TET2 Negatively Regulates Nestin Expression in Human Melanoma.

Although melanoma is an aggressive cancer, the understanding of the virulence-conferring pathways involved remains incomplete. We have demonstrated that loss of ten-eleven translocation methylcytosine dioxygenase (TET2)-mediated 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) is an epigenetic driver of melanoma growth and a biomarker of clinical virulence. We also have determined that the intermediate filament protein nestin correlates with tumorigenic and invasive melanoma growth.

Expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin in basaloid and conventional squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity: are potential prognostic markers?

Background: Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma presents with a preference for the head and neck region, and shows a distinct aggressive behavior, with frequent local recurrences, regional and distant metastasis. The alterations in the cadherin-catenin complex are fundamental requirements for the metastasis process, and this is the first study to evaluate the immunostaining of E-cadherin and β-catenin in oral basaloid squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods: Seventeen cases of this tumor located exclusively in the mouth were compared to 26 cases of poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and 28 cases of well to moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma matched by stage and tumor site.

Diagnosis of second primary tumor and long-term survival after single initial triple endoscopy in patients with head and neck cancer.

Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) have a high risk of developing second primary tumors (SPTs). Most of the studies concerning triple endoscopy (laryngoscopy, digestive tract endoscopy and bronchoscopy) describe the frequency and stage of the SPT, but not its impact on survival. This study is a matched pair analysis that included patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the UADT who were subjected to a triple endoscopy before the first treatment, matched with patients who did not undergo triple endoscopy.

Long-term results of surgical treatment for advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: The purpose of this study was to review the oncologic and functional outcomes of patients with clinical stage III or IV squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oropharynx submitted to tumor resection and neck dissection with or without postoperative radiotherapy (PORT).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of medical charts of 256 consecutive patients.

Results: Fatal postoperative complications were registered in 5 patients (1.

Caspase expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Apoptosis is a genetically programmed form of cell death, of which caspases are the central components.

Methods: By tissue microarray of 229 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), we analyzed the immunoexpression of caspases 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.

Results: All proteins that we examined were expressed in primary OSCC samples.

Primary transpupillary thermotherapy for small choroidal melanoma.

Background: The treatment of small choroidal melanoma is controversial. Thermal laser-induced treatment is utilized by some centers but there is still sparse literature about the subject, mainly with short-term follow-up time. The efficacy of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) for the treatment of small choroidal melanomas was evaluated.

High-risk human papillomavirus in oral squamous cell carcinoma of young patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate a possible relation between oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the presence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) DNA and p16 expression in young patients. Paraffin-embedded tumor blocks from 47 oral SCC of young (≤40-year old) patients were evaluated. The presence of HPV DNA in tumor specimens was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using GP5+/GP6+ generic primers (L1 region) followed by dot blot hybridization for HPV typing.

Comparison of postmenopausal endogenous sex hormones among Japanese, Japanese Brazilians, and non-Japanese Brazilians.

Background: Differences in sex hormone levels among populations might contribute to the variation in breast cancer incidence across countries. Previous studies have shown higher breast cancer incidence and mortality among Japanese Brazilians than among Japanese. To clarify the difference in hormone levels among populations, we compared postmenopausal endogenous sex hormone levels among Japanese living in Japan, Japanese Brazilians living in the state of São Paulo, and non-Japanese Brazilians living in the state of São Paulo.

CCND1 amplification and protein overexpression in oral squamous cell carcinoma of young patients.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation of CCND1 amplification and protein overexpression with clinicopathological features and clinical outcomes in patients younger than 41 years old with oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Methods: Eighty-six young patients with oral SCC were evaluated using the tissue microarray technique, immunohistochemistry, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). These cases were compared with 116 patients with oral cancer aged over 50 years old (controls).

