Reelin expression in human prostate cancer: a marker of tumor aggressiveness based on correlation with grade.

Reelin is a glycoprotein that plays a critical role in the regulation of neuronal migration during brain development and, since reelin has a role in the control of cell migration, it might represents an important factor in cancer pathology. In this study, 66 surgical specimens of prostate cancer were analyzed for reelin expression by immunohistochemical method. The reelin expression was correlated with Gleason score and individual Gleason patterns.

COX-2 expression of ampullary carcinoma: correlation with different histotypes and clinicopathological parameters.

Epidemiological studies suggest that regular intake of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are associated with reduced incidence of gastrointestinal cancer. Several lines of evidence indicate that the antineoplastic effect of NSAIDs is attributable to COX-2 inhibition. The aim of our study was to assess COX-2 expression in a series of primary untreated ampullary carcinomas and its possible correlation with clinicopathological parameters.

Thymidylate synthase expression in normal colonic mucosa: a predictive marker of toxicity in colorectal cancer patients receiving 5-fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy.

Objectives: We retrospectively evaluated the relevance of thymidylate synthase (TS) expression in normal colonic mucosa as a predictive factor of toxicity in colorectal cancer patients receiving adjuvant fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy.

Methods: TS expression was immunohistochemically assessed on normal colonic mucosa from 50 patients with colorectal cancer Dukes' stages B (15 patients) and C (35 patients) treated with 5-FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy.

Results: The incidence of grade 2-3 diarrhea and stomatitis (according to WHO) was demonstrated to be significantly higher in patients with low nuclear TS expression in normal mucosa than in those with high TS expression (p < 0.