Prognostic implications of markers of the metabolic phenotype in human cutaneous melanoma.

Background: Reprogramming of energy metabolism to enhanced aerobic glycolysis has been defined as a hallmark of cancer.

Objectives: To investigate the role of the mitochondrial proteins, β-subunit of the H -ATP synthase (β-F1-ATPase), and heat-shock protein 60 (HSP60), and the glycolytic markers, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), as well as the bioenergetic cellular (BEC) index, in melanoma progression.

Materials And Methods: The expression of energy metabolism proteins was assessed on a set of different melanoma cells representing the natural biological history of the disease: primary cultures of melanocytes, radial (WM35) and vertical (WM278) growth phases, and poorly (C81-61-PA) and highly (C8161-HA) aggressive melanoma cells.

Overexpression of PIK3CA in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is associated with poor outcome and activation of the YAP pathway.

Objectives: Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) is commonly altered in many human tumors, leading to the activation of p110α enzymatic activity that stimulates growth factor-independent cell growth. PIK3CA alterations such as mutation, gene amplification and overexpression are common in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and. We aim to explore how these alterations and clinical outcome are associated, as well as the molecular mechanisms involved.

DEK oncogene is overexpressed during melanoma progression.

DEK is an oncoprotein involved in a variety of cellular functions, such as DNA repair, replication, and transcriptional control. DEK is preferentially expressed in actively proliferating and malignant cells, including melanoma cell lines in which DEK was previously demonstrated to play a critical role in proliferation and chemoresistance. Still, the impact of this protein in melanoma progression remains unclear.

Incidence of human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal cancer and outcomes after chemoradiation in a population of heavy smokers.

Background: Incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal carcinomas is increasing worldwide. The purpose of this study was to report the incidence in our region, and to determine the influence of HPV status on survival among a heavy smoking population.

Methods: p16 expression was analyzed in 102 patients with stage II to IV treated with chemoradiation.

Biological markers of cisplatin resistance in advanced testicular germ cell tumours.

Introduction: Germ cell tumours (GCTs) of the testis show exquisite sensitivity to treatment with cisplatin. Despite the high cure rates provided by platinum-based chemotherapy, 10-20% of patients die from progressive disease. Although various cellular pathways may influence cisplatin efficacy, their actual impact has not been comprehensively investigated in advanced GCTs.

Impact of epidermal growth factor receptor expression on disease-free survival and rate of pelvic relapse in patients with advanced cancer of the cervix treated with chemoradiotherapy.

Objectives: To determine the impact of the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on disease-free survival (DFS) and on pelvic relapse in patients with advanced cancer of the cervix receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Methods: In 112 consecutive patients with advanced cancer of the cervix (11 stage IB2-IIA, 25 IIB, 63 IIIB, 13 IVA) treated with chemoradiotherapy between December 1994 and September 2004, the expression of EGFR using histoimmunochemistry was measured and used in univariate and multivariate analysis, along with variables such as age, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Staging System for Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (FIGO) stage, histology, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), tumor size, and ganglia involvement diagnosed with computerized axial tomography, treatment with cisplatin to evaluate its impact on DFS and pelvic relapse.

Results: Of the 112 biopsies, 32 (28.

Expression of EGFR, HER-2/neu and KIT in germ cell tumours.

Background: Germ cell tumours (GCTs) represent an extraordinarily chemosensitive malignancy. However, 20-30% of patients with advanced disease cannot be cured by currently available treatments. The role of tyrosine kinase receptors has been widely studied in other malignancies.

Cisplatin-based radiochemotherapy improves the negative prognosis of c-erbB-2 overexpressing advanced cervical cancer.

Objectives: To determine the impact of c-erb-B2 overexpression on disease-free survival (DFS) and local relapse in patients with advanced cervical cancer (CC) receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy treatment.

Methods: A total of 136 patients with advanced CC (FIGO stage: IB2-IIA [12]; IIB [34]; IIIB [71]; IVA [19]; including both epidermoid [86] and adenocarcinoma [14]) were analyzed to determine c-erb-B2 levels by immunohistochemistry (c-erb-B2 antibody; Dako, Glostrup, Denmark). Only c-erb-B2+++ biopsies were considered positive.

