lncRNA NORAD modulates STAT3/STAT1 balance and innate immune responses in human cells via interaction with STAT3.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are pivotal regulators of cellular processes. Here we reveal an interaction between the lncRNA NORAD, noted for its role in DNA stability, and the immune related transcription factor STAT3 in embryonic and differentiated human cells. Results from NORAD knockdown experiments implicate NORAD in facilitating STAT3 nuclear localization and suppressing antiviral gene activation.

Detecting significant expression patterns in single-cell and spatial transcriptomics with a flexible computational approach.

Gene expression data holds the potential to shed light on multiple biological processes at once. However, data analysis methods for single cell sequencing mostly focus on finding cell clusters or the principal progression line of the data. Data analysis for spatial transcriptomics mostly addresses clustering and finding spatially variable genes.

Exploring multisite heterogeneity of human basal cell carcinoma proteome and transcriptome.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer. Due to multiple, potential underlying molecular tumor aberrations, clinical treatment protocols are not well-defined. This study presents multisite molecular heterogeneity profiles of human BCC based on RNA and proteome profiling.

Estimation of coronary stenosis severity based on flow distribution ratios.

We suggest improving minimally-invasive stenosis severity estimation, using a combination of existing geometry-based methods with Transluminal Attenuation Gradient measurements. Instead of local flow values, the method uses flow distribution ratios along the entire tree. The tree geometry is used to derive a lumped model and predict the 'theoretical' ratios in each bifurcation, while attenuation measurements are used for extracting 'actual' ratios.

Comparative Analysis of Normalization Methods for Network Propagation.

Network propagation is a central tool in biological research. While a number of variants and normalizations have been proposed for this method, each has its own shortcomings and no large scale assessment of those variants is available. Here we propose a novel normalization method for network propagation that is based on evaluating the propagation results against those obtained on randomized networks that preserve node degrees.

Quantitative mass spectrometry analysis reveals a panel of nine proteins as diagnostic markers for colon adenocarcinomas.

Adenocarcinomas are cancers originating from the gland forming cells of the colon and rectal lining, and are known to be the most common type of colorectal cancers. The current diagnosis strategies for colorectal cancers include biopsy, laboratory tests, and colonoscopy which are time consuming. Identification of protein biomarkers could aid in the detection of colon adenocarcinomas (CACs).

WebPropagate: A Web Server for Network Propagation.

Network propagation is a powerful tool for genetic analysis which is widely used to identify genes and genetic modules that underlie a process of interest. Here we provide a graphical, web-based platform (http://anat.cs.

New ARCHITECT plasma pro-gastrin-releasing peptide assay for diagnosing and monitoring small-cell lung cancer.

Background: Progastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP) is a potential marker for small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) in serum; however, it may be more stable in plasma. We investigated a new plasma assay (ProGRPp) and its usefulness in diagnosing and monitoring SCLC.

Methods: The marker concentrations were determined on the ARCHITECT i system.

Preferences for disclosure of disease related information among thoracic cancer patients.

Objective: Cancer patients in developed countries increasingly express a preference for more detailed information and involvement in decisions about their care. However, data is sparse and conflicting on preferences of ethnic minorities and immigrants. We aimed to identify preferences for illness related information and correlates with clinical characteristics among patients with thoracic cancers.

Serum thymidine kinase 1 activity in the prognosis and monitoring of chemotherapy in lung cancer patients: a brief report.

Introduction: Thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) is a metabolic enzyme involved in DNA synthesis. Most standard treatment protocols for lung cancer (LC) include cytotoxic agents, which are potential modulators of TK1. We aimed to assess the prognostic significance of serum TK1 activity and its role in monitoring chemotherapy in LC patients.

EGFR mutation testing practice in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Testing tumor samples for the presence of a mutation in the epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene is recommended for advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We aimed to collect data about common practice among Medical Oncologists treating lung cancer patients, regarding EGFR mutation testing in advanced NSCLC patients.

Methods: An internet-based survey was conducted among members of the Israeli Society for Clinical Oncology and Radiotherapy involved in the treatment of lung cancer patients.

The diagnostic and prognostic value of ProGRP in lung cancer.

Aim: To investigate the diagnostic and prognostic significance of pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP) in non-small cell (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and compare this marker with other known serum markers in lung cancer.

Patients And Methods: Serum levels of ProGRP, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), CYFRA 21-1 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were measured in 37 patients with benign pulmonary disease (BPD), 88 with advanced NSCLC and 37 with SCLC.

