easy to automate, technology allows screening of large numbers of patients to phenotype tumour markers in circulating EVs, breaking barriers for the validation of proposed EV biomarkers and the discovery of new ones.

Paratesticular fibrous pseudotumour: case report of a rare manifestation of IgG4-related disease

Background Paratesticular fibrous pseudotumour is a rare benign growth with unclear pathogenesis and clinical management. It has been linked to Serum IgG4-related disease. This mass can notoriously masquerade around as a malignancy; however, a conservative (testis sparing) approach is sufficient as surgical management. Case presentation We present the case of a 35-year-old gentleman who presented with a slow growing paratesticular mass, raising the suspicion of a malignancy. However, normal tumour markers and benign appearance on imaging modalities compelled us to give trial of local excision with intra-operative frozen section analysis. After confirmation of benign pathology of the mass, the incision was closed. Final histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of benign paratesticular fibrous pseudotumour, and serum IgG levels were noted to be elevated. Conclusion Thus, using tumour markers, radiological imaging and intraoperative frozen section, a potential radical resection can be avoided, testis sparing surgery, employed.