Ectopic production of prolactin by colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: This study assessed the role of prolactin in patients with Dukes B and C colorectal carcinoma.

Methods: Circulating prolactin and carcinoembryonic antigen were assayed using immunoradiometric assay and radioimmunoassay kits, respectively, in preoperative blood (n = 98) and tumor-draining venous blood (n = 34) samples of colorectal carcinoma patients. Immunohistochemical localization of prolactin (n = 98), carcinoembryonic antigen (n = 98), and prolactin receptors (n = 56) was performed.

Role of pretherapeutic biomarkers in predicting postoperative radiotherapy response in patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: To assess the role of biomarker levels in predicting radiotherapy (RT) response in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa treated with postoperative RT.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-one patients with squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa who received postoperative RT were enrolled for the study. Glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activity were analysed from primary tumour and adjacent normal mucosa of the same patients before RT.

Molecular markers are predictors of recurrence and survival in patients with Dukes B and Dukes C colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: The goal was to investigate the prognostic value of various molecular markers like CEA, Cyclin D1, Bcl-2, c-Myc, p53, p21ras, Ki-67, CD44, Factor VIII-related antigen, cytokeratin-19, adenoma antigen, and prolactin in patients with Dukes B and Dukes C colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Methods: These molecular markers were localized immunohistochemically in nonmalignant (n = 36) and malignant (n = 98) diseases of the colorectum. Data were analyzed statistically using the SPSS software program.

Prolactin as a local growth promoter in patients with breast cancer: GCRI experience.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of pre-operative prolactin (PRL) in conjunction with established prognosticators, and the risk of disease relapse in patients with early and advanced breast cancer. To confirm the hypothesis that PRL is produced by breast tumours molecular analysis of PRL, using immunohistochemistry, mRNA by RT-PCR and direct sequencing, was performed. Furthermore, presence of prolactin receptors (PRLR) was evaluated by immunohistochemical localization in these patients.

Bleomycin-induced chromosome damage in lymphocytes indicates inefficient DNA repair capacity in breast cancer families.

In vitro mutagen susceptibility has been observed as a predictor of cancer risk. To evaluate susceptibility to mutagen, we have studied the response to in vitro bleomycin (BLM) treatment in cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of 9 breast cancer families (BCFs). Eleven breast cancer patients (BCPs) and 36 healthy blood relatives (HBRs) from BCFs were included in the study.

Prognostic significance of immunohistochemically localized biomarkers in stage II and stage III breast cancer: a multivariate analysis.

Background: The aim was to investigate the expression of a panel of biomarkers such as prolactin (PRL), p53, Bcl-2, c-erb B2, Ki-67, CD44, and factor VIII-related antigen (FVIII-RA) in primary tumors of stage II and stage III breast cancer and its correlation with disease prognostication.

Methods: The streptavidin-biotin peroxidase complex technique was used for the detection of these antigens. Cytoplasmic staining pattern was observed for PRL, Bcl-2, and Ki-67.

Prolactin as a local growth promoter in patients with locally advanced tongue cancer: GCRI experience.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the role of prolactin (PRL) in men with locally advanced tongue cancer.

Methods: Circulating PRL was assayed immunoradiometrically in pretherapeutic and sequential blood samples of 99 patients with locally advanced tongue cancer. Patients were followed for 3 years or until their death within a stipulated time.

Spontaneous chromosomal instability in breast cancer families.

Spontaneous chromosomal instability has been correlated with cancer predisposition. In the present study, the phenomenon has been evaluated using two cytogenetic markers, namely, frequency of spontaneous sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and spontaneous chromosomal aberrations (CA) in peripheral blood lymphocytes of hereditary breast cancer (HBC) patients (n = 11) and healthy blood relatives (HBR, n = 36). A statistically significant difference was observed for both the endpoints between HBC patients and controls (P < 0.

DNA ploidy and cell cycle distribution of breast cancer aspirate cells measured by image cytometry and analyzed by artificial neural networks for their prognostic significance.

Chromosomal abnormalities are commonly associated with cancer, and their importance in the pathogenesis of the disease has been well recognized. Also recognized in recent years is the possibility that, together with chromosomal abnormalities, DNA ploidy of breast cancer aspirate cells, measured by image cytometric techniques, may correlate with prognosis of the disease. Here, we have examined the use of an artificial neural network to predict: 1) subclinical metastatic disease in the regional lymph nodes and 2) histological assessment, through the analysis of data obtained by image cytometric techniques of fine needle aspirates of breast tumors.

Evaluation of telomerase activation in head and neck cancer.

During replication of the linear chromosomes, telomeres, i.e. the ends of the chromosomes, are not replicated completely by the conventional DNA polymerases.

Chromosomal aberrations in young cancer patients.

Spontaneous level of chromosomal aberrations (CA) is considered to be indicative of inherent cancer predisposition, which plays a major role in total cancer incidence. We have studied spontaneous CA levels in in vitro cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes of pediatric cancer patients (n = 77). Results were compared with those of control subjects (n = 72), including: age-matched controls; elder controls (minimum age 60 years); and healthy first-degree relatives (FDR) of pediatric cancer patients.

Assessment of glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione reductase in patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa.

Serum and tumor cytosolic levels of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione-reductase (GR) activity were determined spectrophotometrically. The levels were correlated with clinicopathological criteria and a tobacco-associated protein band (T band) found in serum. The results showed significantly decreased mean serum GST levels (p < 0.

Evaluation of glycoprotein constituents in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.

Background: Alterations in serum levels of several glycoprotein constituents are reported to be useful for treatment monitoring of cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to determine efficacy of sialic acid and seromucoid fraction as treatment monitors for head and neck (H&N) cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT).

Methods: Serum levels of total sialic acid (TSA), lipid-bound sialic acid (LSA), and seromucoid fraction (measured as Mucoid protein [MP] and hexose) were studied in age matched controls and in patients with H&N cancer at diagnosis and during/after completion of RT.

A complex translocation involving chromosomes 2, 9 and 22 in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia.

A patient with a high leukocyte count, diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia was referred for cytogenetic study. Peripheral blood and bone marrow cells were cultured without mitogenic stimulation. All karyotypes represented rare, varient Philadelphia chromosome with-three way translocation, i.

Influence of alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid on pan masala induced genomic damage. An in vitro experiment.

Pan masala is a dry complex mixture of areca nut, catechu, lime, cardamon, unspecified flavouring agents etc., with (PMT) or without tobacco (pm). We have previously reported genotoxic potential of tobacco, areca nut and pan masala per se.

Mitomycin C induced chromosomal aberrations in young cancer patients.

Mitomycin-C (MMC) induced Chromosomal aberration (CA) frequencies were studied in 48 h peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) cultures of untreated cancer patients of young age (maximum age 12 years, n=77). Control population (n=71) consisted of age-matched group (maximum age 12 years, n=21); elder controls (minimum age 60 years, n=19) and healthy first degree relatives, i.e.

Overexpression of CD44: a useful independent predictor of prognosis in patients with colorectal carcinomas.

Background: The goal was to investigate the potential correlation between overexpression of CD44, high microvessel count (MVC), and p21ras with length of relapse-free and overall survival in patients with colorectal adenocarcinomas.

Methods: CD44, factor VIII-related antigen (FVIII-RA), and p21ras were localized immunohistochemically in patients with colorectal adenomatous polyps (n = 8) and adenocarcinomas (n = 98). The correlation between the expression of CD44, MVC in the areas with highest density, and p21ras with relapse-free and overall survival time was investigated.

Protection from pan masala induced genomic damage by beta-carotene and retinoic acid--an in vitro experience.

Cytogenetic studies in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells using aqueous and organic extracts of pan masalas, as well as genomic damage observed among pan masala consumers have conclusively shown genotoxic potential of pan masala-a dry complex mixture of areca nut, lime, catechu, cardamom, unspecified flavoring agent, etc., often containing tobacco in it. Tobacco and areca nut, major ingredients of pan masala, are closely associated with oral cancer.

Analysis of image cytometry data of fine needle aspirated cells of breast cancer patients: a comparison between logistic regression and artificial neural networks.

Image flow cytometry data of aspirated tumour cells from 102 patients with breast cancer were analysed and used as prognostic markers in an attempt to predict involvement of axillary lymph nodes and histological grade using logistic regression. Prediction was 70% for both nodal status and histological analyses. The outcome of this study is compared to an earlier study using the same cytological information to obtain prediction using a neural approach.

Cytogenetic evaluation of 20 sporadic breast cancer patients and their first degree relatives.

Many genetic abnormalities disclosed even in somatic cells like peripheral blood lymphocytes may mark footprint(s) of malignancy(ies). The present cytogenetic study on peripheral blood lymphocytes of sporadic breast cancer patients (n = 20) and their first degree relatives (n = 39) reports abnormalities of chromosomes 16, 5, 12, and 17 respectively in 17.59%, 8.

DNA repair proficiency in breast cancer patients and their first-degree relatives.

Defective DNA repair capacity as measured by enumerating chromatid aberrations induced in G2 phase by X-irradiation may explain increased risk of breast cancer among relatives of patients. In the present study, chromatid damage was determined in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) following in vitro exposure to 50R X-irradiation in G2 phase from 14 breast cancer (BrCa) patients, 19 first-degree relatives (FDR) of BrCa patients and 17 control women who had no family history of cancer for the last 3 generations. Controls, BrCa patients and their FDR had comparable frequency of gaps and breaks when cells were arrested with Colcemid (30 min) after X-irradiation.

Coexpression of Bcl-2, c-Myc, and p53 oncoproteins as prognostic discriminants in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

Purpose: This study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical use of Bcl-2, c-Myc, and p53 oncoproteins, either singly or in combination, as prognostic discriminants relative to recurrence and overall survival in patients with Dukes B or C colorectal carcinoma.

Methods: Analyses were made on archival pathology tissues of 48 patients with colorectal cancer. The oncoproteins were localized using commercially available monoclonal antibodies: clone 124 for Bcl-2, 9E11 for c-Myc, and DO-7 for p53.

Clinical significance of p53, nm23, and bcl-2 in T3-4N1M0 oesophageal carcinoma: an immunohistochemical approach.

Background And Objective: The purpose of this retrospective study was to test whether the expression of p53, nm23, and bcl-2 in T3-4N1M0 oesophageal carcinoma is associated with patient survival.

Methods: Immunohistochemical localisation of p53, nm23, and bcl-2 was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections (N = 46). The observed range of follow-up period was 0.

Node negative breast carcinoma: hyperprolactinemia and/or overexpression of p53 as an independent predictor of poor prognosis compared to newer and established prognosticators.

The purpose of this study was to investigate a prognostic indicator that can differentiate node negative breast cancer patients (N = 39, T2N0M0) with high risk and low risk for the development of recurrence or metastases. Preoperative plasma prolactin (PRL) was estimated by radioimmunoassay. The expression of PRL, p53, nm23, and c-erbB2 was investigated by immunohistochemical (IHC) localization; cathepsin D (CD, Enzyme Linked Sorbant Assay) and estrogen- and progesterone-receptors (ER and PR, Dextran coated charcoal method) were estimated in the tumor cytosols.