Loss of progesterone receptor is associated with distinct tyrosine kinase profiles in breast cancer.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess protein tyrosine kinase profiles in primary breast cancer samples in correlation with the distinct hormone and growth receptor profiles ER, PR, and HER2.

Experimental Design: Pamchip® microarrays were used to measure the phosphorylation of 144 tyrosine kinase substrates in 29 ER+ breast cancer samples and cell lines MCF7, BT474 and ZR75-1. mRNA expression data from the METABRIC cohort and publicly available PR chip-sequencing data were used for validation purposes, together with RT-PCR.

Somatic EP300-G211S mutations are associated with overall somatic mutational patterns and breast cancer specific survival in triple-negative breast cancer.

Purpose: We have compared the mutational profiles of human breast cancer tumor samples belonging to all major subgroups with special emphasis on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Our major goal was to identify specific mutations that could be potentially used for clinical decision making in TNBC patients.

Patients And Methods: Primary tumor specimens from 149 Norwegian breast cancer patients were available.

In breast cancer subtypes steroid sulfatase (STS) is associated with less aggressive tumour characteristics.

Background: The majority of breast cancer cases are steroid dependent neoplasms, with hormonal manipulation of either CYP19/aromatase or oestrogen receptor alpha axis being the most common therapy. Alternate pathways of steroid actions are documented, but their interconnections and correlations to BC subtypes and clinical outcome could be further explored.

Methods: We evaluated selected steroid receptors (Androgen Receptor, Oestrogen Receptor alpha and Beta, Glucocorticoid Receptor) and oestrogen pathways (steroid sulfatase (STS), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (17βHSD2) and aromatase) in a cohort of 139 BC cases from Norway.

Low Expression of Estrogen Receptor-α and Progesterone Receptor in Human Breast Cancer Tissues Is Associated With High-Grade Human Cytomegalovirus Protein Expression.

Background: The underlying mechanisms for breast cancer (BC) are largely unknown. We investigated possible correlations between the expression levels of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) proteins and established histopathological markers of BC, including expression of estrogen receptor (ER)-α, the progesterone receptor (PgR), and HER2.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively examined paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens of BC (n = 62), ductal carcinoma in situ (n = 19), and adjacent normal breast tissue (n = 42) for HCMV immediate-early protein (IE), HCMV late antigen, HCMV DNA and RNA, and investigated possible correlations between them and expression of ER-α, PgR, and HER2.

Complaints to the Norwegian System of Patient Injury Compensation 2001-14 following nerve blockade.

Background: There has been a steady increase in cases reported to the Norwegian System of Patient Injury Compensation (NPE). We wished to look into what might characterise those cases of central and peripheral nerve blockade for anaesthesia that led to compensation claims.

Material And Method: Cases with codes for central and peripheral blockade within the field of anaesthesiology were retrieved from the NPE database for the period 2001 – 14.

Pathology-related cases in the Norwegian System of Patient Injury Compensation in the period 2010-2015.

Background: The Norwegian System of Patient Injury Compensation (NPE) processes compensation claims from patients who complain about malpractice in the health services. A wrong diagnosis in pathology may cause serious injury to the patient, but the incidence of compensation claims is unknown, because pathology is not specified as a separate category in NPE’s statistics. Knowledge about errors is required to assess quality-enhancing measures.

Subtype-specific micro-RNA expression signatures in breast cancer progression.

Robust markers of invasiveness may help reduce the overtreatment of in situ carcinomas. Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease and biological mechanisms for carcinogenesis vary between subtypes. Stratification by subtype is therefore necessary to identify relevant and robust signatures of invasive disease.

GFRA3 promoter methylation may be associated with decreased postoperative survival in gastric cancer.

Background: A large number of epigenetic alterations has been found to be implicated in the etiology of gastric cancer. We have studied the DNA methylation status of 27 500 gene promoter regions in 24 gastric adenocarcinomas from a Norwegian cohort, and aimed at identifying the hypermethylated regions. We have compared our findings to the gene expression in the same tissue, and linked our results to prognosis and survival.

Gene expression analysis supports tumor threshold over 2.0 cm for T-category breast cancer.

Tumor size, as indicated by the T-category, is known as a strong prognostic indicator for breast cancer. It is common practice to distinguish the T1 and T2 groups at a tumor size of 2.0 cm.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR / HER-1) gatekeeper mutation T790M is present in European patients with early breast cancer.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is one of the major oncogenes identified in a variety of human malignancies including breast cancer (BC). EGFR-mutations have been studied in lung cancer for some years and are established as important markers in guiding therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). In contrast, EGFR-mutations have been reported to be rare if not absent in human BC, although recent evidence has suggested a significant worldwide variation in somatic EGFR-mutations.

High prevalence of human cytomegalovirus in brain metastases of patients with primary breast and colorectal cancers.

Background: Brain metastases (BMs) develop by largely unknown mechanisms and cause major morbidity and mortality in patients with solid tumors. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is frequently detected in tumor tissue from patients with different cancers. Here, we aimed to determine the prevalence and potential prognostic role of HCMV in BMs.

