Cell cycle genes in ovarian cancer: steps toward earlier diagnosis and novel therapies.

Human malignant tumors are characterized by abnormal proliferation resulting from alterations in cell cycle-regulatory mechanisms. The regulatory pathways controlling cell cycle phases include several oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes that display a range of abnormalities with potential usefulness as markers of evolution or treatment response in ovarian cancer. This review summarizes the current knowledge about these aberrations in malignant tumors of the ovary.

pRb2/p130, vascular endothelial growth factor, p27(KIP1), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression in hepatocellular carcinoma: their clinical significance.

Hepatocarcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer, with more than one million fatalities occurring annually worldwide. Multiple risk factors are associated with HCC disease etiology, the highest incidence being in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus, although other factors such as genetic makeup and environmental exposure are involved. Multiple genetic alterations including the activation of oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes are required for malignancy in human cancers and are correlated with increased stages of carcinogenesis and further tumor progression.

MPA increases idarubicin-induced apoptosis in chronic lymphatic leukaemia cells via caspase-3.

The caspase family of protease is speculated to have a crucial role in apoptosis. The effect of treatment with Idarubicin (IDA) and Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), used alone or in combination, on the activation of Caspase-3 in canine Chronic Lymphatic Leukaemia (CLL) cells was investigated, in order to clarify the mechanism of chemo- and hormone-therapy mediated apoptosis. Caspase activity was determined by a quantitative fluorimetric assay.

Hydrocortisone has a protective effect on CyclosporinA-induced cardiotoxicity.

CyclosporinA (CsA) is an immunosuppressive drug which induces severe adverse effects such as cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. In several therapeutic protocols CsA is used in association with corticosteroids to obtain better therapeutic results. Recently, our studies showed that CsA increases blood pressure while inhibit Nitric Oxide (NO) production in vivo.