CXCL12 is a key regulator in tumor microenvironment of cervical cancer: an in vitro study.

CXCL12 is a small pro-inflammatory chemo-attractant cytokine which signals through chemokine receptor CXCR4. The importance of CXCL12/CXCR4 axis is coming to the fore in several divergent signaling pathway-initiating signals related to cell survival and/or proliferation and cancer metastasis. In the present study we have investigated whether deregulation in CXCR4 signaling (as a consequence of deregulated expression of CXCL12) modulate the metastatic potential of cervical carcinoma cells.

Anti-tumor activity of staurosporine in the tumor microenvironment of cervical cancer: An in vitro study.

Aim: The fundamental events for cancer progression and metastases include loss of cell adhesion, cell proliferation, anchorage-independent cell growth (evading anoikis), cell migration and cell invasion. All these events leading to cancer progression happen in a favorable nurturing tumor microenvironment. This study was designed to explore the anti-tumor activity of staurosporine (a nonspecific protein kinase inhibitor) in the tumor microenvironment of cervical cancer.

PI3K/AKT pathway-mediated regulation of p27(Kip1) is associated with cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in cervical cancer.

Background: The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(Kip1) is known to act as a putative tumor suppressor in several human cancers, including cervical cancer. Down-regulation of p27(Kip1) may occur either through transcription inhibition or through phosphorylation-dependent proteolytic degradation. As yet, the mechanism underlying p27(Kip1) down-regulation and its putative downstream effects on cervical cancer development are poorly understood.

Down Regulation of FOXO1 Promotes Cell Proliferation in Cervical Cancer.

The Forkhead transcription factor FOXO1, an important downstream target of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway, regulates cellular homeostasis by maintaining cell proliferation, apoptosis and viability in normal cells. Though, the function and regulation of FOXO1 is well documented in many cancers, the molecular mechanism of its regulation in cervical cancer is largely unknown. In the present study we have investigated the role of PI3K inhibition on FOXO1 regulation.

Epigenetic silencing of CXCR4 promotes loss of cell adhesion in cervical cancer.

In the network of chemokine signaling pathways, recent reports have described the SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis and its role in cancer progression and metastasis. Interestingly, we found downregulation of CXCR4 at both transcript and protein level in cervical cancer cell lines and primary tumors. We also found CXCR4 promoter hypermethylation in cervical cancer cell lines and primary biopsy samples.

Hospital based prospective longitudinal clinical and immunologic study of 179 patients of primary anti-phospholipid syndrome.

Aim: To study the clinical and immunological features of primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), and to analyze the differences between primary APS and APS associated with autoimmune rheumatic disease (ARD/APS).

Methods: This prospective, longitudinal study, carried out from December 2004 to July 2011 included 179 patients with primary APS and 52 patients of ARD/APS diagnosed as per modified 2006 Sapporo's Criteria.

Results: Out of 179 patients of primary APS, 12 were male and 167 were female.

Over expression of minichromosome maintenance genes is clinically correlated to cervical carcinogenesis.

Minichromosome Maintenance (MCM) proteins play important roles in cell cycle progression by mediating DNA replication initiation and elongation. Among 10 MCM homologues MCM 2-7 form a hexamer and assemble to the pre-replication complex acting as replication licensing factors. Binding and function of MCM2-7 to pre-replication complex is regulated by MCM10 mediated binding of RECQL4 with MCM2-7.

Repair of uterocutaneous fistula.

Background: Uterocutaneous fistula is a rare condition that may be difficult to manage.

Case: A young woman who underwent surgical intervention for cryptomenorrhea 3 years ago developed menstrual discharge from the abdominal scar. A fistulous tract leading from the infraumbilical midline scar to the uterus was demonstrated on contrast study.