EGFR soluble isoforms and their transcripts are expressed in meningiomas.

The EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) is involved in the oncogenesis of many tumors. In addition to the full-length EGFR (isoform a), normal and tumor cells produce soluble EGFR isoforms (sEGFR) that lack the intracellular domain. sEGFR isoforms b, c and d are encoded by EGFR variants 2 (v2), 3 (v3) and 4 (v4) mRNA resulting from gene alternative splicing.

Adult diffuse gliomas produce mRNA transcripts encoding EGFR isoforms lacking a tyrosine kinase domain.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene encodes four alternatively spliced mRNA, variants 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, encoding the whole isoform a (EGFR) and truncated isoforms b, c and d, all of which lack the receptor's intracellular domain. In addition, a mutant EGFRvIII differs from isoform a in a truncated extracellular domain. The expression pattern of these isoforms is unknown in adult diffuse gliomas.

Expression of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) in T lymphocytes.

5-Lipoxygenase (5-LOX) is the key enzyme responsible for the synthesis of the biologically active leukotrienes. Its presence has been reported in cells of the myeloid lineage and B lymphocytes but has not been formally defined in T lymphocytes. In this study, we provide evidence for 5-LOX expression on both transcriptional and translational levels in highly purified peripheral blood T cells as well as in human T lymphoblastoid cell lines (MOLT4 and Jurkat).

Gene expression of HIF-1alpha and XRCC4 measured in human samples by real-time RT-PCR using the sigmoidal curve-fitting method.

Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) has become an important tool for studying functional gene expression. However the most often used cycle threshold (CT)-based method, primarily related to the required amplification efficiency determination via serial dilution, can call into question the level of quantitative reliability and accuracy that can be achieved, in addition to the impracticalities inherent to CT-based methodologies. In this study, an alternative method, named the sigmoidal curve-fitting (SCF) method, was compared with the classic CT method for two target genes (XRCC4 and HIF-1alpha) and a reference gene (HPRT).

Logistic regression model of the clinical response to 5-fluorouracil based chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer patients.

Several genes have been involved in drug resistance but none are currently used in the drug decision process. To address this problem, mRNA levels were measured for the 5-fluorouracil metabolism-related genes, thymidylate synthase, thymidine phosphorylase and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase in tumor samples of 40 patients with synchronous metastatic colon cancer by quantitative RT-PCR. Drug response and overall survival were also obtained for each patient.

VEGFR-3, VEGF-C and VEGF-D mRNA quantification by RT-PCR in different human cell types.

The molecular events favoring lymphangiogenic pathways for tumor growth and dissemination are not perfectly understood, nor are the expression patterns of lymphangiogenic biomarkers such as the VEGFR-3 receptor and its ligands, VEGF-C and VEGF-D. In particular, VEGFR-3 expression is not restricted to the lymphatic endothelium, but is found on some cancer cells and other cell types. A quantitative RT-PCR method was set up to measure the mRNA levels of VEGFR-3, VEGF-C and VEGF-D.

A quantitative RT-PCR method to determine topoisomerase I mRNA levels in human tissue samples.

DNA topoisomerase I (Topo I) is involved in DNA replication, transcription, recombination and repair. Clinical interest has focused on Topo I as it is the molecular target of camptothecin (CPT), used in first and second lines of treatment for different cancer types. Furthermore, it is well demonstrated that the patients who best responded to CPT-based chemotherapy were generally those with the greatest tumoral Topo I expression and/or activity.

Overexpression of human GPX1 modifies Bax to Bcl-2 apoptotic ratio in human endothelial cells.

As they scavenge reactive oxygen species, antioxidants were studied for their ability to interfere with apoptotic processes. However, their mechanisms of action remain unclear. In this study, we measured the expression of two Bcl-2 family members, Bax and Bcl-2, in a human endothelial like cell-line overexpressing the organic hydroperoxide-scavenging enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPX1), in the absence of any apoptotic/oxidant stimulus.

PHGPx overexpression induces an increase in COX-2 activity in colon carcinoma cells.

Background: Lipid peroxidation is a constant problem that eukaryotic cells have to face. Glutathione peroxidases (GPx) are among the most effective systems that protect cells from hydroperoxide toxicity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between GPx and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), implicated in cancer pathogenesis, particularly in colon cancer cells.