Clinical Implications of Rabphillin-3A-Like Gene Alterations in Breast Cancer.

For the rabphillin-3A-like (RPH3AL) gene, a putative tumor suppressor, the clinical significance of genetic alterations in breast cancers was evaluated. DNA and RNA were extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) cancers and matching normal tissues. DNA samples were assessed for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the 17p13.

The prognostic value of microRNAs varies with patient race/ethnicity and stage of colorectal cancer.

Purpose: MicroRNAs (miRNA) have potential prognostic value for colorectal cancers; however, their value based on patient race/ethnicity and pathologic stage has not been determined. The goal was to ascertain the prognostic value of 5 miRNAs with increased expression in colorectal cancers of African American (black) and non-Hispanic Caucasian (white) patients.

Experimental Design: TaqMan quantitative real-time PCR was used to quantify expression of miR-20a, miR-21, miR-106a, miR-181b, and miR-203 in paired normal and tumor colorectal cancer archival tissues collected from 106 black and 239 white patients.

miRNAs are stable in colorectal cancer archival tissue blocks.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have prognostic and therapeutic value for colorectal cancers RCs). Although formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues are available for biomarker studies, the stability of miRNAs in these tissues stored for long periods (more than 20 years) is unknown. The present effort involved analysis of 345 FFPE CRC tissues, stored for 6 to 28 years (1982-2004), for the expression of six miRNAs (miR-20a, miR-21, miR-106a, miR-181b, miR-203, and miR-324-5p) using TaqMan(r) microRNA assays and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).

miRNAs as biomarkers for management of patients with colorectal cancer.

miRNAs serve as micromanagers, negatively regulating gene expression. Since altered miRNA expression is implicated in the pathobiology of various cancers, including colorectal cancers (CRCs), these molecules serve as potential therapeutic targets. Manipulation of miRNAs may offer an alternative therapy for chemo- and radio-resistant CRCs.

Combined sigB allelic typing and multiplex PCR provide improved discriminatory power and reliability for Listeria monocytogenes molecular serotyping.

Conventional serotyping has traditionally been used to subtype Listeria monocytogenes, but has several limitations, including low discriminatory power and poor reproducibility. Molecular serotyping methods have been developed for L. monocytogenes, but generally show limited discriminatory power and high misclassification rates.