Thesis (M.I.P.H.)--School of Public Health, University of Sydney, 2004. / "This treatise is submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the Degree of Master of International Public Health (Hons), University of Sydney". Bibliography: leaves 10-15.

Thesis (M.I.P.H.)--University of Sydney, 2004. / Title from title screen (viewed 14 May 2008). Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of International Public Health (Hons) to the School of Public Health. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print form.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2008. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xiv, 126 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 123-126).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Also available online.

Thesis (Ph.D. in Reproductive Sciences) -- University of Colorado Denver, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-140). Free to UCD affiliates. Online version available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations;

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women in the United States. Complications that lead to mortality of cancer patients are associated with tumor metastasis. Specifically, lymphatic metastasis in breast cancer patients strongly correlates with poor patient survival and this process is facilitated by the formation of new tumor lymphatic vessels termed lymphangiogenesis. Previously, our lab reported that lymphangiogenesis was promoted by a distinct subset of bone marrow (BM)-derived myeloid cells that co-express lymphatic-specific markers designated as myeloid-derived endothelial cell progenitors (M-LECPs). Furthermore, our lab has generated M-LECP in vitro from a mouse macrophage cell line (RAW264.7) by LPS stimulation. Taken together, these data suggest that chronically inflamed sites drive M-LECP differentiation and that these cells can contribute to the formation of new lymphatic vessels and promote lymph node metastasis. Evidence supporting this hypothesis was indicated by high levels of circulating M-LECP in peripheral blood of breast cancer patients but undetectable levels in healthy donors, cancer-free donors. Additionally, the generation of M-LECP was prompted through TLR4-signaling pathway, and de novo expression of VEGFR-3 and VEGF-C. This co-expression produces an autocrine loop essential for pro-lymphatic reprogramming in both primary human monocytes and the immature monocytic cell line, THP-1. Taken together, these data indicate the major regulatory role of TLR4 in inflammation-driven lymphangiogenesis involves the recruitment and differentiation of M-LECP, a process that may promote lymphatic metastasis.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Surgery / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

A forte expressão do fator de crescimento endotelial vascular do tipo -C (VEGF-C) tem sido correlacionada com a presença de metástases linfonodais em carcinomas espinocelulares (CECs) de boca. O objetivo deste estudo consistiu em avaliar a expressão imuno-histoquímica do anticorpo anti-VEGF-C, nas células malignas de pacientes com CEC de boca em estádios iniciais, correlacionando-a com a ocorrência de metástases ocultas nos linfonodos cervicais e com o prognóstico dos pacientes. Um total de 87 pacientes com CEC de língua e assoalho de boca, estadiamento clínico I e II, tratados no Departamento de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, do Hospital do Câncer A.C. Camargo, São Paulo, no período de 1968 a 2001, foram analisados quanto as características demográficas, clínicas, classificação pelo sistema TNM, tratamento e evolução clínica. Avaliou-se também o índice de malignidade tumoral histopatológico e a expressão imuno-histoquímica de VEGF-C foi comparada entre os CECs de boca sem (pN0) e com (pN+) comprometimento linfonodal (metástases ocultas). As probabilidades de sobrevidas global, livre de doença e específica por câncer dos pacientes com CEC, acumuladas nos períodos de cinco e dez anos, em relação a expressão tumoral de VEGF-C, foram calculadas pelo método de Kaplan-Meier. De sessenta e quatro pacientes submetidos ao esvaziamento cervical eletivo, quatorze deles (21,9%) apresentaram comprometimento linfonodal cervical histopatológico (metástase oculta). De acordo com os resultados, não houve correlação estatisticamente significativa entre a expressão de VEGF-C e as principais variáveis demográficas, clínicas, microscópicas e o índice histopatológico de malignidade tumoral (p=0,406), bem como com relação a ocorrência de metástases ocultas nos linfonodos cervicais (p=0,876). O único fator de prognóstico significativo para a sobrevida global (p=0,030) foi a ocorrência de metástase oculta comprovada por exame histopatológico. Concluiu-se que a expressão imuno-histoquímica isolada de VEGF-C nas células malignas não influenciou a evolução clínica e o prognóstico dos pacientes com CEC de língua e assoalho de boca nos estádios iniciais (I e II) e, portanto, o esvaziamento cervical eletivo permanece como uma intervenção terapêutica recomendada no tratamento destes pacientes. / The high expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) has been correlated with the presence of lymph node metastasis from oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immunoexpression of VEGF-C antibody in malignant cells of patients in early stages of OSCC, and to correlate it with occult cervical lymph node metastasis and patients prognosis. Eighty seven patients with OSCC of tongue and floor of the mouth, clinical stage I and II, treated at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology of Cancer Hospital A. C. Camargo, São Paulo, from 1968 to 2001, were included in this study. It was evaluated the demographical and clinical characteristics, TNM classification, treatment and clinical outcome. The histopathological malignancy index and immunoexpression of VEGF-C and their correlation with OSCC with (pN+) and without (pN0) positive lymph node (occult metastasis) were also evaluated. The overall and disease-free survival for OSCC patients for five and ten years related to VEGF-C tumor expression were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method. Among 64 patients that were submitted to elective neck dissection, 14 (21,9%) showed positive histopathological lymph node (occult metastasis). Our results did not show statistically significant difference for VEGF-C expression and main demographical, clinical, microscopical characteristics and histopathological malignancy index (p=0,406), as well as to occult neck metastasis (p=0,876). The occult lymph node metastasis was a prognostic factor for overall survival of patients with OSCC (p=0,030). In conclusion, the immunoexpression of VEGF-C in malignant cells per se did not influence the clinical outcome and prognosis of patients with OSCC of tongue and floor of the mouth in early stages (I and II). Therefore, elective neck dissection seems to be a therapeutical recommendation for the treatment of these patients.