The 5p12 breast cancer susceptibility locus affects MRPS30 expression in estrogen-receptor positive tumors.

Genome-wide association studies have identified numerous loci linked to breast cancer susceptibility, but the mechanism by which variations at these loci influence susceptibility is usually unknown. Some variants are only associated with particular clinical subtypes of breast cancer. Understanding how and why these variants influence subtype-specific cancer risk contributes to our understanding of cancer etiology.

Up-regulation of CLDN1 in gastric cancer is correlated with reduced survival.

Background: The genetic changes in gastric adenocarcinoma are extremely complex and reliable tumor markers have not yet been identified. There are also remarkable geographical differences in the distribution of this disease. Our aim was to identify the most differentially regulated genes in 20 gastric adenocarcinomas from a Norwegian selection, compared to matched normal mucosa, and we have related our findings to prognosis, survival and chronic Helicobacter pylori infection.

Deregulation of cancer-related miRNAs is a common event in both benign and malignant human breast tumors.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous non-coding RNAs, which play an essential role in the regulation of gene expression during carcinogenesis. The role of miRNAs in breast cancer has been thoroughly investigated, and although many miRNAs are identified as cancer related, little is known about their involvement in benign tumors. In this study, we investigated miRNA expression profiles in the two most common types of human benign tumors (fibroadenoma/fibroadenomatosis) and in malignant breast tumors and explored their role as oncomirs and tumor suppressor miRNAs.

Molecular profiles of pre- and postoperative breast cancer tumours reveal differentially expressed genes.

Gene expression studies on breast cancer have generally been performed on tissue obtained at the time of surgery. In this study, we have compared the gene expression profiles in preoperative tissue (core needle biopsies) while tumor is still in its normal milieu to postoperative tissue from the same tumor obtained during surgery. Thirteen patients were included of which eleven had undergone sentinel node diagnosis procedure before operation.

Processes of enhanced self-understanding during a counselling programme for parents of children with disabilities.

Background: The stress and burden on parents of children with disabilities are well documented, and the parents' way of handling the situation is crucial to the health and well-being of all family members, including the child with special needs. We conducted a group-based counselling programme for parents, based mainly on Gestalt education and personal construct theories, aiming at increasing the parents' ability to handle the situation.

Aims: To explore the parents' experiences from processes of change after the counselling programme.

mRNA expression of adipocytokines and glucocorticoid-related genes are associated with downregulation of E-cadherin mRNA in colorectal adenocarcinomas.

Background: There is a consistently reported relationship between the incidence of colon cancer and obesity. It is thought that adipose tissue, particularly visceral fat, which secretes systemic factors that alter immunological, metabolic and endocrine milieu and promotes insulin resistance by producing adipocytokines, is important in cancer progression. Systemic high concentrations of adipocytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and glucocorticoid metabolism-related genes have been associated with gastrointestinal cancer.

Interleukin-8 is the single most up-regulated gene in whole genome profiling of H. pylori exposed gastric epithelial cells.

Background: The association between Helicobacter pylori infection and upper gastrointestinal disease is well established. However, only a small fraction of H. pylori carriers develop disease, and there are great geographical differences in disease penetrance.

Overall survival after resection for colon cancer in a national cohort study was adversely affected by TNM stage, lymph node ratio, gender, and old age.

Background: A national surveillance program of colon cancer treatment was introduced in 2007. We examined prognostic factors for colon cancer operated in 2000 with an aim of improving survival in the new program and a special focus on the merit of lymph node yield.

Methods: A cohort of 269 patients, 152 women (56.

The endothelin axis in the metastatic process of colon carcinoma.

Background: The endothelin axis has recently emerged as an important factor in tumour metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the endothelin axis and its downstream pathways related to metastasis in colon carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: mRNA expression of 36 genes associated with the endothelin axis in 18 non-metastatic and 20 metastatic colon carcinomas with individual-matched normal mucosa were evaluated using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Lymph node micrometastases and isolated tumor cells influence survival in stage I and II colon cancer.

Purpose: Lymph-node status is considered the most important prognostic factor in colorectal cancer. The aim of the present prospective study was to evaluate the influence of micrometastases and isolated tumor cells on recurrence and disease-free survival in colon cancer.

Methods: A total of 193 patients with colon cancer, operated on between 2000 and 2005, were enrolled in the study.

Expression of BMI-1 and Mel-18 in breast tissue--a diagnostic marker in patients with breast cancer.

Background: Polycomb Group (PcG) proteins are epigenetic silencers involved in maintaining cellular identity, and their deregulation can result in cancer. Expression of Mel-18 and Bmi-1 has been studied in tumor tissue, but not in adjacent non-cancerous breast epithelium. Our study compares the expression of the two genes in normal breast epithelium of cancer patients and relates it to the level of expression in the corresponding tumors as well as in breast epithelium of healthy women.