Impact of toll-like receptor 4 variations on nasopharyngeal carcinoma risk and survival in tunisian population.

Introduction: The Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), an important member of the host's innate immune response, is coded by a polymorphic gene. This polymorphism could be a predisposing factor for NasoPharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC).

Aim: To determine the association between TLR4 gene polymorphisms and the susceptibility to NPC in a cohort of Tunisian affected patients.

Concurrent NRAS-BRAF variants in metastatic colorectal cancer: a Tunisian case report.

Target therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer needs the determination of KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF mutation status to identify patients resistant to anti-EGFR treatment. RAS genes (KRAS/NRAS) are mutated in 40-60% of metastatic colorectal cancer and BRAF in 5-10%. The presence of a double mutation in RAS and BRAF is rare.

Matrix metalloproteinase 3 and 9 as genetic biomarkers for the occurrence of cardiovascular complications in coronary artery disease: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are widely expressed in atherosclerosis lesions. The disequilibrium of MMPs driving to an overexpression or a lack of its level can be influenced by genetic variations. MMP-3 and MMP-9 may be affected by specific polymorphisms like - 1612 5 A/6A and the - 1562 C/T respectively.

Tumor DNA hypomethylation of LINE-1 is associated with low tumor grade of breast cancer in Tunisian patients.

DNA hypomethylation of long interspersed repetitive DNA retrotransposon (LINE-1) and Alu repeats elements of short interspersed elements family (SINEs) is an early event in carcinogenesis that causes transcriptional activation and leads to chromosomal instability. In the current study, DNA methylation levels of LINE-1 and Alu repeats were analyzed in tumoral tissues of invasive breast cancer in a Tunisian cohort and its association with the clinicopathological features of patients was defined. DNA methylation of LINE-1 and Alu repeats were analyzed using pyrosequencing in 61 invasive breast cancers.

MICA-129 Met/Val polymorphism could be a genetic biomarker for Familial Breast Cancer in the Tunisian population.

Identification of candidate genes associated with susceptibility of breast cancer can have a significant impact at a cancer management national healthcare systems level, making genetic testing more affordable and cost-effective. We have previously shown that the major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A (MICA) was related to breast cancer and plays an important role in modulating immune response mechanisms through NKG2D receptor activation. Compared to our previous study, in this work, we recruited a new cohort composed of 354 unrelated Tunisian women affected by breast cancer and 380 age-matched women as controls, all genotyped for MICA-129 Met/Val (rs 1051792).

Association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein with susceptibility to Schizophrenia in Tunisian population.

The pathogenic mechanisms underlying Schizophrenia (SZ), one of the most frequent mental disorders, are complex and poorly understood. Several evidences suggest that inflammatory processes may underpin some of its neurobiological correlates. The aim of this study was: (i) to analyze the potential association between circulating levels of the C-reactive protein (CRP), a crucial inflammatory marker, and Schizophrenia in Tunisian patients and healthy controls (HC) cohorts; (ii) to investigate the genetic diversity of three CRP variants (rs1417938, rs1130864 and rs1205) and; (iii) to analyze a potential relationship between expression and genetic data and clinical and socio demographical characteristics.

Soluble MICA and anti-MICA Antibodies as Biomarkers of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Disease.

The MHC class I chain-related molecule A (MICA) is a ligand for the activating natural killer (NK) cell receptor NKG2D. A part from its genetic diversity, MICA is characterized by the presence of membrane-bound and soluble isoform (sMICA) and by the propensity to elicit antibody-mediated allogeneicity (MICA Abs). Altogether such properties are important in the cancer setting.

A genome-wide RNAi screen reveals essential therapeutic targets of breast cancer stem cells.

Therapeutic resistance is a major clinical challenge in oncology. Evidence identifies cancer stem cells (CSCs) as a driver of tumor evolution. Accordingly, the key stemness property unique to CSCs may represent a reservoir of therapeutic target to improve cancer treatment.

The Impact of 3'UTR Polymorphisms in Breast Cancer in a Tunisian Population.

Human leukocyte antigens G and E (HLA-G and HLA-E) are nonclassical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. These molecules play an important role in immune surveillance by inhibiting natural killer and cytotoxic T cells responsible for immune escape. The expression of HLA-G and HLA-E has been associated with several diseases including tumor.

MDM2 344T>A polymorphism; could it be a predictive marker of anthracycline resistance?

Purpose: To find a possible association between the Mouse Double Minute 2(MDM2) 344T>A, alone and in combination with p53 72 Arg/Pro polymorphism, and resistance to anthracycline-based chemotherapy of breast cancer in Tunisia.

Methods: This study enrolled 542 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood, using the phenol chloroform method.

Are HLA-E*0103 alleles predictive markers for nasopharyngeal cancer risk?

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a particular entity of head neck cancer, tightly related to Epstein-Barr virus infection and thus to HLA genes. In this study, we aimed to analyze HLA-E polymorphism in NPC advent and prognosis. 130 unrelated patients with CNP and 180 unrelated and healthy controls were included in our study.

