Association of V600E Mutant Allele Proportion with the Dissemination Stage of Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

The early identification of aggressive forms of cancer is of high importance in treating papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Disease dissemination is a major factor influencing patient survival. Mutation status of oncogene, V600E, is proposed to be an indicator of disease recurrence; however, its influence on PTC dissemination has not been deciphered.

Association of oral behaviours and psychological factors with selected genotypes in pain-related TMD.

Objectives: To investigate frequency of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in pain-related temporomandibular disorders (TMDp) and to determine whether specific SNPs, psychological, psychosomatic and behavioural characteristics are predictive for pain existence and intensity (low pain intensity (LPI)/high pain intensity (HPI)).

Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from buccal mucosa swabs (85 TMDp;85 controls) for evaluating frequency of selected SNPs: catechol-O-methyltransferase (rs4680, rs4818), opiorphin (rs1387964), alpha subunit of voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.1 (rs6432860) and voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.

Oxidative Stress and Cancer Heterogeneity Orchestrate NRF2 Roles Relevant for Therapy Response.

Oxidative stress and its end-products, such as 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), initiate activation of the Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (NRF2)/Kelch Like ECH Associated Protein 1 (KEAP1) signaling pathway that plays a crucial role in the maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis. However, an involvement of 4-HNE and NRF2 in processes associated with the initiation of cancer, its progression, and response to therapy includes numerous, highly complex events. They occur through interactions between cancer and stromal cells.

Genetics of Prostate Carcinoma.

The aim of this review is to provide a brief overview of some current approaches regarding diagnostics, pathologic features, treatment, and genetics of prostate carcinoma (PCa). Prostate carcinoma is the most common visceral tumor and the second most common cancer-related cause of death in males. Clinical outcomes for patients with localized prostate cancer are excellent, but despite advances in prostate cancer treatments, castrate-resistant prostate cancer and metastatic prostate cancer patients have a poor prognosis.

Nutritional Stress in Head and Neck Cancer Originating Cell Lines: The Sensitivity of the NRF2-NQO1 Axis.

Nutritional stress disturbs the cellular redox-status, which is characterized by the increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The NRF2-NQO1 axis represents a protective mechanism against ROS. Its strength is cell type-specific.

Polycomb repressive complex's evolutionary conserved function: the role of EZH2 status and cellular background.

When assembled in multiprotein polycomb repressive complexes (PRCs), highly evolutionary conserved polycomb group (PcG) proteins epigenetically control gene activity. Although the composition of PRCs may vary considerably, it is well established that the embryonic ectoderm development (EED) 1, suppressor of zeste (SUZ) 12, and methyltransferase enhancer of zeste (EZH2)-containing complex, PRC2, which is abundant in highly proliferative cells (including cancer cells), establishes a repressive methylation mark on histone 3 (H3K27me3). From the perspective of molecular cancer pathogenesis, this effect, when directed towards a promoter of tumor suppressor genes, represents pro-tumorigenic effect.

1,4-Dihydropyridine Derivatives: Dihydronicotinamide Analogues-Model Compounds Targeting Oxidative Stress.

Many 1,4-dihydropyridines (DHPs) possess redox properties. In this review DHPs are surveyed as protectors against oxidative stress (OS) and related disorders, considering the DHPs as specific group of potential antioxidants with bioprotective capacities. They have several peculiarities related to antioxidant activity (AOA).

Expression of sirtuin 1 and 2 is associated with poor prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Background: Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) are NAD+-dependent protein deacetylases involved in the regulation of key cancer-associated genes. In this study we evaluated the relevance of these deacetylases in lung cancer biology.

Material And Methods: Protein levels of SIRT1 and SIRT2 were determined in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines and primary tumors from 105 patients.

Pyridine nucleotides in regulation of cell death and survival by redox and non-redox reactions.

Changes of the level and ratios of pyridine nucleotides determine metabolism- dependent cellular redox status and the activity of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) and sirtuins, thereby influencing several processes closely related to cell survival and death. Pyridine nucleotides participate in numerous metabolic reactions whereby their net cellular level remains constant, but the ratios of NAD+/NADP+ and NADH/NADPH oscillate according to metabolic changes in response to diverse stress signals. In non-redox reactions, NAD+ is degraded and quickly, afterward, resynthesized in the NAD+ salvage pathway, unless overwhelming activation of PARP-1 consumes NAD+ to the point of no return, when the cell can no longer generate enough ATP to accommodate NAD+ resynthesis.

Possible prognostic value of BORIS transcript variants ratio in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas - a pilot study.

BORIS is a paralog of a highly conserved, multi-functional chromatin factor CTCF. Unlike CTCF, which has been shown to possess tumor-suppressive properties, BORIS belongs to the "cancer/testis antigen" family normally expressed only in germ cells and aberrantly activated in a variety of tumors. The consequences of BORIS expression, relative abundance of its isoforms, and its role in carcinogenesis have not been completely elucidated.

