Hypofractionated radiotherapy with simultaneous integrated boost for localized prostate cancer patients: effects on immune system and prediction of toxicity.

Background: The other side of radiotherapy (RT), in addition to the cytotoxic effect, is the ability to modulate the immune system in terms of activation or suppression, also depending on the dose and fractionation delivered. This immune RT effect can be detected both locally in the irradiated tumor site and in the peripheral blood. The aim of this study was to assess the consequence of pelvic irradiation on peripheral immune cells and cytokine secretions in localized prostate cancer (PC) patients undergoing pelvic irradiation with a simultaneous moderately hypofractionated prostate/prostate bed boost by Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT).

Modulation of Peripheral Immune Cell Subpopulations After RapidArc/Moderate Hypofractionated Radiotherapy for Localized Prostate Cancer: Findings and Comparison With 3D Conformal/Conventional Fractionation Treatment.

Radiotherapy (RT) is an important therapeutic option in patients with localized prostate cancer (PC). Unfortunately, radiation treatment causes a decrease in peripheral lymphocytes and, consequently, influences the patients' immune status. Our aim was to study changes in peripheral blood immune cell subpopulations after RT and during 6 months' follow-up in 2 groups of PC patients irradiated with different techniques and dose fractions with curative intent.

Circulating Regulatory T-Cell Number Does Not Predict Prognosis of Monoclonal Gammopathies of Uncertain Significance.

FOXP3-expressing regulatory T-cells (Tregs), which suppress aberrant immune response against self-antigens, also suppress anti-tumor immune response. It has been shown that there is an increased proportion of Tregs in several different human malignancies, although the actual mechanism remains unclear. The research aims to explore the relationship between the number of Tregs and a predict prognosis in particular hematological diseases as monoclonal gammopathies of uncertain significance (MGUS).

MicroRNA-155 in serum-derived extracellular vesicles as a potential biomarker for hematologic malignancies - a short report.

Purpose: The use of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from body fluids as "liquid biopsies" is emerging as a promising approach for the diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic monitoring of cancer patients. MicroRNA-155 (miR155), a non-coding transcript of the B-cell integration cluster (BIC) gene, has been reported to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of several types of hematologic malignancies (HMs) in which high miR155 levels have been found. At yet, however, the EV miR155 level and its putative clinical relevance in sera of HM patients have not been reported.

A Pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine compound inhibits Fyn phosphorylation and induces apoptosis in natural killer cell leukemia.

Natural killer (NK) cell neoplasms are characterized by clonal proliferation of cytotoxic NK cells. Since there is no standard treatment to date, new therapeutic options are needed, especially for NK aggressive tumors. Fyn tyrosine kinase has a key role in different biological processes, such as cell growth and differentiation, being also involved in the pathogenesis of hematologic malignancies.

High serum levels of extracellular vesicles expressing malignancy-related markers are released in patients with various types of hematological neoplastic disorders.

Many cell types release extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes, microvesicles (MVs), and apoptotic bodies, which play a role in physiology and diseases. Presence and phenotype of circulating EVs in hematological malignancies (HMs) remain largely unexplored.The aim of this study was to characterize EVs in peripheral blood of HM patients compared to healthy subjects (controls).

Epidermoid cyst of the coronal sulcus mimicking penile cancer: a case report.

Introduction: Epidermoid cysts represent common benign tumors occurring anywhere in the body but very rarely in the penis. Only a few cases of penile localization have been reported in the literature so far, most of them being congenital and/or idiopathic, usually presenting in children as slow-growing, solitary, well-delimited cystic lesions. Here, we describe the case of a patient with a penile epidermoid cyst presenting as an ulcerated lesion of the coronal sulcus, thus mimicking penile cancer.

Polymorphisms of the CYP1A1, CYP2E1 and XRCC1 genes and cancer risk in a Southern Italian population: a case-control study.

Background: Polymorphisms in genes encoding enzymes involved in xenobiotic metabolism and/or in cellular defenses against carcinogen-induced DNA damage play an important role in determining individual cancer susceptibility. However, their distribution and association with cancer susceptibility can vary in different populations.

Materials And Methods: A case-control study including 290 cancer patients (cases) and 242 controls was performed to evaluate the relationship between polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 (CYP)1A1 and CYP2E1 and X-ray repair complementing defective repair in Chinese hamster cells (XRCC)1 genes and the risk of developing cancer in a Southern Italian (Basilicata) population.

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in prostate cancer: a single centre experience in patients with low, intermediate or high-risk of progression.

Objective: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a minimally invasive treatment based on thermal ablation of tissues which are warmed up to 85 degrees C in the focal area. Clinical studies have shown such treatment modality to be safe and effective in the management of localised prostate cancer as well as of local recurrences after radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy.

Material And Methods: From May 2002 to June 2010, 171 patients with no previous treatment for prostate cancer, aged 44 to 86 years (mean 74.

GSTM1 and NAT2 polymorphisms and colon, lung and bladder cancer risk: a case-control study.

Background: Glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and N-acetyltransferase-2 (NAT2) are phase II enzymes involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics and whose polymorphisms have been related to individual cancer risks.

Patients And Methods: A case-control study was performed including 92 colon, 75 lung and 23 bladder cancer patients and 121 corresponding controls to verify the existence of an association between the main genetic polymorphisms of GSTM1 and NAT2 and the risk to develop cancer. Genomic DNA, isolated from 5 mL whole blood, was used to study GSTM1 and NAT2 polymorphisms using multiplex PCR and a PCR-RFLP technique, respectively.

Polymorphisms of the DNA repair genes XRCC1 and XRCC3 and risk of lung and colorectal cancer: a case-control study in a Southern Italian population.

Background: Genetic polymorphisms in DNA repair genes may influence individual variation in DNA repair capacity, which may be associated with a higher risk of developing cancer. Studies on the association between DNA repair gene polymorphisms and lung and colorectal cancer risk appear to be very limited. This study was designed to examine the polymorphisms associated with two DNA repair genes, namely XRCC1 Arg194Trp, XRCC1 Arg399Gln and XRCC3 Thr241Met, and to investigate their role as susceptibility markers for lung and colorectal cancer.

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) polymorphisms as risk factors for cancer in a highly homogeneous population from southern Italy.

Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) is a phase II enzyme and catalyses reactions between glutathione and a variety of electrophilic compounds, including some environmental carcinogens. In man, at least 20 isoenzymatic forms of GST have been identified and many of them show genetically-based individual variability of enzyme activity. The GSTM1 and GSTT1 isoenzymes display several polymorphisms, including a homozygotic deletion, which have been associated with an increased risk for developing neoplastic diseases.