Osteoradionecrosis contains a wide variety of cultivable and non-cultivable bacteria.

Background: Direct microscopy, anaerobic culture and DNA-DNA hybridization have previously demonstrated an association between microorganisms and osteoradionecrosis (ORN). The purpose of our study was to use culture independent molecular techniques to detect bacteria in necrotic bone lesions of the mandible after radiation therapy.

Design: Bacterial DNA was extracted from eight deep medullar specimens from resected mandibles (six cases), including one patient with relapse.

Sensitization of interferon-gamma induced apoptosis in human osteosarcoma cells by extracellular S100A4.

Background: S100A4 is a small Ca2+-binding protein of the S100 family with metastasis-promoting properties. Recently, secreted S100A4 protein has been shown to possess a number of functions, including induction of angiogenesis, stimulation of cell motility and neurite extension.

Methods: Cell cultures from two human osteosarcoma cell lines, OHS and its anti-S100A4 ribozyme transfected counterpart II-11b, was treated with IFN-gamma and recombinant S100A4 in order to study the sensitizing effects of extracellular S100A4 on IFN-gamma mediated apoptosis.

Nuclear localization of the metastasis-related protein S100A4 correlates with tumour stage in colorectal cancer.

A large number of experimental studies have linked the S100A4 gene product to the metastatic phenotype of cancer cells and clinical evidence indicates a correlation between S100A4 expression and poor prognosis in several cancer types. The aim of the present study was to analyse the expression of the S100A4 protein in colorectal cancer. Paraffin-embedded samples from 277 colorectal cancer patients were immunostained with anti-S100A4 antibody.