Armaz Mariamidze

Sarcomas are a broad family of mesenchymal malignancies exhibiting remarkable histologic diversity. We describe the multi-platform molecular landscape of 206 adult soft tissue sarcomas representing 6 major types. Along with novel insights into the biology of individual sarcoma types, we report three overarching findings: (1) unlike most epithelial malignancies, these sarcomas (excepting synovial sarcoma) are characterized predominantly by copy-number changes, with low mutational loads and only a few genes (, , ) highly recurrently mutated across sarcoma types; (2) within sarcoma types, genomic and regulomic diversity of driver pathways defines molecular subtypes associated with patient outcome; and (3) the immune microenvironment, inferred from DNA methylation and mRNA profiles, associates with outcome and may inform clinical trials of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Overall, this large-scale analysis reveals previously unappreciated sarcoma-type-specific changes in copy number, methylation, RNA, and protein, providing insights into refining sarcoma therapy and relationships to other cancer types.

Breast cancer is the most widespread pathology among women. Despite the current progresses in research and treatment of metastatic breast cancer, mortality caused by this disease is still high, because above mentioned therapy is limited due to existence of cells resistant to therapy . Cancer stem cells are the only cells with ability of unlimited proliferative activity and cancerous potential, thus, they participate in the growth, progression and dissemination of cancer. Cancer stem cells are resistant to various forms of therapy, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy . Results of examination showed that 50% of all cases are positive on so called markers of stem cells, thus 45% of cases are negative. CD44+/CD24-low cases (cases that reveal stem cell-phenotype) in the group of invasive ductal carcinoma of Luminal A molecular subtype are almost as many as CD44+/CD24+ and CD44-/CD24+ phenotype cancers. In this group non-stem phenotype cases are 65%, so 5 times more than stem cell phenotype cancers. 1324 postoperative breast materials studied through 2008-2012 at the laboratory of "Pathgeo-Union of Pathologists" LTD and Academician N. Kipshidze Central University Clinic were used as test materials and specimens from 393 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma were selected. CD44/CD24 markers' expression in phenotypically different cancers and clinic-pathologic parameters as well as various biological features was conducted by the Pearson's correlation analysis and using X2 test. Statistical analysis of obtained numeral data was held using SPSS V.19.0 program. Confidence interval of 95% was considered statistically significant. Stem cell phenotype positive cases are with the highest percentage represented in Luminal B and basal-like molecular subgroup that to our minds is associated with their aggressive behavior and resistance to chemotherapy. Relatively good prognosis and response to chemotherapy of Luminal A molecular subtype cancers are to be stipulated by lower percentage of cases with stem cells phenotype. With regard to the dimension of cancer the analysis of stem cell phenotype cancers showed that frequency of stem cell phenotype (CD44+/CD24-low) dramatically increases from T1 to T4 cancers. High density of stem cell phenotype cancers in cancers with metastatic lymphatic nodes proves that presence of mentioned phenotype plays a role in progression and dissemination. On the one hand, little amount of stem cells phenotype cancers (CD44+/CD24-low), on the other hand absence of negative cases for markers of stem cell in Her2 subtype makes us consider that come phenotype, close to stem-cell phenotype, plays the leading role in Her2 positive cases.

The goal of our research was to find the prognostic significance of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the hyperplastic endometrium. Immunohistochemical study of morphological material (endometrial scrap) was conducted in order to reveal the EGFR expression (in 35 patients). The study of consistence of melatonin (universal antiproliferative and anticancerogenic hormone) in patients' blood serum was performed as well (using ELISA method). The numeric data of investigation were processed statistically using the SPSS-12 program and IBM SPSS Statistics, 20. According to received results, the more complicated the type of endometrial hyperplasia is, the stronger EGFR expression is and the more melatonin consistence is reduced in blood plasma. However, sometimes much lower level of melatonin not only in case of complex hyperplasia (with atypia), but also in case of simple hyperplasia (without atypia) was observed. In addition, melatonin consistence is in norm not only in case of simple hyperplasia, but also in case of complex hyperplasia. Also, unimportant reduction of melatonin level is seen in plasma in case of both types of endometrial hyperplasia (without atypia): if, for example, in simple hyperplasia, this slight reduction of melatonin level in plasma is seen in condition of sharp EGFR expression, the same amount reduction of plasmatic melatonin in complex hyperplasia is seen in condition of weak EGFR expression. To sum up: in case of simple endometrial hyperplasia without atypia, reduction of plasma melatonin level should be a bad prognostic indicator and this condition can be followed by transformation of hyperplasia into atypical form; the normal plasmatic level of melatonin in complex endometrial hyperplasia without atypia (in condition of weak EGFR expression) should be a good prognostic indicator; unimportant reduction of plasma melatonin level and in addition, EGFR sharp expression in simple hyperplasia, is probably the sign, that hyperplasia can change and become complex; however, the same indicators of plasma melatonin level (on the background of weak EGFR expression) in complex hyperplasia (without atypia) should not indicate the poor prognosis.

Osteoid osteoma is a benign osteoblastic tumor characterized mostly by presence of one nidus, butvery infrequentlyniduses can be multiple. Radiofrequency ablation is a well-established treatment method for this disease. We report a case of a 19-year-old male patient with bifocal osteoid osteoma which was partially missed on the initial magnetic resonance imaging and treated successfully with two sessions of radiofrequency ablation. Following the second session of ablation, the pain resolved immediately and the patient remains pain-free for 6 months since the procedure. Our case report underlines the fact that although very rare, multifocal osteoid osteomas do exist and its niduses can be obscured during the magnetic resonance imaging due to the edema. It emphasizes the role of the initial computed tomography evaluation.

Despite advances in detection and treatment of breast cancer, mortality from this disease remains high. According to contemporary point of view the reason for this lies in fact, that in addition to intertumor heterogeneity, there is also a high degree of intratumor diversity in cancer cell population. For most cancers it is less clear which cells within the tumor clone possess tumor-initiating cell function. During studying oncogenesis and maligniяation processes a pool of cancer cells with stem characteristics - cancer stem cells (CSC) was identified. Indeed, the specifications of them let us conclude, that exactly these cells comprise the leading substrate for cancer initiation and self-renewal. Breast carcinomas have been reported to contain a subpopulation of CD44(+)/CD24(-)/low cancer cells, which are capable of generating tumors even when implanted in very low numbers. Exactly these cells are considered to be CSCs in different subtypes of breast cancer and cancers with CD44(+)/CD24(-)/low phenotype are confirmed to have a poor prognosis (but some controversies remain concerning this issue). The aim of the review was to assess the current literature published on the breast cancer stem cells. There are not so many studies, revealing the diversity of cancer stem cells in different types, different sizes and different grade of breast cancers. CSC distribution in breast cancer with lymph node involvement, metastasizing and chemoresistant cases, existence of circulating tumor cells in not studied precisely. So the concept of cancer stem cells in breast cancer is still a topic for discussions. This can bring light to a better understanding of the pathological process in breast cancer and ways to target it.