Loss of SMAD4 Is Sufficient to Promote Tumorigenesis in a Model of Dysplastic Barrett's Esophagus.

Background & Aims: Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) develops from its precursor Barrett's esophagus through intermediate stages of low- and high-grade dysplasia. However, knowledge of genetic drivers and molecular mechanisms implicated in disease progression is limited. Herein, we investigated the effect of Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4 (SMAD4) loss on transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling functionality and in vivo tumorigenicity in high-grade dysplastic Barrett's cells.

TGF-beta signaling and its targeted therapy in gastrointestinal cancers.

The transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling pathway governs physiological homeostasis in the gastrointestinal system and its deregulation can lead to a diverse range of human pathologies including juvenile polyposis syndrome and tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. In gastrointestinal malignancies, tumor cells evade the known tumor suppressive effects of TGFβ signaling through frequent inactivation of the pathway. Paradoxically, tumor cells utilize TGFβ-mediated regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and immunomodulation to facilitate the invasive and migratory phenotype of gastrointestinal cancers and avoid immunosurveillance.

Results of long-term follow-up of patients with superficial bladder carcinoma treated with intravesically applied bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine according to the schedule of 6 weekly + 6 monthly instillations.

Background: The efficacy of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy in the prevention of local recurrence and disease progression in patients with superficial bladder cancer is very well documented. This study reports the effect of BCG on disease-specific and overall survival.

Patients And Methods: In this retrospective trial, we have analyzed 170 patients with stage Ta and T1 superficial bladder cancer.

[Lipomatosis pelvis].

The article is a discussion of three cases of lipomatosis in the pelvis and of the surgical treatment undertaken in each case. In the first two cases, fatty tissue compressed the lower uriunary tract, and in the third, the rectosigmoid intestine. In the third case, the patient was also diagnosed as having a malignant rectum polyp.