High endothelial venules are rare in colorectal cancers but accumulate in extra-tumoral areas with disease progression.

Prolonged patient survival after surgical resection, is associated with a higher cytotoxic and memory T cell density within colorectal cancers (CRC). High endothelial venules (HEVs) are specialized blood vessels present in secondary lymphoid organs (SLO) that allow ingress of naïve and central memory T cells from the blood. It has been proposed that HEVs in tumors might serve as a similar route of entry for lymphocytes into the tumor and result in an improved prognosis.

EGFR mutation analysis in sputum of lung cancer patients: a multitechnique study.

Objectives: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations have been identified in lung adenocarcinomas and are associated with high response chance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. EGFR mutations can be detected in tumour tissue, cytology specimens and blood from lung cancer patients. Thus far, EGFR mutation analysis has not been systematically demonstrated for sputum samples.

Molecular genetics external quality assessment pilot scheme for KRAS analysis in metastatic colorectal cancer.

Laboratories are increasingly required to perform molecular tests for the detection of mutations in the KRAS gene in metastatic colorectal cancers to allow better clinical management and more effective treatment for these patients. KRAS mutation status predicts a patient's likely response to the monoclonal antibody cetuximab. To provide a high standard of service, these laboratories require external quality assessment (EQA) to monitor the level of laboratory output and measure the performance of the laboratory against other service providers.