Results: The ProGRP assay showed a better clinical performance than that of NSE in discriminating between SCLC and BPD or NSCLC, especially at specificity higher than 90%.

Prognostic role of serum cytokeratin 19 fragments in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: association of marker changes after two chemotherapy cycles with different measures of clinical response and survival.

Prognostic implication of serum cytokeratin 19 fragments (CYFRA 21-1) was explored in 60 advanced NSCLC patients, whereas in 45 patients assessable for serological response a >or=35% CYFRA 21-1 decline after two chemotherapy cycles was strongly associated with non-progression (NP), defined as a sum of objective response (OR)+stable disease (P<0.0001) and survival (P=0.0002).

Phase II study of cisplatin, epirubicin, UFT, and leucovorin (PELUF) as first-line chemotherapy in metastatic gastric cancer.

More than two-thirds of patients with gastric cancer present with metastatic disease and their curative options are limited. This phase II study assessed the efficacy and tolerability of cisplatin, epirubicin, tegafur-uracil (UFT) and leucovorin in patients with metastatic gastric cancer (MGC). Thirty-nine patients with previously untreated metastatic or unresectable gastric cancer received intravenous cisplatin 60 mg/m2 and epirubicin 50 mg/m2 on day 1 of a 28-day cycle; UFT 300 mg/m2 was administered with oral leucovorin 30 mg/day in divided doses on days 1-22, followed by a 7-day rest.

The prognostic significance of circulating neuroendocrine markers chromogranin a, pro-gastrin-releasing peptide and neuron-specific enolase in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: Chromogranin A (CGA), Pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) are known as immunohistochemical tissue markers closely associated with neuroendocrine differentiation in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The aim of the present study was to assess the value of serum levels of these markers in predicting response to chemotherapy and survival of patients with unresectable NSCLC.

Methods: The study included 67 patients with advanced NSCLC treated with chemotherapy.

Targeting pulmonary metastases of renal cell carcinoma by inhalation of interleukin-2.

Introduction: Pulmonary metastases of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are associated with poor prognosis. Inhalation therapy with interleukin-2 (IL-2) is thus an appealing method for palliation. This multicenter study summarizes the national experience of IL-2 inhalation in patients with lung metastases of RCC.

No association of the I1307K APC allele with ovarian cancer risk in Ashkenazi Jews.

Familial adenomatous polyposis is a dominantly inherited colon cancer syndrome associated with germ-line mutations in the APC tumor suppressor gene. An APC gene sequence alteration, the I1307K allele, occurs in 6% of the Ashkenazi Jewish population and is reported to double the risk for colorectal cancer. We screened a population of 190 Ashkenazi women who were diagnosed with epithelial ovarian carcinoma for the I1307K variant and measured the effect of this allele on the risk for cancer development in their first-degree relatives.

Unsuspected uterine leiomyosarcoma discovered during treatment with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue: a case report and literature review.

We report a case of a 37-year-old woman who had received five courses of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist (Decapeptyl) for presumed uterine leiomyomata associated with episodes of uterine bleeding. Submucous myoma (histologically proven) was partially removed on the first visit. After a period of significant reduction in the tumor size and cessation of uterine bleeding, the symptoms recurred along with rapid re-growth of the uterus.

Hyperestrogenemia and presence of estrogen receptors associated with an epithelial ovarian tumor of low malignant potential.

An 80-year-old woman presented with breast congestion, tenderness and pain. Mammography was normal. Circulating estradiol was markedly elevated, while LH and FSH were low.

H19 expression and tumorigenicity of choriocarcinoma derived cell lines.

Certain embryonal tumors demonstrate a loss of heterozygosity at the parentally imprinted region of chromosome 11p15.5. It has been hypothesized that this implicates a tumor suppressor gene at this locus.

Plasma platinum elimination in a hemodialysis patient treated with cisplatin.

The pharmacokinetics of intravenously administrated cisplatin (CDDP) were studied in a patient with meduloblastoma receiving regular hemodialysis for chronic renal failure. The patient received four CDDP infusions of 25 mg/m2 in two courses and underwent hemodialysis before each treatment and in intervals of 48 h thereafter with blood sampling at the beginning and the end of each hemodialysis. The data obtained were compared with the pharmacokinetic data from follow-up studies of 19 CDDP treatments in 15 patients suffering from various malignancies with no renal failure where a biexponential pharmacokinetic curve was recorded.

On the oncodevelopmental role of human imprinted genes.

Genome imprinting has an essential role in normal embryonal mammalian development. Starting early in differentiation, the transcripts of certain human genes, e.g.