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction: a diagnosis to be considered.

Chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction (CIPO) is a rare entity characterized by recurrent clinical episodes of intestinal obstruction in which no mechanical cause is identified. There are multiple causes for this syndrome but two main groups can be distinguished: a) secondary to a systemic non-gastrointestinal disease; and b) primary or idiopathic originated from alterations in the components of the intestinal wall. The latter forms are the most uncommon and their diagnosis is generally difficult.

Negative prognostic impact of the coexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor and c-erbB-2 in locally advanced cervical cancer.

Objective: The objective was to determine the impact of the coexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and tumor marker c-erbB-2 on disease-free survival (DFS) and pelvic relapse-free survival (PRFS) in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Methods: The expression of EGFR and c-erbB-2 was assessed by immunohistochemistry, which was centralized and blinded to outcome. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the impact of EGFR and c-erbB-2 on DFS and PRFS.

Primary extragastrointestinal stromal tumors in the omentum and mesentery: a clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study.

Background/aims: This study aimed to describe the clinical, histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of primary extragastrointestinal stromal tumors (EGISTs) of the omentum and mesentery diagnosed in the Hospital 12 de Octubre, in Madrid, Spain, from 1993-2005.

Methodology: The clinical data and histological and immunohistochemical findings of primary mesenchymal neoplasias were revised using the Department of Pathological Anatomy databases.

Results: Six EGISTs were identified.

Prognostic value of hormonal receptors, p53, ki67 and HER2/neu expression in epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

Objective: The role of molecular and biological factors in ovarian cancer is controversial. We investigated the levels of the estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors, HER2/neu, p-53 and Ki 67 in patients with advanced ovarian cancer and correlated the results with the clinical course in order to define their predictive or prognostic significance.

Methods: Paraffin-embedded tumor tissues from 72 patients with ovarian cancer treated from 1999 to 2003 were analyzed.

Susceptibility of pRb-deficient epidermis to chemical skin carcinogenesis is dependent on the p107 allele dosage.

Functional inactivation of the pRb-dependent pathway is a general feature of human cancer. However, only a reduced spectrum of tumors displays inactivation of the Rb gene. This can be attributed, at least partially, to the possible overlapping functions carried out by the related retinoblastoma family members p107 and p130.

Loss of the mitochondrial bioenergetic capacity underlies the glucose avidity of carcinomas.

The down-regulation of the catalytic subunit of the mitochondrial H+-ATP synthase (beta-F1-ATPase) is a hallmark of most human carcinomas. This characteristic of the cancer cell provides a proteomic signature of cellular bioenergetics that can predict the prognosis of colon, lung, and breast cancer patients. Here we show that the in vivo tumor glucose uptake of lung carcinomas, as assessed by positron emission tomography in 110 patients using 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose as probe, inversely correlates with the bioenergetic signature determined by immunohistochemical analysis in tumor surgical specimens.

Myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma: report of a case with fine needle aspiration cytology.

Background: Myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma (MFS) is a distinct neoplasm that usually arises in the acral zones of distalextremities. We report, for the first time, the preoperative fine needle a,spiration cytology (FNAC) findings of an MFS case that was confirmed after surgical excision.

Case: An 81-year-old woman presented with a multinodular tumor in the distal right extremity that had been present for 1 year.

Primary papillary serous carcinoma of the peritoneum: report of a case with diagnosis by fine needle aspiration and immunocytochemistry.

Background: Primary papillary serous carcinoma (PPSC) of the peritoneum is a rare neoplasm, histologically indistinguishable from papillary serous carcinoma of the ovary, which diffusely involves the peritoneum but spares or minimally invades the ovaries. To the best of our knowledge, the preoperative and the fine needle aspiration diagnosis of this disorder have not been reported before.

Case: A woman developed an extensive peritoneal neoplasm 4 years after hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for benign disease.

