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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.

Background: The high incidence of breast cancer in young women in Iran and its resultant problems for families show the necessity of exploring studies conducted in this field. The present research was conducted to determine the volume of scientific production on breast cancer in Iran, and to compare it with that of other countries in the Middle East. Methods: This systematic review study used scientometric indicators, and investigated Iran’s volume of scientific production on breast cancer in MEDLINE database during 2000-2014. The scientific production was searched in MEDLINE database and retrieved with a combined strategy consisting of the keywords from Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), as well as, keywords suggested by specialists (physicians), and the data were transferred onto a checklist, which was designed in the Excel software, and were examined.Results: Iranian researchers have published 578 scientific documents on breast cancer in the studied period, with the highest rate in the subfield of epidemiology (39%), followed by the two subfields of basic and clinical molecular research. The mean participation of Iranian researchers was 5.3 persons per article. Almost 37% of Iranian articles were published in journals with impact factors between 0.693-4.469. Among all journals publishing Iranian articles, the Breast Cancer Research and Treatment Journal has the highest impact factor. The majority of Iranian articles were published in Thailand, the United States and the England. Conclusion: Iran’s scientific production on breast cancer has increased linearly in the studied period, in particular, after 2009.

Background: Many types of cancer cells require a supply of fatty acids (FA) for growth and survival, LPL, in the presence of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, accelerates the growth of these cells. Recent evidence shows that LPL plays important roles in inflammation and obesity, implies that it is an appropriate general target for chemo preventive and chemotherapeutic agents. Thus, we reported LPL expression before and after BM-MSCs differentiation into adipocytes.Methods: In this study, we isolated mesenchymal stem cells from human bone marrow by Ficoll - gradient and then their surface markers by flow cytometry confirmed and osteoblastic and adipocytes differentiation by Dexamethasone protocol were done and confirmed by staining .Then qualitative expression of LPL gene by RT-PCR before and after of differentiation into adipocytes .Statistical analysis was performed by paired t test and by using Pfaffl and graph pad software.Results: After 14 days, analysis of morphology with invert microscopy indicated that BM-MSCs have ability of differentiation capacities into adipocytes. Investigations of expression of LPL showed BM-MSC that served as negative control have not expression of LPL while in BM-MSCs derived- adipocyte have found significant expression of LPL.Conclusions: BM-MSCs can differentiate into either adipocytes or osteoblastic cells that in decision between the two lineages, LPL has the important role through activation inhibiting osteoblastic in favor of adipogenic differentiation. LPL could be an effective agent on tumor suppressing with catalyzes the hydrolysis of plasma TG.  LPL gene deficiency, such as due to chromosome 8p22 loss, LPL gene polymorphism, and epigenetic changes increases cancer risk, especially in the prostate.

Background: 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.Methods: 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.Results: 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.Conclusions: 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.