Endometrial cancer (EC) is a common gynecological cancer worldwide. Treatment has been improved in recent years; however, in advanced stages, therapeutic options are still limited. The expression of galectins is increased in several tumor types and that they are involved in important cell processes. Large studies on endometrial cancer are still pending; Specimens of 225 patients with EC were immunohistochemically stained with antibodies for Gal-8 and Gal-9. Expression was correlated with histopathological variables. The cytosolic expression of both galectins is associated with grading and survival. Cytosolic Galectin-8 expression is a positive prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), while nuclear Gal-8 expression correlates only to OS. The cytosolic presence of Galectin-9 is correlated with a better prognosis regarding OS. Our results suggest that expression of both galectins is associated with OS and PFS in EC. Further studies are needed to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Galectins are known to play an important role in immunoregulatory processes and autoimmune diseases. Galectin-10 is a cytoplasmic protein of human eosinophils and is involved in various eosinophilic diseases. Since increased galectin expression is already detected in the placentas of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), this study focuses on the specific role of galectin-10 and hints at consequences for the diagnosis and therapeutic options of GDM. It is hypothesized that the difference in galectin-10 expression will raise the pathophysiological understanding of gestational diabetes. The study population consists of 80 women: 40 healthy mothers and 40 women suffering from gestational diabetes mellitus. The expression of galectin-10 was analyzed in the syncytiotrophoblast (SCT) and the decidua of the placenta via immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence double staining. The immunoreactivity score (IRS) was used for evaluation. The results in this study were significant for an overexpression of galectin-10 in GDM placentas compared with the control group. The syncytiotrophoblast showed overexpression in the nucleus and the cytoplasm, whereas expression of galectin-10 in the decidua was significant in the cytoplasm only. This study identified the expression changes in galectin-10 in placental tissue between healthy and GDM mothers and intensified the understanding of gestational diabetes. Assuming that gestational diabetes mellitus is involved in inflammatory processes, galectin-10 might play a role in the development and maintenance of GDM. Further investigation is required to strengthen these findings.

Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90), a major molecular chaperone, plays a crucial role in cell function by folding and stabilizing proteins and maintaining proteostasis. This study aimed to elucidate the prognostic impact of HSP90 in cervical cancer. We analyzed HSP90 expression using immunohistochemistry in cervical cancer tissue microarrays from 250 patients. This study investigated correlations between HSP90 expression levels and key clinical outcomes, including overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and FIGO classification. The statistical analyses employed included the Kruskal–Wallis-H test, log-rank (Mantel–Cox), and Cox regression. Our findings indicate that high nuclear HSP90 expression is associated with improved OS, while high cytoplasmic HSP90 expression correlates with better PFS and a lower FIGO classification in cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients. These results suggest that HSP90 could serve as a positive prognostic factor in patients diagnosed with cervical squamous cell carcinoma, underlining its potential as a biomarker for patient prognosis and as a target for therapeutic strategies.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common condition during pregnancy. The prevalence of GDM is continuously increasing worldwide. Due to accessible diagnostic methods and a clear understanding of risk factors, GDM can be effectively diagnosed and managed. Galectins may influence immunomodulatory and inflammatory processes. This study examines the expression of galectin-7 in the placentas of women with gestational diabetes (GDM), compares it to its expression in healthy pregnancies, and evaluates the associated clinical outcomes. The placentas of 40 healthy women and 40 GDM placentas were included in the cohort. The expression level of galecin-7 was measured in the syncytiotrophoblast (SCT) and in the decidua of the placenta by immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescence staining. The evaluation was performed by an immunoreactivity score (IRS). The study results show an increased expression of galectin-7 in the SCT and the decidua of GDM placentas as compared to the placentas of the control group. Elevated levels of galectin-7 were observed in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. This study investigated the hypothesis that galectins are involved in pathophysiological processes of gestational diabetes. Statistical analysis of gene expression patterns confirmed that galectin-7 is indeed upregulated in GDM placentas. Further studies are needed to show the correlation of galectin-7 and the development and maintenance of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: The number of young breast cancer (BC) patients is increasing in both high- and low-income countries. It is known that this population is at risk for more aggressive tumor phenotypes, larger tumor size at diagnosis and poorer prognosis. It is the aim of this population-based analysis to identify trends of therapy, tumor biology and prognosis during a period of 11 years in young patients under the age of 40. Methods: In this analysis, data of young BC patients (< 40 years) from two breast centers were collected and analysed. The focus was a summary of data regarding tumor phenotypes, treatment, and survival in young BC patients. Results: Out of 11,954 patients with invasive BC who were eligible to the analysis, 781 (6.5%) were younger than 40 years at diagnosis and met the inclusion criteria. The predominant biological subtypes were Luminal B-like (HER2−) and Luminal-A-like, 62.3% were diagnosed with pN0. Noticeably low rates for endocrine therapy and higher rates for chemotherapy could be observed. 10-year overall survival was 87% for the whole cohort. Luminal-B-like (HER2−) and Triple negative tumors had worse outcomes as opposed to the other subtypes. Conclusion: As a conclusion, this 11-year analysis provides valuable insights into the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of young breast cancer patients under 40 years of age. The analysis highlights clear outcome differences according to the tumor subtype. These findings underscore the need for personalized treatment approaches and continued follow-up to optimize outcomes for young BC patients.

Background/Objectives: Histone modifications play a key role in the regulation of gene transcription, with alterations in these modifications influencing trophoblast invasion and migration, crucial for placental development. Previously, we observed reduced trimethylated histone H3K4me3 and acetylated H3K9ac levels in the placentas of women with preeclampsia, associated with impaired transcriptional access. This study aims to investigate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on histone modifications in placentas. Methods: Immunohistochemical Staining and Double-staining Immunofluorescence were performed on placentas of patients during after a SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy as well as vaccinated and not vaccinated controls. Results: Our findings reveal that both H3K4me3 and H3K9ac are significantly reduced in placentas following SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy, with more pronounced alterations observed compared to infections during birth. Additionally, vaccination did not exhibit a stronger effect than infection itself on histone modifications. Conclusions: Reduced H3K9ac and H3K4me3 suggest a more repressive chromatin state, likely silencing key placental genes through increased HDAC activity. These epigenetic changes may impair placental function and lead to pregnancy complications, underscoring the need for further research.