Bond dissociation free energy as a general parameter for flavonoid radical scavenging activity.

Notwithstanding multiple mechanisms of radical scavenging (RS), measured RS activities (RSA) of flavonoids are usually related to O-H bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE) for hydrogen atom transfer (HAT). For 12 flavonoids the reaction free energies were calculated for: (1) HAT, (2) single electron transfer-proton transfer (SET-PT) and (3) sequential proton loss electron transfer (SPLET) in gas and aqueous phases. Aqueous free energies, like bond dissociation (BDFEaq), ionisation (IFEaq) and deprotonation (ΔGdeprot,aq) free energies were estimated using thermochemical cycles.

Even stressed cells are individuals: second messengers of free radicals in pathophysiology of cancer.

Pathophysiological processes associated with disturbances in cell and tissue oxidative homeostasis, are associated with self-catalyzed process of lipid peroxidation. The end products of lipid peroxidation are reactive aldehydes such as 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), acting as "second messengers of free radicals." Although reactive aldehydes were first recognized only as cytotoxic, new evidence has come to light, related to their cell growth regulatory functions achieved through cell signaling.

Absence of Helicobacter pylori in healthy laryngeal mucosa.

Objectives: To evaluate the presence of Helicobacter pylori in healthy laryngeal mucosa.

Design: Prospective analysis of Helicobacter pylori colonisation in healthy laryngeal mucosa, using the 13C urea breath test and polymerase chain reaction analysis.

Subjects: Twenty randomly chosen men (28-78 years) without laryngeal pathology or gastrointestinal disease were investigated.

Influence of 4-hydroxynonenal and spleen cells on primary hepatocyte culture and a novel liver-derived cell line resembling hepatocyte stem cells.

Liver is a unique mammalian organ with a great capacity of regeneration related to its function. After surgical resection or injury, hepatic cells, especially hepatocytes, can proliferate rapidly to repair the damage and to regenerate the structure without affecting the function of the liver. Loss of catalase activity during regeneration indicates that oxidative stress is present in the liver not only in pathological conditions but also as a 'physiological' factor during regeneration.

Mannose-6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor (M6P/IGF2R) in carcinogenesis.

The cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor (M6P/IGF2R) is a multifunctional receptor. It is involved in a variety of cellular processes which become dysregulated in cancer. Its tumor suppressor role was recognized a long time ago.

Loss of imprinting of IGF2 and H19, loss of heterozygosity of IGF2R and CTCF, and Helicobacter pylori infection in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Imprinting analyses of IGF2 and H19, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analyses of IGF2R and CTCF and Helicobacter pylori detection, were performed on 35 human laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCC). Forty-six percent of the tumors were heterozygous for IGF2, and 54% were informative for the H19. Biallelic expression of IGF2 was observed in 33% (5 out of 15) of the tumors and in 27% (4 out of 15) of adjacent non-tumorous laryngeal tissues.

Analysis of selected genes in neuroendocrine tumours: insulinomas and phaeochromocytomas.

Insulinomas and phaeochromocytomas are neuroendocrine tumours that may be either sporadic or manifestation of a familial cancer syndromes and are both derived from the neural crest. In the present study, gene components of different signalling pathways were investigated in sporadic human insulinomas and phaeochromocytomas to identify the responsible candidates. Ret and k-ras were tested for activating point mutations, and NF1, p53, BRCA1, nm23-H1, SDHB and SDHD for loss of heterozygosity (LOH).

Curcumin downregulates H19 gene transcription in tumor cells.

Curcumin (diferuloymethane), a natural compound used in traditional medicine, exerts an antiproliferative effect on various tumor cell lines by an incompletely understood mechanism. It has been shown that low doses of curcumin downregulate DNA topoisomerase II alpha (TOP2A) which is upregulated in many malignances. The activity of TOP2A is required for RNA polymerase II transcription on chromatin templates.

Downstream targets of Nm23-H1: gene expression profiling of CAL 27 cells using DNA microarray.

The human nm23-H1 was discovered as a tumor metastasis suppressor based on its reduced expression in melanoma cell lines with low versus high metastatic potential. It encodes for one of two subunits of the nucleoside-diphosphate kinase. Besides its role in the maintenance of the cells NTP pool, nm23 plays a key role in different cellular processes.

A clinoptilolite effect on cell media and the consequent effects on tumor cells in vitro.

Clinoptilolite is a nontoxic natural zeolite with properties of an ion-exchanger and adsorbent. Earlier studies showed that clinoptilolite could be an adjuvant in cancer therapy. The aim of this study was to define effects of clinoptilolite in cell media on cell viability and activity of key proteins regulating cell survival, cell division and stress response.

Loss of imprinting and promoter usage of the IGF2 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

The gene for insulin-like growth factor two, IGF2 is maternally imprinted. Fifteen heterozygous samples were analyzed for the IGF2 imprinting status and promoter usage. IGF2 LOI was detected in four non-tumorous tissues and in six laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) tumors.