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Neuroblastoma, one of the common malignant childhood tumors, arises from neuroblast cells derived from the
neural crest and destined for the adrenal medulla and the sympathetic nervous system and shows remarkable biological
heterogeneity, resulting in favorable or unfavorable outcomes. Some tumors make rapid progress with a fatal
outcome. In other instances, the tumors regress spontaneously in infants or to differentiate into a benign ganglioneuroma
in older patients. This heterogeneity within neuroblastoma depends on the molecular characteristics of tumor
cells. Several distinct genomic alterations have been found in neuroblastoma, including MYCN amplification, DNA
ploidy, deletion of the short arm of chromosome 1, gain of chromosome 17q, and deletion of 11q. The difference of
expression was also found in genes related to cellular growth, differentiation, and apoptosis of neural network including
signaling by NTRK1 or ALK receptor tyrosine kinases, and telomerase activity. And this presentation discusses
diagnostic and prognostic molecular makers for extensive heterogeneity of neuroblastoma. This should lead to more
risk-adapted therapies according to the genetic markers by which individual neuroblastomas are biologically characterized.

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Background: To explore a possible rela!onship among blood groups and the prognosis of breast cancer, this case- control study was carried out in Arak city, Arak province, Iran. Materials and Methods: One hundred and thirty four pa!ents with breast cancer were inves!gated. ABO blood groups were obtained from medical records. Mul!variate analyses were performed, including size of tumor, axillary lymph nodes involvement and prognosis of the pa!ents. Results: We found that there is a significant rela!onship between the blood type and the size of tumor (P.V=0.035), axillary lymph nodes involvement (P.V=0.001) and the prognosis of the breast cancer (P.V=0.014). Conclusion: The blood type of among our pa!ents with breast cancer seems to be a prognos!c factor and the presence of B-an!gen shows associa!on with poor prognosis of breast cancer.

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Background: Population based research contributes to our understanding of cancer at many levels. For health program planning and policy making it is important to have information about the incidence of the common cancers in the population. Descriptive epidemiologic studies measure the occurrence of cancer and other health-related factors in relation to person (e.g. age, sex, race, social class, and behavioral factors), place, and time. The aim of the present study was to present the demographics of common cancers in a referral hospital in Tehran the capital city of Iran. Patients and Methods: In a cross sectional study existing files of patients with diagnosis of cancer in our center in a 13 years period were reviewed. Evaluation of the age, sex, primary site, histology, stage of disease and treatment were recorded. The results were analyzed using SPSS software version 11.5 and depicted in tables and graphs. Results: One thousand and two patients with cancer (esophagus, gastric, colon, breast, lung, and lymphoma) aged 11 to 110 years at diagnosis were assessed. The Male/Female ratio was 509/493. Common cancers in the male population were esophagus, stomach, colon, and lung cancers and in the female population were breast, esophagus, gastric and colon cancers. The most common cancer in this center was esophageal cancer. Cancer was more common in females below the age 60 years and in males after the age 60. In our hospital patients were often admitted with advanced stage of the disease. Conclusion: Increasing the public knowledge and awareness about cancers, importance of early diagnosis, available therapeutic modalities and high cure rate will help to improve survival of cancer in developing countries. Key Words: Epidemiology, prognosis, incidence, survival, cancer.

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Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common form of childhood cancer leading to cancer-related death in children. Most infants with ALL harbor recurring structural chromosomal rearrangements that are important initiating events in leukemogenesis but are insufficient to explain the biology and heterogeneity of the disease. Mixed-lineage leukemia-rearrangement (MLL-rearrangement) at 11q23 occurs in at least two-thirds of infants with ALL. The most common MLL rearrangements are t(411)(q21q23)/MLL-AFF1 (AF4) found in approximately 50% of patients. Methods: Forty children with ALL were enrolled in our study. 11q23 rearrangement and its association with other prognostic factors such as age, sex, initial WBC, organomegaly, immunophenotype, and therapeutic response on the seventh day of induction were studied. Results: Four patients including three (11.5%) boys and one (7.1%) girl were positive for 11q23 translocation. There was no association between 11q23 rearrangement and sex, age, and initial WBC counts. None of the patients with 11q23 translocation showed blast count less than 5% in the bone marrow on the seventh day of induction (P=0.002). Conclusion: There was a significant correlation between 11q23 translocation with lack of initial response to chemotherapy. Keywords: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 11q23 translocation, Cytogenetic, Infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia, prognosis, Induction failure