Prognostic value of KIT expression in small cell lung cancer.

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a very aggressive disease, with poor survival rates despite standard treatment with combination chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy. Further insights into the molecular biology of this malignant tumour are needed to improve the therapeutic approaches and outcome. KIT protein is expressed in SCLC, and its kinase activity has been implicated in the pathophysiology of many tumours, including SCLC.

Superficial acral fibromyxoma of the toe, with erosion of the distal phalanx. A clinical report.

Superficial acral fibromyxoma (SAFM) is a rare soft tissue tumor most often located in the ungual region of the fingers and toes. This tumor was first described in 2001, and since then very few cases have been reported. We present the case of a 35-year-old male with a SAFM located in the toe, with involvement of the nail and erosion of the distal phalanx.

Unexpected roles for pRb in mouse skin carcinogenesis.

The mouse skin carcinogenesis represents one of the best models for the understanding of malignant transformation, including the multistage nature of tumor development. The retinoblastoma gene product (pRb) plays a critical role in cell cycle regulation, differentiation, and inhibition of oncogenic transformation. In epidermis, Rb-/- deletion leads to proliferation and differentiation defects.

beta-Catenin, Nf-kappaB and FAS protein expression are independent events in head and neck cancer: study of their association with clinical parameters.

In spite of much effort, no good markers have yet been found for predicting prognosis or response to therapy in advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCCs) patients. beta-catenin, a protein involved in the cytoskeleton, cell-cell adhesion and gene transcription, is a factor associated with tumour progression. Recently, an interaction has been reported between beta-catenin, and NF-kappaB coupled with an inverse association of beta-catenin, and FAS (CD95/APO-1) protein expression in breast and colorectal tumours.

Molecular determinants of Akt-induced keratinocyte transformation.

The PI3K/PTEN/Akt signaling pathway has emerged in recent years as a main player in human cancers, increasing proliferation and decreasing apoptosis of transformed cells, and thus becoming a potential target for therapeutic intervention. Our previous data have demonstrated that Akt-mediated signaling is of a key relevance in the mouse skin carcinogenesis system, one of the best-known models of experimental carcinogenesis. Here, we investigated the involvement of several pathways as mediators of Akt-induced increased proliferation and tumorigenesis in keratinocytes.

Miliary brain metastases presenting as rapidly progressive dementia.

We report the case of a 79-year-old woman who developed a rapidly progressive dementia (RPD) with severe memory impairment, early visual hallucinations and extrapyramidal signs. Symptoms started suddenly after hip replacement surgery following an accidental fall. Motor epileptic seizures appeared at the end of the illness.

Prognostic value of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGRF) and p53 in advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with induction chemotherapy.

We measured the expression of the p53 nuclear protein and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in 46 biopsy samples from patients with advanced head and neck cancer treated with induction combination chemotherapy of 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, and paclitaxel. Tumour expression of p53 protein was analysed with the monoclonal D07 antibody and EGFR with monoclonal H11 antibody. The overall response, defined as complete (CR) and partial response (PR) rates to treatment, was 88%.

Cyclin A as a predictive factor for chemotherapy response in advanced head and neck cancer.

Purpose: Overall survival of head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) patients has not improved despite advances in our understanding of the biology and molecular features of this disease. In particular, patients with advanced HNSCC have the poorest prognosis. To understand more about the contribution of cell cycle alterations to HNSCC development and their possible value in predicting prognosis and response to chemotherapy, we evaluated the levels of proteins involved in cell cycle control in patients diagnosed with advanced HNSCC.

Fine needle aspiration cytology of clear cell carcinoma of the gallbladder with hepatic infiltration: a case report.

Background: Clear cell carcinoma of the gallbladder (CCG) is an unusual histologic variant recognized in the World Health Organ ization classification of tumors of the gallbladder and extrahepatic bile ducts. Although the clinicopathologic features have been documented in a few reports, to our knowledge the cytologic findings have not been described before. We report the fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) findings in a case of CCG with hepatic infiltration.