Genomic characterization of small cell carcinomas of the uterine cervix.

Small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the uterine cervix is a rare and aggressive form of neuroendocrine carcinoma, which resembles small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in its histology and poor survival rate. Here, we sought to define the genetic underpinning of SCCs of the uterine cervix and compare their mutational profiles with those of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, HPV-positive cervical carcinomas, and SCLCs using publicly available data. Using a combination of whole-exome and targeted massively parallel sequencing, we found that the nine uterine cervix SCCs, which were HPV18-positive (n = 8) or HPV16-positive (n = 1), harbored a low mutation burden, few copy number alterations, and other than TP53 in two cases no recurrently mutated genes.

Assessing HER2 testing quality in breast cancer: variables that influence HER2 positivity rate from a large, multicenter, observational study in Germany.

Despite >10 years of routine human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) testing in breast cancer, testing quality is still an issue. Guidelines recommend assessing HER2 positivity rates as a quality indicator; however, the extent to which patient- or tumor-related factors influence HER2 positivity is still unknown. The present study analyzed these influences to identify pathology centers with HER2 positivity rates unexplained by patient- or tumor-related factors.

Equivocal cytology in lung cancer diagnosis: improvement of diagnostic accuracy using adjuvant multicolor FISH, DNA-image cytometry, and quantitative promoter hypermethylation analysis.

Background: Sometimes, cytological lung cancer diagnosis is challenging because equivocal diagnoses are common. To enhance diagnostic accuracy, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), DNA-image cytometry, and quantitative promoter hypermethylation analysis have been proposed as adjuncts.

Methods: Bronchial washings and/or brushings or transbronchial fine-needle aspiration biopsies were prospectively collected from patients who were clinically suspected of having lung carcinoma.

Case report: extracranial metastasis from gliosarcoma--the influence of immune system.

Extracranial metastasis of malignant glioma is an extremely rare event. We report on a 67-year-old patient with a primary gliosarcoma that was treated by open resection. The concomitant radio-chemotherapy which followed induced an unusually severe and early leucocytopenia.

Methylation assay for the diagnosis of lung cancer on bronchial aspirates: a cohort study.

Purpose: Recent studies have detected aberrant promoter methylation of adenomatous polyposis coli promoter 1 A (APC), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor-2A (p16(INK4a)), retinoic acid receptor beta2, and RAS association domain family protein 1 (RASSF1A) in bronchial aspirates and suggested their use as biomarkers for lung cancer diagnostics. The purpose of this study was to validate these candidate marker genes in a retrospective cohort study.

Experimental Design: Bronchial aspirates collected from a cohort comprising 247 patients with suspected lung cancer were investigated retrospectively regarding aberrant promoter methylation using a quantitative methylation-specific real-time PCR (QMSP).

Paclitaxel/Taxol sensitivity in human renal cell carcinoma is not determined by the p53 status.

In this study, we analyzed the role of the p53 status for paclitaxel/Taxol sensitivity in renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) of the clear cell type. Using immunohistochemistry, nuclear p53 accumulation could not be correlated to the paclitaxel/Taxol sensitivity. DNA sequencing detected a p53 gene mutation in two out of eight RCC cell lines, i.

XIAP expression is an independent prognostic marker in clear-cell renal carcinomas.

Deregulation of apoptosis plays an important role in carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and resistance to chemotherapy. XIAP is considered to be the most potent caspase inhibitor of all known IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis) family members. To explore the relevance of XIAP for progression and prognosis in renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) of the clear-cell type, we analyzed XIAP protein expression in formalin-fixed tissue from 145 clear-cell RCCs by immunohistochemistry.

A pig model of hepatic cryotherapy. In vivo temperature distribution during freezing and histopathological changes.

We aimed to assess the temperature distribution in the cryolesion during hepatic cryotherapy and the association with postoperative histological changes to optimise the technique and allow better preoperative planning. Hepatic cryolesions were produced in 22 pigs following laparotomy using a CMS-cryosystem and 8mm-AccuProbe-Cryoprobes. The temperature was measured in 1 min intervals at different distances from the probe during freezing.

Prognostic implications of CD95 receptor expression in clear cell renal carcinomas.

The CD95 (Apo-1/Fas) receptor-ligand system is a key regulator of apoptosis. Down-regulation of CD95 receptor and up-regulation of CD95 ligand has been reported in a variety of human tumors and is thought to confer a selective survival advantage. To explore the relevance of the CD95 system for tumor progression and prognosis in clear cell renal cell carcinomas (RCCs), we analyzed CD95 receptor and ligand expression in formalin-fixed tissue from 149 clear cell RCCs by immunohistochemistry.

Distinct in vivo expression patterns of survivin splice variants in renal cell carcinomas.

Survivin, a novel member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family, reduces the susceptibility of tumor cells to proapoptotic stimuli, thereby promoting tumor cell survival during tumor progression and treatment with anticancer drugs. Recently, we identified 2 novel alternative splice variants of survivin, survivin-2B and survivin-Delta Ex3, which differ in their antiapoptotic properties. Survivin-2B has lost its antiapoptotic potential and may act as a naturally occurring antagonist of antiapoptotic survivin and survivin-Delta Ex3.

Antitumor activity of protein kinase C inhibitors and cisplatin in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma lines.

Protein kinase C (PKC) plays a pivotal role in signal transduction involved in the control of cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Interference with such signaling pathways may result in altered tumor cell response to antineoplastic drugs. We investigated the effects of two selective PKC inhibitors as single agents and in combination with cisplatin in cell lines derived from squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN).