CD47 Expression in Circulating Tumor Cells and Circulating Tumor Microemboli from Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Is a Poor Prognosis Factor.

Unlabelled: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and/or circulating tumor microemboli (CTM) from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients may be a non-invasive tool for prognosis, acting as liquid biopsy. CTCs interact with platelets through the transforming growth factor-β/transforming growth factor-β receptor type 1 (TGF-β/TGFβRI) forming clusters. CTCs also may express the Cluster of Differentiation 47 (CD47) protein, responsible for the inhibition of phagocytosis, the "don't eat me" signal to macrophages.

HPV virus and biomarkers of resistance to chemoradiation in circulating tumor cells from patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anus.

Unlabelled: Localized anal cancer is mostly represented by squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) and is cured in ≥80 % of cases by chemoradiation (CRT). Development of techniques for detection/evaluating circulating tumor cells (CTCs) for diagnosis/ prognosis/response to therapy can change the manner we treat/follow SCCA patients.

Objective: to detect CTCs from patients with SCCA and evaluate the presence of HPV virus, p16 expression and markers related to resistance to CRT (RAD23B/ ERCC1/ TYMS) in CTCs at baseline and after CRT.

Prognostic Value of ADAMTS Proteases and Their Substrates in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

Background: ADAMTS are metalloproteases with disintegrin and thrombospondin motifs. They are secreted proteases playing a role in biological processes such as inflammation, angiogenesis, and urogenital development. ADAMTS have specific substrates, such as the proteoglycans (PG) versican, aggrecan, and brevican.

MRP1 expression in CTCs confers resistance to irinotecan-based chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer.

Circulating tumor cells are important markers of tumor progression and can reflect tumor behavior in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Identification of proteins that confer resistance to treatment is an important step to predict response and better selection of treatment for patients. Multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) and Multidrug resistance-associated protein 4 (MRP4) play a role in irinotecan-resistance, and Excision Repair Cross-Complementation group 1 (ERCC1) expression can confer resistance to platinum compounds.

Detection of KRAS mutations in circulating tumor cells from patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: Quantification of Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) as a prognostic marker in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) has already been validated and approved for routine use. However, more than quantification, qualification or characterization of CTCs is gaining importance, since the genetic characterization of CTCs may reflect, in a real time fashion, genetic profile of the disease.

Objective: To characterize KRAS mutations (codon 12 and 13) in CTCs from patients with mCRC and to compare with matched primary tumor.

Gene expression patterns through oral squamous cell carcinoma development: PD-L1 expression in primary tumor and circulating tumor cells.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common tumor of the oral cavity and has been associated with poor prognosis. Scarce prognostic markers are available for guiding treatment and/or sub-classifying patients. This study aims to identify biomarkers by searching for genes whose expression is increased or decreased during tumor progression (through T1 to T4 stages).

Thymidylate synthase expression in circulating tumor cells: a new tool to predict 5-fluorouracil resistance in metastatic colorectal cancer patients.

Thymidylate synthase (TYMS) is an important enzyme for 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) metabolism in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. The search for this enzyme in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can be a powerful tool to follow-up cancer patients. mCRC patients were enrolled before the beginning of 5-FU-based chemotherapy.

Isolation, detection, and immunomorphological characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from patients with different types of sarcoma using isolation by size of tumor cells: a window on sarcoma-cell invasion.

Background: Sarcomas are rare and heterogeneous neoplasms with poor prognosis that are thought to spread to distant organs mainly by hematogenous dissemination. However, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have never been visualized in sarcomas.

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility of using isolation by size of tumor cells (ISET) for isolation, identification, and characterization of CTCs derived from patients with high-grade and metastatic sarcomas.

Transcriptional profiles of SHH pathway genes in keratocystic odontogenic tumor and ameloblastoma.

Background: Sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway activation has been identified as a key factor in the development of many types of tumors, including odontogenic tumors. Our study examined the expression of genes in the SHH pathway to characterize their roles in the pathogenesis of keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KOT) and ameloblastomas (AB).

Methods: We quantified the expression of SHH, SMO, PTCH1, SUFU, GLI1, CCND1, and BCL2 genes by qPCR in a total of 23 KOT, 11 AB, and three non-neoplastic oral mucosa (NNM).

Adhesion molecules in primary oral mucosal melanoma: study of claudins, integrins and immunoglobulins in a series of 35 cases.

Primary oral mucosal melanoma is a rare aggressive tumor. Recent studies have demonstrated a correlation between increased tumor invasion and the metastatic phenotype and altered adhesion molecule expression profiles. The present study analyzed the expression of integrins, claudins, and immunoglobulin-like adhesion molecules in oral mucosal melanomas and correlated results with clinical parameters.

CD24 and CD44 in salivary gland pleomorphic adenoma and in human salivary gland morphogenesis: differential markers of glandular structure or stem cell indicators?

Aims: Salivary gland neoplasms originate from salivary gland compartments, to which they are histologically related. Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is a benign salivary gland neoplasm that comprises epithelial and myoepithelial cells and a complex stroma, whose structure, architecture and origin (from intercalated ducts) suggest stem cell participation. We compared the expression of CD24 and CD44 in PA and in developing human salivary glands to investigate whether these markers can be considered as cancer stem cell markers.

The CDKN2A and MAP kinase pathways: molecular roads to primary oral mucosal melanoma.

The etiology and pathogenesis of oral mucosal melanomas are poorly understood, and no intraoral risk factors have been identified. Recent studies have postulated that DNA repair mechanisms and cell growth pathways are involved in the development of melanoma-particularly changes in the CDKN2A (p16-cyclinD-Cdk-pRb) and MAPK pathways (RAS, BRAF, MEK 1/2, and ERK 1/2 proteins). We examined the central components of the CDKN2A and RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK cascades by immunohistochemistry in a series of 35 primary oral melanomas by tissue microarray (TMA).

Development of human minor salivary glands: expression of mucins according to stage of morphogenesis.

The formation of salivary glands entails the proliferation of epithelial cells from the stomatodeum into the underlying ectomesenchyme, culminating in a complex network of ducts and acinar bulbs. The extent to which mucins regulate this process is unknown, but they appear to mediate luminal space formation and maturation. Our aim was to examine mucin expression patterns during the morphogenesis of human salivary glands.

Claudin-7 down-regulation is an important feature in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Aims: Claudins, a large family of essential tight junction (TJ) proteins, are abnormally regulated in human carcinomas, especially claudin-7. The aim of this study was to investigate claudin-7 expression and alterations in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methods And Results: Expression of claudin-7 was analysed in 132 cases of OSCC organized in a tissue microarray.

Human salivary gland morphogenesis: myoepithelial cell maturation assessed by immunohistochemical markers.

Aims: Myoepithelial cells are important components of salivary gland structure, aiding the expulsion of saliva from acinar lobules. The aim was to evaluate the expression of smooth muscle actin (SMA), calponin, caldesmon, CD10, CD29, S100 protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and p63 in myoepithelial cells during salivary gland morphogenesis to understand the maturation process of these cells and their possible use in the diagnosis of salivary gland lesions.

Methods And Results: Major and minor human salivary glands at various stages of development, derived from fetuses at 8-26 weeks of gestation, were studied immunohistochemically.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma: status of tight junction claudins in the different histopathological patterns and relationship with clinical parameters. A tissue-microarray-based study of 136 cases.

Aims: Claudins are integral transmembrane proteins of the tight junctions, critical for maintaining cell adhesion and polarity. Alterations in the expression of individual claudins have been detected in carcinomas and appear to correlate with tumour progression.

Methods: In this study, a panel of anti-claudin antibodies (anti-claudins 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7) was employed to map claudin expression in 136 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) organised in a tissue microarray.

Downregulation of CD9 protein expression is associated with aggressive behavior of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (OSCC) is a malignancy characterized by a high degree of local aggression and metastasis to cervical lymph nodes. Tetraspanins are proteins with functional roles in a wide array of cellular processes and are reported to be associated with tumor progression. The present study investigated the expression of the CD9, CD37, CD63, CD81 and CD82 tetraspanins in OSCC using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and quantitative Real Time-PCR (qRT-PCR).

Primary oral mucosal melanoma: a series of 35 new cases from South America.

Oral mucosal melanoma is rare and reported to be more aggressive than its cutaneous counterpart. Due to the rarity of this entity, data on epidemiology, tumor behavior, treatment, follow-up, and survival of patients are mainly based on single case reports. The few existing series of patients show that oral mucosa melanoma has its peak between 41 and 60 years of age, and male to female ratio is 2:1.

Human salivary gland branching morphogenesis: morphological localization of claudins and its parallel relation with developmental stages revealed by expression of cytoskeleton and secretion markers.

Development of salivary glands is a highly complex and dynamic process termed branching morphogenesis, where branched structures differentiate into mature glands. Tight junctions (TJ) are thought to play critical roles in physiological functions of tubular organs, contributing to cell polarity and preventing lateral movement of membrane proteins. Evidence demonstrated that claudins are directly involved in TJ formation and function.

The transcripts of SFRP1,CEP63 and EIF4G2 genes are frequently downregulated in transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to identify differentially expressed genes that might be associated with the phenotype of superficial and invasive bladder cancer.

Methods: Differential display reverse transcriptase PCR (DDRT-PCR) was used to compare the expression pattern between normal bladder tissue and 4 groups of transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder regarding clinical stage and grade.

Results: We were able to identify 72 different transcripts, of which 57 (79%) showed homology to known genes, 12 (17%) to hypothetical proteins and 3 (4%) to human expressed sequence tags.