[Targeting of epidermal growth factor receptor and applications in ORL cancer].

EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) is a transmembrane glycoprotein highly expressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Once triggered by ligands, tyrosine kinase located at their inner part is phosphorylated, initiating signal transduction pathways towards the nucleus. Two categories of EGFR inhibitors are affordable: the former group includes monoclonal antibodies whereas the latter regards tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ITK).

Regulation of BRCA1 and BRCA2 transcript in response to cisplatin, adriamycin, taxol and ionising radiation is correlated to p53 functional status in ovarian cancer cell lines.

Recent studies suggest that BRCA1 and BRCA2 expression, in response to cytotoxic agents, may be dependent on p53 status. To investigate this possibility, we quantified their transcripts in ovarian cancer cells, PA1 (wild-type p53), CaOV-3 (mutated p53) and SKOV-3 (null p53) exposed to four cytotoxic agents. In PA1, taxol and cisplatin had no effect, while adriamycin and ionising radiation (IR) induced both genes.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 protein expressions in an ovotestis of a 46, XX true hermaphrodite.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 breast cancer susceptibility genes encode proteins, the normal cellular functions of which are complex and multiple, and germ-line mutations in individuals predispose both to breast and to ovarian cancer. There is nevertheless substantial evidence linking BRCA1 and BRCA2 to homologous recombination and DNA repair, to transcriptional control and to tissue proliferation. There is controversy regarding the localization of BRCA1 and BRCA2 proteins to either nucleus or cytoplasm and whether the expression is present in premeiotic germ cells or can still be expressed in mitotic spermatogonia.

Brca1 and Brca2 protein expression patterns in different tissues of murine origin.

We have analyzed by immunohistochemistry Brca1 and Brca2 protein expression in mouse during embryonic development, in adult tissues, and during postnatal mammary gland development. Our observations confirm previous localization of Brca1 and Brca2 mRNA on frozen sections by in situ hybridization, and demonstrate that Brca1 and Brca2 proteins are expressed in rapidly proliferating cell types undergoing differentiation. These results imply that Brca1 and Brca2 proteins are involved in the process of proliferation and differentiation in multiple tissues, notably in the mammary gland during pregnancy and lactation.

Antitumoral effect of interleukin-12-secreting fibroblasts in a mouse model of ovarian cancer: implications for the use of ovarian cancer biopsy-derived fibroblasts as a vehicle for regional gene therapy.

Fibroblasts can easily be cultured from human solid ovarian tumor biopsies and are readily transfected using retroviral vectors. To test the feasibility of using these cells as a vehicle for regional, intraperitoneal (i.p.