Single nucleotide variant in Nucleoporin 107 may be predictive of sensitivity to chemotherapy in patients with ovarian cancer.

Background: Alterations in nuclear pore complex (NPC) genes have been previously associated with response to chemotherapy. Using agnostic exome sequencing, we envisioned that new alleles in NPC genes, predictive of sensitivity to platinum treatment, could be discovered.

Methods: Twenty-two platinum-sensitive and six platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients were tested.

Is the two-tier ovarian serous carcinoma grading system potentially useful in stratifying uterine serous carcinoma? A large multi-institutional analysis.

Objective: A subset of uterine serous carcinoma (USC) may have better clinical behavior bringing up the possibility that there may be morphologic features, which would help in their categorization. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential use of the MD Anderson Cancer Center 2-tier grading system for ovarian carcinoma in USC.

Methods: Tumors assigned a combined score included in this analysis were 1) low-grade: tumors without marked atypia and 12 mitoses/10 high power field (HPF) and 2) high grade: tumors with severe nuclear atypia and >12 mitoses/10 HPF.

EZH2-shRNA-mediated upregulation of p21waf1/cip1 and its transcriptional enhancers with concomitant downmodulation of mutant p53 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: Enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2), a component of the chromatin modification protein complex, is upregulated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), whereas loss of p53 and its downstream target, p21(waf1/cip1), is also observed frequently. We sought to investigate the role of the p53-p21(waf1/cip1) pathway in relation to EZH2-mediated inhibition of PDAC.

Methods: The PANC-1 cell line was utilized in chromatin immunoprecipitation, gene profiling, Western blot, cell invasion, cell proliferation, and tumor xenograft assays.

Vulvar/vaginal melanoma: an updated surveillance epidemiology and end results database review, comparison with cutaneous melanoma and significance of racial disparities.

Objective: We aimed to compare the differences in demographic features, clinicopathologic features, and survival in patients with vulvar/vaginal melanoma versus cutaneous melanoma with a special emphasis on race.

Materials And Methods: Data were obtained from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database from 1973 to 2008. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox multivariate model were used for statistical analysis.

EZH2 blockade by RNA interference inhibits growth of ovarian cancer by facilitating re-expression of p21(waf1/cip1) and by inhibiting mutant p53.

The enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) methyltransferase is a transcriptional repressor. EZH2 is abnormally elevated in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). We demonstrated that EZH2 knockdown inhibited cell growth, activated apoptosis, and enhanced chemosensitivity.

Clinical and pathologic characteristics of serous carcinoma confined to the endometrium: a multi-institutional study.

The objective of this study was to analyze the clinical and pathologic factors in patients with uterine serous carcinoma confined to the endometrium. A total of 236 uterine serous carcinoma patients from the pathology databases of 4 large academic institutions were included in the study. Clinical and pathologic variables were analyzed, including patient demographics, tumor size (≤2 vs.

Restoration of E-cadherin expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma treated with microRNA-101.

Purpose: To investigate the possibility of inhibiting the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) by facilitating the expression of E-cadherin through the enforced expression of microRNA-101 (miR-101).

Methods: In situ hybridization was conducted with archival tissue using a double digoxigenin-labeled probe. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay was conducted with EZ-Magna ChIPTM A.

Overexpression of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in high grade endometrial carcinoma.

Objective: The deregulation of E-cadherin is associated with Src/FAK signaling axis and histone deacetylase (HDAC)/EZH2 activity. However, the association between EZH2 and FAK and its clinical significance in endometrial carcinoma has not been reported.

Methods: 202 archived cases of endometrial carcinoma (1996-2000) were reviewed and divided into two subtypes.

Clear cell carcinoma arising in the abdominal wall: two case reports and literature review.

Clear cell carcinoma originating in the abdominal wall is rare and usually develops within endometriotic implants in the scar. We describe 2 patients: a 42 year old with a 15 cm mass on the abdominal wall treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and excision and a 51 year old with a 6 cm abdominal mass treated with excision and adjuvant radiotherapy.

Clinical and biological relevance of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 in triple-negative breast cancer.

The polycomb group protein, enhancer of zeste homolog 2, is a transcriptional repressor involved in cell cycle regulation and has been linked to aggressive breast cancer. We examined the clinical and biological significance of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 expression in triple-negative breast cancers. Tissue microarrays were constructed with invasive breast cancer cases and stained with the enhancer of zeste homolog 2, cytokeratin 5/6, epidermal growth factor receptor 1, and p53.

Outcomes of patients with uterine serous carcinoma using the revised FIGO staging system.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the prognostic significance of the revised 2009 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging criteria in patients with uterine serous carcinoma (USC).

Materials And Methods: We retrieved clinical and histopathologic data on women with USC from 2 large academic centers. Age, race, stage, myometrial invasion, angiolymphatic invasion, and adjuvant therapy were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression models.

Glut-1 Expression Correlates with Basal-like Breast Cancer.

Introduction: Glucose transporter 1 (Glut-1) is a facilitative glucose transporter expressed in many cancers including breast cancer. Basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) is a high-risk disease associated with poor prognosis and lacks the benefit of targeted therapy. The aim of this study was to characterize the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of Glut-1 in patients with BLBC compared with non-BLBC.

Clinical/pathologic features and patient outcome in early onset endometrial carcinoma: a population based analysis and an institutional perspective from the Detroit metropolitan area, Michigan.

Objective: Analyze tumor characteristics and outcomes in patients with endometrial carcinoma (EC)<40 years of age and compare them to the characteristics of patients ≥ 40 years of age.

