Colorectal Cancer Classification and Cell Heterogeneity: A Systems Oncology Approach.

Colorectal cancer is a heterogeneous disease that manifests through diverse clinical scenarios. During many years, our knowledge about the variability of colorectal tumors was limited to the histopathological analysis from which generic classifications associated with different clinical expectations are derived. However, currently we are beginning to understand that under the intense pathological and clinical variability of these tumors there underlies strong genetic and biological heterogeneity.

Circulating miR-200c and miR-141 and outcomes in patients with breast cancer.

Background: The deregulation of microRNAs in both tumours and blood has led to the search for microRNAs to indicate the presence of cancer and predict prognosis. We hypothesize the deregulation of miR-200c/miR-141 in the whole blood can identify breast cancer (BC), and could be developed into a prognostic signature.

Methods: The expression of miR-200c and miR-141 were examined in bloods (57 stage I-IV BC patients and 20 age-matched controls) by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR.

Circulating levels of GDF15, MMP7 and miR-200c as a poor prognostic signature in gastric cancer.

Aim: To analyze GDF15 and MMP7 serum levels as diagnostic biomarkers in gastric cancer (GC) patients. The prognostic value of GDF15 and MMP7 serum levels in combination with miR-200c blood expression was also analyzed.

Patients & Methods: Fifty-two GC and 23 control samples were included.

Circulating microRNAs: molecular microsensors in gastrointestinal cancer.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small molecules of single strand non-coding RNAs, which are able to regulate gene expression. miRNAs have been involved in multiple cellular processes, such as proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation, thus alterations in miRNA expression have been shown to be directly linked with the pathological origin of multiple diseases, including cancer. In this way, during last few years, an increasing number of exciting advances have contributed to the understanding of miRNA roles in cancer.

Evaluation of the adenocarcinoma-associated gene AGR2 and the intestinal stem cell marker LGR5 as biomarkers in colorectal cancer.

We aim to estimate the diagnostic performances of anterior gradient homolog-2 (AGR2) and Leucine-rich repeat-containing-G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5) in peripheral blood (PB) as mRNA biomarkers in colorectal cancer (CRC) and to explore their prognostic significance. Real-time PCR was used to analyze AGR2 and LGR5 in 54 stages I-IV CRC patients and 19 controls. Both mRNAs were significantly increased in PB from CRC patients compared to controls.

KlRox1p contributes to yeast resistance to metals and is necessary for KlYCF1 expression in the presence of cadmium.

We have characterized the KlROX1 gene from Kluyveromyces lactis and verified that it does not regulate the hypoxic response in this yeast, oppositely to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae homologue ScROX1. The KlROX1 promoter is not regulated by KlHap1p or KlRox1p in response to changes aerobiosis/hypoxia. Besides, KlRox1p expression only partially represses ScANB1 in S.

Glucose transporter expression and the potential role of fructose in renal cell carcinoma: A correlation with pathological parameters.

All mammalian cells contain one or more members of the facilitative glucose transporter (GLUT) gene family. Glucose transporter membrane proteins (GLUT) regulate the movement of glucose between the extracellular and intracellular compartments, maintaining a constant supply of glucose available for metabolism. Tumor cells are highly energy-dependent, therefore GLUT overexpression is often observed.

Potential role of sugar transporters in cancer and their relationship with anticancer therapy.

Sugars, primarily glucose and fructose, are the main energy source of cells. Because of their hydrophilic nature, cells use a number of transporter proteins to introduce sugars through their plasma membrane. Cancer cells are well known to display an enhanced sugar uptake and consumption.

Expression of Wnt gene family and frizzled receptors in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Genes of the Wnt and Frizzled class, expressed in HNSCC tissue and cell lines, have an established role in cell morphogenesis and differentiation, and also they have oncogenic properties. We studied Wnt and Fz genes as potential tumor-associated markers in HNSCC by qPCR. Expression levels of Wnt and Fz genes in 22 unique frozen samples from HNSCC were measured.