Preservation of HUGL-1 expression as a favourable prognostic factor in pancreatic carcinoma.

Aim: The expression of the human homologue of Drosophila tumour suppressor gene lgl (HUGL-1) in pancreatic cancer was retrospectively assessed in 97 patients with surgically treated pancreatic cancer in order to correlate the HUGL-1 profile with patients' survival.

Materials And Methods: Immunohistochemistry was performed on 4-μm-thick paraffin sections from representative tumour blocks using a standard protocol. The expression of HUGL-1 was evaluated semiquantitatively as negative (0), weak (1), medium (2) or strong (3).

IFN-alpha-induced apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma involves promyelocytic leukemia protein and TRAIL independently of p53.

IFNs are pleiotropic cytokines that have been shown to be important regulators of cell growth. IFN-alpha has recently been recognized to harbor therapeutic potential in prevention and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, HCC cells respond differentially to IFN treatment, the mechanism of which is largely unknown.

Bcl-x(L) and Myeloid cell leukaemia-1 contribute to apoptosis resistance of colorectal cancer cells.

Aim: To explore the role of Bcl-x(L) and Myeloid cell leukaemia (Mcl)-1 for the apoptosis resistance of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells towards current treatment modalities.

Methods: Bcl-x(L) and Mcl-1 mRNA and protein expression were analyzed in CRC cell lines as well as human CRC tissue by Western blot, quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry. Bcl-x(L) and Mcl-1 protein expression was knocked down or increased in CRC cell lines by applying specific siRNAs or expression plasmids, respectively.

The human protein Hugl-1 substitutes for Drosophila lethal giant larvae tumour suppressor function in vivo.

Drosophila lethal giant larvae: (lgl), discs large (dlg) and scribble (scrib) are tumour suppressor genes acting in a common pathway, whose loss of function leads to disruption of cell polarity and tissue architecture, uncontrolled proliferation and growth of neoplastic lesions. Mammalian homologues of these genes are highly conserved and evidence is emerging concerning their role in cell proliferation control and tumorigenesis in humans. Here we investigate the functional conservation between Drosophila lethal giant larvae and its human homologue Hugl-1(Llgl1).

Prognostic value of disseminated colorectal tumor cells in the liver: results of follow-up examinations.

Background And Aims: Dissemination of tumor cells is an initial step in metastatic disease. Detection of disseminated tumor cells (DTC) in blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes has been associated with reduced disease-free survival, but to date there are no data for hepatic DTC. We investigated the prognostic relevance of hepatic DTC that are present in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) at the time of surgery.

Hepatic disseminated tumor cells in colorectal cancer UICC stage 4 patients: prognostic implications.

Approximately 30-50% of all colorectal cancer patients with a resectable primary tumor will subsequently develop metastatic disease due to tumor cell dissemination. In the case of limited solid hepatic metastasis, resection of the primary tumor and the respective hepatic metastasis can be curative. Our aim was to evaluate the incidence of hepatic DTC in patients with solid liver metastasis and to describe their prognostic impact.