Polymorphisms in the apoptotic pathway gene BCL-2 and survival in small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: We investigated the single-nucleotide polymorphism C-938A in the apoptotic gene BCL-2 to assess the potential impact as a genetic marker for response to chemotherapy and outcome prediction in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. Such a marker might help optimize lung cancer treatment in a tailored approach.

Methods: DNA derived from peripheral blood lymphocytes of 188 Caucasian SCLC patients treated at the Thoraxklinik Heidelberg was genotyped.

Constitutive mRNA expression of DNA repair-related genes as a biomarker for clinical radio-resistance: A pilot study in prostate cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.

Purpose: Repair of radiation-induced DNA damage is believed to play a critical role in the development of adverse reactions in radiotherapy patients. Constitutive mRNA expression of repair genes was investigated in such patients to analyze whether expression patterns are predictive for therapy-related acute side effects.

Materials And Methods: Prostate cancer patients (n = 406) receiving intensity-modulated radiotherapy were recruited in a prospective epidemiological study.

Gene expression profiles in rat liver slices exposed to hepatocarcinogenic enzyme inducers, peroxisome proliferators, and 17alpha-ethinylestradiol.

Transcription profiling is used as an in vivo method for predicting the mode-of-action class of nongenotoxic carcinogens. To set up a reliable in vitro short-term test system DNA microarray technology was combined with rat liver slices. Seven compounds known to act as tumor promoters were selected, which included the enzyme inducers phenobarbital, alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane, and cyproterone acetate; the peroxisome proliferators WY-14,643, dehydroepiandrosterone, and ciprofibrate; and the hormone 17alpha-ethinylestradiol.