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Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (abbreviated as COVID-19) is a mysterious respiratory syndrome symptomatically spanning from healthy carriers to patients with life-threatening complications, in some cases, leading to a mournful death. For the time being, the contributory role of hematologists is much more recognized in the management of COVID-19, since the emergence of coagulopathy has recently been the focus of many studies in SARS-CoV-2 infection. 
Methods: To provide a well-conceptualized viewpoint demonstrating the prognostic value of coagulation-related laboratory tests, we planned to perform a meta-analysis of pertinent literature representing information on PT, aPTT, and D-dimer tests in patients with COVID-19. 
Results: Albeit the estimated pooled means of PT and aPTT were higher in severe cases, their mean values were not significantly higher as compared with patients in a non-severe condition. On the other hand, the mean value of D-dimer in severe patients was significantly higher than non-severe cases (X2=6.34, P=0.01), highlighting that the elevation of this parameter may be associated with the progression of the disease toward an unfavorable clinical outcome. 
Conclusion: Even though at the time of writing this article the lack of adequate and appropriate studies denotes a major limitation to the current study, planning for the future research to determine the prognostic value of laboratory tests reflecting SARS-CoV-2-induced coagulopathy, mainly D-dimer, will definitively cast a flash of light on the significance of therapeutic anticoagulation at least for those with no absolute contraindication.

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Carcinosarcoma is a highly malignant tumour exhibiting histological components of both carcinomatous and sarcomatoid elements. Carcinosarcoma is extremely rare in the sinonasal cavity. Due to the rarity and clinical diversity, these neoplasms are often misdiagnosed and pose a challenge in their management.
Here we report a 44-year-old man with epistaxis and progressive symptoms of nasal obstruction. Nasal endoscopy revealed a polypoid mass in right middle meatus extending into the nasal cavity. Polypectomy through endoscopic sinus surgery was performed. Carcinosarcoma was diagnosed based on histopathology and immunohistochemical studies. The patient underwent total maxillectomy followed by radiotherapy for the residual tumor. Unfortunately, the patient suffered from multiple recurrences during 20 months following primary resection. This report is to emphasize the need for early diagnosis and radical multimodality intervention for this rare malignancy with an ominous prognosis.

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Background: Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disorder due to BCR-ABL1 translocation. Patients showing transformation into blast crisis (BC) have poorer treatment response and prognosis. 
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in the department of Pathology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India, over a time period of 5 years (2014-2019) to evaluate the immunophenotypic features of the blast population. Twenty-one Cases of CML in BC were subjected for multiparametric flow cytometry. Data of the subjects in CML blast crisis was compiled and analyzed for the immunophenotypic categorization of the blast population. 
Results: The mean age of the patients at presentation was 39.84 years. Male to female ratio was 1:1.3. Out of 21 cases, 5 (23.8%) showed blasts of myeloid lineage, 8 (38%) myelomonocytic, 6 (28.5%) B lymphoid and 2 (9.5%) showed mixed lineage blast population. 
Conclusion: Blast lineage in blast crisis of CML is heterogeneous and may show antigens of more than one lineage. Hence, it is necessary to evaluate the immunophenotypic nature of the blasts for the best appropriate management of the patients accordingly.

