Raquel Portugal

Dr. Raquel Portugal


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

18Years (2009-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 March 2009 in Advances in Anatomic Pathology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
RPRaquel Portugal
Raquel Portugal
EOEsther Oliva
Esther Oliva
The utility of calretinin was first described in the diagnosis of mesothelioma. In the female genital tract, calretinin was initially reported in Wolffian remnants and related lesions and later used in the diagnosis of sex cord stromal tumors of the ovary, endometrial stromal tumors with sex cord-like differentiation, and uterine tumors resembling sex cord tumors of the ovary. This review discusses calretinin expression in normal tissues of the female genital tract and highlights its potential utility in the diagnosis of these subsets of neoplasms with emphasis to tumors that may constitute a problem in their differential diagnosis. In particular, the limited utility of calretinin in the diagnosis of sex cord stromal tumors of the ovary, in the differential diagnosis between mesothelioma and serous tumors involving the ovary and/or peritoneum, and in the differential diagnosis between Wolffian lesions and endometrial carcinoma are addressed.

28 July 2020 in Diagnostics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ISIsabel José Dionísio de Sousa
Isabel José Dionísio de Sousa
DMDurval S. Marques
Durval S. Marques
Catarina PríncipeCatarina Príncipe
Catarina Príncipe
RPRaquel Portugal
Raquel Portugal
Sule CANBERKSule CANBERK
Sule CANBERK
Paula SoaresPaula Soares
Paula Soares
Identification of predictive biomarkers for ovarian cancer (OC) treatment, particularly in the platinum-resistant/refractory setting, is highly relevant for clinical management. E-cadherin, vimentin, and osteopontin (OPN) are proteins associated with tumor microenvironment (TME) remodelling that play key roles in cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the staining patterns of these proteins with survival outcomes in a series of OC patients, namely in patients with platinum-resistant/refractory disease. Low E-cadherin expression and high vimentin expression in all patient groups (as well as for E-cadherin in the platinum-resistant arm) were significantly associated with longer overall survival (OS). Low cytoplasmic OPN expression (and cytoplasmic and membrane OPN in the platinum-resistant arm) were significantly associated with longer OS. In patients that responded to treatment (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) or other), low cytoplasmic OPN expression was also associated with longer progression-free survival (PFS). In the other hand, high nuclear OPN-c expression in patients that respond to treatment was associated with longer OS and longer PFS. Longer PFS was also associated with high expression of both nuclear and cytoplasm OPN-c, in platinum-resistant patients and in those that responded to PLD. Our study indicates that the expression of E-cadherin, vimentin, and OPN may have prognostic implications. Nuclear OPN-c and cytoplasm OPN expression are putative predictive markers in platinum-resistant (PLD treated) ovarian cancer patients.

5 August 2020 in Case Reports in Gastrointestinal Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
BBBruno Besteiro
Bruno Besteiro
FGFilipa Gomes
Filipa Gomes
CCCláudia Costa
Cláudia Costa
RPRaquel Portugal
Raquel Portugal
IGIsabel Garrido
Isabel Garrido
JAJorge Almeida
Jorge Almeida
Gardner's syndrome is an autosomal dominant disease caused by a mutation in the APC gene with 20-30% of cases presenting de novo. This entity is a variant of familial adenomatous polyposis, with a prevalence of 3/100,000 habitants. It may present as early as 2 months of age with a variety of both colonic and extracolonic symptoms. We report a case of a 21-year-old man, without any known family history, presenting with microcytic hypochromic anemia and constitutional symptoms for two months. Ultimately, after the etiological study, Gardner syndrome diagnosis was established as an index primary familiar case. Gardner syndrome is a clinical challenge which requires a prompt suspicion in order to reach its diagnosis. Given the malignant evolution of adenomas in 100% of untreated patients, early identification of extraintestinal manifestations (identifiable prior to colonic symptoms) is of the essence. A consequent endoscopic study to confirm gastrointestinal involvement is essential for a more favorable prognosis.