[Genetic polymorphism of cytochrome P450 2E1 and the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) is a detoxifying enzyme that belongs to the phase I metabolism of xenobiotics. This enzyme is encoded by a highly polymorphic gene whose common polymorphism corresponds to the substitution of cytosine (C) and thymine (T) at position -1019 (rs2031920). This polymorphism has been identified in several cancers including nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC).

Evaluation of the long-term cost-effectiveness of liraglutide therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes in France.

Objectives: The present study aimed to compare the projected long-term clinical and cost implications associated with liraglutide, sitagliptin and glimepiride in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus failing to achieve glycemic control on metformin monotherapy in France.

Methods: Clinical input data for the modeling analysis were taken from two randomized, controlled trials (LIRA-DPP4 and LEAD-2). Long-term (patient lifetime) projections of clinical outcomes and direct costs (2013 Euros; €) were made using a validated computer simulation model of type 2 diabetes.

Role of p53 Codon72 SNP in breast cancer risk and anthracycline resistance.

Background/aim: We undertook a case-control and a case-case study to examine the possible association of p53 codon72 polymorphism with the breast cancer risk and resistance to anthracycline-based chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Case-control study: This study enrolled 175 patients with breast cancer treated at the Salah Aziez Institute and 159 healthy Tunisian women (matched for age, ethnicity and origin), used as a control, with no clinical evidence of any neoplastic disorder. Case-Case study: 400 breast cancer patients, with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) treated with anthracycline based-chemotherapy.

Polymorphisms in oxidative stress-related genes are associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma susceptibility.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a complex multifactorial disorder involving both genetic and environmental factors. Polymorphisms of genes encoding nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and antioxidant glutathione-S transferases (GSTs) have been associated with various tumors. We examined the combined role of NOS3, NOS2 and GST polymorphisms in NPC risk in Tunisians.

The CC-genotype of the cyclooxygenase-2 gene associates with decreased risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a Tunisian population.

Background: The cyclooxygenase-2 (cox-2) pathway is now recognized to be important in human cancer development and progression. The gene for cox-2 carries a common single nucleotide polymorphism, T8473C, located within a potential functional region in the 3'-UTR of cox-2 gene was identified. We have investigated the frequencies of cox-2 genotypes in Tunisian population to determine whether that polymorphism was associated with the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in Tunisian population.

[Immunogenetics of nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a complex multifactorial disorder involving both genetic and environmental factors. Genetic predisposition linked to the immune system has been associated with various tumors. This involves genetic diversity of the genes encoding the molecules of the immune response such as inflammation and anti-tumor surveillance.

[Phenotypic and molecular changes of hemoglobinopathies in cancer].

Background: The abnormalities of the haemoglobin divide into qualitative abnormalities and quantitative abnormalities. This variant contains polymorphisms often useful as markers of population. At present more than 693 types of abnormal haemoglobin are listed.

Association of IL-12p40 +1188 A/C polymorphism with nasopharyngeal cancer risk and tumor extension.

The interleukin 12 (IL-12) cytokine, encoded by polymorphic genes, plays a central role in the T helper 1 cell-mediated immunity against tumors. We investigated whether the 3' untranslated region +1188 A/C polymorphism (rs 3212227) influences the nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) risk in Tunisian patients. DNA analysis of 247 patients and 284 healthy individuals showed a higher frequency of the 1188 C allele and the CC genotype in patients than in controls (P = 0.

Association of MICA-129 polymorphism with nasopharyngeal cancer risk in a Tunisian population.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related A (MICA) molecules mediate natural killer (NK) cell activation and T lymphocyte co-stimulation. A polymorphic methionine (met) to valine (val) variation at amino acid position 129 of the alpha2 heavy chain domain is in linkage disequilibrium with other allelic changes and seems to categorize MICA alleles into strong and weak binder of NKG2D receptor and thereby to influence effector cell function. We investigated here whether MICA-129 dimorphism is associated with susceptibility to/or resistance against developing nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC).

[Biological investigation of thyroid cancer].

Thyroid carcinomas represent the most common endocrine malignancy, and several biological markers are proposed according to the different types of this cancer: for papillary cancer, thyroglobulin constitutes an excellent prognostic factor and rearrangements of ret oncogene can be useful in diagnosis. In sporadic medullary carcinoma, calcitonin is a diagnosis marker of choice, and coupled with ACE, can prevent relapse. Regarding familial medullary carcinoma, mutation screening in ret oncogene leads to early detection of new cases.

[Nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Tunisian children: retrospective epidemiological, clinical and biological study about 48 cases].

Objective: Report epidemiological, clinical and biological aspects of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Tunisian children.

Patients And Methods: Our retrospective study from 1994 to 2001 included all children treated for nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the Salah Azaïz Cancer Institute of Tunis. Initial investigation consisted of ENT and general examination, nasopharyngeal CT-scan, abdominal echography, chest X-ray and bone scintigraphy.

[The C677T polymorphism in the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase gene among Tunisian population].

The 5,10 methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is an enzyme that catalyzes the irreversible reduction of 5,10 methylene tetrahydrofolate into 5 methyl tetrahydrofolate. It is coded by a gene where several polymorphisms have been identified. The most common is the C677T polymorphism described as presenting an heterogeneous worldwide distribution and associated with different disorders such as cardiovascular and cancerous diseases.