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Background: Although by comparing the number of deaths to the total number of cases one may conclude that most of the infected cases are recovering, taking a look at the increasing statistics of deaths shows that SARS-CoV-2 continues to take its toll. Since lymphocytes are the main immune cells battling with rapidly evolving viruses, it comes as no surprise to assume that a decreased number of these propitious soldiers may contribute to poor prognosis of the wide range of viral infections, including COVID-19. 
Methods: To provide a better prospect representing the prognostic value of lymphopenia in COVID-19, we searched the national library of medicine Medline/PubMed and performed a meta-analysis of pertinent literature representing information on the lymphocyte count in COVID-19 patients. 
Results: The results of our meta-analysis revealed that the number of lymphocytes retains a specific clinical and biological significance in this infection and lymphopenia is seemingly an important hematological abnormality that contributes to mirror the evolution toward an unfavorable outcome. 
Conclusion: The rapidly evolving nature of COVID-19 together with relentless disclosure of novel findings denotes a major limitation to the current study, and further investigations in the field of prognostic biomarkers will definitively pave the way to better manage patients with severe COVID-19. 

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Background: Several markers are investigated for prognostic purpose in CLL patients among which interleukin-10 (IL-10) is under more investigation. We aimed to study IL-10 level in a group of newly diagnosed patients with CLL in a single center in Alexandria, Egypt.
Methods: In this study, 80 newly diagnosed patients with CLL referring to Hematology Department of the Medical Research Institute of Alexandria University, Egypt, and a control group including 40 healthy volunteers were included. ZAP-70 was determined by flowcytometry and serum IL-10 concentration was measured using IL-10 sandwich ELISA method.
Results: Mean serum IL-10 levels were significantly higher among patients with CLL. IL-10 level was higher in those who were positive for ZAP-70, Binet stage C, Rai stage III-IV and patients with high scores for CLL prognostic index (≥8). It showed significant positive correlation with the percentage of ZAP-70 expression and significant negative correlation to hemoglobin and platelets count.
Conclusion: Serum IL-10 in patients with CLL at presentation could be used as a prognostic marker for disease progression. Measurement of IL-10 in low resources areas where flowcytometry is not available could be recommended as a substitute investigation.

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Background: The diagnosis of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) on the basis of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations in 2016 requires the expression of CD19 with CD79a (CD79a), cCD22 and CD10. CD79a is an integral B cell antigen expressed at all stages. Its absence in B-ALL has only been rarely reported. In this study, we described three cases of B-ALL showing complete loss or extremely weak expression of CD79a.
Methods: Seventy-five patients with B-ALL diagnosed by flow cytometry over a period of 3.5 years were taken out from the records. Cases lacking for CD79a by flow cytometry were further analysed.
Results: Out of 75 cases, CD 79a negativity was seen in 4% (3/75). However, every three cases expressed other B cell markers. No aberrant expression of myeloid and lymphoid antigens was seen in any of these three cases. The prognosis of these three cases was similar to CD79a positive cases.
Conclusion: Rarely, B cell ALL may lack CD79a. Thus, to avoid the misdiagnosis, a comprehensive antibody panel should be used. There was no prognostic impact of CD79a negativity in this study, however larger studies are needed to confirm these results.

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This document is a comprehensive review that focuses on the role of melanoma-associated antigen genes (MAGE) family proteins in cancer, with a specific emphasis on their involvement in multiple myeloma (MM). The expression patterns of MAGE proteins in different tissues and their association with critical cellular processes such as cell cycle progression, apoptosis, and gene expression regulation were discussed. The document also highlighted the potential utility of MAGE proteins in cancer immunotherapy, including their use in prognosis and the development of MAGE-based cancer vaccines. In cancer vaccine therapy antigen selection is a crucial step, so by focusing on the vast potency of MAGE, we tried to mention it as a potent antigen for therapy of MM by reviewing the current studies. However, we acknowledged the need for further research and extensive clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and potency of MAGE antigens.

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