Expression of Bcl-2 family proteins and association with clinicopathological characteristics of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Aims: To characterize the expression of proteins that inhibit (Bcl-2, Bcl-x, Bcl-xL, Bcl-2-related protein A1, BAG-1) or promote (Bak, Bax, Bim/Bod, Bim-Long, Bad, Bid, PUMA) apoptosis and determine possible correlations between the expression of these proteins and clinicopathological features of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methods And Results: Two-hundred and twenty-nine cases of OSCC, arranged in a tissue microarray, were immunohistochemically analysed. The results demonstrated that the absence of vascular invasion was associated with increased expression of Bak, Bax, Bcl-xL, Bcl-2-related protein and PUMA.

Fragment c gamma receptor gene polymorphisms and breast cancer risk in case-control studies in Japanese, Japanese Brazilians, and non-Japanese Brazilians.

Previous studies showing the presence of antibodies against tumor-associated antigens in healthy individuals suggest that antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC) might play a role in the development of breast cancer. We hypothesized that functional polymorphisms in fragment c gamma receptor (FcgR) genes were associated with breast cancer risk. We conducted hospital-based case-control studies of patients aged 20-74 years with invasive breast cancer, and matched controls from medical checkup examinees in Nagano, Japan and from cancer-free patients in São Paulo, Brazil.

Rhabdomyosarcoma of the head and neck: a clinicopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of 29 cases.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a malignant tumor occurring more frequently in the childhood. The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinicopathological and immunohistochemical features of rhabdomyosarcomas of the head and neck (RHNs). Twenty nine patients treated in a single institution were selected.

Dietary isoflavone intake, polymorphisms in the CYP17, CYP19, 17beta-HSD1, and SHBG genes, and risk of breast cancer in case-control studies in Japanese, Japanese Brazilians, and non-Japanese Brazilians.

We tested the hypothesis that polymorphisms in cytochrome P450c17alpha (CYP17), aromatase (CYP19), 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I (17beta-HSD1) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) genes may modify the association between isoflavone intake and breast cancer risk. We conducted hospital-based, case-control studies in Nagano, Japan and Sao Paulo, Brazil. A total of 846 pairs (388 Japanese, 79 Japanese Brazilians, and 379 non-Japanese Brazilians) completed validated food frequency questionnaires.

Nucleophosmin, p53, and Ki-67 expression patterns on an oral squamous cell carcinoma tissue microarray.

Oral cancer is the eighth most prevalent cancer worldwide. It causes significant mortality and morbidity rates, which have motivated the search for prognostic factors to better tailor the individual management of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. Nucleophosmin is a multifunctional protein that is involved in many cellular activities, such as, regulation of the tumor suppressor genes TP53 and p14(ARF) and is associated with proliferative and growth suppressive roles in the cell.

Epigenetic silencing of CRABP2 and MX1 in head and neck tumors.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a heterogeneous disease affecting the epithelium of the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx. Conditions of most patients are diagnosed at late stages of the disease, and no sensitive and specific predictors of aggressive behavior have been identified yet. Therefore, early detection and prognostic biomarkers are highly desirable for a more rational management of the disease.

Head and neck chondrosarcoma: analysis of 16 cases.

Objective: Head and neck chondrosarcomas are rare, accounting for less than 12% of all chondrosarcomas. Few studies with larger series approach the clinicopathological characteristics of these tumours. The aim of this study was describe clinical findings, management and outcome of 16 cases of head and neck chondrosarcoma from a single institution.

CYP1A2*1C, CYP2E1*5B, and GSTM1 polymorphisms are predictors of risk and poor outcome in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is associated with environmental factors, especially tobacco and alcohol consumption. Most of the carcinogens present in tobacco smoke are converted into DNA-reactive metabolites by cytochrome P450 (CYPs) enzymes and detoxification of these substances is performed by glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). It has been suggested that genetic alterations, such as polymorphisms, play an important role in tumorigenesis and HNSCC progression.

Dietary intake of folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, genetic polymorphism of related enzymes, and risk of breast cancer: a case-control study in Brazilian women.

