Pilot study of gene mutations associated with Lynch syndrome in Slovak patients with breast cancer.

Background: Lynch syndrome (LS) is an autosomal dominant inherited disorder which causes an increased risk of cancer, especially colorectal and endometrial carcinomas. Recent studies have shown an association between LS and breast cancer as well. The aim of our study is to highlight the possible presence of mutations in genes associated with LS in patients with breast cancer and the need to include the examination of Lynch-associated genes in patients with a family history of breast cancer as well as in patients with recurrent breast cancer, as well as with the occurrence of other Lynch-associated cancer.

Telomere Length Changes in Cancer: Insights on Carcinogenesis and Potential for Non-Invasive Diagnostic Strategies.

Telomere dynamics play a crucial role in the maintenance of chromosome integrity; changes in telomere length may thus contribute to the development of various diseases including cancer. Understanding the role of telomeric DNA in carcinogenesis and detecting the presence of cell-free telomeric DNA (cf-telDNA) in body fluids offer a potential biomarker for novel cancer screening and diagnostic strategies. Liquid biopsy is becoming increasingly popular due to its undeniable benefits over conventional invasive methods.

Circulating tumor cells and breast cancer-specific mutations in primary breast cancer.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) play a pivotal role in tumor dissemination and progression, and are considered to be a critical part of the metastatic cascade. The aim of the present research article was to examine breast cancer-specific mutations in primary breast cancer (PBC) using targeted resequencing. A total of 78 patients with PBC were enrolled into this translational study.