Similarities and differences in gene expression profiles of methylated and mutated epithelial ovarian cancers.

Introduction: methylated () epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a recently defined and not well-investigated subset of neoplasms. To date, no studies have focused on the transcriptional profiles of cases, and, as a matter of fact, we still do not know if this subset of EOCs is similar, and to what extent, to mutated () cases.

Methods: We compared a group of 17 cases against 10 cases using a subset of carefully selected 17 EOCs as a control group.

T790M detection rate in lung adenocarcinomas at baseline using droplet digital PCR and validation by ultra-deep next generation sequencing.

Background: Routine testing of baseline T790M mutation may have important clinical impact but many discordant data have been reported regarding the diagnostic, prognostic and predictive role of this marker. In this study we aimed to assess T790M frequency in 164 untreated -mutated NSCLCs using methods with different sensitivity as well as to analyze the relationship between baseline T790M mutation status, patient's clinicopathologic features and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) treatment outcomes.

Methods: We compared the diagnostic performance, sensitivity and specificity of three methods, namely MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS), Allele-Specific Real Time PCR (AS-PCR), droplet digital PCR (ddPCR).

Comprehensive analysis of HPV infection, EGFR exon 20 mutations and LINE1 hypomethylation as risk factors for malignant transformation of sinonasal-inverted papilloma to squamous cell carcinoma.

Different risk factors are suspected to be involved in malignant transformation of sinonasal papillomas and include HPV infection, tobacco smoking, occupational exposure, EGFR/KRAS mutations and DNA methylation alterations. In our study, 25 inverted sinonasal papillomas (ISPs), 5 oncocytic sinonasal papillomas (OSP) and 35 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) from 54 patients were genotyped for 10 genes involved in EGFR signalling. HPV-DNA detection was performed by in-situ hybridisation and LINE-1 methylation was quantitatively determined by bisulphite-pyrosequencing.

Harmonization of values for serum alkaline phosphatase catalytic activity concentration employing commutable calibration materials.

Background: Harmonization of results allows a more effective utilization of laboratory tests; we verified the feasibility of harmonizing serum alkaline phosphatase results by two methods.

Methods: Patient sera (n=106) and candidate calibration materials (n=8) were analyzed by two methods, employing either diethanolamine (DEA) or 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) as phosphate-accepting buffers. Results for patient sera by the DEA method were recalculated, with either a commutable or a non-commutable calibration material, both with values assigned by the AMP method.