Background: Several studies have determined that dietary intake of B vitamins may be associated with breast cancer risk as a result of interactions between 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and methionine synthase (MTR) in the one-carbon metabolism pathway. However, the association between B vitamin intake and breast cancer risk in Brazilian women in particular has not yet been investigated.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted in São Paulo, Brazil, with 458 age-matched pairs of Brazilian women.

Clinicopathological significance of ubiquitin-specific protease 2a (USP2a), fatty acid synthase (FASN), and ErbB2 expression in oral squamous cell carcinomas.

Overexpression of fatty acid synthase (FASN) and ErbB2 has been described in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC). FASN is the key lipogenic enzyme responsible for the endogenous synthesis of fatty acids and its expression can be regulated by ErbB2. The deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) ubiquitin-specific protease 2a (USP2a) plays a critical role in prostate cancer cell survival by stabilizing the FASN protein.

Isoflavone, polymorphisms in estrogen receptor genes and breast cancer risk in case-control studies in Japanese, Japanese Brazilians and non-Japanese Brazilians.

Epidemiologic studies have shown an inverse association between isoflavones and breast cancer risk. Because isoflavones bind estrogen receptors, we hypothesized that polymorphisms in the estrogen receptor genes might modify the association between isoflavone intake and breast cancer risk. We conducted hospital-based case-control studies of patients aged 20-74 years with primary, incident, histologically confirmed invasive breast cancer, and matched controls from among medical checkup examinees in Nagano, Japan, and from cancer-free patients in São Paulo, Brazil.

Genetic polymorphisms in estrogen metabolism and breast cancer risk in case-control studies in Japanese, Japanese Brazilians and non-Japanese Brazilians.

Although many studies have examined associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and CYP1B1 genes and breast cancer risk, no study has examined functional SNPs in the CYP3A5 gene and only a small number of studies have been investigated in Japanese populations. To examine the association between six SNPs, CYP1A1(*)2A, CYP1A1(*)2C, CYP1A2(*)1F, CYP1B1 Arg(48)Gly, CYP1B1 Leu(432)Val and CYP3A5*3 and breast cancer risk, therefore, we conducted hospital-based case-control studies in Nagano, Japan and São Paulo, Brazil including 873 pairs (403 Japanese (JJ), 81 Japanese Brazilians (JB) and 389 non-Japanese Brazilians (NJB)). Although we found no significant association in the three populations combined, subgroup analyses revealed statistically significant associations of CYP1A2*1F in NJB, and CYP1B1 Leu(432)Val and CYP3A5*3 in JJ with breast cancer risk.

Analysis of prognostic factors in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated with radiotherapy alone or in combination with systemic chemotherapy.

Objective: To assess the prognostic significance of several factors in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated with radiotherapy alone or in combination with chemotherapy.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Brazil, and A.

Dietary isoflavone intake and breast cancer risk in case-control studies in Japanese, Japanese Brazilians, and non-Japanese Brazilians.

Although epidemiologic studies have shown an inverse association between isoflavones and breast cancer risk, little evidence for a dose-response relation is available. We conducted hospital-based case-control studies of patients aged 20-74 years with primary, incident, histologically confirmed invasive breast cancer, and matched controls from medical checkup examinees in Nagano, Japan and from cancer-free patients in São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 850 pairs (390 Japanese, 81 Japanese Brazilians and 379 non-Japanese Brazilians) completed validated food frequency questionnaires.

Families' interactions with physicians in the intensive care unit: the impact on family's satisfaction.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to correlate the levels of satisfaction of family members, with their perception of the way information was offered and assistance delivered during the patient's stay in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Materials And Methods: This is a prospective study conducted in a 13-bed mixed ICU in a tertiary cancer. Family members were enrolled 2 days after admission if the patient remained in the ICU.

Dental extractions related to head and neck radiotherapy: ten-year experience of a single institution.

Objective: This study evaluates the frequency of osteoradionecrosis associated with dental extractions.

Study Design: A total of 405 patients submitted to radiotherapy and had dental extractions were evaluated. The patients were divided into 3 groups.