Expression of CD9 and CD82 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma and its clinical significance.

CD9 and CD82, members of the tetraspanin family, act as metastasis suppressors in many human malignant tumors, but the role of these molecules is not well known in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC). This study was designed to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of CD9 and CD82 in 644 cases of CCRCC and to determine the clinicopathologic and prognostic significance of their expression. The percentage of positive tumor cells was evaluated, and the expression was classified into 2 categories: low expression (less than 10% positive cells) or high expression (more than 10% positive cells) for CD9 expression and negative (no positive cells) or positive for CD82 expression.

Nuclear expression of Smad proteins and its prognostic significance in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4 are components of the transforming growth factor β signaling pathway associated with tumorigenesis. The expression of these proteins is associated with tumor progression and prognosis of many cancers. This study aimed to evaluate the nuclear expression of Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma and to assess the clinical significance and prognostic value of their expression patterns.

Usefulness of a break-apart FISH assay in the diagnosis of Xp11.2 translocation renal cell carcinoma.

Xp11.2 translocation renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a rare subtype of RCC predominantly reported in young patients. It results from gene fusions between the transcription factor E3 (TFE3) gene, which is located on chromosome Xp11.

TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion and clinicopathologic characteristics of Korean prostate cancer patients.

Objectives: To survey the status of TMPRSS2-ERG fusion in Korean prostate cancer patients, we assessed the differences in clinicopathologic characteristics and biochemical recurrence according to TMPRSS2-ERG fusion status.

Methods: The incidence of the TMPRSS2-ERG fusion gene was evaluated via fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using ERG break-apart probes in 254 prostate cancer tissues resected by radical prostatectomy, and analyses of clinicopathologic parameters and biochemical recurrence were conducted.

Results: The fusion rate of the TMPRSS2-ERG gene was 20.

Closing the gaps on human chromosome 19 revealed genes with a high density of repetitive tandemly arrayed elements.

The reported human genome sequence includes about 400 gaps of unknown sequence that were not found in the bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) and cosmid libraries used for sequencing of the genome. These missing sequences correspond to approximately 1% of euchromatic regions of the human genome. Gap filling is a laborious process because it relies on analysis of random clones of numerous genomic BAC or cosmid libraries.

A novel strategy for analysis of gene homologues and segmental genome duplications.

Transformation-associated recombination (TAR) cloning allows selective isolation of a desired chromosomal region or gene from complex genomes. The method exploits a high level of recombination between homologous DNA sequences during transformation in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We investigated the effect of nonhomology on the efficiency of gene capture and found that up to 15% DNA divergence did not prevent efficient gene isolation.

The possible mechanism of action of ciclopirox olamine in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Ciclopirox olamine is a synthetic antifungal agent with a high affinity for trivalent metal cations. Ciclopirox olamine can be used to synchronize mammalian cells, but its mechanism of action is not understood well. In this study, we investigated the effect of ciclopirox olamine in yeast cells and used a genetic approach to identify potential ciclopirox olamine targets in yeast.