INTRODUÇÃO: A presença de metástase cervical é um dos principais fatores prognósticos em pacientes com carcinoma epidermoide de laringe. A análise rotineira dos linfonodos não inclui a avaliação da reatividade linfonodal, nem pesquisa de micrometástases, podendo ser desprezada informações prognóstica relevantes neste grupo de pacientes. OBJETIVOS: Relacionar a reatividade linfonodal com a recidiva e mortalidade de pacientes com carcinoma epidermoide de laringe estadiados como pT3 e pT4, pN0, identificar através de marcadores imuno-histoquímicos (AE1/AE3, citoqueratina 7 e citoqueratina 5/6) a incidência de micrometástases e relacionar com o prognóstico dos pacientes. MÉTODO: Entre 2002 e 2005, foram selecionados 105 pacientes estadiados como pN0 com carcinoma epidermoide de laringe submetidos à laringectomia total e esvaziamento cervical seletivo dos níveis II, III e IV bilateralmente, com a maioria dos pacientes (69) submetidos à radioterapia adjuvante. Todos os linfonodos foram analisados conforme os padrões de reatividade: hiperplasia folicular (associada à resposta imune humoral), hiperplasia paracortical (associada à resposta imune celular), histiocitose sinusal, linfonodo normal e depleção linfonodal. Apenas os dois primeiros padrões são considerados como linfonodos estimulados e os demais como não estimulados. O padrão linfonodal mais frequente de cada caso foi considerado na análise da recidiva da doença e mortalidade. Todos os linfonodos foram submetidos à análise imuno-histoquímica com o clone de citoqueratinas AE1/AE3, e nos casos de positividade utilizou-se as citoqueratinas 5/6 e 7 para a diferenciação entre micrometástases e inclusões epiteliais benignas. RESULTADOS: Foram analisados um total de 3.648 linfonodos, com uma média de 34,7 linfonodos por paciente. O padrão de reatividade mais frequente foi a histiocitose sinusal (50 casos) seguido da hiperplasia paracortical (35 casos) e hiperplasia folicular (20 casos), não havendo relação entre esta análise e a recidiva (p = 0,98) ou mortalidade (p = 0,49). A resposta imune humoral esteve relacionada com maior mortalidade (p = 0,05), com sobrevida global em 5 anos de 76%, comparado a 60% de sobrevida no grupo com imunidade celular estimulada (log-rank = 0,05). A pesquisa imuno-histoquímica utilizando o clone de citoqueratinas AE1/AE3 foi positiva em 17 pacientes (16,2%) tendo esta análise relação com a recidiva da doença (p = 0,03) e com a mortalidade (p = 0,04). No grupo com AE1/AE3 positivo, a radioterapia associou-se a uma tendência de proteção à recidiva regional (p = 0,06). A citoqueratina 5/6 confirmou a presença de micrometástases em 4 (3,81%) casos e estas não apresentaram relação prognóstica com a recidiva (p = 0,66) e mortalidade (p = 0,66). A citoqueratina 7 diagnosticou inclusões epiteliais benignas em 11 (10,47%) casos. CONCLUSÕES: Pacientes com imunidade celular estimulada (hiperplasia paracortical) apresentaram menor mortalidade comparados aos pacientes com resposta imune humoral (hiperplasia folicular) (p = 0,05). A positividade na pesquisa com o clone de citoqueratinas AE1/AE3 apresentou relação com significância com a recidiva (p = 0,03) e com a mortalidade (p = 0,04). A incidência de micrometástases na pesquisa com citoqueratina 5/6 foi de 3,86% (4 casos de 105) e de