Oct3/4 and Sox2 are significantly associated with an unfavorable clinical outcome in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The embryonic stem cell factors Oct3/4 and Sox2 are essential for pluripotency and self-renewal of embryonic stem cells. Cancer cells, especially in poorly differentiated or undifferentiated tumours, have been characterized by many phenotypic traits similar to undifferentiated embryonic cells, indicating that Oct3/4 and Sox2 may be expressed in solid tumours. With the methods of real-time PCR, Western blotting and immunocytochemistry/immunohistochemistry, the expression of these two genes in the esophageal squamous cancer cell lines Kyse70, Kyse140 and Kyse450 were characterized, in addition to a virus-transformed "normal" esophageal epithelial cell line, Ket-1A.

Genomic analysis of prostate carcinoma specimens obtained via ultrasound-guided needle biopsy may be of use in preoperative decision-making.

Background: The widespread use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing to screen for prostate carcinoma has led to significant overdiagnosis, due to the frequent detection of indolent malignancies on PSA screening. The detection of abnormal PSA levels typically is followed by ultrasound-guided needle biopsy. Therefore, in an effort to identify genetic markers that augment the information provided by standard histopathologic classification, the authors tested the feasibility of using these minute biopsy samples for genomic profiling via chromosome banding analysis and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH).

DNA variants in the ATM gene are not associated with sporadic rectal cancer in a Norwegian population-based study.

Background And Aims: A large number of DNA single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been discovered following the Human Genome Project. Several projects have been launched to find associations between SNPs and various disease cohorts. This study examined the possible association between the reported SNPs and sporadic rectal cancer.

Significance of Candida recovered from intraoperative specimens in patients with intra-abdominal perforations.

Objective: Determine the significance of recovering yeasts from intraoperative specimens from the abdominal cavity and to evaluate the effect of a single intraoperative dose of fluconazole on clinical outcome in patients with intra-abdominal perforations.

Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blind study.

Setting: Multicenter study from 13 hospitals in Norway.

Preoperative irradiation and surgery for recurrent rectal cancer. Will intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) be of additional benefit? A prospective study.

Background: The therapeutic gain of surgery for recurrent rectal cancer is not clear, particularly with regard to the addition of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT).

Methods: Patients (107) with isolated pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer received preoperative external radiotherapy of 46-50 in 2 Gy fractions. At surgery 59 patients had IORT 12-18 Gy.