Hereditary triple-negative breast cancer patients have better recurrence-free survival than triple-negative sporadic ones. High expression of some of the miRNAs is related to worse overall and disease-free survival of triple-negative breast cancer patients. The attempt to associate expression level of some miRNA in triple-negative hereditary and sporadic breast cancers to disease specific survival was performed in this study. Study group was made of 18 triple-negative breast cancer patients harboring the BRCA1 gene mutations and 32 triple-negative sporadic breast cancer patients. Quantitative amount of mir-10b, mir-21, mir-29a, mir-31, and mir-214 by real-time PCR was assessed. The disease-specific survival in relation of high and low levels of some of the miRNAs was analyzed using Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test. MiR-214 showed significantly higher expression level in sporadic tissues than in hereditary ones (p = 0.0005). Triple-negative breast cancer patients with high level of miR-214 showed significantly worse disease-specific survival than patients with low level (p = 0.0314). Our finding suggests that miR-214 possibly could be used as a potential prognostic biomarker for triple-negative breast cancer patients.

Thyroid cancer is ranked in ninth place among all the newly diagnosed cancer cases in 2020. Differentiated thyroid cancer behavior can vary from indolent to extremely aggressive. Currently, predictions of cancer prognosis are mainly based on clinicopathological features, which are direct consequences of cell and tissue microenvironment alterations. These alterations include genetic changes, cell cycle disorders, estrogen receptor expression abnormalities, enhanced epithelial-mesenchymal transition, extracellular matrix degradation, increased hypoxia, and consecutive neovascularization. All these processes are represented by specific genetic and molecular markers, which can further predict thyroid cancer development, progression, and prognosis. In conclusion, evaluation of cancer genetic and molecular patterns, in addition to clinicopathological features, can contribute to the identification of patients with a potentially worse prognosis. It is essential since it plays a crucial role in decision-making regarding initial surgery, postoperative treatment, and follow-up. To date, there is a large diversity in methodologies used in different studies, frequently leading to contradictory results. To evaluate the true significance of predictive markers, more comparable studies should be conducted.

Background and objectives: Cell culture is one of the mainstays in the research of breast cancer biology, although the extent to which this approach allows to preserve the original characteristics of originating tumor and implications of cell culture findings to real life situations have been widely debated in the literature. The aim of this study was to determine the role of three cell culture media on transcriptional expression of breast cancer markers in three breast cancer reference cell lines (MCF7, SkBr3 and MDA-MB-436). Materials and methods: Cell lines were conditioned in three studied media (all containing 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS) + hormones/growth factors; different composition of basal media) for four passages. Population growth was characterized by cumulative population doubling levels, average generation time, cell yield and viability at the fourth passage. Transcriptional expression of breast cancer differentiation markers and regulatory transcriptional programs was measured by qPCR. Results: Differences in the composition of growth media significantly influenced the growth of studied cell lines and the expression of mammary lineage governing transcriptional programs and luminal/basal markers. Effects of media on transcriptional expression were more pronounced in luminal cell lines (MCF7, SkBr3), than in the basal cell line (MDA-MB-436). Changes in growth media in terms of supplementation and basal medium delayed growth of cells, but improved cell yields. Conclusions: The expression of breast cancer cell differentiation phenotypic markers depends on the composition of cell growth medium, therefore cell culture as a tool in phenotypic studies should be used considering this effect. The findings of such studies should always be interpreted with caution. The formulation of cell growth media has greater effect on the expression of phenotypic markers in luminal, rather than basal cell lines. Media containing mitogens and higher vitamin content improved efficacy of cell culture in terms of cell yields, although greatly increased growth times.

There is increasing evidence of high platinum sensitivity in BRCA-associated breast cancer. However, evidence from randomized trials is lacking. The aim of this study was to analyze the results of platinum-based chemotherapy for BRCA1-positive breast cancer in a neoadjuvant setting. A retrospective study was performed by obtaining information from patient files. The results were compared with the available data from a literature review. Twelve female patients with BRCA1 gene mutations who had stage I to III breast cancers were eligible for evaluation. They received platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy between 2011 and 2016. Eleven patients received a combination of cisplatin and doxorubicin, and one patient received carboplatin and docetaxel. All patients underwent mastectomy after chemotherapy. Ten patients (83%) achieved pathological complete remission (pCR). The observed pCR rate was comparable to existing results found in similar studies. The results of the study confirm the high pCR rate in BRCA1-positive breast cancer after platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Larger randomized studies and longer follow-up times are necessary to evaluate the role of platinum-based therapies in BRCA1-positive breast cancer.

We would like to present a patient with a classical phenotype of a rare disorder - Cowden syndrome, its diagnostics and management challenges. A breast surgeon has to be aware of this rare condition when treating a patient with breast manifestations of Cowden syndrome and has to refer the patient to a clinical geneticist for further evaluation. Sequencing of the PTEN gene showed the Asp24Gly mutation. According to the latest literature data, the lifetime risk of breast cancer for Cowden syndrome patients is 81% and surgery is a justified option to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction was performed to eliminate further risk of breast cancer. 3 years after the risk-reducing breast surgery the patient is satisfied with the outcome. This is to our best knowledge the first reported Cowden syndrome case with follow-up data after risk-reducing measures have been taken.

Purpose: Aeromonas species are emerging human enteric pathogens. However, there is no systematic analysis of Aeromonas infection in the pediatric population in Latvia. The aim of the study was to describe potential sources, prevalence of infection, associated virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance of Aeromonas spp. isolated from fecal samples. Methods: Stool samples (n = 1360) were obtained from the Children’s Clinical University Hospital between 2020 and 2021. The target population was pediatric patients, 0 to 18 years of age, with a preliminary diagnosis of gastroenteritis. Identification was performed by Maldi-TOF, antimicrobial resistance by Vitek2 and 9 virulence factors by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Aeromonas spp. were isolated in 50 stool samples; positive findings made up 3.6% of all study cases and included four species: A. hydrophila, A. caviae, A. veronii, and A. eucrenophila. In 42% of the samples, Aeromonas spp. appeared alongside the other significant pathogens: Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Typhimurium, Yersinia enterocolitica, norovirus, adenovirus, and rotavirus. The study population positive for Aeromonas spp. infection contained 28 male (56%) and 22 female (44%) patients; median age was 4.56 years. The most common symptoms were: diarrhea, blood in stool, vomiting, abdominal pain, and fever. Aside from expected natural resistance, no significant antibacterial resistance was detected. The presence of multiple virulence genes was noticed in all isolates. No statistically significant correlation was found between the virulence patterns, bacterial species, and the intensity of clinical symptoms. Discussion: According to the clinical data and the results of this study Aeromonas spp. has an important role in pediatric practice and requires appropriate attention and monitoring.