inclusões epiteliais benignas foi de 10,47% (11 casos de 105). / INTRODUCTION: The presence of neck metastasis is one of the most important prognostic factors in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. Immunohistochemical analysis for lymph node reactivity, micrometastasis and presence of benign epithelial inclusions are not included in routine anatomopathological exam, leading to potential missing of important prognostic information in this group of patients. OBJECTIVES: 1- To analyze if lymph node reactivity is associated with recurrence and mortality in patients with pT3/pT4, pNo SCCa of the larynx. 2- To identify, with the aid of hystochemical markers AE1/AE3, cytokeratin 7 and cytokeratin 5/6), the incidence of micrometastasis and benign intraepithelial inclusions and to evaluate the relationship of these findings with the patient`s prognosis. METHODS: One hundred and five patients with SCCa of the larynx underwent total laryngectomy and bilateral selective neck dissection of the levels II, III, and IV between 2002 and 2005. Sixty-nine patients also received postoperative radiotherapy. All 105 patients were N0 at the time of diagnosis. The lymph nodes were analyzed according to their reactivity pattern: Follicular hyperplasia (associated to humoral immune response), paracortical hyperplasia (associated to cellular immune response), sinusoidal histiocytosis, normal lymph node, lymphoid depletion. Only the he first two patterns are associated with stimulated lymph nodes. The predominant pattern on each case was recorded and the relationship between these patterns and tumor recurrence and mortality was assessed. All the lymph nodes were tested for cytokeratin AE1/AE3, and the positive cases were than tested for cytokeratin 5/6 and 7 to further differentiate micrometastasis from benign epithelial inclusions. RESULTS: A total of 3648 lymph nodes were analyzed (average of 34.7 lymph nodes/patient). The most common reactivity pattern was paracortical hyperplasia (49 cases), followed by sinusoidal histiocytosis (36 cases) and follicular hyperplasia (20 cases). There was no association between these different patterns and recurrence (p=0.98) or mortality (p=0.49). The humoral immune response was associated with increased mortality (p=0.005). The 5-year overall survival was 76%, compared to 60% on the stimulated cellular response group (LogRank=0.05). Seventeen patients (16.2%) were positive for cytokeratin AE1/AE3, and this was associated with tumor recurrence (p=0.03%) and mortality (p=0.004). In the positive cytokeratin group, the use of radiation therapy showed a tendency to protect against regional recurrence (p=0.06). The use of cytokeratin 5/6 confirmed the presence of micrometastasis in 4 cases (3.81%), but this finding was not associated with local recurrence (p=0.66) or mortality (p=0.66). Cytokeratin 7 has diagnosed benign epithelial inclusions in 11 cases (10.47%). CONCLUSION: Patients with stimulated cellular immunity experienced decreased mortality when compared to humoral immune response (p=0.05). AE1/AE3 positivity was significantly related to recurrence (p=0.03) and mortality (p=0.04). The incidence of micrometastasis was 3.86% (4 cases in 105 patients), and of benign ephitelia inclusions was 10.47% (11 cases in 105 patients).