MicroRNA-196a is a potential marker of progression during Barrett's metaplasia-dysplasia-invasive adenocarcinoma sequence in esophagus.

Barrett's esophagus (BE)/Barrett's metaplasia (BM) is a recognized precursor of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) with an intermediary stage of dysplasia. The low yield and high cost of endoscopic screening of patients with BE underscores the need for novel biomarkers, such as microRNA (miRNA), which have emerged as important players in neoplastic progression for risk assessment of developing dysplasia/adenocarcinoma. Recently, we reported highly elevated levels of miRNA-196a (miR-196a) in EA and demonstrated its growth-promoting and anti-apoptotic functions.

Splenic marginal zone lymphomas are characterized by loss of interstitial regions of chromosome 7q, 7q31.32 and 7q36.2 that include the protection of telomere 1 (POT1) and sonic hedgehog (SHH) genes.

To further characterize the genotypic features of splenic (S) and nodal (N) marginal zone lymphomas (MZL) we compared eight SMZL and five NMZL by array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH). Arbitrarily, aberrations were divided into major imbalances, defined as gains or losses involving five or more contiguous genetic loci, and minor imbalances, defined as those involving four or fewer loci. SMZL, but not NMZL, demonstrated major imbalances.

Decreased expression of gene cluster at chromosome 1q21 defines molecular subgroups of chemoradiotherapy response in esophageal cancers.

Purpose: Resistance to preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CTXRT) in 75% of patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) underscores the need for identification of biomarkers of CTXRT response. We previously noted an association between decreased expression of epidermal differentiation complex (EDC) genes S100A2 and SPRR3 at chromosome 1q21 and CTXRT resistance. In the current study, we did an in-depth investigation of the expression of 1q21-1q25 region genes to uncover the role of the EDC and its flanking genes in CTXRT response.

Biomarkers of response to preoperative chemoradiation in esophageal cancers.

To identify a panel of biomarkers that predicts response of esophageal cancers to preoperative chemoradiation, our group profiled the gene expression of pretreatment cancer biopsies from patients with esophageal cancer. Six (32%) of these patients had pathologic complete response. All cancers except one that achieved pathologic complete response (83%) clustered in one molecular type (type I), while cancers that achieved less than pathologic complete response with one exception clustered in another molecular type (type II).

Gene expression profiling of localized esophageal carcinomas: association with pathologic response to preoperative chemoradiation.

Purpose: Patients with localized esophageal carcinoma have a 5-year survival rate of less than 20%. Patients are often treated similarly (ie, with preoperative chemoradiotherapy) but the outcomes vary greatly. Chemoradiotherapy and surgery can result in significant undesirable consequences.