The prognostic role of ephrin A2 and endothelial growth factor receptor pathway mediators in patients with advanced colorectal cancer treated with cetuximab.

Background: Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) with wild-type KRAS mutations are often treated with the endothelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody cetuximab. Despite the presence of a specific molecular target, most patients still do not derive benefit from this biological treatment. Our study explores the role of ephrin A2 (EphA2) receptor expression and of EGFR pathway mediators as predictors of cetuximab benefit.

Expression of ERβ and its co-regulators p300 and NCoR in human transitional cell bladder cancer.

Objective: Several data support a possible role of estrogens in bladder carcinogenesis, mediated mainly through estrogen receptor-β (ERβ). We study the expression of ERβ and its co-regulators p300 and nuclear co-repressor (NCoR) in patients with bladder cancer.

Patients And Methods: One hundred and eleven consecutive patients (74 males and 37 females), aged 23-90 years (mean 70 ± 10) diagnosed with transitional cell bladder cancer were included in this study.

Coordinated increased expression of Cyclooxygenase2 and nuclear factor κB is a steady feature of urinary bladder carcinogenesis.

Objectives: The inescapable relationship between chronic inflammation and carcinogenesis has long been established. Our objective was to investigate COX-2 and NF-κB immunohistochemical expression in a large series of normal epithelium and bladder carcinomas.

Methods: Immunohistochemical methodology was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections from urinary bladder carcinomas of 140 patients (94 males and 46 females with bladder carcinomas).

Inverse expression of estrogen receptor-beta and nuclear factor-kappaB in urinary bladder carcinogenesis.

Objectives: To investigate the expression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and estrogen receptor-beta (ER-beta) signalling pathways in bladder urothelial carcinoma according to clinicopathological features, in order to elucidate their role during carcinogenesis.

Methods: Immunohistochemical methodology was carried out on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections from urinary bladder carcinomas of 140 patients (94 males and 46 females) who underwent transurethral resection of bladder neoplasms. Correlations between ER-beta and NF-kappaB, and tumor grade and T-stage were evaluated, along with demographic data, sex and age.

Liability of the voltage-gated sodium channel gene SCN2A R19K polymorphism to oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Aim: It was the aim of this study to test the hypothesis that the voltage-gated sodium channel gene SCN2A R19K polymorphism confers liability to oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OXLIPN).

Methods: Sixty-two patients with advanced colorectal cancer were genotyped, using allele-specific primers and SYBR green in real-time polymerase chain reaction. All patients had received adjuvant oxalipla-tin-based chemotherapy.

NF-kappaB/PPAR gamma and/or AP-1/PPAR gamma 'on/off' switches and induction of CBP in colon adenocarcinomas: correlation with COX-2 expression.

Background And Aims: Several studies indicate that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) represses activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) transcriptional activity and this negative cross-talk occupies an important role in carcinogenesis. The present study evaluated the differential expression profile of AP-1 constituents (c-FOS and phosphorylated-active pc-JUN), p-I kappaB-alpha (phosphorylated I kappaB-alpha, a signaling intermediate of NF-kappaB pathway), PPAR gamma, cyclic AMP-response element binding-binding protein (CBP, a known AP-1, NF-kappaB, and PPAR gamma transcriptional coactivator), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R), p53, and COX-2 in normal colonic epithelial cells and colon adenocarcinoma cells.

Materials And Methods: Immunohistochemical methodology was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections from 60 patients with colon adenocarcinomas.

PPAR-gamma is expressed and NF-kB pathway is activated and correlates positively with COX-2 expression in stromal myofibroblasts surrounding colon adenocarcinomas.

Purpose: Accumulated evidence indicates that carcinogenesis is closely associated with the transformation of normal stroma into a 'reactive' stromal phenotype. The present study investigated the role of PPARgamma, COX-2 and p-IkB-alpha--important molecular targets of colon cancer chemoprevention--in this stromal remodeling by evaluating and comparing the expression of these factors in stromal myofibroblasts, macrophages and endothelial cells that surround normal colonic mucosa and colon cancer.

Methods: Immunohistochemical methodology was employed on archived paraffin-embedded sections prepared from tumors and adjacent normal colon from 45 patients with colon adenocarcinomas.