Methods: 10,700 patients (305 patients <40 years of age) diagnosed between 1988 and 2007 with EC from the Metropolitan Detroit Cancer Surveillance System (MDCSS), and 884 patients (42 patients <40 years of age) diagnosed between 1996 and 2008 with EC from our institutional database were identified. Differences in clinical and demographic variables by age (<40 vs.

The role of frozen section in surgical staging of low risk endometrial cancer.

Background: The role of frozen section (FS) in intraoperative decision making for surgical staging of endometrial cancer is controversial. Objective of this study is to assess the agreement rate between the FS and paraffin section (PS); and the potential impact of the role of FS in the intra-operative decision making for the complete surgical staging in low risk endometrial cancer.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with intra-operative FS stage I, grade I or II endometrial cancer from 1995-2004.

Therapy-related myeloid leukemia after treatment for epithelial ovarian carcinoma: an epidemiological analysis.

Objective: Therapy related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) is a potential late complication of cytotoxic therapy, and it is of particular concern in the treatment of patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) exposed to multiple courses of chemotherapy during the course of their disease. This study examines the incidence, characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients who developed secondary myeloid-type leukemia after a diagnosis of EOC.

Methods: National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database was pooled for diagnosis of secondary myeloid leukemia after an initial diagnosis of EOC.

MicroRNA-101 inhibits growth of epithelial ovarian cancer by relieving chromatin-mediated transcriptional repression of p21(waf¹/cip¹).

Purpose: MicroRNA-101 (miR-101) expression is negatively associated with tumor growth and proliferation in several solid epithelial cancers. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EzH2) appears to be a functional target of miR-101. We explore the role of miR-101 and its interaction with EzH2 in epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC).

Molecular markers of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition are associated with tumor aggressiveness in breast carcinoma.

Background: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a transient process occurring during developmental stages and carcinogenesis, characterized by phenotypic and molecular alterations, resulting in increased invasive and metastatic capabilities of cancer cells and drug resistance. Moreover, emerging evidence suggests that EMT is associated with increased enrichment of cancer stem-like cells in neoplastic tissues. We interrogated the molecular alterations occurring in breast cancer using proposed EMT markers such as E-cadherin, vimentin, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) D, and nuclear factor κ B (NF-κ B) to decipher their roles in the EMT and breast cancer progression.

Prognosis and reproducibility of new and existing binary grading systems for endometrial carcinoma compared to FIGO grading in hysterectomy specimens.

Background: The current International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) grade in endometrial carcinomas requires the evaluation of histologic features with proven prognostic value but with questionable reproducibility. This study tests the prognostic power and reproducibility of a new binary grading system.

Study Design: Specimens from 254 hysterectomies were graded according to the new 3- and 2-tiered FIGO grading systems described by Alkushi et al.

Prognostic impact of laterality in malignant ovarian germ cell tumors.

Objective: To compare the survival of patients with bilateral versus unilateral malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (OGCT).

Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of OGCT were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program for the period 1988 to 2006 and were divided into bilateral and unilateral subgroups. Only surgically treated patients were included.

The impact of race on survival in uterine serous carcinoma: a hospital-based study.

Objective: Although less common than endometrioid carcinoma, uterine serous carcinoma (USC) accounts for a disproportionate number of endometrial cancer-related deaths. It is relatively more common in black compared to white women. The aim of our study is to analyze the impact of race on survival in USC.

Expression of GLUT-1 in epithelial ovarian carcinoma: correlation with tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, survival and ability to predict optimal cytoreduction.

Objective: GLUT-1 is involved at various steps in the processes of tumor progression. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between GLUT-1 expression and tumor proliferation and angiogenesis in epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: Specimens from 213 patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma were evaluated by immunohistochemistry for GLUT-1, Ki-67, and vascular endothelial growth factor.

Prognostic analysis of ovarian cancer associated with endometriosis.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the prognosis of ovarian cancer arising in endometriosis.

Study Design: We retrospectively compared 42 cases of endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer (EAOC) with 184 cases of ovarian carcinoma without endometriosis (OC).

Results: The median age in the EAOC group was 52 vs 59 years in OC (P < .

Molecular typing of epithelial ovarian carcinomas using inflammatory markers.

Background: Ovarian epithelial carcinomas have recently been classified as slow growing type I tumors and rapidly growing highly aggressive type II tumors. The present study sought to molecularly characterize type I and II tumors using known molecular markers.

Methods: Specimens from 213 patients with ovarian carcinoma were categorized as type I or type II, and evaluated by immunohistochemistry for the inflammatory markers glucose transporter protein-1 (Glut-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and nuclear factor kappa B.

Sulforaphane induces cell cycle arrest by protecting RB-E2F-1 complex in epithelial ovarian cancer cells.

Background: Sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate phytochemical present predominantly in cruciferous vegetables such as brussels sprout and broccoli, is considered a promising chemo-preventive agent against cancer. In-vitro exposure to SFN appears to result in the induction of apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest in a variety of tumor types. However, the molecular mechanisms leading to the inhibition of cell cycle progression by SFN are poorly understood in epithelial ovarian cancer cells (EOC).

The role of laparoscopy in the treatment of early ovarian carcinoma.

Laparoscopic management of early ovarian cancer (EOC) has constituted a controversial issue since it was first described. Recent data reinforced the arguments supporting the use of laparoscopy in the management of EOC. Advances in laparoscopy have enabled surgeons to meet the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics' criteria for staging of EOC.